How did you get started writing?

My sleuth, Caprice De Luca, is a professional decorator and home stager.  The unique aspect of her business is the unique themes she devises for each home she stages.  Her sister, Nikki, a caterer, helps her pull off open houses that draw clients from D.C., Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia to Kismet, Pennsylvania.  In DRAPE EXPECTATIONS, Caprice’s client is Alanna Goodwin who is Ace Richland’s soon to be fiancee. She is a widow, a Southern beauty who wants to sell her mansion that resembles an old South plantation estate.

Doing research for staging Alanna’s house was so much fun. The antebellum period is from after the birth of the American Revolution to the start of the Civil War. The architecture usually described as antebellum is grandly symmetrical and somewhat boxy with substantial pillars or columns and balconies. Heavy draperies with fancy tiebacks were prevalent. Those tiebacks are integral to the murder!

I hope you enjoy reading DRAPE EXPECTATIONS as much as I enjoyed solving the murder-mystery puzzle with Caprice.

I always liked to write. In high school I worked for the school newspaper and wrote poetry.  As an English major in college, I took creative writing and other literature courses.  I started a novel and wrote poetry then too.  But I seriously began writing when back pain interrupted my life style. Especially after surgery, flat on my back for 4 years, i needed a creative and emotional outlet.

How many books have you written?  Do you have a favorite?

 I have sold 87 books and indie published 5 original novels as well as backlist titles. I have three favorites–The Bracelet which was the book of my heart about a couple who fell in love in the 60s. The hero is a Vietnam vet. My other favorite is Her Sister, a women’s fiction book about 3 generations of women I was heavily emotionally invested in.  My Caprice De Luca series contains descriptions of childhood homes and haunts. My sleuth is my alter ego. She takes in strays and finds them homes. We have four rescued cats.

Tell us about your current series.

My current series–Caprice De Luca home staging series–is a cozy mystery series.  Caprice has a large Italian family and my novels have their relationships with Caprice woven in. She loves to cook (as I do) so I include recipes. She stages homes to sell for high end clients, employing unique themes.  In book 1 I introduced two love interests and in book 4. Caprice makes a choice. I love writing these mysteries, solving the murder mystery puzzle with my sleuth as well as helping her find homes for strays she takes in. In book 4 DRAPE EXPECTATIONS, she has a cat, a cocker spaniel and adopts a Persian.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

 My experience with self-publishing has been exciting, frustrating and more work than I ever imagined, especially in the social media area. Promotion now takes up at least 60 percent of my work time–Facebook, Twitter, blogs, street team, etc. but whether working with indie or traditional publishing, a writer can’t simply write anymore. The market is glutted and it’s difficult to make a place.

What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your books?  Did you decide on e-book or  print-only, or both?

When I got my rights back on a dozen books, I decided to self-publish them. I formed a connected series with 3 of them with continuing characters (SEARCH FOR LOVE series) and then added 4 never before published novels to it. I also put the others together with a FINDING MR. RIGHT flash. The next step was developing them into audiobooks. That project took over a year (I used ACX) and have finished audiobooks on the market with all but 1. I also put the SEARCH FOR LOVE series into print.

Do you have a view in your writing space?  What does your space look like?

The view in my writing space usually includes cats!  I can look out on our gardens and I often write on our patio. I use a tape recorder to write so I can move to where ever I have quiet. Sometimes my typist hears birdsong in the background!

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m definitely a plotter. When I first began writing, I did it to escape back pain. I learned back then that if I plotted all my chapters, no matter how I was feeling, I could pick up and start writing again. Since I use a tape recorder now that’s even more true. I send off each chapter to a typist and I don’t have the luxury of going back until I have the hard copy. I keep the synopsis on my Ipad and if I make plot changes I jot them down so I always know exactly what I’ve done.

Has your muse always known what genre you would write and be published in?

My muse expected I’d write romance and possibly woman’s fiction forever! I read romances since my teenage years and I had no doubts about what I wanted to write when I began.  But after twenty years and blips in the road, I wrote a romance/mystery to indie publish (ALWAYS DEVOTED.) around that time my agent said an editor at Kensington had expressed an interest in me writing a cozy.  I gave it a try and loved it.

How far do you plan ahead?

I try to plan ahead for two years.  That’s necessary financially.  As of now I have a 6th Caprice mystery to write and a contract for 3 Daisy Swanson Tea Garden mysteries.  If I can, I’ll fit in an indie book to add to my SEARCH FOR LOVE series.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?  If so, what do you do to combat it?

 If I have “writer’s block,” it’s more like a pause because I don’t know how to handle the next scene. It doesn’t last more than a day because I make myself write. On the other hand, I know when I need a break.  I had a soulmate cat I rescued as a baby who was with my constant companion day and night for 14 years. When she passed on unexpectedly, I felt frozen creatively for about a month.   I knew I had to grieve.  I worked on promotion, blogs, that sort of thing. But not raw writing. That had never happened to me before. I’ve been through surgeries and deaths of loved ones in the past 25 years and still wrote. Then I used writing to deal with the grief, loss or pain.  You have to know your heart and soul and whether you should push for the sake of a book or your career.

Do you have any upcoming free promotions you would like to tell us about?

One of my SEARCH FOR LOVE books is free–HEARTFIRE.

Where can readers find you?

You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, my blog, newsletter and Instagram!

BIO:

 USA Today best-selling author Karen Rose Smith will see her 87th novel published in 2015. An only child, Karen delved into books at an early age. She learned about kindred spirits from Anne of Green Gables, solved mysteries with Nancy Drew, and wished she could have been the rider on The Black Stallion. Yet even though she escaped often into story worlds, she had many aunts, uncles and cousins around her on weekends. Her sense of family and relationships began there. Maybe that’s why families are a strong theme in her novels, whether mysteries or romances.

Readers often ask her about her pastimes. She has herb, flower and vegetable gardens that help her relax. In the winter, she cooks rather than gardens. And year round she spends most of her time with her husband, as well as her four rescued cats who are her constant companions. They chase rainbows from sun catchers, reminding her life isn’t all about work, awards and Bestseller lists. Everyone needs that rainbow to chase.

LINKS:

 Karen Romance Website:  www.karenrosesmith.com

Karen’s Mystery Website:   www.karenrosesmithmysteries.com

Facebook for KarenRoseSmithBooks

Twitter:  @karenrosesmith

Karen’s blog, Cats, Roses…and Books!  karenrosesmith.blogspot.com

BUY LINKS:

 DRAPE EXPECTATIONS on Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Drape-Expectations-Caprice-Deluca-Mystery/dp/1617737704/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432388927&sr=8-1&keywords=drape+expectations

DRAPE EXPECTATIONS on Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drape-expectations-karen-rose-smith/1120137992?ean=9781617737701

EXCERPT FROM DRAPE EXPECTATIONS:

Caprice and Roz were digging more deeply into their Thai food when Caprice’s cell phone played.

“I’d better check this,” she said to Roz. “Juan is at the house we’re going to be staging and he might have run into a problem.”

But when she glanced at the screen, she saw Ace’s face.  Uh oh, just what was she going to say to him?  She swiped the screen and put the phone to her ear.  “Hi, Ace.  What’s up?”

“Caprice…”  Ace’s voice sounded strained and very strange.  “I’m at Alanna’s house,” he continued as if there was something wrong with that.

She was sure he’d been at Alanna’s house a lot lately.  “Does Alanna need something?”

“No, she—”  There was silence…absolute silence.

“Ace?  What’s going on?”

“Alanna’s here, Caprice, but the thing is—she’s not breathing.  Her eyes are wide open.  She has no pulse.  I think she was strangled!”

Thank you so much for interviewing me on your blog today, Cindy! It’s exciting to be here and a part of your world!

You live in New Zealand, but you are writing Western Historical Novels?

Yes, although I now reside in New Zealand, I was born and raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California. My family later farmed bison in northern California. My first series begins in the Utah Territory of 1860. I get to use my love of horses, the Pony Express, the wilderness and romance in my stories. I have a gutsy heroine, a tough—but sensitive—hero, plenty of horses and people from many backgrounds to make my stories spicy and chock-full of western adventure!

