The Outlaw of Cedar Ridge
Idaho, 1891
The day Evie met Benjamin Rolfe, a man with unbridled enthusiasm and grandiose plans, she knew they’d marry and live happily ever after. Five years later, her husband is a bitter, cynical drunk with a shaky moral compass. She no longer believes in fairy tales, too many shattered dreams.
Tragedy strikes, changes Ben dramatically. He’s no longer the difficult man of recent years but neither is he the sweet man who’d charmed her so long ago. He’s a familiar stranger. Already strained to the breaking point can their love survive this second chance?
Excerpt The Outlaw of Cedar Ridge
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Jumping off
Fear can make the simplest action seem impossible.
Years ago my family and I spent a summer afternoon at the river. On the far bank there was a huge, tall rock. We saw people leap off into the water but had never done that ourselves. I fear heights and frankly never considered it although the distance to the water was only six to eight feet. One of our sons, well in his teens, persuaded my husband and I to do it with him.
Our boy leapt, no hesitation. I wavered for a good moment but followed. It was fun and I've an amazing picture of my hubby after he jumped next, his feet inches above the water.
I intended to do it again. I climbed back up then froze. I knew it was safe. I'd literally just done it but after several minutes I walked away. I couldn't jump.
It's happened before, snagged me, unexpected, without cause. Fear. Sometimes a person needs to find its root or merely needs support.
Sometimes though the only way forward is to accept that you're afraid and jump.
I'm entering a writing contest today, offering my work for the world to read.
Today, I'm jumping off the rock.
Years ago my family and I spent a summer afternoon at the river. On the far bank there was a huge, tall rock. We saw people leap off into the water but had never done that ourselves. I fear heights and frankly never considered it although the distance to the water was only six to eight feet. One of our sons, well in his teens, persuaded my husband and I to do it with him.
Our boy leapt, no hesitation. I wavered for a good moment but followed. It was fun and I've an amazing picture of my hubby after he jumped next, his feet inches above the water.
I intended to do it again. I climbed back up then froze. I knew it was safe. I'd literally just done it but after several minutes I walked away. I couldn't jump.
It's happened before, snagged me, unexpected, without cause. Fear. Sometimes a person needs to find its root or merely needs support.
Sometimes though the only way forward is to accept that you're afraid and jump.
I'm entering a writing contest today, offering my work for the world to read.
Today, I'm jumping off the rock.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
My Birthday present
My gift from my youngest son one year was the story posted below. It has a special place in my heart.
Once upon a time, there was a mouse and no this is not teenage mutant ninja turtle so STOP ASKING!!! Okay anyway this mouse was effected by magical energies increasing her size and making her sentient. Okay that was a joke. What really happened is that there was a race of mouse people. Death mouse was uh unique. How do I know this? Well I traveled with her on her crazy adventures. So without further delay here are
THE ADVENTURES OF DEATH MOUSE
(yes she wanted it written like that)
It was a bright and sunny day when Death Mouse was "walking" down the road. She had a feeling that she was being followed. Then out of freaking nowhere came GRUMBLE BEAR!!!. Already expecting this Death Mouse continued walking with her companion. They came to the town and right into a fight in a local tavern. The sheriff COOL CAT!! came and arrested the same repeat offender his brother RAGING BADGER!!.
Death mouse wanted to earn a name for herself as a hero. She learned from Cool Cat that there was a dragon nearby that was worrying the townsfolk. When Raging Badger finally calmed down he decided to go along with Cool Cat. They eventually reached the dragon's cave. Death Mouse was shivering with excitement to prove herself while the other's were working out a plan. Do to this she did not hear any of the plan which resulted in what happened next.
DEATH MOOOOOUSE!! she cried as she fearlessly charged into the dragon's lair. Did she just go in? Oh yeah stick to the plan guys, stick to the plan. Running in they came across a hilarious scene, a really annoyed dragon with a mouse attempting to stab him.
"Is this your mouse?" asked the dragon.
"Ah, yes."
"Could you please stop her this is getting annoying?
"Okay," Raging Badger agreed. "Hey Death Mouse you can stop. He appears friendly."
"APPEARS! You're the ones who came in to try to stab me! You could have said hey are you going to attack us? I would have said no. Why? Because I am a dragon librarian."
"A librarian?"
"Yes, what just because I'm a dragon I must be a mindless brute that will kill you all?"
"Well..."
"You thought that didn't you?"
"Ah yeah."
"Well now you know so could you please stop trying to kill me. Heck you could even invite the townspeople here for a feast from the elk I have hunted."
"Okay sure."
The dragon himself carved the roast elk.
"You know," said Death Mouse to the patient dragon, "That ending sound awfully familiar."
"Death Mouse you're breaking the rules of story telling, wait there's a rule book. I must enforce it," said Cool Cat. (sighing)
Patient Dragon said, "Happy Birthday to you Mom. I hope you liked book one of the ADVENTURES OF DEATHMOUSE!! :)
Once upon a time, there was a mouse and no this is not teenage mutant ninja turtle so STOP ASKING!!! Okay anyway this mouse was effected by magical energies increasing her size and making her sentient. Okay that was a joke. What really happened is that there was a race of mouse people. Death mouse was uh unique. How do I know this? Well I traveled with her on her crazy adventures. So without further delay here are
THE ADVENTURES OF DEATH MOUSE
(yes she wanted it written like that)
It was a bright and sunny day when Death Mouse was "walking" down the road. She had a feeling that she was being followed. Then out of freaking nowhere came GRUMBLE BEAR!!!. Already expecting this Death Mouse continued walking with her companion. They came to the town and right into a fight in a local tavern. The sheriff COOL CAT!! came and arrested the same repeat offender his brother RAGING BADGER!!.
Death mouse wanted to earn a name for herself as a hero. She learned from Cool Cat that there was a dragon nearby that was worrying the townsfolk. When Raging Badger finally calmed down he decided to go along with Cool Cat. They eventually reached the dragon's cave. Death Mouse was shivering with excitement to prove herself while the other's were working out a plan. Do to this she did not hear any of the plan which resulted in what happened next.
DEATH MOOOOOUSE!! she cried as she fearlessly charged into the dragon's lair. Did she just go in? Oh yeah stick to the plan guys, stick to the plan. Running in they came across a hilarious scene, a really annoyed dragon with a mouse attempting to stab him.
"Is this your mouse?" asked the dragon.
"Ah, yes."
"Could you please stop her this is getting annoying?
"Okay," Raging Badger agreed. "Hey Death Mouse you can stop. He appears friendly."
"APPEARS! You're the ones who came in to try to stab me! You could have said hey are you going to attack us? I would have said no. Why? Because I am a dragon librarian."
"A librarian?"
"Yes, what just because I'm a dragon I must be a mindless brute that will kill you all?"
"Well..."
"You thought that didn't you?"
"Ah yeah."
"Well now you know so could you please stop trying to kill me. Heck you could even invite the townspeople here for a feast from the elk I have hunted."
"Okay sure."
The dragon himself carved the roast elk.
"You know," said Death Mouse to the patient dragon, "That ending sound awfully familiar."
"Death Mouse you're breaking the rules of story telling, wait there's a rule book. I must enforce it," said Cool Cat. (sighing)
Patient Dragon said, "Happy Birthday to you Mom. I hope you liked book one of the ADVENTURES OF DEATHMOUSE!! :)
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