Best Valentine’s Present–Ever!

Posted at Feb 9, 2015 1:01 am

  I’m next up on the Romantic Reads Hop!  Thanks for stopping by.

Grab a cup of tea, or if it’s after five, a glass of Prosecco.  I want to tell you about my favorite Valentine’s Day present.  I got to deliver the news, but my hubby and I really gifted it to each other.

My hubby and I don’t do too much celebrating for Valentine’s Day.  Most years we share cards and sometimes candy.  (How much candy we share depends on how much weight we gained during the holiday season.)

But there is one year’s memory I cherish.

We had planned to go to my favorite Chinese restaurant.  I was a little worried about eating out because I hadn’t been feeling well, nauseous in the morning and just not a lot of energy.

In secret I took a pregnancy test.  Yes you guessed it.  Pregnant.

  Pregnant.  Eeek.  Our first-born was only eleven months old at that point.  I was on birth control.  (I think I had missed one pill and been on antibiotics.  I don’t think they said anything back then about birth control not being effective.)

I told the firstborn.  Of course he wasn’t saying much at that age, so I knew he wouldn’t spill the beans.  I held the news back until our Valentine’s Day dinner date.  Then I made an IOU:

On or about September 15^th – I owe you one Daughter or Son.

I thought it was clever.

When I presented it to him at dinner—hubby didn’t get it.  Maybe it was the shock of having another child so close together.  The waiter came by—and he got it!

Eventually my hubby understood we were pregnant and was fanatically happy.   

We did have a beautiful daughter.  Here she is as Snow White for Stavna Ballet last year.

I think it was one of my best Valentine’s gifts ever.

What was the most memorable or favorite Valentine’s gift in your life?

One commenter could win a $10 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble–your choice.  If you stop over at my Facebook Page and Like me — you’ll also be entered in both Giveaways.

And don’t forget, you will be entered in the Grand Prize to be awarded around Valentine’s Day!  If you stop at all the hops–you’ll get more chances to win!

Here’s the full Schedule.

Don’t forget to tell me your favorite or most memorable Valentine’s Day gift!  Either given or received.

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Romantic Reads Valentine’s Hop–with Giveaways!

Posted at Feb 2, 2015 11:30 pm

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Enter to win a copy of Southern Comforts!

Posted at Jan 24, 2015 1:00 am

Check it out!!  I’m being interviewed over at Free Book Friday and you can win a copy of Southern Comforts.  Stop over if you get a chance! Free Book Friday

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I’m over at Harlequin SuperRomance Blog – talking about winter!

Posted at Jan 13, 2015 2:44 pm

Stop over and tell me how you survive the cold!  There are ice castles!

http://www.superauthors.com/2015/01/surviving-winter-minnesota-style.html

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Nan’s B&N Author Signing

Posted at Jan 11, 2015 9:58 pm

I had a blast signing at the Har Mar Barnes and Noble on Saturday with my good friend Cat Schield.  We had a line for quite a while!

Here are a few photos to give you a sense of the craziness.

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I’m over at Get Lost in a Story Today!

Posted at Jan 9, 2015 2:37 pm

Stop on by and leave a comment.  You just might win an autographed copy of SOUTHERN COMFORTS!

http://getlostinastory.blogspot.com/2015/01/nan-dixon-brings-her-southern-comforts.html

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4 1/2 Stars from Harlequin Junkie for SOUTHERN COMFORTS!!

Posted at Jan 1, 2015 8:25 pm

What a lovely way to start the new year.  Valerie at Harlequin Junkie said some lovely things about the book–blush worthy!

Here’s an excerpt of the review.

Southern Comforts is the name of the restaurant Abby wants to open but does apply to the story in more ways than that. Ms. Dixon has given her readers an actual story with a fantastic line with two people who might as well be blind to themselves for as well as they see the other. There is love to share and while there are a couple of minor twists and a couple of OMG’s thrown in for good measure it is such a feel good you will be wondering where Ms. Dixon has been and where the next novel is, perhaps more for the sisters? This is a great read for someone who likes a bit of meat to their story and love in their eyes.

