Monthly Archives: December 2008

Happy New Year!

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I just wanted to wish everybody a Happy New Year! Do any of you have resolutions? I guess, mine would be that I need to make more of an effort to read my Bible daily (I tend to skip days if I’m tired or on deadline). Also, I want to finish this project within the first quarter of the year to submit to agents. I know my chances of selling this project are grim since the state of publishing has taken a nosedive lately!

Feel free to share your thoughts about the the Old Year (2008) and the New Year (2009). Did you keep your resolutions last year (or, better yet, can you even remember last year’s resolutions?) What are your resolutions for 2009?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Early Christmas Present!

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I don’t usually blog twice in one day, but I had to comment about the fact that when I got home from work (my job closed down at 3:00 today), and checked the mail, I discovered that I’d received my monthly shipment of novels from Heartsong Presents. I’m a member of the book club, and in the shipment received, my novel, Milk Money was enclosed. It’s been officially released to the bookclub members! So, if you’re a member of the Heartsong Presents bookclub, you should be receiving your monthly shipment soon (that is, if you haven’t received them already!) If you receive them today, like I did, you may want to consider reading my book over the holidays!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Do You Believe?

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Believe it or not, it’s a few days before Christmas, and I’m struggling with the Santa Claus issue. As a Christian, is it right to teach my child to believe in Santa Claus? I just don’t know. Santa Claus came to my three-year-old’s daycare this morning and gave the kids gifts. I took pictures. When I picked up my son at the end of the day, he was anxious to take his gift home and open it. He said, “I want to open the gift that Santa Claus gave me.”

As you might be able to tell, I’m not the most holiday-spirited person. I grew up not believing in Santa Claus, and I’ve never purchased a Christmas tree. My hubby and I usually exchange gifts with one another for Christmas, but, now that we have a child, Christmas celebrations may be taken up a notch or two! For the last few years, our child wasn’t really vocal about celebrating the holiday. However, this year, he notices the Christmas lights and he’ll say, “Mommy. Look at the lights! Are they out here because it’s Christmas!”

We don’t have a tree this year, but we’ve got lots of great Christmas cards decorating the mantle over our fireplace! Our son has never asked for a tree, but I feel that next year will be the year when we’ll buy him a Christmas tree.

I’ve purchased a ton of gifts for our son. I’ve been wrapping them while he’s in bed. I’ve hidden the gifts in the closet in my office. I’m not sure what I’ll say when he sees the pile of gifts at the appointed time. If he says, “Mommy, did Santa Claus bring the gifts?” What’ll I say…Yes?? or, No…??

I guess, as of right now, he’ll just awaken to the pile of presents, and I’ll say, “Open your gifts!” I won’t mention Santa unless he does, and then I’ll play it by ear, decide on what to say!

My question to readers is: What would you do if you were me?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Tired!

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Man, am I tired! I went Christmas shopping for my three-year-old today! If you read this old blog entry, you know how much I HATE SHOPPING!

I hope he enjoys his gifts. We’re not going overboard too much, but felt we needed to have something to give to our child this holiday season!

Do any of your children have a long list of gifts? What did your children request for Christmas?


~Cecelia Dowdy~

December Book Giveaway!

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I’m giving away the following books this month. Also, I’m changing things up a bit: I’m choosing ONE WINNER for ALL OF THE BOOKS. Also, the list includes 2 NON-FICTION titles.

If you are interested in winning these novels, simply leave a comment addressing the following topic: purses! I was in the Coach store with author Linda Leigh Hargrove a couple of months ago and was commenting on the fact that women will spend hundreds of dollars on a purse. Me? I buy a new Coach bag about every five years! Seriously! And I always purchase a basic color like brown or black that will go with everthing. I only use one purse and the reason I don’t have multiple purses is because I don’t have the time, energy or desire to switch purses. My life is already complicated enough as is, and I don’t want to complicate it more by switching purses. While Linda and I were browsing the store, I noticed that I didn’t like the new style of Coach purses. I don’t like that C-pattern on the front of my bag. Also, their solid-colored purses had a pebbled texture, which I hated. I didn’t see any purses in the store that I really liked.

So, women, do you usually spend a lot of money on purses? How many do you buy a year? Do you like expensive brands like Coach or Dooney (or some other brand name)?MEN: How do you feel about your wife, girlfriend, significant other, sister, etc., spending upwards of four or five hundred dollars on a purse? Do you think women are crazy for doing this? So, leave your comment WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS in order to be entered into the drawing. If you don’t want to be entered into the drawing, but would still like to comment, then just say so when you place your comment on this blog entry.

Here is a list of the books that I’m giving away:

1. Milk Money by Cecelia Dowdy
2. John’s Quest by Cecelia Dowdy
3. Golden Wisdom Timeless Inspirations
4. Prayers That Avail Much – First Blessings For Your Child by Germaine Copeland
5. The Flower Of Grass by James Robinson
6. Death On A Deadline – A Heartsong Presents Mystery by Christine Lynxwiler, Jan Reynolds, and Sandy Gaskin
7. In The Dead Of Winter – A Heartsong Presents Mystery by Nancy Mehl
8. Dog Gone – A Heartsong Presents Mystery by Eileen Key
9. Loving Ways – by Gail Gaymer Martin
10. Only Today – A Heartsong Presents Romance by Jeri Odell
11. The Dreams Of Hannah Williams – A Heartsong Presents Romace by Linda Ford
12. Loveswept – A Heartsong Presents Romance by Tamela Hancock Murray
13. Born For This Love – A Heartsong Presents Romance by Brenda Bancroft
14. Riding Through Shadows by Sharon Ewell Foster
15. Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins


~Cecelia Dowdy~

Booksigning Update And Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Bars

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A few people have emailed me privately, wondering how the booksigning went yesterday. I enjoyed meeting the other authors, however, I didn’t sell as many books as I would have liked. I thought since the price was $3.00 and it was Christmas, that I’d get rid of lots of books. However, the mall was not as crowded as I thought it would be.

Last week I made Chocolate Chip Butterscotch Brownies. I’ve altered this recipe, and they turned out so good! Here is the version that I used:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup dark brown sugar, firmly packed
1 cup salted butter, softened ***I used the imported Irish Kerry Gold butter. It’s got a smoother texture than regular butter and it has a natural yellow color.
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
One 10.5 oz package of milk chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease an 8X8 inch baking pan.
Combine first two ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well with a wire whisk. Set aside.
In a large bowl use an electric mixer to blend the sugar and butter. Add egg and vanilla, and beat at medium speed until light and smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the flour mixture and chips. Blend at low speed until just combined. Do not overmix.
Transfer batter into the prepared pan, and level top with a rubber spatula. Bake in center of oven for 35-45 minutes (NOTE, I BAKED MINE FOR 55 MINUTES) or until toothpick comes out clean but center is still soft. Cool on rack to room temperature. Cut with sharp knife 1-by-2-inch bars.

Enjoy!

~Cecelia Dowdy~