I Want To Hear From You! Vlog

This is your chance to let me know what you like in my books and want more of in the future!

The best way to contact me is:

https://www.facebook.com/TracyHeathPublications

or

tracyheathpublications@gmail.com

All input and feedback is considered and appreciated! Thanks!

Book One Free Today!

FREE today: Steering Gone Awry. Enjoy the lighthearted first book of the Country Misadventures series today for free!

Click here to get your free copy today!

And don't forget the newly released second book, A Redneck Romance!

Get caught up on the whole series for half the price: One book free and the other only $0.99!

Click here for A Redneck Romance!

Vlog II How To Read Kindle Books

I'm here again with a short video expanding on the content of my book. Also, I explain how to read Kindle books even if you don't have a Kindle.

A Redneck Romance link: http://www.amazon.com/Redneck-Romance-Country-Misadventures-ebook/dp/B00ANACTDS/ref=pd_sim_kstore_3

Free reading app link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=sv_kstore_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771

Vlog I Hello To The World

Here's my first video to the world! A face to the author. :)

A Redneck Romance--TODAY!

A Redneck Romance will be released later today!! Yeah, about time!

If you haven't watched the trailer yet, please take a look:

Remember to check back later today for the link to the book!

Guess What's Free Today?

Book I of the Country Misadventures series is FREE for a very limited time on Kindle!

Here's the description as it is on Amazon:

Bestselling author Tracy Heath recounts some of her most treasured and entertaining stories from her childhood in the Eastern Oregon desert. You will be taken to a pleasant wasteland where pheasants stroll through the neighborhood, and sagebrush and barbed wire fences are silhouetted in the vibrant, setting sun. 

She tells about being bullied by a steer:
“Since he wasn't a pet we promptly named him 'Reddy.' It had a nice ring to it and had next to nothing to do with the fact that his eyes glowed red.”

And find out what happens when a grade school child gets behind the wheel:
“Well, when all you need is one right foot that knows what it's doing, it's a sure shame to be stuck with a pair of lefties.”

You'll even read about coping with psychotic chickens:
“So we placed an order with the local feed store for 'assorted chicks.'....It wasn't until quite a while later that we learned the true meaning of 'assorted.'” 

You will find the stories intriguing and original. As you chuckle your way through them, these country anecdotes may bring back a few humorous memories from your own childhood.

Be sure to pick up your copy of Steering Gone Awry today while it's still FREE!!

Redneck Picture of The Day 6

In honor of the countdown to the release of my book A Redneck Romance, I am going to be posting a "Redneck Picture of The Day" every day! Be sure to regularly check back in to get your laugh for the day!

Redneck Picture of The Day 6: How laziness brings out the genius in you!

(http://www.funnyredneckjokes.com/tag/redneck/)

Like and share if you're a fan of ingenuity!

Redneck Picture of The Day 5

In honor of the countdown to the release of my book A Redneck Romance, I am going to be posting a "Redneck Picture of The Day" every day! Be sure to regularly check back in to get your laugh for the day!

Redneck Picture of The Day 5: All-Terrain Vehicle. Looks like there's still room in the back for some livestock or something.

(http://home.comcast.net/~b.learn/images/redneck%20ATV.jpg)

Share this post and spread the redneck love!

Redneck Picture of The Day 4

In honor of the countdown to the release of my book A Redneck Romance, I am going to be posting a "Redneck Picture of The Day" every day! Be sure to regularly check back in to get your laugh for the day!

Redneck Picture of The Day 4: I don't think I'll spoil it for them by telling them the Olympics are already over...

New event for 2016?

(http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/186291/)

Share this post if you chuckled and you think your friends would, too!

Redneck Picture of The Day 3

In honor of the countdown to the release of my book A Redneck Romance, I am going to be posting a "Redneck Picture of The Day" every day! Be sure to regularly check back in to get your laugh for the day!

Redneck Picture of The Day 3: How to roast hotdogs efficiently.

Redneck 102--sort through the treasure heap in the backyard, and it's guaranteed you'll find what you need!

(http://goodmorning.am/KnoxvilleFm/redneckjokes.html)

Share this if it made you smile!

Redneck Picture of The Day 2

In honor of the countdown to the release of my book A Redneck Romance, I am going to be posting a "Redneck Picture of The Day" every day! Be sure to regularly check back in to get your laugh for the day!

