Super Mega Giveaway

You ready for this? Got your knee pads on? Helmet? Wearing a seatbelt? Because the giveaway rocketship is about to blast off!

I’ve teamed up with over 80 fantastic historical romance authors to give away a huge collection of novels to 2 lucky winners, alongside 10 bookstore gift cards, PLUS a Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet to the Grand Prize winner!

You can win my novel THE CAPTIVE HEART, plus books from some of my author buddies like MaryLu Tyndall, Melanie Dickerson and Carrie Turansky.

All this is just a click away, right HERE.

Play safe and good luck, kids.

Spring Fling Giveaway

It's spring and I'm feel frisky because hey . . . who isn't? One can't help but frolic when the sun is shining and the grass is green. Except those who are sneezing their heads off from allergies, I suppose. But never fear, even for allergy sufferers, here's a reason to kick up your heels with my SPRING FLING GIVEAWAY.

Here's your chance to enter to win a signed copy of The Captive Heart. Just click on the Rafflecopter drawing below to toss your name in the hat. Easy peasy! And feel free to share the love.

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National Library Week

Pull out your wing-twingler horns, bang on your whoopdedoodle drums, and let's have a big round of applause for National Library Week!

I grew up going to the library several times a week . . . which is quite a statement on my social life. But nowadays not even book nerds are hanging at the library. Information is accessible online. Amazon is just a click away. As a result, local libraries are visited less and less. 

So besides stuffing your face full of Peeps this weekend,  let's do our part to celebrate libraries. Pay yours a visit.

Another fun way to celebrate is to pop over to Out of Print Clothing. Besides snatching up yourself a sweet book-related tee-shirt, this company is responsible for donating 2.5 million books to communities in need and literary programs. And in honor of National Library Week, they've launched some fun collections.

Out of Print’s mission is to celebrate literature through fashion while spreading the joy of reading - - especially to those without access to books. By unearthing and licensing iconic book cover art to tell a story on fashion and lifestyle merchandise, Out of Print has developed a passionate following online and in stores across 80 countries.

Springtastic Easter Giveaway

I’ve teamed up with more than 45 fantastic inspirational historical romance authors to give away a huge collection of novels to 2 lucky winners, PLUS a Kindle Fire to the Grand Prize winner!

You can win my novel The Captive Heart, plus books from authors like Tamara Alexander and Erica Vetsch -- and a whole host of other awesome writers.

Enter the giveaway by clicking HERE.

Even if you don't win, you'll have a great list of authors to check out, some of which might be new to you.

Sharing the Love with a Giveaway

So, it's February. Around here the days are gray. I'm sick of cold and snow. And I still haven't lost that 5 pounds I gained at Christmas. Depressing, eh? Yeah. Cue the morbid pipe organ music.

Or not. Let's do a giveaway instead! Here's your chance to snatch up a signed copy of OUT OF THE FRYING PAN, a zany romantic mystery with plenty of action and bodacious shoes. Sign up and don't forget to share the love! You've only got until February 20th.

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Mid-Winter Giveaway

Okay, so it's not really mid-winter. Not here in Minnesota, where winter doesn't end until July. Doesn't matter. I'm done with snow. So, what better way to live in denial and focus on something other than cold and ice than doing a giveaway?

Answer: There is no better way.
So here's your chance to win a signed copy of one of my books.

(and if contests aren't your thing, then just pop over to Amazon and cough up $0.79 for a screaming hot deal on THE CAPTIVE HEART)

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Ending the Year Well

In 24 hours we'll all be ringing in a New Year . . . but how will you be ending your old one? Make it count. Don't be a slacker.

I ended mine by plotting out a new novella that's first on the docket to write in the new year. Here's a blurb for THE GENTLEMAN SMUGGLER'S LADY.

When a prim and proper governess is called home to her ailing father's bedside, her ship is ravaged by smugglers and her heart captured by the leader of them all -- the local lord of the manor. It's within her power to reveal the gentleman's secret . . . and within his to cast her out of town.

A huge thank you to all the faithful readers out there in the blogosphere. You make Writer Off the Leash worthwhile. There will be some upcoming changes to the blog in 2017 so stay tuned.

