International Women's Day

Saturday, March 8 is International Women's Day. To celebrate, I'm presenting a few of the women from my women's fiction books. Just leave a comment for a chance to win the book of your choice (from those pictured below) in either ebook or trade paperback. I'll post the name of the winner here on the blog on Wednesday, March 12 with contact information to claim your prize.

Kate from And The Truth Will Set You Free: 

Kate stared at the fire as she spoke. “I did discover some truths while I was away and I want to say them out loud so I don’t dismiss them. I think that, once you speak a truth, you own it and it owns you.”

Beth from The Year I Lost My Mind: 

My mother will tell you that I have been having a midlife crisis. My best friend will tell you that I am courageous. My husband will tell you that, on my last birthday and for just a little while, I lost my mind.

I will tell you this: Sometimes you have to lose something in order to reclaim it. Sometimes you have to trust the love that holds the seams of your life together and stretch it to a new limit. Sometimes you just have to lose your mind... and follow your heart.

Janet/Hope from Finding Hope:  

Dear family, I quit. Effective immediately, I am no longer the cook, laundress, shopper, housekeeper, chauffeur, landscaper or resident problem-solver. Oh, I’m also not the banker or the ATM. I am, however, the instructor. Classes will begin tomorrow and seating is limited, so you should sign up early...

                                                                                      Janet R. DeMarco,

                                                                                      Wife, Mother, Person

                                                                                      (not necessarily in that order)

Abby from The Restoration of Abby Walker: 

“I was thinking about something I learned about patina when I started to restore furniture.”

“You’re thinking of that now?”

“Yeah. The important thing about patina is that, if you restore something beyond its age, you remove the patina—the essence of what it is, where it’s been. And it loses value. There’s a very fine line you can’t cross.”

He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m glad you put down the sander when you did. You know, that Mulgrew woman was okay. But Abby Walker just takes my breath away.” He traced his fingers down her arm. “And you should see her patina.”

Another lesson crossed Abby’s mind: If you restore, rather than refinish furniture, you will bring the old finish back to life.

Rylee Morgan from Shooting Into The Sun: 

Never shoot into the sun--the voice played in her head. The rules she had learned early in her career never failed to produce flawless photographs. The rules she had developed for life had not served her as well. In the sixteen years since her father’s departure, Rylee had kept herself busy, focused on her career, and safe inside her well-constructed boundaries.

Rylee resituated the tripod and checked the sun’s position. She stepped behind the camera, looked once again through the lens and waited, watching the slight movement of the leaves. Water bubbled over rocks. Slowing the shutter speed, she could create a smooth cascade effect. Blue sky and white clouds reflected on the stream’s surface. This stretch of the rapids where the Youghiogheny River ran through Ohiopyle State Park in Pennsylvania was her favorite spot for shooting.

Her thumb rested on the shutter release, prepared for just the right moment. The breeze subsided and the shadows shifted. Then, just as she pressed the button, some jerk decided to walk on water.

Rylee lifted her head and stared. A hiker made his way across the exposed rocks and into the middle of the narrow river--directly into the center of her view. She walked to the water’s edge and, with hands on hips, shouted, “Excuse me! You’re ruining my shot.”

Meg from Unconditional:

As I settled my purse in the bottom desk drawer, the muffled strains of Ode to Joy sounded. Thomas. I turned off the phone and tossed it back into my purse, resolving to change the ringtone later. I was torn between Before He Cheats and the old Eagles song, Lyin’ Eyes. I didn’t think anyone had recorded a song about castration.

All of my books can be found at www.amazon.com  Be sure to leave a comment here to be entered into the drawing to win a free book in celebration of International Women's Day.

Thanks for stopping by,  Linda