THE FOOL'S JOURNEY . . .

Debra Doggett

Please welcome Debra Doggett, who has been writing since childhood. Keeping stories in her head while raising three daughters, pursuing her BA in History and working as a museum professional has kept the writer inside her alive. She has also written, performed and directed for the stage, her second love. A bit of a wanderer, these days she resides in New Mexico and let's the desert inspire her. She has also recently been named Co-Editor at 69 Flavors of Paranoia. Here’s Debra:



The Fool’s Journey…


There are days I feel I should probably be locked up in a padded room for doing this whole writer thing. And there are days I can tell my children feel they may have to step in and do just that with me one day. Most of the time I can cover it, but there are days when the voices in my head can be a bit demanding and there is the occasional diva among them that makes me wonder if I should keep her as my heroine’s best friend or kill her off in a particularly gruesome way.


The fact that I sometimes find myself standing in the grocery line contemplating murder and mayhem makes me feel a bit disconnected from the “real” world. And that to me is the bottom line of being a writer – choosing to step out of reality and into a primordial realm just waiting for you to be its creator. It takes a certain amount of concentration (and a good ability to BS) to remember to smile and nod at appropriate times when your mind is off figuring out how the third planet in the Adeanan system is going to survive the assault by the High Council and just how much sex is enough to keep the tension high between your hero and heroine. And it takes forgiving friends and a really understanding boss to continue keeping one foot in each realm.


So I’ve taken a risk that may help maintain my sanity and keep me out of the padded room for a bit longer. I stepped away from a demanding job to focus my attention on the stories still swirling in my head. I want them to see the light of day and to make someone else relax and enjoy them with me. This is definitely my Fool’s Journey, my jump off the cliff that hopefully will end with me flying and not crashing.


It’s a journey I don’t want to take alone. My hope is there are other fools out there who’d like to ride along. The world used to have its risk-takers, those who were willing to see beyond the box of reality into the wide open spaces of fantasy and innovation. We owe it to them to see that the world doesn’t become too comfortable with the status quo and to make sure they realize that the Adeanan system just might be out there somewhere, waiting for us to discover it because we were roaming around the universe looking for it. So who’s up for a little space travel?

Available Now from
The Wild Rose Press

Here's the blurb for GAMBLER'S MOON:

Vampire Gates McHenry has waited eighty years for a chance at sexy shapeshifter Ava Harper. When she shows up at his bar with a wolf trap and a nasty attitude, he knows the time has come to deal himself into the game. And the stakes for this game are higher than any he’s ever faced before because someone or something has taken an interest in Ava as well. A deadly interest. If he can find the threat and keep Ava from staking him in the process, he just might be able to make the move that will win Ava Harper’s heart.


Buy link for  The Wild Rose Press GAMBLER'S MOON is also available at Amazon, Digi-Books, and other online sites.

Available Now in Print and
E-book from
The Wild Rose Press

Here's the blurb for THE PRIZE:
Stellan was the last thing Cardis expected to deal with when she fled her home on Adena to avoid another unwanted challenge. Safely stowed away on her father's freighter, she thought she'd escaped those who wished to invoke Adena's ancient tradition of the Virgin Challenge and attempt to win her in marriage. Now she finds herself in the hands of the most unlikely challenger of all. And in spite of all her resolve never to be trapped into marriage, trying to keep herself from melting when Stellan's hands touch her may be the hardest challenge Cardis has ever faced.

The buy link for THE PRIZE at The Wild Rose Press in print and e-book, also at other online stores



Debra Doggett
http://www.debradoggett.com/
visit me on Twitter @dgdoggett and on
Facebook at Debra Doggett Writer 

Thanks for stopping by, Debra. Your covers are lovely, especially GAMBLER'S MOON, and both the blurbs are intriguing. Here's wishing you continued success with your career.

Readers, thanks for stopping by!

AUTHOR REBECCA ZANETTI HAS A GIVEAWAY!



Author Rebecca Zanetti

 Please welcome Rebecca Zanetti to the blog. Rebecca is a college professor by day and romance author by night. Currently she’s busy writing the sexy Dark Protector Series from Kensington Brava, which has received excellent reviews. The second book, CLAIMED, is available for pre-order now. To find Rebecca on the web, drop by her website: http://rebeccazanetti.com/

Caroline: Readers love to get to know authors. Please tell us about growing up



Rebecca: Thanks for having me here, Caroline! I grew up with two sisters who live with their families less than a mile away from me right now. If we don’t meet up or at least talk on the phone once a day, it’s odd. As kids, we were pretty typical, and I’m the oldest, Type A but kind of shy. Though I’m the tallest at a whopping five-foot-four. My husband’s name is Tony and we knew each other as kids – in fact, I have a letter he sent me when he was six years old. We didn’t date each other until after college, however. He’s a six-foot-five tall Italian and is every bit as sexy as he sounds.



Caroline: How sweet that you still have his letter from when he was six! Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?


Rebecca: You name it, I read it. My favorite authors are Nora Roberts, J.D. Salinger, Cynthia Eden, Sayde Grace, Lora Leigh…and I could go on forever.



Caroline: Nora Roberts is one of the reasons I write romance. So far, I haven’t been competiton for her, though. LOL How many books do you read a month? What are you reading now?



Rebecca: This is a tough one because it depends on the month and if I’m under deadline. Right this second I’m reading ENEMY WITHIN by Marcella Bernard. We’re on a group blog together called Darker Temptations, (http://darkertemptations.wordpress.com//) and this is the first chance I’ve had to read her. LOVE IT!

Caroline: With so many friends who are authors, we always have something to read, don't we? When you’re not writing, what’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?



Rebecca: I live in the Pacific Northwest, so we water ski, boat, camp, snowmobile and snow ski for fun. Or I read. Love to read.



Caroline: I envy your weather since we’ve had a horrid, drought-ridden summer here in Texas. Describe yourself in three or four words.



Rebecca: Romantic, goof-ball, idealistic



Caroline: Would you like to share any guilty pleasures that feed your muse?



Rebecca: Right now the pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks are cutting into my budget. But they’re so yummy! But if you spill, it’s orange and makes quite the mess. Yeah, I spill.