Redneck Picture of The Day 2: The redneck and his gun. Or should I say, the gun and its redneck?

(http://www.you-can-be-funny.com/FunnyRedneckJokes.html)

Share if you laughed or you are proud of the 2nd Amendment!

Redneck Picture of The Day

In honor of the countdown to the release of my book A Redneck Romance, I am going to be posting a "Redneck Picture of The Day" every day! Be sure to regularly check back in to get your laugh for the day!


Redneck Picture of The Day 1: Redneck 101--don't ever throw anything away. What do you do with that couch you no longer use inside? String it up for an outdoor swing!

(http://goodmorning.am/KnoxvilleFm/redneckjokes.html) Share this post if it made you grin!

The Joy of Routine

There's something special about routine. It's a rhythm of life that often goes unnoticed until a certain day comes along and your eyes are opened to the peaceful joy of consistency.

Today was one of those days. We've been pretty cooped up with the chilly weather, and my husband and I were playing a board game while our toddler son roamed around the house littering toys, books, and food in a well plotted out formation so that no one square-foot of the house was bare. Our faithful doggie was following the boy around, waiting for a handout and getting screeched at every minute or two. This game in and of itself was pretty routine, but it's not where I "saw the light" for the day. I'll have to work up to that one.

As the day wore on and nap time was fast approaching, I glanced outside at the beautiful streams of sunlight flooding the neighborhood.

"Let's go for a walk. Just around the block will be fine--just something to get Buster Brown out for a bit." Amazingly, that's a nickname for our son, not our dog.

We bundled up in winter coats and hats and got the little red wagon our son likes to pull behind him on such excursions. Passing the barrier between the shade of the house and the engulfing winter sunlight put a lilt in our gait. And for a few minutes, we just walked along the broken sidewalk in silence.

Soon, our little routine started falling in place. To begin with, I hardly noticed the pattern when I asked the child which way he'd like to go. As always, he pondered the possibilities of left or right for a moment, then grunted and pointed in his favorite direction--right.

As we moseyed along, I became aware of the small consistencies between that walk and all the walks we had gone on before. First of all, the boy meandered in his usual weaving trail while I walked in a straight line on the very edge of the sidewalk, one foot in front of the other. My husband and our dog paced in a protective position down a step on the paved road.

Our first stop as always was the rain drain. He pulled the wagon off the sidewalk, parked it along side the drain, and squatted down to take a peek down below. I allowed him to manipulate one leaf through the hole and down into the water. Then we moved on.

Up ahead were two cul-de-sacs which we eventually reached and conquered, but not without pausing to "count" that one house number that is made out of metal and is stuck in a little flower bed. 4407. It's always very intriguing. At the end of the second loop, we stepped off the sidewalk a couple of feet in order to touch the signpost--our signal to turn around. Once there, I asked him the usual question: straight back or cross the street first?

As soon as we reached the other side, the first set of mailboxes greeted us. He dropped the handle of his wagon in excitement. So many numbers arranged in vertical columns caught his attention. We spent the usual two or three minutes just gazing at the numbers, me sometimes lifting him up so that he could point them out in sequence.

Next up were the fence posts--eight in a row and perfect for counting. With a little skip here and there, he sped up his pace in order to find the next post more quickly. It helps that eight seems to be his favorite number. And right after the last post was the orange construction cone. It made the normal hollow bellow as he jabbered into it.

Two more set of mailboxes concluded the highlights of our walk. More numbers. More doors to try to open. The last set had our mailbox in it, along with a dozen more. He opened the one broken one used for packages. It doesn't lock when not in use. He creaked it open and then slammed it shut. Creak, slam. Creak, slam.

As we sauntered over the last little stretch toward home, I realized just how much I relished our routine. Even six months from now it won't look the same. We'll have other patterns by then, which will be wonderful, too. But I like the routine we have now and plan on enjoying it as often as possible.

Revamped Book Trailer

I did some revamping on my book trailer--new photos! Take a look! We're ticking down to the book release date! I'm predicting just before Christmas. :)

This Is What It's All About

Here's the description I will be putting up on Amazon for "A Redneck Romance." So close!

