Tina Pinson -- The Next Big Thing

Blog Meme...

This is my first blog meme. In the past, I've been hesitant to get involved with blog memes. But here I go. This is basically part of an ongoing chain of book and author recommendations called “The Next Big Thing.” The whole idea is that writers get “tagged,” answer ten quick fire questions on their blog, and then tag five other writers… Before long you have a whole web of writers answering the same questions, and linking to one another through social media. It’s a good idea, and a nice way to drum up interest in your latest work. I was brought into the loop Shawna K. Williams, and will have sent word to some of my writer friends who names are listed at the end of this post. Their invitation, if they choose to accept it, is to answer these same questions on their blog next Wednesday. Ready? Set?

1) What is the title of your next book?

Christmas in Shades of Gray -- yes I'm aware it sounds like another book out about now. But I wrote this a few years ago. Sooo...

2) Where did the idea come from for the book?

A vast majority of this novel came from the stories my husband used to tell about his own father -- a man who led a very colorful life before he passed away at 74. Some of the storyline is rooted in the truth. Of course, as a writer, I took license and extended and added areas, but the story and how he spent long years running fascinated me and I wanted to write a character that mirrored him.

3) What genre does your book fall under?

Contemporary, speculative fiction.

4) What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Hmm… excellent question. As the story is a bit of a warped Dickens' Christmas Carol, and spans several years. Maybe Sam Elliot, Clint Eastwood or Harrison Ford, for the older part and Hugh Jackman for the middle age. I'm not sure about the younger.

 Sam Elliot                           Clint Eastwood

Hugh Jackman

5) What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

David Pareman is dying. In life, he felt isolated and alone. He prays he won't feel that way in death.

6) Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

It will be represented through the small publisher who has published my other books and is slated for release around Christmas 2013

7) How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

The first time around it took me about three months. The story was originally written for a book of short stories, but I decided to add to it and see if I could get it published. Which took a couple more months. And then, of course, there were the rewrites. I still have the other two stories in the anthology to go.

8) What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

It's not actually in the same genre, but this story would be similar to Dickens' Christmas Carol.

9) Who or what inspired you to write this book?

 As I said earlier, my father in law is the inspiration behind this story. About the time of his death, I begin to wonder what might have passed through his mind when he lay in his hospital bed. What he thought about his own story. His life was quite colorful, remarkable even, and I drew from some of his past and of course, rewrote and added to some areas to expand and make a story.

10) What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

I suppose, if we're honest, many of us, if not all, have a quiet fascination with our own mortality. What happens while we're sick or dying or after death? Did we leave a legacy worth talking about? Did we tie up all the loose ends of our life? Did we tell everyone how much they meant to us? Will people miss us when we're gone? Will we see loved ones again? Is there a heaven or a hell? And so many other questions. This story takes a look at some of those aspects.

Okay. So there you have it! Now, for my writer friends and the stories they're working on. Tell us about your "Next Big Thing."

Patty Froese 

Naomi Musch 

Michelle Levigne 

Nicole Zoltack 

Blogs, Interviews and Giveaways.

I'm visiting at a few sites today. 

And I would love some company. Just a few hi's and hello's might be nice.

First, if you need a laugh, come read about how my husband asked to marry my sister. Talk about sibling rivalry.  @ http://shannonvannatter.com/tina-pinson-real-life-romance-fictional-excerpt-part-1-of-1/#

Second, if you're planning to take a trip on the Oregon Trail, this might give you some ideas on how to pack. @ http://desertbreezepublishing.blogspot.com/2012/11/author-spotlight-food-on-oregon-trail.html (be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a PDF copy of Shadowed Dreams)

Third, if you'd like to get to know Rebekah the heroine of my Shadow Series, stop in an read her interview at  @ http://www.margaretdaley.com/2012/11/heroine-interview-from-shadowed-dreams-by-tina-pinson/

And don't forget to stop in and get to know Caroline, Rebekah's cousin,  better too. http://desertbreezepublishing.blogspot.com/2012/11/author-spotlight-character-interview_27.html  (be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a PDF copy of Shadowed Dreams)

Looking for simple Christmas gifts ebooks are easy to give.

