Saturday, September 15, 2012

New Contract Simply Saturday!!!!

I made these (chocolate peanut butter swirl chip brownies) yesterday to celebrate!


HOW LAME IS THAT????

(NOTE: BIG GRIN ATTACHED!!!)

Yes, I'm writing this grinning because the sweet hand of God the Father Almighty has rested upon my L'Orealed head once more...




Through his grace and Love Inspired's largess and Natasha Kern's devotion I have just been granted a four book contract to use on a law enforcement series set in Western New York!

OH, YAY!!!!!

"Kirkwood Lake"
a series of books by Ruth Logan Herne


Hot cops. Sweet cops. Hard-working heroines. Downtrodden souls. Bridge builders. Gentle hearts. Pretty flowers. Rolling hills. Gorgeous lakeshore. Seeking faith. Finding hope. Trees, trees and more trees to feed my dryad heart! And did I mention a farm that just makes me SMILE FROM EAR TO EAR????  Mostly because it makes Mary Connealy cringe that I'm setting up a dairy farm for this tough heroine.

:)

We're bridging the Men of Allegany County into this series, so the final book of Men of Allegany County (next May, a beautiful story of surviving cancer and saying goodbyes...."The Lawman's Second Chance") is actually going to be the FIRST book of the "Kirkwood Lake" series.

I am happy dancing here!  And I'm celebrating by NOT COOKING A DARN THING!!!  :)

Take-out, anyone????


But I am working on a new and wonderful dessert tomorrow, one to share next week and I'll show it to youse, pass or FAIL.  Imagine tender, fried pastry, stuffed with cheese filling, dusted with cinnamon sugar, melt in your mouth goodness...

That's what I'm attempting tomorrow, so I'll either embarrass myself (like that's never happened before, LOL!) or make you all smile to see how simple it is!

Get those deep fryers ready and don't tell me it will be just as good baked.

Oh, yuck.

:)

27 comments:

  1. Great news on that new series, Ruthy! We'll have to get a parade going down the streets of Seekerville to celebrate! Kazoos for everybody!

    Oh, and chocolate peanut butter brownies to boot? Awesome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Let's start the parade at 10:00 Central????? That way everyone's up! :)

      These brownies, oh my stars... they are decadence in a square.

      Delete
  2. congratulations! I thought there was another book coming out this year? there's not? Nothing like a man in uniform :-) I prefer military to cops but hey I'll take 'em too! or firemen..
    ok so May's book is a tearjerker like Winter's End? don't think I'm up to dealing with more death - even in a book :-( but at least you've warned me! my 2 faves so far have been Winter's End and Matt's book - the one set at Thanksgiving. I think he's my favorite hero from all of them...not sure why but he was! :-)
    Susanna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Susanna, Matt was my favorite Allegany County guy, too.

      Delete
    2. Oh I love Matt!!!! I'm so glad you mentioned that. What is it that grabs you about Matt? I was studying this week, sales and trends and reviews, trying to see what grabs folks the most about a hero... because women bond with these heroes...

      So what did Matt have? Was it the military? His gentleness? The way he handled things? Vulnerability?

      I'm really interested to know!

      And Susanna, there's a new book coming out soon, a Christmas book with another soldier hero. Oh my stars, Susanna, I LOVE THIS BOOK... It gets released in mid-November, but I'm doing a contest on my blog (starting today!!!) www.ruthysplace.com to give away five copies in October. Stop by, leave me a comment and you're in! We're coming up with name lists for two little kids who wandered out of the forest near the end of next May's book.... And Susanna, I think you'll love that book too. It's about a breast cancer survivor (in honor of my friend Lisa) and a cop who lost his wife to breast cancer... Beautiful story! :)

      Delete
    3. Oh I love Christmas stories (by then I may be reading again!) checking out your blog now.

