(I’m going to be reposting the contest rules at the beginning of each post. If you’ve already read them, scroll down for today’s post and questions. And don’t forget to scroll down for the Golden Heart Spotlight as well!)
To celebrate the release of ENTWINED, I’m giving away a BUNCH of prizes. There are two parts to this contest:
PART ONE :
Post the ENTWINED widget (below) on your FB page, blog sidebar, tweet about the contest and/or book, email your friends and spread the word…basically, any way you talk up the book or contest will enter you for one of three $25 gift cards to the online bookstore of your choice. Winners will be selected after I return from RWA Nationals, the first week in August. Once you’ve done that, email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com and tell me blabbed about ENTWINED. Be sure to put ENTWINED Release Contest in the subject line. (If you already posted the widget from the blog post I did last week, you’re already entered.) Enter as many times as you like. Every time you spread the word about book 2 in the Eternal Guardians series, send me an email.
PART TWO: Each day for the next two weeks I’ll be giving away AWESOME prizes and spotlighting some fabulous authors. Comment on the daily post to be entered into that day’s drawing. Winners will be chosen randomly from comments and will get to pick their prize. Once a prize is chosen, it’s crossed off the list. Here are the prizes you can win:
Got Demon? Mug from author Saranna DeWylde
Beneath the Surface by MJ Fredrick
Primordial by Denise Agnew
His Darkest Embrace e-arc by Juliana Stone – won by Diana (day 5 winner)
Unbridled by Beth Williamson
Huddle With Me Tonight by Farrah Rochon
Relentless by Lauren Dane – won by Minnchica (day 7 winner)
Revelation (ecopy) by Lauren Dane – won by Pam K (day 8 winner)
Sunrise in A Garden of Love & Evil by Barbara Monajem – won by Barbara E (day 3 winner)
All He Desires by Anthea Lawson
The Phoenix Charm by Helen Scott Taylor
Animal Instinct (ecopy) by Michelle Pillow
$10 Starbucks Card from Phyllis Bourne
Montana Dawn by Caroline Fyffe
Dangerous As Sin & $10 Borders Gift Card from Alix Rickloff – won by Robin L (day 2 winner)
Ancient Whispers by Marie-Claude Bourque
Forged of Shadows by Jessa Slade – won by Cyberclipper (day 5 winner)
Shadow Bound by Erin Kellison – won by Giada (day 3 winner)
Lord of Pleasure & $10 Starbucks Gift Card from Delilah Marvelle – won by Jody F (day 7 winner)
$20 Borders Gift Card from Joan Swan – won by Limecello (day 1 winner)
Deadly Fear by Cynthia Eden won by Nikki (day 6 winner)
Forbidden Highlander by Donna Grant – won by Julie (day 4 winner)
Today we have…
Author Caroline Fyffe!
MONTANA DAWN, a Golden Heart Finalist in 2007, takes place in the little town of Y Knot, Montana in the late 1800s. The McCutcheons, a cattle ranching family, have carved a dynasty from the wilderness by the sweat of their brow and honorable values. Luke McCutcheon, the third brother and the hero of this story, is the only one who was sired by an American Indian, when his mother was taken captive. He’s the trail boss for the once-a-year cattle drive the McCutcheons make. When he comes upon Faith Brown giving birth in her wagon, he’s shocked to learn her little son is Faith’s only help. He agrees to stay and deliver her child. That’s when all the fun begins….
I love stories about big families. I wanted to give Luke as much unconditional love as he needed to battle his own ghosts about his heritage. John McCutcheon, the youngest brother, is introduced in MONTANA DAWN, but you don’t actually meet him until my next book, ONCE UPON A TEXAS TWILIGHT, planned for next year.
Now, tell me; have you ever vacationed in an old historical town? A ghost town or place? What about a dude ranch or cattle drive?
July 22nd, 2010 at 2:18 am · Link
Congrats on the upcoming release, Caroline. I have never vacationed in an old historical town, dude ranch or cattle drive. I’ve always wanted to visit some of gold rush towns.
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:04 am · Link
Hi Jane! Thanks for your congrats on my upcoming release. I’m excited and nervous. 😉
I’ve stayed several times at Slide Mountain Ranch in California. The Bunneys are fantastic people and will take you on great trail rides. Another fun place is Bodie. It’s an old silver mine town where everyone just up and left. It’s reall cool to see all the houses, many with all the things still inside….? Who knows why?
Anyway, thanks so much for commenting!
~Caroline
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:14 am · Link
HI Caroline,
I love visiting small towns and dude ranches. Probably why I love westerns. It a bit like visiting history.
CC
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:03 am · Link
I grew up in British Columbia, and I remember driving through a few ghost towns on family vacations. There are also some fascinating tourist spots related to old mining towns.
Congrats on the new release, Caroline!