Caroline: Sounds like me and salsa and an ongoing rocky relationship. How long have you been writing?



Rebecca: We were snowed in for December of 08 and January 09 – I wrote my first book during that time.



Caroline: Actually, isn't being snowed in why Nora Roberts wrote her first book? I love to be snowed in, but it’s bad for people who commute--another great thing about being a full-time writer is I don't have to go out unless I wish. Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?

Rebecca: Great question! I have dog hearing, so the high-pitched whines from laptops tend to drive me crazy. If I’m at home, I use my PC to write. But I do take the laptop out and about – I just use the earphones and my iTunes account at that point. In fact, the music is usually on when I write.


Caroline: I write to classical music, but listen to pop when doing email or my blog. Are you a plotter or a panzer?

Rebecca: Panster, panster, panster, panster, panster…

Caroline: Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as an inspiration for stories?

Rebecca: I think I pretty much make it all up. Though once in a while I’ll eavesdrop on a conversation and start thinking…

Caroline: Isn’t that the truth? I love to sit and observe and listen when I’m in a crowd. Tell us about your writing schedule. Do you set goals? Do you write daily?

Rebecca: I don’t set concrete goals, but I keep deadlines in the back of my head. While I do try to write daily, if I don’t make it, I don’t stress about it.

Caroline: What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

Rebecca: Fun entertainment with intriguing characters.

Caroline: What long-term plans do you have for your career?

Rebecca: I just want to keep on writing. It’d be awesome if people keep buying my books so I can keep on writing and buying pumpkin spiced lattes.

Caroline: Would you like to tell us what you’re working on now?

Rebecca: Why, thank you for asking. I just finished a novella in the Dark Protectors Series called TEMPTED, which features a vampire bodyguard and a woman who just escaped from a mental institution. It’ll be released next April in e-format only…hopefully for a 99c read—though I don’t get to make that decision.

Caroline: Sounds intriguing. What advice would you give to unpublished authors?



Rebecca: Write what you want to read. Ignore people telling you that the topic you want to write about isn’t selling—if your book is good enough, it’ll sell. Also…don’t think about who will read your book while writing it because you don’t want to be held back. My books are sexy, and if I’d have stopped to think about my grandma reading them, I may not have written those scenes. And those scenes are hot.


Caroline: Tell us about your latest release.


Preorder Now


Rebecca: CLAIMED is book 2 in the Dark Protector Series and it’s available for pre-order now.

A DARING RESCUE


Emma Paulsen is a geneticist driven by science. But she’s also a psychic, so when a dark, good-hearted vampire frees her from the clutches of the evil Kurjans, she realizes he must be the man who’s been haunting her dreams. But with a virus threatening vampire mates, Emma may discover a whole new meaning of “lovesick”…


A DEADLY DECISION


As King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs has learned to practice diplomacy. Still, it’s taken three hundred years to find his mate, so he’ll stop at nothing to protect her–even if it means turning his back on his own kind…


Caroline: I love stories about psychics. Please give us an excerpt.

Rebecca: Here’s an excerpt:

Dage shook his head without opening his eyes. “No. I don’t sense evil anywhere near us. We’re probably safe for a couple of hours, then we should move again.”


A couple of hours? Damn. She needed him in fighting shape. “Will drinking my blood help heal you?”


His lids flipped open, revealing those silver eyes that had haunted her dreams for fifteen years. Hunger, raw and pure filled them. “Yes.”


Emma gulped in air. The husky timber of his voice caressed nerves she didn’t want to own. “I won’t become a vampire?”


His dimples winked at her. “No. Vampires are born, not made.”


Fear and her damn curiosity blended until she could only whisper. “Okay.” She held out her wrist and shut her eyes. And waited. The breeze picked up outside the cave, rustling pine needles and leaves inside the small entrance, and she shivered. Finally, she opened her eyes in exasperation. “What?”


Reaching out with his good arm, he lifted her chin with one knuckle, waiting until her gaze met his. “I want your neck.”


Caroline: Where can readers find your books?

Rebecca: Here’s a link to pre-order either a print or electronic copy of Claimed: http://ow.ly/6KzQ0

Comment to enter giveaway!

I’d love to give away a signed copy of FATED to a commenter here today. Let me ask you this: How long did you know your significant other before getting married/getting serious?


Rebecca: Thanks for your generosity in the giveaway. I'll announce the winner on Monday.
Readers, remember to include your email if you want to be entered in the drawing.

Thanks for reading!

CHERIE MARKS SHARES MEMORIES + GIVEAWAY

Cherie Marks, Author

For me, food evokes many emotions. Maybe that’s why I chose to write food into my debut story, INTO THE FIRE.


My grandmother is the best cook in our family, but don’t ask for a recipe. Oh, she’d gladly share it, but the truth is, it’s never the same twice. Yet, her food is delicious every time.

My memories of my grandmother often revolve around food. When I was very young and spending the weekend with her, she’d stay up late with me (I was a nightowl even then) and feed me strawberry milk and just-jelly sandwiches. Only a grandmother could get away with that.

Her traditional southern cooking is still my favorite. I’d choose Granny’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, pinto beans and creamed corn over any four-star restaurant meal. I’m not the only one. Granny’s rolls are well-known up and down the country road she lives on.

But my favorite memory recently was this summer when I was able to help her fix breakfast for our family on our vacation and a trip to The House of Blues for a Gospel Brunch with my father and her. These are two memories that will stay with me forever.

Food plays a big role in my short story, INTO THE FIRE. The hero and heroine are chefs with a romantic past, but are now competing against each other and trying to resist a sizzling attraction. I loved writing this story and watched shows like Top Chef and Iron Chef America to get ideas.

Now I’d like to hear from you. Any food linked to your memories? Comment here to be entered into a drawing for a PDF copy of Into the Fire.

Available Now!

Blurb:

Months after he stole her affections—then her executive chef position—Shyann and Luke meet again under sizzling circumstances, competing head-to-head on a televised cooking show called Kitchen Twist. Each arrives with a motive: Luke intends to win back Shyann’s heart, even as she wants closure on the not-so-tasty heartbreak he once served up.

