PROMISES MY LOVE by DL Larson --Guest Blog and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. DL will be awarding a copy of one of her previously published books, hardback (US only) or e-book format, to two randomly drawn commenters during the tour. To see the other stops on the tour, click the tour banner.

DL, brave woman that she is, has stopped by to share some secrets with us :-).

For the blog today, I've been asked to share five things folks don't know about me. That means I've been asked to rat on myself. I don't usually gossip, er speak ill of others, but for the sake of you getting to know me, here I go…

1. My husband refuses to golf with me.

I learned to golf when I was fifteen and spending the summer in Minnesota at my uncle's resort. My sister and I shared a cabin, thought we were grown-ups! We helped around the resort each morning and then played golf in the afternoons. I got pretty good.

Then back to reality. I lived in a town that did not have a golf course and I never picked up another club until I was married. I knew what it took to golf, had the techniques buried inside my head somewhere, but could not get my swing back. I hacked and stabbed and swung the club with all the intentions of killing the stupid little ball. When I started swearing like a demented demon, my husband walked away. "Hey, what's the matter? We're golfing here." Did I mention my husband is a bit of a Boy Scout? He didn't call what I was doing to the club and ball, golfing. I promised to do better. I took golf lessons. I quit after Lesson Six. The relief on the instructor's face told me it was a wise decision. My game has not improved. Golf is not my sport. As for golfing with my husband … I ride shotgun, hand out advice and beer as needed. I never touch a club and everyone is happy.

2. My family is that group in a restaurant that doesn't understand the word "quiet."

I raised a loud and rowdy family. I didn't mean to. It just happened. We live in the country, on the family farm and yelling comes naturally to us. I also don't know how it continued on during meal times, but it did.

Now all my kids are married and have rowdy children of their own. I believe there's a family pattern here, but I won't bore you with the obvious. It doesn't matter if there are a few of us or all of us, we tend to laugh loud, talk over each other and disrupt the quiet around us. We don't mean to be disrespectful, we shush each other to the great annoyance of one another, but we are a noisy group. All I can say is … join us! We're harmless and we know how to have a good time!

3. I'm called, "Miss Manners."

I know, after reading #2, you wonder what I could possibly mean. Loud and politeness can co-exist. I'm a stickler for table manners ~ use your napkin, your fork is not a shovel, elbows do not belong on my table, don't talk with your mouth full, ask and you shall receive ~ no need to reach across the table. Wait your turn, say, "please," and "thank you."

Even at the library where I work, I wait for children to discover their manners when asking me something. I teach chess and I don't allow any sass talk during a game. Opponents shake hands at the beginning and ending of each match. Many have asked why they have to do that. My answer is and will always be, "because it is the polite thing to do." By week four of my chess practice sessions, I rarely have to remind anyone to shake hands! It's my way of bringing a bit of civility to the world. Good manners show strong character! Not to mention an awareness of others.

4. I can't believe I'm sharing this … I have Time Management Problems!

Okay, yes, I should have had this particular blog done last week. But I was busy doing another blog that really needed finishing and then my dad stopped by, my husband needed help and I couldn't find my favorite shirt and had to shuffle through the laundry basket which means I have four loads of laundry to fold and put away. Our company is arriving in two days and I have yet to mop the kitchen floor or make the cookies I promised them. And I need to get groceries, finish the Italian Beef that just came out of the oven.

Oh, and I just spent the last twenty minutes on the phone with my sister. She called me, so it's all her fault! There! I'm feeling better already.

In the past I tried to keep a good handle on my time. I nearly succeeded, except for that time when I received a jury notice. I dutifully wrote down the appointment on my calendar - June 5, and when June 4th arrived, I dug out the paper to discover I was to appear on May 6th. I'd transposed the numbers. I was crying before I got beyond the automated voices and talked to a real person, apologizing profusely for the mistake. I didn't get arrested, I got re-appointed another date which I very carefully wrote down on my calendar.

Then there was that time when I worked at NIU and traveled every few weeks. I was always afraid I'd end up in the wrong town on the right day. We had a new employee and she was nervous to go downtown Chicago by herself the night before the conference, so I told her I'd be happy to pick her up in the wee hours of the morning if she wanted to ride with me. We needed to be at the hotel and set up by 7:00 a.m. I told her I'd be by before 5:00 a.m. I arrived just as I had promised and all the lights in her apartment were out. I debated on what to do. I finally knocked on the door. I knocked again. Then again. A light came on and I saw through the window as she fumbled her way to the door. "Deb, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"I thought you wanted a ride downtown?" I tried not to panic about time wasting away and fighting the rush hour traffic.

"Yes, but that's tomorrow, not today!"

"Oh." Man, I got time management issues!

5. When I'm tired … I talk backwards!

It's true. You might as well know this too. My family loves to kid me about it. Oh, alright, they laugh at me if you must know! I sound like Yoda from Star Wars. Instead of saying, "I'm going to the grocers now," it comes out, "to the grocers now, I'm going."

And with that, I've shared enough about me! No need to mention any of this to anyone. It will be our little secret, okay?

Okay??

About the Author:

DL Larson always thought she’d be a city girl, but instead, she has spent the last 40 years surrounded by corn fields. She lives in northern Illinois and enjoys the outdoors, especially gardening, boating and bike riding with her family.

Reading is a big part of DL’s life, both professionally as a writer and as a Children’s Librarian. She likes being in the know, seeing firsthand what folks like to read. Going back to school as an adult rejuvenated her desire to become a novelist. The writing awards she received lifted her up and reinforced her drive to tell the best story she could. Her second novel, Promises To Keep, was a 2008 Reader’s Choice Recipient.

DL is a WindyCity member of RWA. She blogs each Thursday at http://acmeauthorslink.blogspot.com/. Visit DL Larson at www.DLLarson.co or Facebook.

The Story from Promises To Keep continues with … Promises My Love
a novel
by DL Larson

Francis Frailey fears he might become as abusive as his uncle once was, so he admires his young family from a distance. His plan is lonely, but safe, until his wife Christine sneaks past his staunch decorum. With tender devotion she coaxes him beyond his wretched childhood memories to a place where trust and love grows.

The fragile bond shatters when Francis’ family intervenes and he must decide if hate will rule his heart. Christine promises forgiveness will make him whole, but Francis aches for revenge. He’s determined to kill his uncle and be done.

Christine’s brother, Joe Douglas, has plans of his own that include asking his wife Annie to face her troubled past. But to help Christine, Joe agrees to go after Francis and bring him home. Taking his young son and nephew with him unhinges them all. Joe doesn’t know if the love Francis has for his son is stronger than the hate he harbors for his uncle. Or perhaps Francis despises himself most of all. Joe fears the wrong person may end up dead.

Buy the book at Amazon.