Merry Christmas to All!

3 #Giveaways + an Interview on Stitches today

Happy Saturday y'all!

Anita Higman is over on Stitches Thru Time with me today. We're hearing about her novel A Question of Destiny and some interesting tidbits about her (including her favorite type of ice cream). :) She's also giving away two copies of her book plus one goodie bag, so you've got a wonderful chance at winning something great. Hope to see you drop by!

http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2014/12/interview-book-giveaway-with-anita.html

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!

Interview & #BookGiveaway Today

Hey y'all! I'm over on Stitches Thru Time today interviewing Alexis Goring. She's giving away a copy of her book, so be sure to drop by and leave a comment for a chance to win. :)

Stitches Thru Time: Interview & #Bookgiveaway With Alexis

Stitches Thru Time: It Ain't Old Enough

Hey y'all! Have you ever had the problem of something or someone not being old enough? And no, I'm not talking about for a ride at Disney World. :) I'm blogging on Stitches Thru Time today about just such an occurrence. Would love to have you drop by.

Stitches Thru Time: It Ain't Old Enough

Live @ ACFW 2014

Hey y'all! I'm having a blast at the 2014 ACFW Conference. Nothing's wackier than sharing a hotel with hundreds of other writers. Last night we had our genre dinner where we dress up according to what we write. What do you think? Did I pull off the Historical Romances set in the West? Here's a few pics I thought you might enjoy.

Want to see more pictures of our fun here at the American Christian Writer's Conference? Check out my group blog at stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com

Do You Remember?

I remember. Do you?

I was in a school locker room when I saw the newscast. Where were you when you heard?

I'm Hosting an Interview and Giveaway with Jacqueline Wheelock

Come join me today on Stitches Thru Time and hear about a new Civil War read. Leave a comment for an opportunity to win your own eBook copy. :-)

Stitches Thru Time-Interview and book giveaway

Lookie, Lookie!

Check out my new and improved web site. :) booksbybarnes.com

Any suggestions for improvement are welcome. :)

Does this make it official?

What makes someone officially an author? Is it someone with a printed book, or anyone who sits down to pen a story? Either way, I'd say signing a contract to have a story (even a short one) published sure makes it feel that way.  :)
God's blessings are abundant.
So grateful for each new experience on the journey.

Coming Feb 2015

This is all a bit surreal. Out of the Storm, an anthology featuring the winners of the 2014 "Storming the Short Story" Contest will be coming out in February 2015. My short story Husband Hunting will be in this collection. :) It's the tale of how a rancher borrows his love's wedding dress in one last effort to prevent her from marrying the wrong man.

If you're interested, the book is already available for pre-order on Amazon.

God is good.

My Short Story is Getting Published!

Guess what? I got 2nd in my category! My short story is getting published! Glory! Hallelujah! By the great grace of God alone! :-)

Writers on the Storm: Congratulations to the Winners of the 2014 Storming the Short Story Contest 

Stitches Thru Time: Interview & #Giveaway with Jennifer Slattery

Stitches Thru Time: Interview & #Giveaway with Jennifer Slattery: Howdy y'all! I've got a great gal for you to meet today. Jennifer Slattery is one my writer friends from ACFW, and she's sharing with us her new release. Come drop by and see what's going down.

Storming the Short Story - Semi-finalists 2014 - I'm in the List!

Hey y'all! In case you missed the announcement, I made it into the top 5 of my category. The top 4 from each category will be published in an anthology. =D Winners will be announced at the end of the month.



Writers on the Storm: Storming the Short Story - Semi-finalists 2014

Do You Wake Up With Songs in Your Head?

Do you? Sometimes I wonder if I'm the only one. This morning the Talley's "The Broken Ones" played over and over again in my mind.







All it takes to make a difference is a willing heart and a tender touch. It doesn't have to be a grand act to be a blessing to others. A simple cup of water, a card, a kind word, maybe a story only you can tell that will minister to a broken person. Even the smallest things count when done for Christ and for His Kingdom (Matthew 25:34-40).

We all can name someone who is broken, needy. Maybe that someone is you. Jesus Christ is the answer to our brokenness, and He's willing to help restore and heal if we'll only ask Him to.

Ever Been to the TX Civil War Museum?

They had multiple recreations of battle scenes. 

Ever been to the Texas Civil War Museum in Fort Worth? Do you like history, old ships, old dresses, old guns? How about a cannon or two? Well, they've got it all. :) And I got to see it! You want to see too? Well, good. I took a slew of pictures that I could go back and peruse at my leisure later.

Here's a few...

Presentation Sword given to
Ulysses S. Grant
by the people of Kentucky in May, 1864

If that musket didn't do the job,
they might use one of these.

Know what this is called?
Yeah, I didn't either. :)
It's a concertina used by
Private John Martin. 

Notice the canteen is made of wood.
There were actually quite a few of these.
Some were made of leather too.

Anybody interested in medicine? This was an amputation kit originally used by the Union army, but it was later confiscated by the Confederates.

One of my favorites from the multiplied
number of dresses there. 

My, my! Ladies, aren't you glad we don't have
to wear all this under our skirts now? :)

Hope you've enjoyed the pictures with me. I've shared a few extra over on Stitches Thru Time today, if you'd like to see more. :)

Tell me: which picture is your favorite?