Luke knows culinary masterpieces require a delicate touch, but that knowledge is tossed out with the leftovers as he works to show Shyann he’s not such a bad guy. Now he pushes his skills to the limit to win the competition and satisfy a bet.

Can two top chefs resist each other as they move out of the pan and into the fire?

Excerpt:

Silence reigned for half a minute before he reached out a hand and touched hers like a breezy whisper. Her head went a little fuzzy at the warm contact. He shouldn’t still be able to affect her so strongly.

“I regret it went down the way it did, but why did you show me the exit before giving me a chance to explain, not to mention—dress? Enlighten me, sugar cheeks?”

With a jerk, she pulled her hand free. He was really asking for it. Sugar cheeks? Seriously? Now she knew he was only messing with her. She could give as well as she got.

“Tell you what. You win tonight, and I’ll give you your chance. You lose, we go our separate ways, and you walk out all by yourself, big boy.”

A crooked grin formed on his face as he reached a hand toward her hair. He fingered an escaping curl before she pulled away, leaving his hand hanging in mid-air.

“You can call me big boy all you want, but I’ll do you one better. How about if I win, I take you to dinner, and you let me explain the whole situation?”

She felt her eyebrow rise and knew he’d read it as interest, but she didn’t care at the moment. “I honestly don’t want to hear any explanation from you now or ever, but if I win? Which I will, of course.”

“Then I’ll leave it up to you. If you want me to walk away, I will.” He took a step closer, placed his hand on her shoulder, and leaned down, his mouth right next to her ear. “But if you want me to call you darling, sweetheart, and sugar cheeks all night long, I’ll do that too.”

I love to hear from readers, writers, and in-betweeners, so please e-mail me at authorcheriemarks@gmail.com

http://www.cheriemarks.com/

http://www.cheriemarks.blogspot.com/

Facebook--http://on.fb.me/qRl1lD

Twitter—http://twitter.com/cheriemarks

INTO THE FIRE available at http://tinyurl.com/3mfn3zj from The Wild Rose Press,



Cherie, thanks for sharing today.

Readers, thank you for stopping by! Remember to leave your email with your comment to enter Cherie's giveaway. The winner will be announced on Wednesday.

ALISON HENDERSON DISCUSSES THEME

Alison Henderson

Our guest post today is by Alison Henderson. Alison grew up in Kansas City on the edge of the prairie. One of her favorite memories is of the fringed turquoise cowgirl outfit she received for her fifth Christmas. She went off to New York to study art history at Vassar College but never lost her admiration for the fortitude of the pioneers who settled the American West. She began writing when her daughter entered pre-school and was quickly captivated by the creative process.
Although she has traveled the world from Japan to Tunisia, Alison has never strayed far from her Midwestern roots. She and her husband are empty-nesters living in Minnesota, and their daughter is a graduate student in Chicago. And now, here's Alison's post:



Discovering Your Theme

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the issue of theme. Writing-related articles and blogs on the subject seem to pop up wherever I look. Isn’t that always the way when you’ve got a topic simmering in your brain? Because I write in multiple genres, I’ve been wondering how my stories connect—why I write what I write.

A writer’s theme is different from her subject matter or her author brand. Theme is not whether you write about highlanders or cowboys, dukes or detectives. My first two published books are western historical romances set in Missouri just after the end of the Civil War. That tells you something about the setting and subject matter but nothing about the theme. It also might brand me as an author if I let it (although brand encompasses an author’s style and voice as well). Because my newest manuscript and current WIP are both snappy contemporaries I wanted to figure out what they have in common with my historicals.

Print and e-book from
The Wild Rose Press

My first book, HARVEST OF DREAMS, tells the story of a young widow who has just given birth to her first child. She has a close relationship with her mother, but her son quickly becomes the center of her world and the focus of her future. The hero is a lawman who’s been on his own since the age of twelve and never expected to be a part of any family.

Print and e-book from
The Wild Rose Press

My second book, A MAN LIKE THAT, follows two of the secondary characters from HARVEST OF DREAMS: the fiery schoolteacher who’s the only child of the town judge and an ex-outlaw whose family has suffered from decades of poverty as well as the privations of war. The heroine does everything in her power to convince the hero and his family they’re worthy of love.


My first contemporary, UNWRITTEN RULES, involves an ex-FBI agent who owns her own all-female bodyguard agency and signs on to protect a former CIA agent-turned-bestselling-author on a book tour. In addition to challenges created by the hero and the villain, she is dealing with unresolved issues related to the recent deaths of her parents in a terrorist attack (sounds like heavy stuff, but actually this is the lightest and funniest book of the three).


So what could these stories have in common? What made me write them the way I did? It didn’t take long to figure out that I write about the importance of family—cherishing the family you have or creating a new one if necessary. My books always include the main characters’ family members as prominent secondary characters. In HARVEST OF DREAMS, it’s the heroine’s mother. As the mother of a grown daughter, I loved writing that character. A MAN LIKE THAT was all about the hero’s family, their trials and tribulations and a longstanding feud. In UNWRITTEN RULES, I had a fabulous time writing the hero’s feisty grandmother.



For me, the theme of family is much more than a coincidence or plot device. It is a universal, overriding influence in my writing. It represents my most important core value and, therefore, will be present in every story I write whether I think about it or not. That’s rather comforting. There are so many aspects to consider and decisions to make when you’re writing it’s a relief not to have to actively think about your theme.



To learn more about me and my books, I invite you to visit me at http://www.alisonhenderson.com/ The buy link for my books is http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=871

Consider your favorite books. Can you pick out common themes that resonate with you?

LILLY GAYLE DISCUSSES HER WRITING, PLUS A GIVEAWAY

Lilly Gayle, Author

It took me a long time to get published. Thirteen years to be exact. But since last year, I’ve had three novels published with The Wild Rose Press. My paranormal romance, OUT OF THE DARKNESS came out last May. In June of this year, my first historical was published. SLIGHTLY TARNISHED is a Victorian romance set in 1858 England. And this month, my first American historical, WHOLESALE HUSBAND, came out. And in celebration of my latest release, I’m giving away an e-copy of WHOLESALE HUSBAND to one lucky commenter today. Before I share blurbs and excerpts of my two historicals, I’d like to share a my list of the top ten mistakes I most often discover when editing a manuscript:


1. REPEATS


The same word used more than once in a short paragraph such as the word eyes. An example from an earlier draft of Wholesale Husband:


“He would have gladly married her for her money.” In the edited version, the second her was removed to make the sentence read: “He would have gladly married her for money.” The meaning is the same but the useless repeated word is gone.


