My New Year's Resolution

Ahhhhhh…the bliss of After-Christmas-Tranquility! I loved rejoicing in the blessings of Christmas, and have thoroughly enjoyed all the company, family visits, and presents.   I’ve celebrated the gratitude I have for the birth of our Savior and his many gifts to his children. I thrilled at the beautiful Nativities and remembrances and colorful decorations glittering everywhere. But, alas, I can’t help but sigh, now that it’s over. I feel like I’ve celebrated the culmination of another year, the ending of a busy series of events and the beginning of another bright, unknown and uncharted future ahead.  On reflection, each year has its merits and shortcomings, but I try to expect less perfection and, instead, look for more wonderful moments of simple joy.  I believe that is where happiness can be found.

As a new year is ready to begin, we usually wonder – where did the old one go? How did it pass so quickly? Alas, it’s gone forever. If you never kept your resolutions last year, it’s time to begin again and resolve something for the New Year. Maybe this year, you should make it a little simpler, something you can actually accomplish, something that will motivate and inspire you to follow through and fulfill; something that is actually achievable and truly satisfying. Maybe you could resolve to smile more or laugh more or relax more. Maybe you should decide to make more phone calls and less impersonal texts. You could resolve to be more kind and understanding to those who share your life. Building your character by strengthening your inner attributes is not an easy accomplishment and may be worthy of a resolution. Make it simple, yet worthwhile and satisfying; make it enjoyable so that you will love fulfilling your new year’s resolution and above all, make it a truly life enhancing experience that will carry you through the entire year into a better tomorrow. Next year, you may achieve your resolution and look back on the past year as the best you ever had! I wish you good luck in your efforts.

I, too, will be working on my resolution for the next year ahead!  I have a new book coming out and another one to finish writing, so I think I’ll resolve to work harder and smile more and enjoy every single moment of this wonderful experience!
© 2013 Linda Gatewood

A Gift to give to Yourself!

When I do a book signing, I have the opportunity to meet a variety of people and it’s a pleasure to become acquainted with them and to talk about books. Since I’ve always loved to read, I assume everyone else does, so it’s usually a surprise when someone tells me they have never read a novel in their lives! They tell me they read snatches of news online or in newspapers or magazines and that is enough for them.

It’s hard for me to imagine reading so little. Reading is such an adventure in so many ways, who wouldn’t be tempted? My earliest memory of what I wanted, more than anything, was to learn to read. I even wished upon stars that I could read; my pre-kindergarten most desired and coveted golden accomplishment was to be able to read. I can remember going to sleep crying because I was having trouble learning the skill.  I also remember that spectacular and triumphant moment when I finally achieved the ability to understand a group of letters. It was breathtaking! From that moment on, I had a book in my hand at every opportunity. I loved the stories; I loved the process that created feelings deep inside; the words that brought tears to my eyes; the phrases that inspired me to be a better person and those that helped me to understand others around me. Who wouldn’t want to open the door to such a vast depth of knowledge?

Some of the people I met tell me that they love to read, but have stopped. When I asked why, most said they are too busy to read anymore. Others say they will wait for the movie. I say, if you loved the movie, be sure to read the book, too.

Reading is much different than watching the movie. Books are more personal, a moment shared between just the author and the reader; a quiet time to pause and reflect on a sentence and to return again and again to a paragraph that inspired or touched somewhere within and possibly started a healing process.

I challenge people who love to read to start to read again, to set aside at least thirty minutes a day to read. I promise you’ll be glad you made that choice because a world of fulfillment will open and the enjoyment you remember will return. Why not bring delight into your world for thirty minutes a day? Read whatever you want, explore new things, pick up the old. The classics are still there and just as good as ever. In fact, there is a flood of good literature out there right now. Grab a book and read!
 © 2013 Linda Gatewood

Anything like November?

Is there another month quite like November? We have so much to remember and be thankful for during the thirty days of the 11^th month. Each day is an opportunity for soul-searching and gratitude-listing, possibly with a touch of sadness and a few tears of regret, but, hopefully, much more heartfelt thankfulness. We are looking inwardly for the peace and acceptance of what has gone past, the loved ones lost, the sacrifices made for us, the total recognition and resignation of our hearts in humble gratitude.

