June Foster Interview & Excerpt

June's Bio: June has a unique story as she didn't begin writing fiction until in her mid-sixties when the Lord placed it in her heart. June is a retired elementary teacher turned author with a wonderful, supportive husband and sixteen grandchildren. June lives full time in her RV and has traveled from sea to shining sea in the beautiful U.S.A. June's heart is to write about Christians who struggle with the results of less than perfect lives and find victory through the power of God and His Word. Give Us This Day, the first in her Bellewood series, will debut February 1, 2012 with Desert Breeze Publishing. As We Forgive will be available September 1, 2012 and Deliver Us on April 1, 2013. June wants nothing more than to write for the glory of God.

[Anne] Good morning, June, and welcome to my blog. First off, I have to tell you, you're living my dream. I've always wanted to travel around the country in an RV. How cool is that! I'm sure you have many interesting tales to tell about your travels, can you share one with us (something unusual or really wild that's happened on the road).

[June] There are so many I can't narrow it down to one. Just to give you an idea – there was the time our awning fell off as we were racing down the wrong freeway in South Dakota. Then the time I met up with an old friend from El Paso, Texas 400 feet under the ground at Ruby Falls, in Tennessee. Then the time we lost the serpentine belt off the RV at 11,000 feet at the peak of Monarch Pass on the continental divide in Colorado. Just to name a few.

[Anne] What's your favorite place you've visited?

[June] Oh, so many. It's hard to narrow it down. But I think one of my favorite tours was when we followed the Lewis and Clark trail to visit the museums and sites depicting the historical trip.

[Anne] Your first book, Give Us This Day, releases Feb 1st. How has the experience been so far? Is there anything you wish you had done differently?

[June] Sometimes I read a chapter or two and think, did I write that? I honestly believe the Lord has led me every step of the way. I give Him all the credit. So, all that to say, I don't think I'd wish for anything to be different.

[Anne] Tell us a little bit about Give Us This Day.

[June] Raised by a doting mother and controlling father, the handsome Jess Colton battles against his addictive nature. When Jesus comes into his life, he trades one addiction for another—alcohol for food. His doctor warns him of his poor health as his weight soars past 300 pounds. Jess is baffled when the beautiful Holly Harrison comes into his life and declares her affection for him. He can't figure out what she could possibly see in him.

Holly Harrison has a past. But it catches up with her when she loses her leg and her unborn baby in one night as a result of a motorcycle accident. At this low point in her life, she finds strength through God and a relationship with Jesus Christ while she works as a dental hygienist. But now, no Christian man would want her so she avoids serious relationships. She doesn’t plan on falling in love with Jess Colton. She sees past his rolls of fat to the godly, tender man inside. When Jess drives a wedge between them, she loses all hope of having a future together.

[Anne] What inspired Give Us This Day?

[June] Honestly, I think I tend to look to "things" instead of the Lord at times for my strength. I've seen what addictions have done to others, and I want to portray a character who finds victory. The craziest thing about the heroine. I was getting ready to plot the story, and I saw a picture of her in my mind wearing a prosthesis. I kid you not. I never would've thought that up on my own.

[Anne] This being your first, what have you found as the most difficult in the publishing process?

[June] I suppose like most authors, the rejection letters sting. James Scott Bell's The Art of War For Writers has helped me more than anything to knock that chip off my shoulder. Sometimes, it jumps back up, and I have to knock it off again.

[Anne] You have two other books contracted with Desert Breeze Publishing. Will you tell us about them?

[June] In As We Forgive, Tim Garrett lives with the uncontrollable anger he learned from his father. Only problem is, he's a youth pastor and is now in danger of losing his job. Roxanne Ratner can't forgive her father for abandoning her as a child and doesn't trust men, especially Tim. The beautiful hairstylist fights against her growing attraction to the fiery man of God.

In Deliver Us, Jared Simms begins his Christian life with a sordid past, years filled with mistakes – a one-night discretion, drug use, then a prison sentence. When the struggling janitor discovers the woman from his past, the beautiful Dr. Christine Coleman, he learns she suffered the consequences of that indiscretion, so he hides his secrets from her at all costs and the fact that he's falling for her.

[Anne] Do you use locations you've visited as settings in your books?

[June] Yes. My very first book is set in Chico, California. My sweet husband took me there for a week so I could gather facts about the area. Then the rest of my books take place in Washington State where I lived for ten years. I'm planning a book that will be set in El Paso, Texas where I lived for many years.

[Anne] I'm sure you've read a ton of books. Is there one you've read you wish you had written? If so why?

[June] Maybe Athol Dickson's The Cure because I admire the way the man uses the written word to convey a story. And maybe Latayne Scott's Latter Day Cipher because I wish I had her expert knowledge of Mormonism as well as her ability to tell a story. My next book is a romance between a Christian woman and a Mormon man.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[June] More than anything, the message. I'd like to see characters whose lives are changed by God's power. But of course, the tension and conflict in the story that keeps a reader turning pages is important as well.

[Anne] Thanks so much for joining us today, June. It's been fun getting to know more about you. In closing please give us a short excerpt of your new book and let us know where we can buy it. Also, where we can find you on the web.

Give Us This Day is available February 1 for download at http://desertbreezepublishing.com, Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and most online bookstores.

June maintains web sites at http://junefoster.blogspot.com and http://infinitecharacters.com. You can email her at junefoster11[at]gmail[dot]com as well.


Excerpt -

With slow determination, Holly reached down and untied the shoe string of her left tennis shoe. Could she really do this?

“What are you doing?” His questioning look accelerated the nervous pangs in her stomach.

Holly lifted a restraining hand to him and continued her work. With an unsteady grip, she pulled her sock off exposing the curved metal of her prosthetic limb.

Jess stared, his eyes the size of large plates. “Oh, good Lord, Holly. What happened?” His jaw remained open.

Wordlessly, Holly folded her jeans up to her knee exposing the entire devise. She released the suction which held the hollow plastic casing over her knee stump and removed the entire leg setting it next to the couch.

Her heart beat wildly as she dared a glance at Jess.

He sat motionless, his eyes enormous. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I thought you’d reject me if you knew. Now do you see? You’re not the only one whose body is flawed.” Holly leaned back against the couch, her stub barely meeting the end of the seat. Her palms were like ice. She took the risk and showed him. No turning back now. He’d always know.

Jess’s voice was barely a whisper. “You haven’t told too many people.”

“No, very few. Only my family and Dr. Murphy know about it. And Zack. I rode on the back of his motorcycle when the accident happened.”

“Holly, I don’t know what to say.” He gazed at her with woeful eyes.

She wiped a tear away. “After I came to know you, I figured you’d love me in spite of it. That’s the kind of man you are. I didn’t know how to tell you until now.”

Jess eased off the couch and slowly knelt in front of her. He folded her jeans a little higher, gazed at her with eyes of love and compassion, then bent down.

She caught her breath.

He lowered his lips to the stub and kissed it then gazed up at her again.

“I can’t believe you did that. I love you for it.”

Jess looked up at her, emotion in his blue eyes. With a groan, he moved back up on the couch with her. He placed his arms around her and held her. “You’re right. It would’ve made no difference in how I feel about you, but this makes things even more difficult.”

Angela Britnell Interview & Giveaway

 Joining me today is fellow Desert Breeze author Angela Britnell to talk about her new book, Opposites Attract.  Be sure to leave a comment for her for a chance to win a copy of the ebook.

[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Angela] I’m not sure of the exact title but it was a book of 365 Bedtime stories for children. This became a special time with my Father and I would want him to read on to the next night’s story but he never would!

[Anne] Out of all the books you've read, which one comes immediately to your mind?

