tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84226289778129804192024-03-05T15:02:13.316-08:00Dry Creek Days..............with Janet TronstadJanet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-26461843394910271782014-03-16T23:47:00.000-07:002014-03-16T23:47:23.341-07:00Great sale on great new inspirational novellas!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukXqBJW3UiZIMFpHTpmI9AP2v9418LmU-USGsgFPCZGB1UAkeWcZm8ULWPnJfhCqm0MDfLcTz2UtxvA29EhcUuuGJOoCtn0Y1KGmSjrixJNM89HeEP7Eu5Ocr4Ffvn8ow40fzWVb6eaY/s1600/inspy+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhukXqBJW3UiZIMFpHTpmI9AP2v9418LmU-USGsgFPCZGB1UAkeWcZm8ULWPnJfhCqm0MDfLcTz2UtxvA29EhcUuuGJOoCtn0Y1KGmSjrixJNM89HeEP7Eu5Ocr4Ffvn8ow40fzWVb6eaY/s1600/inspy+cover.jpg" height="320" width="200" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">I'm excited to promote an anthology that I did with five of my fellow Love Inspired authors -- Linda Goodnight, Margaret Daley, Debra Clopton, Camy Tang, Lacy Williams and (of course) me! We had great fun writing a variety of stories all of which feature a first kiss. The collection (well over 400 pages) of brand-new stories (no reprints) is available for a limited time for only 99 cents!! It is the greatest deal around!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So far it's gotten 16 5-star reviews on Amazon -- readers say things like </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">'Wonderful collection of stories'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">'What a fun collection!'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">'An Enchanting Anthology!'</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Don't miss this one -- check it out on Amazon now.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-62977418491858277842013-11-03T08:40:00.000-08:002013-11-03T08:40:05.996-08:00I just noticed that my White Christmas in Dry Creek hit #25 on the Publisher's Weekly Best Seller list for week 10/7. You can visit the list here <a href="http://www.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=622">http://www.rwa.org/p/cm/ld/fid=622</a><br />
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It's so exciting! <br />
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Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-73165962490491603952012-08-08T12:44:00.001-07:002012-08-08T12:44:36.382-07:00Find the Buck, Earn A Buck<span style="font-size: large;">Janet Tronstad here with a confession. There is a mistake/typo (call it what you will) in my latest book,<strong> Second Chance in Dry Creek</strong>.(Oct 12 release). It involves an extra Buck and you will know it when you see it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Since I can't fix it at this stage, I've decided we should have some fun with it. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUvexzunUyzk7DpDxYnfgrzJN-ld-BVhFwkds1ZlNbcsAaIjjgGOcpA1vg-iynURXEIH5Ith4ztM5yp1lFFkH50Uw_eHIe_OL0VeOB1u4kgaTm7W9enYPinj8RGvwYHILu4uYhXINeEA/s1600/121356544.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUvexzunUyzk7DpDxYnfgrzJN-ld-BVhFwkds1ZlNbcsAaIjjgGOcpA1vg-iynURXEIH5Ith4ztM5yp1lFFkH50Uw_eHIe_OL0VeOB1u4kgaTm7W9enYPinj8RGvwYHILu4uYhXINeEA/s200/121356544.jpg" width="126" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI5V4zz_dqRSeURvVF8PTqMheSX_8TNk4-uTiAi_x60sgx-L2ucvrS47GY_FfEC4iuWWQ8NPUcvDywl6Z6Eg6d3oO1W-UP9ZLZf6395Iuw081akdiOxM8dXSwVE1icVLfkJspHnBWgZI/s1600/147898837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNI5V4zz_dqRSeURvVF8PTqMheSX_8TNk4-uTiAi_x60sgx-L2ucvrS47GY_FfEC4iuWWQ8NPUcvDywl6Z6Eg6d3oO1W-UP9ZLZf6395Iuw081akdiOxM8dXSwVE1icVLfkJspHnBWgZI/s200/147898837.jpg" width="125" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERvwMMjqoMSXdtZO6VCaIP3lefQxKeMxk8z7FMz6XUZJMTB3naS2_L5BdiKGpmJRkI5uiS5jnvOkT55gplM6_WyxFK56uUukKziuyGs9Oqbsf3G06iCteYR7nWU3j8CTw7Enh_oOdptw/s1600/wildflower+bride+cover.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERvwMMjqoMSXdtZO6VCaIP3lefQxKeMxk8z7FMz6XUZJMTB3naS2_L5BdiKGpmJRkI5uiS5jnvOkT55gplM6_WyxFK56uUukKziuyGs9Oqbsf3G06iCteYR7nWU3j8CTw7Enh_oOdptw/s200/wildflower+bride+cover.png" width="126" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So if you let me know you have seen it, either though my website or in my Goodreads group, and <strong>cite the exact line where it is in the boo</strong>k, you will earn a buck back from me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">So it's 'Find A Buck to Earn A Buck' (for those of you reading my <em>Return to Dry Creek</em> series, Buck is Gracie's deceased husband -- the one she was wrongly convicted of murdering. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For those of you not yet reading the series, you'll want to read it when you can - the first three titles are to the right).</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a link to my Goodreads group to enter the contest: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/983578?utm_content=A&utm_medium=email&utm_source=comment_instant#comment_55812065">http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/983578?utm_content=A&utm_medium=email&utm_source=comment_instant#comment_55812065</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once you've won (and everyone who cites the correct passage wins), send me your full name and address and I'll mail you a dollar.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy Hunting!!!!</span><br />
