Deb’s note: I’m so happy to share a travel piece from a very special guest author, my granddaughter Malte Salonen. My son had a weeklong adventure to Oregon planned for his daughters’ Spring Break prior to the pandemic. Malte would have been able to visit two colleges she was interested in. But that didn’t happen. Instead, Malte, sister Rya, and JP borrowed our RV for a self-contained/no-outside-contact trip to the Owen’s Valley, where Malte was able to do research for a paper on Manzanar, the WWII Japanese Internment Camp.

Traveling in the time of Covid-19

Traveling during such a drastically different and significant part of world history felt a little unsettling at first. We were so good about keeping our distance, being strategic about our stops, and enjoying the peaceful drive with our audio books.

Stop 1: camp dinner ala Jon Paul & an RV with a view

We were between the Sierra Mountain Range and the White Mountain Range; both so drastically different and beautiful in each way, it was magical.

Stop 2: Manzanar

Seeing the tragic history of the internment camps in such a beautiful landscape was mind and eye opening, showing how grateful we should be for our lives and our freedoms.

Stop 3: camping in peace and beauty

It was worth the separation for it allowed us time to let our minds rest from all the upstir. My advice: rest and take care of yourself, enjoy the beauty of nature and those closest to you.

Malte, 16

SENDING HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY WISHES TO EVERYONE
WHO HAS OR HAD A MOM! 😉 —LOVE MATTERS!

And to honor my mom, Daisy (who would have turned 109 on May 16), I’ve chosen two of my regular Q&A responders to receive a $10 Mother’s Day gift card from Amazon. Thank you for your continued support and connection—treat yourself to something special.

Penni Anne and Eileen Wells

Last week’s Q&A was: Have you ever kissed a cowboy/cowgirl? Y or N? (Did I mention my Work-In-Progress features a cowboy hero?)

What a hoot! This has to be one of the goofiest questions I’ve ever asked, but you all are troopers. Loved your answers—I learned that some cowboys are called “jackaroos” (and the cowgirls are “jillaroos”) and there are big ranches in the deep south and a man in a black cowboy hat singing his heart out can be love-at-first-sight for the right girl. Thanks for being such good sports.

Below the winners and next week’s Q&A is a snippet from my work-in-progress, which might explain why this question crossed my mind.

My two randomly selected winners this week are:

Diane (33bubbababy) – No
and
Kathy Schnitz – No

(Diane and Kathy congrats. Please email me your pick of either a $5 Starbucks or a $5 Amazon gift card.)

Q&A

This week’s Q&A: Masks. When you go out in public do you wear one? Y or N? (Here’s the one my granddaughter, Rya, and I made last week.)

(Two winners will be chosen by random drawing to receive either a $5 Starbucks gift card or a $5 Amazon gift card. Please reply the usual ways: email or on my DebraSalonenAuthor Facebook page.)

Snippet from Her Cowboy Valentine (Jan 2021)
Part of the “Cupid to the Rescue” Multi-Author Anthology
All Rights Reserved © Debra Salonen

       The kiss was butterfly soft. Tentative. Timid. Still half asleep, Paige’s conscious mind argued the pros and cons of kissing TJ Huey back. She’d lain beside him on their minimal cushion of hay expecting some exchange—the kinds of questions and answers you’d never think of sharing in the harsh light of day, but in the dim, cozy intimacy of a stall in a barn in the middle of nowhere… But that conversation never came. The only thing out of TJ Huey’s mouth was the occasional soft, muffled snore.
       And, strangely, that combined with the heater’s hum, put her straight to sleep, too.
       But it was morning, now. She could sense the light even if she was loath to open her eyes and ruin this perfect fantasy. Being kissed by the sexiest man she’d ever met, let alone slept beside. A cowboy. That classic figure that appeared on the covers of romance novels—even a few she’d picked up over the years.
       His lips brushed hers again and a tingle passed through her body, winding up exactly where it was supposed to be. Her glutes tightened. Her hips moved on their own accord. She licked her lips as she opened her eyes.
       “Erp.”
       The face touching hers wasn’t human. The lips on the face pulled back to reveal domino-shaped teeth and a big pink tongue.
       “Oh. Oh. No. Not. Wait. Oh. TJ.” The last came out as a panicked cry as Paige launched herself—still completely wrapped in the mummy coffin sleeping bag—on top of his somnambulant body. Luckily, his arms were free, and apparently acting on instinct, he rolled them over so he was on top of her—heroic rescuer that he was.
       “Well, good morning, beautiful. This is a surprise.”
       She blinked as his mouth touched hers.
       Oh, yes. Much better. Definitely. Yes. No.
       She managed to get her hands under his shoulders and bench-pressed his torso upward. His look of horny happiness turned to one of confusion, then suddenly awareness. “What just happened?”
       She glanced over his shoulder to find the little donkey watching them curiously. “I was kissed by an ass.”
       “Ahem. I believe you tackled me first.”
       “Yes. After, she kissed me.” Paige motioned behind his shoulder.
       His head swung about. “Well, good morning, Darlin’. Look at you.”
       He somehow levitated off Paige—shedding his sleeping bag as he rose. He held out a hand to help her up, apparently, his feelings not as bruised as she thought. “Look at our girl, Paige. I believe she’s going to make it.”
       Paige was happy. Also sad. She didn’t have time to figure out why.

CUPID TO THE RESCUE, coming January 2021:
8 bestselling authors, 8 brand new romance stories
with the focus on an animal rescue at Valentine’s Day.

REMINDER: As a “Thank You,” I will be announcing one Property Sisters of Montana Grand Prize winner in my May 21/23 newsletter. (I’m still adding new items to the prize, including a print copy of MONTANA BLUEPRINT FOR LOVE.) The winning name will be randomly drawn from responses to Q&As from now through Mother’s Day and will also include anyone who leaves a review for MONTANA BLUEPRINT FOR LOVE or MEET ME IN MONTANA on any of the usual sales channels.

(Prize includes a tool pouch like the ones worn by the McCall sisters in the series, various hand tools including a hammer, tape measurer, adaptable screw driver, utility knife, gloves, carpenter’s pencil, marking pen and MORE. Additionally, there will be a $25 Gift Card TBD [I originally thought Lowes or Home Depot, but I will let the winner choose—Amazon is also an option.] Winning name will be announced in my newsletter. If winner fails to contact me within a week from announcement [Thursday-Thursday], an alternate name will be drawn until we have a winner.)

Stay well, my friends!

Happy reading,

Deb

IN CASE YOU’RE SUFFERING FROM A BAD CASE OF FOMO (fear of missing out):

Many, many thanks to all who downloaded MONTANA DARLING for free. I was so happy to see it hit #1 on several charts.

It’s back to regular price at all outlets, but the Tule BookStore will continue to offer it for FREE for another week to anyone who missed out. Download it here: TuleBookstore.

Next week: Corvair update—I know you’re wondering.