[Angela] ‘The Rector’s Wife’ by Joanna Trollope. It’s one of the few books I read over and over again. One reason I love it is because it’s set in the sort of small English village where I grew up. Her beautifully drawn characters will stay with you long after reading. It’s difficult to pick a favorite scene but I think where the light bulb comes on in Anna’s head when a parishioner helps her to see that action is the only way forward. She realizes that if she doesn’t do something things will only get worse because no one else will do it for her. The consequences of her decision will be far-reaching both for Anna and her family.

[Anne] What's your favorite dish?

[Angela] It would have to be a Cornish Pasty. This is a hand-held pie made with beef, onion, and rutabaga. It was traditionally eaten by Cornish tin-miners as it was easy to carry and eat. Of course it has to be made by my mother!

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Angela] I’ll go outside the list on this one – I’ve always loved the dark red Jaguar driven by Inspector Morse in the Colin Dexter mystery series set in Oxford .

[Anne] What's your favorite television show/movie?

[Angela] If I have to pick one I’ll go for the ‘Pride and Prejudice’ version with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy. I never tire of watching that. But I’ll also have to say anything with Johnny Depp.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Angela] As soon as my eldest son left home I painted his room in peach and decorated with cream lace curtains, a tea table, sofa and desk. This is now my favorite spot and no one is allowed to mess with it. I also have a Johnny Depp calendar on the wall perfectly sited to admire and inspire from anywhere in the room!

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Angela] I’ve just finished my new novel ‘It’s Complicated.’ It’s a contemporary romance set in England . Charles ‘Black Ash’ Ashton temporarily abandons his jet-setting lifestyle to avoid being blamed for a multi-million pound poker scam and comes face to face with quiet, elegant math teacher Emily Worthing but the odds aren’t in their favor. After a disastrous affair cost Emily her heart and prestigious job she now prizes truth and honesty above all things. Ash makes his living at the poker table, where a little deviousness and the occasional white lie never hurt. Put them together and the odds are not in their favor. Emily and Ash have to prove they’ve an ace in the hand called love.

Angela's Bio -

I was born in Cornwall in southwestern England and return frequently to visit family and friends. After school I joined the Royal Navy and at my last assignment in Denmark met my own tall, dark, handsome stranger - a US Naval Officer named Richard who became my husband. Our itinerant life took us to Sicily , California , Maryland , and finally London . Along the way we had our three sons. On retirement from the Navy my husband took a job near Nashville , Tennessee and we're still here. I've always been a voracious reader and in 2001 took a creative writing class which sparked my writing career. I've had short stories published in women's magazines in the UK , US, and Australia . My first novel 'Truth and Consequence' was published in 2006. I belong to the Red Bandanas Writing Group, Jubilee Readers Book Club, the Music City Romance Writers, and the Romantic Novelists' Association. I also volunteer at my local library so you can see words are important to me.

Opposites Attract book blurb:

Why can no one believe Holly and Brett are content with their single lives? Certainly their interfering parents don't and they decide to take action. The 'Opposites Attract' dating agency has the theory if normal matchmaking hasn't worked they'll turn it upside down. The uptight British policewoman and the laid-back Southern writer are complete opposites and so will make the perfect mismatch. A weekend in Paris turns magical but secrets, lies and sheer stubbornness threaten this romance before it hardly gets off the ground. Holly and Brett will fight love all the way and it's a question of who'll give in first.

Excerpt:

Holly sucked in a deep breath. This wasn't on her agenda. The neat picture she'd formed of Brett Adair - short, thin, pale and chain-smoking - was just blown into next week. She preferred her men sharp, from their haircuts to their suits, to their minds. No way did she have any interest whatsoever in a lanky American with a cowboy hat and an accent straight from 'The Dukes of Hazzard.' He probably made moonshine in his spare time, when he wasn't shooting squirrels or ... whatever they did. She would make her position crystal clear. "The only things I plan on enjoying are the sights of Paris . I don't intend to let the fact I have to see them in the company of a stranger spoil my weekend. It's unfortunate, but I'm sure we can make the best of things."

"Hey, you don't take any prisoners do you?" Brett threw up his arms in mock surrender.

"Actually I do, often, or have you forgotten what I do for a living?"

Brett laughed. The deep, warm sound of it sent a little shiver through her belly. That laugh made her almost give in and smile.

"Smart lady. You're quick on the draw, anyone ever tell you that?"

"Not if they wanted to see me again." Mortified heat instantly flamed in her cheeks. God, that sounded like flirting.

A lazy smile crept from his eyes -- a deep Mediterranean blue she'd have preferred not to notice -- all the way to his mouth, turning up the edges of lips way too tempting to a woman who hadn't been kissed in over a year. Her belly clenched. She told herself she was just hungry.

Brett tipped his head toward her and stared straight into her eyes. One slight move, and his mouth would touch hers. Oh, God. Would he kiss her senseless if she wasn't careful? Her heart raced. Would he dare? Did she want him to?

"Come on, y'all. Time to get on board. Paris , here we come."

Brett took a step back and grinned at his father. "Sure thing, me and Holly here were just getting to know each other. Weren't we, darlin'?"

Holly buttoned her jacket, grateful for the interruption. She could've done something really stupid, there. "Let's get one thing straight. I'm not your darling and never will be. We've merely got to tolerate each other for two days like reasonable adults. End of story."


Don't forget to leave a comment with your contact info to be entered in Angela's drawing.

Why Amy Writes Historical Mysteries

Why did you choose to write mysteries, particularly historical mysteries?

When I’m asked why I write mysteries, sometimes I think the easiest answer is: I was born to write them. It’s programmed in my DNA. Part of me actually believes that, too. I’m fascinated by the nature versus nurture debate. In my experience, a lot more seems to be nature than is comfortable to admit.

For example, I got my first field guide for birds when I was six. That year, I also wrote my first story about a germ’s adventures as it passed through a little girl’s belly, presaging my interest in both writing and biology. After I got married and built my first chicken coop, I discovered one of my ancestors in the 17th century was an “egg man” and raised chickens. Was an interest in birds and biology in my blood? Certainly, as your standard suburban child, raising chickens and bird watching were not your standard pursuits or things my parents taught us to do (nurture).

Many of us discover our preferences at an amazingly early age. I was also in the first grade when I read my first mysteries: “The Ghost Rock Mystery” and “The Ghost of Dibble Hollow”. Then, I went on to Tom Swift books and other mysteries. Lucky for me, I grew up during the height of the gothic mystery. I still can’t resist a book that has a spooky castle and a woman in a diaphanous white dress on the cover. My favorites included the likes of Victoria Holt, Virginia Coffman, Mary Stewart and Barbara Michaels.

When I picked up the pen again ten years ago, I couldn’t conceive of a story that did not include a mystery of some kind. Sometimes it’s not a murder, but a secret or something lost, hidden. A missing jewel, an old secret, something half-forgotten. It is the mystery and process of discovering that answer that creates a story for me.

Why did the crime happen? How will the hero or heroine follow the clues to reveal the truth? What is the truth? One of the things that fascinates me is the idea of “The Truth.” Is there really a single truth or is it a composite of many truths—what an individual knows and experiences of reality? In “The Vital Principle” the hero, Knighton Gaunt believes there is one, discoverable truth. Prudence Barnard, however, believes it may be more nuanced with shades of gray. She is more sympathetic to the weaknesses and foibles of those around her, but despite their different approaches, they do discover the truth and reveal a murderer in their midst.

While resolving the core puzzle is interesting, I also write mysteries to explore how different characters respond to stress and make decisions. How do they react when confronted with a mystery? Do they attempt to collect facts and analyze them, or do they rely on a more intuitive process? Or do they simply ignore the entire thing and hope it will go away?

In “A Rose Before Dying” the hero is driven to collect the facts—in this case, roses—to try to save his uncle from the hangman’s noose. And while Ariadne just wants to be left alone to grow roses, she can’t bury her head in the sand. She helps him even though her actions place her in the murderer’s path.

In the end, there is nothing like a good mystery to reveal what a person—or character--is made of, and it’s the character this makes the story.