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</tbody></table>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-77250358688096949962011-11-18T12:24:00.000-08:002011-11-18T13:54:24.873-08:00Putting my books into a song<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-3urMkDq5xFfjnL7RjQ-gMVADjxFx106nCgt1g28YrWsyuhCNi0RCUqhcBNJgHT71CMyDeo172UmonMvfa9rnMkXRdXwgOaumDwKC39J9oUo8nY8T4ISTbXQtoDvosNQObV51QCbu5s/s1600/depression+era+3.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 284px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5676434829769410226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-3urMkDq5xFfjnL7RjQ-gMVADjxFx106nCgt1g28YrWsyuhCNi0RCUqhcBNJgHT71CMyDeo172UmonMvfa9rnMkXRdXwgOaumDwKC39J9oUo8nY8T4ISTbXQtoDvosNQObV51QCbu5s/s400/depression+era+3.jpg" /></a> I've been giving some thought about how to capture the themes that run through my long-time Dry Creek series. As many of you know, Dry Creek is a fictious small town in the southeastern corner of Montana. I was born in that corner of the state, but my parents moved from there when it was time for me and my sister to go to school. It was so isolated there was virtually no way for us to attend school once they closed the one room school that had served the few rural families for decades. I doubt there were more than fifteen in all eight grades of that school (I would know as my mother was the teacher and she brought me to school with her in a basket of some sort. I spent the first few years of my life in that school before I actually officially attended).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>In any event, even though my family moved to a more prosperous part of the state, the feelings of that remote area are woven through of family's life and find their way into the stories I tell in my Dry Creek series. When it came time to do what I call 'a bigger promotion' of my books, I decided to write a song to talk about the values of that area. Fortunately, I have a good friend who was a professional musician 'in the day' and was eager to help me bring my lyrics to life. I now have a You Tube of that song. I located Depression era photos to go with the song (one of those photos is shown here). These are actual pictures taken by a US government program during the years of the depression. You can listen to part of the song here. You will need to scroll down a little until you see my name and Montana Quilting Song.Come listen to a song I wrote. Lyrics by me, music by my good friend, David White. Dpression era photos.<br /></div><br /><br /><div>It's a tribute to my Dry Creek books. <a href="http://youtu.be/CUHryjL-pug" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/CUHryjL-pug</a> <a id="uqu02u_30" class="uiVideoThumb UIImageBlock_Image UIImageBlock_MED_Image" tabindex="-1" href="http://www.blogger.com/" rel="async" target="_blank" ajaxify="/ajax/flash/expand_inline.php?target_div=uqu02u_30&context=story&share_id=252982948085116" ft="'{" hidden="true"></a></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The full song is available as an MP3 on Amazon under the name Denim Sky. Search for my name in the MP3 section and you will find it. I was very pleased with the way the song spoke to the values I learned in Montana as a child. Oh, and if you are so inclined, leave a comment on the song, either after the You Tube or on Amazon where you can also hear a bit of it in the MP3 section.</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-36568413306913414352011-10-27T21:18:00.000-07:002011-10-27T21:25:00.589-07:00Sleigh Bells for Dry Creek<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HQf9tb6lBkc2e61RGVUn744jGt0hDmo52ABWAbkoZha3I14RbogopS5EGINIld30yKer38xX6IgPo1mOp_B92ISOVS4sDv_Pg9dIesaVk530A-BZ-XVK8jRqRNkoZQI_7fthR_bFjMM/s1600/home_cover1011.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 175px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 234px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668394150674571298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6HQf9tb6lBkc2e61RGVUn744jGt0hDmo52ABWAbkoZha3I14RbogopS5EGINIld30yKer38xX6IgPo1mOp_B92ISOVS4sDv_Pg9dIesaVk530A-BZ-XVK8jRqRNkoZQI_7fthR_bFjMM/s400/home_cover1011.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>The reviews have started coming in for 'Sleigh Bells for Dry Creek' and I'm delighted that people are enjoying the story. But then what's not to like -- it's got a murder to be solved, a highschool sweetheart to be won, a mother to be forgiven, and a handsome cowboy walking the streets! 'Sleigh Bells' is the first in my Return to Dry Creek series and it only goes to show that we can go home again.