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

When I was seven, I decided to become an equine (horse) veterinarian. A little later, I heard one needed good grades for that… Sooooo…I stuck to it and made it happen, despite everything that came along! Writing? I’ve always liked writing, but it was mostly personal journals (I have one I’ve kept since I was 14…plenty of story material there!). After veterinary school, I wrote for horse magazines and veterinary journals. There were stories in me, but I was too busy to seriously contemplate them, being a solo mum of two with my own solo equine veterinary practice and a farm. Still have the rest, but they’re older now, and after a serious injury, had to rethink my life. Now, I’m a writer… I take it seriously! I am just starting out, however, and must still feed my family until it takes off! Following an injury four years ago, I’ve limited my time in my equine veterinary dental specialty practice and I relief-teach chemistry, biology and physics at local colleges.

Tell us about your current series.

The Long Trail Quadrilogy is a series of sagas of factual fiction, adventure stories rich in historical detail, following the escapades of Aleksandra and Xavier as they traverse two continents through the1860’s.

Book Two: The Hills of Gold Unchanging, is nearly completed.  

In this sequel to A Long Trail Rolling, Aleksandra and Xavier’s 1860 saga continues over the Pony Express Trail of Utah via the silver and gold mining country of 1860’s Nevada and California and through Old San Francisco to Xavier’s family hacienda, the Californio Rancho de las Pulgas. Secession menaces, with Southerners desirous of dragging the new state from the Union and making it their own—and they will stop at nothing to accomplish it.

 Book Three: A Sea of Green Unfolding is even more complete!

Follow the young couple’s journey to adventure in the turbulent wilderness of 1863 New Zealand. When tragedy strikes in Aleksandra and Xavier’s newly found paradise on their California Rancho, Von Tempsky’s invitation draws them to a peaceful new life in New Zealand—where they arrive to find the land wars between the European settlers and the local Maori have only just begun.

Book Four: A Bold Country Evolving

Aleksandra and Xavier have come a long way to seek a home, but will they find the peace they desire as Aotearoa/New Zealand continues to be divided by strife? Conflicted, their feelings for native peoples at odds with many white settlers, Xavier reluctantly goes to war, leaving Aleksandra alone to negotiate the beginnings of their life in this young country.

I’ve written and published Book One, A Long Trail Rolling, and Book Two is half-completed. Book Three is 85% finished, and Book Four is partially researched! I’m also writing an equine veterinary book for owners and starting some children’s NZ books.

 Do you ever get writers block?

I’ve experienced ‘writers block’, but it my case, it’s laziness and unwillingness to work. To get through it, I just make myself write. Doing NaNoWriMo helps immensely, as you don’t have the leisure to have this dreaded malady. Sometimes I find just doing something different within the realm of my writing helps…maybe starting at a different place in the story, or researching some more. I use Scrivener and it makes it easy to fill in the blanks later!

 What is the most rewarding thing about writing for you?

Making a difference in people’s lives. It is lovely to see people, especially young ones, enjoy my work and understand what I’ve tried to convey. This Facebook message I received from a thirteen year old horse enthusiast I met at a big horse show really tickled me.:

“my book arrived today i can’t wait to read it but i have a thing that if I’m reading a book i have to finish it but the book I’m reading at the moment has like 80 pages to go and i read pretty fast so ill probably be finished it by the end of the night and should be starting your book tomorrow  and i will send you the photo of me, Fiin [her horse] and the book tomorrow ”

The following week, after she’d read it, she was raving. J

 Why did you decide to write romance novels?

Because I love them!

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

I think there’s a lot of my personality in Aleksandra…her responses are often my own, from an earlier time.. (or maybe now, if I have to admit it…). My life experiences fill my stories, comments people make to me, attitudes I see, the horses I’ve know in my life, surgeries I’ve performed, owners I’ve known in my 25 years as an equine vet.

 What kind of research do you do for a book?

My research is fairly exhaustive. I research the area and time for as much as I can find, then write my story into it. I’ve been writing as an equine vet, with a dental specialty, for years, both for owners as well as other veterinarians and the research comes naturally. The biggest dilemma I find with my researching is I don’t know when to quit!

When did you first think about writing and what prompted you to write your first ms?

I first thought about writing when I met a writer through carriage driving! She was going to a local chapter RWNZ meeting the next weekend and she took me along! The assignment was a 500 word sex scene. Talk about falling into it head first!  That became the start of A Long Trail Rolling! I finalled in a big competition after I’d just written part of it, and that motivated me to keep going! The following year, I won the Pacific Hearts Award, the award of the RWNZ for the best unpublished manuscript of the year! It’s onward and upward from there!

What genre is it?

The genre is a mixed one, which seems to be more accepted now, like the Diana Gabaldon stories. A Long Trail Rolling is a Western Historical Romantic Adventure.

 Would you like to write a different genre than you do now, or sub-genre?

I’d be happy to try to write anything, once I let go of my guiding rope of the historical framework to structure my story upon! It’ll come with experience, no doubt! I’d like to write contemporary stories about small-town America.

Tell us about your latest book. What motivated the story?

My latest book.. A Long Trail Rolling… I was inspired you to write A Long Trail Rolling by my love for history, the Pony Express, the wilds of my country of origin, horses, adventure and veterinary medicine. When I was a young teen, I wanted to enter a long distance horse race running over the Pony Express Trail, from coast to coast. It didn’t eventuate, but in A Long Trail Rolling, Aleksandra gets to do what I dreamed of doing.

Where did the idea come from? When did the idea for the book come to you?

I’d just returned from Poland and was thinking of the Polish Immigrants as I researched one of my favourite things, the Pony Express and the history around the time it was running in America. Did you know the ‘Pony’, as it was called only lasted for eighteen months, and several of those months, it wasn’t running at all because of the Indian attacks?

Talking about books, here’s a little bit about my first novel!

If you love horses and watching stroppy chicks getting tangled up with handsome Latino men, (Californio, even better!) you might just enjoy this saga!

Roll on up and have a great read!

~    ~    ~ 

A Long Trail Rolling by Lizzi Tremayne

The Long Trails Series, Book 1

Novel 

Western Historical Romantic Adventure

Blue Mist Publishing

She didn’t expect to become a target, but she is one now!

 It might have been the mare that did it, stopping dead in her tracks, nearly dropping Aleksandra over her shoulder, or maybe it was the flies that buzzed around the blood pooling beneath the butchered man in the Pony Express station doorway. Whichever it was, it got her full attention.

Seventeen year old Aleksandra, trained in the Cossack arts from infancy by her father, finds herself alone and running to prevent her Pa’s killer from obtaining a secret coveted by the Russian Czar, one which could alter the forces of power in Europe. Disguised as a Pony Express rider in 1860’s Utah Territory, she finds herself in even deeper trouble when she rides full speed into the middle of the Indian Paiute Wars. Her Californio boss Xavier has a strength to match her own, but can they overcome their differences before the ever-increasing odds overtake them?

Who might like to read this?

With this debut Western Historical Adventure, Lizzi Tremayne won the 2014 RWNZ Pacific Hearts Award and was a finalist in the 2013 Great Beginnings. A saga of the Old West with a multicultural cast of those who make up America, it would interest readers who enjoy Westerns, horses, American Indians, immigrants, and the Pony Express. It has a capable heroine, strong historical detail, period veterinary treatment and frontier-pushing characters. It has been compared to the work of Phillipa Gregory, Diana Gabaldon and Jean Auel, with a little Laura Ingalls Wilder thrown in.

The Series:

A Long Trail Rolling is the first novel in The Long Trail Quadrilogy of historical adventure sagas following Aleksandra and Xavier from the wilderness of 1860 Utah to Colonial New Zealand.

Author Biography: Lizzi grew up riding wild in the Santa Cruz Mountain redwoods, became an equine veterinarian at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, practiced in the California Pony Express and Gold Country before emigrating to New Zealand. She is the proud mother of two boys in that sea of green. When  not writing, she’s swinging a rapier or shooting a bow in medieval garb, riding, driving a carriage or playing on her farm, singing, or working as an equine veterinarian or science teacher. She is multiply published and awarded in special interest magazines and veterinary periodicals.

Author Links: You can read more about me and what I write, as well as contacting me at:!

Website and blog   Buy Link   Amazon Author page   Goodreads Author page  Pinterest   Twitter A_Long_Trail_Rolling Facebook Page   LizziTremayneWriter Facebook page   LizziTremayne

Here’s a bit of bling from Book 3 

Available from:

Blue Mist Publishing and online.

