WINNER! THE WINNER FROM THIS BLOG IS TAMMY!
Posted by Jillian Burns in Jillian Burns, tags: Awards, bluebonnets, celebrate, flowers, prize, Scavenger hunt HINT, spring, state flower
CONGRATS TAMMY!
Please email me here and let me know which book you want along with your snail mail address and get it mailed to you!
I’m showing my age, but that song, Celebration by Kool & The Gang always pops into my head when I’m in the mood to celebrate.
My first blog here was April 27th 2009. Wow. I can’t believe it’s been a year already. I think that deserves a celebration. Plus, I had some good news over the weekend. 
My first Harlequin Blaze, LET IT RIDE, released last May, is a finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards Short Contemporary category! 
The winners will be announced at the RWA National conference at a ceremony in Nashville in July. I don’t expect to win; I’m up against some pretty stiff competition. Awesome books like Rhonda Nelson’s LETTERS FROM HOME. Loved that sexy Army Ranger, Levi. Rhonda’s Blazes, (HINT) always feature sexy, hunky guys. 
And Cara Summers is a double finalist with her Twin series, 
TWIN TEMPTATION and TWIN SEDUCTION. Don’t you just love it when twins switch places?
I’m totally honored just to be a finalist in the same category with these outstanding authors.
Also, it’s hard not to want to go running through a meadow of flowers this time of year. 
Around here (North Texas) the Bluebonnets are everywhere! All along the highways, for miles and miles, the stunning indigo blooms cover the grass and coat the air with their sweet scent. Last week we drove out to a gorgeous spot and I got a few pictures. 
The Bluebonnet is, of course, our state flower and therefore it’s illegal to pick one. And when we make our way into a field of them for pics, we must be careful not to tread on them, which makes for some awkwardly cautious tip-toeing around. But it’s worth it. I wish I could bottle up their fragrance and ship it to you, but maybe I can send one commenter today the next best thing: a packet of Bluebonnet seeds. Plus, I’ll send along a copy of my first Blaze, LET IT RIDE, or if you already have that, a promise to send the sequel when it comes out in October, SEDUCE AND RESCUE! I can’t wait to see the cover art on that! You can bet when I get it, I’ll post it here.
Happy Spring, everyone! Go out and celebrate!
So, what is YOUR state flower?
Entries (RSS)
Good Morning Jillian! First I want to say congrats on Let It Ride being nominated, that is awesome! I loved it when I read it! I love the picture of your girls in the bluebonnets, its so cute, totally a pic to frame. Here in Indiana our state flower is the Peony. It doesnt bloom until the end of May, begining of June. But when it does its beautiful. It is cultivated widely throughout the state and is extremely popular for decorating gravesites for Memorial Day also.
Well I cant wait to read Seduce And Rescue when it comes out in October. Have a wonderful day! (*)
Hi Alina,
Thank you for the congrats! Although I Think I know what it looks like, I’m going to Google Image the Peony.
I’ve put your name in the drawing to win the bluebonnet seeds and whichever book you want.
Thank you for coming by today!
Hugs
Congratulations on LET IT RIDE being nominated for a Reader’s Choice Award. Since I live in Texas also the Bluebonnet is also my state flower. They are so gorgeous this time of the year.
Hi Ellen!
Ahh, a fellow Texan! Thank you!
I’ve put your name in the drawing for the seeds and the book. And also, if you’re playing the Scavenger Hunt game, I have a HINT in my blog.
Have a great week,
Hugs,
Hey Jillian,
Great pics. I too have been out taking pictures of the kids in the bluebonnets. Wonderful time of the year to celebrate. Congrats on Let It Ride. In case anyone hasn’t read it, awesome book.
Hi Pammy!
Dear friend and critique partner. I wouldn’t even be published without you and Linda, much less finaling in a contest.
Folks, if you like Marriage of convenience on a sultry, sandy beach in the Florida Keys, check out Pamela Stone’s Last Resort: Marriage, Harlequin American
Congrats on the Reader’s Choice! Just wonderful! I am from Canada, So the flower of my province of Ontario is the Trilium.