</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-62482777691522864952011-06-05T17:37:00.000-07:002011-06-05T17:42:21.770-07:00Summer of pickles with my sister<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpcVgzExeKll-_pUNI2jxBlPH1tYLdc5F7qrDSSueuv9MQPqkRRTQ6zS6XKvX6M1Vm40w8NAOgkvBYrbOuftGLa7j5vhpAWRnNNtm2ASa2eqL7HUlPgWQv3cTPRw8wJ8I8L56wPOdvm0/s1600/pickles+2.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 120px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614900509376154002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpcVgzExeKll-_pUNI2jxBlPH1tYLdc5F7qrDSSueuv9MQPqkRRTQ6zS6XKvX6M1Vm40w8NAOgkvBYrbOuftGLa7j5vhpAWRnNNtm2ASa2eqL7HUlPgWQv3cTPRw8wJ8I8L56wPOdvm0/s400/pickles+2.bmp" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><div>My Montana sister and I have started an annual tradition. A week at the family farm in Montana canning up jars and jars of pickles. We make mostly dill pickles with garlic, but we add various amounts of salt (we've discovered we can use very little in the jars that will sit for six months before we eat them). We start by going to the Hutterite colony that is five miles or so from my parent's farm. There we can buy huge bags of cucumbers for canning (around ten pounds for two dollars). Then we go to my mother's farm kitchen and get to work. We can up close to thirty quarts in a day -- which is a good thing because our family loves pickles (as my little niece said last year, we need lots because she can eat a whole jar by herself).</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>How about you? Do you have any things you can each year?</div></div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-4776511379883134452011-03-31T20:50:00.000-07:002011-03-31T20:56:54.497-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFneM3pZGborTfWaE1azuuGT-hchl4Znw20avVJiL9KansH8Y4RK_c4B-_41ETEQoWTgmJzskFHuVPBhPIs_kWmErEtxGLOK-zIy0PSrriH0tVuufPM58xnD1pyvKDkwz1PhtQUWNqGw/s1600/small+towm+moms.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5590457900638255154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyFneM3pZGborTfWaE1azuuGT-hchl4Znw20avVJiL9KansH8Y4RK_c4B-_41ETEQoWTgmJzskFHuVPBhPIs_kWmErEtxGLOK-zIy0PSrriH0tVuufPM58xnD1pyvKDkwz1PhtQUWNqGw/s200/small+towm+moms.jpg" /></a> <br /><div>Enter an April Fool's contest. Tell a tall tale and be entered to win a copy of my latest book, 'Small Town Moms' -- AND a $10 Barnes and Noble gift card. The more outrageous the better.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Go to eharlequin to enter. You can look at the twitter bar on the right hand of this page and find the link to enter.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-82111036270273581632011-03-22T20:41:00.000-07:002011-03-22T20:44:19.950-07:00Going to the RT ConventionI'm going to be on a panel at the Romantic Times convention in Los Angeles on April 8 at the Westin Bonaventure hotel. It's going to the convention, come see us on Friday afternoon as six of us Love Inspired authors reveal some of the questions our readers ask (and our answers) as well as telling a bit about our journey to publication.Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-3022580631458781762011-03-05T10:03:00.000-08:002011-03-06T21:20:07.426-08:00A Different Sort of Fawn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLK_fOwEyG1FslE-8-UkKPTn_G3EEzmW5K8D-78C2BgefBlOheuEphJ0Cbe82LJ7kTv4fXcwnK9nNtoUOccvQLUDC7UR7FP_fUojrEvAvR5i1HzYsun9QWYz-rc873GnPBwYMZ1SX3Bk/s1600/albino+deer.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 160px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5580659219062325218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLK_fOwEyG1FslE-8-UkKPTn_G3EEzmW5K8D-78C2BgefBlOheuEphJ0Cbe82LJ7kTv4fXcwnK9nNtoUOccvQLUDC7UR7FP_fUojrEvAvR5i1HzYsun9QWYz-rc873GnPBwYMZ1SX3Bk/s200/albino+deer.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I have been spending the winter with my parents on their Montana farm and recently we have seen an albino fawn in their pine trees. Its absolutely beautiful. After seeing it a few times though I have been concerned that it is often alone (my mother assures me he has a herd and she's seen him with other deer regularly). Still, it makes me wonder if the fawn's color makes the others uneasy. Sometimes it takes an outsider to see the true beauty in an animal or person who is different from the others. I like to think that part of a writer's job is to be that outsider and point out the beauty in the unusual. I posted on the Love Inspired authors website about this fawn and said I was thinking of using this fawn in one of my upcoming Dry Creek books and running it's situation alongside a hero or heroine is different in some of the same ways. What do you think? <strong>Vote here -- yes for the albino fawn!</strong></div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-43074696234052775972011-03-03T13:14:00.000-08:002011-03-03T13:19:53.944-08:00World Book Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW2Oed5_xS-GmlYfmXdehJq5aru3srJ0Y5lbgjGgweECJMWuzwt-6-CbpVnqLtOpnGj-XufpWOZUzXt5xhWw09Y6jMuZ1jRlHn9iyATmCj4n6eXMHlGkJ_DD2Ws4v7NOt4Qk9zZ7lQgA/s1600/small+towm+moms.