One of the Bailey family’s favorite traditions is making our special no-bake cookies on Christmas Eve.  They’re simple, fun, and taste delicious. Technically, they are  Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal Cookies, but we call them Christmas Eve Cookies.

I’m not sure when the tradition began, but it is our ritual to make these cookies every Christmas Eve and leave some out for Santa. Then the next day we have plenty left for after Christmas dinner treats. 

Bailey Family Christmas Eve Cookies

2 cups sugar     ½ cup milk        ½ cup peanut butter   1 tsp. vanilla

¼ cup cocoa      1 stick butter     3 cups quick cook (1minute) reg. oats

Lay newspaper out on your counter and cover with two long strips of wax paper. The newspaper absorbs the extra liquid and we have learned over the years, helps with the setting process.

Combine sugar, cocoa, milk and butter in a medium saucepan. Stir frequently as you bring mixture to good rolling boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and let stand for 1 minute.  Add peanut butter, stir.  Add oatmeal a little at a time as you continue to stir.  Add vanilla, then mix well. Drop onto prepared wax paper and let sit till set.

Bailey Family Christmas Eve Cookies – Printable Recipe

To enter the giveaway for a $160 gift card and 32 books, hop to all the sites listed below, then send a complete cookie list to Heather@HeatherMcCollum.com with the subject line “ROMANCE AUTHORS SURE CAN BAKE”. She will announce the grand prize winner by Monday (12/16/18) at noon ET.

Lara Archer
http://laraarcher.com

Katherine Ashe
https://katharineashe.com/extras/cookies-fit-for-a-prince/

Tammy L. Bailey
https://www.tammylbailey.com/

Katherine Bone
https://m.facebook.com/AuthorKatherineBone/

Liana De la Rosa
https://www.facebook.com/LianainBloom/

Elizabeth Essex
https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.essex.37/

Tina Gabrielle 
https://www.facebook.com/TinaGabrielle

Virginia Heath
https://www.facebook.com/virginiaheathauthor/

Piper Huguley
http://piperhuguley.com 

Julie Johnstone
https://www.facebook.com/authorjuliejohnstone/

Kris Kennedy
https://www.kriskennedy.net/Blogsm

Elizabeth Keysian 
https://elizabethkeysian.com/

Tara Kingston 
https://www.facebook.com/TaraKingstonAuthor/

Eliza Knight
https://eknightauthor.com/2018/12/cookie-exchange-hop/

Elizabeth Langston
http://www.elizabethlangston.net/holiday-hop/

Jeannie Lin
http://www.jeannielin.com/blog/

Diana Lloyd
www.diana-lloyd.com

Nicole Locke
https://www.facebook.com/NicoleLockeAuthor

Alanna Lucas 
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlannaLucas/

Deb Marlowe 
http://www.debmarlowe.com/historical-holiday-cookie-hop.html

Madeline Martin 
http://www.madelinemartin.com/blog/

Heather McCollum 
https://www.heathermccollum.com/kitchen/

Maddison Michaels – 
https://www.facebook.com/MaddisonMichaelsAuthor/

April Moran 
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAprilMoran

Kate Parker
https://www.facebook.com/Author.Kate.Parker/      

Emma Prince
https://www.EmmaPrinceBooks.com

Vanessa Riley
http://vanessariley.com/blog/2018/12/04/3-ingredient-peanut-butter-cookies/

Ava Stone
http://www.avastoneauthor.com/ava-s-scandalous-oatmeal-cookies

Jennifer Trethewey
https://www.facebook.com/jennifertretheweyromance/

Victoria Vane
www.victoriavane.com/blog

Harmony Williams
www.harmonywilliams.com/xmas-hop

Last week was the Romance Writers of America National Conference in the mile high city of Denver, Colorado. This is one of my favorite events of the year because I get the chance to absorb all the knowledge of my peers and see many friends from all over the country.

 

Here are my highlights from the conference:

1. A well-known author told me she was “a fan of my writing style.” I kept it together when she said it, but it almost brought me to tears just thinking that she read one of my books.
2. I met readers and signed at the annual “Readers for Life” Literacy Signing.
3. An amazing reader made a shirt for me with my logo on it.
4. I was able to plot on a secret project with some other great authors and friends.
5. I participated in my first workshop as a panelist and I felt like I sounded knowledgeable and did a decent job. I had been super nervous because it was my first panel in a workshop situation where I was actually helping to teach other authors.
6. I was able to spend time with some of my best friends and colleagues.
7. My agent and I were able to have coffee together.

Sleep was elusive during the trip because I was up late with friends every night, then chatting with my roommates, and up early again the next day for scheduled events. It caught up with me when I got home and I took two naps on my first full day back. It was funny, because I rarely nap.

Despite the lack of sleep, I’m already looking forward to next year when the conference will be in a city dear to my heart, New York City.

Here are a few pictures from some of my favorite moments of the conference.

 

 

Today’s the big day.

My first ever novella is being released in The Ladies of Stone anthology. I never imagined I would be part of a collaboration with authors that I respect and admire, Eliza Knight, Madeline Martin, and Cecelia Mecca. My eyes water when I think about how they trusted to put their names next to mine and include me in such a wonderful endeavor.

My novella is set in the time of Mary, Queen of Scots. This was a new time period for me and I loved doing the research, because I’ve always been fascinated with the young queen and all the intrigue surrounding her.