Just as the golden autumn leaves fall from the trees, our spirits must bow a bit in remembrance and appreciation of our blessings, and the wonder of our own lives.  November doesn’t ask much of us, only that we pause and understand what has passed before, the deep implications of great actions and tender offerings of the greatest significance.  This month we look into the past and number our favorite people and occasions, with a silent prayer on our lips that it will all continue far into the future.

Take a moment in this month of November, before winter sleep claims its due, and search your soul for the many moments of joy and happiness that have passed on previously in your life, and sing its praises! The tune will stay in your head, repeating itself often until you smile, and your heart warms generously with the recognition of happiness that will last forever.

© 2013 Linda Gatewood

Seeing Josh Groban!

Going to see Josh Groban in concert was quite an experience. My daughter, Jenny and I attended the first concert of his new tour “Concert in the Round” that took place in Boise, ID.

After a long drive to get to Boise and another hour of waiting in a vehicle line at the Taco Bell Arena to get into the parking area, we were about as excited as we could be, although annoyed at the crowd of people and cars.

We parked outside and found our way into a human line that ran down the road about two blocks long, four people thick. It was a bit discouraging because, according to our watches, we only had about 45 minutes until the concert started and it looked like we’d be in line for an hour and a half.

Jenny told me that it was never a good idea to follow a crowd, so, while I held our spot, she walked out into the parking lot beside our place in line (about 50 yards) to ask a parking attendant if there was another way into the building. I watched her, a mass of people continuing to form behind me in the line, until I saw her wag her finger at me to ‘come on.’ So I took off, walking as fast as I could. I could hear a lot of huffing and puffing behind me and when I turned to look, there were two-hundred people behind me, following me!

When Jenny saw me coming with the hoard of people behind me, her eyes got really big and when I reached her, she turned and we walked fast, still leading the crowd, past the four big plush personal busses that Josh Groban used, and I asked her, “Did you find out where to go?” She answered, “NO. That guy didn’t know anything.”  I said, “Then where are we going?” She said, “I don’t know.”
We raced past the ten semi-trucks that carried all the equipment that Josh Groban used for setting up his concert and, with the mass of people following close behind, turned the corner and – amazingly!- there was another entrance to the building! No one was there except a ticket collector. I was so relieved because I sure didn’t want to lead that impatient group of folks around the building in a circle back to where we started!

It was all worth it, though, when we enjoyed a remarkable presentation by Josh Groban and his assemblage. He is a great entertainer and his music is beautiful. It was a ‘feel-good’ concert and well worth the price, hassle and time. My next post on here, I’ll tell you about our experience as ‘Grobanite Groupies!” that took place long after the concert was over, out behind the building, along a fence, in the freezing cold, with dozens of women of all ages. Memorable!

© 2013 Linda Gatewood

Why should you read the Winter Secret series?

Let me give you some reasons to start to read this amazing series:

 

Winter Secret, the first novel of the series, is an enthralling story of love, suspense, peril and secrets. It weaves its beguiling imagery and prose around your mind, never letting go until the end is reached.  And even then, there are more questions than answers revealed.

It is the beginning story of two people, Derek and Cynthia, who have utterly dissimilar lives, with perilous, problematic and secret past experiences that make it impossible for either one to form a bond with anyone else.  When they are thrown together by circumstance, they have nothing in common and yet, discover a growing connection between them. From the wasteland of the Craters of the Moon in Idaho to the Natural Caves in San Antonio, Tx., to the sweet beauty of the Jemez Mountains in New Mexico, the questions continue to build. The obstacles that try to separate them are numerous, life threatening and menacing and are all related to the past. Their struggle is to overcome, transform and alter their destinies, so that they can always be together.

When the first season has passed, their relationship is strengthened but also threatened even more. Spring Promise continues the engrossing story, the twists and turns of suspense constantly pulling in numerous directions, but always promising answers. The lure of gold and treasure ensnares them in its net, through no fault of their own while the mysterious tale of a curse haunts their every move. They are dragged along into a world of lore and legend, of magic and myth.  Even though the past threatens, there is a more potentially lethal menace from the indefinite future.  The vulnerability of their relationship is tested even more, with added wonders and increased risks. Imagine Derek’s anguish when Cynthia is kidnapped by the madman, Salazar, and hidden away in the depths of the Louisiana bayou.

