It's Time for a Secret Sisters Fiesta!

My newest Secret Sisters mystery, Targets in Ties, will be launched on Thursday, February 2nd, and you are invited to the fiesta!

When: Thursday, February 2nd, 5 - 7 p.m.

Where: Pioneer Book, 858 S. State Street, Orem

After two long years, Ren’s mission is finally over, and it’s time for Ida Mae, Arlette, and Tansy to travel to Mexico to pick him up. They have their itinerary all planned out—visiting the ruins in the Yucatan, shopping, playing in the sand and surf—and then they’ll head to Ren’s mission home and be reunited with that dear boy. But a wanted antiquities thief crosses their path, and soon the ladies find themselves tangled up in a web of lies, intrigue, and costly jewelry. Held hostage by men desperate for riches, they do what only they can do—keep their heads about them, plan their escape, and discuss the proper making of tortillas. Will they survive their most harrowing adventure yet?

I'm celebrating this book's release in a very bright, colorful, hot-and-spicy way!

First, everyone who comes can enter a drawing for a Grand Basket of Goodies, containing:

Secrets After Dark by Marie Higgins

Just Shy of Paradise by Carole Thayne Warburton

Nourish and Strengthen by Maria Hoagland

Sadie by Rebecca Belliston

Alma the Younger by H. B. Moore

Compass of God by David G. Woolley

Advanced Readers Copy of Jacob T. Marley by R. William Bennett

And if you're reading, you need snacks, so I'm including:

Pringles

Twizzlers

M & Ms

Candy

Second, if you come and purchase Secret Sisters, Dearly Departed, Hang 'Em High, or Targets in Ties, you will receive a free download for my novel Season of Sacrifice!

Both of these are available at the launch only, and yes, you must be present at the time of the drawing (7 p.m.) to win the basket, because there's really no way I can ship it.

If you can't make it to the launch, but still want to get in on the book launch fun ... check this out! I'm holding a Targets in Ties Online Launch Contest. All you have to do is tell your friends about the book, about the launch party, and spread the love! Then e-mail me at tristipinkston@gmail.com and tell me what you did. Each thing you do will get you one point in a drawing to win the Awesome Envelope of Prizes, which will be shipped to you. So tell a friend about the book, tell a local friend about the launch, tweet about it, Facebook it - and each time, you'll get one point. Please put Targets in Ties in the subject line of your e-mail. The drawing will take place on Thursday, February 2nd, at midnight, so turn in all your points by then ... starting now!

What can you win?

No Angel by Theresa Sneed

Cold River by Liz Adair

The DVD Cinderella Man starring Russell Crowe and Renee Zellweiger

Candy

Now, not only that ... not only that ... which is cool and awesome all by itself ... but if you come to the launch, you will also get to meet ...

D.N. Giles, author of The Sharp Edge of the Knife
and Mormon Mishaps and Mischief

Heather Justesen, author of Family By Design,
Blank Slate, and others

Andrea Pearson, author of the Kilenya series

Tell your friends!

Bring your family!

Forgive your enemies and invite them, too!

It's a Secret Sisters Fiesta, and you won't want to miss it!

Blog Hop ... and a Prize!!

Welcome to the September Blog Hop! Celebrate the beginning of fall with me and my blogger friends by hopping around, visiting our sites, and entering our contests! There are no limits - you can enter the contest on every blog. With over 40 blogs participating, that's over 40 prizes you could win. Just click on the links below to move on to the next blog.

On my blog, you can win …

This is the third (and newest) volume of The Secret Sisters Mysteries.

"Move over, Miss Marple, Ida Mae Babbitt is on the case! Tristi Pinkston's endearing sleuth in sensible shoes is at it again. With a clever plot and the unforgettable image of Ida Mae on a midnight gallop in her flannel pajamas, who could ask for more?" - Liz Adair, Whitney Award-winning author of Counting the Cost

"Ida Mae, Tansy, and Arlette are at it again, but this time they're in jeans and cowboy boots! As the three detectives travel to Montana to visit Ida Mae's son, the shenanigans begin and they are off to solve another mystery. Filled with hilarity, excitement, and suspense, Hang Em High is a delightful read and will keep you guessing to the end." - Michele Ashman Bell, author of The Perfect Fit


Would you like to win this prize? You just need to do two things.

