I’m a Proud Sponsor

It’s that time of year again! If you’re a visitor to my Facebook page over the past two months, you’ve probably seen my posts about the Fisher House Mother’s Day tote bags I organize each spring. Fisher House provides military families with a place to stay while a loved one is receiving medical treatment plus offer many other wonderful programs.

These Mother Day goodie bags started as a solo endeavor five years ago when I answered a request from care package group I belonged to. The second year authors and friends helped me by sponsoring thermal totes and donating books/swag. In 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and this year, authors and a publisher did all the sponsoring and donating. I’m so touched by their generosity and call them #authorswithheart.

Earlier this month, prior to Mother’s Day, forty-six Thirty-One Gifts thermal tote bags were filled and hand-delivered to the three Fisher Houses located in Western Washington (my hubby drove north to make two of the deliveries for me and accompanied me to the third.) Each tote bag included romance novels, a goodie bag filled with author swag (a variety of items from bookmarks, pens, measuring spoon, luggage tag, lip gloss, recipe cards, and so much more!), a goodie bag filled with pampering items (mini shower gel or hand lotion set, shower puffy, tissue, head band, footie socks, mini note pad), a goodie bag of candy, and a small stuffed animal! Many contained an extra something that authors donated such as toiletries, planners, puzzle books, mini-journals, etc. Here are a few pics from this year’s project!

2019 Authors with Heart

Special thanks to the authors who participated by sponsoring totes and/or donating books and/or donating swag. Some did all three. We also had some sponsor additional tote bags. They are noted below.

Audrey Wick	Linda Goodnight
Barbara Ankrum	Mary Jo Putney
C.J. Carmichael	Megan Ryder
Charlene Sands	Melanie D. Snitker
Christine Rimmer	Melissa McClone
Dani Collins	Melissa Storm
Deborah Blake	Michelle Beattie
Denise Stout	Nan Reinhardt
Elizabeth Boyle	Nancy Holland
Erika Marks	Nancy Robards Thompson
Eve Gaddy	Patty Blount
Jamie K. Schmidt	In Memory of Paula Graves
Jane Porter (5 bags)	PJ Fiala
Jean C. Gordon	Roxanne Snopek
Jeannie Moon	Scarlet Wilson
Jennifer Faye	Sierra Donovan
Jennifer Shirk	Stacey Joy Netzel
Joanne Rock	Terri Brisbin
Lara Van Hulzen	Terri Reed
Lenora Worth	Tracy Solheim
	Tule Publishing (5 bags)

I’ll be featuring books from these Authors With Heart’s books here on the blog between now and April 2020. There will also be a gift card up for grabs on each post, so I hope you’ll check out each one.

2019 Friends of the Authors with Heart

This year, three individuals messaged my Facebook page to ask if they could donate. Author Stacy Connelly sent a large box of books. Christina Applegate with courtingfiction.com sent pens and mechanical pencils. Kimberly Field with Blossoms, Butterflies, and Bling sent Breast Exam cards. A big thank you for their help.

Tote Bag Reader Giveaway!

Now it’s your turn to win a tote bag ! This year we are giving away four Thirty-One Gifts Thermal Totes and four Terri Brisbin thermal totes. To save on shipping costs, we aren’t stuffing them like we do the ones delivered to the Fisher Houses, so each of the four winners will receive a USPS Medium-sized Flat Rate Priority Box with a tote, books, and goodies inside. Tote #1: Thirty-One Gifts Thermal Tote sponsored by Jane Porter includes:

• Sheiks Princess of Convenience by Dani Collins
• Exquisite Acquisition by Charlene Sands
• Claiming His Highland Bride by Terri Brisbin
• Island Doctor to Royal Bride by Scarlet Wilson
• Going All the Way by Megan Ryder
• Love’s Prayer Audiobook from Melissa Storm
• The Mercenary donated by Tule Publishing
• Convenient Proposal to the Lady donated by Terri Brisbin

Also includes Nail files from Joanne Rock and Tule Publishing • Luggage tag from Terri Brisbin • Datebook from Eve Gaddy • Candle from Melanie D. Snitker • Magnet from Charlene Sands • Sticky Notes from Dani Collins • Pens from Stacey Joy Netzel and Terri Brisbin • Stationery set, socks, journal, lipgloss from Melissa McClone • Stuffed Animal• Hair band • Pedicure Kit • Tissue • Shower Puffy • Candy • Bookmarks from Mary Jo Putney, Tule Publishing, Eve Gaddy, Terri Brisbin, Melissa McClone, Nan Reinhardt, Dani Collins and Deborah Blake. Tote #2: Thirty-One Thermal Tote sponsored by Tule Publishing includes:

