First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! No, my guest today Carol Steward is NOT a golden retriever puppy! But I lost her photo and somehow saved the one she sent me of her mother in law’s new puppy which she delivered to her mil over the holiday weekend! But we all like puppies, especially my friend author Carol Steward who is now going to tell us the woman she puts at the top of her list of strong women! Here’s Carol:
“When I think of strong woman, there’s one woman who tops my list. My mother, Phyllis Bohannan. Mom fell in love with a Marine, who then became a law enforcement officer after WWII, and together they raised 5 amazing children, if I do say so myself. She wasn’t a traditional working mom -we owned and operated small motel when I was young, which meant both Mom and Dad worked day and night to keep business growing. When times were tough, she sewed rather than bought our clothes. When she didn’t have a pattern, she improvised. We cleaned motel rooms to give the hired help holidays off. She did the motel laundry herself in the back of the attached home. It wasn’t easy, but it meant everything to her to be there for our family. At times that meant moving grandparents and parents in with us after illnesses or surgeries, and sacrificing a social life that so many of their friends enjoyed.
Mom set the bar very high when it came to strength. She had a debilitating stroke in her late 60′s and just a few months later she had mastered walking with a one-handed cane. She continued to serve meals to families after funerals at her church. After my dad died she lived in their duplex and learned to drive again. Fourteen years living with paralysis showed all of us the depth of her strength. Eleanor Roosevelt once said that women are like a tea bag, you never know, how, strong it is until you put it in hot water. My mother showed the truth of that quote. Two years ago, when she was in hospice, Mom’s doctor told us her body just didn’t know how to stop. That was Mom, strong to the end. I miss her greatly, but the lessons of her long life of strength live on in me and my own daughter.”–Carol
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This is Carol’s latest book. Here’s the blurb:
Katarina Berthoff had everything planned out. Her business was developing well, and her stable boyfriend would propose in eight weeks, according to his timetable. Then smoke jumper Alex MacIntyre—Katarina’s teenage crush—reentered her life. Alex was kind and romantic and just as handsome as she remembered. And he was definitely not part of the plan.
Things weren’t exactly going as Alex expected, either. He’d left smoke jumping only temporarily to help his brother Kevin run his construction business. Eventually he would be going back to his dangerous calling as a firefighter. There was no place in that life for a vivacious and beautiful woman who also happened to be practically engaged. But Alex couldn’t deny that he liked the regular hours in construction, being there for family get-togethers…and coming home to Katarina. Which meant he had a choice to make—and so did she.
Sounds like a winning story to me! So how do you like Carol’s puppy or her mother in law’s puppy?
Puppies and kittens are dangerous–I want to take them all home with me.
Do you have a pet? What? Their name?–Lyn
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Your mom sounds like a remarkably strong woman and it sounds like you have some great memories of her. I can’t wait to read Mended Hearts.
I’ve been on the road and I’m so happy that Carol got comments! I think all of those who commented belong in the strong woman category!
Hi ladies. I’m so sorry. I thought my post from earlier today went through. I appreciate so much the encouragement from my dear friends here. Next week I am starting a new proposal.
Alex’s Choice is the 2nd of 3 books about three incredibly strong sisters who fall in love with three absolutely adorable brothers. The first book was Mended Hearts, which came out in November 2012, and the third book, Rocky Mountain Valentine, will be released in February 2012. This is one of my favorite series, so I was thrilled when the editors with the Heartwarming line asked if they could revise and re-release these books.
Happy New Year!
Carol
Thank you, Irene. I’ll do my best to meet everyone’s expectations this year.
I miss it. Too many years off and working as an editor for graduate students, I think.
Carol
My best wishes and greetings to Carol today, and also a word of encouragement to welcome her back to the publication world. Family and work issues have kept her occupied, and she hasn’t been writing to her full potential. Having read some of her previous publications, I know that she has a great talent for writing. I encourage you, Carol, during this New Year to make your readers happy by resolving to have one or two books ready by this time next year.
Hi ladies! Thanks for the comments and compliments. It’s always nice to start the new year with a new”ish” book on the shelves – even if it is a revision of “Courting Katarina” which was a Love Inspired published in 2001. This is the 2nd in a 3 book series. The first book, “Mended Hearts” came out in November 2012, and the third book, Rocky Mountain Valentine, comes out next month. This is a series about three very strong sisters, who happen to fall in love with three ADORABLE brothers. I absolutley love these characters.
I am starting a new proposal next week. What are all of you working on now?
And Happy New Year everyone! I can’t believe it’s already 2013. It seems like Y2K was just yesterday.
(And I called to check on the precious puppy this morning, he’s happy and being spoiled rotten.)
Carol
I love Carol’s stories. She’s an amazing writer and certain belongs in Lyn’s ‘strong women’ category. This book is a fine example of Carol’s abilities. I know you’ll enjoy it.
Go Carol!
Lois
What a sweet, loving story. I know Carol Steward and there’s a lot of her mom’s strength – amd courage – in her, too. It’s so good to have a chance to read her wonderful books again. We’ve missed that lately. You go, girl!
Blessings,
Val