April 6, 2007

Hello!

Good news! My new book release. WINNING CHANCE, a romantic comedy starring my favorite hero to date, is now available from Whiskey Creek Press in paperback as well as e-formats! Lori Hayes never takes a chance and doesn’t trust handsome men, but when she wins a TV show contest she didn’t enter, and the prize is a Dream Weekend on Magical Island with gorgeous Chance Dawson, all bets are on.

4 ½ stars, tantalizing
“The romance in Winning Chance is carefully built and touchingly real, and the characters will win readers’ hearts. Lori and Chance are delightful and I quickly felt that I knew them personally. The secondary characters, including a meddling sister, well-meaning neighbors, and pushy television personnel, add sparkle and humor. Between tropical storms and heart-shaped hot tubs, the plot will keep you guessing and the characters will keep you laughing.” Sally Laturi, Ivy Quill Reviews ~

Note that the cover art, by Nancy Donahue, is really cute too
You can read a sample chapter at… http://whiskeycreekpress.com/chapters/WinningChance_BettyJoSchuler.shtml
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On a less cheery note, in case you’re wondering why it’s been a while since I sent a newsletter, one of the tornados that hit Central Florida on Groundhog Day, February 2, hit our home at 3 in the morning, popping out our bedroom window which shattered on top of us. Glass went everywhere; two patio doors and two windows were broken, our lanai was destroyed, and boards from the houses behind us went through our roof. We were fortunate that other than little nicks from glass, the only injury suffered was to the side of my left hand, which required just a few stitches.

Our home is stucco over reinforced, poured concrete, so it withstood the hit but much damage was done, forcing us to rent another house until repairs are made. We had the roof replaced within a few days, but the rest of the work is progressing very slowly.

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More good news! The Books We Love Reader Appreciation event is now in progress.
“To thank you for being our faithful readers we'll be selecting names from the guest books every week until June 1 and sending prizes consisting of spa baskets, chocolates and lots of books to the lucky winners. This is one event we want to be sure you get the chance to enter. Jude and Maureen, Books We Love Directors.”

Be sure and visit the Reader Appreciation Page http://www.bookswelove.net/readerappreciation.html

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DREAM CONTEST TIME
Answer these questions and your name will be entered in a drawing for a download of WINNING CHANCE. You can find the answers in the sample chapter on my website.
1. Who is Lori’s next-door neighbor?
2. What do she and her friend Kait secretly call him?
3. What prize does Lori want to win in the contest?
4. What Dream prize does Chance want to win?
E-mail your answers to bschule1@comcast.net by May 6, one month from today, and if your name is drawn to be the lucky winner, you will receive a surprise package containing Dream items. The winner’s name and an accounting of the Dream package contents will appear in my next newsletter.

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The following is an interesting Easter recipe given to me by my husband’s late cousin, and I thought that some of you with children or grandchildren might appreciate receiving it.

EASTER STORY COOKIES

To be made the evening before Easter.

You will need the following ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
A pinch salt
1 cup sugar
A zipper baggie
A wooden spoon
Tape
Bible
Your children

Preheat oven to 300 F.
Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children
beat them with the wooden spoon to break into
small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was
arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 teaspoon
of vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when
Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given
vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

Add egg whites to vinegar. Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us life.
Read John 10:10-11.

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let
them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that this represents the salty tears
shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness
of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup sugar. Explain that the sweetest
part of the story is that Jesus died because
He loves us. He wants us to know and belong
to Him. Read Psalms 34:8 and John 3:16.

Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15
minutes until stiff peaks are formed. Explain
that the color white represents the purity in
God's eyes of those whose sins have been
cleansed by Jesus. Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3.

Fold in broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto
wax paper covered cookie sheet. Explain
that each mound represents the rocky tomb
where Jesus' body was laid. Read Matthew 27:57-60.

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the
door and turn the oven OFF. Give each
child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 27:65-66.

GO TO BED!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the
cookies in the oven overnight. Jesus'
followers were in despair when the tomb was
sealed. Read John 16:20 and 22.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give
everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked
surface and take a bite. The cookies are
hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers
were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matthew 28:1-9.
HE HAS RISEN!!!!

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Whatever your faith, enjoy your celebrations. Until next time, best wishes and happy springtime.
Betty Jo

NEW Release ~ WINNING CHANCE ~ Whiskey Creek Press ~ Read a chapter… http://whiskeycreekpress.com/chapters/WinningChance_BettyJoSchuler.shtml

Betty Jo Schuler ~ http://bettyjowrites.com
Children’s website http://bettyjoschuler.net/bettyjo.html
Books We Love http://www.bookswelove.net/schuler.html