New Cover Reveal

Without even looking at the naughty or nice list, I've got a special little Christmas gift for all my awesome readers. Pull out your jingle-ringers and doodle-horns because the curtain is about to part for a sneak peek at a brand new book coming your way next September.
**excessive drum roll**
**ear-splitting cymbal crash**
**hearty waves of applause**
Ready?
Here's the cover for 12 Days at Bleakly Manor . . .

And here's a blurb . . .

When CLARA CHAPMAN receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of one thousand pounds. That’s enough money to bring her brother back from America and reinstate their stolen family fortune. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, BENJAMIN LANE.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar.

Brought together under mysterious circumstances for the Twelve Days of Christmas, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

Merry Christmas to all my Writer Off the Leash peeps!

Board Games for Word Lovers

The holiday season is just around the corner. That means lots of family time. If you don't want to get stuck listening to Great Aunt Violet's gory details about her lumbago, then I suggest you bring along a little activity. Here are some of my favorite word games that are usually a hit and always hilarious . . .

Liebrary
The premise for this game is to see who can come up with the best first line. A title of a book is given, along with a short synopsis read by the designated reader for that round. Everyone writes down what they think would be a great first line for that book and hands it in to the reader (who's actually writing down the real first line). The lines are read and everyone votes for what they think is the real first line. It's amazing how many better opening lines are created.

The Game of Things
In this game a topic card is read. Example: Things you wouldn't want to find in your Christmas stocking. Everyone writes down an answer. The designated reader for that round reads all the answers then everyone takes turns guessing who wrote what. You won't believe the "things" people come up with.

5 Second Rule
You'd think it would be easy to name 3 breeds of dogs—but you'd be surprised at how hard it is when you've only got 5 seconds to do so, especially when the other players are waiting for you to mess up. You never know what will come out of your mouth, and that's what makes this game so funny to play.

These are all tried and true games in my household. Whether you're a reader or a writer, any lover of words will love these games.

And here's something you'll also love . . . a chance to win a signed copy of THE CAPTIVE HEART.

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Christmas Giveaway

I know. You're a busy bee, especially with the holidays right around the corner. Maybe you haven't had time to snatch up a copy of The Captive Heart for yourself yet. Or perhaps you were going to snag one to give as a gift to the book lover in your life, but doggone it, who has time to shop? Never fear, little buddy, because I've got you covered.

Just enter this handy dandy giveaway to win a signed copy! Don't forget to share the love and spread the news. Offer ends on the 16th and I'll announce on Monday, Dec. 19th.

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How to Fangirl an Author

Fangirling author Julie Klassen

fangirl
\ˈfan-ˌgər(-ə)l\
A girl or woman who is an overly enthusiastic fan of someone or something.

If you could fangirl any author, who would it be? Go ahead and make a list. I'll wait.

Now that you know who you want to fangirl, let's go over the basics of how to do it . . .

5 Steps to Fangirl an Author

1. Join a fandom.

A fandom is a group of people who are as passionate about a particular author as you are. You can find these people on Goodreads or Facebook or pretty much any social media. And if you can't find any, then start your own fandom realm. Just be sure to go public with it so you're not alone. Also, if you create your own fandom, make sure to give yourself and other members a name. Example: Whovians are those who love Dr. Who.

2. Be a follower.

It's a given that your favorite author is somewhere on social media, and usually on more than one platform. Follow them all. Most importantly, check in on their website frequently for special events in your area.

3. Get off the couch.

If your author is having an event within a hundred mile radius of where you live then go. You don't want to miss out on a prime selfie with the author photo op, do you?

4. Be creative -- not creepy.

I once had a reader send me some pretty sweet handmade bookmarks. That's the kind of reader I adore -- not the ones who email me and tell me they love me so much they want to watch me while I sleep.

5. Share the love.

If you're a passionate fan of an author, the best way to spread that passion is to write reviews for their books. Post on Goodreads, Facebook, Amazon, wherever.

If you happen to be of the male persuasion, don't despair. Fanboys are every bit as important as fangirls.

Cyber Monday Deals for Writers and Readers

If your credit card isn't still smoking from Black Friday, whip it out because here are some sweet deals for Cyber Monday . . .