Amy's Bio

Amy Corwin is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America and recently joined Mystery Writers of America. She has been writing for the last ten years. She writes historical and cozy mysteries. To be truthful, most of her books include a bit of murder and mayhem since she discovered that killing off at least one character is a highly effective way to make the remaining ones toe the plot line.

Amy’s books include the three Regency romantic mysteries, I BID ONE AMERICAN, THE BRICKLAYER’S HELPER, and THE NECKLACE; Regency mysteries, THE VITAL PRINCIPLE, and A ROSE BEFORE DYING; and her first cozy mystery, WHACKED!, will come in in 2012 from Five Star.

Join her and discover that every good romance has a touch of mystery.

Website: http://www.amycorwin.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/amycorwin
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmyCorwinAuthor
Blog: http://amycorwin.blogspot.com

Book Links
The Vital Principe: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OR1GQ2/
A Rose Before Dying: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00557U2QU/
The Bricklayer’s Helper: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YCPLP0/
I Bid One American: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ASJTLC/
The Necklace: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004I6D2PC/

Author of the Month Amy Corwin

[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Amy] The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss. I remember it so well because I was in the first grade and my dad was reading it to me at bedtime. He got about half-way through and then he didn’t show up one night to read me another chapter. I got out of bed and asked him why he hadn’t tucked me in and read to me. He said, “If you want to know what happens, you’re going to have to read it, yourself.”

ARGH! Talk about tough love. Needless to say, I did read it, and it remains one of my favorite books.

[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?

[Amy] I have lots of favorites, depending upon my mood. At the moment, I’m indulging in a Barbara Michaels binge. But I also love: Shirley Jackson (I always read The Haunting of Hill House at Halloween); Georgette Heyer; P.G. Wodehouse; and H. H. Munro.

[Anne] Out of all the books you’ve read, which one comes immediately to your mind? If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.

[Amy] The first paragraph, which is incidentally also the last paragraph, in The Haunting of Hill House. Hill house had stood for fifty years and might stand for fifty more…

I don’t think I’ve ever read a better, more evocative paragraph in my entire life.

And whatever walks there, walks alone.

[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?

[Amy] The Antarctic. My husband and I are planning a trip there after we retire. I can’t wait.

[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Amy] Kitchen. Both my husband and I love to cook. In fact, we’re trying to save money to put in a new kitchen right now!

[Anne] It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.

[Amy] I sew and make a lot of cotton wide-legged slacks. I’m always wearing them because I can move around easily. Those and a T-shirt.

[Anne] What’s your favorite dish?

[Amy] Food. LOL, I’ll eat just about anything. I do love curried chicken, though.

[Anne] Other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

[Amy] Birdwatching. My husband and I are both birders. Or twitchers, depending upon which side of “the pond” you’re on.

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Amy] My current 10-year old car. Sorry, but cars don’t do anything for me except get me from point A to point B. But I’m torn between a real Hummer (not one of those pathetic urban ones) and something like a tank. Something that will get me to the back of beyond without getting stuck in the mud.

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show? Movie?

[Amy] The defunct “Gil Mayo Mysteries”. It was on for a very short time, but I loved every minute of it. I wish it would come on in reruns somewhere or be available as a DVD set.

[Anne] You’ve won a talent show! What act did you perform?

[Amy] Are you sure you’re feeling okay? You don’t have a fever, do you? How about…comedy. I could probably do that as long as someone wrote the material for me. And someone else was able to do the bit on stage.

[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?

[Amy] I don’t see the point in being invisible. You’re far too likely to hear the truth about yourself and frankly, who wants that? Flying might be nice as it seems practical. No more strip searches at airports and all.

[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?

[Amy] That you have to walk barefoot in the snow up a hill both freakin’ ways. It never gets easier. In fact, the more you know, the more you know you don’t know anything…so you’re constantly working harder to try to create that story ricocheting around in your head.

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Amy] The history of roses. No wait, the historical uses for cyanide. No wait, Captain Barclay…. There’s so much and it’s so much fun, but I really did get absorbed by the history of roses and the development of the Hybrid Tea that we know today.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Amy] Outside. Birdwatching is terrific inspiration for some bizarre reason.

[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?

[Amy] You have to be mega-quirky to write in the first place. I hope I’m not any weirder that most other writers, but I have the bad feeling that I’m just kidding myself. I actually just sit down and write. Nothing special, I’m afraid. Although I do have a blood-spattered decal on my laptop.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Amy] Interesting characters and lots of unexpected twists.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Amy] I’m about to send a Christmas mystery novella to an editor. After that, I’m hoping to finish up another historical mystery (featuring Pru Barnard and Knighton Gaunt from The Vital Principle) which has been a lot of fun to plot. I’m learning all about mazes and the history of mazes…very interesting.

[Anne] What's one of the more interesting experiences you've had with one of your readers?

[Amy] I have readers? Oh, yeah, well…. This is a tough one. Most of my readers seem abnormally normal and behave impeccably, so other than a few really nice remarks, I’m afraid there’s no juicy gossip to be had.

[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining. The man came out of nowhere, and before I knew it....

[Amy] he kissed me. It wasn’t until he disappeared down an alley that I realized he’d stolen my wallet and my bra. I’m still trying to figure out the bra thing.

But at least he left me my umbrella.

[Anne] What a fun interview! I love your sense of humor, Amy. Folks, be sure to visit often and post comments throughout the month for a chance to win one of Amy's books.  She will give away winner's choice of either The Vital Principle or The Necklace.  In either format (ebook or print).  If the chosen winner lives outside the U.S. they will receive an ebook. 


Amy's Bio:

Amy Corwin is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America and recently joined Mystery Writers of America. She has been writing for the last ten years. She writes historical and cozy mysteries. To be truthful, most of her books include a bit of murder and mayhem since she discovered that killing off at least one character is a highly effective way to make the remaining ones toe the plot line.

Amy’s books include the three Regency romantic mysteries, I BID ONE AMERICAN, THE BRICKLAYER’S HELPER, and THE NECKLACE; Regency mysteries, THE VITAL PRINCIPLE, and A ROSE BEFORE DYING; and her first cozy mystery, WHACKED!, will come out in 2012 from Five Star.

Join her and discover that every good romance has a touch of mystery.

Website: http://www.amycorwin.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/amycorwin
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmyCorwinAuthor
Blog: http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/

Book Links

The Vital Principle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004OR1GQ2/
A Rose Before Dying: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00557U2QU/
The Bricklayer’s Helper: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YCPLP0/
I Bid One American: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ASJTLC/
The Necklace: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004I6D2PC/

Author Interview with Marlayne Giron

[Anne] Good morning, Marlayne, and welcome to my blog. Please tell the readers a little about yourself.

[Marlayne] I’m a wife, mother and Messianic Jew who loves Jesus.

[Anne] Do you have a favorite book you read as a child?

[Marlayne] I have several! Heidi, The Secret Language, Black Beauty and all of the Fairytales.

[Anne] I'm sure you've read a ton of books. Is there one you've read you wish you had wrote? If so why?

[Marlayne] Oh I wish that I had written Lord of the Rings. It is an absolute masterpiece and the “gold standard” in fantasy fiction. I read The Hobbit and the entire LOTR trilogy in a single weekend when I was 14 and wept, laughed and endured the pain along with all the characters. It is probably one of the most majestic and profound books ever written.

[Anne] Please share your favorite line or passage from a book.

[Marlayne] It is actually from the Appendix when Aragorn is ready to give up his life and Arwen is pleading with him to stay longer: “Lady Undomiel,” said Aragorn, “the hour is indeed hard, yet it was made even in that day when we met under the white birches in the garden of Elrond where none now walk. An on the hill of Cerin Amroth when we forsook both the Shadow and the Twilight this doom we accepted. Take counsel with yourself, beloved, and ask whether you would indeed have me wait until I withr and fall from my high seat unmanned and witless. Nay, lady, I am the last of the Numenoreans and the latest King of the Elder Days; and to me has been given not only a span thrice that of Men of Middle-earth, but also the grace to go at my will, and give back the gift. Now, therefore, I will sleep. I speak no comfort to you for there is no comfort for such pain within the circles of the world. The uttermost chose is before you: to repent and go to the Havens and bear away into the West the memory of our days together that shall there be evergreen but never more than a memory; or else to abide the Doom of Men.”