When my husband and I lived in London, we were able to visit Edinburgh and Holyrood Palace, Mary’s home and the setting in my new novella. I believe that’s where my interest in Mary and my love of Scotland began.  I hope to one day return now that I have a better understanding of the queen and Scottish history in general.

My family and I were recently lucky enough to take a trip to Paris. While visiting the Louvre, everyone had their favorite exhibit; the Mona Lisa, Hamrubi’s Code, the Winged Victory, but mine was the Louvre itself. I found myself wandering the halls and thinking, Mary lived here when she was queen of France. It made the visit extra special to me that I was able to relate it to Scottish History and the queen who brings Leslee and Duncan together in The Highland Guard and His Lady.

Tonight, to celebrate the release of The Highland Guard and His Lady in the Ladies of Stone, I think I’ll have a glass of wine and start reading the other stories, which I have not yet had a chance to do. ? What do you do when your celebrating something special?

The last two months of 2017 was a chaotic whirlwind of barely accomplishing my goals, so I’m officially making 2018 my year of lists. 🙂
Here’s why:
Read more

I have lots to be thankful for this year. First is getting to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I tried to make it extra special this year, even getting out our china since my daughter is a senior and after next year when she goes off to college, we may only see her on the holidays.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.

 

Highland Redemption is almost here and to celebrate it’s release, my husband made this trailer. I think he did a fabulous job.

 

Pre-order Highland Redemption

https://loriannbailey.com/books/highlander-series/highland-redemption/

 

In other exciting news, until the end of November, Highland Deception is on sale for $.99 at all e-retailers!

Get it now, here:

https://loriannbailey.com/books/highlander-series/highland-deception/

Like all good partnerships, marriage takes teamwork, compromise, dedication, and commitment. Add kids (and four pets) to the mix and you have a whole new set of parameters that move around like a dart board when you’ve had too much to drink.

Life is constantly changing and so do the rules, which are usually interpreted differently by each of us. Sure, we’ve always had lots of love and respect for each other, but complications abound with work, schedules, school, illnesses, and the occasional “what the hell just happened crazy from out of nowhere stuff”.

How do we communicate or find time to be a couple when life is a moving target and our four kids want or need something from the time we wake in the morning until after we’ve gone to bed at night? How do we  find time alone together amongst the stress of work, doctor’s appointments and the endless day to day tasks that keep us overwhelmingly occupied?

It’s not easy!

But thankfully I have a good friend that let us in on a little secret that she and her husband were using to stay connected. 😉

Love by the letters: My husband and I began Alphabet Dating last year.

Starting with the letter A and working our way through the alphabet, we alternate the duty of planning a date centered around our assigned letter. Thought has to go into each night out, both to meet the letter requirement and to do something our spouse will like. It also spreads out the responsibility while keeping one of us accountable for the next planned evening together.

Not only does this force us to make time for ourselves, but puts us outside of our comfort zone and trying new things together. Oh, the other catch, you don’t tell your partner what you’re doing. You can instruct your significant other on  what kind of clothes to wear, but most of the time the other is clueless about the final destination until we arrive.

And even though they don’t get to tag-a-long, the kids love it! The younger guys are always asking who has the next date and whispering ideas in our ears.

For our first date, I took my husband to the Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse to see the classic movie Airplane. It was a great start because we went somewhere we never would have thought of going or treating ourselves to. Since then, we’ve been to the opera (not my husband’s favorite), done a Historic Hike of Fairfax, Virginia, been line dancing, seen a musical and participated in a murder mystery dinner theater.

I’ve loved them all, but my favorite so far would have to be when my husband took me to Frozen on ice, then we went to Fat Tuesdays (Yay! Cajun food) and watched Ole Miss Football in the bar. Of course we don’t always do something so elaborate. Earlier this month, I took him out for Mexican and a movie. The point is just spending time together, not spending all our money. 🙂

I’m always looking for new ways to stay connected with my soulmate. Any other suggestions? What do you do to keep your Happily Ever After?

To hear the latest news from Lori Ann Bailey, Visit:

Lori’s Latest News

The call came Saturday morning. Three member’s of my husband’s family were murdered Friday night. It didn’t feel real and still doesn’t. How? Why? We are left with so many questions.

After spending a week away on spring break vacation, my original intention was to write about the trials and tribulations of traveling with kids. But it doesn’t feel right to not speak out or hide what’s happening, even as we are still trying to understand.

Ken’s Aunt Elaine Mazzella, cousin Sandy Mazzella and cousin’s wife Stephenie Mazzella were shot in Sandy’s and Stephenie’s home by a man, who at one time had been a trusted business associate and friend.

Two innocent children, ages fourteen and ten, are left behind without their parents to pick up shattered dreams and attempt to make sense of what their new life will be.

I have grieved recently over the loss of someone dear, but this time I’m grieving for our family members that will have to live with this loss everyday and face the insecurity about what the future will bring.

I’m also left wondering how anger can turn into something this horrific. I have been angry with people before, but never so much that I would even consider harming them. How is it that some people don’t have the ability to back down and realize that letting go of that rage will bring more peace than acting out?

A Gofundme.com account has been set up for the kids, but nothing will ever be able to replace what was stolen from them and the rest of the family by a selfish man who will now spend the rest of his life in jail, leaving his family behind as well.

https://www.gofundme.com/sqw6uup8

http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article68647092.html