Whether you're looking for a writing craft book or just a nice piece of fiction to curl up with, both Amazon and Barnes & Noble have discounts galore. Fill your shopping cart at either one, and when you're ready to check out, here are the codes to save 30% at Amazon or 25% at Barnes & Noble:
For Amazon: HOLIDAY 30
For Barnes & Noble: 25CMONDAY

And while you're at it, THE CAPTIVE HEART is on sale before the discounts for $8.00.

Kindle Paperwhites are on sale for $99.99 HERE. And the cheapest Kindle is only $33.33!

Writers Digest has 50% off their craft books and other items, plus if you enter the code CYBER10, you get an additional 10% off.

Groupon has up to 80% off on some of their deals. Okay, so that's neither reading nor writing related, but 80% is a dang good dealio.

The Writer's Store has some great specials HERE.

Who can't use some office supplies? Ink. Paper. Yada, yada. Pop over to Staples for their Cyber Monday offerings.

And for the really hard person to buy for in your life, check out Uncommon Gifts. They're not offering any super sales, but they've got unique items you won't find anywhere else.

The Inspiration Behind The Captive Heart

As a wrap up to launch week for THE CAPTIVE HEART, here are a few random behind-the-scenes factoids about the inspiration for the story.

The Inspiration Behind the Plot

Currently our freedoms are being chipped away, piece by piece, to the point that makes me wonder where will it all end. I imagined what it might be like to have my freedom taken away completely . . . and so was born THE CAPTIVE HEART. I crafted the heroine to experience the loss of everything then took her on a journey to learn to cope with that loss.

The Inspiration Behind the Setting

Backcountry South Carolina is no more. Oh, don’t get me wrong. There are still rolling hills with drop-jaw gorgeous scenery, but the wildness, the unpredictability is buried in history. Did you know buffalo used to roam in that southern region? Neither did I until I did some digging. I tried to give the reader a snapshot of the area as it was in the eighteenth century, because it’s completely different than what it is today.

Research That Inspired

Before and during the writing of Captive Heart, I did LOTS of reading. My preferred haunt is the fiction realm but to write this story and stay true to the area, I had to read lots of sometimes dry historical non-fiction. Let’s just say I drank lots of coffee. On the flip side, though, I had a blast touring the area and hiking the same trails that my hero and heroine would’ve roamed.

I also couldn’t have done this without the aid of my rural writing buddies. As a city girl, I don’t know which end is up on a horse. Okay, so I suppose I could’ve figured that out, but sheesh! There’s a lot to the handling and care of a horse that I didn’t know about.

What's Next?

Currently I'm working on so many projects that that I’m kind of schizophrenic. It's tough trying to separate myself from all the characters clamoring in my head. My biggest project, though, is a holiday project that will release one book for the next 3 years. Once Upon a Dicken’s Christmas is a Victorian collection of heart-warming yet suspenseful Christmas stories. And actually the first story, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, carries the same theme of freedom but as experienced by the hero’s point of view (as opposed to the heroine's POV in Captive Heart). Here’s a blurb:

Imprisoned unjustly, BENJAMIN LANE wants nothing more than freedom and a second chance to claim the woman he loves—but how can CLARA CHAPMAN possibly believe in the man who stole her family’s fortune and abandoned her at the altar?

And here's your chance to win a signed copy of The Captive Heart . . .

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The Cutting Room Floor

Not all scenes make it into movies. Some end up on the cutting room floor. There are lots of reasons for a piece of work to not make the final draft, the two biggest being a lack of space and a change of direction for the story.

The same is true for novels. For all you Captive Heart fans out there, here is a deleted scene that didn't make it into the final draft. . .

Grace babbled on and on about Biz. So far it’d been a losing battle to get her to add Miss in front of Biz’s name. Eleanor sighed, then smiled when Grace twisted and patted her cheek with her chubby little fingers. “Home, mama!”

            She grinned back. “Yes, Grace. We are soon to home.”

            Grace bounced, whipping her head from one side to the other and bumping into her father.

            “Whoa now,” Samuel reached out his arm and stilled her. “You’re wild as a ’coon cub on a full moon.”

            For a moment Grace stilled, then pushed up from Eleanor’s skirts and howled out a word that would make a sailor blush.