Beautiful shots of the bluebonnets! And I would love to read ‘Let it Ride” Cheers~ (H)
Oooh, Canada! I hope I get to travel there someday. I’m sure it’s just gorgeous. I’ve never heard of the Trilium. I’m going to go look that one up also.
Thank you, Karyn, for posting today and I’ll definitely put your name in the hat to win the book and seeds. Hmm, I assume I can mail seeds out of the country. Maybe I better check.
PS Don’t forget the Scavenger Hunt hint…
I am in North Carolina now and our State Flower is the Dogwood, I grew up in California and I knew their State Flower is the Golden Poppy. I do own Let it Ride and congrats on your nomimation. I would love to win your sequel.
Hi Tammy,
Oh, my mother is in love with the Dogwood flower. I remember her telling us when we were little the story of that flower how it represents the Cross of Jesus because of the red spots on the 4 corners.
The Dogwood blooms mostly in East Texas. As a family, growing up , we camped a lot in Tyler, TX, at the Texas State parks there and they grow all over that state park in the spring. The Dogwood has a lot of memories of my mom attached to it. Thank you for reminding me of that beautiful flower.
I’ll look up the Golden Poppy too.
I just love hearing about all these different flowers!
Thank you for coming by and commenting today! Of course I put your name in the hat for the drawing.
Hugs
Bluebonnets… I too am from the great state of Texas. Born and raised.
(D) Congrats on the nomination. You are in very good company. I loved Rhonda Nelsons “Letters from Home”. It was a really good book. All my best wishes for you in the competition. (D)
Hi Patsy! Good to see you here!
There’s just nothing like being a native Texan. I think we’re a dying breed.
I loved Letters from Home too, the The Soldier, the sequel.
Your name goes in the hat,
hugs and thanks for the best wishes!
(Y) I loved all the books in that series. They were all so yummy! LOL (C)
congratulations on your nomination! I love all of those books (including yours, so how are they going to choose??). No need to enter me in the contest, since I already have it. Lots of hugs to you
Hi Katie!
Thank you! I could send you the sequel when it comes out in October…
And I think I remember you’re from… Ohio? I’m going to look up that state flower. Let me know if you change your mind about being entered to to win, ok?
Thank you for coming by today
Lots of hugs back to you!
Hey, Jillian!! Congrats on the nomination!! You deserve it.
The KY state flower is goldenrod. Come on!! It’s Derby Week. How about some red roses?
Hi Runner10!
I’ll send some positive energy your way for the Derby and picture Red Roses all over the place for you.
I watched undercover boss a few weeks ago when the CEO of that racetrack went to work as a trainer and a jockey gopher, etc.. It was a fascinating look into the behind the scenes work of a horse race. We have a track not far from my house called-what else- Lone Star Race Track. But I’ve never been. I’d like to check it out sometime. Do you bet on the horses?
And I’ll check out the Goldenrod, too.
Thanks for coming by today!
You’re entered to win the book and seeds!
Congrats on being a finalist!!!
My state flower is Saguaro cactus blossom… Love your pics!
Ooh, the Saguaro Cactus Blossom? Must be Arizona? Or maybe New Mexico?
Thank you for the congrats, Colleen!
and for coming by today.
Are you playing the Scavenger hunt game? I have one of the hints…
Hugs
Whoo-hoo! Congrats to you, Jillian! Good luck! I love, love, love bluebonnets. Not only are they pretty, but they always make me think of cowboys with blue, blue eyes…sigh!
I am from VA, and our state flower is the Dogwood. It’s actually a tree which can grow up to 40 feet tall. VA is the only state to have the same plant for its state flower and state tree. The blooms are beautiful, four petaled flowers in pink or white. In the fall, the foliage is bright and colorful, and the berries are a wonderful deep red.
Cowboys with blue eyes, and blue denim on their cute butts… (L) Now you got me all distracted.