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579966063697627602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgW2Oed5_xS-GmlYfmXdehJq5aru3srJ0Y5lbgjGgweECJMWuzwt-6-CbpVnqLtOpnGj-XufpWOZUzXt5xhWw09Y6jMuZ1jRlHn9iyATmCj4n6eXMHlGkJ_DD2Ws4v7NOt4Qk9zZ7lQgA/s200/small+towm+moms.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I just heard that it is World Book Day today -- how fitting that I should be sitting here at my desk writing on my next book (I have a great series within a series coming up in Dry Creek). I can't tell you much about it except it involves a family crisis (mother returning from prison who asks her grown sons to come back to work on the family ranch). Lots of cowboy heroes and fiery heroines. The first book will come out around Christmas.</div><div> </div><div>In the meantime, take a look at my April release -- 'Small-Town Moms.' Debra Clopton and I have a very entertaining story in two parts with this book.</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-75106386430455566762011-01-03T10:05:00.001-08:002011-01-03T11:11:46.401-08:00A New Year Awaits in Dry Creek<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSXMqP24m-slu8lEUI_5jpsYbVzg9rAKnWtxbeMx1uYxwKZpxy4ZZ8rlJp7_LIpD5QxmJ7FdVNeUXQoPCiCjODMXyJtGMWtNql33kvy75f-EGQn7K9XF280E_RzADvrmO1fXEb7MXmgE/s1600/9780373651429.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 126px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558039291203110274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYSXMqP24m-slu8lEUI_5jpsYbVzg9rAKnWtxbeMx1uYxwKZpxy4ZZ8rlJp7_LIpD5QxmJ7FdVNeUXQoPCiCjODMXyJtGMWtNql33kvy75f-EGQn7K9XF280E_RzADvrmO1fXEb7MXmgE/s200/9780373651429.jpg" /></a> One of the recurring themes of my Dry Creek series is 'new beginnings.' That fits perfectly with the heroine of 'At Home in Dry Creek', Barbara Strong. She is a single mother who brings her children to the small town in hopes of making a better life for them. This title is available anew in the LI Classic pictured on the right.<br /><div></div><br /><div>I know we all hope for a better life and the first of the year is traditionally a time to decide what we need to do to make that happen. I don't usually make resolutions, but this year I am. I plan to lose weight and exercise more (mostly, I plan to walk more in the nearby Huntington Gardens and smell the roses there). It's not just physical exercise, it's relaxing as well. How about you? What do you plan to do this next year to make your life more the way you want it to be?</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-48399513107832068272010-12-12T18:11:00.000-08:002010-12-12T18:13:08.346-08:00Loving Chistmas Trees<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIFfuDJwBtB0rGCXyFq6PSjMZD_77KSm3WSfSfSrY0ztygEvXt_oq8pLUA85sC1wkr39Jikw6EYotyZPwCT4NSniWn0JVEHTIqq75OXASvW-gF4QoHpIIGARuj0jUI-Af0nu-2Eu3QPE/s1600/upside+down+tree.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549984029851538690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVIFfuDJwBtB0rGCXyFq6PSjMZD_77KSm3WSfSfSrY0ztygEvXt_oq8pLUA85sC1wkr39Jikw6EYotyZPwCT4NSniWn0JVEHTIqq75OXASvW-gF4QoHpIIGARuj0jUI-Af0nu-2Eu3QPE/s200/upside+down+tree.jpg" /></a><br /><div>It's that season and, those of you who read my books, know I love everything about Christmas. The meaning of the season as well as the light-hearted fun. I particularly like Christmas trees and wanted to share an upside down one with you. Isn't this amazing? I've never done an upside down tree, but this picture tempts me to try.</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-54484960908601836082010-09-21T14:28:00.000-07:002010-09-21T14:33:02.426-07:00I won a Carol Award!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS67a3pHf3Qr52IPCjBPVSFDV4tolvN41fUpO2vSjboNJ5YMHGRPrWn6OtB2Ohgd6xBXNFzCuLUJ34u9JRKZH2So-GKvd1Ns8J1jZH_tl-Azf2tbIvpVvDRHg_uh0mqZ_prDHhp-6GKWs/s1600/mistletoe+courtship.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 126px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519482756899949378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS67a3pHf3Qr52IPCjBPVSFDV4tolvN41fUpO2vSjboNJ5YMHGRPrWn6OtB2Ohgd6xBXNFzCuLUJ34u9JRKZH2So-GKvd1Ns8J1jZH_tl-Azf2tbIvpVvDRHg_uh0mqZ_prDHhp-6GKWs/s200/mistletoe+courtship.jpg" /></a><br /><div>I'm so excited. Every year the American Christian Fiction Writers hold a contest for Book-of-the-Year in various categories. My 'Christmas Bells for Dry Creek' (in Mistletoe Courtship) just won in the historical novella group. Over 600 people (writers, editors, agents) were at a dinner Sunday night in their evening wear when the awards were announced. I've gotten congratulatory emails all day so I'm celebrating in fine fashion!</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-83843878983926533432010-07-27T14:58:00.000-07:002010-07-27T14:59:58.103-07:00Hallelujah and Pass the e-books!I'm excited because I just noticed Harlequin has issued my back-list as ebooks! Now, for those of you looking for those old titles, there is one place you can get the books (I know we don't all have e-book readers yet, at least I don't, but someday--).Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-44757932208551966772010-06-03T20:34:00.000-07:002010-06-03T20:41:12.488-07:00Latest Dry Creek<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtygL_wIMyQI9Ew3S0e1aN0aIUJE500PItRmnsPtFjAXlliEk352oaIu0Pn-dOhAIB3Te8UvR9y22MyHqMBZpLVq63EjqZ-aKKU1DKTcnBSre3uvVKLSPUMI7tbXSsW29yqIJNiONx95A/s1600/9780373875962%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 202px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478757360500837954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtygL_wIMyQI9Ew3S0e1aN0aIUJE500PItRmnsPtFjAXlliEk352oaIu0Pn-dOhAIB3Te8UvR9y22MyHqMBZpLVq63EjqZ-aKKU1DKTcnBSre3uvVKLSPUMI7tbXSsW29yqIJNiONx95A/s320/9780373875962%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br /><div>My latest book from the heartland of Montana is 'Wife Wanted in Dry Creek.' Uncle Charley has put an announcement in the church bulletion, asking for prayer for a wife for his nephew. Of course, everyone knows it is Conrad even though no names are printed there. </div><div> </div><div>Conrad is fit to be tied -- if he wanted a wife, he would get one himself. And then the woman of his dreams drives a car into his newly-opened garage and, just when he wonders if God has answered his uncle's prayer, he discovers the car has been reported stolen!</div><div> </div><div>I'm thinking most of us have had moments like this on our lives -- just when it looks like everything is going to fall into place, things start to fall apart. Can you think of something like this in your life?</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-62853372898365504172009-11-01T22:54:00.000-08:002009-11-01T23:03:41.546-08:00New Release Coming Soon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-7RkI878c_rBvbbPr4L0Tyrld5AQ2y4lH6UXkk18ZO5rVwSaOuye-vMgU51Q1_fsEZZJnkwCYrj-Nn0UwRaOZIFkiISz5zYfcdYdz3v6oDhOL9QGK1jktAfr20vAq4nLIpQxCXgD9Lk/s1600-h/mistletoe+courtship.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 202px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399398122917563042" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-7RkI878c_rBvbbPr4L0Tyrld5AQ2y4lH6UXkk18ZO5rVwSaOuye-vMgU51Q1_fsEZZJnkwCYrj-Nn0UwRaOZIFkiISz5zYfcdYdz3v6oDhOL9QGK1jktAfr20vAq4nLIpQxCXgD9Lk/s320/mistletoe+courtship.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div>Have you ever been poor and too proud to accept the charity others want to give you? I've never been in that position, but it's obviously on my mind. I realized both of my Christmas stories this year begin on that note. In my "Silent Night in Dry Creek," my hero is being offered a job he thinks is a pity job from a small town he left years ago. He wants to refuse, but the sheriff talks him into staying anyway. What can it hurt, he figures, to guard Jasmine Hunter?</div><br /><div>In my novella, "Christmas Bells for Dry Creek," ( in the book "Mistletoe Courtship"), Virginia Parker fears Colter will be firing her now that hs doesn't need her to play Christmas music for the customers in his saloon. She knew the job was charity, but she doesn't know what to do without out.<br /></div><div>Unlike my characters, I hope you are warm and well-fed this holiday season.</div></div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-45637490920730613382009-08-14T09:46:00.000-07:002009-08-14T09:57:19.790-07:00Going Home Again<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2eT0tMn5hr-dEDASvJrC8Gy2zvPQdhUwRIe0PuHttvz23GYnzZOGQPG8U3RpBc88ht90tQ-qDU5TfH8kJj2LBxF_orkd4iEtiD2NT1qhh881-9QS8AF3t_26Ta-QVflBGpNxmRyFRZI/s1600-h/match+Made.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 253px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369862981859196898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2eT0tMn5hr-dEDASvJrC8Gy2zvPQdhUwRIe0PuHttvz23GYnzZOGQPG8U3RpBc88ht90tQ-qDU5TfH8kJj2LBxF_orkd4iEtiD2NT1qhh881-9QS8AF3t_26Ta-QVflBGpNxmRyFRZI/s400/match+Made.jpg" /></a> "A Match Made for Dry Creek." is one of my favorites in the Dry Creek series because the heroine comes home after living away for many years. Whether or not one can really go home again is the question of many great books. Have you ever tried it? <div></div><div> </div><div>I've 'gone home again' myself these days (at least partially)-- planning to spend half of my months on my family's farm in Montana so I can be close to my parents (84 years old soon, both of them) and the other half of my time in my home in Pasadena, CA. I must say I am enjoying the wide open spaces of Montana. And the sky at sunset is beautiful.</div><div></div><div>Because I grew up in this Montana community, I know many of the people around here still (and it's great). In fact, "A Match Made for Dry Creek" talks about a tradition we had in the church where I went as a child (and the church I still attend when I'm here). Just seeing the church brings back so many memories.</div><div></div><div>How about you? Do you have a childhood home that you sometimes visit? Are the same places there? And the people?