Jacquie Rogers, Author

Faery Merry Christmas

2009-09-16T01:36:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season for reading Christmas stories! And I have one for you. :)

Faery Merry Christmas

Details (blurb and buy link) coming soon!

Jacquie Rogers

Down Home Ever Lovin’ Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring Justin Saragueta)

Faery Special Romances (See the Book Video)

Royalties donated to Children’s Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through research

Website *** 1^st Turning Point *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Please Help Find a Cure for Neurofibromatosis

2009-08-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, my daughter and her two daughters have neurofibromatosis (NF), a genetic disorder in which tumors grow on nerve endings all over the body, inside and out. These tumors are disfiguring at the least, and debilitating and sometimes fatal at their worst. Our family is commited to NF awareness and research, hoping one day to end this dreadful disorder.

To that end, here's a message from John Risner, president of the Children's Tumor Foundation
http://www.ctf.org

I am sending this email to all supporters of NF research to ask for their help this year. We are proud of the advances in NF research that we have been able to be a part of, but we readily acknowledge that federal funding has been critical to this progress. In 1996 neurofibromatosis (NF) was added to The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP)as one of eight disease groups. Since then this program has funded over $125 million in NF research and has been the driving force in the development of NF cell lines, drug target identification, animal model development and now is moving into clinical trial funding.

The House of Representatives included a $25 million appropriation for NF research as part of the CDMRP for FY2010. This restores the program to its FY2005 level, which had declined to $10 million in FY2009. The Senate will begin their deliberations on this bill when they return after Labor Day.

I am writing to ask you to take five minutes in the next two weeks to contact your Senators to ask for their support. A personal letter, faxed or mailed, has the most impact, but calls and emails will help as well. While all voices are important, the Senators below are members of the Appropriations Committee and key subcommittee. If you live in one of these states, your letters and calls are particularly important.

Key points to include in your communications are to thank them for the Senate's past support of this vital program, and ask for their support this year to preserve the $25 million that is included in the House budget. A history of our advocacy program, recent updates and sample letters for downloading can be found on our website at http://www.ctf.org/How-You-Can-Help/advocacy.html.

Thank you for your past support. I hope you will take the time not only to act on this modest request, but to leverage your action by forwarding this email to family and friends and ask them to join you. The more supporters that reach out to their Senators, the greater our chances of preserving this vital funding.

If you have any questions about our advocacy program, or the legislative process for NF research, please don't hesitate to contact me by phone or email.

Best regards,

John Risner, President
Children's Tumor Foundation
Ending Neurofibromatosis Through Research
95 Pine St. 16th Floor
NY NY 10005
212 344-6633 x249
http://www.ctf.org

Democratic Subcommittee Members

* Senator Daniel Inouye (Chairman) (HI)
* Senator Robert C. Byrd (WV)
* Senator Patrick Leahy (VT)
* Senator Tom Harkin (IA)
* Senator Byron Dorgan (ND)
* Senator Richard Durbin (IL)
* Senator Dianne Feinstein (CA)
* Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD)
* Senator Herb Kohl (WI)
* Senator Patty Murray (WA)
* Senator Arlen Specter (PA)