[Anne] When did you first decide you wanted to write a book?

[Marlayne] I was inspired to write my first book, “The Victor” 30 years ago while listening to an Amy Grant by the name of Fairytale. The verse in the song was: “two princes wage the battle for eternity but the victor has been known from the start”. After hundreds of rewrites and dozens of rejections I finally got to see the fulfillment of my dream when The Victor was released Holy Week of 2009. The rest of my books took considerably less time, with my latest, “In Plain Sight” being written in just four months. The idea came from attending a writer’s conference workshop in which the editor of Marcher Lord Press was talking about the “buggy and bonnet” books (Amish) and how he would really love to see someone do a paranormal Amish fiction.

[Anne] What has been the highlight of your publishing career so far?

[Marlayne] All the new friends I have made all over the country and the world. I’m not just passing acquaintances with a lot of these people. I pray for them, share my life and struggles with them and visa versa.

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Marlayne] For The Victor it was discovering that when a knight was “knighted” by his Lord, he was whacked really hard with the flat of the sword instead of tapped. The object was not to be bowled over by the stroke.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Marlayne] The emotional journey is everything. If a book will make me cry, giggle and empathize with the plight of the characters as they go through the challenges of the plot then it is a book well worth reading.

[Anne] I heard you have a new release. Please tell us about it.

[Marlayne] “In Plain Sight” is Amish fiction with a very unique twist. I’m different from most Amish authors in that I do not live near an Amish or Mennonite community nor have relatives who are. It’s a “what if” story and the inspiration came from several sources, the writer’s workshop mentioned previously and C.S. Lewis’ sci-fi book “Out of the Silent Planet”. It is mainly a love-story but also combines suspense with a very inspirational surprise at the end.

[Anne] What made you decide to write a book about the Amish?

[Marlayne] I honestly just wanted to see if I could do it. It took me four months and until I got to the halfway mark it was like pulling teeth. After that it began to write itself and inspirational went into high gear!

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Marlayne] I just finished a novella for Love Inspired called Plain & Simple. The premise is 30-something SoCal widow with teen, purchases Amish farmhouse for purposes of turning it into an Amish B&B and meets 30-something Amish widower who lost wife and children in buggy accident. Despite their different backgrounds and cultures, they are drawn to one another first by their mutually shared pain and then love begins to grow.

[Anne] Thanks so much for joining us today, Marlayne. It's been fun getting to know more about you. In closing please give us a short excerpt of your new book and let us know where we can buy it.


Excerpt:

Seth and Silas stood up and went onstage to display her quilt to the remaining bidders. The auctioneer began the bidding at $300. One or two hands went up and the price slowly climbed $20 at a time. Then the bidding began to peter out. If others didn’t bid the auctioneer would have to call it sold at a horribly low price. As Rebecca scanned the seats, Katie Zook and her entourage entered the tent. They walked up the center aisle and took the empty seats in the first row. The better to ogle the brothers from, Rebecca guessed. She turned her attention back to the stage to find Seth staring at her; a ghost of a smile playing about his lips.

Watch this! Came the words inside her head as the auctioneer yelled out: “GOING ONCE…!” his gavel poised to declare the bidding concluded.

Suddenly arms shot up all over the tent and the bidding began anew; this time in earnest. The price began zooming up by the hundreds and in moments was well over the $2,000 mark with no end of bidding in sight. Rebecca could feel the eyes of her mother, father and Katie Zook upon her but she dared not meet their gaze. She kept her eyes fastened firmly upon the auctioneer who was now mopping his florid face with a handkerchief; desperately trying to keep up with the bids. Once or twice she stole a glance at Seth who stood stone-faced by the quilt except for the mischievous twinkle in his silver eyes.

“Five thousand dollars for the Esh Shadow Star quilt…do I hear five thousand and a hundred?”

Word quickly spread through the fairgrounds that an incredible bidding war had broken out in the auction tent. The news that a quilt was breaking all records for price emptied the booths and had everyone who was left running for the tent to watch. Every vacant seat was quickly filled and soon there was standing room only but the bidding showed no sign of abating.

“Six thousand, five hundred! Do I hear seven thousand?” The auctioneer was becoming hoarse and sweating profusely. Hands shot up again all over the tent. Now there were more than 100 people bidding on her mother’s quilt. Rebecca caught Seth’s eye. There was no doubt in her mind that the brothers were entirely responsible for the bidding war on the quilt; she just couldn’t figure out how they were doing it.

“Eight thousand!” screamed the auctioneer. The crowd let out an enormous cheer. The bidding had become “the” show and everyone was curious to see how high it would go and who would end up with the quilt.

Rebecca looked over to see her daed and mamm exchange alarmed glances. They had obviously drawn the same conclusion as she and were not pleased. They didn’t want to be responsible for taking advantage of people. Leroy stood up and stared down the brothers; making his meaning clear. Silas nodded and the bidding slowed down to two remaining bidders who seemed determined to win what was arguably the most famous quilt auction in all of Lancaster County.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON MY BLOG: http://marlaynegiron.blogspot.com/2011/08/in-plain-sight.html

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Marlayne-Giron/257107850968612

Twitter: @thevictorbook

Author Karen Wiesner

Joining me this month is the wonderful Karen Wiesner. Karen is an accomplished author with 82 books published in the past 13 years, which have been nominated for and/or won 111 awards, and 15 more titles under contract. Karen’s books cover such genres as women’s fiction, romance, mystery/police procedural/cozy, suspense, paranormal, futuristic, gothic, inspirational, thriller, horror, chick-lit, and action/adventure. She also writes children’s books, poetry, and writing reference titles such as her bestsellers, First Draft in 30 Days and From First Draft to Finished Novel {A Writer’s Guide to Cohesive Story Building}, available from Writer’s Digest Books. Her previous writing reference titles focused on non-subsidy, royalty-paying electronic publishing, author promotion, and setting up a promotional group like her own, the award-winning Jewels of the Quill, which she founded in 2003. Jewels of the Quill produced two award-winning group anthologies per year published by Whiskey Creek Press from 2005-2011. All were edited by Karen and others. Along with her writing, Karen enjoys designing Web sites, graphics, and cover art.

Be sure to comment throughout the month for a chance to win one of Karen's books!

[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Karen] How to Care for Your Monster by Normal Bridwell (of Clifford fame). I’d never known anyone else to have read it until I met my husband.

[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?

[Karen] Yes—for every genre. Some of my favorites are J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Agatha Christie, Angela Hunt, Terry Brooks, Michael Crichton, Robin Cook, and Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child (pre-Detective Aloysius Pendergast series).

[Anne] Out of all the books you’ve read, which one comes immediately to your mind?

[Karen] The Lord of the Rings (a brilliant concept so beautifully executed in Peter Jackson’s films).

[Anne] If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.

[Karen] The scene where Eowyn realizes she’s fallen in love with Faramir. Men tend not to be great at romance scenes, but this one was so poignant, it stands out in my mind.

[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?

[Karen] I’m a homebody to the extreme. Agoraphobia is common in my family. Leaving home for longer than a few hours is painful for me.

[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Karen] Kitchen, definitely. I’m as far from a fashion-ista as they come. Besides, I don’t have enough clothes to need a custom closet.

[Anne] It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.

[Karen] Yes, I must have clothes on. I love pajamas and I’d wear them at all times if it was socially acceptable.

[Anne] What’s your favorite dish?