Authors also use the same words and/or phrases multiple times in the same manuscript. These repeated words/phrases are usually unremarkable so the writer doesn’t notice. Editors might miss it too but readers don’t read multiple books at the same time or read over an extended period of time. And you can bet they’ll catch those repeated words, like “just” or the phrases like: He gazed into her eyes. Or: Her pulse quickened.


Those phrases aren’t bad, but if her pulse quickens every time the heroine looks at the hero, it becomes tiring. And instead of having the hero gaze into the heroine’s eyes, he can just look at her. Writers need to be conscious of those “easy” phrases that get over used.


And don’t use an unusual word repeatedly. Words like staccato. 


Watch out for other repeated phrasing too. If you are trying to avoid he said/she said and chose a tag such as: ”His tone was apologetic when he said” or “She kept her tone even when she said…” use it sparingly or it will grate on readers’ nerves.


Repeat words and phrases can keep the writer from probing deeper into the character. Find a different word or phrase or add internal dialogue.


2. FLAT WRITING


Flat writing most often occurs when the writer starts telling a story. "He wanted to know what Julie was thinking.” Or “He looked at the clock and wondered if she would show up. He was afraid she wouldn’t come.”


Boring. And very flat. No one is going to care about the characters because the writer is telling instead of showing.


The first sentence could be rewritten as: Julie stared out across the waving field of goldenrod—a faraway look in her sea green eyes. What was she thinking?


And for the second sentence, it could be written like this: He looked at the clock. Ten minutes after the hour. Sara was never late. His heart lurched. She wasn’t coming.


3. THOSE PESKY ADVERBS


Really, surely, actually, totally, unfortunately, ironically, incredibly, hopefully, finally - these and others are words meant to emphasis a verb but they end up doing the opposite. If the verb you’ve chosen is so weak you need to use an adverb to get your meaning across, tryin using a stronger verb.


Example: Her pulse beat really fast. Rewritten: Her pulse raced.


Sometimes, less is more. So don’t add words just to up the word count.


4. UNBELIEVABLE DIALOGUE


If your character is from the slums, don’t make him talk like a Harvard graduate. The same is true for that Harvard grad. He shouldn’t say things like, “I seen that car at the bank.”


Don’t have your characters use too many adverbs either. Before your hero says something like, “You look really nice.” Remember men don’t use that many words. He’d most likely say, “You look good.”


And don’t have your characters discussing things both characters should already know just so you as the writer can relay the information to the reader. If Joe and Cliff are brothers and they both know Susie’s fiancé was killed in an accident five years ago, don’t have Joe tell Cliff, “You know Susie’s fiancé drove off that cliff five years ago.” Instead, deliver the info from Susie’s POV in such a way as to explain why Susie keeps most men at arm’s length or why she refuses to date men who drive sports cars. Don’t make your characters have a conversation for the reader’s benefit just so you can advance the plot.


If you’re not sure if a conversation sounds stilted, try reading it out loud as if you were the character. If it doesn’t sound like something a person in your character’s situation would say, then don’t make your character say it.


Dialogue offers the reader a glimpse of the characters descriptions and internal thoughts can’t always provide. So make sure your characters don’t all sound alike. Remember their personalities when you make them speak.


5. NEEDLESS SUFFIXES


Watch out for “ing” “ingly” and “ness.” If someone is meticulous, just say it. Don’t say Joan was known for her meticulousness.

If Jack said something to annoy Suzie, don’t have him say it annoyingly. Find another way to get that message across


6. “TO BE” WORDS


Also, avoid frequent use of "to be" words - "am," "is," "are," "was," "were," "be," "being," "been," etc. It makes the writing flat and often tells more than it shows. It’s also passive. Learn to use more active prose.


It was Jeff who discovered the decomposed body in the field—passive.


Jeff found the decomposed body in a field outside of town—active.


There was dirt and blood on the floor—passive and boring.


7. LISTS


Just don’t do it. If Suzie is going to the store before she goes to the bank and then out to meet Jeff, don’t make a list. Nobody cares. Lay out the scene. Give more details Let the reader know why she must go to the store and the bank before meeting Jeff. And make those


8. SHOW, DON'T TELL


Don’t say “she was beautiful but shy.” Describe her. “She ducked her chin, avoiding eye contact. Her fiery red hair fell across elegant cheekbones to obscure dazzling green eyes.”


If you’re telling the reader she was beautiful, the reader has to take your word for it. Instead, show the reader why the hero thinks she’s beautiful. Describe the character in such a way the reader gets a mental picture.


The same goes for a scene. Show the reader what you want them to see. Don’t just tell them it’s there.


9. CHOPPY WRITING


Sentences should flow from one to the next. If all the sentences start the same way, there’s no flow.


Example: Biding his time, Jim watched Anna walk into the bank. Leaning against the wall, he waited. Smoking a cigarette to kill time, he … Okay, that’s enough of that. Sentence structure should alternate in construction and word count. Mix it up. Use shorter sentences to increase pacing. Change the way you begin a sentence. Just make sure it flows and the reader doesn’t have to stop and go back to understand your meaning. And don’t throw in awkward wording that will make the mind stumble. If a sentences makes the stop to consider what the heck you’re talking about, then you need to change the sentence structure.


10. COMMAS


Know when to use them. If you have a compound sentence with and or but and either side of the comma can stand alone as a complete comma, keep the comma. If the either half of the sentence isn’t a whole sentence, then keep the comma is unnecessary.


And if a sentence needs a comma to maintain the flow or clarify meaning, don’t delete it because you don’t like commas. And don’t add commas in weird places just so the reader will pause.