      Delete
    4. sorry we got busy at work then it was groceries then sleep and now back to work(night shift) hmm Matt..some of the stories sorta run together for me with names and how people are related so I dont' remember his exact problem - gotta dig through my pile of fave books and find it and skim through again! but basically I guess it's the strength and vulnerability- he reminds me a bit of the heroine in winter's end - kayla?-can't remember her name either and she's been my fave heroine I think along with the one with the candy shop..anyways I like how I could tell he really wanted to belong to that family - her father,kid and all - he seemed to absorb it and crave it. and he seemed to really like thehouse and kitchen he was building - not just slapping houses together and collecting a check. he was also good to have the heroine's dad and her and her son help out..darn it just thinking about it makes me wanna go find the book. might have to buy the kindle version! I just liked the guy - he had his issues and just needed a family but he was also strong.
      Susanna

      Delete
  3. Great news on the series and im up for takeaway (do it really well) A nice Iced chocolate milk drink with whipped cream on top would go down a treat right now. Oh those cute cows but they could put eat lamb rather than chicken (after getting food poisoning the only chicken I eat is nuggets). But Lamb I would do anything for almost within reason. ok I wouldn't do anything but I would love it. nothing beats roast lamb. Ok im rambling you can tell im tired (and hungry) says me eating some chocolate which I will share.
    Can I give you a pretty gerber instead of a treat as I just planted 5, 2 in the garden and 3 in pots on the porch that I can enjoy when I sit in the sun (when its out) and read.

    Oh and on Monday I am booking my flights to the states (no longer staying in Dallas overnight but will be overnight and have a day in Atlanta but it will be a few days earlier Monday the 6th of May). Just need to find a nice hotel there for Sunday night (I arrive at 9.15 pm and after about 24 hours in planes and layovers I may be a little tired).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love roast lamb! I'll cook it today, just for you, Jenny!!!

      Chocolate, yes, thank you for sharing! And you're coming to the States???? Oh, yayayayayayay! Jen, how exciting! Hooooooorrrrraaaaay for you!

      Delete
    2. Oh cool I had spaghetti sauce over noodles today and yes I made it myself (about the only thing I can now cook) have to say although it tasted ok I still wasn't that hungry.
      But lamb its full of iron (that dreaded word) and I need that. yes I wont make it to NY state but close. I will be in Atlanta for a day then near Chattanooga then a tour of historical trails which go from Washington DC to some of the battle places and most important Gettysburg, to philadelphia and back to Washington dc. Then flying to Spokane and some of the authors and readers on Janet Tronstands Dry Creek goodreads group are going to meet up, then onto Seattle and Honolulu. I am hoping to meet both Debby and Missy in Atlanta.

      Delete
    3. Oh, Jenny, it sounds like the trip of a lifetime! I'm so delighted you can do this!!! Yayayayayayay!!!!

      Delete
    4. Jenny! What a wonderful trip!

      And while you're here, you'll have to try the Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets. They're fabulous.

      And be sure to drink citrus juices (orange, grapefruit, etc.) while you're trying to get your iron count up. They help you absorb the iron you eat.

      Delete
  4. Congratulations, Ruthy!!!!

    You're inspiring me this morning. I'm up early to write because the last two weeks of Back to School stuff have been EXHAUSTING and I haven't written more than a sentence or two. When night owl me crawls into bed at 8:30 so I have the energy to deal with my darling 4th graders the next day, you know it's been rough. But the first few weeks of school are always like this so I know not to expect anything of myself.

    But today - it's cool, I've got my coffee, and I've got words just bursting to get out.

    Congratulations to you on the contract and to us for having the expectations of 4 more Ruthy books. :)

    O happy day!


    My go to takeout is PIZZA. Every now and again I just have a craving.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, me too. We have a local pizza shop I love. Caraglio's... It's thicker crust pizza and the ratio of delicious crust to toppings is perfect. :)

      Pizza is such an individual thing! I've got a couple of thin-crust kids... Silly them!!!

      And some thick-crust kids.... clearly smart! It's like Christmas trees. Peeps like what they like in Christmas trees. I like old-fashioned mid-length needles, very normal for the Northeast... but some folks love blue spruce or long-needled pines.

      Pizza's kinda like that.

      Thank you Mary, and yes!!! Get back to it! My teacher kids are the same way. It takes a few weeks to get your schedule comfortable again in September... So glad you're back at it today, chickie!