Tracy Heath once again brings the country to you with her feel-good, laugh-out-loud stories, featuring the chapter, “A Redneck Romance”:

When black-eyed Cynthia Clark and her family move to Eastern Oregon, she doesn’t expect to find love in the desert. But it is more than just a rickety, old fence that divides her world from her lover’s. Growing tension between the handsome neighbor Tom Dunn and Cynthia’s volatile pa really lays the cards on the table in this redneck love story.

‘Cynthia hesitated. “We're pacifists.”

When that last word passed Cynthia's lips, Tom paled. The lines were drawn. How could it be? Here this beautiful girl stood, looking like and talking like a hayseed angel, yet her philosophy was so foreign, so outsider-ish. While he sifted out this jolting news, Tom searched Cynthia's face. There was something deep inside those obsidian eyes that latched on to his own gaze and wouldn't be shaken.

Breaking the thick silence, Tom cleared his throat. “That's not gonna stop ya from lovin' me, is it?”’

Will the different lifestyles of their families forever confine Cynthia to her side of the fence?

In this second book of her Country Misadventures series, read Tracy’s tale of a redneck romance and other country stories full of humor and touching moments. Experience the face-palm moments of becoming a dog owner and the fright of being in the crosshairs of “The Pitbull Pup.” Discover that a cat is a cat except when it’s not. Relive the days of T-ball where the hardest part of the game is keeping the helmet out of your eyes. And get ready for hard-core fishing, folks, because fishing’s not for wimps.

If you want to read more stories by Tracy Heath, check out the Country Misadventures Book One, Steering Gone Awry.

It's Time For MUSIC!

Since Christmas is only like seven weeks away... I thought I'd share one of my favorite songs EVER! It just might BE the top of the top! I hope this brightens your day after all the stress of the election. And I hope it inspires you to go do something that you are called to! Music is a catalyst!

A Redneck Romance Trailer

It's here! Check out the book trailer for A Redneck Romance. That's Book II, folks, in my Country Misadventures series. Coming soon to Kindle--be watching! Literally, please watch it. ;)

Redneck Love II

On this stay-at-home-because-we're-sick day, I'm working on my last story. Here's where I'm currently at:

"Part way up the steps, she paused and listened. All she could hear was the rhythmic creaking of Ma rocking in the living room. But she was sure she had heard an out of place squeak—like someone was sneaking in the back door.

Retracing her path, Cynthia crept down to the bottom stair and peeked her head around the corner to the left. Even in the dim firelight Cynthia could see that the back door was soundly closed and that the lock was in place. She waited a few more seconds, but when she couldn't pick up on any another strange noises, Cynthia proceeded to head back up to her freezing, second-story room.

As Cynthia hurriedly pulled on her nightgown, she heard light steps on the stairway and saw the slight figure of Ma pass by her ajar door. Ma must have given up on Pa getting home at a reasonable hour, too. Or else she had just gotten to a good stopping place in her knitting. Either way, Pa would be coming home to a cold, silent house."

Suspenseness! Even I'm only guessing at what's coming next! :)

Promo Time!

Yes, we're here again! Promo time with Book One: Steering Gone Awry! FREE today on Amazon!

So get your copy now because it's only FREE for a limited time!

Redneck Love

Just thought y'all might enjoy another taste of what's comin'! Here's an excerpt:

CRACK. CRACK-CRACK.

“Holey Moley, they're firing on us!” Pa erupted from the his bed, and crashed, flopping on the floor like a fish thrown on the shore. Dogs of all shapes and sizes sprung up as if they were prairie dogs popping out of their holes. An awful din of barking enveloped the house. Ma just rolled over and resumed her wispy snoring.

“Pa, do ya think it's 'cause I refused him?” Cynthia, in a long, flannel nightgown, appeared at her parents' doorway, her whisper sounding all the more frightened in the darkness.

“Refused who? What? Ya know somethin' 'bout this?” With one leg in his overalls and the other only in his skivvies, Pa hopped around on the cold, wood floor trying to dress hurriedly.

Is Sad Good?