• Then Came You by Jeannie Moon
• The Secret Heir of Sunset Ranch By Charlene Sands
• Guardian by Terri Reed
• Home on the Ranch: Her Montana Rancher by C.J. Carmichael
• Texas Conquest donated by Tule Publishing
• The Mercenary donated by Tule Publishing
• Love’s Prayer Audiobook from Melissa Storm
• A Healer for the Highlander by Terri Brisbin

Also includes Luggage tag from Terri Brisbin • Datebook from Eve Gaddy • Candle from Melanie D. Snitker • Nail files from Joanne Rock and Tule Publishing • Magnet from Charlene Sands • Sticky Notes from Jennifer Shirk • Pens from Dani Collins and Terri Brisbin • Stationery set, socks, journal, lipgloss from Melissa McClone • Stuffed Animal • Hair band • Pedicure Kit • Tissue • Shower Puffy • Candy (not shown) • Bookmarks from Dani Colins, Mary Jo Putney, Tule Publishing, Eve Gaddy, Terri Brisbin, Melissa McClone, Nan Reinhardt, Dani Collins and Deborah Blake. Tote #3: Thirty-One Gifts Thermal Tote sponsored by Melissa McClone includes:

• The Viscount Who Lived Down the Lane by Elizabeth Boyle
• Secrets at Court donated by Terri Brisbin
• The Family They Choose by Nancy Robards Thompson
• Double Cross/Double Threat Christmas by Terri Reed
• A Healer for the Highlander by Terri Brisbin
• Finding Courage by Melanie D. Snitker
• The Mercenary donated by Tule Books
• Love’s Prayer Audiobook by Melissa Storm

Also includes Football-shaped Jar Opener from Tracy Solheim • Luggage tag and pen from Terri Brisbin • Datebook from Eve Gaddy • Candle from Melanie D. Snitker • Nail files from Joanne Rock and Tule Publishing • Magnet from Charlene Sands • Sticky Notes from Stacey Joy Netzel • Stationery set, socks, journal, lipgloss from Melissa McClone • Stuffed Animal • Hair band • Lotion Set • Pedicure Kit • Tissue • Shower Puffy • Candy (not shown) • Mini Notepad • Bookmarks from Jennifer Shirk, Mary Jo Putney, Tule Publishing, Eve Gaddy, Terri Brisbin, Nan Reinhardt, and Melissa McClone. Tote #4: Thirty-One Gifts sponsored In Memory of Paula Graves includes:

• Love’s Prayer Audiobook by Melissa Storm
• Petals in the Storm by Mary Jo Putney
• The Family They Choose by Nancy Robards Thompson
• Sugarplum Homecoming & The Lawman’s Honor by Linda Goodnight
• Blackberry Cove by Roxanne Snopek
• Georgie on His Mind by Jennifer Shirk
• The Mercenary donated by Tule Publishing
• An Uncommon Duke donated by Terri Brisbin

Also includes Lip Gloss from Jeannie Moon • Notepad from Lara Van Hulzen • Measuring Spoon from Tracy Solheim • Luggage tag from Terri Brisbin • Candle from Melanie D. Snitker • Nail files from Joanne Rock and Tule Publishing • Magnet from Charlene Sands • Sticky Notes from Stacey Joy Netzel • Pen from Terri Brisbin • Stationery set and Socks from Melissa McClone • Stuffed Animal • Hair band • Lotion Set • Pedicure Kit • Tissue • Shower Puffy • Candy (not shown) • Bookmarks from Lara Van Hulzen, Dani Collins, Mary Jo Putney, Eve Gaddy, Terri Brisbin, Nan Reinhardt, and Melissa McClone. Tote #5: Terri Brisbin Thermal sponsored by Terri Brisbin includes:

• Risky Game by Tracy Solheim
• Guardian by Terri Reed
• Mail-Order Brides of Oak Grove donated by Terri Brisbin
• Not Just the Girl Next Door by Stacy Connelly
• Her Forbidden Cowboy by Charlene Sands
• Scottish Romance donated by Terri Brisbin
• The Mercenary donated by Tule Publishing

