Get Ready for "Enduring Hope"

I've just heard that another Orchard Hill Romance will soon be released. Orchard Hill chronicler Kara Lynn Russell says that "Enduring Hope," the fifth story marks the halfway point in the series.

"I wanted to make this story extra special," Kara told me "to celebrate reaching this point. "Enduring Hope" is longer than any of the previous stories and I absolutely fell in love with my characters. I hope readers will have as much fun reading about Hope and Oliver as I did in writing about them."

"So what's this story all about?" I asked, as if I didn't know. I'm Hope's neighbor and I'll tell you that their courtship has been particularly interesting. It involves softball, an unwanted suitor, an extreme aversion to marriage, Hope's triplet nieces, her big brother's disapproval and fireworks. Not to mention Oliver dragging Hope out of Big Apple Pizza, a well-timed punch in the face, and lots of ice cream. I saw a fair bit of kissing, too when I was looking out my window at night. Not that I was snooping, I was just watching for my cat Whiskers, to return after her nighttime prowls.

Come to think of it, that's a better explanation of the story than the one Kara gave. I'll leave hers for another time. She tells me she'll be doing some special things here on the blog to celebrate the release of "Enduring Hope." Check back for exclusive excerpts, a chance to win a free copy of "Enduring Hope" and interviews with fellow authors Cindy K. Green, Donna Marie Rogers, and Stacey Joy Netzel, and with editor and cover artist Nicola Martinez. Sounds like a party to me.

Cora Applebaum

Romance Writers Descend Upon Green Bay

I picked up the Green Bay newspaper today and what do you think I saw? There's a group of ladies - and few men, too I hear - gathered in Green Bay to learn about romance writing. I guess there's a lot to learn if you're going to write that stuff. But I do love a good romance.

There's plenty of that these days in Orchard Hill, even without cracking open a book. There seem to be couples everywhere. I asked my good friend Pansy Parker about it. She said she didn't know a thing about it but between you and me, she looked like the cat who's got into the cream. I think I'll have to keep my ears open on this one. You'll let me know if you hear anything won't you?

In the meantime I'm going to hit the books. This romance conference has got me to thinking about all the great authors we have right here in Wisconsin. I've got a copy of "Welcome to Redemption" by Donna Marie Rogers and Stacey Joy Netzel, a copy of "A Wish in Time" by Laurel Bradley and a copy of "It Takes Moxie" by Delia DeLeest. They all look so good, I don't know which one to read first.

Until next time,

Cora Appelbaum

Happy Mother's Day from Orchard Hill

There's no doubt about it, being a mother is hard work. It's a good idea for moms to take some time off every once in a while. What better way to make your family appreciate all your hard work! Let them come home to no dinner and dirty laundry for a few days and they'll appreciate you, believe me.

That's why they invented Mother's Day. It gives your children a chance to show that appreciation for you so you don't get any ideas about taking a vacation and leaving them in the lurch.

Single mothers out there deserve a little extra gratitude from their children. And just think of single mother Faith Fielding! Not only is she raising a teenage son by herself (and doing a great job. Her late husband would be so proud.) but Faith is also our town's elementary school secretary. She's done a lot of mothering to all the children of Orchard Hill in that role. Faith's desk should be filled with flowers and candy come Monday morning, if you ask me.

So, all you mothers out there, listen to me. Take it easy today and soak up all the love and attention your family can dish out. You deserve it. And you aren't likely to get any more of it before next Mother's Day.

Cora Applebaum

The Dating Game

Signs of spring are everywhere - and most of them say "garage sale." That's right, Spring in Orchard Hill means that it's time to clean out those closets and sell all your old junk to your neighbors.

The Orchard Hill Community Church held its annual Spring Fling recently. The Youth Group hosts this craft fair/luncheon/worship event. While I was there, I overheard this interesting bit of conversation between Faith Fielding and Andrew Thomas.

Dropping any hint of subtlety Andrew asked “How is your date going?”

Faith narrowed her eyes at him. “Just fine. How’s yours?”

“How’s my what?”
“Your date. You know, Harmony.”

“Oh, yes. That’s going fine, too.”

“Now that we’ve established that, what will we have to talk about?”

Andrew leaned forward. “Joseph’s a nice guy, but don’t kid yourself that he’s ready to make a commitment.”

She gasped. “What makes you think I want one from him?”

“So this is just a fling?”

“It’s just a date. One date. I’m hardly going to start picking out china patterns. You’re worse than Kevin.”

