Tax Day Cometh, but Sonic to the rescue

Do you have your taxes done? If not, you'd better get started quick! Ours are done and submitted, and both Joe and I sighed with relief over having that behind us for another year. I've got some interesting facts to share about the IRS (well, as interesting as the IRS can be), but first...

Read the rest of this post over at Writes of Passage where I blog every Tuesday!

ChristianAudio.com, Giveaways, and more...

Did you know that ChristianAudio.com offers a free download every month? And that they have sample chapters you can listen to before you buy? It's true. Check it out.

If you have a minute, join me over at Writes of Passage today where I'm giving away some brand new releases and sharing about manna, and a not so gentle "nudge" I felt in church this past weekend.

And last but not least, I'm giving away five copies of From a Distance this month. From a Distance is the first novel in the Timber Ridge Reflections series, and the 2009 Christy Award Winner* for Best Historical Romance. No strings attached. Just leave your information and you're entered! It's my way of saying "Thank you for reading." Sign up for the giveaway here on my website.

Grateful for you,
Tammy

* Never heard about the Christy Award? You can learn more about the Christy Award here!

Favorite Things

It's that time again...

I snapped some pics of my favorite things and want to share! Get ready, because at the end, I want you to tell me if we have any favorite things in common, and I want to know what some of yours are too! 

Continued at Writes of Passage today...

A Grand Trip, all in all

Me with Alicia (and Chip and Cougar)

Last Monday, Joe and I made a very quick trip up to Grand Rapids, Michigan where we met with the folks at Zondervan who are publishing my Belle Meade Plantation series. It was great to see both friends I'd made before and to meet some new ones.

Alicia Mey, the Marketing Director, lives at Dream Acres (don't you love the name!) and has horses on her property. So of course, we had to feed and love on them. I'd forgotten what it feels like to have a horse eat from your hand. A very "nubby" feeling, like they're gumming you to death.

Joe with Cougar

Chip and Cougar, the horses, were very gentle, and I was surprised to learn that Chip's lineage can be traced back to Belle Meade. Cool!

We had dinner that night at a wonderful place called Brewery Vivant, but of course I forgot to take pictures of that delicious meal. I was too busy chatting, I guess. But not to worry (Judy), I enjoyed something equally delicious the next day!

Joe and me (it was really fun to have some 

extra time with him)

The next morning, I had the honor of speaking to the entire sales staff, and I really enjoyed the time to share with them about what God has been teaching me––and continues to––about surrendering to Him. Considering how long the two of us have been working on this theme in my life, you'd think I'd be farther along by now. But I'm fairly sure that has more to do with me than with Him. : {

With Sue Brower,

my editor at Zondervan 

Becky Philpott (Associate Acquisitions Editor), Andrea Lyons (Director, Digital Marketing),

 Michelle Lenger (Art/Cover Design), and me at the Twisted Rooster for lunch

Becky, me, Michelle, and Andrea again

And this fabulous bowl of warm, gushy love is a signature dish at the Twisted Rooster...

Lobster Mac & Cheese with Fried Parmesan (Oh. My. Gracious. De-licious!!) 

Joyce and me

And last, but certainly not least, is Joyce Ondersma who helped shuttle us around while we were there and got us to the airport on time! She's the Director of Author Care at Zondervan, and let me tell ya... The woman is good at what she does! She's been with Zondervan for twenty-seven years, and I'm fairly certain the place could not run without her.

A glimpse out the window on our way home. So pretty...

Jack

Finally, this was the sweet little face waiting for us when we got home. It was great to get back and quickly jump into the swing of things again.

I'm writing basically 24/7 these days, but I'm grateful to have the opportunity to write, and I'm thrilled to share my next cover with you (albeit, it's a cover still in progress). To Whisper Her Name releases in November…

I'm off to VOTE this morning. I hope you'll do the same too, if you're able, and that you'll join me in praying for our country today.