Republican Subcommittee Members

* Senator Thad Cochran (MS)
* Senator Christopher Bond (MO)
* Senator Mitch McConnell (KY)
* Senator Richard Shelby (AL)
* Senator Judd Gregg (NH)
* Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX)
* Senator Robert F. Bennett (UT)
* Senator Sam Brownback (KS)

~~~~~

It's me again. :)

My daughter recently married, despite the very real possibility that she's spend the rest of her life alone. People with tumors all over their bodies aren't prime candidates in the marriage mart, after all. You can read all about it and see some pictures here:
http://www.textyladies.com/2009/08/24/romance-is-in-the-air/

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring Justin Saragueta)
Jacquie Rogers * 1st Turning Point * Myspace * Twitter * Facebook
Faery Special Romances * Book Video * Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Places You've Never Heard Of: Silver City, Idaho

2009-06-23T00:33:00.000-07:00

It was 1863 in the Owyhee Mountains located in the southwest corner of Idaho Territory. The War Between the States raged in the east, but out west, men had dollar signs in their eyes, looking for that next bonanza. They could get rich raising cattle, or logging, but fastest of all, gold. And silver.

The mining boom town of Ruby City was formed--a hotel, several business and residents, and the county seat. A few years later, Silver City sprang up as well. Ruby City hung on for a while but after a series of floods and a few other things that went haywire, the Idaho Hotel and the county seat were moved to Silver City.

Silver City was born on mining. Silver mine tunnels numbered in the hundreds, and dotted the countryside as well as the city. Here's a pan view of Silver City I found you YouTube. There's even a mine under the church! 60 million dollars worth of silver was taken in the 1900s, and if converted to today's currency, that would be a whole lot more for this little area. The silver lodes were the richest in Idaho Territory.

Historic Silver City Id aho writes:

During its "heydays", Silver City had about a dozen streets, seventy-five businesses, three hundred homes, a population of around 2,500, twelve ore-processing mills, and was the Owyhee County seat from 1866 to 1934. Some of the largest stage lines in the West operated in the area, and Silver City had the first telegraph and the first daily newspaper in the territory in 1874. Telephones were in use here at least by 1880, and the town was "electrified" in the 1890's.

(Picture to the left: the bar at the Idaho Hotel.)

Never heard of it? Most people haven't, but it was truly the wild west in all manner of ways. It's located in Owhyee County, which is a large county in southwest Idaho. The newspaper they refer to is The Owyhee Avalanche, the longest operating newspaper in Idaho and one of the oldest in the West. I subscribe to it--it's a very high quality publication. There was never a shortage of news from the tough men who risked their lives in the mines every day for the promise of a life of luxury.

From The Owyhee Avalanche, October 17, 1868:

SHOOTING SCRAPE
Between seven and eight o'clock last Monday evening a shameful shooting affar occurred at Sommercamp's saloon, between two of our citizens. On account of the hitherto respectability of the parties and for the sake of their friends we suppress names. On the evening in question, we, together with the twenty-five or thirty others were in the saloon, when the two valiant shootists commenced banging away at each other with revolvers . . .

Silver City and the surrounding ore-rich area drew men from all over the world to mine the silver lodes. Many Chinese came to make their fortunes, and several did. Of course, as with the Anglo immigrants, most didn't. Still, the Chinese established a strong presence and the economy couldn't have survived without them. Not that there weren't a few problems along the way:

From The Owyhee Avalanche, October 17, 1868:

MORE SHOOTING
Last Tuesday night a Chinaman was shot and severely wounded in a Chinese gambling house on Jordan Street. It appears a Chinaman who was bucking at a game wanted to bet five dollars on jaw-bone, the dealer objected, the other fell back on his dignity and shot the almond-eyed gamboiler through the right shoulder. The next day we noticed Deputy Sheriff John Springer and a posse of mounted Chinamen hunting for the shootist. We learn from Dr. White, who is attending the wounded Chinaman, that he will get well.

And yes, there were Cyprians--the ladies of the evening. Men out-numbered women at one point by 200 to 1 so every woman, no matter what her status, was highly regarded. The women, however were not so impressed with one another.

From The Owyhee Avalanche, February 26, 1870:

FEMALE PUGLISTS
One evening this week be observed two frail females in the vicinity of Catalow's stable, engaged in commintting assault and battery upon each other. For some time the fur flew in all directions. The finally sank down in the snow through sheer exhaustion. Jealousy was the cause of the muss.

And, yes, confrontations with the Indians were frequent. Be warned, this next quote is even worse than the one about the Chinese. "Politically Correct" was not yet invented. But we must also avoid revisionist history--Anglos were, for the most part, of the opinion that Native Americans were sub-human. This is why I avoid the entire issue in my westerns. I write humor and there isn't anything the least bit humorous about the treatment of the Indians.