You can read more at:

http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-southern-comforts-by-nan-dixon/

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Celebrating Successes

Posted at Dec 15, 2014 7:00 pm

We just had our local RWA chapter holiday party this weekend.  At my house.  

On Friday I volunteered to host the party, because the woman who was scheduled to have it had a family emergency.  I enlisted one of my sons to help decorate!  I felt I needed at least one Christmas tree up.  Everything was going according to plan.  The place was clean–at least the rooms that didn’t have their doors closed.  I was just blowing my hair dry and still had an hour before anyone would show up.  Of course, someone thought the party started at noon instead of two!  But, being used to delegating, I put her to work while I finished getting dress!

At the holiday party, MFW, my chapter, celebrates the successes from the year.  I received flowers for becoming PAN (Published Author Network).  (And another bouquet for taking on the party at the last minute!)

But my biggest thrill was picking up my First Sale plaque.  This is a group that understands all the work and time that has gone into getting SOUTHERN COMFORTS from idea to a bound copy of the book!  Years in the making!!

I will display this proudly in my office!

Nice to be able to TOUCH that first sale!!

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SOUTHERN COMFORTS is Now Available!

Posted at Dec 1, 2014 4:31 am

Rule #2—Never get involved with a guest 

Abigail Fitzgerald has always followed her mama’s rules when it comes to running their family’s B and B. But her mama never had to resist a man like Grayson Smythe. A long-term guest, Gray spends his evenings having dinner with Abby in her kitchen—and it’s not long before their attraction begins to sizzle.

Although Gray’s kisses are a delicious distraction, Abby’s priorities are the B and B and the dream of opening her own restaurant. And Gray definitely has the means to help her. But when money seems to be all he can offer, Abby suspects she might get burned.

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Five Days until the Release of SOUTHERN COMFORTS!

Posted at Nov 26, 2014 5:58 pm

Happy Thanksgiving!

Turkey in my front yard

I have so much to be thankful for this season.  So do the turkeys to the right—they won’t be on my table!

I’m thankful that SOUTHERN COMFORTS releases December 1^st.  Plus, I have a brand new website!  (Isn’t it pretty?  Thank you Bemis Promotions!)  And there’s fun family news.  More about that later.

I never quite made Teaser Tuesday this week.  There’s a learning curve that goes with this new website and blog.  So this will be Wonderful, Wacky Wednesday.

What’s wacky about today?  It started with a slippery, sliding drive to the dealership to get my oil changed and tires replaced.  I think I will be here a while.  (Note to self: The day before Thanksgiving is not the time to book car appointments.  It’s nice that the dealership provides a lounge and wireless.  Looks like I will be eating the smashed mangled power bar I found at the bottom of purse for lunch.

Mother Nature is making sure we have a white Thanksgiving here in the Midwest.  This is making me a little nervous about the daughter flying in from Kentucky—the newly engaged daughter.  (Wheeee!)  She wants a Bourbon and Lace theme to her wedding.  I guess she really has acclimated to living in Kentucky!

So this week, SOUTHERN COMFORTS got a Must Read from USA Today!  What a wonderful thing to wake up to on Monday morning.  (It’s scary putting your book out for reviews.)  What was even more thrilling was that Michelle Monkou sent a twitter note asking when the next book would come out and who it would be.  I’m working on Bess and Daniel’s story and waiting to see if my editor likes the proposal.

Abigail Adams

So what’s wacky about SOUTHERN COMFORTS?   All the daughters are named after President’s wives.  Mamie, the sisters’ mother, thought the wives were stronger than the actual presidents.  She also started the tradition of naming the B and B rooms after the president’s wives.  Her daughters have continued the plan.  And each room contains a write up on the woman.  So Abby’s full name is Abigail Adams Fitzgerald.  (Abby is definitely prettier than this!)

And when there is no Fitzgerald male heir,  the women keep their surname so there will be always be Fitzgerald living in Fitzgerald House.

I hope you and your family have a safe, wacky and wonderful Thanksgiving.

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