Happy 4th!!!

I hope everyone has a great 4th of July holiday weekend! Be safe, and have fun with family and friends. And let's all remember those who've served, and even given their lives, so we have the freedom we're celebrating.

Our Anniversary Story

If you keep up with Facebook, you may have seen my status update this past weekend. My husband and I celebrated our 23rd anniversary! We went out to our favorite restaurant that we go to a couple of times a year for special celebrations.

We each had a card to give to the other. He'd called ahead to get reservations. So we went out for date night, leaving the kids at home. We'd made the reservations for an early dinner because we were going to be in Athens for a reception. So when we arrived at 5:30, the place was nearly empty. Maybe two or three tables had patrons when they showed us to our table.

We looked over the wonderful menu (they buy all local produce, etc,. and put ingredients together in such amazing, yummy ways!) and placed our order ( I got the shrimp and grits. Yum.). We were just settling into our romantic dinner when a family came in. Mom, dad and three young children. It's actually the first kids I've seen in the restaurant, since it doesn't have a menu kids would typically like. But I thought, what a nice young family...until they sat them right beside us!! And this with the place still nearly empty.

And I'm not talking a regular spacing of tables. No, we were seated along a wall ( I was sitting on a bench that ran along the wall), and they put them at a table right next to us on the same bench seat, so close, I had to scoot my purse toward me. Their table was maybe two feet away.

I just had to grin at my husband as I handed him his romantic card. Isn't this romantic, I whispered as he handed me my card (and I hoped the waiter would get the hint and maybe move them). But he didn't. And hubby and I laughed about it.

It ended up being fine. The children were great. So well-behaved. And we were able to tune them out.

Of course, I was floored when they brought another two people and seated them at the table on our other side!! I mean, there were probably 20 empty tables all around. I guess they were reserved, though. And It was a nice young man with his grandmother, so again, it was fine.

Overall, we had such a great time. I had the most WONDERFUL dessert--a lemon chess tart with blueberry ice cream on top. The crust was so rich and buttery. And well worth the limited romantic setting. LOL And no matter what, we were able to celebrate 23 wonderful years together. :)

My New Cover!!

I don't have permission to post the cover of my November Love Inspired, A Forever Christmas, yet. But I thought I'd give you a link so you can check it out. I absolutely LOVE it!! They took my art fact sheet and the photos I sent them (that showed how I envisioned the cover) and made the most gorgeous cover!! Click here to see it on CBD. If you click on the cover, it'll enlarge. :)





Don't forget to check out my blog tour to the right! I still have a few more stops. And I'm giving away books at most sites. :)



Missy

AWOL!

So sorry I've been AWOL! I've been working on a new proposal, trying to polish and finish up the synopsis. And my parents and sister have come to town for Father's Day, so we've been doing fun things during the day.

Today we visited a quilting shop, bead shop and yarn shop in Watkinsville. You can tell what my sister loves best! :) And I actually had a great time. Mindy brought me a cute pin she'd quilted (see photo), and I bought supplies to make some pins myself. I'm hoping to offer them as blog prizes. So maybe by the next book release in November, I'll have some made!

And speaking of new releases... Don't forget to check out my blog tour schedule on the right. Come visit and say hello!

A Passion Denied by Julie Lessman--Review

I'm at the FAITH blog today with a review of Julie Lessman's newest book, A Passion Denied! It loved the book. Come read what I have to say about it. And remember that a few weeks ago, I posted an excerpt. So come read the review, then check out the excerpt again!

http://writingbyfaith.blogspot.com/2009/06/passion-denied-by-julie-lessman-review.html

http://lifewithmissy.blogspot.com/2009/05/meet-julie-lessman-and-read-excerpt.html

Book Sighting!

Finally, a book sighting! I'd heard word of people buying a copy of His Forever Love. But I finally found it at Walmart the other day!

And it's no less exciting the second time around. :) I thought I'd share a couple of photos. Woo hoo!

Also, for writers, the Break Into Fiction site is hosting several bestselling authors this week who've answered writing questions in a Writing Extravaganza. It looks interesting and will only be online this week! So check it out: http://www.breakintofiction.com/fiveforfive1.html

The new non-fiction book they're promoting at that site, Break Into Fiction, is co-written by a writer friend of mine, Dianna Love. I'm sure it will be an excellent resource!

Missy

Gardenias Blooming and Contests Brewing :)

First off, here are the photos of my gardenia bush that I mentioned the other day. I wish I could pass along the wonderful, sweet fragrance. But you'll just have to use your imagination.

I've also inluded a photo of how I usually display them in the house. I choose a clear vase and float a single blossom. It's about all the fragrance we can handle in a closed space! :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I hope you'll check out my blog tour schedule to the right. I'm visiting a lot of blogs this month to celebrate the release of my new book, His Forever Love.

I hope you'll stop by to see my four-legged babies (aka my doggies) on Roxanne Rustand's blog! She has a new blog, All Creatures Great and Small, and will be featuring our pets. I share the story of getting my dogs when they were "babies". :)
http://roxannerustand.blogspot.com/2009/06/we-have-visitor-author-missy-tippens.html

And don't forget the contest at Harlequin/Silhouette Readers (til June 15). Win a book and some Mary Kay self-tanner. You can enjoy a beach read and tan right at home!
http://www.hsreaders.com/contests

Also, come see me this week at Margaret Daley's blog: http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com/2009/06/missy-tippens-heros-interview.html

And at the Love Inspired Authors Blog: http://loveinspiredauthors.blogspot.com/

And on Friday, at the Steeple Hill Books Facebook, Shoutlife and My Space blogs!