From The Owyhee Avalanche, September 12, 1868:

LO THEY COME!
Tho's H. Smith Esq. just in from Camp Three Forks, informs us that last week the military of that place gobbled up and brought into Camp six-teen Indians as prisoners. Under promise of bringing in for-teen more, three bucks, whose squaws were retained as hostages, were allowed to go out into the mountains. The miserable wretches profess a desire to give themselves up and stop robbing and scalping the whites--at least till they recruit and obtain a fresh supply of arms and ammunition.

Silver City was difficult to get to and from (travel can get a bit dicey even today), so the subject of roads was always prominent in the news. Keep in mind "highways" is a subjective term here. The road into Silver City from the east isn't two-lane all the way even now. It's a dirt road and depending on the season, you drive on the high side of the ruts in order not to high center your vehicle. In those days, horses, stagecoaches, and wagons traveled the very same road.

From The Owyhee Avalanche, May 16, 1868:

THE ROADS
We are pleased to know that Mr. Abbott, Supervisor for the Road District No. 2, has commenced repairing the roads. As a consequence of the ground's thawing out and the melting of the snow, our highways in many places were in bad condition, but now the ground is becoming dry and the money now on hand in the road fund, with the taxes yet to be collected for that purpose will serve to put the roads in good order.

But most of all, people need entertainment, and the residents of Silver City weren't any different. There was a theater, several saloons, and lots of parties and receptions at the I.O.O.F Hall. In the dark of winter, entertainment was even more sought after.

From The Owyhee Avalanche, January 4, 1868:

ON WITH THE DANCE!
seems to be the motto just now--just what we expected, as soon as it became known on the outside that times were lively and money plenty in Owyhee, in comes a batch of hurdies to gobble up their share. It is an easy matter to find out where the hold forth --watch the crowds of suffering manhood as they emerge from cabins along the creek in the dusky twilight, or silently wend their way, in Indian file, down the mountainside; their steps are directed to Gabriel's large building, corner of Jordan and Second Sts., where, seated on a bench at one side of the spacious hall, are four coy and blushing damsels. . .

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring Justin Saragueta) Jacquie Rogers * 1st Turning Point * Myspace * Twitter * Facebook Faery Special Romances * Book Video * Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Where the Heck is Grasmere, Idaho?

2009-06-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

In fact, whoever heard of Grasmere, Idaho?

It's in Owyhee County, located in the southwest corner of Idaho. This is one of the largest counties in the lower 48 states, and has about the same area in square miles as New Jersey. Population is a about 1 person per square mile (twice as many people as when I lived there), although far less dense than that around Grasmere. (New Jersey's population density is about 1,170 people per square mile.) You'll find Grasmere . . .

South of Grandview.
Farther south of Murphy.
Way south of Marsing.
And way, way south of Homedale.
North of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.

This is what Grasmere looks like.

At the bottom of the page, you'll see my fictional world of Grasmere.

My editor was a bit stunned when I told her that there are twice as many characters in Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues as there is actual population in Grasmere, Idaho, where the story is set. Last I knew, Grasmere had phone service but not electricity, and outlying ranches have neither. All appliances and electrical devices are run with generators or propane.

In high mountain desert, Grasmere's elevation is a mile high: around 5,200 feet. Precipitation is scarce, about 8" per year, so even though the altitude is high, Grasmere ususally only receives less than a foot of snow total--a dusting here and there that blows away with the incessant, biting wind. In the summer, there is no wind at all, sometimes not a hint of a breeze. Temperatures can get up into the 100's, although average temperature in August is only 86 degrees.

So who lives In Grasmere? I'm not sure, at this point. Grasmere is a city with a post office, but last I knew, only one family lived in the city proper, and they were looking for a buyer. The buildings there are: restaurant/gas station/post office, a house, a garage, and I think a shed. Take a look at the Mapquest Aerial Map.

And exactly why did I set Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues in Grasmere? Because I wanted to make communication a little more difficult, the lifestyle more contrasting to the urban life, and my heroine just a little bit ashamed of her roots. In fact, that's her external character arc, to become proud of her family, her roots, her childhood home. To contrast that, the hero comes from an urban family and settles in one of the most rustic places he can find. His external character arc is to learn that happiness comes from what and who you are, not where you live.