[Karen] I haven’t progressed out of my teenage years—pizza. The more cheese, the better.

[Anne] Hey, we never grow out of pizza:)  Okay, other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

[Karen] Designing cover art and graphics for websites. See my designs here:

http://www.angelfire.com/stars4/kswiesner/KarensCoverDesigns.html

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Karen] None of the above. I’d just like a basic, new car—a Saturn SUV of some kind would suit me perfectly. Ms. Practicality, that’s me.

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show? Movie?

[Karen] I watch almost no television. I do catch American Idol as often as I can when it’s running, occasionally watch House when it comes on, but mostly I watch cooking shows when I do sit down in front of the television. My favorite movie is The Lord of the Rings.

[Anne] You’ve won a talent show! What act did you perform?

[Karen] I love to sing. Very cool if I could win a talent show for my singing.

[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?

[Karen] For an introvert, the easy answer for me is to be invisible. You can’t imagine how often I just want to be invisible wherever I go, whatever I do.

[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?

[Karen] That I could make the rules…write my own ticket. I never expected that and it’s difficult to give up that perk now to work with a publisher who wants to control every single aspect of the work. I love a publisher who trusts me and can see my vision instead of the other way around.

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Karen] In the process of outlining the final book in my Family Heirlooms Series, Worlds Collide, I had to do a ton of research about Japan along multiple angles—marriage, family living, childrearing, housing, traveling, etc. What a culture shock. It’s absolutely nothing like the United States over there. Writing a book where a main character is Japanese was beyond difficult and so I felt the only way to make it truly believable was to make her have grown up in the United States—this helped to create a character who’s at home in both worlds.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Karen] Almost exclusively to my office. But I admit I do love to take a bunch of music CDs and go for a long drive in which I brainstorm like mad on a book.

[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?

[Karen] Maybe it’s a quirk that I don’t believe there are absolutes in writing. There are so many writing trends, and I admit I find most of them silly. If anyone tells me when writing Never do this or Always do this, I immediately take a step backward. There’s only one rule in writing: If it works for the story, go with it. The only rules are the ones you enforce yourself in your writing. Don’t let anyone else tell you differently.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Karen] Great characters. Without them, no story could be good enough to engage a reader.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Karen] I’m researching and outlining Clumsy Girl’s Guide to Falling in Love, the first book in the spin-off to my Family Heirlooms Series. I’m also revising and polishing two novellas: “Beauty is the Beast”, the final story in the miniseries I’m doing within my Woodcutter’s Grim Series, and “For Always”, the third in my Cowboy Fever Series.

[Anne] What's one of the more interesting experiences you've had with one of your readers?

[Karen] Interesting might be stretching this, but I often have people send me their books—usually out of nowhere—and ask me to read them. As if I have the time or inclination do to anything of the kind. Don’t get me wrong: I believe in giving back and helping new writers as much as possible, but there is a point where one has to draw the line. One time when I was having this happen to me practically once a week and was getting fed up with it, I had someone beg me to read his work. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. He even offered to pay me. Maybe it was wrong to accept it, but I figured it was no different than charging for a critique at a writing conference. In any case, I think we offered each other a valuable service, but honestly I’d probably never do it again. I put a disclaimer on my website now that says don’t send it; I’ll delete it without looking at it. So far, it’s worked pretty well.

[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining. The man came out of nowhere, and before I knew it....

[Karen] I was wishing I’d never left home to begin with. (Hey, pre-agoraphobic talking here.)

For more information about Karen and her work, visit her Web sites at http://www.karenwiesner.com, http://www.firstdraftin30days.com, http://www.falconsbend.com and http://www.JewelsoftheQuill.com. If you would like to receive Karen’s free e-mail newsletter, Karen’s Quill, and become eligible to win her monthly book giveaways, send a blank e-mail to

KarensQuill-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.

Nancy Kay's Journey to Publication

Writing Romantic Suspense came very naturally to me. I've been married to the same wonderful man for 46 years come this December. Twenty-eight of those years he served on the Pennsylvania State Police. Mystery and elements of danger intrigue me, so when I got around to writing those stories floating around in my head, the direction they took was inevitable.

My journey to publication began one frigid winter day when I attended a talk at the library given by three local authors. Unfortunately for them, the attendance was small. Fortunately for me, I got to talk one on one with some very special ladies. I had a story in mind and their advice was to join RWA and 'just write!' So I did.

Several months later, about eight to be exact, I contacted one of the authors and asked if she'd meet me for lunch. She agreed and with a tolerant smile, gave me some gentle guidance and advice. After cutting about three thousand words from my masterpiece, I entered a couple of RWA chapter contests. Much to my delight and surprise I placed second in one and got honorable mention in another!

Then the real work began. I stared at my manuscript, puzzled by the term 'point of view'. That's a small hint to what I faced as a writer. Over the next seven years I attended RWA chapter meetings, small conferences and retreats. I took numerous online classes and completed two full manuscripts.

I agonized over query letters and pitches. My most difficult obstacle was deciding where my stories fit and what audience to target. I still struggle with these issues, because I believe the reader is the one who will ultimately decide if a particular story 'fits' their taste. However, just recently I read an interesting blog which brought to light two takes on romantic suspense, Hearth and Home verses Dark and Scary. My stories fall somewhere in between, so, when asked, I write romantic suspense with a hearth and home slant that's sometimes scary!

I belong to three RWA chapters. Last year I attended my first RWA National Conference in Orlando. Contacts made at the conference, along with growing confidence, led me to submit and get offered a three book contract through Desert Breeze Publishing. For months I studied and considered several e-publishers and found what I wanted with Desert Breeze.

I encourage aspiring authors to research and study every agent or publisher they are considering. Don't lose sight of your inner story. Take time to find a place your stories will be accepted. Think twice about changing your work drastically for a publisher to gain acceptance.

The story line and thoughts inside you begging to be woven into characters are what create the writer you will become. First and foremost, you must learn the craft of writing. I learned a great deal through trial and error - heavy on the error. My advice? Read what you love, what you want to write. Listen to fellow writers and commit to classes you need to overcome your weaknesses.

One of my favorite sayings: "Luck is what you call it when preparation meats opportunity." General David Petraeus.

Meet Nancy Kay

Please welcome, Nancy Kay! Thanks for joining me this month, Nancy. I look forward to learning more about you.

[Anne]Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Nancy] Very early I loved 'My Friend Flicka', followed by subsequent series including 'Thunderhead' and 'Green Grass of Wyoming'. However, my first romantic read was a book entitled 'I'll Find My Love' published by Berkley Highland Books and written by Joan Dirksen.

[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?

[Nancy] Tough one, where do I start? Initially, I'd say Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I loved her books, and believe she got me hooked on romance. She was a true pioneer of the romance genre.Yet, I can't overlook my absolute devotion to Nora Roberts.

[Anne] Out of all the books you’ve read, which one comes immediately to your mind? If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.

[Nancy] The closing scene in Nora Roberts Chesapeake Blue made me sad. But, only because the Chesapeak Bay series had come to an end. It warmed my heart knowing Seth was at peace as he looked back on members of a family that took him in, loving him unconditionally, and looked forward with Drusilla, the love of his life.

[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?

[Nancy] Once again, I must admit at least two. My daughter did her junior year of college in Bologna, Italy and for our twenty-fifth wedding annivesary my husband and I traveled to Italy. Charleston, South Caroline is a close second. The culture and cuisine there are exceptional.

[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Nancy] A closet, hands down. I am constantly trying to organize and a spacious closet catering to my every need would be heaven. I'll leave the kitchen to my husband, a fantastic gourmet cook!

[Anne] It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.

[Nancy] Comfy slacks and a pullover.

[Anne] What’s your favorite dish?

[Nancy] Almost all seafood, with she-crab soup high on the list.

[Anne] Other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

[Nancy] I enjoy travel, great plays and long walks. Though spending time in our sunroom, either alone, with my husband, close friends, or my daughter and her family while talking and sipping wine tops the list.