 

Welcome, Patty Froese

Patty Froese lives in central Canada where the winters are long and cold--giving her excellent excuse to stay in and write without guilt.
She's a tea drinker, a novel writer, an adoring wife and mom, and she's pretty sure she's a British person born in a shivering, Canadian body. 
She loves rain, royalty, pretty knick knacks and three square meals a day. No dieting here!

If you'd like to find her online, come by Her Blog:


She's also on Facebook
and whenever someone gives her a new like or follows her blog, she sighs in delight.



Legally Wed is her ninth novel to be released.

When Rich McConaughey comes back to town, divorce papers in hand, he's in for more than he bargained for. Lisa Young, the woman he was married to for six months, hasn't changed a bit. His mother has though... she's gone from matronly to meow, and his father has taken off with the secretary. Does anything last anymore? 

Lisa Young feels chained to the hardware store her family has run for generations. How can she tell her father that she hates the family business? When Rich walks back into her store asking her to finalize a divorce she thought was behind her, she thinks that the answer is to sign on the dotted line and move on. Except, Rich isn't making it so easy... and God has other plans. 

For better or for worse, when you're legally wed, things can get complicated. 



ENJOY AND EXCERPT 

"What do you mean we're still married?" She hurried to match his pace."And for crying out loud, slow down." 

He slowed his steps to a leisurely stroll and glanced down at her. She only came up to his shoulder, and she resented having to tip her chin to look him in the face. Young Hardware stood on Main Street, one of the first stores built on this street before the town sprung up around a crossroads with a gas station, a diner and a church to serve the farms in that area. Now it joined many businesses flanking Main Street, and she couldn't help but feel like every single of one of them watched. 

"We used my Uncle Neil to finalize the divorce, remember?" Rich asked. 

"Yes, that sounds right." As she hurried Ricky past Whirlwind Realty, the business next door to the hardware store, she felt a rush of relief that Jane, the head realtor for the place, stood with her back to them. One less person to give her the third degree later. 

"Well, as it turns out, Uncle Neil was having trouble with alcohol at the time and..." 

"And?" 

"And never filed it. It sort of slipped through the cracks." 

"Sort of?" What on earth are you talking about?" Lisa heard her voice rising in pitch. "He never filed the papers?" 

"Looks that way." 

"And how did you figure this out?" 

"When the IRS audited me. My accountant thought I'd had my identity stolen. The IRS thought I was fraudulent." 

"Ouch." For the first time, a pang of pity replaced irritation for the man. She stopped at the street corner and looked across the intersection at the coffee shop. A couple of people visible in the window ordered their drinks. She glanced back at Rich. "So you came out here to get me to sign?" 

He squinted in the bright sunlight and pressed his lips together. Finally, he gave a slow shrug. "That was the plan." 

She turned her attention to the envelope in her hands. It had been a long time since she'd held divorce papers, and they still felt ominous and weighty. She nodded. 

"Okay. Well, I'll take a look at these then." 

"Look, I'm sorry about this." Rich put his hands into his pockets and looked down at his shoes. He raised his gaze to meet hers. "I know this is a surprise." 

"You could say that." 

He gave her one of those lopsided smiles of his and for just a moment she could see the boy with the spontaneous grin and cajoling eyes she'd fallen in love with all those years ago. Why could Ricky always speed up her heart, even when every logical bone in her body knew he wasn't in her best interest? 

"Well." She cleared her throat. "Thank you. I'll see you around, I'm sure." 

"You bet." 

Lisa raised her hand in an awkward wave and turned back towards the hardware store. 

Married. Her body moved like wet clay, and when she fumbled about inside for her feelings she discovered -- nothing. Not yet. Later. Time enough for a meltdown in privacy. 

Gentlemen, we can rebuild it...

My silverware drawer fell apart the other day.

Literally.

I started to fix it, but layers of glue and several nails and screws suggested it had been fixed before. They just hadn't tried duct tape yet.

Hubby called the rental company, who said they'd would send someone over to fix the drawer. He told them the particle board had crumbled in his hands and was beyond repair. They promised to get right on it.

Yep. Right on it.

A week later, my silverware was still sitting on the counter. And we hadn't heard from the rental comp. We decided to buy a new drawer from Home Depot and deduct it from the rent.

Sounded good in principal, until we got the drawer home and found it was too wide and they didn't have any that fit.