The dogwood tree and bloom is gorgeous! I dont see it around here as much as we see it a lot in East Texas, around Tyler/Longview when we go camping. The Dogwood tree is all over out there. East Texas is full of piney woods and the only natural lake in Texas: Caddo Lake. But I didn’t know about the Dogwood’s deep red berries.
Thank you, Virginia, FROM Virginia! Your name goes in the hat…
Hugs
Congrats!!
Here in Alaska, the state flower is the Forget-Me-Not. I have not yet seen one, LOL!! They should have chosen Fireweed. It is everywhere during the summer!
Hello Jillian,
Congrates on you nomination. I really enjoyed reading your book and am looking forward to the next one. He in my home state of Illinois the state flower is the Native Violet. Good luck and thanks for the great story that just takes me away:)
Hi Cim,
Thank you! And I’m so glad you liked Let it Ride. I think my all time favorite flower is the violet. Of course that’s my birth flower (February) and I have memories of my grandmother growing them in her basement. I didn’t know it was the state flower of Illinois. I sure am enjoying hearing from wonderful people like you and learning about all the different State (and Provincial) flowers.
Hugs
Hi Cathy!
OOh, Alaska is another place I long to visit. My mom took a cruise going up there a few years ago and said the beauty is indescribable. Unfortunately I’m trying to describe it in the Blaze I’m working on right now. It starts out in Anchorage but takes place mostly in Barrow. It’s about a bush pilot and a TV travel show hostess. Forget-Me-Nots, huh? I’ll have to use that. But if you’ve never even seen any… Fireweed? I’ll have to look that up.
Thank you for commenting today! I’ll add your name to the drawing!
Hugs,
Congratulations on the NRC Award nomination, Jillian! Blaze has a fine showing this year. Not only do we have you, Rhonda and Cara, but Julie Leto’s also nominated in the Novella category for her Blazing Bedtime Story, Into the Woods! I’ll definitely be there cheering you all on. Thanks for making Blaze look so good!
As for flowers, I’ll have to go with Karyn above. The trillium is pretty cool. It’s not only our provincial flower, but it’s against the law to pick one (although I must admit, I’ve transplanted a few…
) It’s said that if you pick one, it takes 20 years to grow again. It’s one of the first flowers you find in the spring, and there are loads of them near our cottage. I guess, for an Ontarian, is a strong symbol of home.
Brenda
Oh I didn’t know about Julie’s novella finalling. Totally LOVED INTO THE WOODS. And I Googled the Trillium, and it’s a beautiful and unique little flower. Unusual with those three distinctive petals. Mostly white, but it showed a purple one also.
I know what you mean, when I think Texas, I think cowboys and the Lone Star, and I think Bluebonnets.
I’ll miss seeing you all in Nashville, but hope to be in New York in 2011.
Blaze on!
Congrats on being a finalist in the National Readers Choice Awards Short Contemporary category, Jillian. The state flower here in NY is the rose.
Hi Jane,
Thank you! I didn’t know that about the rose! (W) I guess it’s any color? I wonder if that’s because roses grew wild and plentiful there or because of commerce making it so popular?
Thanks for commenting today, I put your name in the hat for the drawing
Hugs
Congrats to you Jullian! That is quite an honor.
The bluebonnets are just gorgeous! I have never had the pleasure of seeing or smelling one.
Here in Georgia we actually have two state flowers. The official state flower is the Cherokee Rose. And the official state wildflower is the Azalea. Right now the azaleas are all in bloom and they look beautiful.
Hi Buffie!
I had the pleasure of staying in Atlanta in July 06 for the national Romance Writers conference and fell in love with the city and the people. I love Azaleas too. We have them here but they’re more prevalent further south in Houston and Galveston. They like a hot, moist climate, I guess. And Atlanta was that. I got to tour your amazing aquarium there and see the Braves play.
Now I’m off to Google the Cherokee Rose , and put your name in the hat,
Hugs, (B)
Hey Jillian, congrats on finaling in NRCA. I saw the list, and there a lot of great books listed.