Some punctuation rules can be broken in fiction. You can begin a sentence with And and But for dramatic reasons. You can’t add commas willy nilly or delete the needed ones.


Even New York Times Best Selling Authors make mistakes. But unless you’ve already made that list, mistakes can keep you from getting published.

AVAILABLE NOW

Victorian romance laced with danger.



When a brooding English earl with a SLIGHTLY TARNISHED reputation marries his dead wife’s American cousin to save her from her uncle’s vengeful schemes, the sea captain’s daughter with a taste for adventure sparks desires he thought long dead.

Nicole Keller has always been headstrong and independent, but after a failed business venture and a sinking ship take her father, her home, and her childhood sweetheart, Nikki must support herself and her mother. But moving to England and marrying Chadwick Masters, Earl of Gilchrest isn’t what she has in mind. And falling in love with the mysterious earl could endanger both their lives.



“This will be your room.” He opened the door and stood to one side so she could enter. “I’m afraid you will have to continue to make do without a lady’s maid. The only household staff I employ are Mrs. Lomax, Dickens, Cook, and my groom. My driver lives in the village as do the few maids I hire on occasion to help Mrs. Lomax with the laundry and heavier cleaning.”



Nikki smiled. “That’s quite all right, Lord Masters. I’m used to doing for myself, and it’s only for a week.”


He returned her smile and leaned forward, his warm breath fanning her cheek. “What happened to Chad? Surely we’ve gone beyond such formalities now, Nicole.”


Gooseflesh rippled over her skin. Her body quivered. “I don’t think it would be proper for me to call you by your given name.” She risked a glance at his face and wished she hadn’t. His eyes no longer looked worried. They were hot—almost feverish. Her skin heated.


“It didn’t stop you before,” he said, his deep voice a husky rumble. Despite the heat, Nikki shivered.


Oh my!


“I don’t think this is proper either,” she stammered when he brushed his lips against her temple. A delicious tingle skittered down her spine.


“No, probably not,” he said, nibbling her neck.


A strange tension rippled through her muscles, tightening them with pleasure. She arched her neck, granting him access as he slid his lips along the column of her throat. Her hands bunched the skirt of her plain, serviceable dress. Her stomach quivered.


“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless and giddy.


He pulled his hands from his pockets and pulled her closer. “I’m seducing you, I think.”


“Seducing me?” Her heart hammered against her ribs.


“Hmm. You’re doing it again.” Then he lowered his mouth and kissed her.

WHOLESALE HUSBAND- Coming soon from The Wild Rose Press~



She needs his name. He needs her money. But can a rich New York socialite and a poor Irish immigrant find true love in the gilded age?


Betrayed by her fiancé and heart sick over her father’s death, Clarissa Burdick is further devastated when she learns she can’t inherit her father’s company—the company she loves—until she’s twenty-five or married. And Clarissa is neither. So she sets out to find a husband strong enough to protect her from her uncle’s thugs, too uneducated to run the company himself, and poor enough to marry a woman in name only. But Irish immigrant Devin Flannery is smarter than he seems and more educated than Clarissa expects. Her WHOLESALE HUSBAND soon proves a greater risk to her heart than her company.


“This is a serious proposal,” she insisted, gnawing her lip.



“Who are you codding?” He leaned forward, stretching his leg, ready to descend from the suffocating confinement of the hansom cab.


Again, she stayed him with a touch and again, his body reacted to the contact in a most unwanted way. He narrowed his eyes and pried her hand from his wrist.


“Surely, you’ve heard of marriages of convenience,” she insisted rather desperately as she rubbed her wrist. “Well, this is an honest proposal. If you come with me to Mr. Tate’s office, I can give you a copy of the contract outlining a proposed marriage agreement between us. If you don’t trust my word or that of my attorney’s, then you can find someone to read the documents to you before you sign them.”


She rubbed her wrist again. He considered apologizing for his rough handling but after her last comment, he thought better of it. Even after he’d confessed to some schooling, she still thought him too stupid to read.


Well, if she wanted a dumb Irishman, he’d give her one.


“Aye, lassie. I’ll not be taking yer word for it and that’s fer sure.”


“Then you’ll come with us?”


There must be something seriously wrong with me. But he’d play along, just to see how far Miss Burdick would take this dangerous game she played.


“Aye,” he all but snarled. “I’ll go with you to the lawyer’s office, but I ain’t signing nothing until someone I trust has a look at those papers.”


Miss Burdick’s luminous smile shone like the sun bursting through the clouds on a stormy day. Devin’s heart dropped to his stomach. Fiona would smile like that if he had the money to send her to that fancy boarding school.


Damn if he wasn’t actually considering her proposal.


Remember to leave a comment with your contact email for a chance to win a copy of WHOLESALE HUSBAND.

Thanks for reading.

NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD BY ANN CHARLES

If you read the post on Monday, September 26th, you are familiar with author Ann Charles. Here's my review of her book, NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD.


Available Now from Amazon Kindle

Violet Lynn Parker is a single mother of twins and living with her Aunt Zoe in Deadwood, South Dakota. Strictly for the time being, Violet works as an agent at Calamity Jane Realty, but her probation period is almost up and she hasn’t made a sale. Not one. Zip. Nada. An odious coworker’s nephew is breathing down her neck with qualifications far superior to Violet’s. For one, he’s made actual sales--lots of sales--in a nearby city, but he wants to relocate to Deadwood.

Posters about a missing girl catch Violet’s interest. The girl in the poster is a ringer for Violet’s own daughter Addy. Worrying about the resemblance starts Violet researching the kidnappings.



Violet is suddenly over run with male clients. Wolfgang Hessler has a huge old home he wants to sell, but it’s in horrendous condition. Dane “Doc” Nyce has just rented the office next door to the real estate agency, and he wants to buy a home. Old Man Harvey has a home he wants to sell, and he also wants to buy a home in town. Jeff, father to Addy’s friend Kelly, has to sell his home to split proceeds with his departing wife. But none of this counts toward keeping her job unless she brings in a signed sale contract soon! 