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Nancy] None of the above! I may opt for a classic Volvo or be practical and get a Honda CRV.

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show? Movie?

[Nancy] I watch very little television. In the past I enjoyed ER and JAG, but in my humble opinion, most recent shows lack depth and promote overindulgence to a fault. As for a movie...hmmm, I loved a little known production entitled 'First Night.' And of course all the early James Bond Movies with Sean Connery.

[Anne] You’ve won a talent show! What act did you perform?

[Nancy] I danced a sexy, sensual tango.

[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?

[Nancy] Fly. Then I could avoid all the crazy drivers on the road today.

[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?

[Nancy] The choice of many publishing houses surprised me. I have respect, and trepidation, for how market driven the publishing industry has become. Granted, they are in business and must make sound decisions. Yet, I tend to consider writing an art, and forcing an artist to paint a certain picture in order to sell goes against the grain, don't you think?

[Anne] I totally agree, Nancy. What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Nancy] Once more, my answer has two parts. My husband is a former Pennsylvania State Trooper, and, though always aware of what he did on the job, it wasn't until I began writing suspense and he helped me with details that I learned so much more about the job and the man. Second, my stories are set in and around the Great Lakes. Though I've lived near the lakes for many years, I love writing about the area and look forward to expanding my stories - of course requiring some travel for further research! - to other towns and villages surrounding all the Great Lakes.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Nancy] I go for long drives, listening to music or for long walks, often on the beach.

[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?

[Nancy] I talk dialog out loud when I'm driving alone. Getting inside my character's heads this way helps a lot.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Nancy] Characters readers will love. I've read stories with excellent plots and story lines but hated the characters. Villians, I understand, but I must admire and sypathize with other main characters. As a reader, if I can't relate to, or empathize with individuals within a story, then the story has failed.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Nancy] I'm working on the second story in my 'Deadly Triad' series. I love giving characters I introduced in previous stories a future of their own. It's a continuim, a passing of time and character growth.

[Anne] What's one of the more interesting experiences you've had with one of your readers?

[Nancy] My first release was July 1 and I've not yet interacted with readers. I look forward to every experience with my readers being interesting.

[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining. The man came out of nowhere, and before I knew it....

[Nancy] he shoved me beneath the overhang and pinned me against the wall with his lean, hard, body. Fear blasted through me. I gulped in air, preparing to scream like a banshee. Then a shaft of light slanted across his face, and the scream died. "Can't have you getting all wet," he murmured, and flashed a familiar grin before his warm lips closed over mine.

[Anne] Wow! Awesome response, Nancy.

Nancy's Bio - The first romance I remember reading was Mrs. Mike--lovedthat handsome Canadian Mounty. Kathleen Woodiwiss created powerful heroes, and Suzanne Brockman, men of action. The thread that wove these very different stories together through time was unforgettable characters. I fell in love with each and every one of them. So, six years ago I vowed to create heart winning characters for/my/readers and joined RWA.

I live in the heart of wine country along the shores of Lake Erie in Western Pennsylvania. My husband, a former member of the Marines and the Pennsylvania State Police Department, is a built in advisor for military and law enforcement issues.

My stories are romantic suspense with a hearth and home slant. I strive to make them interesting and authentic by drawing from life experiences.

I've worked as a bank teller, veterinary assistant, fitness instructor, and am currently working part time at an exclusive bra boutique. But writing has become my focus and, I've discovered, is a constant learning experience.

Wherever I go I gather ideas for my stories. But some of the best ones come to me in my home office as I sip hot tea and snow blankets the landscape outside my window.

Visit Nancy's website: http://nancykayauthor.com/

Toni Noel - Why I Write Romantic Suspense

Romantic suspense stories are my favorite, and the reason I write suspense, which never fails to shocks me, since I didn't like mysteries at all growing up. I didn't consider Zane Grey westerns mysteries. They were just stories about cowboys chasing cattle rustlers through dust canyons. Women seldom found their way into his novels.

I refrained from reading anything scary, avoided Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys books like the mumps. I preferred the Bobbsey Twins. Now that I think about it, those books were mysteries, too, about trivial things disappearing while on vacation, then miraculously being found. Nothing scary. Never anything life threatening. I didn't read mysteries, but read everything else I could get my hands on. Historical novels and biographies were my favorite. What young girl didn't dream of marrying a Duke or a Prince?

Once I'd raised my family and found time to read again, a friend at work introduced me to books by LaVyrle Spencer and Kathleene Woodiwiss and I firmly believed I'd found my niche. I'd always planned to write when I retired, and now I knew what I'd write, novels about unlikely people meeting and falling in love, the same books I loved to read, romance novels about lost souls finding safe harbors for the heart.

I didn't discover romantic suspense until I stumbled on Heartbreaker, a novel by Karen Robards, a tale so scary I had to pop nitroglycerine tables every few minutes for stress-related chest pains, in order to finish the book. No way was I putting down that book until I'd read the last page. The author so completely reeled me in that I became the mother racing through the woods with my teenage daughter to escape the gun-toting bad guy on our trail. That's romantic suspense at its absolute best.

Law Breakers and Love Makers, my first romantic suspense Desert Breeze Publishing released, is best described as a roller coaster ride, where dramatic high points and bits of humor vie for the reader's attention in the hero's desperate race to keep the heroine safe.

Temp to Permanent, my June 1 release, also from Desert Breeze, didn't start out to be a romantic suspense, but unbeknownst to me the heroine ran into a former boyfriend a few days before the novel begins, and I didn't discover he was out for revenge until I'd written over a hundred pages. Thank goodness I'd characterized the hero as a man quite able to take on anything that came his way.

In my dark October release, Decisive Moments, there's romantic suspense of another kind. A determined photographer and a reclusive architect bump heads over her need to photograph a boarded up house he hasn't entered for years. The heroine's unexpected attempts to teach the hero to smile opens a chink in his armor that lets the heroine's five-year-old daughter slip through, and allows painful memories of the hero's devastating childhood to again monopolize his thoughts. Only love can heal his wounds and allow him to build a future for the three of them in a house he's refused to enter for most of his life.

Writing romantic suspense is far different from writing a contemporary romance. The writer has to think ahead and plant seeds of doubt while remembering to not make it so difficult the reader can't figure out who dunnit. Red herrings help, but the writer must simultaneously build the attraction between the hero and heroine even though they have a mystery to solve, and give the budding romance time to blossom before something really awful happens and spoils their fun. If they can catch the bad guy before someone dies, he's free to ask for her hand in marriage. Yes!

I like to think of It as a juggling act. How many story lines can I keep in the air without dropping one? So far my mysteries are straightforward, not convoluted like some I've read. I dearly love complicated plots, but am yet to plot one with lots of twists and turns, although one is simmering in the back of my mind.

Visit Toni's website at:
http://www.toninoelauthor.com/

Nike Chillemi's Burning Hearts

[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Nike] Hi, to the Hunter. I can't recall the author but my dad and I read it together. It's about a young boy and his coon hound who liked to tree raccoons but don't kill them. They come across this wily raccoon that a nasty hunter is determined to kill. The boy and the dog help the rascally-raccoon escape. I guess I've always been an animal lover.

[Anne]Do you have a favorite author?

[Nike] In Christian suspense, I'm mad about J. Mark Bertrand, Sibella Giorello, and Steven James. My to read list is so long that I haven't gotten to any Desert Breeze suspense yet, but Anne's yours is at the top of the list. I just finished reading (as a judge) for the Grace Awards and am reading for the Carol Awards now. When that's done, I can get back to my personal reading list.

[Anne] Out of all the books you’ve read, which one comes immediately to your mind? If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.