      Delete
  5. Oh WOW!!!!! I am so in love with this whole concept. the four book contract, the largess of LI, the fighting spirit of Natasha, and behind it all is sweet (well, she bakes sweets) Ruthy writing us some men who'll steal our hearts and BFF heroines. I don't think I've been this excited about hearing a new book contract (besides my OWN- one and only, haha!) is when I heard Shannon Hale's sequel to Princess Academy was finally coming out!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yayayayayay!!! Thank you for sharing my joy!!! Happy dance, happy dance, happy dance!!!!

      And I'm having a ball with my name the children contest... We will make hearts rock and roll and think tender thoughts, we will cradle those children in our arms until they're happy to be alive... and there will be happily ever afters with God's grace and blessing. I'M PSYCHED!!!

      Delete
  6. I'm uber excited too and ready to join the parade. I'll dress Simba up too and he can be the parade marshall, how about that? So looking forward to reading what you come up with. And the Christmas book -- is it out early (aka Harelquin online orders) in October or November? Can't wait for that read either.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love, love, love this Christmas book. Not because I wrote it, but because of the man who inspired it. He's the former soldier I saw at the Memorial Day parade in 2010... A soldier, mid-forties, standing alone, wearing his Air Force baseball cap. Behind his left ear were two tiny yellow ribbons, so small you wouldn't see them from the front. Tiny remembrances of someone lost or gone...

      His image became Colonel Brett Stanton in my head and I had to write his story. I had to help him get over his loss. Aren't authors/writers the weirdest things on the planet???? ;) Harlequin should have it out by late October or early November because Amazon's release date hard copy is November 16... And the Kindle version is December 1st. I hope you love it, Kav-a-licious! And who knows, you may just win it... Go over to www.ruthysplace.com and leave a comment to name the kids... even if you don't want to name the kids! :) Anyone who comments gets tucked in the drawing for a copy of His Mistletoe Family. I'm sending out five copies in October....

      Delete
  7. Oh. My. Goodness!!!! No better way to celebrate such a fabulous contract than with chocolate and peanut butter and brownies... all said in one mouth-watering sentence! This is definitely worth a confetti-throwing celebration! Yes, a ticker tape parade... though I'm not up to walking great long distances. (Drat the arthritis!) Maybe I could ride on one of the cars and throw out samples of chocolate peanut butter brownies to the crowd (all carefully sealed in plastic wrap, of course)???

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Carol!!! Ride with me! We've got an old farm bus that's just the ticket, LOL!!! Rusty, bent, bad brakes but lots of experience and character!

      Delete
  8. This is my kind of celebration. Congratulations.

    The two food groups.

    Chocolate and Chik fil A.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know. I went looking for Chick fil A just for you. I knew that would tempt you across the great divide... Well... across the village street!

      Delete
  9. Oooh, I just ahd a brainstorm! I'm not really fond of PB, although my kids love it. But I've seen those bags of mint chocolate chips. MMMMMM.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, we've done this with mint chocolate chips. And Andes Candies, chopped up. And York Peppermint patties... :) I love chocolate and mint. And then I use the same Hershey's Chocolate frosting recipe... but I swirl a few melted York Patties through it. And somewhere on here are brownies made with mint cookies... Now, that's a taste and texture sensation. Those are Christmas brownies for sure, right? And the mint Hershey's Kisses???? Oh yeah, we've cut them up too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yay!!! Ruthy, I'm so excited for you. And for me. That means more Ruthy books to read!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aw, Tex! I wish I was coming to Dallas and we could celebrate together! We had amazing creme brulee at a restaurant near....

      Oops, wait, my bad. That was Nashville.

      Okay, we had great steak in Fort Worth (Chamberlains, I believe)... at the stockade. So fun. If I was coming there you and I could eat Texas beef together! :) And Creme Brulee somewhere, right? Thank you!!!!

      Delete
  12. I'm sorry I missed the celebration yesterday. Was preparing for and hosting a Sweet Sixteen party for my daughter!

    But I had to continue the party today. CONGRATULATIONS, RUTHY!! So very excited for you! :)

    ReplyDelete