Shannon here: My awesome critique partner, Lorna Seilstad her husband’s romantic gift, plus a chance to win her latest Historical Romance, When Love Calls. Comment on any post dated 27 – 31 to get your name in the drawing. Deadline: June 8th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Lorna:
Look closely at the picture. Did you notice anything different about the M & Ms?
Each bears the name of one of the heroines in my new Gregory Sisters Series–Hannah, Charlotte, and Tessa. There’s a matching container of dark blue, dark green, and dark red M & Ms bearing the names of the heroes.
Where did I get these delicious treats? My husband had them made, and they arrived on our twenty-third wedding anniversary. Needless to say, I was incredibly touched. Not only did he have to plan this well in advance, but he also had to “trick” me into giving him the names because it’s not like he keeps a list of my imaginary friends.
I haven’t eaten any of them yet. They are sitting on my desk, still wrapped, reminding me of what a wonderful gift God gave me in my husband. He’s a man who encourages my dreams and that’s something I treasure.
Speaking of treasuring, does anyone know the shelf life of M & Ms? We may have to crack them open at a book signing for When Love Calls.
I want to share another love story that goes with When Love Calls. I dedicated the book to my mother-in-love Vivian. The dedication says, “When love called, you stuck a Popsicle in your back pocket and answered.” Are you curious about that story now?
When Vivian was in high school, she was walking home from school eating a Popsicle. She spotted an upperclassman’s car, a boy she liked. She didn’t want him to think she was a baby, so she stuck the Popsicle in her back pocket.
He stopped and offered her a ride home. They sat in his car and talked for two hours. All the while, the Popsicle was melting.
She later married the upperclassman and the two of them had three wonderful children—one of which is my husband.
I’m sure glad she answered “when love called.”
Where were you “when loved called”? I’d love to hear your story.
About Lorna: Lorna Seilstad has called Iowa home her whole life. She received her B.S. in education from LubbockChristianUniversity. After her first child was born, she stopped teaching and became a professional wiper. “I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby’s bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote.” Today, she writes historical fiction with a generous dash of humor.
About the book – When Love Calls: Hannah Gregory is good at many things, but that list doesn’t include following rules. So when she is forced to apply for a job as a telephone switchboard operator to support her two sisters, she knows it won’t be easy. “Hello Girls” must conduct themselves according to strict–and often bewildering–rules. No talking to the other girls. No chatting with callers. No blowing your nose without first raising your hand. And absolutely no consorting with gentlemen while in training.
Meanwhile, young lawyer Lincoln Cole finds himself in the unfortunate position of having to enforce the bank’s eviction of the three Gregory girls from their parents’ home. He tries to soften the blow by supporting them in small ways as they settle into another home. But fiery Hannah refuses his overtures and insists on paying back every cent of his charity.
When one of Hannah’s friends finds himself on the wrong side of a jail cell, Hannah is forced to look to Lincoln for help. Will it be her chance to return to her dreams of studying law? And could she be falling in love?
With historic details that bring to life the exciting first decade of the twentieth century, Lorna Seilstad weaves a charming tale of camaraderie and companionship that blossoms into love. Readers will get lost in this sweet romance and will eagerly look forward to championing each sister’s dreams.
Come back May 29th for Lorna’s romantic interview!
Did you get your FREE novel yet?
Sign up for Shannon's free email newsletter list and get a digital copy of her popular novel, RODEO DUST.Get Your Free Copy Now
Lorna,
Those are very ‘sweet’ stories! HA!
Actually, I’m serious….what a wonderful surprise from your hubby.
I think you need to work the popsicle incident into a story. That one is precious!
Lorna, I love the Popsicle story!!! And the M&M’s as well. We’ll see what my hubby does for our 25th anniversary this year!
Love those stories, Lorna. 🙂 I agree with Rose–that Popsicle story needs to end up in a book somehow. Your husband is such a sweetheart–I might have to steal that idea for my husband as M&M’s are his favorite stack.
Who even knew you could get personalized M&Ms? Obviously some of your stellar research skills have rubbed off on your husband. Tell him we all think he’s a keeper! And I’m voting for the popsicle stick to end up in a story too!
would love to win. 🙂
I love the storyline of this book; I so look forward to reading it!
Love love love your stories and books.
Looking forward to reading this story 🙂
I would love to read this book!
Love the M & M’s! Looking forward to reading this book. Thanks for the chance to win.
WOW!!! Happy Memorial Day everyone! I’ve been making fixings for homemade ice cream and trying to finish up the second book in this series. Thank you all for stopping by!
I love the Popsicle story but since they weren’t aroudn until the mid 1920s, it will hard to get one in my story.
As for the M&M’s, they are still on my desk–staring at me.
Thank you for a wonderful story and I love that you call her your mother-in-love, that’s a beautiful term. When Love Calls looks like a wonderful story even though I don’t usually read those set after 1900, I’m looking forward to reading this one.
I would love to win this book.
Lorna, that is one “sweet” hubby! M’s are my favorite candy so to have my hubby do something like that would absolutely melt my heart. But I’m with you – it would be really hard to eat them! So excited about this series.
I look forward to reading this book. Thanks for the giveaway.
Loved these stories! So cute!
Ah, the things we do for love … great story about your in-laws! Thanks for the chance to win –the book sounds great!
I’m not giving up on winning your book! It’s to late to get it before we head back to Nicaragua with our mission work but it could be waiting for me when we get back!
When Love Called…I was invited to a surprise birthday party at an Italian resturant. Upon ordering Lamb Fries, I heard someone say – a woman after my own heart. 3 months later we were engaged! We became lamby pies through that party – at 24 and 27 – we’re celebrating 29 years in July – in Nicaragua. For the last 9 years he says…I take you out of the country and to eat for our anniversary to which I respond…going to Nicaragua and eating under a bridge is not celebrating!
I’ll help you eat those little candies!
What a neat title…..how romantic!
Melody, what a great story! Only three months? That’s about how long my characters had together in When Love Calls. My hubby and I dated two and half years before we married.
That’s one of the best start of a romance I have heard. Wonder if she backed out of the car so he wouldn’t see the back of her pants! LOL And, to think they fell in love and married. Sweet story. I have been wanting this book since I first saw this lovely cover picture. Still hoping to have a lucky day and win it. My love story was with a family friend that first dated my older sister. But I fell hard for him and later we had 4 beautiful babies. Would love to win Lorna’s book.
MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com
a wonderful posting…thanks for the chance to read this fabulous story.
I like everything I see and read about this book, thank you for the chance to win it.
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
M and M’s will keep in the freezer for at least a year.
Thanks for the giveaway!
My husband and I were at church “when love called”. We met at church and were married later at that same church.
I’m not sure about the shelf life of M&M’s but they don’t last very long around me, especially the peanut ones.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter your giveaway.
Would love to win this interesting book!
Thanks for the interesting post!
Blessings….Joy
ibjoy1953[at]yahoo.com