Hubby promised to build a drawer, but... I didn't want to wait. I wanted it done. Yesterday.

I decided to take matters into my own hands and put on my builders cap. I had done a bunch of building; garages, room additions, shelves, toy boxes and more. I had the power tools and I knew how to wield them. (I have a scar beneath my arm where I tried to drill through myself that stands as testament to my power tool prowess.) I could handle a drawer. I purchased my wood, and using my mitre saw, cut my sides to perfection. I turned to lay them on the table saw so I could make a runner slit for the base of the drawer, when I realized the table saw was back in Colorado gathering dust in a storage unit. Funny I remembered seeing a table saw. Oh, that was the one my son was selling at a yard sale.

That's okay, I had a router. When I went to find it, I learned hubby had taken it to work. I was a touch frustrated because I wanted my silverware off the counter, and considered using the chisels. But I decided that would be too time consuming and they didn't roar with power. I called hubby and told him to bring the router when he came home for lunch or else. :-)

Once I had my router I was off again. Cutting, sawing, hammering in a sawdust dream til I had me a beautiful drawer. Which fix perfectly in it's slot. Talk about a sense of accomplishment.

I put the silverware back in the drawer and waited for hubby to return so I could show him my latest achievement.

Now if only, writing could go as smoothly.

Oh and a week after I finished the drawer. The rental company finally called to let us know they'd be coming out to fix the drawer.

Vinegar is so sweet.

Okay maybe Vinegar isn't sweet in the taste sense, (although since some of it comes from apples shouldn't it be) but Vinegar has so many uses. It kills germs, cleans house, preserves food, deters bugs, fertilizes your garden, neutralizes lime, polishes chrome, fights frost,  relieves itching and sunburn, staves a cold, removes warts, and represses appetite, maybe because your stomach is so sour after drinking it you'd curdle your food. Although they say Vinegar relieves a tummy ache.

It's amazing.

Speaking of curdle, a bit of vinegar in milk gives you a cheap form of buttermilk for cooking and even does windows.


Use it in your laundry to remove stains and freshen cloths.

Pour it on your salad with olive oil for a tasty dressing. Mix balsamic vinegar with olive oil, roasted garlic, and sun dried tomatoes for a yummy bread dip.

They say if you add a bit to your dog's water bowl it helps stops mange and fleas. I've poured boiling vinegar in biting ant holes and enjoyed my yard for the summer.

And that's only the beginning. There are hundreds of uses from something so sour. That's why vinegar is so sweet.

I use vinegar for many purposes.

Did you know its a wonderful clarifier for your hair? That's right, it removes build up leaving your tresses soft ands supple while restoring PH balance. For best results and better highlights people with darker hair should use Apple Cider vinegar and people with lighter hair White vinegar.

While Vinegar makes your lips pucker, it is good for you to drink too. They say to downing a couple teaspoons with a glass of water fortifies your health. While I agree, I have a hard time drinking vinegar water. I find it easier to sip on the vinegar itself. Maybe that's a residual from my childhood bath times.

You see, I used to take my glass of vinegar so I could rinse my hair with it and have that nice silky sheen. But first I pretended that I was a rich woman leisurely relaxing with a glass of wine while I sipped the vinegar. Yep I drank vinegar.

And my skin was clearer for it.
 
Given the way my skin has gone all hormonal on me, perhaps I should start drinking more.

Hmm.

What are some ways you use vinegar?

Callie By Author Sharon Srock

Sharon Srock lives with her husband, Larry, and two dogs in Rural Oklahoma. She is a mother, grandmother, and Sunday School teacher. Sharon has one and three-quarters jobs and writes in her spare time. Her favorite hobby is traveling with her grandchildren. She is a member of the ACFW and currently serves as treasurer for her local chapter. Sharon’s writing credits include numerous poems and short stories published in science fiction fanzines.

In celebration of her new release she is offering commenters a chance to win an awesome prize package. Be sure to read to end to find out how you can get your name in the drawing.

Blurb

Three dire circumstances. Three desperate prayers. 

One miracle to save them all.

Callie Stillman is drawn to the evasive girl who’s befriended her granddaughter, but the last time Callie tried to help a child, her efforts backfired. Memories of the tiny coffin still haunt her.

