The Confidential Life Of Eugenia Cooper

Gennie Cooper longs for a Wild West adventure such as the ones Mae Winslow, experiences in the dime store novels Gennie reads. When the opportunity arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to board a train for Colorado in search of adventure before settling down with the drab banker in her future.

Her plans for a quick adventure are put on hold when Gennie is met with the challenge of taming the wild daughter of a widowed silver baron, Daniel Beck. Coerced into marrying Daniel to save her reputation, Gennie’s life is turned upside down in a Wild West adventure she will never forget!

I didn’t think I was a fan of westerns having read a few of Larry McMurtry’s offerings. But Kathleen Y’Barbo has the ability to weave a western that left me wanting to read more of Gennie Cooper’s story. Can you say…sequel?

This book had one of the best dun-dun-dunnnnnnn moments I’ve ever read. You know what I mean…something happens unexpectedly at the end of a chapter and you hear this sound in your head, DUN-DUN-DUNNNNNNNN!

This is the first book I’ve read by Kathleen Y’Barbo which is kind of embarrassing since she’s a good friend of mine. Now I suppose I’ll have to read some of her other books like, The Fairweather Keys Series. If they’re half as good as The Confidential Life of Eugenia Cooper, then I should be pleasantly pleased.

You can find our more about Kathleen and watch the book trailer for Eugenia Cooper on her website, www.kathleenybarbo.com.

Another Three Bite The Dust

This week marked the passing of three more celebrities into eternity—Patrick Swayze, Henry Gibson and Mary Travers. Did you ever wonder how God comes up with which three people will forever be linked in history as dying in the same week?

Do you think there might be a formula, a process, a method?

Let’s examine the latest three entrants.
Patrick Swayze: born in Houston, TX, actor of stage and screen, (Dirty Dancing, The Outsiders, Ghost, Point Break) dancer extraordinaire
Henry Gibson: born in Germantown, PA, actor (Laugh In, Boston Legal), poet, voice-over actor
Mary Travers: born in Louisville, KY, iconic folk/protest singer (Puff the Magic Dragon, Blowing in the Wind, Lemon Tree, Leaving on a Jet Plane)

So the common denominator is (drum roll please) they were all the same age at death! No, while Mary and Henry were close at 72 and 73 respectively, Patrick, however, was only 57. That theory won’t work. Perhaps it was because they were all actors. No, I can’t find any evidence that Mary Travers did any serious acting. So what could it be other than their fame? But isn’t that the reason we pay attention to their deaths in the first place?

June was a landmark month for celebrity deaths, welcoming the likes of Farrah Fawcett and the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson. The third celebrity, on the other hand, is a little sketchy. Both were only mildly famous, so I guess you can pick the celebrity you’ve actually heard of. On June 28, impressionist, Fred Travelina and pitchman, Billy Mays passed away. Yeah, like I said—choose your favorite. So what do these three…four celebrities have in common? They were all 80s icons, well, except for Billy Mays anyway. And Michael was popular through the 90s. No connection! Back to square one.

July marked the deaths of three American icons; Karl Malden, Walter Cronkite and Oscar Meyer, Jr. It’s simple to see what these three have in common…absolutely nothing. Except that they all three died really old and really rich.

August deaths welcomed the likes of electric guitar inventor, Les Paul into the fray. Following Les was American royalty, Ted Kennedy and third, Chanel, the worlds oldest living Dachshund. What do these three have in common you ask? Well, two are most certainly dogs, but where does that leave Les Paul?

Finally, there was another death in September, but this woman’s only celebrity claim was to be the oldest recognized living person, according to Guinness World Records. Gertrude Baines died September 11, at the ripe old age of ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN! The reason I added this tidbit of information is because I had to laugh at the newspaper report stating Mrs. Baines died of a suspected heart attack. Come on! At 115 can’t you just say the poor woman died of natural causes for heaven’s sake?

So I wonder—when a celebrity dies, do other celebrities begin walking on eggshells? Hmm…

"The Premier Christian Fiction Conference"

STANDING FIRM...MOVING FORWARD

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)

DENVER, COLORADO 
SEPTEMBER 17 - 20, 2009

Bestselling authors, publishing industry representatives, and newcomers to Christian fiction writing will gather in Denver at the American Christian Fiction Writer’s annual conference September 17-20 to compare notes, learn from each other, and encourage one another in the pursuit of publishing goals.

This year’s conference theme , Standing Firm…Moving Forward, will especially inspire the full range of talent and dreams in the ever-changing publishing world today.

This amazing conference will feature representatives from major publishing houses like B & H, Guideposts, Zondervan, Harvest House, Barbour, Steeple Hill, Summerside Press, Bethany House, Waterbrook Multnomah, Marcher Lord Press, Tyndale House, and Thomas Nelson, and top literary agents who will meet with writers and identify promising proposals from both new and veteran novelists. Conferees will have access to publishing panels, professional critiques, and customized workshops based on skills and interests.

The keynote speaker is New York Times bestselling author, Debbie Macomber, who has more than 100 million copies of her books in print worldwide.

Learn more about the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Conference by visiting www.acfw.com. Click on the left sidebar on Annual Conference.

Have You Made The Choice?