1. Become a follower of this blog.

2. Leave me a comment in the trail and tell me why you'd like to win this prize.

That's it! You are now entered. The contest ends on Saturday night, September 24th, at midnight MST, and the winner will be contacted shortly thereafter. Please either leave your e-mail address in the comment trail or make sure it's visible through your profile so I can contact you to tell you that you're the lucky winner.

Now go visit my other friends ...


September Blog Hop Participants

1. Tristi Pinkston, LDS Author 2. Joyce DiPastena 3. I Am A Reader, Not A Writer 4. Mandi Slack 5. Michael D. Young 6. Six Mixed Reviews 7. Pam Williams 8. Laurie Lewis 9. Kristy Tate 10. Marilyn Yarbrough 11. Stacy Coles 12. Kristie Ballard 13. Lynn Parsons 14. Pushing Past the Pounds 15. Sheila Staley 16. cindy Hogan

17. Jamie Thompson 18. Jaclyn Weist 19. Cathy Witbeck 20. Secret Sisters Mysteries 21. Tamera Westhoff 22. Tina Scott 23. Lynnea Mortensen 24. Danyelle Ferguson aka Queen of the Clan 25. Jeanette A. Fratto 26. Bonnie Harris 27. Melissa Lemon 28. Mary Ann Dennis 29. Stephanie Black 30. Jane Still 31. Janice 32. Laura Bastian

33. Tamara Bordon 34. Betsy Love 35. Maria Hoagland 36. Amber Robertson 37. Debbie Davis 38. 39. Christy Monson 40. Carolyn Frank 41. Rebecca Birkin 42. Melissa Cunningham 43. Emily L. Moir 44. Ronda Hinrichsen 45. Lisa Asanuma 46. Joan Sowards 47. Jordan McCollum 48. Diane Stringam Tolley

Learn more about September Blog Hop here.
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Back from Vacation ... Back in the Saddle

My goodness, it certainly has been a wild and crazy last few months. I'm recovering nicely from my broken ankle and my broken wrist - thank you so much for the flowers, cards, and well-wishes. Really, it was more than I expected.

Arlette decided to take matters into her own hands and contact my son and my daughter, whom I haven't seen in years. We had a little bit of a falling out, but with my recent injuries, Arlette figured it was time to put the past where it goes - in the past. She was right (wait - where's the delete button? Don't let her see that I said that)

I got a letter from my son, inviting me to come up and visit him on his dude ranch in Montana. What happened after that is too unbelievable, and I can't even go into all the details here, but you can read about it:

Movie Review: Rebecca

It's been a while since I've posted a movie review, and I apologize for that.  I've just been so busy lately, what with solving mysteries and all.  I honestly thought I was done after that first one, but apparently not.  You just never know what life is going to throw at you.

I have always loved the Laurence Olivier version of Rebecca.  It's a Hitchcock film made from the book by Daphne DuMarier, which I read and also loved.  So when I saw this remake on Netflix, I was curious, but a little apprehensive.  Would I enjoy it?

Our main character is played by Emilia Fox, the young lady who was Georgiana Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.  She did a remarkable job in this film, and no offense to Joan Fontaine, but it was a lot easier to believe the age difference between herself and Maxim DeWinter, which is a huge part of the story.  Maxim was played by Charles Dance, who I'm sure is a very nice man, and is a very good actor, but I have to say, is no Laurence Olivier.

Some minor tweaks were made to the plot that in some ways, improved the story, and in other ways, detracted from the novel's original intent, and in those ways, I was disappointed.  However, the movie was really very well done.  It was less melodramatic, Mrs. Danvers as played by Diana Rigg was brilliant, and it was very believable.

If I could take elements from the original and insert them into the remake, I think we'd have one perfect movie. But I can't say more than that without giving the plot away ... if you're not familiar with these films or this novel, I encourage you to become familiar very soon.

My Latest Adventure

As my Facebook friends will attest, I've been missing in action for the last little bit.  I hate to admit it, but I took a fall and ended up breaking my ankle.  As if that weren't bad enough, I took another fall and broke my wrist.  The first was an accident, but Arlette says that the second was my just desserts for being too independent and not waiting for help.  I suppose she does have a point, but let me tell you, having a broken wrist is unlike any dessert I've ever had in my life.  I'm more of a brownie person.