While Addy is matchmaking for her mom, fraternal twin brother Layne insists he’s the only man their house needs. With another girl almost kidnapped, Violet’s job headed down the toilet, and too many men to juggle, her nerves are frazzled. On top of that, Violet has a secret admirer who sends her bouquets of daisies accompanied by creepy poems. Will she be forced to pack up the twins, return to Rapid City, and live with her parents again? Is Addy targeted by the serial killer? Will Violet sell a home in time to keep her job?

Ann Charles has masterfully written a fun, quirky mystery with a dollop of romance. Ms Charles’ cozy mystery is sure to keep readers turning the pages to the conclusion. Her second book of the Deadwood series, OPTICAL DELUSIONS IN DEADWOOD, is also available. Both Deadwood books are available in print and e-book, and NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD is currently available for only 99 cents for the e-book version. Treat yourself to this fun read.

Thanks for reading. Join me Friday for my friend Lilly Gayle's chat on writing.

Please welcome Ann Charles as our guest author today.

Caroline: What made you decide to set your novels in Deadwood?


Ann: I had spent my summers in Deadwood during my teen years, after my mom moved there from Ohio. My family and I explored back roads, ghost towns, old abandoned mines, and stream-lined gulches every chance we could. The history of the place entranced us, and there was always a road we hadn’t traveled that needed to be checked out.


A few years ago, while pregnant with our second (and last!) child, my husband and I were in Deadwood visiting my mom and stepdad. On the way into town, a story idea hit me about a single mom with two kids—twins—who was trying to make ends meet while trying out a new career in a new town. That’s when Violet was born.


From the start, I had a gut feeling that this story was meant to be. NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD just poured out of me. The years of exploring the town and surrounding hills paid off, I was able to slip in and out of the setting by just closing my eyes. I could feel the summer sun, smell the pine trees, hear the sounds of Main Street. It was a match made in fictional heaven.

Caroline: I've never been to Deadwood. Could you tell us a little more about the town?


Ann: Deadwood has been around since the late 1800s. It’s the site where “Wild” Bill Hickok was murdered, Calamity Jane liked to spend her days and nights, and outlaws, miners, prostitutes, and cowboys hung out in droves. It’s located in the beautiful Black Hills and has been the setting for many true wild-west anecdotes.


For decades, Deadwood relied on its history to drum up tourism business. But in the 90s, gambling was allowed within the city limits, and the tourists began to pour in by the busload. The good news is that the gambling industry brought jobs and money to town. The bad news is that casinos took over Main Street, and the Deadwood I grew up in disappeared into history. The clothing store where I’d buy Levi jeans, the pharmacy where I’d buy candy, the gift store where my mom had worked for years—they are all gone, ghosts of Deadwood’s past. But, even with the change, the people have stayed the same. They are still friendly, funny, and full of piss and vinegar. I did my best to create secondary and tertiary characters who are as genuine and entertaining to be around as the real folks in Deadwood.

Caroline: NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award. How did you feel when your book was announced as the winner?


Ann: Stunned. Totally, absolutely, completely stunned. I didn’t think my quirky, mixed-genre book had a chance at winning. I believed that so much that I didn’t even write an acceptance/thank-you speech (even though my long-time critique partner strongly suggested I write a speech right before we headed down to the ceremony—“Really? Not even just a list a names?”). I’ll never forget what it was like to stand up there in front of all of those smiling faces and not have a clue about what to say. Lesson learned!

Caroline: Your cover art is really distinctive. Can you tell us more about it?


Ann: The cover artist is C.S. Kunkle, who happens to be my older brother. He also drew the graphics that are inside of the printed version of the book—I think 7 in all.


He’s been drawing since we were kids, and he’s also one of the main sources for my wild imagination. His art is a little twisted and wild, and his love of monsters has kept me afraid of the dark since we were kids growing up on the farm in Ohio. He’d often tell me stories of vampires or werewolves living out behind the barn—the same barn that I had to go out to on dark winter nights and feed the cows. I grew up watching scary movies with him, and I’m pretty sure he’s warped a part of my brain.


We had wanted to work on a joint project for years, and when I couldn’t hook a New York publisher with this book, I turned to him and asked if he would be willing to work with me on this project and represent the books in the art form. He didn’t even hesitate.


If you check out my Deadwood website (www.anncharles.com/deadwood), as well as my main Ann Charles website (www.anncharles.com), you will see his art all over the webpages. I’m extremely fortunate that my parents put my crib in his room when he was four, because we’ve stuck together through thick and thin ever since. Having such a talented artist so willing to work with me has been an incredible boost to my career.

Caroline: Your main character, Violet, is anything but shrinking. What else can you tell us about her?


Ann: Violet is a hoot! From the first moment I stepped inside her head and stared down Old Man Harvey’s double-barrel shotgun, I knew I’d found a heroine I would love sharing headspace with for years to come. I love her wit, her sense of humor, the way she can laugh at herself when crap is really raining down on her, her lusty and bold appetite for men, and her acceptance that she’s not the best mother in the world, but she keeps trying anyway.


What I had hoped to create in a character when I started writing Violet’s story was someone readers would enjoy hanging out with in real life. The kind of character that is more genuine—she struggles with her weight, has stretch marks, has this crazy hair she can barely control, and cusses and howls at the moon when the situation calls for it. She’s not a first-rate sleuth, but she cares about people and allows that caring to draw her into places where she does things she’d normally avoid like the plague.

Caroline: What is your ideal romantic hero like?


Ann: He loves to cook and he’s great at it. He also is willing to clean the toilet and shower/tub, do the laundry, and go grocery shopping. Oh, and he likes his women short, curvy, and full of spunk. Handsome with sexy forearms is a definite plus! He’s nice to kids and pets, he’s intelligent but doesn’t show off, and he is willing to give a woman the space she needs to grow and thrive.

Caroline: What woman wouldn't love a guy like that? Wait, you described my husband, Hero, so I DO love a guy like that. LOL Speaking of romantic heroes, what can you tell us about Doc, Deadwood’s newest arrival?


Ann: Well, I’d love to tell you all kinds of fun details about Doc, but he refuses to spill—even to me. Seriously. When I write scenes with him in them, I have to work at getting him to share much. He’s extremely closed mouth about his history and his feelings. I curse him often. Not even hard liquor pries open his lips—and believe me, I’ve tried to use it many times and wound up passed out on the floor of my office.