            Eleanor’s jaw dropped. Samuel’s face jerked to hers. Were her eyes as wide as his? Apparently Grace had spent more time with Biz than with the reverend.

            Eleanor grabbed hold of the girl’s shoulders and turned her on her lap, drawing her face to face. What to do? Overreacting would make this naught but a game. Still, ignoring the outburst would surely condone it.

            Drawing from years of governess experience, she held up her hand, fingers curled as if she held a great treasure. “Grace, would you like to see what I have?”

            Grace nodded, eyes fixed on her hand. Even Samuel gazed, a curious tilt to his head.

            “I hold a word that’s even better than the one you just used. Would you like to trade for it?”

            The girl’s nose scrunched up, but slowly she nodded.

            “Very well.” Eleanor opened her other hand, palm flat. “But you must give up the other one first. Put it here.”

            “What on earth—”

            She shushed Samuel before he broke Grace’s concentration. “Go on, Grace, take that word from your mouth and I shall cast it away so you’ll have room for the other.” She shoved her open palm closer.

            With solemn movement, Grace lifted her forefinger and thumb to her lips, then pretend plucked the vile word from her lips and gently dropped it onto Eleanor’s hand.

            “Good girl.” She closed her fist over the curse and mimicked throwing it into the dark woods. Then she opened up her other hand and offered a new word. “Here is your new word. Instead you shall say . . .” She waited until the girl’s eyes fixed on her lips, anticipation shining like a bright star.

            “Oogdoogle!” Eleanor tickled the child until she shrieked. Samuel chuckled along with her. And by the time the laughter faded, Samuel pulled the wagon into the yard.

So there's your bonus feature, only for my buddies here at Writer Off the Leash. And here's one more bonus . . . sign up to win a signed copy of THE CAPTIVE HEART.

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How Much History is Under Your Belt?

I had a fan-freaking-tastic Launch Party for The Captive Heart last night. Huge shoutout to Community Grounds for hosting the event. Awesome coffee and awesome people.

Besides lots of free-flowing coffee, I gave guests a chance to take a Colonial trivia quiz to earn some chocolate. Think you would've earned one? Here's the quiz . . .

COLONIAL AMERICA TRIVIA

1. In the 17^th century, under a ‘headright’ system in the American colonies, a person received a grant of land in a colony for:

A. Ministerial Service                        C. Settling There

B. Military Service                             D. Political Service

2. What is the term for citizens enrolled as a regular military force but called into active duty only in an emergency?

A. Cavalry                                          C. Militia

B. Brigade                                          D. Infantry

3. What was the name of the state created in 1786, which lasted for only four years?

A. State of Franklin                            C. State of Adams

B. State of Madison                           D. State of Jefferson

4. What was the predominant church in the colonial South?

A. Congregational                              C. Quaker

B. Church of England                         D. Presbyterian

5. Who founded the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations?

A. Roger Williams                              C. Thomas Rogers

B. William Rogers                              D. John Brown

6. The Wilderness Road was the principal route used by settlers traveling from the East to Kentucky. Who is credited with blazing out the Wilderness Road in 1775 through the Cumberland Gap?

A. Meriwether Lewis                          C. William Clark

B. Daniel Boone                                 D. Davy Crockett

7. During the years immediately preceding the Revolutionary War, Virginia claimed and extended its jurisdiction over a part of which other state?

A. Maryland                                       C. North Carolina

B. Tennessee                                      D. Pennsylvania

8. What modern-day military organization was formed in 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service?

A. United States Marine Corps         C. United States Navy

B. United States Merchant Marines  D. United States Coast Guard

9. The Declaration of Independence has 56 signers. Which state had the most signers?

A. Massachusetts                             C. New Jersey

B. Virginia                                         D. Pennyslvania

10. Which of the 13 English colonies was founded by religious dissenters?

A. Rhode Island                                  C. Connecticut

B. Massachusetts                               D. New Hampshire

Got it? Here's the answers:

1. C    2. C.    3. A    4. B    5. A    6. B    7. D    8. D    9. D    10. A

How did you do? Don't worry. I don't expect you to ace it. Regardless of your answer, you can still enter to win a signed copy of THE CAPTIVE HEART.

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