Yep, I’m just copying and pasting the newsletter right here. It’s sunny and my garden is calling my name, so I’m headed outdoors. But I wanted to post this month’s What Am I and also share who won the April Flash Fiction Story prompt (and received a $10 Amazon gift card). So . . . here you go . .
Guess this mystery object for a chance to win a pair of cute horse socks and a Circle C mini-flashlight keychain . . . or the ever-popular gold/fool’s gold combo (especially for Goldtown readers, but Circle C fans can choose it too). Giveaway runs Tuesday, May 5 – Tuesday, May 12 @ 5pm PT. Winner will be notified by email and also published in the next’s What Am I newsletter. U.S. mailing addresses.
April’s mystery object was a brush (or something with the word “brush” in it, like horse brush, scrub brush, brush bristles). I accepted a number of answers. Sarah H. was the winner (69 correct guesses out of 162 entries). Many guessed “spaghetti noodles,” and a lot of you guessed “broom.” Sarah received a copy of More Tales from the Circle C Ranch.
APRIL STORY PROMPT WINNER & ENTRIES
Yee-haw! My judge, Donna Patton, and I had loads of fun (though it was hard to decide between all of these wonderful entries). I might change the name to FLASH FICTION, however, since the stories are 1,000 words or less. Ms. Patton has been a faithful and excellent judge. Give her some love by visiting her DonnaAlicePatton.com website and checking out her books!
THE WINNER of APRIL’S FLASH FICTION IS . . .
🎉🎉 MARJORY – “Wanderin’ Willie’s Map”
Marjory won a $10 Amazon gift card. Congratulations! You can read her winning story HERE.
I received 19 lovely stories, and I read each one. However, I knew I’d have trouble choosing a winner, so my judge, Donna, who knows my books well, agreed to judge the stories. I am sad to say that one of the stories missed the April 30th deadline, so it could not be judged, but I included it in the entries so you can at least read it. Hint for future contests: don’t wait until the last hour of the last day to send me your story.
👍 READ THESE OTHER WONDERFUL ENTRIES BELOW. WHICH ONE WOULD YOU HAVE CHOSEN?
WILL ANDI LOSE TAFFY? – LYDIA AGE 14
THE EMBEZZLINGN BROTHER – PATIENCE AGE 15
HER OWN EYES – KATE AGE 16
FORGIVEN – GRACE AGE 13
ANDI AND THE BIG FRIGHT – OLIVIA AGE 11
THE GOD WHO FORGIVES – KAYLAH AGE 14
MIRACLE IN THE MIDST – KRISTIANNA AGE 13
TROUBLE IN THE SUMMER DUST – MARLENA AGE 13
CHRISTINE’S STORY – CHRISTINE AGE 11
HOLLLI’S STORY – HOLLI AGE 16
THE RIDER IN THE DUST – LOIS AGE 14
THE GOLD NUGGET – CALEB AGE 11
A TRIP WITH STRIKE-IT-RICH SAM – ETHAN AGE 13
A CALL FROM THE PAST – AVA AGE 13
ADELINE’S STORY – ADELINE AGE 14
KYRA & EDEN’S STORY – KYRA & EDEN AGES 18 & 15
HANNAH’S STORY – HANNAH AGE 9
THE MYSTERIOUS RIDER – ABIGAIL AGE 11
CAPTIVE ONCE AGAIN! – VERITY AGE 15
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
SUMMER STORY-WRITING CONTEST
I’m not sure when I will launch the story-writing contest. I haven’t thought up the prizes yet, and I’m not sure about the themes/topics. So, if you want to give me your opinion on this, click the button for a quick GOOGLE survey. That way I can let you know by the end of May.
I can’t wait for the next contest!
I wasn’t able to write a story this time due to two vacations interfering with my schedule, but I plan to write in the next Flash Fiction!!!!!!!
Lovely job to all who wrote, you all did fantastically!!!!
Abigail Hadley
Random Question 😉 Do you watch 7 brides for 7 brothers?