Click HERE for purchasing options.

~   ~   ~

Book Excerpt

Excerpt ©Blue Mist Publishing/Lizzi Tremayne, 2014, All Rights Reserved

Lookout Pass, she reminded herself as she neared the summit. Glancing north to the distant white tops of the Onaqui Mountains, she swallowed hard as she thought again of her papa and the fossil he’d fossicked for her from its rocky ledges.

The spotted pony broke into a lope over the crest of the hill and began the mile-long descent. Aleksandra’s thoughts filled with memories, she was absentmindedly fingering the fossil inside the medicine bag hung about her neck when she felt the first arrow whizz past her head.

Her heart stopped in its tracks and she flung herself to the left side of the Palouse’s neck in a Cossack hang, lying flat against his side.

‘Yah! Yah! Let’s go, Scout!’ she shouted, throwing the reins at him.

He needed little urging to run full tilt down the steep and treacherously rocky trail as the yells of Indian warriors echoed through the narrow valley. The arrows came hard and fast from the southwest, screaming like a mad bunch of hornets.

Smart. Her lips curved in the hint of a wry grin.

The Indians had placed themselves between the trail and the setting sun, so Aleksandra couldn’t see her attackers in the glimpses she stole,from beneath Scout’s neck, of the world whizzing past. With the ground only three feet from her head, the scent of sage filled her nostrils when Scout crashed through a clump of brush. Briefly considering letting go of one of her death-grip holds onto the racing horse to pull a gun from her holster, something akin to suicide, she tightened her lip in a grimace and stayed put, trusting far more in the Palouse’s speed and handiness to save them. Knowing her weight hanging off to one side had to put him off his best, she tried to stay out of his way, keeping as still as possible, tucked down on the side of the skidding and leaping beast. Praying the cinch would hold, she sent fervent thanks to the pony selectors for their choice of horses.

How I’d love to have my bow and arrows, but I only need to get us through to Doc Faust at Rush—

The Palouse interrupted her musings as he threw up his head and reared, angrily trumpeting and shaking his head for a moment, nearly dropping Aleksandra, then resumed his headlong rush down the hill. When he carried on, she heard whistling sounds with every breath and turned her face forward to see where the noise was coming from.

Then she saw the arrow.

~      ~     ~

Author Links:

Website

Goodreads 

Twitter

Long Trail Facebook

Lizzi T. Facebook

Pinterest

Buy Link

Thanks for reading!

Regards,

Lizzi

Favorite Food/Dessert: I’m a little bit of a sugar addict, so it’s very hard for me to choose only one dessert. Food always tells a story and can set a scene. For example, I love S’Mores because they remind me of sleep-away camp and gathering around a campfire with my bunkmates and roasting marshmallow. A good s’more always has a little dirt from the stick in it. I also love sour with my sugar. Last week, Mr. Silver brought home the new 7-11 sour-patch watermelon slurpee. He knew I’d been anxiously awaiting its debut. He handed it to me with a warning, “It’s super sour. You may not like it.” I slurped that sucker back in a second. It was awesome!

Next Project: I’m currently in the middle of my Alpha Heroes series out with Forever Yours. Hot Nights with the Fireman released on July 14, and book 2, In Bed with the Bodyguard, releases October 13. The covers are so super hot, as are the books.

My Hero: My hero is Jason Moore, an uber-sexy firefighter. But he has a soft side, too, and it mostly centers around his vulnerability regarding his learning disability. He spent all of his elementary and high school years feeling inadequate because of an undiagnosed learning disability. It makes him feel as if he’s not good enough for our ivy-league heroine. But he. Oh, boy is he!

ONE SPARK IS ALL IT TAKES

Everyone in Washington, DC, knows that when the heat is on, you call Valerie Wainwright. This brilliant, brassy PR maven can spin any hot scandal, and she’s never let a client ruffle her feathers. Yet when she agrees to teach DC’s bravest how to handle a media frenzy, she faces an entirely different kind of fire. Keeping things all business and no pleasure is far harder than she expected.

After steamy photos ignite the Internet, firefighter Jason Moore instantly goes from hero to bad boy. While he couldn’t care less about an online rep, he cares a lot about his job and saving lives. If Valerie can help clear his name, he’ll do what she says-even if it means forcing himself to keep his hands off her. But beneath Valerie’s cool cover, Jason feels a smoldering desire that lights his own. And this is one inferno he’ll definitely want to stoke . . .

ISBN: 9781455591343

Release Date: July 14, 2015

Publisher: Grand Central Forever Yours

Price: $3.99 (eBook) $16.00 (paperback)

Word Length: 65,000

Buy Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1c0Rx9s

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1Kst3C7

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1AJ0Q9Z

iBooks: http://apple.co/1EOyia4

IndieBound: http://bit.ly/1d9MdBs

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1d9LPTK

About the Author: Romance author, Lynne Silver, writes the popular Coded for Love series and other hot contemporary romance novels, such as Love, Technically. Before writing romance, she wrote fiction of a different sort, drafting press releases for technology corporations. Washington DC is her home (non) state, where she resides with her husband and two sons. She is represented by literary agent, Jessica Alvarez of Bookends LLC. 

Stalker Links:

 Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/tU2O5

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lynnesilverauthor

Website: www.lynnesilver.com

Excerpts:

PR Maven Valerie has her own bad history with house fires. Getting up close and personal with a bunch of firefighters is SO not her idea of fun, but when she gets called in to redeem a group of them who behaved badly, one in particular, catches her eye. 

She looked around the room to see if the firefighter whose hot body graced the pictures was in the house. Hmm. Her eyes scanned the room and then, holy hell, her gaze came to rest on him. It was the firefighter from the picture. The one who could’ve been on a firefighter calendar. He sat stony-faced with a blank notepad and pen at the ready.

In person she saw that his hair wasn’t black as she’d thought, but dark, dark brown, and when the sun streaming through the window hit it, flecks of blond and red came through as if he had flames leaping in the strands of his hair. His massive strong body filled the typical conference room chair, while his muscular forearms rested on the desk at his front.

And his smile in person wasn’t just naughty. It was naughty and knowing, as if to say he knew you wanted him.

Damn him. She kind of…did.

“Before I highlight my plan for rehabbing your image, I’d love to hear what really happened. I don’t like to be surprised. An image on social media tells one story, I want to hear yours.”

To her surprise, all eyes swung, not to the sexy dark-haired man at the front who was at the center of the controversy, but to the back, where Dan the flirt sat with his legs up on a chair in front of him, and his arms folded behind his head.

“What can I say—” he started to drawl.

“You can say nothing other than a clear play-by-play of the events leading up to me being in front of you today,” she interrupted, knowing she needed to get a firm handle on the group of men or they’d walk all over her. “I’m not going to explore the reasons one of you was parading nude with sorority girls in your government place of work, but the fact remains, you let it get photographed. First mistake.”

A hand raised in front. It was him, the firefighter who’d been photographed in the buff, the one whose pictures she stared at long into last night. For work reasons, she’d told herself, strictly professional.

“Yes?” She swiveled to face him.

“I wasn’t naked. I had a towel.” His voice was low, deep, and slightly gravelly. And then the man grinned, and her heart thumped with an uneven jump as her weak legs wobbled. She took a breath as the classroom volume rose with chuckles.

Cynthia asked me to explain a little about me and my latest release, My Hunted Highlander, which is Book #3 in the Kilted Athletes Through Time series, and my 6th Scottish time travel romance.

How did you get started writing?

Nancy- The week my youngest son returned from a tour in Iraq, I sat with a yellow legal pad in the back of my Jeep while we drove to Vermont to visit my older son. It was as if a huge dam had broken. I wrote my first romance and it gained the attention of a publisher, but didn’t sell. I sold it years later to another publisher after a thorough re-write.

What genres do you write in and why?

Nancy- I have written tales about dragon shifters, the Loch Ness monster, a military reunion romance, and romantic suspense. My son helped me with the terminology of the military romance. The Scottish time travel romance genre came about with my love for books like Outlander. I volunteer every fall at the New Hampshire Highland Games surrounded by kilted men, bagpipes, and Scottish shortbread. Ideas popped up!

What move best describes your life? Why?