Blessings on your Tuesday, 

Tammy

"Baby-It's-Cold-Outside-but-I'm-not" Chili

SURPRISE! I'm not posting about sweets today. Instead, I’m sharing a staple meal in the Alexander household and something that you will always find in our refrigerator. And it’s especially good on those cold, gray days of winter. Or if it’s warm and sunshiny where you are, well, it’s really good there too. And it's got some good history to it too! 

For the rest of this post, I invited you to visit Writes of Passage where I blogged on this yummy dish!

Tammy

The Coyote Shaker

Join me over at Writes of Passage today where I'm confessing something fairly embarrassing, but I'd do it all over again! ; )

Write on your backsides and bottoms

Join me at Writes of Passage today, friends. I post over there every Tuesday and we have a wonderful time!

Blessings on your day,
Tammy

A favorite 2011 Christmas memory

Join me at Writes of Passage today where I'm sharing one of my favorite 2011 Christmas memories...

Creamy Praline Pecan Pie

I posted some pictures from a Cajun Shrimp Boil on Facebook yesterday and several of you asked for the recipe for the Creamy Praline Pecan Pie. My cousin, Gay, and her daughter Teesha, shared this recipe with me some time back but I hadn't made it yet. Why on earth did I wait so long! Oh my goodness, it's swoon worthy. Here we go...

You'll need:
1 Baked Pie Shell (I use the Pillsbury crusts that you just roll out and slip into the pie plate, so easy!)

8 oz Cream Cheese
8 oz Cool Whip
1 cup powdered sugar

Blend the previous three ingredients well with a mixer then chill as your baked pie shell is cooling.

For the topping, you'll need:
2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped (I left some of my whole as you can see below)
1 cup coconut (from the bag, not frozen)
1/2 cup butter, melted
Caramel Sauce (like you use on ice cream)

Stir the first three ingredients together, spread on a slightly greased cookie sheet, then drizzle with Caramel Sauce. Put that in the oven and bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until brown (watch, so it doesn't burn).

As that's cooling, take your cream cheese mixture from the fridge and spread that into your pie crust...

Then spoon the cooled pecan/coconut topping over the cream cheese, drizzle more Caramel Sauce on the top (can you have too much caramel? I don't think so), and you're done!

Keep refrigerated until ready to eat, which won't be long once you taste that topping. Truly one of my favorite pies now. To make and eat.

Hope you enjoy! And let me know if you make this. I'll be sure and tell Gay and Teesha.

Now join me over at Writes of Passage today to see pics from my LifeWay book signing this past Saturday, and to see what questions I'm most often asked at book signings...

Comfort Foods, and Words of Comfort

Join me over at Writes of Passage today as we're chatting about comfort food and words of comfort! And tell me what yours are...

Thumbs up, everybody!

Love this kid's enthusiasm!

And if you love reading first lines of novels, join me at Writes of Passage where I share some random first lines from novels on my TBR shelf.

The power of words

How many words have you spoken so far today? Can you count them? 35? 100? 400? What about yesterday? And the day before? Watch a great clip on the power of words.

And speaking of powerful words, check out the free Kindle version of THE MESSAGE NT with Psalms and Proverbs!

Lovin' that Mandisa!

I've been listening to Mandisa's new album and oh…it's fabulous!

I love the title track, and The Truth About Me, and Temporary Fills, and Lifeline, and well…every song on there is a gift. Treat yourself today!

And if you're needing a little encouragement today, join me over at Writes of Passage for a hefty dose of fresh hope.

And…HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY to our son, Kurt (pictured here with his older sister, Kelsey, at Christmas). Love you, honey, and looking forward to celebrating later today!

On the homestretch

I'm almost there!

Almost to "The End" on A LASTING IMPRESSION, book one in a brand new series that releases this fall. And I'm already excited about diving into rewrites too. Over the next month, my editors will read the manuscript and send me their (always marvelous) comments and suggestions to strengthen the story. It's a team effort, for sure.

I got a sneak preview of the cover this week and OH MY GOODNESS! GORGEOUS! I'll share it soon!

Back to writing, but first…

Have you ever climbed a musical staircase? Check out my post today on Writes of Passage to see what one company did to encourage folks to take the stairs...