Samantha and Iris Evans should be worried about homework, not whether they can pool enough cash to survive another week of caring for an infant while evading the authorities.

Steve Evans wants a second chance at fatherhood, but his children are missing.  And no one seems to want to help the former addict who deserted his family.

For Steve to regain the relationship he abandoned, for his girls to receive the care they deserve, Callie must surrender her fear and rely on God to work the miracle they all need.

Excerpt

     Callie Stillman dabbed raindrops from her face with a linen napkin as Benton dodged a server with a loaded tray and took his place across from her. She smiled into her husband’s blue eyes and reached across to wipe water from his beard. “We’ll both have pneumonia if we don’t dry off soon.”

     Benton took the napkin and finished the job. “I’ve been told the food is very good. A few sniffles should be worth it.”

     Callie’s gaze roamed the room. “It’s…” Recognition slammed into her chest, forcing the air from her lungs. The man crossing the room behind her husband nodded and continued to his table. Was that the bailiff? Do you swear to tell the truth… She gulped for breath and fought the familiar darkness that crowded the edges of her vision.

     Callie ran a finger around her collar, tugging the neck of the blouse away from skin suddenly dewed with a fine film of sweat. Too hot. She took a sip of water, dismayed at the tremor in her hand as she lifted the glass to her lips. Not here, not tonight. Callie closed her eyes and practiced the breathing techniques she’d learned over the last six months. In through her nose, hold for a few seconds, and out through her mouth. Concentrate only on the current step in the process, the next breath. The tightness in her chest began to fade away. Thank you, Jesus. She raised her water again and held the cold glass to her flushed cheek.

Buy links for Callie

Barnes and Noble -- http://tinyurl.com/9ahy3tg

Amazon -- http://tinyurl.com/9dreu8g

Pelican Books -- http://tinyurl.com/8ncbjnl


Connect with Sharon on the Web

BLOG at: http://www.womenofvalleyview.blogspot.com/
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/SharonSrock#!/SharonSrock
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SharonSrock
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/10758698-sharon-srock

Leave a comment with your contact information to be entered for a chance to win a gift basket with the following prizes ( ***please note the gift basket giveaway is for residents of the US and Canada only) The winner will be drawn Monday November 19th. The items add up to well over 100.00 in value. Filled with:

A copy of Callie's story

A certificate for Terri's story when it releases in April

A 6 piece Cherry blossom bath set

A cosmetic bag

A Bath Wrap

A Cozy pink eye mask

A Pair of aloe infused booties

A Hair Turban

A Tennis Bracelet

A 25.00 Amazon gift card 

If you are interested in knowing more about Sharon and the Women of the Valley View Blog she is offering a free PDF about the women. Let her know in your comments that you would like to receive it so she can send it to you.

Fall Festival Contest Winners

Please contact me 


@tina_pinson@yahoo.com


Rebekah's poem framed and Autographed.

Sabrena Pattat



$20.00 gift certificate

Faith Bricknell-Brown


One of my books


Nicole Zoltack

Stephenia

DBP Fall Festival and Contest

The Desert Breeze Fall Festival is running right now. To connect and win prizes go to Desert_Breeze_Publishing_Connections-subscribe@yahoo.com

Several author will be in and out to chat throughout the weekend.  As I am the caboose, and won't have my chat time until 5 pm eastern on Sunday. I thought I would put my contest up. That way you can get started and tell your friends. Then join me Sunday at Desert Breeze Connections Site for a chat. Where I'll be giving away more and you can only enter at the chat. I'm hope to see you.

Until then, here's the contest:

I'll be giving away two copies of my ebooks. (winners choice) And a $20.00 gift card to Amazon

There are several ways to get your name in.

1. If you are on Pinterest you can go to my Pinterest Site @ http://pinterest.com/tinapinson/
and under the My Books Board you'll see my covers, just pin them on your boards and Pinterest will let me know. That will go into the count.

If you're not on Pinterest... Please join me.

Or you can take my covers pictured below and share them on Facebook. And send the link to tina_pinson@yahoo.com

 You can also answer the following questions. The answers can be found around my blog. Answer in a comment for a chance to win. Or just comment.