Nancy- I am a loner. Never felt I was, during my 30+ years working, and living with the same man, but I am happy to sit at home and write. My husband-bless his heart-works hard to pay the bills so I can do what I have grown to love. Writing is a wonderful occupation. I need to get these thoughts out of my head and onto a computer screen.

How much time do you spend promoting your books?

Nancy- Promotion is a dirty word to some people, but it is a fact of life for authors. If I don’t tell someone about my book, who will? I am no longer traditionally published, and not by choice. My former publishers closed their doors. I am what we call an Indie Author, though I continue to pitch projects to agents and publishers. I like being a blog guest, and usually offer a giveaway. I tweet, post on Facebook, participate in Yahoo groups and post on Pinterest. These all take me away from writing, so I do what I can, then get back to my laptop.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

Nancy- Self-publishing is difficult yet freeing. On the one hand, I have to pay someone to edit my books, I create my own covers, format my manuscripts, upload to distributors, and plan all my own promotions. When represented by publishers, they provided editors, covers and limited promotion. The up-side is that I am in charge of everything. What you see is what you get. If I post a tweet, that is me, though I would love to hire an assistant. Someday…

What is your favorite dessert/food?

Nancy- Scottish shortbread! The best I have ever tasted are round, thick, and maple-glazed cookies, though I am partial to those dotted with tiny chocolate chips.

Do you belong to a writing organization? Have the helped?

Nancy- I feel every newbie writer should join an organization, even if meetings are not available locally. I am in luck because a Romance Writers of America chapter meets in the Raleigh, NC area. I am also a member of two on-line RWA chapters, and am a member of the local Triangle Area Freelancers, who meet once a month two miles from my home. Yes, they have all helped, and have kept me from turning into a hermit.

What’s next for you?

Nancy- So many ideas, so little time! My next book is a romantic suspense that will be released in early August. IGNITE: a White Mountains Thriller is a story from my heart. I was an EMT, firefighter, and 9-1-1 dispatcher, so my paramedic-firefighter characters were fun to write. Then, I will complete a novel I will pitch to agents and editors. I have another thriller under my bed that I may release to follow SHIVER and IGNITE, since they are set in the same small New Hampshire location. I would also like to bring out all six of my Scottish time travel novels in one boxed set.

Book Blurb for My Hunted Highlander
Plucked naked from the North sea, Niall Sinclair wakes bound to the mast of a pirate ship. Hiding his identity, his reaction to their female captain makes him nearly forget his need to escape. Kidnapped from modern day New Hampshire, and now at the helm of a pirate ship in 1603 Scotland, Blair MacIan sees Niall as a chance to escape to her world.

Where can readers by your book?

Amazon   NOOK   Smashwords

iBooks   AllRomance

Amazon print  Barnes and Noble Print

Books-A-Million    Book Depository

More About Nancy Lee Badger
Award-winning author, Nancy Lee Badger, loves chocolate-chip shortbread, wool plaids wrapped around the trim waist of a Scottish Highlander, the clang of broadswords, and the sound of bagpipes in the air. After growing up in Huntington, New York, and raising two handsome sons in New Hampshire, she moved to North Carolina where she writes full-time. A former EMT, volunteer firefighter, and 911 Dispatcher, Nancy writes about kilted Highlanders, heart-broken dragons, and romantic thrillers and is a member of Romance Writers of America, Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, Fantasy-Futuristic & Paranormal Romance Writers, Triangle Area Freelancers, and the Celtic Heart Romance Writers.

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Enter to WIN

Ebook versions of either

of the first two novels in the

Kilted Athletes Through Time series

My Lady Highlander

or

My Dark Highlander

Two Winners will be Chosen August 6th

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Thank you, Cindy, for having me on your blog today. I’m really excited to be here.

How did you get started writing?

I’ve always been a writer, so to speak. I wrote some poems while I was in school that won awards and are published somewhere, that sort of thing. But it was my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Stultz, who really kick started my focus on writing. He’d often say, “Jackie, if you don’t stop talking, you’re going to miss recess, during which you will write the entire time.” As often as he had said it, one would think I’d eventually learn. I didn’t. What I did learn was how to rewrite the words that were on the front and back of a very large index card, which was an apology for my rambling misbehavior, in his words not mine.  And, to make things worse, if I didn’t get it written at least 25 times, I had to stay in the next day to do it all over again. With my mind constantly drifting off to places and things I’d have much rather written about, I missed out on a lot of recess that year. He was an exceptional teacher, though. He taught me a lot about the world, including how to show respect to others, to listen, watch, and learn.

Tell us about your current series.

My current series is the Emerging From Darkness trilogy—Seeking Love, Seeking Redemption, and the soon to be released, Seeking Hope. It is a story about Jessica Winters, a thirty-two year old registered nurse who, after tragedy and deceit have driven her to take refuge deep under the dark clouds of depression, finds herself caught up in a seductive and life-changing romance with Matthew Moi, a sex therapist who lovingly guides her out of the numbness and back into the light. Alive with a passion she once thought would never again be possible, Jessica learns to laugh again, to love again, and even trust a man again. However, forgiveness and one final demon from her past prove daunting as she continues her journey seeking redemption and hope. Contrary to the title of this trilogy, while it is a roller coaster of a story, it is full of humor. After all, humor is the best medicine, the perfect antidote to dark sadness, and is free.

What inspired your latest book?

It’s a story I have always wanted to tell. No secrets here, it’s deep, has many levels, and has made readers both laugh out loud and ugly cry. More importantly, when I write and show a story, I want my readers to find the hidden gems. I want them to really see the character’s growth and feel all the emotions the H/h experience as they follow along in the journey. I try to make it the reader’s journey, as well, where hopefully they come away having learned something, too. So I guess you could say that teachable moments inspire me.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Editing. That’s when I add the soul of the story in, hopefully giving it those little pieces that really make it come alive, make it special.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Handing it over to the editor.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

My experience has been amazing. I’ve met so many wonderful people that I likely would never have otherwise. It certainly is a learning curve like no other. In fact, I’ve often told people that I think doing CPR on a dead person is easier. Please note: CPR is never easy! Having done both, I can honestly say that writing is hands down a whole lot more fun.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

The shower. It’s as if the flood gates open the instant I get in there. I don’t know what it is about the shower. TMI? Sorry. (wink)

Tell us about your hero.  Give us one of his strengths and one of his weaknesses.

Tell you about Matthew Moi. Well, he’s a psychiatrist who specializes in sex therapy and he’s pretty darn good at what he does, probably too good. Spoilers would occur here if I told you any more about him. As it is, I might have already told you too much. But, it’s safe to say that his biggest weakness is the love of his life—Jess. He’d go to the ends of the Earth for her, and I’d say he actually did.

Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?   

Holding your books in your hands is an amazing feeling, a huge accomplishment within itself. But when someone you don’t know emails you about your book, that’s a special feeling. I am very humbled that people have purchased and read them. I truly appreciate that they’ve taken time to immerse themselves inside a world I created, and then reached out with an email to tell me about it. That’s the best! Thank you readers. J

 And thank you again, Cindy, for having me on your blog today; I really appreciate it. I also love questions and comments. So feel free to leave them. I’m always happy to connect!  

 Seeking Love

354 pages

Blurb:

Every day, Jessica Winters does what she does best—bury herself in patient care within the walls of the neuro intensive care unit, keeping herself busy to escape the dark sadness that controls her life. But the day she sees Matthew Moi, the intriguing man seated at her new patient’s bedside, her shattered heart begins to frantically beat once again.

As Matthew pins his mesmerizing gaze upon her, trying to distract her with his humorous and playful banter, she does her best to ignore him. Somehow he already knows a great deal about her, breaking down Jessica’s barriers and awakening her soul, drawing her out of the darkness and into his arms.

When her painful past resurfaces, revealing truths that threaten her future, Jessica struggles through her issues and fights to stay on a healing path . . . seeking love.

Buy Links:

Amazon US: bit.ly/SeekingLove

iBooks: bit.ly/SeekingLoveiBks

Barnes & Noble: bit.ly/SeekingLoveBN

Kobo: bit.ly/SLKobo

All Romance: bit.ly/SeekingLoveARe

Excerpt:

One thing I knew: I wasn’t that woman anymore. I wouldn’t be her anymore.