I just don't see how this story could have worked anywhere else. The long drive to the hospital, the infrequent shopping trips to the city, and whole joke about Triangle--these elements are integral to the story.

And, as promised, here's the fictionalized Grasmere:

To get an idea of how I envisioned the story world, take a look at the book video.

How important is setting to you? Let me know and you could win an autographed copy of Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues and a Mule Blues T-shirt (USA mailing only. All others responsible for postage.)

This is a Classic Romance Revival GROUP event. You MUST have commented on EACH and EVERY blog in order to qualify for a prize. To see the contest rules and other prizes and to find more fabulous blogs, please go to:

Classic Romance Revival Blog.

(Don't forget to include your email address when you make comments here and at the other sites, so we can reach you in case you win!)

Cheers!

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring Justin Saragueta)
Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Faery Special Romances * Book Video * Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Space Pirates Podcast

2009-05-31T03:08:00.001-07:00

Live, on Passionate Internet Voices Radio!

Space Pirates

Rowena Cherry, Queen of Space Snark(TM)
Mark Terence Chapman
David Lee Summers (Check out his guest blog)
Jacquie Rogers

June 2, 10am Eastern Time

Contest: Author Jane E. Jones

2009-03-11T22:06:00.001-07:00

This is from my friend and sister Texty Lady, Jane E. Jones:

Hi everybody! This week I’m giving away a romance themed gift bag, with two ways to be entered to win.

All you have to do to for your chance to win is buy a copy of Puppy Love, or post this contest on your blog, myspace, facebook, etc. If you buy a book AND blog this contest, you’ll get two entries.

If you buy the book, just email a copy of your purchase receipt to
janejane07 @ gmail . com (take out the spaces). If you blog the
contest, leave me the link in comments. That’s it! You’ll then be
entered to win a gift bag full of goodies:

Four DVD movies-The Phantom of the Opera (Gerard
Butler), Music and Lyrics (Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore), The
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (Ernie Lively), and Divine Secrets of
the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (Sandra Bullock).

An adorable furry stuffed animal

Sweet Treats-Chocolate, anyone?

A scented candle

Two bags of microwave popcorn-to munch while you watch the movies

A cute little striped notebook

A Pair of fuzzy socks

And maybe a couple other extras that I pick up along the way.

The contest ends March 23 at midnight EST time; I’ll announce a winner on Tuesday, March 24.

To buy Puppy Love, click here.

Good luck!

~Jane

Texty Ladies special guest: John Klawitter

2009-03-09T03:08:00.001-07:00

A Man of All Media at Texty Ladies

Please join producer, director, screenwriter, ad man, and award-winning author John Klawitter at Texty Ladies, where he gave us an interview and promised more to come later! John has done everything from jingle writing (Nestles makes the very best. . . choc-lit), to Disney movie trailers, with a few stops in between--penning the biography of football superstar Deacon Jones, as well as writing novel-length fiction.

http://www.textyladies.com/?p=333

And what a grand day! John won two EPPIE Awards!

See you at Texty Ladies!

Jacquie

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring Justin Saragueta)
Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Faery Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Screenwriting: Secrets Revealed!

2009-02-16T04:11:00.001-08:00

Screenwriting: Secrets
Revealed!

Please join me at Texty Ladies, where I posted
Screenwriting: Secrets
Revealed! -- a guide from a major studio to help readers reject the pile
of screenplays crushing their
desks.

http://www.textyladies.com/?p=318

Here's an interview whereTammie King of Night Owl Romance
interviewed me about Down
Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues.

Also,
I'll be chatting at Night
Owl Romance tonight (Feb. 16) in the chat
room at 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. Yes, there will be prizes!

See you at Texty
Ladies!

Jacquie

Down Home
Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring Justin Saragueta)
Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Faery
Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties
go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending
Neurofibromatosis through Research

Writing Contests: Give Em Your Best Shot!

2009-01-12T03:49:00.001-08:00

Please join me at Texty Ladies, where I posted Contests: Give ‘Em Your Best Shot. I discussed some of the mistakes I've seen, which I hope helps make your contest entry better.

http://www.textyladies.com/?p=296

See you there!

Coming up Jan. 14: Gamblers of the Old West at Unusual Historicals. Be watching!

Jacquie

Famous Old West Gamblers

2009-01-09T23:27:00.000-08:00

Westerners bet on anything that moved--how fast it could go and how high it could jump. They had foot races, boxing matches, flea-jumping contests, frog-jumping contests, bear and bull matches, dog fights, cock fights, as well as cow-boy tournament events such as saddlebronc riding.