I just finished another story. Just a sneak peek for you sneaky peekers! ;)

The crumpled bundle of a cat had not moved, and it was with apprehension that John bent down close to feel if she was still breathing. A quick rise and fall of her body assured him that she was still holding on, and he eased the lip of the shallow bowl under her chin. Her eyes cracked open for a second, closed again, then reopened wider as her nose slowly started rooting around, smelling the milk. Inquisitively, a little dry tongue slipped out of her mouth and made contact with the milk. Another lick and her ears began perking up.
John was kneeling down beside her. He stretched out his hand in the near-darkness and ran a couple of fingers over her head.
“I'm going to go fetch a lantern, little girl.” He whispered. “Hang in there, and I'll hurry back.”

This book is almost all written! Keep your eyes and ears open for its release!

What A Character

Here's an excerpt from the current story I'm writing. This kid will always be engraved in my memory.

"We had a round-headed kid on the team. Before you think blockhead Charlie Brown, elongate that image into a gangly six-year-old with buzzed hair, Coca-Cola ball cap, and enough energy to play the whole ball game single-handedly. That tow-headed kid you're picturing with what looks like dried macaroni and cheese on his face is Scotty Roy. To say that Scotty Roy was hyper and active would be a complete understatement but loveable still applied in a perplexing kind of way. Everything about him was a little awkward, like the way he talked, the way he dressed, the way he tried to stand on his head and catch fly balls (or was it just flies?) with his feet."

Camping with a Toddler is Like

Camping with a toddler is like:

Multiplying multitasking by something worse

Alternating between pulling your teeth and hair out

Trying to sled down a lumpy hill in the middle of June

Finishing a scrumptious meal only to find out you ate tofu

Okay, maybe those examples are a little over the top, but we decided one night was enough. :) Maybe next year we'll make it for two nights! Ha!

(In all reality, it was pretty fun--just exhausting. Now for a couple sick days.)

New Advertising Spot

I found another place to advertise my book! http://addictedtoebooks.com/ They are featuring my book on the home page today and then it will be listed by genre (humor) later on. It's super easy if you're looking for a place to advertise your book. Check it out!

Look Who Featured My Book!

This morning I found out that www.freebooksy.com featured my book today for the promotion! Pretty neat!

Let me tell you, it's a lot of work to get a book featured on a given website, especially one that gets some traffic. I submitted mine to quite a number of sites 10 days ago, and this is the first one to actually run it!

Thank you FreeBooksy for handpicking my title!

Book Going FREE

It's that time again! I'm running my book Steering Gone Awry for FREE August 22, 2012. Don't miss it!

I can't guarantee that it will make you laugh, because that could make for a nasty lawsuit. But I think it's highly probable that you will find it quite entertaining! And we all need a good chuckle now and again and again and again. :)

Special Day Remembrances

Baby Boy with Grandma

It's time for a more personal post. Today marks a very special day for my husband and me--our son's birthday! When I think back to the day he was born and all the trauma of his birth, I am so thankful! There are birth stories that are more intense, and definitely tales that would break your heart, but each entrance of a child to the world is a miracle.

My little boy took a long time to make his appearance, and to say that the natural birth was intense is quite the understatement. His little arm was wrapped back behind his head, making it very difficult for him to move down the birth canal. And I have to admit there were a few hours where I felt insane and thought I could die. But my God was gracious, and I know He never left me even when I felt so alone.

When I think of that moment when my baby was first placed in my arms and we found out that he was a boy, the overwhelming joy rushes back just like I had that day. Nothing could have been more perfect.

Today is a day that I'm so happy to have something to celebrate. I celebrate my son. I celebrate life. And I celebrate my Savior.

Featured on a Web Page!

I asked the host of a website to feature me on their "New Voices Worth Exploring" page. I just saw this evening that they put my book up! Check it out! The listing will continue through the remainder of the year.

In other news, one story done, one half-way there. My oldest brother contacted me today with some additional funny material. It's cool to hash over the old days with my siblings and parents, searching for story lines that I can build off of. We all remember different details ,and it's hilarious to piece them all together--and add some extras, of course! :D

Sums It Up Real Good

Shout Out to the Artist!

Hello, World! I wanted to post a shout out to the artist who created the front cover image for my book. His name is Joseph Rhodes, and I must say I am super pleased with his work!

That kind of art is totally out of my league, and I am really happy that I outsourced. I'm getting ready to contact him for a bid on the cover for my second book.