#Giveaway Today on Stitches Thru Time

Hey y'all! I've got another great Texan to introduce to you today on Stitches Thru Time. Angie Brashear is a new friend with a new story to share. She's also generously offered to giveaway a copy to one of today's commenters, so come drop on by. :)

Stitches Thru Time: Interview and #Giveaway with Nicola Furlong

Stitches Thru Time: Interview and #Giveaway with Nicola Furlong: Howdy y'all! Crystal, here, with another interview and giveaway to bless your day. ;) And guess what? The winner of today's drawing gets to pick between two books. Come help me welcome Nicola Furlong to Stitches Thru Time today.

How Much Do You Know About Easter?

Howdy y'all! Can you believe Easter is nearly upon us? With that in mind, I figured a bit of trivia might be in order to see how much you know about the real meaning of Easter. :)

Come drop by Stitches Thru Time today to see how many question you can get right. Leave a comment to be entered in this week's drawing for handmade Easter Egg Hot Pads made by yours truly. :)

Easter Tidbits: How Much Do You Know?

Surprise Giveaway!

Hey y'all! I'm hosting a surprise giveaway over on Stitches Thru Time today with author Katt Anderson. Come check it out and leave a comment for you chance to win!

Click here to go to Stitches Thru Time.

Humor, Hope, & Italian Cooking

What does humor, hope, and ... Italian cooking have in common? Cynthia Toney, that's what. Or should I say who? :) Howdy y'all! I'm over on Stitches Thru Time today, interviewing this lovely. Come check it out to learn more about her new book, and leave a comment for a chance to win a great prize. Stitches Thru Time: Interview with Debut Author Cynthia Toney

Interview and Giveaway on Stitches Thru Time

Hey y'all! It's my turn over on Stitches Thru Time today. I'm interviewing my friend and debut author Keisha Bass. Keisha also offered to giveaway a copy of her novel Permanent Resident at the Purse Table to one commenter today, so be sure to leave a comment when you do. :)

http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/2014/03/interview-and-giveaway-with-debut.html

February Firsts

Have you had any "firsts" lately? Just looking back on February, I can name two. I know, I know it's March, not February, but I did some scrolling through my camera.

For my first first (say that ten times fast =) ), I learned how to read, pin, and cut out a pattern. That was the easy part. Not that hard at all. I can even say I did better than Lucy. The carpet stayed fully intact. =)



Second, I learned how to put that pattern together with a sewing machine. This included pestering my sister with my questions at odd hours of the evening. Thanks, sis. =)

This also meant learning how to thread the bobbin---and no, that's not the thing that bobs up and down. =) I also figured out how to do the button hole stitches and taught myself how to sew a hem.

Oh and FYI, that waistband was a dilly to get together. I stopped counting how many times I went back over a certain section because something didn't catch. =)

What was it like for you to sew on a machine for the first time? Do you have any fun "firsts" that have happened in your world lately?

Pecking Order

Pecking order. Do you know where that phrase comes from? If your guess would be chickens, you'd be right, and I just got a first-hand experience at what happens when the pecking order in a hen house changes.

I've had two roosters for a while. One of them was particularly mean. He's now in a cage waiting to become dumplings. :) Yep, that's how I roll.

Anyway... Guess what? Uh-huh, the pecking order has changed.

Now that Mr. Meanie is gone. Mr. Meanie x2 has emerged. I've taken to carrying a stick with me to the hen house so I don't get spurred. Today, I grabbed up my bucket of feed and my handy-dandy stick and trotted my happy, little self out to the coop, opened the door, kept my stick ready to swing, and dumped in the feed. I was going good ... till he got past the stick.

Round 1: Rooster meets stick. Four! Rooster comes back for more.
Round 2: Rooster meets boot. Rooster steps back and stares trying to decide if I'm worth the effort.
Round 3: Rooster gets another boot to get the message and finally decides "Hmm. She means business." He turns and retreats. :)

I win! This battle at least. I pray there is never a round 4.

How about you? Any rooster rounds to mention? Got any ideas on what this rooster should be named?

I'm on Stitches Thru Time Interviewing YA Author Laura Jackson

Howdy y'all! I get to introduce you to another amazing Texan today on Stitches Thru Time. Laura Jackson's debut novel, Worth the Wait, released this week, so come on by and wish her well and see what her story is all about. :)

Even in Texas

Just had to share the view I woke up to this morning. Yes, folks, even in Texas it does snow on rare occasions. This beautiful white blanket reminds me of the verse in Isaiah 1 where God challenges---

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

There is nothing that we've done that God can't wipe away. He is the only One who can give us a fresh start, a new life. I'm so grateful for His forgiveness and grace that He supplies to all who come to Him.

What do you think of when you see a blanket of snow?

Interview with Janice Thompson

It's my turn on Stitches Thru Time today and I got the great pleasure of interviewing Janice Thompson. Drop by and see the insight she gives us into her upcoming release. :)

Last weekend I read two of her books in two days. Trust me when I say you won't regret picking up one of her novels. :) Also, just so you know, one of those novels I read is still free on Kindle at the moment.