Caroline: Are there any books that you feel helped shape the writer you are today?


Ann: Definitely! Off the top of my head: Stephen King’s DESPERATION for the horror elements; Dean Koontz’ ODD THOMAS for Dean’s ability to infuse setting into a story; Rachel Gibson’s SEE JANE SCORE for her way of making male characters so “male” and sexy; several books by Susan Andersen for her expertise with suspense; Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series for the blending of mystery and comedy; many of Katie MacAlister’s books for her way of using first person point-of-view so seamlessly; Jane Porter’s FlIRTING WITH FORTY for her ability to yank on heartstrings; and Vicki Lewis Thomson’s Hex series for her fun paranormal and romance mix.

Caroline:  Are there other books in the Deadwood series you’d like to tell us about?


Ann: The second book in the series is called OPTICAL DELUSIONS IN DEADWOOD. It is available as an ebook and in print. I’m currently writing the third book in the series, called DEAD CASE IN DEADWOOD. At the moment, I have twelve books roughly planned out for this series. I figure I’ll take readers’ temperatures at six and go from there.

Caroline:  Can you tell us what your writing process is like?


Ann: Overall, I’m what many writers call a “pantser” in the author world, which means I write by the seat of my pants. I get a couple of plot ideas in mind, put together a high-level plot paradigm with all of my subplots listed, work up a few necessary character goal details, wait for that opening line to hit me right between the eyes, and then explore the story as I go. Every time I finish a chapter, I pause to daydream and brainstorm what comes next. I have a general idea of the beginning, middle, and end, but I allow myself the liberty to change things along the way.


If we’re talking about my daily process for getting words on a page, my typical day is pretty normal. I work a full-time day job as a technical writer, so the morning starts out with dragging my butt out of bed around 6:00 a.m., checking email and Facebook/Twitter, and then getting the kids up and moving. My husband gets breakfast going while I get the munchkins dressed and ready for school/preschool. Then I head to work and play technical writer for eight hours, but my brain is constantly dabbling in fiction during long meetings and on “slow” days. I go home in the evening, hang out with the family until the kids go to bed around nine, and THEN I get to start working on writing. I usually stay up until around 1:00 a.m., then crash and start over again when the alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. By Friday, I’m existing solely on caffeine and sugar and I look like an extra from a zombie flick, minus the craving for brains. Saturday morning, my husband keeps the kids busy so I can sleep in and return to looking somewhat human. The weekend nights are major writing time, too. Then Monday roles around and I’m back to the weekday grind. Someday I hope I can drop the day job, but that’s far into the future at this point.


Caroline: Ah yes, the DDJ--dreaded day job. What one thing is vital to your survival (or sanity!) when writing?


Ann: Caffeine. Lots of it. Injected intravenously.


Caroline: What is your favorite way to relax?


Ann: Sitting on my couch with a good action/adventure movie with a touch of romance on the television, a plate of Chicken Tikka Masala in front of me (with plenty of warm Naan, too), and a Coke Slurpee within reach. Ahhh, paradise!


Caroline: Do you feel like you have anything in common with Violet, and if so, what?


Ann: We both have two kids, rely on a sarcasm-laced inner monologue as a source of humor, and love men who are tall, dark, and handsome. We also both screw up a lot in life and have learned to laugh at ourselves whenever possible.


Caroline: Laughine at ourselves is important. What other projects do you have on the horizon?


Ann: In October, I’m releasing the first book of my Jackrabbit Junction Series called, DANCE OF THE WINNEBAGOS. I’ll release the second book in that series next year after I release the third book in the Deadwood series.


Also, I have a couple of non-fiction books I co-wrote with Jacquie Rogers. The first is called NAIL IT! THE SECRET TO BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE FICTION WRITERS PLATFORM. It’s the first in a series of five books that we have planned on building a fiction writing platform. The second book available now is called GROWING YOUR AUDIENCE, and is a workbook sort of book that can be used with or without our “Growing Your Audience” online workshop. It’s full of great tips on how to figure out who your audience is and how to grow that audience so that you have folks buying your books as soon as they are published.

Caroline: I love Jacquie's MUCH ADO ABOUT MARSHALS. And her blogsite is very attractive, too.  Are there any particular people (writer, teachers, friends) who have helped inspired you as a writer?


Ann: There are so many authors I have met in the last 15 years who have inspired me. Many of my closest friends are writers who have motivated me through encouragement (or whips and finger jabs) to keep trying, keep practicing, keep putting myself “out there.” The support network these fellow authors have provided is invaluable, and without these authors, I might have thrown in the towel years ago.


In addition, my family has always been extremely supportive. Both of my parents are entrepreneurs, and I think they saw in me that spirit and drive that they know so well. My husband has been wonderful, too. He takes care of me while I write. Without him, I’d have matted hair with leaves and bugs in it, I’d be malnourished from eating nothing but tomato paste out of a can, and I’d undoubtedly smell like I’d bathed with skunks.


Caroline: Right there with you! My Hero keeps me on track and takes care of me, too. When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?


Ann: In my 20s, after reading romances for well over a decade, I decided that I wanted to try writing a romance of my own. So I did. I wrote it by hand and it was absolutely horrible. I’ll never share that one with anyone. But I sent the first 3 chapters of it off to a publisher, not realizing at the time how bad the story was, and Harlequin’s Mills and Boon division was very kind in their rejection letter. The editor encouraged me to keep trying. That was all the encouragement I needed, and I’ve been working on improving my craft and career ever since.


Caroline:  So often, writers hear over and over how difficult it is to “make it” in their chosen profession. What inspires you to keep going?


Ann: The characters in my head—they won’t shut up. To keep my sanity, I have to put their stories on the page. Plus, writing is addictive. And the better you get at bringing your fictional worlds to life, the more you want to dabble in these other worlds.


Caroline:  What advice would you give a brand-new writer?