There really is no direction to go except forward and when they do, they collide with the past in both of their lives. Summer Truth follows quickly on the footsteps of promises. But the past finally reaches out and grabs Derek and Cynthia, forcing them to deal with the truth of the past that could destroy them both and the disclosure of secrets that could separate them. Especially Derek’s past, that may promise riches but could only lead to death. From northern Montana to the hot sands of Nevada, the saga embraces others who are part of the past of Derek and Cynthia and must follow them forward, even though it could mean their separation forever. When Derek is blown up in a plane that crashes to earth, the result of a conspiracy against him, will he survive and be able continue his relationship with Cynthia and fulfill the desires of her heart?

 Autumn Hush occurs in the present but is a story where the past, present and future collide, culminating in the surprising answers and resolutions needed to continue forward.  The amazing story behind the story is finally revealed and the many secrets are exposed. The legend behind the construction of the great castle built against the granite mountain is revealed, but can the love between Derek and Cynthia survive such a devastating revelation and will they ever truly be a family? The ghosts of the past, the relatives whose deeds are being paid for by their progenitors, are finally laid to rest but did they take too much with them already? Can love survive and flourish? Will the past overshadow the future or can their love create a new tomorrow?

This series is tastefully written without vivid sex scenes or innumerable foul language. It contains sweet romance and incredible suspense and action! You'll need to start reading the series to find out how it ends! You won't be sorry, I promise! The first two books are published, the third one is in editing and the fourth is in progress. Order from Amazon.com or purchase at Hastings in I.F., Twin Falls or Boise; or order online or direct from me at http://www.lindagatewoodbooks.com

© 2013 Linda Gatewood

What are kids for?

Some surprises have to be shared and last weekend I had a real nice one. My two boys, David and Aaron, who live in sunny California, decided to come spend a day and night with me to do a few chores around my place. How fun is that!? It was a spur of the moment decision and didn’t give me much time to plan anything or buy food for special meals. I just had time to make a list of what needed to be done. The boys invited my other son, Jared, who lives in Pocatello to join them. It was a busy day and the boys worked very hard all day long. One of the nicest things they did was to prune a big tree of mine that had started to look like a giant bush in my yard instead of a tree.  They thinned it into a beautiful shape that is now an inviting place to sit and visit. They did some winterizing and checked all the plugs in my old house, something that should be done occasionally because you’d be surprised what kind of condition they can get in, especially if you had a small leak, once upon a time, in the wall.

 

Kudos to my boys! You know you’re welcome anytime. I’m doing a family Halloween party this year with an awesome costume contest so I hope you and your families can come! It should be pretty scary here. Thanks again for the nice surprise!

© 2013 Linda Gatewood

 

The last Hummingbird

The last hummingbird sat tiny and petite on a small branch near the feeder full of dark red liquid food and listened for the sound of the winged birds of his kind.  He saw birds of every breed, but no one as small as he was. He usually spent the morning chasing his kin in circles around the tree, trying to protect his own procured private feeding area, thus earning himself the nickname, “Little Hog”.

His prowess was renowned among the hummingbird population and great planning was instigated to distract him, sneak in and drink the tempting cherry colored nectar. He could only chase away one bird at a time and while thus involved, the others would reap the benefits and drink their fill. But Little Hog was relentless and untiring in his self-proclaimed duty. That was why he was the last to go.

He lifted his small head and tilted his curved beak into the wind, listening to a distant call from far away, before he jumped onto the feeder again and drank his fill.  The soft wind teased the leaves surrounding him and he glanced behind, forward and sideways before he jumped to the branch once again, hunching his shoulders slightly. He knew it was time to leave. His stomach was full, his body fat, his babies grown and gone already. He was sure no one else would come and steal his food because he was the only one left behind.

