Scribblings from a twenty-year homeschool veteran about homeschooling, life after homeschooling, occasional peeks into the world of writing for children, and the ups and downs of life in general.
I'm off to a writers conference (as long as Kristel holds off on baby #6) Monday through Thursday this week. However, I put up TWO Bloggy giveaways. If you want to enter, click on the links that look interesting to you. Until then, I'll be--once again--off the grid and writing away at Oregon Christian Writers in Canby, OR.
If you're interested in winning a copy of Andrea Carter and the San Francisco Smugglers when it releases the end of August, along with a "Taffy" beanie baby horse, go here: CIRCLE C BLOG
If you'd like to win either the print version (or the new, full-color e-book) of my Reach for the Stars writing workbook for kids, go here: SUZY'S WRITING CORNER
By Your Love is having a contest to win a $39.00 Schoolhouse Planner from The Old Schoolhouse magazine. Now that's a pricey contest and well worth entering! Click the graphic to head over to By Your Love's blog to check it out. As a "sneak peek" here is part of her review:
"The first word out of my mouth as I opened my planner was WOW! I heard how great this was but I don't think I realized how great it could have been until I saw it. It is AWESOME! This planner is by far the greatest one I have ever seen!
This planner is an ebook. The great thing about that is you can print off what you want and leave what you don't, the cover would be great to print off and put in a 3 ring notebook and you could put the rest of the book inside and have a great planner for school time. It has 247 pages in it, it's also interactive so you can work on the pages in your computer and print them off, wow-thats great."
Happy Monday to everyone! As far as my Exercise Challenge (see right sidebar) I've been a good girl. I am now packing around 8# of weights in my vest and going 2 miles. I also hop on my bike and ride 5 miles (on sunny days), so I'm feeling pretty good about my progress.
I'm happily joining the Ultimate Blog Party this week! Just click the banner and you can sign up to win all sorts of wonderful prizes--all week long! The rules are right there. Now, a short word welcoming you to my blog:
I am a 20-year homeschool veteran. My daughter is carrying on the tradition by homeschooling her children (5, going on 6). My youngest is 16 and on his way out of this stage of our lives. During this "new" season of "life after homeschooling" I pursued a writing opportunity and ended up writing stories for kids that somebody actually wanted to publish (surprise!). So...what do I do on this blog? Exactly what a writer does whenever he/she is given an opportunity: I write. I do book reviews (sometimes), write about great field trips, give a few lofty thoughts about life and eternity, write a LOT about my kids and grandkids (don't we all?), give away copies of my books, and in general have a good time meeting new friends.
Here are my 4 "originals," which have grown to include spouses (not pictured)....and 7 lovely grandchildren
Now, here are the prizes I would LOVE to win for either myself or my daughter, Kristel:
In addition, I could really go for these other prizes, listed by number:
*1, 5, 9, 19, 22, 30, 34, 70*
However, I'm really happy with anything I win!
I'm also giving away a prize (actually 3 winners): the winner's choice of any of my current books (prize #73): You must sign the Mr. Linky at the Ultimate Blog Party to be included in any drawings! Go to my Circle C Ranch blog to learn more about my prize, since Andi is actually hosting it over there.
Hurry on over to A Pondering Heart and join in the Family Photo Contest. (You can read all of the rules over there, since her right-click feature is disabled so I can't copy and paste).
The prize is a subscription to The Old Schoolhouse magazine. Here, for consideration, is my exhibit--a family portrait from Christmas of my DD and her family:
The contest ends the end of this week, so hurry over and sign up with Mr. Linky to share your family photos!
I'm sorry this is getting up so late. I was gone all weekend, writing on Book 4 of my Circle C Adventures. I'm trying to finish it by December. I wrote 3,000 words up at our cabin in the Okanogan, and wow! That place really inspires me.
But enough of that. I know you all want to know who guessed correctly on my popular "How Many Horses" contest. There are....28 horses in the jar. That's right, folks. 28. I carefully went over the comments and I found 6 folks who guessed the exact number (Their blogs are below). Originally I was going to toss their names in a hat and pull out one winner, but I have decided to give a book to EACH of the six winners. However, to get your book, you must do these 3 things:
1) Choose the book you would like to receive. Here are your choices (with a short blurb about each). You may go to my WEBSITE if you want to read more about each one to help you decide. Note: if you choose book 3, Family Secret, I won't be able to send it to you until it is released in February 2008. ANDREA CARTER AND THE LONG RIDE HOME Andi’s poor choices plunge her into danger when she takes her horse Taffy and leaves her home on the Circle C ranch. ANDREA CARTER AND THE DANGEROUS DECISION Andi's frightening experiences with an outlaw captor result in new understanding of what the Golden Rule really means. ANDREA CARTER AND THE FAMILY SECRETAndi’s carefree life on the Circle C ranch is shattered by the arrival of strangers who hold the key to a shocking family secret from the past.