Also includes Magnet from Charlene Sands • Luggage tag from Terri Brisbin • Nail files from Joanne Rock and Tule Publishing • Sticky Notes from Tracy Solheim • Pen from Terri Brisbin • Stationery set and Socks from Melissa McClone • Stuffed Animal • Hair band • Pedicure Kit • Mini Notepad • Tissue • Shower Puffy • Candy • Bookmarks from Eve Gaddy, Mary Jo Putney, Terri Brisbin, Nan Reinhardt, Roxanne Snopek, and Melissa McClone. Tote #6: Terri Brisbin Thermal sponsored by Terri Brisbin includes:

• Truth and Lies Series: Books 1 and 2 by Jamie K. Schmidt
• Courting Danger with Mr. Dwyer donated by Terri Brisbin
• Daddy Says, “I Do” by Stacy Connelly
• Heart of a Texan by Charlene Sands
• The Viscount Who Lives Down the Lane by Elizabeth Boyle
• The Mercenary donated by Tule Publishing

Also includes Nail file from Tule Publishing • Sticky Notes from Stacey Joy Netzel • Magnet from Charlene Sands • Pen from Terri Brisbin • Stationery set, Lip Gloss, and Socks from Melissa McClone • Stuffed Animal • Hair band • Pedicure Kit • Mini Notepad • Tissue • Shower Puffy • Candy • Bookmarks from Nan Reinhardt, Eve Gaddy, Mary Jo Putney, Terri Brisbin, and Melissa McClone. Tote #7: Terri Brisbin Thermal sponsored by Terri Brisbin includes:

• A Marriage Made in Texas by Eve Gaddy
• The Storyteller by Terri Brisbin
• Shadowed Trust by Stacey Joy Netzel
• The Family They Choose by Nancy Robards Thompson
• The Texan’s Wedding Escape by Charlene Sands
• Joint Investigation by Terri Reed
• The Mercenary donated by Tule Publishing

Also includes Sticky Notes from Stacey Joy Netzel • Magnet from Charlene Sands • Nail file from Tule Publishing • Pen from Terri Brisbin • Stationery set, Lip Gloss, and Socks from Melissa McClone • Stuffed Animal • Hair band • Pedicure Kit • Mini Notepad • Tissue • Shower Puffy • Candy • Bookmarks from Terri Brisbin, Nan Reinhardt, Eve Gaddy, Mary Jo Putney, Roxanne Snopek, and Melissa McClone. Tote #8: Terri Brisbin Thermal sponsored by Terri Brisbin includes:

• Halgar’s Witch by Nancy Holland
• The Rancher’s Bargain by Joanne Rock
• The Family They Choose by Nancy Robards Thompson
• The Texan’s One-Night Standoff by Charlene Sands
• The Cinderella Governess donated by Terri Brisbin
• The Mercenary donated by Tule Books

Also includes Candy Pouch and Book Cover from Jamie K. Schmidt • Magnet from Charlene Sands • Sticky Notes from Stacey Joy Netzel • Nail file from Joanne Rock and Tule Publishing • Pen from Terri Brisbin • Stationery set, Lip Gloss, Bottle Cap Key Chain, and Socks from Melissa McClone • Stuffed Animal • Hair band • Pedicure Kit • Mini Notepad • Tissue • Shower Puffy • Candy • Bookmarks from Eve Gaddy, Terri Brisbin, Nan Reinhardt, Mary Jo Putney, and Melissa McClone. To enter the 2019 Tote Bag Giveaway, you’ll be asked to follow an #authorswithheart on a social media platform of their choosing. Each follow counts as one entry. You can follow one, a few, or all. The choice is up to you, but the more follows means more chances to win! Your info will not be used for anything other than to contact the winners. Use the widget below or you can enter on the Rafflecopter site by clicking here. Mobile users, click here. This is open to US residents only due to the weight of the books. a Rafflecopter giveaway The eight winners will be announced here on this blog post as well as on my Facebook page. Good luck! Rules: No purchase necessary. Open to US residents only. Entries are open from Wednesday, May 22nd to Tuesday, May 28th at 11:59 pm PDT. Must be 18 or older to enter. Winners are chosen using rafflecopter.com and will be notified by email. Winners names will be listed on this post and my Facebook page. Winners must respond within 72 hours of email being sent or a new winner will be chosen. Odds of winning are determined by the number of entries. Packages will be sent using USPS priority mail with tracking. Not responsible for loss or damage during shipping. By entering the giveaway, you are agreeing to these terms. Void where prohibited.