Love the pics of the blue bonnets. You don’t have to enter me in the contest. I just wanted to drop by and say hello.
Um, I don’t know what my state flower is. I should probably google it or somthing…LOL!!
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Hi Paula,
Good to see you here today. (*) When you Google your state flower, let me know, ok?
Hugs,
J
Congrats on your nomination! How exciting for you! And the bluebonnets are beautiful, very romantic and colorful. Much better than our state (Nebraska) flower, which is the goldenrod (which is a weed I believe).
Hi Jody!
Goldenrod may be a weed, but it is a gorgeous color and must a tough old broad to survive a Nebraska winter and keep coming back. So, maybe the flower symbolizes the strength and resilience of the people of Nebraska? I’ve never been to Nebraska, but for some reason I imagine fields of golden wheat as far as the eye can see waving in the wind. Am I way off?
Got your name in the hat,
Hugs,
Hi Jillian.
I read Let It Ride sometime last year and i really liked it. Hmm, I might have to reread it soon. Congratulations on being a finalist! I’ve read Cara’s Twin books, liked them quite a bit. I haven’t read Letters From Home, but i want to. I love the cover model on LFM and LIR, great abs! Who are the Hero and Heroine of Seduce and Rescue? I looked it up and interestingly enough, the state i was born and raised in, and in the state in which i currently live have the same state flower. The Apple Blossom. I was born in Michigan and now live in Arkansas. But Michigan does have a state wildflower, which Arkansas doesn’t and that is the Dwarf Lake Iris. Those pictures are so pretty, I’ve never been to Texas, but my aunt and uncle live there, my aunt says the Bluebonnets are really pretty. I’d love to win a copy of Seduce and Rescue!
Hi Lauren,
So glad you liked Let It Ride. The hero in Seduce and Rescue is Lt Col. Ethan Grady, Cole’s Air Force buddy and one of the elite team of Air Combat instructors at Nellis AFB. Remember how he lost that bet and is supposed to get a massage from a crazy herbal therapist? Well, the heroine is that herb shop lady, Lily. The story is kind of a Sweet November (Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron) but with a happy ending. I really hope you’ll like it.
And look for the the third and last book in my Vegas series, NIGHT MANEUVERS, FEATURING MITCH McCABE AND ALEX HUGHES coming sometime in 2011.
How cool that you have the same state flower in both states where you lived. That must mean the Apple Blossom is good luck for you! I’m going to go Google the Apple Blossom now.
I’ll put your name in the hat to win S&R!!
Hugs,
Congrats on the VERY well deserved nods! And I know we’ll be celebrating again when the awards are handed out.
Bluebonnet here as well…although I really wonder what the pretty little pink-edged cup-like flowers are by the sides of the roads. The better half claims they’re buttercups, but not like the ones I know.
Hi Elizabeth!
I think your other half ( I won’t say better, maybe equal?) is right, at least as far as I know and as far as what we’ve always called them. Buttercups. But then I Googled buttercups and they’re yellow. And I always called the gorgeous orange flowers Indian Paint, but those are different when I Googled too. Hmm..
Well, it’s been so fun getting to know all the other state flowers and googling them to see pics.
Thanks for coming by today!
Hugs!
Did you google Indian Paintbrush or just Indian Paint??? There are different colors of the flowers from orange to cream, yellow, scarlet, and even purple.
And the pink ones may be Showy Primrose.
I live in Florida for most of the year. Our state flower is the delicious smelling orange blossom. In the summer we go back to Wisconsin, there the wood violet is the state flower just like Illinois.
Congrats on your nomination for Let It Ride!!
I’d love to win it!!
Hi Laurie,
Ooh, I’d love to smell an orange blossom. And of course, you know my stand on violets if you read the earlier comment. MY all time, number one fave. My birth flower.
Thank you for coming by today,
Got your name in the drawing,
Hugs
Jillian, Let It Ride was fabulous! Can’t wait for October…
As for state flower, I believe it’s the golden poppy…
And it’s been raining a ton this month, so May ought be chockful of flowers…