THE COWBOY PLAN cover

THE COWBOY PLAN has a cover… WOOHOO!

 

“The Cowboy Plan” by Denise Belinda McDonald
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Western Romance

ISBN: 978-1-60504-651-8
Length: Novel
Price: 5.50
Publication Date: August 18, 2009
Cover art by Tuesday Dube

Big girls don’t cry over a spilled chocolate milkshake—they run like crazy.

Alex Barrett’s all too “real life” sentence is almost over. She’s spent years being a parent to her siblings—and her flaky mother. What was her reward, other than an empty bed? Nothing. And now that she’s almost free, nothing’s exactly what she plans to do. Except have fun.

One minute she’s one of thousands of panting female fans at hotter-than-hot Drew Hartford’s concert. The next, she’s all wet—and so is he. Okay, so it’s only because she dumped a milkshake all over him.

Drew’s meteoric rise to the top of the country charts is fueled by the swooning women who throw themselves at his feet. Alex? She’s different. When their icy paths cross, she doesn’t throw her panties, she beats a hasty retreat. There’s only one way to keep this intriguing lady around long enough to charm her out of those panties: offer her a job she can’t refuse.

Drew may be every female’s definition of a fantasy man, but a paycheck and a roll in the hay do not a relationship make. Besides, Alex is tired of living 24/7 for someone else. Even a someone who’s offering her dreams of happily ever after…

Warning: Hot and heavy loving; stuff country songs are made of.

 

COMING SOON to SAMHAIN PUBLISHING

 

 

Official Print Release of TRADING FACES

Today is the official print release day for TRADING FACES

There are worse things than winding up dead…

With her ex-husband’s death, Elyse Cabot thinks she’s permanently off the emotional roller coaster… until he turns up posing as his twin brother—the real victim of foul play—at his funeral. Before she can get any answers out of him, he’s gone, leaving her with more questions than closure.

And a fortune in loose diamonds.

Seeing Elyse again brings back a lot of hot, sweaty teenage memories for Jack. Then she opens her mouth and out comes some cockamamie story about her ex, diamonds and double crossing. So much for rekindling an old flame. Still, he just can’t seem to resist the lure of this dame in distress.

He just hopes he can solve the case before he does something stupid—like fall in love.

Warning, this title contains the following: Twins, explicit sex, graphic language, some rock ’em sock ’em violence, and did we mention diamonds?

WOOHOO!

It’s up!

THE COWBOY PLAN  is up on Samhain’s coming soon page!

WOOHOO!

No cover yet. I will post that as soon as I get it.

blurb:

Big girls don’t cry over a spilled chocolate milkshake—they run like crazy.

Alex Barrett’s all too “real life” sentence is almost over. She’s spent years being a parent to her siblings—and her flaky mother. What was her reward, other than an empty bed? Nothing. And now that she’s almost free, nothing’s exactly what she plans to do. Except have fun.

One minute she’s one of thousands of panting female fans at hotter-than-hot Drew Hartford’s concert. The next, she’s all wet—and so is he. Okay, so it’s only because she dumped a milkshake all over him.

Drew’s meteoric rise to the top of the country charts is fueled by the swooning women who throw themselves at his feet. Alex? She’s different. When their icy paths cross, she doesn’t throw her panties, she beats a hasty retreat. There’s only one way to keep this intriguing lady around long enough to charm her out of those panties: offer her a job she can’t refuse.

Drew may be every female’s definition of a fantasy man, but a paycheck and a roll in the hay do not a relationship make. Besides, Alex is tired of living 24/7 for someone else. Even a someone who’s offering her dreams of happily ever after…

Warning: Hot and heavy loving; stuff country songs are made of.

Goal update ~ half way

It’s June, half-way through the year and I thought a good time for goals update (especially in light of various challenges going on). My 2009 goals that I set are:

~ Finish two books.(I have well over 20 open WIPs to choose from so it’s not like I have a lack of ideas to choose from)

~ Submit two finished books (they kinda go hand-in-hand y’know)

~ Start and finish a new book from start to finish (but not until I have finished the afore mentioned two books)

~ Submit brand spanking new book (you see the pattern here right, this is supposed to be how it works–rather than staring the WIP and making 42 save copies of it and stopping around page 90 and thinking it’s crappy and watching a week of Lifetime and finishing two quarts of Chunky Monkey to appease the pain and doubt . . . . wheshew . . . . I guess I needed to get that off my chest!)