But don't feel too bad for me.  Okay, you can feel bad for me, but don't worry that I've been bored.  In fact, having these two broken bones led me to quite the adventure.  You can read all about it in Dearly Departed, our new book that just came out last month.  I think you'll agree that we used my recovery time to its best advantage.

Another good thing that came about was the extra time I've had since returning home to ponder my cookbook.  That's right - I've been pestered and pestered for my recipes, and I've decided it's time to compile them all into a cookbook.  Typing them up has been a good project while I wait for these old bones of mine to stop aching. I'm told it won't be too much longer until I can hardly tell I was burst into bits - Dr. Farmer is amazed at how well I'm doing.  I told him it was sheer stubbornness, and he says he believes it.

Tansy asked me to share that yes, I am including my chicken enchilada recipe in my cookbook, as well as my beef and spinach enchiladas, and my avocado sour cream dip recipe.  Those are her favorites - how could I possibly leave them out?

Thanks again for all the kind get-well wishes I received while I was away, and thank you, you know who you are, for the gorgeous bouquet of iris you sent over.  It brightened my room for days on end.

So that's all for now.  It feels good to be back in the saddle again, so to speak.  I hope you all were well in my absence, and I look forward to interacting with you again soon.

Getting Ready for Christmas

My Christmas preparations are coming along quite smoothly.  I shipped Ren off a Christmas package a couple of weeks ago, and of course I included two jars of Best Foods mayonnaise, which is his favorite thing in the world.  I've also been baking like crazy and most of my goodie plates are delivered.  I just love this season.  I even managed to smile when Arlette put a Santa hat on her nameless beast of a cat.  It's not that I dislike all cats - it's the larger animals I tend to dislike, such as cows - but this cat in particular just ... well, let's just say, have you ever seen the Disney movie Cinderella?  Yeah, he's a lot like that cat. But with longer claws.

I digress.  I was talking about getting ready for Christmas.  With all this holiday bustling about, I realized this morning that I've done very little to actually prepare myself emotionally to feel the spirit of the season.  I've set a goal that every day this next week, I'm going to take some time in the evenings to do something a little Christmas-y.  I have my copy of Mr. Krueger's Christmas all ready to watch, I have the Christmas story in the scriptures bookmarked, and I'm finally going to take the time to repair the little section of missing thatch on the roof of my nativity.  Sometimes we have to force ourselves to slow down long enough to feel things.  But it's good for us to get ourselves in hand and make the time. At this time of year, it's especially important.

I hope that you, too, are able to find the time to reflect on those things that are most important as we count down this last week before Christmas.  And if you're in my Omni neighborhood, be sure to drop by - I have some new cookie recipes to try out on you.

My Favorite Primary Song

After Tansy posted about Christmas yesterday, she reminded me that I've been remiss in my blogging duties lately. She's right - I have been neglectful. I will have to repent of that.

Since my release as Relief Society president of the Omni 2nd ward, things have been a little quieter for me ... although, not greatly. I've had plenty to do to keep me busy, including occasionally helping out in the Primary. They need someone to sit by the door to keep Johnny Mead from escaping down the hall. He's quite the little runner. And I've discovered, sitting there on full alert, just how strongly the music of the Primary can bring in the Spirit. There is something about those beautiful, basic gospel truths that just strikes a chord with me, and I think that sometimes, we get so caught up in trying to find the "deeper" meaning that we forget to shore up our foundations.

One Primary song that has recently become my favorite is called "I Know that My Savior Loves Me." The first verse:

A long time ago in a beautiful place,
Children were gathered ’round Jesus.
He blessed and taught as they felt of His love.
Each saw the tears on His face.
The love that He felt for His little ones
I know He feels for me.
I did not touch Him or sit on His knee,
Yet, Jesus is real to me.

The first time I heard this song, I couldn't help the tears that rose in my eyes. Jesus is real to me. I've felt His loving presence in my life on countless occasions. And to hear those dear little voices sing of His love for them ... I hope they can feel His spirit with them throughout their entire lives, and not just when sitting in Primary. I hope they can use this message to strengthen them whenever they hit challenging times and feel alone.

At this wonderful Christmas season, may we all remember how very deeply He loves us. He would not have done even a portion of what He did without the purest, most genuine love that can be felt. After all, there is a reason why it's called "Christ-like love."