Links and teasers for Detour Trail

Westward bound on the Oregon Trail, Lorrie Emerson is left behind and alone after her uncle is killed. Ignoring the wagon master's advice to go home, she rounds up others needing help; they join a later wagon train and are soon slogging through dust and mud and steep mountain passes, but it's not long before she's again forging her own trail and searching for a new home and supplies as winter reaches out its icy hands.... Settling the frontier isn't easy!

Here's my romantic blurb: http://www.blurbsinbloom.com/2013/03/detour-trail.html

You can find Detour Trail at the publisher: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/joyvsmith/detourtrail.html

And Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Detour-Trail-Joy-V-Smith/dp/1612355706/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1364491553&sr=8-8&keywords=Joy+V.+Smith

It's supposed to be available online elsewhere one of these days...

You can read teasers and background on my writing blog 'cause that's my theme for the A to Z blog challenge this year: http://pagadan.wordpress.com/

And here's my interview with The Western Online: http://www.thewesternonline.com/interviewjoysmith.html

If you'd like to see pictures of horses, mules, and western characters, check out my Western Style board on Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/joyvsmith/

Home decorating ideas from Country Living

How about filling your tall vases with vine clippings--with or without flowers. And there are several pages with photos of frugal finds. (I love the imitation croquet mallet plant markers, but how long will they last in the ground?)  There are more great suggestions in the May 2013 issue of Country Living.  There's also a good article on staging your yard sale, and I like the Lemon Ice paint color (subtle) from Benjamin Moore.

Sparkle note: If you drag a treat from the box, and click on it again, Sparkle will jump up and catch it!

Home and landscape suggestions

There are some lovely landscape, courtyard, and porch ideas in the May 2013 issue of Southern Living, along with suggestions for the best southern lilacs. (I haven't yet succeeded with Lavender Lady; I think I'll try one of the others.) And check out the recipe selection; the blackberry frozen yogurt sounds refreshing, and there's a collection of Vidalia onion recipes.

Detour Trail updates

Check out my Detour Trail page at AskDavid: http://askdavid.com/reviews/book/western/5048

And for more teasers and western lore tidbits, check out my writing blog, where I'm participating in the A to Z blog challenge: http://pagadan.wordpress.com/

Mooving Out (flash fiction)

One of my flash fiction stories is up today at Flash Fiction Friday: http://morgenbailey.wordpress.com/2013/04/12/flash-fiction-friday-082-mooving-out-by-joy-v-smith/

Mystic Signals # 17

Issue 17 of Mystic Signals combines the Jan 2012 issue of The Lorelei Signal and the Feb 2013 issue of Sorcerous Signals, and it also includes my story Crystal Quest, a tale of magic and sorcerers and sentient plants.  (It's one of two exclusive stories in this issue.)  Check it out here:  https://www.createspace.com/4169883

Spring flowers and ideas

Did you know that you can wrap your Easter eggs in textured fabric before dying them to create a pretty pattern?  OK, it's a little late, but hold that thought until next year.  Also in the March  2013 issue of Better Homes and Gardens are berry plants, including a purple strawberry and a thornless raspberry, (It's about time!) and a columnar apple.  And check out the food section to learn more about various grains and how to use garlic. 

Color suggestions

The February 2013 issue of Better Homes and Gardens focuses on color, and designer Diane Lankford suggests painting the ceiling of a room a 50/50 mix of the wall color and white.  That is a cool idea!  And there's a really pale green called Fresh Water in one of the articles. ( I love some of these names.)  And in the food section are some sparkling pale pastels: Sugar!  Go ahead and sprinkle.