1. Who said  "Sam, you ain't got nothing on your top, but your birthday suit and bandages. You need to lay down."
(hint: Touched By Mercy tab on top of page)

2. Where do Rebekah and Caroline go for a visit?
(hint: When Shadows Fall tab on top of page)

3. Who said, In the Manor of the Ghost is a suspense filled story that kept me guessing until the end." (hint: In the Manor of the Ghost tab on top of page)

4. Someone is up a tree. Why?  (hint: Cartoons tab on top of page)

5. How many grandchildren do I have? (hint: home page right hand side)

Winners will be notified on Monday October 22.

Desert Breeze Fall Festival

Desert_Breeze_Publishing_Connections-suscribe@yahoogroups.com

Please Note: Desert Breeze is not only a Christian publisher, they also publish other genres, no erotica, some paranormal, but there are many good Christian Stories to be had. Use your own God-given discernment when choosing your reading material.

If you're interested in new authors, stories, or opportunities to win books and stuff, consider joining the DPB Readers Loop before this weekend.

I will be chatting beginning at 5 eastern this Sunday. Come visit with me.

Elections are coming...

 

In 1864 Republican Abraham Lincoln was re-elected for a second term as president after a run against Democrat George B. McClellan with Andrew Johnson as his running mate. Did you know there was a switch-up for the vice-presidency on the Democratic side? History is interesting, but how will this election be written in the annals of time? Do you care?

The elections are coming… I can almost hear the groans and see your eyes glazing over. And i can see some one finger waves. thank you

I know... I know... You're inundated with ads and spiels, you're on election overload. Everyone has an idea about the elections. Let's take a poll. Are you tired of it yet? Have you tuned it out already. I get it election information runs in a continuous loop for twenty-four hours nonstop. With alert headlines and special report draws that tell you nothing new. And heaven knows, you don't want to hear anymore from me. You'd rather clean up dog poop. Rather head for the social networks for fun. Anything but  discuss politics.

But have you really paid attention to the news, to what's going on in the world or just across the street?

Before you run away screaming, thinking I'm another political pundit who's going to tell you how vote or force you to see things my way. Let me just say, I know I'd probably have better luck telling you to choose up sides and smell arm pits.

But the truth is... the elections are coming. Only a month away. I honestly don't care who you go in and cast your vote for. Okay maybe I care just a little. But it is not my place to tell you who to vote for and how to believe.

What I really would like to see you do is prepare. Take some time to reflect on this election. Take a look at the issues and the candidates. Don’t just vote party lines because you've been with a party for years. And that's how it's done.

You've been given a great freedom. One bought by the very lifeblood of those who came before you and those who stand on the battlefields today. We're all ready to wax poetic about our Great Country and the men and women who stand in the way of tyranny for us. But we don't take responsibility for the freedom we've been given. And voting is a high honor and a responsibility.

Please take this month to consider your choices, and if you choose to, take some time to pray for this nation, for this world and the hearts of mankind.

You can say you don't really want to get involved, and that your vote doesn't mean squat. You'll watch it from the sidelines, from the fence. Let me caution you by saying if you are unwilling to stand for anything, you will fall for everything. And you will have no reason to complain when things don't turn out.

You may think sitting on the fence frees you from responsibility… consider this, at some point the fence is going fall and you may find yourself forced to sit on the wrong side of the issue.

With all the information flying around you, there is no excuse for not knowing the issues. For not knowing where the candidates stand. Go to their sites read their platforms.

Please Vote Responsibly

Take a stand and if that stand should bring you to your knees in prayer... don't fight it.

if you would like to share this, please do.

Church People Watching & PTSD

Welcome Shaunna Gonzales

Shaunna Gonzales has toyed with writing since her teenage years but has only written in earnest since 2005. In an effort to give Dark Days of Promise an authentic feel she endeavored to include some experiences of veterans she knows and could often be found discussing the realities of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in their lives and how it could honestly be shared in this project.

On the evening of this books first promotion, she realized that the scope of PTSD reaches deep into the core of our society and includes infants, children, housewives, the working and unemployed as well as veterans; in short, all of us. In an effort to treat this subject fairly, Ms. Gonzales has altered her writing course from "romance with a twist" to helping our society, sufferers and innocents alike to becoming aware. It is more than those who experience the violence, more than the victims who experience this debilitating disease that are affected. It is their families, the bystander of violent crime and all of us who dare to care for and love them.