He looked at the window in the house and for some inexplicable reason, flew toward it, hovering a bare few inches from the glass pane, as if to find something important inside before he left. As he waited, he saw what he was looking for, the person on the other side, the person who kept the feeder full of delicious, nutritious food.  He dashed in a circle as if saying goodbye and thank you, and then, Little Hog flitted back to the tree, turning once more to see the window before he lifted, fast and high, into the summer blue sky and was gone.

© 2013 Linda Gatewood

Your Legacy – like it or not!

I ran across one of my old books from the multi-volume collection, “Our Pioneer Heritage” (distributed by the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) and could not help but stop a moment to read some of the pioneer stories. The DUP published hundreds of original stories that were part of individual genealogies - the lives of brave and courageous people recorded on one or two pages, birth dates, incidents, travels, deaths, struggles and triumphs. Even though the most important details were recorded, we know that 99.9% of their lives were left out.

I was watching a news story a few days ago that projected what was in store for us in the future. Because of the digital revolution and the many devices and social media now available to record our lives, they now have in mind a hologram app for a smartphone and this is what it can do:  All of the pictures and videos we upload, all of the data we upload, all of the activities in our lives that we share or are recorded by others will one day be bunched in chronological order along with our identity, available to a device and projected around us in a room as a real-life hologram. We can go back and see what happened to us at a certain time and can actually see our lives surrounding us in real time. It’s compared to the imaginative time chamber on the Star Trek series where it was possible for a person to instruct a computer to take them to a certain time frame and suddenly they were there. It’s quite amazing that this could be possible, and yet, we upload pictures, videos, chronological events, etc., every day without a thought, to our social media accounts or cloud storage. All of that info could be construed into a history of your life. Your children could someday “watch” your life, your future spouse could take a look; anyone could see what you have been doing since you were born. Scary, huh?

Quote from Eric Schmidt, author of The New Digital Age: In the future, our identities in everyday life will come to be defined more and more by our virtual activities and associations. Our highly documented pasts will have an impact on our prospects, and our ability to influence and control how we are perceived by others will decrease dramatically. The potential for someone else to access, share or manipulate parts of our online identities will increase, particularly due to our reliance on cloud-based data storage.
The ancestors of our past, who left their lives recorded on a few pages, only wrote the best of their efforts and activities. They recorded the best deeds they accomplished, no matter how difficult. Now our lives are being recorded every single day, no matter what we do, whether we encourage it or not. (The fact is, we do support and participate whole-heartedly in many ways.) But what an amazing possible leap from the pages of a book to real-life participation in the past!

So which mode of legacy do I prefer? Lives are difficult and complicated. Living one life – my own, is enough for me. I like to be inspired and uplifted by stories of great people even though I know, deep inside, that they are a lot like me, struggling part of every day, meeting challenges, digesting defeat, celebrating victories, and enjoying blessings; leaving a heritage to loved ones and constantly moving forward to hopefully a good and satisfying ending to the story.

I prefer leaving the perception we have of ourselves as the best legacy, but, alas, it's probably not the most honest.
© 2013 Linda Gatewood

My Antiques Roadshow Experience

I have watched the Antiques Roadshow on TV for years and often wondered if there was anything in my attic that was a secret treasure. Recently, when I was lucky enough to be chosen in a drawing for tickets to an Antiques Roadshow exhibit in Boise, ID., I was thrilled. My son Jared volunteered to go with me and we were both allowed to bring two items to be appraised. After searching high and low for our treasures, we left with our booty in hand and eventually ended up at the Roadshow in a really long line.

The Line was interesting because every person carried a treasure and it was a unique experience to be enclosed on all sides by all that strange and unusual stuff. We were surrounded by helpful volunteers and associates of the Antiques Roadshow who guided and helped us in any way.  There was plenty of security too and in spite of the number of people, it felt safe and secure.

When we reached the end of that line, our tickets were stubbed and we were given item cards and directed to another big room with more lines. Our cell phones were turned off and no more pictures could be taken. The lines in this part were shorter and broken up into areas that addressed the specific items, so we went and stood in the Paintings line for a short while and when we reached the front, were allowed to enter the portion where the actual shoots were taking place for the series on TV.