My heart was racing at the thought of being separated from Matthew by only the door, and I watched as it opened, knowing he stood mere feet away. I drew in a deep breath to calm my frantic nerves and steady my racing heart. It was the moment my eyes would see him again, and the same moment I knew all involuntary muscle movements would cease.

As Matthew stepped in and around the door, his alluring eyes captured me. The feeling was nothing new. I’d been imprisoned by his gaze before. And locked in it again, I watched as he drifted to me, the indisputable chemistry between us palpable and absolute. His mesmerizing eyes had hypnotized my burning soul, completely bewitching me.

“Hello, Jessica,” he murmured, pointing to an open area of the bed. “Mind if I sit?”

I gave a slight shake of my head, having difficulty forming the simple word “no,” and watched as he made himself comfortable facing me. His crisp charcoal-colored trousers bunched as he scooted on the bed. My sight roamed along his classic plum-colored dress shirt and stopped searching once I focused on his face.

About the Author:

J.M. Maurer lives with her family in Chicago. She makes it a point to never work on a full moon and cringes when a coworker uses the “Q” word—never, ever say, “It’s a quiet day today,” at her day job.

Known for being overly superstitious, she can usually be found scraping at the remnants of a Nutella container, screaming at a hockey game, or putting pen to paper, allowing the “real” crazy voices in her head to come alive. And after all this, it’s no wonder she’s an incurable romantic and loves escaping the rat race of life to immerse herself inside the world of a really good romance book . . . because, after all, what’s better than a happily-ever-after?

Find J.M. Maurer Here:

Website: http://jmmaurer.com

Blog: http://jmmaurer.com/blog.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JMMaurerAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JMMaurer1

Goodreads: bit.ly/GoodreadsJMMaurer

tsu: http://www.tsu.co/JMicheleMaurer

Amazon Author Page: bit.ly/AmznJMMaurer

Google +: https://plus.google.com/u/0/114458635563041639090/posts

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jmmaurerauthor/

How did you get started writing?

Since I was a little girl, I’ve been compelled to write. When I would walk home from the school bus, I would narrate my life to myself in third person.

What genre do you write and why?

I write historical western romances, set in the American southwest. I was born and raised in Arizona and have always been interested in history.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Taking a raw idea and refining it. And refining it. And refining it. 🙂

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Those moments—and there are many—when the story has many gaping holes and I wonder if I’ll be able to pull it all together.

What is your next project and when will it be released?

I’m working on Book Five of my Wings of the West series, titled THE BLUEBIRD. It’s set in Creede, Colorado in 1893 and throws my heroine, Molly Rose Simms, into a mining partnership with a man known as The Jackal. It’s set to be released in December 2015.

How has your experience with self-publishing been?

It’s been wonderful. While it’s an enormous amount of work, I like having control over every aspect of my work. However, I still like collaborating and continue to work with a fabulous small press, Prairie Rose Publications.

Do you have a view in your writing space? What does your space look like?

I have a small office, adjacent to my husband who also works from home, but I snagged the window. We live in the Arizona desert so I have a nice view of saguaro cactus, wide-open sky, and lots of birds (I have two feeders right outside my window). Many quail, sparrows, cactus wrens, mourning doves, finches, thrashers, and cardinals. More rarely I’ve also seen large hawks, sparrowhawks, and great-horned owls. I even saw two African lovebirds one afternoon. I thought they were parakeets, but apparently there is a small, wild population in the Phoenix area.

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

I love Old West romances, naturally. I also enjoy adventure stories and read a lot of memoirs along those lines. Lately, I’ve been reading a lot of non-fiction books about whales. I’m very drawn to them.

When did you start writing toward publication?

I was in my 30’s and a stay-at-home mom to my four children. My mind was turning to mush, so I decided to try writing a novel. That book, THE WREN, was published by a small press. It was a wonderful opportunity, but in hindsight I think I was published too soon. I didn’t really have a good grasp of the craft. After 12 years, I think my work has greatly improved. When I took back the rights on my Wings series (the first 3 books) and self-published them last year, I cleaned them up quite a bit. They’re perhaps still not my most refined writing, but they were the start of my career and I have a soft spot for them. They really represent my writing apprenticeship.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?

Keep going. It sounds cliché, but you truly learn by doing. It doesn’t seem like writing should be that hard, but it takes skill to work with words and imagery. I’m constantly learning new things. I really love it. You’ll know if you’re not meant to be a writer because the tediousness of it will easily drive you away. But if it doesn’t, then you’ve found your passion and your tribe.

Bio

Kristy McCaffrey has been writing since she was very young, but it wasn’t until she was a stay-at-home mom that she considered becoming published. She’s the author of several historical western romances, all set in the American southwest. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, two chocolate labs, and whichever of their four teenaged children happen to be in residence. She loves to travel and frequently blogs about her adventures.

Connect with Kristy

Website: http://www.kristymccaffrey.com

Blog ~ Pathways:  http://www.kristymccaffrey.blogspot.com/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristyMcCaffrey

Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/McCaffreyKristy

Buy Links for THE WREN (Wings of the West Series BOOK ONE)

Captured by Comanche as a child, Molly Hart was assumed dead. Ten years later, Texas Ranger Matt Ryan finds a woman with the same blue eyes.

Kindle

http://amzn.com/B00NTHOKAC

Nook

http://bn.com/s/2940046189650

Kobo

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-wren-1

Smashwords

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/478874

iBooks

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-wren/id922215314?mt=11

Excerpt from THE WREN

“Mind explaining how the hell you could be Molly Hart?” he (Matt) asked in a voice brimming with contempt.

“I was taken that night by the men who attacked the ranch.”

“Comanche?”

She shook her head. “No. A group of Comanche attacked us much later, after we’d ridden a while. Most of the men were killed, and nearly all were scalped. The Indians took me then.”

A flash of lightning illuminated the room and lit the broken frame of a bed still lying in the corner. Her little sister’s bed. She and Emma had shared this room as children.

“And how do you explain the girl’s body we found? And the gold cross?”

“After I rode with the Comanche for a time, another band joined up with us. There were several white captives with them. One was a girl near my age.” Molly paused, then continued quietly, “She was quite hysterical, and the Comanche were impatient. One of them shot her with an arrow, nailing her to a tree. Some of the others seemed upset at the one who had done this, but by then it was too late. She was already dead. So they burned her. I threw my cross at her feet—it was all I could do for her. It was all I could manage because I was trying so hard not to scream myself.”

Molly swallowed past the lump in her throat, remembering the terror she had lived with in those early days. On the edge of her mind, the thought loomed time and again that her own gruesome end was imminent.

Matt appeared pushed to the edge, uncertainty clouding his features.

“If what you’re saying is true,” he ground out, “then where’ve you been for the last ten years? It wasn’t unheard of for Comanches to barter their prisoners to the army in exchange for goods. I handled such exchanges myself several times.”

“You did?” Had he been nearby during her captivity? Could he have somehow helped her?

“Were you in the army?”

“For a time.”

“I don’t remember much contact with other white men. I wasn’t really kept prisoner. I was adopted into the lodge of a Comanche called Bull Runner and raised with his two daughters.”

“How’d you get away?”

“I was with them for eight winters before they left me with a trader in New Mexico.”

“Which tribe were you with?”

“The Kwahadi,” she answered.

“They were always fairly remote,” he said. “I never dealt directly with them.”

So he wasn’t as close to her as she initially thought.

“Why did they trade you after eight years?” he asked.

“There was some confusion about an offer of marriage for me. Bull Runner’s eldest daughter was angry. He chose to return me to my people as a gesture of goodwill.”

“Goodwill, my ass,” Matt said scornfully. “He held you hostage for eight years.”

“Then, you believe me?”

Today I welcome Guy Ogan to my blog with his Paranormal-Romance IMMORTAL RELATIONS series. First Guy, tell us a little about yourself and your writing by answering some questions.

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How did you get started writing? I’ve always been involved in some aspect of writing. In my youth I ran in long distance events (10 to 26 miles) and submitted articles about the races to magazines such as “The Long-Distance Log” and of course there were always writing assignments in school. As I got older, my interest in hot-rods and custom cars, trucks and motorcycles resulted in my writing articles about car shows which I submitted to “Cruisin’ Style Magazine”(see pictures of my cars).  In the military I did a lot of procedural writing, helping others perform their duties.