</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-16833379503990816332009-07-30T13:57:00.000-07:002009-07-30T14:04:25.769-07:00Next Dry Creek coming fast!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WSzPN3FOlDUrHj_lVotTBHgbLdtZikjAzrihJr-eBMBzE9LN6nzP8MtqADRUz8Dd553uoF5y6ah-HUCYBA899IReG6IVog6Xv6DmIW4MSg_4I_dGRwuOW8g-25AaJUX8Mz77wql37QU/s1600-h/9780373875535%5B1%5D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 253px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364361133940858706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2WSzPN3FOlDUrHj_lVotTBHgbLdtZikjAzrihJr-eBMBzE9LN6nzP8MtqADRUz8Dd553uoF5y6ah-HUCYBA899IReG6IVog6Xv6DmIW4MSg_4I_dGRwuOW8g-25AaJUX8Mz77wql37QU/s400/9780373875535%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a><br /><div>For those of you following the Dry Creek series, you will know that it is Jasmine's story that comes up next. Well, some of you might think it is Jasmine's and Conrad's story, but I decided the two of them weren't meant to be so Jasmine goes first in "A Silent Night in Dry Creek." I must say this is one of my favorite Dry Creek books yet. I love the hero -- I can't wait for you to meet him (he works undercover for various sheriff departments and thinks he's coming to Dry Creek to do suveillance on Jasmine, who (you will remember) is an ex-con). I don't want to tell you too much about the story, but I will say that there's lots of excitement and tenderness, too, as Jasmine makes her peace about the identify of her father and learns to give love a chance. And, of course, it's a Christmas story -- I love a good Christmas story.</div><div></div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-46496660887149758162009-07-22T22:59:00.000-07:002009-07-24T20:50:35.920-07:00Chokecherry Days<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxWZhcYqCJDFzutTwFa3RKyGOVe-J2ZyN_p4o5U0nbqVtcgn5ZQ1TAa1Mn2_LE5UtLCCDmz006okqCh9s9xd-zhHZEpablr-oDr387n0qoFB6wjEyd1vEukZs7TNOXFF4VOfeHOTzVcg/s1600-h/Chokecherries.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361532033145274498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwxWZhcYqCJDFzutTwFa3RKyGOVe-J2ZyN_p4o5U0nbqVtcgn5ZQ1TAa1Mn2_LE5UtLCCDmz006okqCh9s9xd-zhHZEpablr-oDr387n0qoFB6wjEyd1vEukZs7TNOXFF4VOfeHOTzVcg/s320/Chokecherries.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Choke- cherries play a special role in the life of Dry Creek, Montana. Mrs. Hargrove-Nelson (or Edith as she's often called) used to think she resembled the tart, resilient berry. All Montana farm women did, in her opinion. They had to be tough to survive the hard work and the harsh weather. In several of the Dry Creek books, Mrs. Hargrove makes chockecherry jelly and her special soda biscuits. I remember as a child picking chokecherries (they're small and it takes a lot to make jelly). My mother had planted some bushes that grew in the trees by our house, but we also picked berries on the wild bushes by the coulee that led down to the river. There's nothing like picking berries as a child (although these berries were too tart to eat from the bucket). Did you pick berries as a child? What kind?</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-50219064287294799842009-03-26T18:37:00.000-07:002009-03-26T23:05:21.428-07:00The next Dry Creek<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeoka8uXdXJ0iDPfmk5kxnlv6AkRV5Q0JTAC6eUyab9prqMDkQCpQTRP7X3FFY8xJFU7lzMNGTZeGlpiMh4IKbFtnC7B07Tl-jgp6Xv0gyy2bXxG_ydxWwoM7jn8W_OsPvMAvuIjV3P0/s1600-h/small-Town+Brides.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317677859972854658" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 115px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 115px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEeoka8uXdXJ0iDPfmk5kxnlv6AkRV5Q0JTAC6eUyab9prqMDkQCpQTRP7X3FFY8xJFU7lzMNGTZeGlpiMh4IKbFtnC7B07Tl-jgp6Xv0gyy2bXxG_ydxWwoM7jn8W_OsPvMAvuIjV3P0/s400/small-Town+Brides.jpg" border="0" /></a>My next Dry Creek story is half of a book called Small Town Brides which comes out in June. Debra Clopton, the author of the Mule Hollow books set in Texas, and I were talking at a Romance Writer's convention a year or so ago because we had noticed that we share a lot of the same readers. So, thinking those readers would enjoy it, we proposed to the Love Inspired editors that we do a 2-in-1 book with two novellas, one set in Dry Creek and one set in Mule Hollow. The editors loved it and I think you will too.