[Nike] In J. Mark Bertrand's Back on Murder a man approaches main character detective Roland March in a dark bar where March sits with an untouched drink. The man won't give his name. He sits with his back to the wall and his hands under the table. The Man could have a gun in his pocket. March nudges the table spilling his full drink and the man grabs the table with both hands to steady it, thus exposing them. I thought, YES, a cop would do that to engage the mystery man's hands.

[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?

[Nike] Driving down the West Coast Highway (runs along the coastline of Washington, Oregon, and California) alternating Christian rock and country western blaring on the car radio - window open. It takes about three days. I've done it and it was great. The Pacific Ocean is incredible, not to mention the beautiful redwoods.

[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Nike] In a heartbeat, a custom kitchen. I'm a foodie.

[Anne] It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.

[Nike] My PJ's, the ones I just slept in. If I'm feeling really fancy-schmansy, I'll put on a lounging outfit. A caftan, a maxi beach dress.

[Anne] What’s your favorite dish?

[Nike] As I mentioned, I'm a foodie. Love to watch the Food Network. I like sauté. It's light and there are so many possibilities. Chicken sautéed in a honey mango sauce. Shrimp sautéed in a teriyaki sauce. Old standards like sole sautéed in lemon butter. Serve it with a veggie, if you're trying to lose a few pounds like I am. Add pasta in w/garlic and olive oil, or rice pilaf if you have friends over.

[Anne] Other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

[Nike] I love to read, especially crime fiction. I like to cook for family and friends, and go out to eat as the budget allows.

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Nike] I drive a VW punch buggy now and it's great for city driving, as I live in Gotham (NYC). I'm sure that huge advance is in the mail, and after I get it I'd buy a Jeep Sport…black of course. As a crime fictionista, black is my uniform. I love Jeep and a Sport would also fare well in the city.

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show? Movie?

[Nike] My husband and I watch The Killing every Sunday evening. It's by far one of the best TV crime dramas ever. As far as a movie, I just saw The Lincoln Lawyer (legal thriller) and while it wasn't as good as the excellent novel it's based on, it was indeed very good. And Matthew McConaughey…pluck my eyes out.

[Anne] You’ve won a talent show! What act did you perform?

[Nike] A slap-stick comedy routine, perhaps with some soft shoe dancing.

[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?

N: Invisible. I'm curious about people and it would allow me to observe without being obtrusive.

[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?

[Nike] I was shocked, as in totally floored, to find some contest judges and readers considered my novel edgy. My heroine and hero don't even kiss until the last chapter. But they deal with some pretty intense feelings and my hero, Lorne Kincade, grapples with his tragically dysfunctional childhood.

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Nike] I love 1940s fashion. The styles were classic and classy. Women of that day enjoyed dressing up. They followed the fashion seen on the silver screen and emulated that type of sophistication.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Nike] I go to a coffee shop, café, or bakery with tables and do some people watching while I sip a cappuccino.

[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?

[Nike] I'll go back to make sure there's some humor to break up the suspense and action scenes.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Nike] I like character driven stories. Take a complex character with some baggage and drop him or her into the middle of an action scene (a bank robbery, witness to murder, a kidnapping) to open the story and see where it goes.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Nike] I'm finishing the sequel to BURNING HEARTS. The second in the Sanctuary Point series is GOODBYE NOEL. It's a suspense set during the 1947 Christmas/New Year season. My research revealed how Christmas celebrations and symbols were part of the warp and woof of American life in that time period.

[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining. The man came out of nowhere, and before I knew it....

[Nike] I threw up on his shoe.

Check out Nike's new release Burning Hearts!

Blurb:

Erica Brogna’s parents doted on her and taught her to think for herself. So many young men she grew up with fell in the war, shaking her childhood faith. In rides a handsome stranger, at the hour of her desperate need when her best friend and mentor is trapped in a burning house. This stranger rushes into the inferno and carries Erica’s friend’s lifeless body out.

Lorne Kincade can’t out run his past on his Harley Davidson, though he tried. He’s been a knock-about biker since the end of WWII. His uncle bequeathed him a ramshackle cottage in Sanctuary Point, on the Great South Bay of Long Island, NY and now he has hope for the future, wants to repair the miniscule place, and settle down. The problem is someone’s setting him up for a murder rap, a young woman with hair the color of mink is starting to get under his skin, and that’s the last thing he needs.

Excerpt:

Long Island, New York
September 1946

Erica Brogna hurried down Hill Street, eager to sketch her new design, a forest green taffeta dress with a swirling skirt for a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary -- her first significant assignment. She paused to inhale the salt scent on the ocean breeze, and her gaze lingered on a copse of red, rust, and gold maples near Ada's house and dress shop.

She smiled, pulling her cardigan tight around her, and dropped the newspaper Poppa asked her to bring to her mentor and employer. She retrieved the paper and saw Bess Truman smiling as she entered Walter Reed Army Hospital. With the war over, the First Lady visited broken soldiers in long-term care. Erica slapped the paper closed before rage and depression overtook her. So many boys had not come home.

Chin jutted out, she smoothed the pleats of her skirt and marched toward Ada's house. She'd think on pleasant things and hand the paper over without a fuss as she did every morning. Nothing would ruin this day.

She climbed Ada's wooden front steps and opened the door.

Smoke filled the living room Ada had turned into a fabric shop. Erica waved a hand in front of tearing eyes. Gray vapors, like swirling fog, partially obscured bolts of fabric stacked against the opposite wall.

"Ada! Ada, answer me please." Dropping the newspaper, Erica rushed toward the stairs, trampling Bess Truman's image. "Ada can you hear me?"

Coughing, she grabbed on to the cutting table in the middle of the room, steadied herself, and reached for the phone -- no dial tone. Perhaps the fire melted the line.

She yanked the collar of her blouse over her nose and mouth against the smoke. The stairs loomed before her, seeming as impossible to scale as Mount Everest. She lunged forward, gripping the baluster, and thrust herself up two steps. Since Ada wasn't outside, she had to be upstairs.

As Erica climbed, the smoke thickened and swirled around her. It was darker with each step.

One hand clasped the rail and pulled, and she advanced a few more steps. Heat blasted against her skin from above, and soft crackling sounds drew her gaze to the upstairs landing. Squinting into the smoke, she lost her grip on the banister, missed the next step, and fell backward tumbling to the bottom.

The back of her head smacked against the baluster, and wooziness followed sharp pain. She tried to stand but couldn't get her bearings.

Will triumphed over ability. She hoisted herself, ignoring the dull throb at the back of her skull. Her palms stung, the skin scraped off during her fall. She took a deep breath, and a coughing fit seized her. Shallow breaths were the better alternative.

Planting her penny loafer on the bottom step, Erica began her climb again, shaken but with new resolve. If she could reach the top of the stairs, she could also make it to Ada's bedroom.


Purchase Burning Hearts at the following locations:

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-167/Nike-Chillemi-Sanctuary-Point/Detail.bok

http://www.amazon.com/Sanctuary-Point-Book-One-ebook/dp/B0050PJSTY/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sanctuary-Point-Book-One/Nike-Chillemi/e/2940012411747/?itm=1


Nike's blog: http://crimefictionandfaith.blogspot.com/

Romantic Suspense Author Toni Noel

[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Toni] The Lilac Lady. I have no idea who wrote it, but the story was about a young girl living next door to a lady who shares her love of flowers with the child. My mother bought three hardback books for a dollar and it was one on them. I was also a Bobbsey Twins fan. Never read Nancy Drew, I didn’t like mysteries. Now I write romantic suspense. Go figure.

[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?

[Toni] Sharon Sala. She writes about subjects other writers avoid.

[Anne] Out of all the books you’ve read, which one comes immediately to your mind? If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.

[Toni] Judy Duarte’s first inspirational Entertaining Angels. It's about a little girl who leaves poignant letters for her deceased mother in a tree in the park, and the lady who answers them.

[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?