But most of all, westerners like to play the ponies: “Gradually, as wealthy men made a hobby or a sideline of breeding horses, Western races became more carefully orchestrated, the crowds grew and betting flourished. Indeed, gambling and a day at the races became a virtually synonymous. And when Westerners got around to staging formal stakes races the prizes were sometimes much richer than those back East. In 1873 what was billed as “The richest race in the world” was run at Ocean View Park in San Francisco. The winner’s purse was $20,000 paid in gold. In the same year New York’s famous Belmont was worth only $5,200 and Maryland’s Preakness a mere $1,800.” [Gamblers of the Old West, p.200]

While horse racing was wildly popular, a close second was boxing. This sport wasn’t exactly the refined version we have today. Boxers wore no gloves and round lasted until one of them was knocked down--and no limit to the number or rounds. As long as both fighters could throw a punch, the match was active. The winner took the purse which could be as much as $10,000.

And of course there were the card and dice games. Professional gamblers in the Old West, the really good ones, were called “thoroughbred gamblers.” I’m listing several thoroughbreds and sources where you can get more information, as well as a few famous gamblers, not necessarily thoroughbreds, but definitely well-known.

George Devol

Mississippi riverboat gambler, born in 1829, who worked the river for 40+ years and made a fortune on 3-card monte, poker, and keno. He wrote a fabulous book, Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi, that I used when I researched a story I wrote a few years back. I've never found anything even close to this book as far as explaining how gambling and conning works. Mr. Devol was probably a charming, rough, genius from a good family who had no idea what to do with such a rambunctious boy. He won and lost many fortunes over the years.

Elanora Dumont (Madam Mustache)

Quoted from American Gambler Online:

“In the 1850's Elanora Dumont was a sexy young dealer who attracted love-starved players that gladly lost their gold to this expert player. As she grew in popularity so did her earning. Eventually she owned her own casino, "Dumont Palace" which also prospered, because she enjoyed a reputation for fairness and free food. The mustache appeared suddenly well after she'd made her money. Following a busted romance and a worse marriage which left her broke and alone, she poisoned herself 1879.”

Jefferson Randolf “Soapy” Smith

A very colorful character, indeed! Soapy is more in the spirit of con men than traditional gamblers, but his talents certainly can’t be overlooked. He was from Southern gentility and well-educated as a lawyer.

Originally running a shell game, he graduated to the soap scheme where he wrapped 5-cent bars of soap with either plain paper, or $20, or $100-dollar bills and sold the bars for $5 a piece. Of course, the only people who actually “won” were on Soapy’s payroll.

Always ready to make a buck, Soapy did everything from fixing elections to the more standard job running a poker hall.

While I never did find a biography (book form) of him, you can read more at
http://www.mtnguy.com/owlhoots/smith.htm
or
http://www.denvergov.org/AboutDenver/history_char_smith.asp
and a little about his Scagway adventures at
http://www.yukonweb.com/business/lost_moose/books/chilkoot/soapy.html.
His death photograph is at http://www.arcticwebsite.com/SoapyDead.html.

Wyatt Earp

Everything has been written about him, but I’m including him because he was a renowned gambler who owned games/saloons throughout the West. Here’s an interesting site about Earp’s life after Tombstone:

http://users.techline.com/nicks/later.htm
And here’s a more complete biography:
http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/mar/papr/du_earp.html

Poker Alice (Ivers)

Poker Alice was an amazing woman. Outstanding mathematical ability stood her well throughout the years while she made her way quite nicely through a man’s world.

There’s a really good article about her at
http://www.readthewest.com/billkellyWILDWOMEN08-2002.html.
and another (the year of her birth is different)
http://www.blackhills-info.com/quinn/Pokeralis.html
Her house in Sturgis, SD:
http://www.star-litemotel.com/pokeralice.htm

Martha “Calamity Jane” Canary

Her autobiography:
http://www.blackhills-info.com/calamity_jane/CALAMITY.htm
An article that carefully skirts the gambling issue:
http://adamsmuseumandhouse.org/clmtyjan.htm

And I love this quote from
http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/1926/gunfighters/calamityjane.html

“It takes disaster to bring the woman out in a female, even Calamity, who went around like a saint when the smallpox plague struck Deadwood. She nursed back people close to the door of death and didn't ask for so much as a thank you. Even old Doc Babcock had to admit there was a little angel of some sort in this hardboiled woman, yes, even a little bit of heaven itself when she tended children. ‘oh, she'd swear to beat hell at them,’ said the Doc, ‘but it was a tender kind of cussin'.’ ”

James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok (1837-1876)

Family History (stats) and brief bio:
http://www.ukans.edu/heritage/families/hickok.html
An article on his life:
http://www.abacom.com/~jkrause/hickok.html
His portrait:
http://adamsmuseumandhouse.org/wildbill.htm

William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (1856-1921)