~ Look for an agent (I won’t be so bold as to put find an agent–a lot depends on that other person too)

~ Write every week (I know me, every day ain’t gonna happen–but if I do better, like two three days a week, I will have gotten so much more done!)

So how have I done?

Actually, not too bad. I have finished and submitted a book (technically two–because one I submitted my editor asked for the full–which I had told her WAS done so I had to then scramble like crazy and finish–and she bought it, it’s my August release, but shhh don’t tell my editor that part).

I am 2/3 through the start from scratch book–which is book 2 in the Paintbrush series–chugging away on that! I am working on it for Ames’ challenge, so it WILL be done and it will be submitted! (before the end of the year)

I have written every week and truth be told almost every single day this year.

So, the agent part, not so much, but I still have six months to go.

One thing that I need to add and prolly the most important one is that I am ALLOWED to write. Even writing every week, and doing cover art sheets and galley edits and getting royalty checks, it still hasn’t sunk in that I can do this. Take yourself serious and every one else will too! That is number one on the goal list from now on!

One in print, one coming soon and one more :)

TRADING FACES is NOW AVAILABLE on Amazon in print.

 

…. AND

SECOND CHANCES in print is up on Amazon for pre-order… WHOOPEE!

I am diligently working on book two in the Paintbrush series. Chug. chug, chugging away!

 

…. AND

THE COWBOY PLAN should be up soon on Samhain’s Website coming out late this summer. (I don’t have the cover yet, but will post it as soon as I do!)

A Mother’s Dictionary

SWEATER: Magically charmed article of clothing that can ward away colds, flu and even pneumonia.

SUNDAY BEST: Attractive, expensive children’s clothing made of a fabric which attracts melted chocolate and grape juice.

TEACHER CONFERENCE: A meeting between Mom and that person who has yet to understand her child’s “special needs.”

TERRIBLE TWO’S: Having both kids at home all summer.

“THAT WAY”: How kids shouldn’t look at moms if they know what’s good for them. Also applies to how they talk.

TOWELS: See “FLOOR COVERINGS”

TRAMP: A woman with two kids and no stretch marks.

TROUBLE: Area of nonspecific space a child can always be sure to be in.

UMPTEENTH: Highly conservative estimate of the number of times Mom must instruct her offspring to do something before it actually gets done.

UNDERWEAR: An article of clothing, the cleanliness of which ensures the wearer will never have an accident.

UTOPIA: See “BUBBLE BATH”

VACATION: Where you take the family to get away from it all, only to find it there, too.

VITAMINS: Tiny facsimiles of cave people Mom forces you to swallow each morning as part of her sinister plot to have you grow up to be “just like Daddy.”

WALLS: Complete set of drawing paper for kids that comes with every room.

WASHING MACHINE: Household appliance used to clean blue jeans, permanent ink markers, loose change, homework, tissues and wads of gum.

“WHEN YOUR FATHER GETS HOME”: Standard measurement of time between crime and punishment.

XOXOXOXO: Mom salutation guaranteed to make the already embarrassing note in a kid’s lunch box even more mortifying.

XYLOPHONE: Small toy musical instrument often given as gifts to children who show their appreciation by playing the stupid thing constantly, over and over, all day long! See also “DRUMS”

YARD SALE: Heart-wrenching emotional process wherein Mom plans to sell kids’ outdated toys and clothing that she decides at the last minute are treasured mementos she can’t bear to part with.

“YIPPEE!”: What Mom would jump up and shout if the school year was changed to 12 months. See also “YAHOO!”

ZILLION: Amount of times Mom must have gone to the supermarket already this week.

ZUCCHINI: Vegetable which can be baked, boiled, fried or steamed before kids refuse to eat it.