If you like his style, I encourage you to contact him! This image was created partially in GIMP, but I have also seen him do some pretty stunning hand drawings, so I think he would work with whatever you are wanting.

You can find Joseph Rhodes on Facebook--just send him a personal message explaining what you are looking for. Or you can contact me for more information.

I hope to drum up some business for him, because he deserves it!

2nd Book Planning In Full Gear

It's been a crazy month for writing. I'm trying to get going on my second book, but it's been slow. Personal health issues have put a wrench in my plans. But just in the last couple of days I'm feeling the fire of inspiration returning!

One chapter is nearly done--a rough draft, that is. And I've got another in process and a few more in theory. :) I'm hoping this next week or so will be more productive!

If you have suggestions on how I can improve my writing, please leave me a comment here on my blog or over on my Facebook page! I'd love the feedback!

And if you've read my first book, please leave me a review on Amazon, and tell your friends about it! Thank you!

And just to end on a fun note, here's an excerpt from the current chapter I am working on:

"Lou was my mother's bane. Having a newborn was hardship enough without having an ADHD—Annoyingly, Depressingly Hyperactive Dog." :)

Have a good week and enjoy the Olympics!!

FREE Kindle Book Promotion--Last Day!

It's the last day that you can get my book Steering Gone Awry for FREE! It's sitting at the top (#1 and #2) of the two Amazon categories I have it in! Woot!

201 copies have been purchased in the last 31 hours as of now!

Come on over and 'like' my Facebook page at: http://facebook.com/TracyHeathPublications

FREE Kindle Book Promotion

Yes, for a very limited time, my debut book Steering Gone Awry is FREE on Amazon! I decided to run it for free to try to bump up my ratings and get the word out there that I have a book.

I am really pleased with the results so far. I'm currently sitting at #2 and #4 in the Top 100 Free in Humor > Comedy and Humor > Parenting & Families, respectively. Couldn't be happier!

It's been such an incredible learning process on how/when to promote, who to contact, what social media to use, etc. And I'm loving it! I didn't know that marketing could be so fun. :)

Round Two Underway

That's right, folks! I have officially started writing on my second book! I am extremely excited to be back at the keyboard with my crazy brain going fifty miles an hour--not a hundred, because what sleep-deprived person can do that?

Just this morning I started writing about an evil gang leader we had in my neighborhood called "The Pit Bull Pup." No joke.

Just stick around and keep checking in. It will only be a matter of time (and blood and sweat and tears) until my next book is out!

In the meantime, there will be a special deal on my current book Steering Gone Awry soon!

And remember, you can either follow my blog if you're a blog-following type or subscribe by email by clicking the appropriate tabs on the right side of this page.

And if you are more the Facebook or Twitter type, you can find me at:

http://www.facebook.com/TracyHeathPublications

or

https://twitter.com/TracyHeathBooks

Promo Video

This promo video for my book was such a blast to pull together. It was my crew's first attempt at a video, so we need to get a better sound setup. But regardless, I think it turned out well! Please take a look at in here. It will give you a glimpse of what you'll experience in the world of my book!

Story Contest

There's a new short story contest starting this week. It's hosted at http://www.onthepremises.com/. I'm thinking of entering just for fun! The premise of the story has to do with 'time.' Of course, what automatically comes to mind is Sci-Fi stuff, and that's definitely not my forte. But who knows, I might be about to change things up a bit and still keep my style.

Anyway, if you want to know more, here is the direct link to the contest:

http://www.onthepremises.com/current_contest.html

You can also read archived issues at:

http://www.onthepremises.com/Issues.html

I think this could be pretty entertaining! Let me know if you are interested in joining up for the contest!

It's Hit the Market

And here it is! My first book Steering Gone Awry has hit the market. I am currently working on the promotion end, but the book is up and published.

To get your copy now, click here.

Once you have read it, please leave a review on Amazon.com! You can do so by clicking on the link posted above and scrolling down to where the customer reviews are listed. Thank you!

First Book Release

I am looking to release my first Kindle book by the end of the month. It is titled Steering Gone Awry and is a collection of short stories from my country childhood. Currently, I'm working with my illustrator to finish up the cover image. That project, along with some minor script editing, should pull together the loose ends. Look for the new release at the end of June, 2012!