Saturday Snippet: Let the Monk Have the New Woman

The following is from my second book, Cat’s Meow, Book 6 in the multi-author series, Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs. It also part of my collection of my first three Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs books, Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs.

         “Another woman, huh? Who knows, Harold? Maybe after you meet her, you’ll decide you like her better than Miss Rosewater, there.”

          Harold turned to face Charlie, puffing himself up to his full height and bulk as he stared down at the smaller man who had become an annoyance. “Charlie, don’t you have something better to do other than pester me? If not, I’ll find something.”

          Charlie laughed as he turned to walk away. “Just having a little fun, Harold. But, who knows? Maybe you will like the new woman better once you get to meet them all.”

          Harold scowled as he watched the man walk away.

          Let the monk have the new woman.

          Harold had nothing against Aaron Brinks. But, any man in Jubilee Springs who got any ideas in his head about taking his Catherine away from him would have to go through him first.

If you have read, Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs, please leave a book review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

Two other books to consider as the Independence Day holiday approaches --  Under a Mulberry Moon is still on preorder at its special preorder sales price. It won't be released until July 17th. However, Medleys and Musing from the Authors of Under a Mulberry Moon is available now at no cost.

Under a Mulberry Moon is currently on preorder on Amazon at a special preorder price of $.99. The regular price is $2.99. To purchase, please CLICK HERE.

Medleys and Musing from the Authors of Under a Mulberry Moon is available at no cost. To download it, please CLICK HERE.

My First Book Trailer-Bit by Bit

In the past, I have put together little videos of family history topics. Then there was the one I helped my grandson do for his fourth grade (or was it fifth?) California missions project. However, last night I completed for the first time a book trailer.

It was not a snap to do. What fouled me up was not the images or the music since I have royalty-free for both. It was the combination of programs and computers.

I have a big 17" HP with lots of clock speed and memory, which is my main computer. Since I did not wish to risk it on a recent vacation/Wild Deadwoods Reads book signing/WWA conference/historical research trip, I bought (after three tries and sending the first two computers back) a 15" lightweight Lenovo which has plenty of memory, but the clock speed is s-l-o-w-e-r than s--l--o--w.

First issue I ran into was my favorite Microsoft photo editing program loaded just fine on the HP, but would not load on the Lenovo. That is when I learned my HP was 32-bit and my Lenovo was 64-bit. That proved to be a bit of a problem for me. So, I installed my Adobe Photoshop Essentials 18 on the Lenovo. Problem is, I hate Photoshop. To me, it is not intuitive and it does not do half of what I can do on my Microsoft photo program.

Before I left on my trip, I made a point to create all my visuals for the video on my HP and put them in my Dropbox account. While on my trip, I uploaded on the Lenovo the Vegas Movie Studio program I purchased. One late night after traveling across the wind-swept prairies of the great plains, I started combining images with music using Movie Studio.

All well and good, but when I arrived home and transferred everything using Dropbox back to my HP, I discovered Movie Studio would not work on my 32-bit computer. I have the version for 64-bit. I have photoshop Essentials, which is a video program, but it would not accept the file type for the working video created on Movie Studio.

What to do -- what to do. I was in a bit bind.

I cleaned up my images, sent them via Dropbox BACK to my Lenovo, finished off the video, created the movie, and uploaded it to my Zina Abbott YouTube account. It is my very first video under that account. 

Ta-da! Click on the above to see my trailer for Under a Mulberry Moon. It is a nine-author anthology of Western historical romance novellas written by myself, Patricia PacJac Carroll, Caroline Clemmons, Carra Copelin, Keta Diablo, P.A. Estelle, Cissie Patterson, Charlene Raddon and Jacquie Rogers. Like I warned all the involved authors, I'm not a professional at this, but for them, the price was right.

Under a Mulberry Moon is currently on preorder on Amazon at a special preorder price of $.99. The regular price is $2.99. To purchase, please CLICK HERE.

If the video trailer is not enough of a sneak peek for you, you might like to download Medleys and Musing from Authors of Under a Mulberry Moon. It is available at no cost. To download it, please CLICK HERE.

Saturday Snippet: Just So You Aren’t Accusing Me

The following is from my first book, Aaron’s Annulment Bride, Book 3 in the multi-author series, Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs.

         “It’s not like I’m reading the letters, Aaron. I have been waiting patiently for you to share your news with us. Unfortunately, my patience is not being rewarded.”

          Aaron rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. “Courting is not a family affair, Ma. Besides, anything I say I can expect to be shared with the entire town, thanks to the tendency you two have to talk to everyone who comes into the store.”