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:04 am · Link
Yay Caroline!! I can’t wait to read your next book. Congrats on the release! I’ve visited one ghost town (can’t bring the name to mind), and loved it. Great food for the imagination.
Erin
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:56 am · Link
HI Caroline,
When I was little, my girl scout troop took us to a dude ranch for a weekend. I had so much fun and I have many fond memories. My horse was named, Pokey, which was a perfect name for her. She was so sweet even if we were always in the back of the pack. As an adult, I did get to visit Cheyenne briefly, which made we think of an old west type town. Congrats on the upcoming book.
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:31 am · Link
Does Rome count as an old historical town? I was twelve, I did not appreciate all the history and sights (particularly the catacombs where early Christians hid from persecution–it was cold, dark & creepy!). I remember being mildly impressed by the Sistine Chapel, but appreciated it better (and saw more of it) later in one of those glossy coffee table books… My attitude was “can we go to the beach or do something else fun?” …yeah, in my defense, I was twelve. I’d appreciate the trip–and the history–much better today.
The reason we were in Rome? A layover between flights. Dad decided that we might as well stay a week and use up the vacation days that he was going to lose otherwise. I wanted to get where we were going, already!
Oh, btw, there are no beaches in Rome. It’s fifteen kilometers inland.
Sorry for venting, people! It seems I still have issues about that trip…
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:41 am · Link
Hi Christie, I so agree. Ghost towns just take me back to the past. I also adore walking through pioneer cemeteries. I could spend hours there. They used to write quite a bit about the person, and how they died even, on the headstones. It’s a shame they don’t do that anymore.
See you soon!
July 22nd, 2010 at 9:45 am · Link
Thanks, Barbara and Erin, for stopping by. I know what you mean about food for the imagination. Behind every swinging door and in each root cellar I expect to find a body. These days one is always hearing about that on the news….and I’m not talking about ghost towns either. eeeek
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:03 am · Link
I have not. And while I would never want to live in one of those places I have often though about the fun it might be to vacation there. Whenever vacation time has come up we have always ended up at the beach. Maybe one day!
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:14 am · Link
Jennifer, what a great Girl Scout troop! Kudos to your den leader! And…. I LOVE the name Pokey. I’m going to file that away and use it sometime. Hope you won’t mind. I’ve been to Cheyenne one too. Neat place and screams old west! Take care!
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:21 am · Link
LOL—MS Bookjunkie. Great story! I’ve been to all those places you mentioned and loved each one. Grant it, I was in my forties and had been yearning to go for years. I do appreciate your side of the story though. It’s cool actually that your family was able to bob and weave enough to get to use that time……even if it wasn’t at the beach. And, you got a great story out of it, too.
Thanks so much for stopping by!
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:26 am · Link
Hello, Donna, well maybe there’s one in your future? Dude ranches can really be a ball. But, I know the majority of people like to hit the beach when they finally have time away. I do, too. Especially if there is a hammock under some nice shady trees and a place to have a Chi Chi…. 🙂
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:45 am · Link
Hi Caroline!
congrats on your release!!! I love the cover 🙂
we visited many old castles when I was in school and I remember a small city in Austria which was former a castle and which is now a city but with the original castle wall and we get a real medieval meal 🙂
greetings, Ina
July 22nd, 2010 at 10:55 am · Link
Ina, that sounds fabulous! Was the medieval meal Tafelspitz? Meat such as Tritip, simmered in a broth with root vegetables and is served with slices of roasted potatoes and horseradish sauce. Ha. I don’t know, just threw that out for fun. I would love to go to Austria. I’ve not been and it’s a place I hope to see before I’m too old, if you know what I mean! 😕
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:01 am · Link
Hi Caroline.Congrats on your upcoming release. Sounds good. I love the cover. I have never vacationed in any of the places you mentioned. I would love to go on a cattle drive or to a dude ranch.
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:16 pm · Link
Congratulations on your release, Caroline! 😀
Last month I worked for two weeks in Sighisoara (Transilvania, Romania), Dracula’s birthplace.
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:00 pm · Link
I’ve never vacationed in an old historical town, a dude ranch or a ghost town, but I would love to. I’ve always thought a dude ranch especially, would be fantastic. The closest I’ve come to a ghost town is Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California. 😆
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:33 pm · Link
Hi ChrystalGB! If you’ve never gone you should try it sometime. One time we went to Tanque Verde Ranch in southern Arizona! It was fabulous. And the food was like on a cruise. REALLY! It was that good. And one night they had a cook-out under the cottonwood trees. Really neat.
Thanks so much for stopping by and participating today! 😉
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:36 pm · Link
Oh. My. Gosh. Giada, were you ever fearful? It sounds like a wonderful time but I’d be afraid of the wannabe vampires! EEEK
What is Transilvania like??? 😯
July 22nd, 2010 at 3:39 pm · Link
Barbara~~I’ve been there but when I was a tiny girl. It was great then. I don’t think that really counts as staying in a ghost town, but I won’t tell if you don’t! 😎
Thanks so much for joining the fun!