This was exciting because I began to recognize the faces of some of the appraisers that I’d seen on the program (Yes, I watched one of the twins appraise a table).  And I could see the actual spot where they were filming a segment with an appraiser and attendee with a treasure. The objects being filmed were extremely nice items and it was done very professionally. I was surprised by the loud noise with all the people talking and all the appraisals going on at the same time. I wondered how they could film in there with the noise and pondered how the lucky owner being filmed could even hear their appraiser, finally concluding that they must have wonderful microphones that block out the sounds.

We weren’t asked to do a segment on TV but feel like we ALMOST were! Truly! One of our items was very unusual and our appraiser seemed to consider it for a moment. I believe they only film about 50-55 TV items per session and since it was late in the day the quota may have already been filled.  Anyway, that’s what we told ourselves, feeling fortunate to have possibly been considered!

All in all, we had four separate appraisers and I recognized each from the TV series. It was nice to meet them and chat a bit. They were so courteous and considerate in the midst of pandemonium and very thoughtful about our treasures. I could tell they were exhausted from the long and incredibly busy day but being professionals, they trooped forward and gave us the attention we wanted.

Our items were nicely appraised to our smug delight and we left very happy and very tired.  It was about a three hour experience and a wonderful opportunity for us to see and participate behind the scenes.  There is a possibility that I was on TV, wondering around in the background, looking lost and bewildered before a helper found me and directed me in the right direction. I was wearing a bright turquoise shirt and my hair looked really awful.  That was because I had a harrowing experience with Lulu (the skunk) – another story for another time!
© 2013 Linda Gatewood

Spring Promise comments from readers!

Even though it’s still early, I’m so excited to be hearing back from some of those who have finished reading Spring Promise, the sequel to Winter Secret. By the way, I’d love to hear from you and would appreciate your thoughts about Spring Promise and the series. You can post on my Facebook.com//Winter Secret.com page if you’d like or here on my blog.

"Reading it now - LOVE IT! You are so talented - you're a wonderful writer. Can't wait for your 3rd book!!" Violet

“OMG! I waited a long time for this and was not disappointed! Loved it!”  Susan

“What I like most about your books is that they are clean and yet very romantic, suspenseful and exciting.” KC

"Spring Promise was everything I hoped it would be.  Lots of intrigue and danger! I loved that more secrets were revealed about Derek's past.  Anxious for Summer Truth!  Great story11" Sandy

"Ready for book #3!  Spring Promise was wonderful...But now I am hanging! I loved it!" Brandy

“I’m almost done with Spring Promise. School has kept me busy, but I finally got to start it on Friday.  It is so good, I am having a hard time cleaning instead of just sitting down and reading it. I like this one even better than I like the first one! Awesome book!!!!  Stayed up until 1 am finishing it. I loved it! Now, looking forward to the third.”   Angela

"Great read!!"  Jenny

"I edited and proofread the book, and I can tell you, it lives up to its "promise!"  Jan

"I loved it! Better than the first one!" Rachel
© 2013 Linda Gatewood

Ancestors and Memorial Day

Memorial Day was an important holiday to my grandmother.  She and grandpa raised a large family during the roaring 20’s and the Great Depression in a small rural farming community originally settled by their ancestors and a few other families.  Their relatives built the first post office, first school and the first cemetery and ties were strong to the community, their families large and prolific. Many of the graves in the cemetery belonged to our family members.  As the town grew over the years, so did the graves of my ancestors.

My grandma would start making beautiful paper flowers weeks ahead in preparation for Memorial Day.  These were added to those already saved in the attic, to adorn the graves of our relatives. A great celebration was planned as members from far away traveled this one time each year to meet. It was an unofficial family reunion.

On the day before Memorial Day, all the flowers were loaded up and hauled to the cemetery and placed appropriately.  The next day, everyone visited the cemetery and, as an impressionable child, I was led around the grave sites and listened to the personal stories of each person belonging to our lineage.  Some had been pioneers and suffered great hardships; some died of terrible, swift diseases.  Some were buried with stillborn babes in their arms. A few had secrets that were whispered in passing, while others had accomplished great deeds during their lifetime and were spoken of reverently.  They came alive for me as time slipped away and we were all united together, both the living and departed.