A good article on his life although his gambling is not mentioned much:
http://members.aol.com/Gibson0817/bat.htm
This one’s interesting but it, too, skirts his years as a gambler:
http://www.ashrael.com/oldwest/bat.php
Here’s an article that actually has his gambling mentioned!
http://www.ksheritage.org/hist04.html

And there you have a handful of gamblers--not all of them the thoroughbred variety, but well known, nevertheless.

Interesting Books

Forty Years a Gambler on the Mississippi, George H. Devol, originally published in 1887 by Devol & Haines, Cincinnati. Republished by Applewood Books, 18 North Road, Bedford, MA, 01730. ISBN 1-55709-110-2. This book is a series of vignettes by Mr. Devol recounting various adventures he had as a Mississippi riverboat gambler.

Gamblers of the Old West, from the Editors of Time-Life Books. ISBN 0-7835-4903-2. This is a terrific book with many fine illustrations the aid in the understanding of gambling in the 19th century. Please bear in mind that the terminology is often modern.

Games You Can’t Lose: A Guide for Sucker$, Harry Anderson and Turk Pipkin, Burford Books, 1989, 2001. ISBN 1-58080-086-6. While certainly not a historical reference, it certainly is an interesting read for anyone who’s writing a con artist character.

Card Control: Practical Methods and Forty Original Card Experiments, Arthur H. Buckley, Dover Publications, Inc., 1993 (first published in 1946), ISBN 0-486-27757-7. Need to deal from the bottom or stack the deck? This book shows you how. Not that I got anything but gales of laughter from my husband and friends when I tried cheating . . . (Remember the manual dexterity requirement?)

Interesting Sites:

Gambling in the United States
http://www.library.ca.gov/CRB/97/03/Chapt2.html

Famous Gamblers:
http://www.casinochecker.com/know/hist/famouspeople.htm

Western slang and phrases:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~poindexterfamily/OldWestSlang.html

Enjoy the ride!

Jacquie

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring Justin Saragueta)
Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Faery Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

What Starts Your Engine? at Texty Ladies

2009-01-05T01:10:00.001-08:00

Please join me at Texty Ladies, where I posted What Starts Your Engine?. I
wrote about a few of the ways I use to get my writing started, and I'd like to
hear what you have to say about it,
too.

http://www.textyladies.com/?p=293

See you there!

Coming up Jan. 14: Gamblers of the Old West at Unusual
Historicals. Be watching!

I hope you have a healthy and prosperous
2009!Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule
Blues (See the Book
Video featuring the music of Justin Saragueta)

Jacquie Rogers
*** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook
Faery
Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties
go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending
Neurofibromatosis through Research

Book Talk Interview & Contest!

2008-12-27T04:50:00.001-08:00

Book Talk with J & J

interviews

Jacquie Rogers

author of

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues

and

Faery Special Romances

When: 9:00AM Saturday, December 27th

Where: http://booksbypickles.blogspot.com

Commenters are eligible to win cool prizes!

Happy New Year!

Jacquie

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring Justin Saragueta)

Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook
Faery Special Romances *** Book Video

Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation,
ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Magical Monday at Texty Ladies

2008-12-22T04:10:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays!

Please join me at Texty Ladies, where I posted Ready For 2009?. Let me know what sort of articles you'd like to see on Magical Mondays for 2009 and one commenter will win an autographed copy of Faery Special Romances.

http://www.textyladies.com/?p=284

See you there!

Coming up Dec. 28: Interview, excerpt, and contest on Book Talk. Don't miss it!

Happy Holidays!

Jacquie

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video featuring the music of Justin Saragueta)

Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Faery Special Romances *** Book Video

Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation,
ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Win a Book from The Romance Studio!

2008-12-20T12:40:00.001-08:00

You could win a copy of

Faery Special Romances

at The Romance Studio Book-a-Day Giveaway!

Just visit http://www.theromancestudio.com/bad_form.php during the day, Dec. 21, and complete the form.

Good Luck!!!

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video)

Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Faery Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation,
ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

2008-12-19T16:40:00.000-08:00

By Jacquie Rogers

Yule Brings Celebration For All

The snow blows nearly sideways as it blankets the range. Ranch hands hunker down in their saddles, scarves over their ears and their Stetsons protecting them from the fierce wind. They dream of a warm fire and hot buttered rum. But they have livestock to save from freezing and starvation, so they ride on.

