Summer Madness

Nope.
I'm not talking about what the heat is doing to my temperment.

Though in Texas, we're regularly seeing the thermoment top 100. In fact as we drove through Cuero, Texas last week, we saw a mind-numbing 107 flash on the bank sign.

I want to talk about a different kind of summer madness.
Our "deer herd" has had their fawns.

All are a joy to watch--especially the tiniest who WAS limping on 3 legs, but is now scampering about quite well on all 4. What I wanted to share though was the following video. What a precious baby. Reminded me of my own child at times.







You know the drill. Parents are standing there watching. Everything is going fine. SUDDENLY, child runs off, headlong, straight into a tree. Notice--no one moved for a moment. "Mom and dad" seem to watch, make sure baby is okay, which I'm happy to report she was.


Yes, I remember those moments with my child.
I also have those same moments with my manuscript--where it spins off, top speed, then bumps into something and richochets into a different direction. It's part of what makes writing an exciting job.


Deer, children, books - - - all a part of SUMMER MADNESS.

I hope you are enjoying yours as much as I'm enjoying mine.


~Rylee

http://ryleeandrews.com/

VIRTUAL friends?

I've read several news stories lately regarding the rise of social networking sites.

You know: Facebook, Myspace, even communicating via texting, twitter, BLOGGING, etc.

Most of the articles contained a negative slant, and for good reason. We worry about our teens.

We worry about our friends and neighbors.

Sometimes we even worry about our parents.

How much VIRTUAL time is too much time?

I'm in no position to answer that question; however, I did want to share two brief stories that touch on VIRTUAL FRIENDS and my writing life.

The first is regarding my friends from BIG D (Dallas for those of you not from Texas). A year ago I moved away--2 hours away in distance, but much farther in reality. Our lives move so quickly, and we don't visit as often as we said we would.

Thanks to TEXTING, EMAIL, and MYSPACE though, when I visited this week we were able to pick up right where we left off. Felt like putting on an old jacket. Felt right. Now I know in my parent's day, there were ways to maintain that level of contact--but it was harder.

The second story is in regard to some friends I've never met--my dear author friends in the FAITH, HOPE & LOVE Chapter of RWA. I opened up my e-mail today (sitting in my mother's living room) to find their many congratulation letters. At first, I shrugged them off, then my tired brain realized they were congratulating me FOR something. These sweet ladies had seen that I'd been awarded 3rd place in a contest . . . and they knew it before I did. http://www.utahrwa.com/gbfinalists.html

They have been, and continue to be, such an encouragement to me.

VIRTUAL friends or REAL friends?

Why do we have to distinguish between the two?

I am blessed to have both.

~Rylee

http://ryleeandrews.com/

Missy Tippens with His Forever Love

Today I have the privilege of interviewing one of Steeple Hill's rising stars, Missy Tippens.

Missy and I belong to the same writers group--Faith, Hope & Love, The Inspirational Outreach Chapter of RWA. Missy has been a real encouragement to me, and I'm psyched to have her visiting my blog.

Missy, tells us about your current release, His Forever Love--published by Steeple Hill Love Inspired, June 2009.

In Magnolia, Georgia, local legend says that a couple who holds hands around the “forever” tree will have an unending love. Even so, Bill Wellington held Lindsay Jones’s hands around that tree years ago...and then left her behind. He chose the big city, and now he wants to bring his grandmother there. But to his amazement, he finds that Granny has a boyfriend—and a vibrant life. A life that includes Lindsay, Granny’s caregiver. Bill never thought he’d want to come home, yet Magnolia clearly has its charms. As does Lindsay, who makes him long for a second chance at forever love.

What was your biggest challenge in writing this book?

Well, the book was fully written when I sold it. But they did have me cut out a subplot and character (had to cut out a love triangle). So that took some work. But for the most part, it went pretty smoothly.

Share a little of your writing credentials--she's blushing as she types this response.

I'm an award-winning writer and was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Contest. I have a story included in Blessings of Mossy Creek, published by BelleBooks. After ten years of pursuing my dream, I made my first sale of a full-length novel to Steeple Hill Love Inspired. My debut novel, Her Unlikely Family, was a February 2008 release. My next, His Forever Love, is on the shelves now! It will be followed by A Forever Christmas in November.

What would someone be surprised to know about you?

People seem most surprised when I tell them I'm a former microbiologist. Yes, I'm a science geek, just like my hero in His Forever Love. Only I'm not brilliant like he is. :)

Anything else?

I'll be giving away a copy of my book in a drawing from among those who are commenting. Please leave contact info (an email addy is fine--leave with your post or send to Ryleeandrews@gmail.com).

Missy would also love to hear from readers through her website, www.missytippens.com, or by e-mail: missytippens@aol.com.

May Miracles

Yes, I do realize it's JUNE, but this little miracle was born in MAY.
It took me a good 2-3 weeks to get him (her?) on video.

And of course it's not MY fawn, but I had to name the video SOMETHING--so I named it RYLEE's FAWN. Has a nice ring to it, right?

I do NOT think it's a coincidence, that my current book centers around a young woman who rescues animals for a living. I'm currently working on the final draft of TRUSTING GRACE, but here's a little synopsis.

Erin's dream was to own a place where she could care for the animals she rescued--a haven away from the world that had proven too rough for both her charges and her heart, an ARK of sorts. It's a dream Erin has worked hard to bring to life. Then a midnight call, an infant child, and Travis Williams shatter Erin's dream and call into question the happiness she thought she'd found.

You can read more about ERIN, as well as the first book in this series, FINDING GRACE, on my webpage at http://www.ryleeandrews.com/

Until then, keep your eyes open.
Lots of miracles out there to see.

~Rylee