“Kevin is upset about you seeing Joseph, isn’t he?”

“Andrew, this is none of your business,” she told him firmly.

None of his business. It seemed as if Faith was shutting him out all of a sudden, and he didn’t like it. Not one little bit. He stared at her, willing her to understand.
“You never used to say things like that to me. We used to share everything. What changed between us, Faith?”

“I think you’re mistaken.” Her voice was cold, and it shook a little. “We’ve never shared everything. You just didn’t notice before, and I don’t understand why you’ve suddenly started caring.”

“We didn’t share everything? I shared everything. What have you been keeping from me?”

“Why don’t you just go find your date, Andrew?”

Anger swelled in his chest, and he answered her in a mocking voice. “Go find your date, Andrew. Go home Andrew. Don’t you have work to do Andrew? You keep pushing me away.”

She stood. “Then maybe you should take the hint.” Faith walked away, moving through the crowd to leave him stranded at the café table.

Hmmm. What could be going on there?

Until next time,
Cora Applebaum

LASR Reviews Appearance

Cora Appelbaum here again. It seems that Orchard Hill is in the news all over. Kara Lynn Russell, who has written down some of our local happenings, has an interview posted at the Long and Short of It reviews. You can find out all kinds of personal tidbits from what authors she likes to what time she gets up in the morning.

Word is, tomorrow, April 23rd, Kara will be at LASR's Yahoo Group, just in case anyone has questions for her. I hope someone asks her who does those great covers for her Orchard Hill books.

Cora Appelbaum

Kara Lynn at Fallen Angels

You can get the scoop on Orchard Hill chronicler Kara Lynn Russell over at Fallen Angel Reviews. She was recently interviewed by Linda H. there. You can read the interview here.

You can tell all your friends about this little tidbit. Just don't tell anyone that Linda H. got the info before me.

Until next time,
Cora Appelbaum

Spring in Orchard Hill

My grandmother always said that it had to snow on the robins three times before spring would come. Our robins must have weathered those three snowfalls because spring has come to Orchard Hill.

The sun is shining and the tulips and daffodils are blooming. I love watching the children go past my window on the way to and from school. They seem to be blooming, too as they shed heavy winter coats and boots for colorful spring jackets.

And speaking of school, the word is that school secretary Faith Fielding will not be returning to work in the elementary school this fall. What could make her want to leave after spending ten years with Orchard Hill's beloved principal, Andrew Thomas?

Could it have anything to do with Andrew's decision to enter the dating game again, for the first time since his wife passed away eight years ago? The following scene from his office was given to me in strictest confidence, so if anyone asks, you didn't hear it from me. ;)

“What’s up, Andrew?” she asked.

“Well, this is a personal matter,” he admitted. “Robin asked me to do something, and I need your advice.”

“Oh, how is Robin doing?” asked Faith eagerly. “I got an email from her last week, and it sounded like her classes were going well.”

“Yes, she’s fine,” Andrew told her. Normally, he would be happy to go on about his daughter. But now, he wanted to put this promise behind him.

“I’m so glad. I know she was nervous about going away this fall, but Robin’s got your charm, Andrew. She must have oodles of friends already.”

“And admirers lining up to carry her books,” Andrew added wryly. “But as I was saying, she made me promise something last night, and I want to take care of it.”

“Oh?” Faith tilted her head at him, curiosity in her eyes. “What did you promise?”

“I promised to go out on a date.”

Faith felt herself go still. A date? Her heart sped up. For years, she’d been hoping Andrew would ask her out. Was this it? Was it finally going to happen?

Wait a minute. Did she want him to ask her out just because Robin told him he needed to go on a date? But maybe it wasn’t that way. Maybe it was more that she’d given him her blessing. Faith knew Andrew would never get involved with someone Robin didn’t like.

Oh, who was she kidding? She’d take a date with Andrew any way she could get it. Even when she’d first started at the school, she thought Andrew was strikingly handsome. In the ten years they’d worked together, his salt and pepper hair had gone completely to silver. But she thought it looked great on him and made his gorgeous dark blue eyes stand out even more.

But, as handsome as she thought he was, physical appearance was the least of the reasons Faith loved him. His sterling character, charismatic personality and generous heart drew her to him. “So who’s the lucky lady?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Andrew leaned over the desk, and Faith found herself drawn to him as if he were a magnet and she a hunk of steel. “I wanted to ask you…”

“Yes?” her voice came out barely louder than a whisper.

“I wanted to ask you…who I should ask.”