          Simon Brinks straightened up in his chair, a look of indignation on his face. “Say, Son, I’m not sure I appreciate that remark. It sounds like you’re accusing us of spreading gossip.”

          Aaron shook his head. “I know, you’re just being neighborly, Pa. But sometimes I would rather my news not be shared unless I do the sharing.”

          Simon grumbled into his coffee cup. “Just so you aren’t accusing me of being a gossip. That’s for old women who don’t have anything better to do with their time.”

I now have the first three books in the series compiled into a collection titled Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs. It is available both as an ebook and in print on Amazon. If you have a Kindle Unlimited account and have not yet read all three of my first three books, this book containing three novellas will count as one book on your KU queue. You may find the book description and purchase link by CLICKING HERE.

If you have read, Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs, please leave a book review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

Saturday Snippet: He Intended the Discomfort to Get More Intense

The following is from my third book, Bargain Bessie, Book 7 in the multi-author series, Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs.

          Zeb eased down into his wooden office chair with its contoured wooden slats holding up the back rest. He laced his fingers together as he placed them in front of him on the desk and leaned forward. He deliberately did not invite Eddie Joe to sit in one of the two chairs in front of the desk. He felt somewhat mollified when he saw his foreman had the sense to remain standing rather than assume he had an open invitation to sit.

          Zeb studied Eddie Joe’s face and suppressed showing his satisfaction over the man’s discomfort. For, if what Rusty had told him was true, Zeb intended the discomfort to get more intense before it got better.

          Zeb kept his voice quiet and void of emotion. “Have a good time in Jubilee Springs yesterday?”

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I now have the first three books in the series compiled into a collection titled Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs. It is available both as an ebook and in print on Amazon. If you have a Kindle Unlimited account and have not yet read all three of my first three books, this book containing three novellas will count as one book on your KU queue. You may find the book description and purchase link by CLICKING HERE.

Saturday Snippet: I Hope It Won't Come to That

The following is from my second book, Cat’s Meow, Book 6 in the multi-author series, Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs.

          After the meal ended, Arnie rose to his feet and heaved a sigh as if preparing himself for facing an unpleasant task. “Catherine, once you and Caroline are finished washing the dishes, I need to speak with you in the parlor.”

          Catherine noticed he only said he needed to talk to her. He must intend to already discuss the terms of her caring for the house. She wondered if he expected rent from her, or if keeping up the house and property until he was ready to live there would suffice.

          The two women washed dished and cleaned the kitchen mostly in silence, although little Emma crawling around on the floor kept them both busy. After they finished, just as Caroline picked up her daughter, she turned to her sister, keeping her voice low enough their cousin in the parlor wouldn’t hear. “Catherine. I hope he lets you stay.”

          “I don’t know why he wouldn’t. Someone needs to look after the house, and he and his wife have their own home back in Kansas City.”

          “Just so you know, if he asks you to leave, you can come live with us until you get something settled for yourself. It’s only a one-room soddy, but we’ll make do.”

          Catherine grabbed her sister’s arm and squeezed it in gratitude as Caroline rocked a child that obviously needed a nap but was fighting sleep. “I appreciate your offer, Caroline. I hope it won’t come to that.”

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I now have the first three books in the series compiled into a collection titled Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs. It is available both as an ebook and in print on Amazon. If you have a Kindle Unlimited account and have not yet read all three of my first three books, this book containing three novellas will count as one book on your KU queue. You may find the book description and purchase link by CLICKING HERE.

Saturday Snippet: PLEASE, I NEED TO GET AWAY

The following is from my first book, Aaron’s Annulment Bride, Book 3 in the multi-author series, Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs.

          Her eyes wide with awe, Andrea stepped back and studied her friend. Catherine had found a way to escape her problem of having nowhere to live and no way to provide for herself. Could this be the solution for her?

          In desperation, Andrea grabbed Catherine’s forearm. “Cat, please, I need to get away. Does this woman in Colorado need more brides for those miners? Is there any way I can get signed up so I can go with you? I…I have some money tucked away. I don’t know if it would be enough for a train ticket, but I really want to go.”

To see all five of my books in this series, please CLICK HERE and follow me on Amazon.

I now have the first three books in the series compiled into a collection titled Independence Day 1881 – Zina Abbott’s Sweethearts of Jubilee Springs. It is available both as an ebook and in print on Amazon. If you have a Kindle Unlimited account and have not yet read all three of my first three books, this book containing three novellas will count as one book on your KU queue. You may find the book description and purchase link by CLICKING HERE.