Welcome to the Hang ‘em High Hoedown, counting down the days until the release of Tristi Pinkston’s new novel Hang ‘em High, the third installment in The Secret Sisters Mysteries.

When Ida Mae Babbitt receives an invitation to visit her son Keith’s dude ranch in Montana, she’s excited to mend their broken relationship, but not so excited about spending time with cows.  Arlette and Tansy go along with her, ready to take a vacation that does not involve dead bodies or mysteries of any sort—one must have a break from time to time.  But it seems a no-good scoundrel has moseyed into Dodge City and is bent on causing all sorts of trouble for the ranch.  Unable to keep her curiosity in check—especially when it seems her own son is the most likely culprit—Ida Mae decides to investigate.  Can she lasso the varmint and get him to the sheriff in time?
 
You are invited to the launch party:
  
When:  Saturday, August 13th, 12 – 4 pm
Where: Pioneer Book, 858 S. State, Orem
Prizes, games, Dutch oven cobbler (first come, first served)
Tristi will be joined by authors Nichole Giles, Heather Justesen,
Cindy Hogan, and J. Lloyd Morgan
 
To count down to this book launch, Tristi is holding a contest, and you can win a ton of great prizes!
 
On my blog, you can win:

Blonde and beautiful, fledging attorney Stephanie Saunders vows to protect the innocent even though as indigent defense attorney her clients rarely are.  Does that include Josh Durrant who seems to be following her? Stephanie is dismayed when her peers begin calling her “Prom Queen” as her boyfriend, Todd Saxton, often does. Desperately trying to prove her worth, she falls prey to those who steal her innocence.  Although she plans to forgive Todd for his ultimate betrayal, she is never given the chance. Her boss, Attorney Charles Connelly, offers solace, but is Stephanie’s welfare, or his own, top priority? The only thing that keeps Stephanie sane in her insane world are the horses she loves but does not own, especially the abused mare, Riskie Business, whose example helps Stephanie make the most difficult decision of her life. Relying on wit and courage, Stephanie must save herself and another during the final showdown where she proves a loyalty of which she never knew herself capable.

To enter:

 1.       Be a follower of my blog.
 2.      Go to Tristi’s blog at http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com <http://www.tristipinkston.blogspot.com/>  and become a follower of her blog.
 3.      Leave Tristi a comment and tell her you’ve been to my blog, and tell her one reason why you’d like to win my book.
 
All entries must be received by midnight, August 12th, MST.
 
Be sure to check Tristi’s blog every day for information about the next prize – you’re in for a rootin’-tootin’ good time as we count down the days!

My thoroughbred, Major, did really well this show season.  See picture of the ribbons and plaque he received February, 2010 to February, 2011.  I’m pretty proud of  “my boy.”

Picture taken November 2010 for Shaun's Family Christmas Card

Picture taken on November, 2010 Christmas Card for Michelle's Family

I love to put out bird feed, both in the feeder and on the ground.  I get a variety of birds, from quail to doves, plus the usual sparrows.  One day I had nine pheasants stop by—eight hens and one rooster.  The rooster hopped up on the stairs and peeked into the door window. 

The deer that live in our back yard and those of our neighbors, stop by as well to have a little snack.  I wondered why I had to put out so much feed.  One day a doe peered into our door window as if to say, “we’re out of feed out here.”  It’s fun to peek out the window during the day to see who has stopped by.

I have also noticed that our deer friends visit my haystack.  Note the hay on the ground and the bale they have munched on beneath the others.  I hope I don’t have a cave-in one of these first days.  I have my doubts that the extra deer-impeding tarps I added are helping.

I now have a booth at Quilted Bear, until August, 2010.  If anyone is in the Provo area, stop by and take a look.  I have some really good deals.

One of the most exciting things in my life right now is my new tack shed.  I am still in the process of moving everything in, but I have a good start.  It is so fun to know where everything is instead of having to search through selves and barrels to find something.   Now, as Kelli says, I just need a barn and five acres.  Not very likely.

Michelle is a dental hygienist and her husband Darren is an engineer. Also shown in the picture their son, Ethan.

Heather: (bottom row) at that time a senior in high school and captain of the swim team, (appeared on the cover and throughout A Tuff-to-Beat Christmas).

McKenzie: (top right) now married and a dental hygienist (appeared on the cover and throughout A Tuff-to-Beat Christmas).

Also shown in this picture is McKenzie’s husband, Shawn, (middle right). He has been accepted to medical school in the Denver area.

Shaun: (top right) now a dentist in Spanish Fork, Utah, and a husband and father of two (appeared on the cover of Quality Concealed and on the cover and throughout Challenge of Choice).

Also shown in the picture is Shaun's wife, April, who is a nurse and his daughter, MaKenna and son, Kyson.