Cover Reveal: A RESURRECTED HEART

Cover reveal AND a title reveal.

After reviewing all the possibles on the short list for a title for this second book in the EASTERN SIERRA BRIDES 1884 series, I decided on A Resurrected Heart.

Livia at Prairie Rose Publications did it again with a beautiful cover. That picture of Mount Scowden behind the current fishing resort of Lundy is mine, but she combined it with a beautiful blue sky that set off the blue signature banner with the images of my main characters, Val and Beth. (Trust me, that wimpy late winter sky in my original photo was nothing to write home about.) I  also love how she used the clouds as a backdrop for the series title.

Livia must have had the cover pretty much already worked up while we were debating about the title. Cheryl and I no sooner decided on the name, A Resurrected Heart, and within 24 hours I had this in my email inbox.

The tag line is:  A march, a birth, a burial -- and a resurrection of her heart.

I love it! 

This novella is scheduled to be released sometime in April.

The Not So Short List

Thanks for all who helped me come up with ideas for the title for the second novella in the EASTERN SIERRA BRIDES 1884 series. There were a lot of great suggestions. I paid attention to those titles suggested by more than one person. Here are the ones that made the not so short list:

• Resurrection of the Heart
• Love Resurrected
• Resurrection of Love
• Resurrected Heart
• A Resurrected  Heart

Need Help! I'm Stumped On a Title

Lundy Lake in February 2015

Well, this is a mixed blessing! I sold my book but not the title. My publisher wants a title that speaks romance.

HELP!

I need some brainstorming assistance to come up with an effective historical western romance title for my second novella in the EASTERN SIERRA BRIDES 1884 series.

 I came up with my working title because my story is set in the spring in Lundy, a defunct gold mining town in the eastern Sierra-Nevada Mountains. It is about an actual event that took place there in 1884 that was called "Resurrection Day." My logical mind came up with Lundy Resurrection Day. Makes sense, right?

However, I will be the first to admit that the title, Lundy Resurrection Day, does not scream "ROMANCE."

Available on Kindle and Nook.

The first book in the EASTERN SIERRA BRIDES 1884 series is Big Meadows Valentine. For this second book cover, I would like to continue with the heart banner on top and the chicken motif, but that is up to Livia, my cover designer. I also have a few photos of the area for her to consider for a cover background.

Anyway, my publisher and I agree that because of the theme that runs through the story, "resurrection" or possibly "resurrected" or "resurrect" must be included in the title.

Some things to consider regarding the storyline:

• It includes the continuing romance between Beth Dodd and Val Caldwell.
• The story has nothing to do with Easter or the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• Beth has already agreed Val may call her by her first name and officially court her, but she  still is not sure she wants to remarry or she can love enough to be a good wife.
• Val believes her reluctance is based on a lack of trust, not a lack of love.
• This is a sweet romance.
• The tentative tag line for the cover is "A parade, a birth, a burial and a resurrection of her heart."

Whether you respond by leaving a comment on this blog, on Facebook or on a Yahoo group, any and all suggestions for a title for this story that screams "ROMANCE" will be greatly appreciated.

Robyn Echols writing historical romance as Zina Abbott

Big Meadows Valentine

I'm extremely happy with this novel published in time for Valentine's Day. Even though it is more than a valentine's story, in more ways than one there is a valentine's scene in it. At $.99, for an approximately 26k word novella, it is fun, fast and a real bargain.

Here is what it is about:
 

Some men left the civilized settlements of the east to risk life and limb in the lawless gold and silver mines of California and Nevada for wealth. Beth Dodd left behind her little sister and the civilized farming region of southern Ohio that she loved to travel to those same gold and silver regions in search for her scalawag of a husband who deserted her. In Lundy, Beth finds rancher named Val Caldwell with a heart bigger than all the gold in the Mono County mountains of the eastern Sierra-Nevada. She stays, knowing she has a responsibility to settle affairs with her husband. But, having lost almost everything she valued due to the decisions forced upon her first by her father and then by her husband, can she ever again trust a man to have any degree of influence or control over her life?

Bitter over laws that favor men over women and determined to start a new life for herself and her sister on her own terms and through her own efforts, Beth resists the attraction she feels towards Val. Can Val make any headway in his quest to persuade Beth to consider a future with him someday?

Excerpt

    “I done made provisions for you, daughter. You ain’t gonna be workin’ like this no more. I found me a man to buy the farm.”

    His words immediately propelled Beth into action. Her face suffused with shock, she threw her splayed hands up next to her head as she sucked in her breath. Next, she leaned forward and reached to grab her father’s hands clinging to the wooden arms of the rocker. At the last moment, she thought better of it and clasped her hands in front of her.

    “No, Pa! There ain’t no call you doin’ that. We’re doin’ right fine. Sellin’ the farm will force us to move to town. You don’t want that.”