What genre(s) do you write in and why? I now write for fun and include a lot of things I believe in and have learned during a rather full life. I find that the Paranormal genre’ provides me the greatest freedom of expression; however, since there is what I call “explicit togetherness” (sex) in the stories (especially in the first book). One of the editors told me that my stories fit best into the classification of “Paranormal-Romance.”

Tell us about your current series. What started me writing the series was finding out that my late father had had a tryst at the end of WW-II when he was assigned to assist Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) as it tried to form a new government after the Nazis were driven out. In the first book my alter-ego goes to Prague to find where the picture he found of his father (shown on page two of the first book) was taken. There he meets a beautiful, if mysterious, younger lady who knows far more about his late father than seems possible. Things get “interesting” from that point as Gary falls in love with her, even though he realizes she is much more than meets the eye.

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What inspired your latest book? When I joined the military, I took an oath “To uphold and defend the Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and domestic.” I believe our Constitution and Bill of Rights are currently being systematically attacked. This premise is what causes my good, loyal vampires to form a new coven in Southern Canada to monitor what is going on…they don’t wish to see America go the way Germany went in 1933.

What is your favorite part of writing? Communing, if you will, with my characters as I write their story (that is how writing seems to me). The story comes to me in a flood of words as if my characters are telling me what they have done or are planning to do. I have to type very fast to keep up! (-;

What is your least favorite part of writing? I’d be surprised if any Indie author says anything other than “Trying to interest readers in their works!” Getting the word out about my series is very difficult, regardless of how unique and interesting I believe the stories are. There are two exceptions, I find Blogging to be enjoyable and really have a lot of fun flanked at book signings by a pair of friends (authors who each write in a different genre’).

What is your next project and when will it be released? I’m stepping away from the Paranormal to write a fictional work about time-travel back to the prehistoric era of dinosaurs. My seven year old granddaughter LOVES dinosaurs so I’m writing a book where she, I and a paleontologist friend of mine construct a time-machine that takes us on a tour of every period of early animal development, from the Cambrian Period (about 540 million years ago) through the ages of dinosaurs to the extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period (around 66 million years ago). There may be a small “excursion” into the Pleistocene Epoch to see later animals such as Smilodon (aka: Saber-toothed Tiger). I’m not sure if this will be “published” or not…it depends upon how interesting the story that goes along with the details about the dinosaurs themselves. I feel confident that there will be plenty of running and screaming involved with visiting dinosaurs and saber-toothed tigers…I’ll just have to decide if the finished work is worth the effort to do more than give a draft copy to my little granddaughter Lily! (-;

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How much time do you spend promoting your books and what works best?  I feel I spend far too much time on social media each day, which cuts deeply into my writing! As far as what seems to work best, Hasting’s Bookstores often take local Indie author’s books on consignment and set up book signings at their locations. I’ve done well selling books at these events and enjoy immensely talking with visitors to the events about any topic that interests them.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories? I’m what they call a “pantser” (flying by the seat of my pants)! I sit at my computer and let the story come to me. I’m very much someone who “thinks outside the box” and my imagination is extremely well developed, so I have the opposite of what is called “writer’s block.” I’m flooded with ideas for storylines and must pick and choose what seems to work best.

What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish? First, write what you’re interested in writing. It helps to be knowledgeable about the time or topic that fits the story; however, you should also do a fair amount of research as well. It is always helpful to have several friends read your draft and make helpful comments. If you can afford a professional editor who knows the genre well then use him or her after you’ve made your best effort to polish the work yourself. But don’t listen to those who say you’ll fail! If you have written the best story you can and you enjoy it, then I feel you haven’t failed – only that readers have failed to find your book(s) up to that point ( but don’t quit your day job). LOL

Guy’s first book in the series is titled, ” Immortal Relations” and he says the first two pages reveal what his father did at the end of WW-II, which Guy only found out about after the passing of his parents – this event is what caused Guy to start writing the series.

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EXCERPT from “Immortal Relations”

This pertains to something I feel very strongly and get emotional about. I believe dogs are God’s gift to mankind to teach us about unconditional love and loyalty; they deserve both our love and loyalty in return. My first book is dedicated to a no-kill shelter for bully breed dogs – unlike the common belief, I found these dogs to be both gentle and loving even after being abused by cruel humans.

We continued to monitor the screens, but nothing else happened until about 9 p.m. when I saw a large man chasing a little dog down a side street. He carried what looked like a rusty old pipe. Fearing he’d kill the dog, I asked Evy if we could do anything? She said they’d never responded to help an animal… I felt that I had to do something to help the dog and asked where that street was.

“Four streets to the north and about a mile to the east,” she said.

My love for little animals hadn’t abated any by becoming a vampire, and I said I needed to do something to help that dog.

Maggie said she’d go with me. It was dark and a weeknight, so little traffic and no pedestrians were out. I ran the mile without stopping to confront the man. I moved so fast, no human could see me. As I flew by the man, I tapped the end of the iron pipe, causing it to fly out of his hand and I caught the pipe as I continued on. This occurred so fast, his brain couldn’t register what had happened; he slowed and looked at his hands and then stopped to turn around, looking behind him for the pipe he must have dropped. By this time, I’d stopped in the shadows under some trees a mile farther down and simply crushed the old iron pipe into dust.

It was then that Maggie found me. “I’ve never seen anyone run that fast. You didn’t run that fast at the quarry… how could you run so much faster now?”

I looked at her and said, “I was running for fun at the quarry, but just now, I had to save that little dog. I just can’t stand to see a small animal hurt or killed.”

She hugged and kissed me, “I think you are One Of the most softhearted people, let alone vampires, that ever existed.”

I shrugged, “I wish it were this easy to save all the unwanted animals; in America, they kill many thousands of dogs and cats each day, just because no one wants them.” It always broke my heart to even think about such a thing.

Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B006ZCBT6G I’ve lowered the price on all three books to $.99 each

The second book in Guy’s series is, “Immortal Relations, Love and War” and Guy describes it as “Action on Steroids.” He says, “If someone believes they wouldn’t like a Paranormal-Romance because of the ‘romance’ in such a book, this one will change their minds if they like a lot of action.”

EXCERPT from “Immortal Relations, Love and War”

It was a short flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg. There our party was met by two limousines and whisked along to the historic Hermitage Museum. Arriving, it looked to me like the whole world was there. I didn’t know why President Kolukov had asked me to wear the Russian General Uniform he gave me, but I wanted to humor my good friend. We exited the limousine onto a red velvet carpet that had wide gold piping down each side and which looked to be almost 400 meters long. I thought it odd that President Kolukov had me stand to his left and next to him, when Stephan was senior In rank to my uniform. When we got to the head of the carpet, we turned. Stephan and Adam moving behind us, I looked up and turning the corner onto the same red carpet we had just traveled was someone I would recognize anywhere, under any circumstances. It was Magdalena, on the arm of Roger, Our doctor. At first I was confused, but when I saw the dress she wore, an exact copy of her hand made blue dress, only in brilliant white and then heard the music, I realized what was happening; Magdalena and I were getting married! My friends had somehow arranged all this without even a hint that I picked up on. I had already glanced at some of those on either side of the isle and thought I recognized some political figures from various countries.

As Magdalena was escorted slowly forward, I was unable to look anywhere else; she was the only thing that existed in my universe. When she got close, I noticed she had a ribbon with a gold star hanging from it pinned over her left breast. I’d seen a similar medal, back when it was called “Hero of the Soviet Union,” but this one had the double eagle of the Russian Federation. Only an old “war horse” like me would notice that when the woman he loved stood in front of him!

An Eastern Orthodox Priest spoke the vows, translated Into English for. me. Magdalena didn’t need a translator as she spoke several languages, Russian being one of them. We both answered “I do” and “l will,” then I was asked to put the ring on Magdalena’s finger — I started to panic, but Kolukov stepped forward and handed me a ring. My eyes bulged when I looked at it as it must have been five carats of a Red Ruby mounted in Gold! He said it’s just a little bobble courtesy of the Russian people and the Hermitage. I placed it On the finger of my bride, we were officially married and we kissed. Maggie read my thought and on impulse we both turned and kissed Kolukov, each of us on a different side of his face. He broke out in loud laughter and said, “Everything has been taken care of for tonight, but the car will be there to pick you both up at 0900 tomorrow. That’s 9 am in case you’ve forgotten Gary.” He joked, as if I’d ever forget the 24 hour military clock.