<br /><br /><div><div><div></div><div>We took two cousins and one family wedding veil, mixed everything up with a couple of likely and not-so-likely heroes and we had a romance that'll make you smile. </div></div></div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-38743547240791823682009-03-19T23:38:00.000-07:002009-03-19T23:43:52.768-07:00Last chance for cowboys<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1mNwk9wyhiwzbatLr6gYm8_Fs-CAwPyk5SuO_5BEgdEWrXJRyVUrOEOdMoKhnif9y5k0_fBeBAt-xxhLU3SFmWUIXh_2g7iWKMO3e7gyk71rnyzMun6zBw0okHTkWPakhyphenhyphenyqbvI8VUk/s1600-h/cowboys2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315156955873283650" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX1mNwk9wyhiwzbatLr6gYm8_Fs-CAwPyk5SuO_5BEgdEWrXJRyVUrOEOdMoKhnif9y5k0_fBeBAt-xxhLU3SFmWUIXh_2g7iWKMO3e7gyk71rnyzMun6zBw0okHTkWPakhyphenhyphenyqbvI8VUk/s320/cowboys2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>Welcome to the Dry Creek blog. We're discussing what kind of books to do next in the series and the cowboys out at the Elkton Ranch are gathering alot of attention. You may remember them in the bunkhouse from the book, Dry Creek Christmas. They hadn't done much for Christmas, as is their usual, but since they had company that year they really decked out their tree. I'm leaning toward the cowboys finding romance with some women from back east. Now why would eastern women be coming to Dry Creek? </div></div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-71062952825196365432009-03-16T21:00:00.000-07:002009-03-16T21:08:32.357-07:00Time to Vote<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKQm50UVPUcdJMi706Zz5Ra45UMJMQ-_rUuAjbK7Ytx8zNng-D0zXOkPsVZISVDJXjfWCDgJ_hnrpK3c-0hqdw9XDRPM3zP5A1tvHeWKrd7CuoNCGTcxGP7mxgCnu4mmAfAf0T2yxD3Y/s1600-h/Hutterites.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314003684381938594" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 197px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKQm50UVPUcdJMi706Zz5Ra45UMJMQ-_rUuAjbK7Ytx8zNng-D0zXOkPsVZISVDJXjfWCDgJ_hnrpK3c-0hqdw9XDRPM3zP5A1tvHeWKrd7CuoNCGTcxGP7mxgCnu4mmAfAf0T2yxD3Y/s320/Hutterites.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div>Welcome to Dry Creek. Now's the time to make your voice heard. I am thinking about what stories to add next to the Dry Creek line-up and I'd value your input. I could do some books centered around the Elkton Ranch (a big ranch with cowboys that has been featured in some of the older Dry Creek books). Or I could add a Hutterite colony near Dry Creek. For those of you not familiar with the Hutterites, they are similar to the Amish people (see photo above). There are over a dozen colonies in Montana so it would be natural for a colony to be established near Dry Creek. What's your preference -- cowboys or colony?</div></div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-14746375167379067952009-03-11T20:58:00.000-07:002009-03-11T21:04:01.995-07:00Touching letters from readersI have a book out this month in my other series<br /> (the non-Dry Creek one).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAhUn_b5bSjpNgIIdwL4mB024Xu_MfWWDG1T2vPIj-zF4XA-NqZldDJiuwIrarT7P99W85j4ODti2DmKPdwTON6z5uP66Z4aBqiigVdO4iz7BRLuhvF8U4Lc-FKXa39eWBXajQs9MtIM/s1600-h/dropped+wedding.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312146166610008466" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 253px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyAhUn_b5bSjpNgIIdwL4mB024Xu_MfWWDG1T2vPIj-zF4XA-NqZldDJiuwIrarT7P99W85j4ODti2DmKPdwTON6z5uP66Z4aBqiigVdO4iz7BRLuhvF8U4Lc-FKXa39eWBXajQs9MtIM/s400/dropped+wedding.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>I was delighted when Romantic Times called my ‘Dropped Stitches Wedding’ a ‘joyous conclusion’ to the Sisterhood of the Dropped Stitches series. Each of the books has received a 4 or a 4 1/2 rating from the reviewers at RT. Those of you who have read the books know they are the story of four young cancer survivors who are taking back their lives once they are free of cancer.<br /></div><div><br />This is a series that has constantly surprised me. Not so much because of the books themselves, but because of the heartfelt response of readers to the books. A few days ago, I received yet another reader letter that humbled me (and I have received many by now). I’m going to share parts of two of these letters with you because I had no idea when writing these books that they would speak so deeply to others. </div><div><br />The letter I received today: “When the first book about the Dropped Stitches came out I had just learned that I would be undergoing chemotherapy for ovarian cancer and this book helped me so much. It was as if all of the characters came alive and were there helping me through the battle. Later, as each book came out it seemed that it was just for me because at each of those times I was undergoing more chemo. Two weeks ago after my latest scans the doctor told me that they were all clean and that I would be coming off of the chemo again. Little did I know that in March the last book of the Dropped Stitches would be out, but it seemed like God's way of telling me that I was through with the chemo for good. Thank you so much for the wonderful books that you have written, over the last few years -- they have helped me more than you will ever know.” </div><br /><div><br />A letter I received earlier:“I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your book entitled A Dropped Stitches Wedding. It hit me smack in the face because my son finished treatment for a brain tumor at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, in January, 2008. I have been working so hard trying to get ready for my son's 3 month checkup that I hadn't read any of the books (in the