Ann: If writing to get published and sell books is what you really want to do, realize that winning contests, finding a publisher (or agent), and becoming a bestseller doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years, sometimes even a decade or more, like it has for me. I have been working to be published for about fourteen years now. Many authors take less time than I have, some take more. Patience is necessary, as is continually learning, persevering, and practicing. And most important—this is an entrepreneurial business. Entrepreneurs are known for living, breathing, and sleeping their businesses. Writing is the same. If your family doesn’t periodically consider staging an intervention to break you from your writing-related addiction, you aren’t working hard enough at it to succeed.


Caroline:  What is your favorite bad-for-you treat?


Ann: A Coke Slurpee. Someday, I’m going to purchase a Slurpee machine of my own and drink it straight from the tap.


Caroline:  If you had an entire day to yourself with no responsibilities of any kind and unlimited resources, what would it look like?


Ann: Easy—I’d be sitting on a Mexican beach under a big umbrella with a huge blended Margarita on the little table next to me along with a huge plate of chips and guacamole in my lap. In one hand, I’d have my Kindle loaded with a sexy read, and in the other I’d have my husband’s IPod that I’d be listening to while he took a dip in the crystal clear pool of the resort behind us. Later, our kids would join us for a yummy, fun-filled dinner, and then the nanny would give my husband and me a few more hours of “adult swim” time before returning the kids for the night.


Caroline:  What is something that readers would be surprised to know about you?


Ann: I have an irrational fear of cows, which formed when I was a little kid and have not been able to shake. When I was fifteen, I got lost in the Black Hills of South Dakota one summer day because I’d come across a bull standing in the road while I was out on a walk. I was too chicken to try to skirt around it. For five hours, I wandered the forest, lost, trying not to panic as dusk neared. Finally, I came across a cute little cottage filled with a kind, older couple who took me in, fed me some cookies, and then drove me home.


Caroline: Oh, that sounds almost like a fairy tale adventure. You and your brother should make that into a children's book. Do you ever incorporate family members or friends into your books?

Ann: Yes, often. I like to have fun with those who are closest to me. For example, a good friend of mine at work is single without kids. In the second book of my Jackrabbit Junction Series, I gave him triplets and didn’t tell him about it before he read the ARC. His reaction was priceless. In NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD is a part loosely based off another friend of mine at work and his grandpa (about whom I’ve heard many funny stories).


For those readers who know me and my friends and family, part of the fun of reading my books is to see whose names they recognize.


Caroline: What is one of your most embarrassing moments?


Ann: Recently, I stepped off a Ferris Wheel at an amusement park, twisted my ankle, and proceeded to fall down the three steps to the ground in a very ungraceful like manner. Think “train crash” here. My shins took a beating, but my wrists were saved because I fell on top of my 4-year-old daughter. What a great mother, right? Cushion my fall with my kid in front of a crowd of about twenty-five people. Ha! Luckily, my daughter took the brunt of my weight pretty well and ended up with only a bruised knee, where as I had to go to the first aid station and get wrapped with ace bandages and patched up with Band-Aids. Just call me, “Grace.”


Caroline: Um, I am not the one to make fun of someone who is klutzy. Ever!  Is there any genre that is off limits?


Ann: I’m only good at writing mixed-genre stories, so any of the pure genres are off limits for me. For example, I once tried to write a romance with no other plot elements mixed in it. It was so horrible that my critique partners will never allow me to use that hero’s name again. I’m serious. And it was a nice name, too. Dang.


Thank you, Ann, for joining us today.
Readers, please return on Wednesday for a review of Ann's book, NEARLY DEPARTED IN DEADWOOD.

FALL, GLORIOUS FALL, IS HERE

Fall is a wonderful time for Hero and me. The days are finally cooler, taxes and insurance are paid, we have the Christmas holidays teasing us ahead, and we enjoy the changing colors. The fires near Darling Daughter 1 are extinguished. With a recent rain that has renewed the greenery and refreshed the air, we might almost forget that parts of Texas are still burning, but we keep those people in our prayers daily.

To those of you in New England or the Pacific Northwest I suppose our changing leaves are laughable. But give us some leeway, please, and let us enjoy this season. So, stealing an idea from my lovely online friend Beth Trissel, here are some fall greetings.



Lost Maples State Natural Area near Bandera, Texas

 Lost Maples State Natural area is a breathtaking site. In fact, Darling Daughter 2 and I visited it several years ago and felt almost as if we were in a cathedral. It's the only place in the state (as far as I know) where these maples grow naturally. Ergo, the name Lost Maples. Years ago Comanche, Comancheros, and rustlers used the valley as a route to drive stolen cattle to Mexico. Now it's a state park for the benefit of everyone with peaceful intentions. No rustlers allowed.

"It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life." P. D. James




Lost Maples

 "There is a harmony in autumn, and a luster in its sky, which through the summer is not heard or seen, as if it could not be, as if it had not been!"
Percy Bysshe Shelley
 
"Autumn, the year's last, loveliest smile."

William Cullen Bryant

Fall Harvest

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."
George Eliot

"No Spring nor Summer Beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one Autumnal face." John Donne
"Every season hath its pleasures;

Spring may boast her flowery prime,
Yet the vineyard's ruby treasures
Brighten Autumn's sob'rer time." Thomas Moore

When I was a girl, I loved Emily Dickinson's poetry. I still do, of course, so I'll share this one with you.
"The morns are meeker than they were,

The nuts are getting brown;
The berry's cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.
The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I'll put a trinket on." Emily Dickinson

"Summer makes me drowsy.

Autumn makes me sing.
Winter's pretty lousy,
But I hate Spring." Dorothy Parker

I'll close with a song by one of my favorite popular composers, Johnny Mercer. That man knew how to write a song we'd remember.



Autumn Leaves

 "The falling leaves drift by the window

The autumn leaves of red and gold
I see your lips, the summer kisses
The sun-burned hands I used to hold
Since you went away the days grow long
And soon I'll hear old winter's song
But I miss you most of all my darling
When autumn leaves start to fall."
Johnny Mercer

Thanks again to those of you who have purchased my print or e-books from The Wild Rose Press at
www.thewildrosepress.com/Caroline-Clemmons-m-638.html or my backlist in e-book from Amazon Kindle. The backlist is still on sale for 99 cents each.

Thanks for stopping by.