2) E-mail me your name and address (my "e-mail me" is on the sidebar) and tell me the name of the book you chose, along with the name of the person you want the book autographed to.
3) Announce on your blog that you won and send folks on over to see the contest you entered.
Congratulations! If you enjoy the book, tell all your friends so they'll buy them! And if you enjoy the "freebie" maybe you'll buy the others in the series!
Thanks for playing, everyone. If I think of another contest after the holidays to go along with the release of book 4, I'll post it. I think contests are fun!
I've discovered that everybody likes to win fun, free stuff. So I'm having another contest. Last June, I put on a contest to "Pick the Cover" of my new kids' historical adventure, Andrea Carter and the Family Secret, and it really was fun to see which cover you liked best. Whirlwind won a hot-off-the-press copy, when it's released next February.
Well, for the next couple of weeks, I'm going to give the kids (and anybody else who wants to try their guessing skills) an opportunity to guess the number of plastic horses in this quart canning jar. I set a little horse next to jar so you can see its size. The person closest to the correct number will win a copy of Family Secret. (Or, if you prefer not to wait until February, you may choose Long Ride Home or Dangerous Decision as your free book). If you want to read chapter 1 of any of the books, you can click here: Books. If you want to read more, I made this amazing discovery on my publisher's website. They put Chapter Two of Family Secret up. If you like the story, it is actually available for pre-order even now. (Ah! Technology!)
OK. Here are the rules:
1) Post the icon below on your blog, with a link back to the contest, so others can join the fun.
2) Make your guess--how many horses?--and post your answer in a comment. Don't forget your contact info, if you are not a logged-in HSB blogger!
3) If dozens of people guess the same number--and it is the closest (or the exact number), I will hold a drawing of those folks to determine the winner.
I'm putting on my very first contest! Here's how it works. As you have probably guessed from my blog, I write an historical adventure series for kids, the Circle C Adventures. The 3rd book, Andrea Carter and the Family Secret, will be released sometime winter 2007-08. My publisher, Kregel Publications, recently sent me 2 draft copies of the cover. I need to know which cover "grabs" you as a reader (both kids and parents). Is it cover #1? Cover #2? Give me your choice of cover and explain why you chose it, and you could win a free copy of Family Secret when it comes out. I'll put all the comments into a hat, and when Kregel sends me the official cover (after gathering our feedback), I'll draw a name and post the winner on my blog. Everyone who posts feedback is eligible to win. I do need you to identify yourselves so I can link back to you if you win. So, have a great time and let me know your thoughts! And...share this contest with your friends. The more feedback, the better! I'll send your "votes" to my marketing manager on July 23, right after our family gets back from vacation. So that's the deadine.
Here's a brief summary of the book:
Strange things are happening on the Circle C. Who is the lifeless man Andi and her friends find lying in the creek? Who is the travel-weary young woman with three unruly children who suddenly show up at the ranch? Why has Andi never been told the secret her older brothers and sister all know?
Angry and hurt at being left out, Andi saddles up Taffy and sets out to find some answers. What she learns turns her world upside down. Soon she and her her family are drawn into danger because of one person’s twisted desire for revenge.
How far must Andi go to protect and rescue the little ones she has grown to love?
Theme: Families stick together---no matter what.
If you would like to read an excerpt, click on Chapter One
Here are my 4 "originals," which have grown to include spouses (not pictured)....and
7 lovely grandchildren
You must sign the Mr. Linky at the Ultimate Blog Party to be included in any drawings! Go to my 
I'm sorry this is getting up so late. I was gone all weekend, writing on Book 4 of my Circle C Adventures. I'm trying to finish it by December. I wrote 3,000 words up at our cabin in the Okanogan, and wow! That place really inspires me. 
Here's how it works. As you have probably guessed from my blog, I write an historical adventure series for kids, the Circle C Adventures. The 3rd book, Andrea Carter and the Family Secret, will be released sometime winter 2007-08. My publisher, Kregel Publications, recently sent me 2 draft copies of the cover. I need to know which cover "grabs" you as a reader (both kids and parents). Is it cover #1? Cover #2? Give me your choice of cover and explain why you chose it, and you could win a free copy of Family Secret when it comes out. I'll put all the comments into a hat, and when Kregel sends me the official cover (after gathering our feedback), I'll draw a name and post the winner on my blog. Everyone who posts feedback is eligible to win. I do need you to identify yourselves so I can link back to you if you win. So, have a great time and let me know your thoughts! And...share this contest with your friends. The more feedback, the better! I'll send your "votes" to my marketing manager on July 23, right after our family gets back from vacation. So that's the deadine. 