    “We ain’t movin’ to town. We’re stayin’ right here. I done found you a husband, Beth. It’s part of the deal. He’s goin’ to marry you as part of buyin’ the farm.”

You may purchase it for Nook HERE.

You may purchase it for Amazon Kindle HERE.

You may purchase it from Smashwords HERE.

Pre-order for BIG MEADOWS VALENTINE

I just received the word from my publisher, Prairie Rose Publications. My novella, Big Meadows Valentine, is available for pre-order on Amazon for Kindle.

Access the Amazon pre-order link HERE.

The date it is estimated to be released is February 4th. The book should be available for purchase from B & N Nook and Smashwords then.

This story is the first in my "Eastern Sierra Brides 1884" series. I like how my publisher added the sub-title to the book cover.

This story may be enjoyed anytime of the year, but I am so happy it is being released in time for Valentine's Day.

You may also access my Zina Abbott Author Page on Amazon by clicking HERE.

I have also started a Pinterest board for "Eastern Sierra Brides 1884" which you can access by clicking on the widget in the right sidebar of this blog or by clicking HERE.

If you are on Facebook, please stop by and "Like" my "Eastern Sierra Brides 1884" page which you can access by clicking HERE.

I will be busy next week. It is time to update my blog and Facebook banners plus my Zina Abbott Books website.

Cover Reveal: Big Meadows Valentine

I'm so pleased to reveal my cover for my novella, Big Meadows Valentine to be published by Prairie Rose Publications. I don't have a release date yet, but I expect it to be within the next few weeks.

As you may have guessed, this story is being released now in honor of Valentine's Day. However, it may be enjoyed any time of the year.

The background image for this book is from some of my own photographs taken while on a research/photo taking trip to Mono County, California. This picture is of the meadows area north of Bridgeport on the eastern slope of the Sierra-Nevada Mountains.

As indicated by the tag line, "In the gold mining town of Lundy, only chickens will win her heart," the bulk of the story takes place up in the mountains in the mining town of Lundy.

This is the first novella in a series I call "Eastern Sierra Brides 1884." For updates when this book will be available, sign up to follow this blog. If you are on Facebook, please "Like" my "Eastern Sierra Brides 1884" page.

A Christmas Promise Excerpt

If you have not yet purchased my short novelette, A Christmas Promise, here is a story summary:

A sergeant from Fort Laramie plans to muster out of the Army after twenty years in order to go into ranching--and start a family. A new widow, grateful to have work as a housekeeper, struggles to provide Christmas gifts for her two children. An eleven year-old boy, still fiercely loyal to the dead father who neglected him while alive, struggles to learn how to grow to be a man. A younger sister is starved for the attention and affection only a father can give. This heartwarming tale of a bleak Christmas set in 1873 Wyoming tells of the gift of second chances and a promise for a brighter future.

Links for purchasing the book for Kindle, Nook, or from Smashwords (offers a variety of formats) are on the left. Links to my Pinterest board for A Christmas Promise are on the right.

Still want to know more? Here is an excerpt from the book:

     “’Bout time!” Samuel grumbled as he burst through the door. “Do we get our presents now?”

     “No, not until the mornin’, Samuel,” Annie responded in the calm manner she had cultivated over the years from dealing with her wayward husband and disruptive son. “You know that.”

     “Mrs. Clayton was a-sayin’ they open a gift on Christmas Eve,” Samuel countered. “Reckon we outta, too.”

     “That’s not how our family does it Sam. You know that. If we open our gifts tonight, there won’t be anything for Christmas morning.”

     “Figures,” Samuel snorted. “That’s mighty sorry, Ma.”

     “I’m sorry, Samuel, but that’s how it’s a-goin’ to be. I guess we might read the Christmas story from the New Testament,” Annie said in an attempt to steer her son away from his disappointment.   “Reckon it’d be best, what with it being what Christmas is all about, not just a-gettin’ presents.”

     “But we like a-gettin’ presents, Ma,” Arletta piped up.

     “I know, Letta,” Annie remained calm, refusing to allow the frustration she felt worming its way through her insides to erupt in her voice or expression. But we need to remember that it’s because Jesus was born into this world to save us that we celebrate Christmas. And, if you both listen to just a smidgen of the story, I’ve a special treat I’ve saved for you all. But, you gotta wait until we’re done a-readin’. Come around the table, now, and I’ll get the lamp.”

     The three had no sooner settled in their chairs than they heard the sound of boots stomping on the back porch. A knocking on the outside door to the kitchen followed.

     “That Saint Nicholas, Ma?” Arletta asked, her voice full of wonder. Samuel snickered in response. Annie glanced over to Samuel with a warning frown.

     “Too early for him, Letta. Probably one of the hands a-needin’ something from Mr. Clayton. You two wait here while I see who it is.”

What family tradition regarding opening Christmas presents does your family practice?  Please leave a comment below.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas this year with a new year full of promise.