It's Christmas on the open range. Miserable for man and beast. But it isn't just another day at the office, so to speak. They whittle gifts for one another, sing a few carols as they sit around the campfire warming their hands and feet. Cook gives them a hot meal--the finest beans with maybe some meat thrown in. And with a little luck, Cook would bake an apple pie. Life couldn't be better and they thank their lucky stars for a sound horse and solid tack.

(Yes, I know these cattle are a modern breed and very fat, but it's the only picture I could find.)

Chanukkah in the mines

It's the 1860's in Silver City, Idaho. The Festival of Lights has been celebrated in the West since the beginning of frontier settlement, but not like their counterparts back East who have a warm and dry place to worship with their families. A menorah can be lit anywhere, and the Jewish silver miners do just that. They pray, play a little dreidel, and think a lot of home.

The picture to the left is the oldest continuously used synagogue west of the Mississippi. It's located in Boise, Idaho, and was built in 1896 by the Beth Israel congregation, now called the Ahavath Beth Israel congregation. Very beautiful.

Christmas on the farm

Everyone has chores to do every day. Cows needs milked, livestock needs watered and fed, eggs need gathered, and the barnyard needs to be tidied (to use a gentile term). So after the chores are done, the family can gather together and celebrate Christmas with what meager resources they have. If they don't have evergreen trees to spare, they might decorate a sagebrush with popcorn and berries. They make ornaments with precious bits of paper and scraps of cloth. Peach tins make nice ornaments, too, and they shine in the firelight.

1876 Christmas, Harper's Weekly

Their celebration might be more humble than those in the eastern cities, but they have a grand time, nevertheless. The women cook for days. They're resourceful and whatever they have available will do for a fine pie or stew. The Christmas feast could consist of chicken, venison, or maybe a ham, along with homemade rolls, freshly churned butter, potatoes and gravy, and pies--maybe one made with dried apples and a vinegar pie. Each family member has made modest gifts for the others and even the smallest child has labored over precious gifts--maybe a drawing or a doll made of sticks. They sing carols, maybe read the Bible, and if they're close enough to town, maybe even go to church.

For most Christian families, Christmas is a day for family togetherness and to show their love and appreciation for one another, as well as celebrating the religious aspect of the holy day.

Christmas for Outlaws, Gunslingers, and Cyprians

The saloon owner brings small gifts for the working ladies, the bartender, the resident gambler, and a few of the regulars. A few cowpunchers bring gifts for their favorite girl. They might have a nice meal together before they open for business, and even then, the customers are few. It's one night they can relax.

Happy Holidays to Everyone!

***

Enter the IWOFA Winter Holiday Contest. Lots of great prizes and it's fun!

Jacquie

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video)

Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Faery Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Contest at Crystal's, plus Interview!

2008-12-15T00:48:00.001-08:00

Author Interviews by Crystal
Adkins

of Book
Reviews by Crystal

Crystal Adkins reviewed Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (read
her review) and then invited me to her Author
Interviews blog. Thank you, Crystal!

There are two groups of prizes
so please come visit and enter to win. I'd love to hear from
you!

http://interviewswithauthors.blogspot.com/2008/12/jacquie-rogers-contest.html

See You There!

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule
Blues (See the Book
Video)

Jacquie Rogers
*** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook
Faery
Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties
go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending
Neurofibromatosis through Research

Realism Without a Hammer

2008-12-08T05:12:00.001-08:00

Please join me at Texty
Ladies, where I posted Realism Without a Hammer, an
article on how to incorporate society's social ills without making your story a
social commentary.

http://www.textyladies.com/?p=275

See you
there!

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule
Blues (See the Book
Video featuring the music of Justin Saragueta)

Jacquie Rogers
*** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook
Faery
Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties
go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending
Neurofibromatosis through Research

Let's Rodeo!

2008-12-03T21:47:00.001-08:00

Let's Rodeo!

A Nez Perce named Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn was one of the greatest saddle bronc riders and defined the sport. An African-American named Bill Pickett invented bulldogging, now called steer wrestling. And women competed head-on with men, and won.

I posted an article on Unusual Historicals about the History of Rodeo called Let's Rodeo!

http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/2008/12/sports-entertainment-lets-rodeo.html

Or go to Unusual Historicals at

http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com

and scroll down until you see it.

Enjoy!

Jacquie

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video)

Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Faery Special Romances *** Book Video

Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation,
ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Links for Breakfast

2008-12-01T03:30:00.001-08:00

Or . . .

Breakfast of Champion Writers

Please join me at Texty Ladies, where I posted Links for Breakfast, a listing
of some of the internet sites I use to help me with language usage and
translation.

http://www.textyladies.com/?p=270

See you
there!

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule
Blues (See the Book
Video)

Jacquie Rogers
*** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook
Faery
Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties
go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending
Neurofibromatosis through Research

Plotting Your Story, Part 3: Structure

2008-11-17T03:55:00.001-08:00

Please join me at Texty Ladies, where I posted the third of four workshops on Plotting Your Story. November 17th's class is on Structure.

http://www.textyladies.com

I shared the form I use to define the story bones, and I'd love to hear how you choose the events of your story, too.

See you there!

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video)

Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook

Faery Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Plotting: It's All About Character

2008-11-10T03:20:00.001-08:00

The Texty Ladies have
invited me to post on Mondays, and I'm very excited to be part of this dynamic
group.

Please join me this Monday, when I'll have posted the second of
four workshops on Plotting Your Story. November 10th's class is on
Character.

http://www.textyladies.com

I shared a few of the
tools I use, and I'd love to hear how you build character, too. See you
there!

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule
Blues (See the Book
Video)

Jacquie Rogers
*** Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook
Faery
Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties
go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending
Neurofibromatosis through Research

Humor: It's What to Write

2008-11-07T01:06:00.001-08:00

Are
You a Bubble Off Plumb?

That's the question I hear, and my readers
want to know how I write humor. Well, I tried, and you can read about it at We Write Romance. If the link
doesn't work, cut and
paste:

http://www.wewriteromance.com/blog/

See you
there!

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule
Blues (See the Book
Video)

Jacquie Rogers ***
Myspace *** Twitter *** Facebook
Faery
Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties
go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending
Neurofibromatosis through Research

I'm a Texty Lady!

2008-11-02T15:17:00.001-08:00

I'm a Texty Lady!

The Texty Ladies have invited me to post on Mondays, and I'm very excited to be part of this dynamic group.

Please join me on my first Monday, when I'll have posted the first of four workshops on Plotting Your Story. November 3rd's class is on Theme.

http://www.textyladies.com

See you there!

Jacquie
Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video)

Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Faery World
Faery Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending Neurofibromatosis through Research

Mule Blues: PNR Staff Top Pick!

2008-10-27T02:52:00.000-07:00

PNR Staff Top Pick!

http://paranormalromance.org/blog/2008/10/staff-top-picks-october-2008.html

Down Home
Ever Lovin' Mule Blues

by Jacquie Rogers

ISBN:
978-0-9800356-8-1

See the book
video featuring Justin Saragueta

Blurb:

It Happened in the Idaho
Desert

The rodeo clown:
Brody wants the thrill of bullfighting and the
wind at his feet.

The actuary:
Rita doesn't want anything to do with a
busted up cowboy--and odds are, Brody will be.

The mule:
Socrates
understands humans. And love, even if humans don't.

Can Socrates lead
Brody to Rita's heart?

Will Rita let herself take the biggest risk of
all?

Read
Chapter One

Jacquie

Down Home
Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video)

Jacquie Rogers *** Myspace *** Twitter *** Faery World

Faery
Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties
go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending
Neurofibromatosis through Research

Mule Blues is Available Now!

2008-09-25T02:53:00.001-07:00

Released Today!

Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule
Blues
by Jacquie
Rogers
ISBN: 978-0-9800356-8-1

See the book
video

Blurb:

It Happened in the Idaho
Desert

The rodeo clown:
Brody wants the thrill of bullfighting and the
wind at his feet.

The actuary:
Rita doesn't want anything to do with a
busted up cowboy--and odds are, Brody will be.

The mule:
Socrates
understands humans. And love, even if humans don't.

Can Socrates lead
Brody to Rita's heart?

Will Rita let herself take the biggest risk of
all?

Read
Chapter One

And don't forget to send in your furbaby's photos to the Down Home Ever Lovin' Mule Blues Pet
Pictures Contest! Just go to http://www.jacquierogers.com and click
on Contest

Good Luck!

Jacquie

Down Home
Ever Lovin' Mule Blues (See the Book Video)

Jacquie Rogers
*** Myspace *** Twitter *** Faery World

Faery
Special Romances *** Book Video
Royalties
go to Children's Tumor Foundation, ending
Neurofibromatosis through Research