After the ceremonies and eulogies were over, we returned to grandma’s house for a feast of delicious food prepared in celebration and appreciation.  After the meal, as twilight was close to descending, some visitors returned home, some stayed over-night.  My grandparents and a few helpers returned to the cemetery and gathered the artificial flowers and brought them home, carefully repacking and storing them in the attic to be used again next year.

After my grandparents were finally laid to rest in that same cemetery, the Memorial Day tradition began to fade for some and the times changed. Camping elsewhere on that weekend became popular along with the great appeal for family attractions and entertainment. The numbers who gathered at the cemetery lessened and fewer came with flowers.  When I moved back, closer to the little community founded by my ancestors, I found myself once again walking through the headstones, supporting my aging mother, while she told me the stories of each of our relatives, their secrets and achievements regaled and honored, their sacrifices shared, their tragedies touching my heart.

We placed flowers on their graves and felt at peace as they were, once again, gathered around us, united and bound together forever, their histories firmly planted in my mind, their presence solidified in my bones and the foundation strongly laid for my very purpose, position and requisite existence in this life.
© 2013 Linda Gatewood

The Magic of the Clouds

Have you ever been surprised by early morning fog? The clouds that silently lower themselves, white and soft and gentle, their stillness quiet as the mist crouches and sits without a stir of breath. The wind has allowed them to settle, its absence giving them power.

Pinpoints of moisture probe the earth and release a scent of richness beyond description that emanates from the surface and wafts into the whiteness, gliding slowly, climbing gently, and delighting all in its' path.  The cloud holds its breath, while this birth of sensations slowly erupts and sails across the landscape, hidden and blanketed in filmy white.

I hold my breath, too, and listen, my footfalls loud, my own breath hushed, while I heed the gravid silence.  I know the birds are listening, too, their collective songs quiet for the moment. And when I do take a breath, the delicious heavy scents surrounding me permeate my body and my mind, sending pleasure directly into my soul and lifting me into the magic of the cloud.

Then suddenly, a breeze touches my hair and before long, the mist has disappeared, its magic dissipated.  When I look up at the clouds as they sail in their kingdom above, I know the secrets they hold, the enchantment they hide and I remember well the moments I once shared with them.

©2013 Linda Gatewood

I thought I was alone, but…

I live out in the country and the first thing I hear in the morning when I wake up is the sound of birds singing. It’s a great way to start the day and I usually open my curtains and watch the tiny furry little body’s flit and fly around my yard. In the spring, I often hear the call of wild geese and watch the great v-shaped returning migrants fly overhead. When the fields are full of newly melted snow, creating little lakes, the white Snow Geese and white swans, black ducks and many more species, fly down and make themselves at home.

One such day happened last week and I felt especially blessed that a huge swirl of thousands of Snow Geese were settling down just across the road from me in a field full of newly melted snow and tasty winter wheat just barely showing its green tips. Their cacophony of honks could be heard for miles. Since I have no near neighbors, I was enjoying this rapturous display by myself, or so I assumed.

It was such a large group of birds, I was sure it covered almost the length of a mile when settled on the ground. Some floated on the water, others walked around in groups. When the birds settled down for the night and darkness hid them from view, I knew I would have to wait till tomorrow to see them again and I wondered if they would still be there. Sure enough, in the morning, most of them were gone. The sky was cloudy and new snow was falling. But there was one little group of about a hundred or more birds still nestled down, some with their heads lifted, others still wrapped into their warm bodies. A few were flapping their wings, as if testing the air for liftoff.

I wondered why they never flew away with the others and as I observed them, I saw a person stand up right in the middle of the flock. He was talking to someone and soon another person stood up, this one holding a gun.  These hunters were very determined with their decoy birds, camouflaged tent of birds and their patience to wait for the flock to return. 

And I learned that I wasn’t really alone when the Snow Geese landed.

©2013 Linda Gatewood

What the 4-book Winter Secret Series is all about!

Winter Secret, the first novel of the series, is an enthralling story of love, suspense, peril and secrets. It weaves its beguiling imagery and prose around your mind, as captivating as the stanza in a song, never letting go until the end is reached.  And even then, there are more questions than answers revealed.