Shaunna currently resides in the Seattle, Washington area, with her husband, and their younger children.

Visit Shaunna at http://www.shaunnagonzales.blogspot.com

Church, People Watching and PTSD

      My family and I sit in the same place every Sunday morning and no, the pew isn't assigned or paid for. We just get there early and that is where we sit. Members of our congregation are in their Sunday best, men in white shirts and ties, some in suits and the women in modest dresses and usually high heels.

     So one non-descript Sunday, I'm people watching. "Friend A" suffers from PTSD. He's a Vietnam Veteran. I've visited with this gentleman at great lengths in doing research for Dark Days of Promise. I know some of the things that trigger his socially unexpected and potentially violent PTSD symptoms.

     "Friend B" has attended this particular congregation a lot longer than my family has. This morning she is wearing a tight skirt. You would think that having witnessed "Friend A's" reactions on previous occasions, she would be aware. But noooo.

     During the adult Sunday school class, the roll is passed from the back, where I'm sitting to the front. The pews are not full as families have left and I watch "Friend B" stand, the roll in her hand. She advances to offer the clipboard, over the shoulder as she would any other Sunday, but this day is different, the gentleman she will be passing the roll to is my "Friend A".

     In my mind's eye "Friend B" touches his shoulder quite innocently and unexpectedly does the most amazing assisted mid-air somersault ever preformed in such an austere setting. While she is doing this astonishing feat, "Friend A" has jumped to his full 6'3" with a shocking war cry. I cringe and suck at the air in horror expecting a rather nasty landing.

     That is where my mind screeches to a blinding halt. "Focus," I tell myself. I watch intently. "Friend B" touches "Friend A's" shoulder. He flinches and instead of what I know would happen on any other day in any other place, he gathers himself, the muscles tensing. His shoulders rise and settle in the same instant he jerks around to accept the clipboard.

     I release my held breath and the incident goes relatively unnoticed by most of the people present. Not so for those of us that paid attention and are aware. The group gathers after meetings, the veterans and myself, collectively heaving a sigh of relief.

     People, please be more aware.

Thirty-four year old Vicki Laramie must learn to trust before she can love, but she might die trying.

While Vicki’s children grapple with the death of their father -- a man whom she’s successfully fabricated as loving, a lie her rebellious teenager recognizes -- she must find a way to support her family and find a role model for her boys. She never intends to fall for Staff Sergeant Chase, her best friend’s son, who suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). She’d much rather choose a safer man to love, but her children have a voice in the decision she makes. With two deaths to deal with, a suitor after her money, a rebellious son, and Sergeant Chase’s repeated attacks, she can only hope to survive the danger she faces. If she doesn’t, her children will be left without either parent.

Link to buy: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-345/Dark-Days-of-Promise/Detail.bok

ISBN: 978-1-61252-218-0

Enjoy the following Excerpt

Why him? I needed help; I even needed a rescuer, but not him. I found myself welcoming his presence in spite of the clenching fear in my stomach. My mind spiraled around the possibilities. Would I freeze to death? Would he attack me? Would I survive? I must get home to my children.

"Kelly! What're you doing out here?" My breathing came out hard.

"I don't know," he drawled. His words formed ghostly shapes in the freezing night air. "Do you want a ride or do you really plan to run home?"

I looked down the road in both directions hoping for a second pair of headlights. I found none.

Run.

The fact of my standing on ice and snow escaped me for the moment. I anchored my foot for take-off and slipped, going to my knees. Kelly moved fast, I didn't see him open the Jeep's door before he grasped my arm, lifting me to my feet.

"You okay? You went down pretty hard." He propelled me to the passenger's side. Numb feet measured each jarring step around the front of the Jeep. Why had he come looking for me? The possibility of his not looking for me in particular, but anyone -- anyone alone, screamed across my thoughts.

Afraid of a cold death at the side of the road, my thoughts stalled. He'd proven himself faster than I. I shook his hand off to climb in and settled myself as close to the door as possible. He walked around the front of the Jeep, his footsteps sure on the icy surface.

"Have to admire your spunk," he said climbing in.