The two of us shook hands with Stephan, Adam and Roger, and then we made a bee-line to the limo that pulled up nearby as the driver beckoned to us. I was too busy looking into the dark pools of eternity that were Maggie’s eyes! There were a million questions to ask on how they’d done all this and kept it a secret, but I didn’t Want to break the spell I was under, I wanted the spell to last forever (or at least until we had to board the aircraft tomorrow morning).

Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00A4IEHL6 I’ve lowered the price on all three books to $.99 each

The third book in Guy’s Immortal Relations series is “Immortal Relations Coming Out.” After saving mankind from a nuclear war, terrorist acts and ecological disasters, the good vampires discuss “coming out” to humans. Letting them know that not all vampires are evil and that they really do exist. There is a lot of political intrigue in the story; however, in the following excerpt, Vlad Dracula explains how he became one of the original vampires (but is now a ‘reformed’ vampire).

EXCERPT from “Immortal Relations Coming Out”

“It was a very long time ago; we were fighting what you would call ‘an asymmetrical war’ against Sultan Mehmet the Conqueror and his Muslim invaders who outnumbered us at least three to one. I was looking for anything to slow them down. I guess you would say I used psychological warfare by building the ‘forest’ Of impaled enemy soldiers and others defeated in previous battles. While we had numerous successes against units of the enemy, we were unable to hold off so large an invading army. It was about this time I was changed into what I am today.

I was always in the front lines of battle and routinely soaked in blood. Perhaps that is what changed me into a vampire. One of my own Generals saw me surrounded by enemies and saw blood spurting up in the air. Thinking it was my blood he sent word that I’d been killed. My dear distraught wife threw herself from the heights of my Poenari Castle into the Arges River below.

Then my second cousin, Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary, from whom I had sought help in prosecuting the war, imprisoned me, Locked away, I soon became crazed with the desire for blood I would have other-wise found on the battlefield. Many fellow prisoners died because of it and after my escape I was a plague on the land. It took all too long before I regained some sense of my lost humanity.”

With downcast eyes Vlad thought, That is where the myths, legends and stories about me started – I’m afraid I earned them all.

I reached over and patted him on the arm, “I’m sorry I brought up a topic that has induced clearly painful memories for you.”

Vlad smiled at me, “No, it is alright. If you haven’t heard the story before, I think you need to know the type of vampire you follow. I hope it won’t detract from our relationship.”

“Never fear of my continued admiration and respect for you. You were a great leader fighting to free your people from an oppressive invader. Since you had no one to guide you after you were changed, as a ‘newborn’ vampire you did what came naturally. However, it begs the question, how did you stop?”

“I married again and she helped me overcome the constant thirst, giving me some of her own blood, and lead me back to God.”

With tears in my eyes I thought, Women are clearly the superior gender, without them we men would be little better than wild beasts.

Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B00G5BQS18 I’ve lowered the price on all three books to $.99 each

Guy’s Bio (short version): Guy was born in Washington D.C., grew up in Arlington Virginia but completed High School and Junior College in Los Altos, California. He then transferred and graduated from TCU  in Fort Worth, Texas, immediately joining the USAF as a 2nd Lt. serving a little over 20 years. While in the service, he completed a Master of Arts through Ball State’s European Campus and upon retirement he completed a Master of Education from Hardin-Simmons in Abilene, Texas. He operated a clinic to evaluate and treat children, adolescents and adults suffering from A.D.D. before taking a job with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, writing treatment programs for inmates and later served as an Associate Clinical Psychologist doing inmate psychological assessments. Now Guy enjoys writing and loves to read, especially novels by other Indie authors, always leaving helpful and positive reviews! Guy also enjoys a pair of customized 60s era cars and a late model Roush Mustang.

More about the Immortal Relations series can be found on my Blog site: http://immortalrelations.blogspot.com/

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I started out writing heart-tugging, angst-filled romance and romantic suspense. When the chick lit craze hit, I decided to try my hand at writing that genre and realized very quickly that I enjoyed writing humorous first person books. Then one day an editor told my agent she was looking for a crafting mystery series. I’d worked for many years as a crafts designer for book and magazine publishers and kit manufacturers. My agent thought I should try my hand at writing a mystery series. The rest is history.

In addition, I’ve also published a children’s chapter book, edited a multi-author combination advice/cookbook, contributed to an anthology about the TV show “House,” and written a book on writing. 

Tell us about your current series.

I currently write the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series. To date there are five full-length books (Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun, Death by Killer Mop Doll, Revenge of the Crafty Corpse, Decoupage Can Be Deadly, and A Stitch to Die For) as well as three mini-mysteries (Crewel Intentions, Mosaic Mayhem, and Patchwork Peril.)

Anastasia Pollack is a wife, mother, and crafts editor for a women’s magazine. Her comfortable middle-class life comes crashing down around her when her husband, Karl Marx Pollack, dies suddenly, and she discovers his well-hidden gambling addiction. Karl leaves her with two teenage sons, no savings, enormous debt, and Lucille, the communist mother-in-law from Hell. While attempting to dig her way out of debt, Anastasia gets caught up in a murder that forces her to become a reluctant amateur sleuth.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

A Stitch to Die For is the newest book in the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series: Ever since her husband died and left her in debt equal to the gross national product of Uzbekistan, magazine crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack has stumbled across one dead body after another—but always in work-related settings. When a killer targets the elderly nasty neighbor who lives across the street from her, murder strikes too close to home. Couple that with a series of unsettling events days before Halloween, and Anastasia begins to wonder if someone is sending her a deadly message. 

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

I get most of my plot ideas from the news. In A Stitch to Die For I’ve incorporated several recent news stories, including the proliferation of swatting incidents that have been cropping up around the country. 

Do you have critique partners?

I’ve had a series of excellent critique partners over the years. For the last several years I’ve work with suspense author Donnell Ann Bell. 

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?

I have a shirt that states, “Careful, or you’ll end up in my novel.” It’s the absolute truth. Lucille, Anastasia’s belligerent communist mother-in-law, is patterned after my own mother-in-law. I consider it payback for all the years of nastiness she directed toward me while she was alive. 

Was your road to publication fraught with peril or a walk in the park?

How I wish it had been a walk in the park! It took me 10 years, nearly to the day I first sat down to write, to sell a book. I had the worst luck. Every time I was close to receiving an offer of publication, something would prevent it from happening. Editors left; lines folded; publishers merged—all putting the brakes on impending contract offers. 

Tell us about your heroine.  Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses.

Working mom Anastasia Pollack was leading a typical middle-class life in the suburbs until she found herself one step away from living in a cardboard box on the street, thanks to her Dead Louse of a Spouse. As if that weren’t enough, she’s got both her communist mother-in-law and her Russian princess mother living with her—along with a menagerie that includes an inherited Shakespeare-quoting parrot.

Anastasia’s strength is her capacity to make the best of the rotten hand she’s been dealt. It helps that she has both a sense of humor and the support of photojournalist (and possible spy) Zachary Barnes, the hunky guy who’s rented the apartment above her garage.

Her weakness is any form of baked goods, especially ones that contain chocolate. 

What did you want to be when you were a child?  Did you always know you wanted to be a writer?

When I was eight years old, I decided I wanted to be an astronaut—until I discovered in ninth grade that NASA isn’t interested in vertically challenged astronauts prone to motion sickness.

Writing was something that came much later in my life, after a story one day popped into my head. Countless revisions and many years passed before that story became my second published book.

Do you have any rejection stories to share?

For nearly 10 years I’ve worked as an associate at the agency that represents me. After reading countless queries and manuscripts, I realized that most manuscripts are rejected for one or more of only a handful of reasons. I started giving writing workshops where I outlined these reasons. Many writers who took the workshop urged me to write a book on the subject. That book is Top Ten Reasons Your Novel is Rejected and is available in both paperback and as an ebook.

A Stitch to Die For-excerpt

 After nearly an hour of battling rush hour traffic, I finally arrived home, relieved to find neither Ira’s van nor Lawrence’s car parked at the curb. After last night’s chaos, I looked forward to a relatively peaceful dinner—relatively being the operative word. After all, I never knew what to expect from my mother-in-law.