Spring Promise continues the engrossing story, the twists and turns of suspense constantly pulling in numerous directions, but promising answers.  Even though the past threatens, there is a more potentially lethal menace from the indefinite future.

Summer Truth follows quickly on the footsteps of promises. But the past finally reaches out and grabs Derek and Cynthia, forcing them to deal with the truth of the past that could destroy them both and the disclosure of secrets that could separate them.

Autumn Trust occurs in the present but is a book where the past and present and future collide, culminating in the surprising answers and resolutions needed to continue forward.  The amazing story behind the story is finally revealed.

© 2013 Linda Gatewood

A Love Story for Valentine's Day

If you want to read a great love story for Valentine’s Day, read Winter Secret.  You will thrill at the compelling story and plot twists that test the strength, love, and courage of a type of love that is pure devotion and selflessness. It is the story of the tender beginnings of true love between Derek and Cynthia that is threatened by innumerable forces determined to destroy them . Their love is something that we see only once in a while.

Quoting from a review: “The difficulties they go through is something that will surely put to test their bravery and character. This is a great exciting story of love and revenge and gives ample time to feel the romance in the book while interspersing it with enough action scenes to keep you on your toes. The romantic lines are truly those that will give you goose bumps and make your heart skip a beat while, at the same time, the protagonists are thrown into one conflict after another that helps to shape their characters well.”                                                                                                     K. C.

This book is soon to be followed with the next in the series called Spring Promise and will continue to answer the questions, solve the mysteries and explore the promising love and commitment between Derek and Cynthia.

©2013 Linda Gatewood

January - the month of dreams and plans

In Idaho, time stands still in January and gives us a moment to pause and wish.  We pause to rest from the holidays past.  The Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years that rushed by and pushed us ever forward towards the next activity, the next gathering, the next party, until it all stopped on January first.  The snow began to fall faster, the cold locked its doors, the silence of white-blanketed fields and hillsides covered us in peace. And we paused…

January crawls by slowly, forcing us to slow down and remember what life is really about; brief moments for the quiet visit, the empty rooms, the constant of our own company within the quiet of our minds; a time to reminisce, to remember what is past and make peace before moving on.  It is a time to renew and regroup for the year ahead with new strength and determination. The time to enjoy the beauty winter brings when boughs are covered in white fluff, weighed down with brilliant ice and the abundant fields are untrammeled, tempting us to play.  It is a time to long for spring and, most of all, a time for wishing…

We wish for the spent summer, when trees were green and winds were warm, when roads were clear of snow and ice, when the sun shown every day and kissed our body with its joy. We long for the freedom of the soft breeze and the delicious scent of roses. And in our longing, we rejoice with appreciation for what is past and anticipate what looms ahead because we know what is coming, what will be here shortly.   January becomes the month of dreams and plans for the future, the most important month of the year.

©2013 Linda Gatewood

Teaser for Spring Promise, sequel to Winter Secret

The love between Derek and Cynthia was tested to the limit in the exciting first book, Winter Secret, but will it be strong enough to withstand the continuing forces that strive to separate them?  Once again, a new season brings new adventures and terror to the couple who ask for nothing except to be together. 

A mysterious relic in the form of an ancient map and key that represent a legend of early American source, surfaces and ends up in the hands of Cynthia and Derek, who once again, must discover its secrets.  The pursuit of ancient hidden gold and treasure is a lure that draws greedy men into dangerous situations and ultimately interfaces the lives of Derek and Cynthia.  Not only is Derek labeled a terrorist who must clear his name but they are both drawn into the mysterious and threatening world of ancient legends and myths of the earliest Americans.  Derek continues to struggle with the pursuit of the man who murdered his parents and his obsessive need for revenge which draws danger into their lives, while Cynthia faces a new, personal and unexpected threat to their continued union. Will the danger and threats separate and destroy their love or will this new season of opportunity bring them closer together? 

Will they be able to stay together and keep the promises they made to each other or will the forces against them destroy the hopes of their Spring Promise?

©2013 Linda Gatewood