Love Inspired Book Club) yet. On the way out the door to the airport Sunday afternoon, I stopped and grabbed the 2 books on top so I would have something to do while on the plane and sitting through all of his appointments. As a mom, I always worry about my son and to keep myself from getting too upset on the plane I opened my bag and pulled out your book. When I began reading it and saw what it was about, I knew it was a sign from God. I couldn't put it down. It was great. God bless you and know that you have truly helped the heart of one mother from Louisiana and at a time when I needed it most.” </div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-32744937187369340702009-03-07T21:39:00.000-08:002009-03-07T18:43:18.955-08:00The Day a Limousine Came to Dry Creek<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgdlcIxTRcjARLtFRDiAW6WiCMFS2MSTtkyT4DO34j5_9arlZizFwSq66QfXKWSJ7N8WW5MkS2E9SD_O6ZSsIGoM-6Qy6Fz21GINZZjApsjkdIXe0ZYor8ND117l0vBB3ibx48HOT0bg/s1600-h/booktn_november2003.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH-Uh1Hrld9-D6wAfunyJDQe2CU-r8osxmmELwIUeOMQO0dIg9sgLjOvA4w4FYEReL6_MeIRkLeNH_ScB0FfQtkVrDN_oa4-00mL4y8Y1DYhSuT-WstLCELuZQyulUEtK3EWnAXK3Fmk/s1600-h/limosene.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310640888430324274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 98px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIH-Uh1Hrld9-D6wAfunyJDQe2CU-r8osxmmELwIUeOMQO0dIg9sgLjOvA4w4FYEReL6_MeIRkLeNH_ScB0FfQtkVrDN_oa4-00mL4y8Y1DYhSuT-WstLCELuZQyulUEtK3EWnAXK3Fmk/s320/limosene.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Q3kpJbNsitP6UjOqVRP_3uAcL0bSARKowPIL2lBkJqCf_A9mriTotpIgClHKAY84v05EErK6Uk34qoDadbtHPMbEZ6BTbdLjUSMA_yOMeSpKBY9voGZ2GVStBuVA0jvTSitD8QzwvAk/s1600-h/booktn_november2003.jpg"></a>Welcome to the Dry Creek blog.<br /><br />'A Hero for Dry Creek' is one of the only books I have written where the idea came to me with an initial scene. I couldn't get the picture out of my mind of a farm woman looking out her kitchen window and seeing a long, stretch limo in her driveway. The farm women I know wouldn't find anything more shocking! They have cows in their driveways, stalled pick-ups, and any number of other things, but limousinses don't come to farm country. What would a woman think, I asked myself, if she saw such a limo? And what if it was dark outside and the snow was falling so she wasn't really sure what she saw?<br /><br />I think the reason limousines were on my mind is because our family (my parents, sister's family, other sister, and me) had taken a trip to New York to see my nephew graduate from Westpoint. We were so proud of him! And, because there were so many of us, we decided to take a limousine around. None of us had ever been a limouiene before (or since) but we most assuredly enjoyed it for the time we had it. Ever since then I've decided we all need luxury here and there in our lives (not necessarily as pricey as a limo, but maybe a facial or even a really good cup of tea and the peace to go with it). What are the luxuries you like?</div></div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8422628977812980419.post-49426790753542247622009-03-05T02:00:00.000-08:002009-03-05T02:00:00.769-08:00Sitting Around the Potbellied Stove<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS93IiAv6irD5q34xFYt8taqFZFqj_tWJzz_vOtEvv4P3Y8ulTTlwKjozmVVtS4t2maVnEMV2NeuLqiNARINiP-KV8EG44ZLXv0ZlAEy16BL05SsM-0T19FutO1YQZcpXSS6MP1xB5p0/s1600-h/cedar_pot_belly_stove_t.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309492784071387650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifS93IiAv6irD5q34xFYt8taqFZFqj_tWJzz_vOtEvv4P3Y8ulTTlwKjozmVVtS4t2maVnEMV2NeuLqiNARINiP-KV8EG44ZLXv0ZlAEy16BL05SsM-0T19FutO1YQZcpXSS6MP1xB5p0/s320/cedar_pot_belly_stove_t.jpg" border="0" /></a>Welcome to the Dry Creek blog. One of the truly fine things about a place like the town of Dry Creek is that there's time in the day for people to talk to each other. A Montana winter can be chilly so there's no better place for that talking to take place than beside the warmth of a potbellied stove. In almost all of my Dry Creek books, I have a group of older men who sit around the stove and talk about what's going on. <div> </div><div>Potbelly stoves have a long history in Montana winters. Many old schoolhouses were heated by just such a stove -- the stove would stand in the middle of the room with those old two-person desks lined up around it. In those days, snow was melted for drinking water and children needed to run to the outhouse. Most schools only had a dozen or so students. My mother went to one of those schools and was the only girl in her class so she had to share a desk with her cousin, Kenny.</div><div> </div><div>If you've been outside on a blustery day, you know just how good it feels to come inside and reach your hands out to the waves of heat that can come from these old cast-iron stoves. If you have any potbelly stories to tell, please share.</div>Janet Tronstadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07901051836938693274noreply@blogger.com2