However, as I turned to head into the house, an unexpected shaft of bright light caught my eye. Across the street, Betty Bentworth’s door stood half ajar, the glow from her foyer chandelier spilling out onto her front porch.

Betty—otherwise known as Batty Bentworth—spent her life seated in front of her living room window where she spied on her neighbors. She kept the Westfield police on speed dial, often calling multiple times a day to complain about anything and everything, once even demanding the arrest of her six-year-old next-door neighbor for vandalism. The child’s crime? She’d drawn a chalk hopscotch board on the sidewalk in front of Betty’s house.

Batty Bentworth was not someone who left her front door open—especially after dark.

Like everyone else in the neighborhood, I kept my distance from Mrs. Bentworth. You never knew what would set her off, and it was best not to get on her bad side. Not that she had a good side from what I knew of her.

Still, I couldn’t ignore that open door. Rather than head across the street, I decided to call her. Maybe she’d gone out earlier to retrieve her mail, and the door hadn’t latched completely when she returned. The stiff October breeze blowing down the street may have pushed the door open.

I whipped out my cell phone, scrolled to her number, and placed the call. The phone rang. And rang. And rang. After a dozen rings I hung up, sighed, and reluctantly crossed the street.

“Hello? Mrs. Bentworth?” I called through the open door. No answer. I shouted her name. “Mrs. Bentworth!” Only the sound of the six o’clock news blaring from her television greeted me.

I stepped inside and shouted above the Eyewitness News reporter. “Mrs. Bentworth! It’s Anastasia Pollack. Your front door is open.”

A sense of déjà vu washed over me. Less than two weeks earlier I’d discovered Rosalie Schneider, another elderly neighbor, unconscious at the bottom of her basement stairs. I took a few steps into the foyer and turned toward the dimly lit living room. Batty Bentworth sat on her sofa, a multi-colored crocheted granny square afghan draped across her lap, her gaze fixated on the news broadcasting from an old black and white console television set.

“Mrs. Bentworth, didn’t you hear me?”

When she didn’t respond, I stepped between her and the television. She continued to ignore me, but now I knew why. Batty Bentworth was dead—but not from natural causes.

Buy Links

Paperback http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1940795303/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1940795303&linkCode=as2&tag=loiswins-20&linkId=LBEMP6U7TVMCBQMT

 Kindle http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010M9U5Q2/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B010M9U5Q2&linkCode=as2&tag=loiswins-20&linkId=ZRX4XIA2N5VX6ARK

 Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-stitch-to-die-for-lois-winston/1122259040?ean=2940150965928

 iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-stitch-to-die-for/id1014678389?mt=11

 Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-stitch-to-die-for

 Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Lois_Winston_A_Stitch_to_Die_For?id=XZEbCgAAQBAJ&hl=en

 Bio:

USA Today bestselling and award-winning author Lois Winston writes mystery, romance, romantic suspense, chick lit, women’s fiction, children’s chapter books, and non-fiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. Kirkus Reviews dubbed her critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” In addition, Lois is an award-winning craft and needlework designer who often draws much of her source material for both her characters and plots from her experiences in the crafts industry. Visit Lois/Emma at www.loiswinston.com and Anastasia at the Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog, www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com. Follow everyone on Tsu at www.tsu.co/loiswinston, on Pinterest at www.pinterest.com/anasleuth, and onTwitter @anasleuth. Sign up for her newsletter at https://www.MyAuthorBiz.com/ENewsletter.php?acct=LW2467152513

1. Where do you get your ideas for your stories? 

I live in a log cabin on twenty acres with a creek.  We grew up with horses and always used to play cowboys and Indians. I guess that inspired the western side of me. My friends all had horses, and we rode everywhere pretending we were in the old west. We’d split ourselves up into two groups. The posse and the outlaws.  The other thing that inspires me is visiting historic places. 

2. Do you have a view in your writing space? What does your space look like? 

I use voice recognition softway a lot and so write outside. Often times I sit on a bench down by the creek or walk the property. Lately, however, I’ve been having to write indoors due to the fact we have a cougar in the area and he’s gotten pretty close to the house.

3. Has your muse always known what genres you would write and be published in? 

Yes, kinda sort of.  I’ve always loved historicals and knew I wanted to write them. I’ve started with westerns but plan to venture into the regency era late this year or first part of 2016.

4. What project(s) are you working on now? 

I just finished up Amon (Prairie Grooms, Book Seven) and am now going to start another Dalton Brides Book! Oh boy! 

5. Do you write under a pen name? Why or why not? 

Yes, I have two, in fact.  I write under Geralyn Beauchamp (Scifi/time travel) and then of course, Kit Morgan.  I’ll share with you a little secret … Kit Morgan is actually a character from my time travel series Time Masters. SHE is writing all those westerns!  And of course, if some of my Time Master characters happen to show up in my westerns, could it be because she’s using their adventures to fuel her own muse? Or is she recording their adventures and simply using them as her books?  That Kitty Morgan! You just never know what she’ll do next!

6. What is your typical day like? 

I get up early, about 6am, have my coffee in bed (ahhhhh) then get up and do a workout, have some breakfast and start my day. I try to get my writing done before noon or one in the afternoon so I have time to do the business end of things, or lately, babysit my nephew.  Then editing or more writing in the evening after dinner, unless I treat myself and watch a dvd! 

7. How did you get started writing?

I’ve always wanted to write, but marriage, kids, family, was always at the forefront. But then another author (Julia Quinn, I was a book reviewer at the time) challenged me to start writing. Write a book so I could at least say that I did. That book was Time Masters, Book One; The Call under my pen name of Geralyn Beauchamp, and the rest is history. I wrote that book back in 1994, finished it, then stuck it in a trunk. I set out what she said to do. In 2007 I pulled it out and it was published by a small press. When the economy tanked in 2008/09, they closed their doors as so many other small presses did. In 2012 I decided to turn it into an e-book. In 2013, I decided to try my hand at westerns, and let Kitty Morgan loose! The rest is history. 

8. Tell us about your current series.

My latest release is book twelve of The Holiday Mail Order Bride Series: A Mid-Summer’s Mail-order Bride. I love creating towns and their quirky, odd residents. Nowhere Washington is no exception. Readers are first introduced to this town in The Christmas Mail-Order Bride, where you get to read about the antics of Leona Riley, who orders up a mail-order bride for her son Clayton and fails to tell him! You can start this particular series with the The Christmas Mail-Order Bride, or start in the middle of the series with Love in Independence and go from there. The heroine in A Mid-Summer’s Mail-order Bride is from Independence. The books can be found on amazon:

A Mid-Summer’s Mail-order Bride: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XFJG7MI?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

The Christmas Mail Order Bride:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FVGRX9O

Love in Independence: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L83QEHG

Since we’re in July, here’s a little about Love in Independence which takes place over the Fourth of July. 

Book Blurb for Love in Independence: They say love covers a multitude of sins, and for matchmakers Mercy, Martha, and Maude, it’s a good thing! Fearing the town’s new pastor is lonely, they decide to take matters into their own hands, and order him a mail order bride! Imagine his surprise when he finds out? Only he doesn’t! Mercy, Martha, and Maude see to that!

Winnie Longfellow has spent years caring for her sick mother, and now that she’s passed, has nowhere to go but her Aunt Eugina’s. But her aunt has other things on her mind, other problems to deal with, and so Winnie accepts a proposal from a pastor out west looking for a mail order bride. Little did she know, he was looking for so much more, anything more! He had no idea he’d sent for one! Now Winnie finds herself at the mercy of three madcap matrons, determined that love will find a way. Despite multiple misunderstandings, a horrid bully/gossip, and a woman she’s sure her intended will marry instead of her, Winnie discovers some things about herself, and finds that love really does find its way …

Author Bio:

Kit Morgan, aka Geralyn Beauchamp, has been writing for fun all of her life. When writing as Geralyn Beauchamp, her books are epic, adventurous, romantic fantasy at its best. When writing as Kit Morgan they are whimsical, fun, inspirational sweet stories that depict a strong sense of family and community. ‘His Prairie Princess’ is the first of the Prairie Brides books and the first in the series of a long line of stories about Clear Creek, Oregon. One of the wackiest little towns in the old west! Get to know the townsfolk in Clear Creek and come sit a spell!