I got a new pretty

I found a design website: Eye Funk Designs online (and to be honest I can’t for the life of me remember how I got to it–it was through a link at one place but … *shrugs* … can’t remember).

I asked for a banner–as I don’t have one. And EVERYone should have a banner right?!?!

 

 

Pretty cool, huh?

NEWS : NEWS : NEWS

So…. the other day I said I had news I wanted to share. I wanted to wait to tell my ‘Buds in person (which I did/am doing–not sure if the timestamp on this thing is accurate). And I was waiting on paperwork–which I completed Tuesday, April 7th.

I sold another book . . . . WOOHOO!!

The Cowboy Plan

The story is about a Country and Western Singer (Drew Hartford) and a Pet Photographer (Alex Barrett).  I am working on the blurb for my editor and will post that as soon as it’s ready.

I am excited about this story–not that I am not always excited about my books–every book I write I think I have a little crush on the hero. As it should be. Why would you want to read about him if I don’t have a little crush on him, right?!?!?

The E-format of  THE COWBOY PLAN will be out in August ‘09–I will pass along the specificdates as I get them. And just a reminder: TRADING FACES will be out in print this summer. SECOND CHANCES will be out in print around Christmas ‘09.

More info to follow ASAP!

Goal update: Quarter of the way

I had lofty goals at the beginning of the new year. It’s now April and one might wonder (in the absence of any blogging lately) if I have been able to maintain said goals.

Actually to a degree, yes. I HAVE written every week. Maybe only a few lines for about two or three weeks, but I did open my WIP and write in it every single week. Truth be told, for the most part I have written every single day (that trip to Disney World put a few things out of whack–that and spraining both ankles there–that will knock the wind outta your sails!)

I did finish something this year. I have been working on book 2 for the Paintbrush Series… it’s coming along nicely I think!

I have an open WIP I have been toying with to send out. 

So that leaves: look for agent and sell to NY. It’s only April so I am go for goals so far!

I do have some NEWS, too, but I am waiting 1) to tell my girls in person and 2) on a key piece of paperwork to bet done. I will share soon!

 

 

No kidding…

Go on vacation and you can learn a few things about yourself (and somehow about your characters–trust me, I can ALWAYS figure out a way to get life around to writing!)

1.  A child who can ride umpteen roller coasters can get airsick (several times!)

2. A pair of safety scissors left in a backpack from school years gone by can and WILL make it through one airport but not the other.

3. 4 kids 2 parents on vacation–SOMEone is ALWAYS in a bad mood–if you’re lucky it’s one one person at a time. (unless that one is the youngest–then there is MUCH trouble–Sheesh!)

4. When you have a cuter than cute family they will get pointed out at various different shows various times and not just once per show–who knew the McD’s were so fabulous! (well, I did of course)

5. Ankles (yes, plural) were not meant to go certain directions.

6. Yes you can pass out from pain! (let’s just mark that off my to-do list and move along)

7. BEWARE OF THE STOCKADES!

8. Claustrophobia can hit at the MOST inconvenient moments–like RIGHT when the ride closes you in tight, moves the front to within inches of your face and YOU CAN’T GET OUT!

9. If the DH, who tends not to be cold, suggests you take a jacket, and you don’t listen, it will cost you lots of money to buy a couple of sweatshirts and blankets for the late evening fireworks show.

10. While on vacation you will still run across those folks who have NO patience for wheelchairs or crutches–lighten up folks you on damn vacation! (And I AM THE ONE WHO CAN’T FREAKING WALK–you don’t hear me complaining!)

11. Your DH is the biggest kid of them all!

12. If there is a special ESPN thingie going on at a park–avoid it at ALL cost (unless you have sports freaks in the fam, then you’re just screwed–suck it up!)

13. Once you tell a child, “No the ride’s not scary, I swear” and they get off Tower of Terror unhappy, your credibilty is a little shaken!

14. Despite any pain you incure, taking an unexpected vacation with the family is muy fun! (Can’t wait to go again– hear that honey!)

Anything that happens to you or the family can and will be fodder for your next book(s)–right kids!