July 22nd, 2010 at 5:09 pm · Link
I’ve never vacationed in an old ghost twon but I’ve visited Old Sacramento before and it definitely has an old feeling and vibe to it.
July 22nd, 2010 at 5:22 pm · Link
Nope to all three! But the Ghost town sounds like all kinds of spooky fun 🙂
July 22nd, 2010 at 6:02 pm · Link
Jeanette, I grew up in the Placerville/Shingle Springs area. That’s right up the hill from Ol’ Sac., as we called it. I’ve been there many times for dinner, dirinks or a Sunday stroll. It’s a neat old place and I’m sure the buildings would have a lot to tell if they could talk! 😯
Thanks for stopping it….
July 22nd, 2010 at 6:05 pm · Link
Hi Chelsea….Well, then you have three new things you can experience. A Ghost town would be a good one to start on. A lot of cities have haunted tours where they go around to places that are suspect. If you’re feeling brave go on Halloween!
Cheers!
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:16 pm · Link
Hello Caroline,
I’ve had the privilege of crawling through a ghost town–back when it really was a ghost town. It is in the Sandia Mountains just east of Albuquerque. The other thing I’ve done is stayed in a dude ranch. It was so much fun and more work than if I’d been the host. It’s either feast or famine in a dude ranch–a feast if the cook isn’t drunk (or quit) and the staff isn’t in the same condition. It’s a famine if either (or both!) of those disasters strike. During our stay, needless to say, both did. My husband helped the owner with the horses (he’s a Navy submariner BTW) and I helped with the housework and cooking. We nearly dropped with fatigue at the end of each day–and had the best time in the world. Needless to say, the drinks were on the house! The hosts were fabulous and such great sports that I can’t wait to go back.
~Donna
July 22nd, 2010 at 7:32 pm · Link
Well i have never vacationed at one specific spot, but we have the Ghost Walk every halloween in historic New Bern, NC that i go too. But when i was a teenager, my friends and i would explore these really old abandoned farm houses and some of them were just too creepy. of course we did it at night when it was pitch black which of course added an extra freakyness to it. Still fun though!
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:59 pm · Link
Congrats !!!
It’s my first time for me knowing you 🙂
i haven’t been to any old historical town nor A ghost town . but I do really like the idea about Ghost town !
July 22nd, 2010 at 11:23 pm · Link
Did not visit any ghost towns in the US but saw many places in Ireland south and north of Dublin where outlines of homes exist from the time of the Great Famine.
July 23rd, 2010 at 2:55 am · Link
Oh, my gosh, Donna, you are a trooper! Good for you! Thank goodness that dude ranch ahad you and your handy hubby there in their time of need. I hope there were only a few guest though and not like 35. Whew! You needed a vacation after your vacation! Thanks for sharing that ….
I’ve been a cookers helper twice for a boys summer camp once in Oregon and once in California. Like you said, doing something like that is very fulfilling and I had the time of my life!
Thanks for stopping in!
Great story, by the way….
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:04 am · Link
Good morning, Christy M,
Good to ‘see’ you here. I’ve never before done the nighttime visit to scary place thing. I’ve always visited everything during the beautiful light of the day!! I want to make that perfectly clear. LOL I guess that’s because I’m the youngest of five girls and my sisters used to tease me a lot with scary things. Visiting an old, possibly haunted home would put me over the edge. 😈
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:11 am · Link
Hi Marsiks! I’m happy to meet a new friend!! Cool!! 😛
If you’ve never done any of these things then you have some fun to look forward to. In California, as well as other places I’m sure, there are just really old towns, not marketed as haunted, but historic. Usually they have great restaurants and shops and such. Like Coloma, where Gold was discovered on the American River. Or, Sutter Creek…
Just a thought! Thanks so much for coming by and saying hello. I’m super happy to meet you!
July 23rd, 2010 at 3:15 am · Link
Lindsey, what a great place to visit! But, I’ll bet those places and old homes have a lot they could tell. What a sad time for Ireland.
I’ve never been there and it’s one of the places on my bucket list. I have two sisters who have visited and recommend it highly.
Thanks so much for joining in today! Have a great weekend!
July 23rd, 2010 at 4:12 am · Link
Hi Caroline!
My family had a reunion at a dude ranch near Shell, Wyoming one year. It was fabulous. There was something for everyone to do–horseback riding, roping practice, fly fishing in the trout stream, a great bunk house for the card players in the group. Not to mention the gorgeous views of the Big Horn Mountains.
It was a lovely time.
July 23rd, 2010 at 5:49 am · Link
Emily, that sounds wonderful! I LOVE all those things you’ve listed. Not to mention being there with your whole family.
Gold Star to the planner of the reunion!
Have a great day and thanks for droppin in…..