I’ve seen it, yes.
did you base any of your charecters from it? (I know you’ve done this with other westerns!)
No. I think I’ve only seen it once and didn’t remember it very well.
I love that movie, it’s great!
I love the new updates on the blog!
I love the new updates on the blog!
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a really cute film!
YES!!!!!! THE BEST EVER, well, second to anne of green gables.
My favorite scene is the barn dance, where the brothers show up the city slickers to impress the girls, what’s your’s?
My family and I love it!
My sister got it for her birthday, and she couldn’t stop watching it!!
Nice Blog Makeover!!!!!!
Thanks but I didn’t really do much except change the logo and header lol
Hi Mrs. M, so I was rereading “Family Secret” and I had a question… First of all, why did Andi have such a problem with Kate? Next, in the book, the scene when Melinda is holding Hannah, when Andi first walks in, why didn’t anyone question where the children’s father was? And another thing about Melinda, how old would she have been when Kate left, cause she seemed to be very accepting, whereas Andi was too young to remember Kate running away and therefore didn’t even know that she existed and got mad, cause her family “lied to her”? Another thing. Why was Chad not mad at Kate. Like, it’s as if he softened when she returned. Why? Thanks so much. I am now realizing why I loved your books so much when I was first introduced to them!
Well, to be honest, the overwhelming reason I had Andi “have problems” with Kate is so the book had conflict and a story problem. The overall problem was “Andi must learn to accept and love her mysterious sister, whom she never knew she had.” No conflict. No story. So I took a 12 year old girl and thought how would I feel if somebody kept such a secret from ME? And in the 19th century, children who shamed their families were often (sadly) not allowed to return and were for the most part forgotten. So it’s based on true history.
Let’s see . . . Melinda in the kitchen with Hannah. Andi shows up. Truly, the last thing on either of their minds would be asking about the children’s father. And besides, Melinda already knew the whole story anyway, having been there from the moment kate showed up (plus she was 7 years old when Kate left and remembered Troy). So, that’s not a mystery at all (why nobody asked about a father). I wouldn’t have, not at age 12.
She was 7 and remembers kate as the ‘big sister.’ And nobody deceived Melinda. She knew it all. Andi is unaccepting because she’s hurt not because Kate came back.
Chad WAS mad at Kate. That is brought out subtly in the book, but he’s holding it in, and he’s not “softening,” at least it’s not brought out that he is. And the book is not about Chad. It’s about Andi.
Hope that helps!
Sorry for the long comment T-T lol
Yah! that answered my questions! thanks! LOL
Roughly how far did Andi fall in The Last Ride, 10 feet, 20?
Just wondering!
She rolled and slid at least 20 feet… Maybe 30
Wow, that’s far!
Oh, I guessed noodles too!😅 Good job, Sarah, on winning! Enjoy your prize!
BTW-Mrs. M, your updated logo looks AMAZING!😍
Roughly how far did Andi fall in The Last Ride, 10 feet, 20?
Just wondering!
I always imagine like a hundred feet.
Oh dear I think she would be dead 100 ft is an actual cliff maybe it was 50 ft I can’t remember I remember one day kind of measuring it when I was with my granddaughter and we were looking at hills that could work but that’s been like years ago so I really don’t remember. 20 ft does seem very small doesn’t it lol
LOL! Sometimes my imagination I runs away with me.
Hey Mrs. M! I am here wondering when you might do another ASK MRS. M post? Thanks.
I answered ask Mrs. M questions in the last newsletter a week or so ago. 🫣
Well I’ve kind of been doing those in my newsletters. Have you subscribed to my email that goes out twice a month?
When are you going to post agin, and when will you share more Jenny covers/pics?
I’ll post the next time I send out my email newsletter. It’s busy with our grandson’s wedding, the garden, and trying to update my website. Just no time to blog and honestly, no fresh ideas to blog about.
I have some more Jenny covers but waiting until it gets closer to sharing with my publisher and I’ll want your opinions!
Congratulations to your Grandson! 💖💝😘🥰💍✝️