[Toni] A car-and-passenger ferry plying Alaska’s Inland Passage. Our sleeping compartment was larger than our accommodations on an anniversary cruise to Bahama. There were comfortable chairs in the main viewing room where we could watch whales sounding, and several restaurants with enough choices to satisfy anyone's hunger. On deck at the rear of the ferry adventurous young people slept in tents and dangled fish hooks over the side.

[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Toni] My husband does the cooking. I recently had the kitchen remodeled for him, but my forty-four-year-old closets desperately need help. The closet rods are so overloaded one actually broke!

[Anne] It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.

[Toni] Something blue, always. When it’s chilly, like today, I get cozy in fleece. In the summer, I wear cotton knits or capris. You do not want to see me in shorts.

[Anne] What’s your favorite dish?

[Toni] Lasagna. Favorite meal, steak.

[Anne] Other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

[Toni] Gardening, camping, and talking long walks. I’m a nature lover at heart.

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Toni] None of the above. We’re a two Volvo family, and I dream of replacing one of those twenty-year-old vehicles with a trim Volvo SUV.

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show?

[Toni] NCIS. Movie? Toy Story 3.

[Anne] You’ve won a talent show! What act did you perform?

[Toni] I used to sing church solos and recite Poe's The Raven for school programs, but not anymore.

[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?

[Toni] I’d love to be invisible. I’m actually very shy. I dread walking into crowded rooms.

[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?

[Toni] Good writing is hard work, but you meet some wonderful people along the way.

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Toni] For my time travel Rising Above, I had to learn how to maneuver a hot air balloon.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Toni] To an RWA chapter meeting.

[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?

[Toni] I do my best writing on rainy days, we just don’t get enough of them in Southern California.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Toni] Well-defined characters determined to get what they want.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Toni] A contemporary romance about a stager and the wealthy man whose house she is hired to help sell.

[Anne] What's one of the more interesting experiences you've had with one of your readers?

[Toni] I'm still waiting to have one, perhaps it will happen at the Romantic Times Convention.

[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining.

[Toni] A burly man came out of nowhere, and before I could react, he shoved me into a passing car.


Check out Toni's Lawbreakers and Love Makers!

Blurb:
Deputy Sheriff Jon Sutherland reunites with his high school sweetheart when he responds to a silent alarm she sets off while house sitting. This chance meeting sends the sheriff and Zoe Westmoreland on a roller coaster run for their lives.

Burglars escaping from her parents’ home, send her sprawling. Twice. Then she finds the gardener floating face down in the family pool and interrupts a burglary-in-progress next door. When the gardener's death is ruled a homicide Jon moves in to keep Zoe safe. Not all that easy.

Two men try to force their vehicles off the road, and the one time Jon leaves Zoe alone those really bad guys show up again. Thanks to Zoe's quick thinking and resourcefulness, the crooks get a free ride to the hospital and she winds up in Jon’s arms for keeps.

Purchase from her publisher: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-113/Toni-Noel-Law-Breakers/Detail.bok

Fantasy Romance Author Nicole Zoltack

Nicole Zoltack has been creating stories since before she could even write. She loves to read everything she can get her hands on but fantasy romance holds a special place in her heart. Nicole is happily married to her college sweetheart and has two adorable sons. In her free time, she loves to ride horses, collect swords, and go to the PA Renaissance Faire, dressed in period garb. She lives in Pennsylvania where she enjoys the four seasons but wishes that winter would stop cutting into the warm springtime.

My interview with Nicole

[Anne] Name one of your favorite books as a child.

[Nicole] I adored Anne of Green Gables. I can't tell you how many times I reread it. Anne was my heroine. She was smart, had spunk, and was my literary best friend. It took me a long time before I read the rest of the series (Now, looking back, I think I didn't want Anne to grow up in my mind), and I enjoyed the later books too.

[Anne] Do you have a favorite author?

[Nicole] I have lots of favorite authors but if I had to pick just one, that would be impossible. I love JRR Tolkien, JK Rowling, CS Lewis (lol so far they all have initials in their names). I also enjoy Diana Gabaldon and Tamora Pierce, and many, many more.

[Anne] Out of all the books you’ve read, which one comes immediately to your mind? If there is a favorite scene you remember, please share.

[Nicole] I just finished reading Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers so it's fresh in my mind. I really enjoyed it, it's the story of a girl who finds herself caught between an angel and a demon, and falls for both of them. I love the message in the story about the power of love to change someone.

[Anne] Your favorite vacation spot (whether you have been there or not)?

[Nicole] Definitely Hawaii. Hubby and I went there for our honeymoon. We took a weeklong cruise to several of the islands and stayed a few extra nights on the Big Island. It was magical. We rode horses through the water, which was such a dark blue, and visited volcanoes. It was the experience of a lifetime. I would love to go back someday!

[Anne] Which would you rather have: A custom closet or a custom kitchen?

[Nicole] Oh, tough choice! I would go with a custom kitchen. So much time is spent in the kitchen to make food for your family, it makes more sense to pick that. Although if you know me, I have a ton of clothes!

[Anne] It’s Saturday afternoon and you’re home alone. What are you wearing? And yes, you must have clothes on.

[Nicole] My pj's, which is sometimes a nightgown, sometimes an oversized T-shirt. That's what I'm wearing right now as I type this - an oversized Philadelphia Eagles T-shirt.

[Anne] What’s your favorite dish?

[Nicole] Anything Italian. I could eat Italian food 24/7. Mmm.

[Anne] Other than writing, what do you enjoy doing?

Spending time with my family. Watching sports, TV shows, and movies with hubby. I love my Eagles (unfortunately hubby is a Dallas cowboys fan). I also love to read (big surprise there, I'm sure)

[Anne] You’ve just landed a multi-book contract with a major publisher! Which vehicle would we be more likely to see you driving after you’ve collected your huge advance: a Hummer, RV, truck, muscle car, or BMW?

[Nicole] I used to always want a Mustang (used to tease hubby that I wanted 2 mustangs - the car and the horse) but now I'm leaning more toward a Corvette.

[Anne] What’s your favorite television show? Movie?

[Nicole] My current favorite TV show is The Vampire Diaries. Out of old shows, that would be Lost. My favorite movie of all time is Gone with the Wind. Like books, I can list a lot more than one. Disney's The Three Musketeers, Timeline, While You Were Sleeping, The Phantom of the Opera, Die Hard….

[Anne] You’ve won a talent show! What act did you perform?

[Nicole] I would sing. I love singing, was a member of my high school and college chorus. I miss singing.

[Anne] Would you rather have the power to be invisible or be able to fly, and why?

[Nicole] To fly. Especially with the rising cost of gas!

[Anne] What was one of the most surprising things you learned during your journey to publication?

[Nicole] How huge a role promotion has, how early you can start with it, and what exactly it entails. I never really thought about promoting until after I had started to write seriously.

[Anne] What was the most interesting research you did for a book?

[Nicole] With Champion of Valor, I did a lot of research into angels. I love history and religion, so I really enjoyed this research. But what always comes to mind first was when I learned that there had actually been some female knights in the Middle Ages.

[Anne] Where do you go when you need to get inspired to write?

[Nicole] A lot of my inspiration comes from dreams. I tend to wander the land of "what if…" I'm sometimes inspired my movies and TV shows, other books, and just by living life. I love to people-gawk.

[Anne] Do you have any writing quirks?

[Nicole] I know a lot of authors can't write without listening to music. I can't. I tend to get too caught up in the music and sing along to concentrate. I do most of my writing late at night or early in the morning, when the rest of my household is asleep. Sometimes if I get stuck, I find that writing with a pen helps to get the creative juices flowing again.

[Anne] What do you think makes a good story?

[Nicole] Relatable characters, believable characters that grow and change throughout the story, a realistic plot that tugs at the heartstrings.

[Anne] What are you working on now?

[Nicole] I'm working on a ghost story for a charity anthology and the next short story installment in my What You See is What You Get series with Echelon Press.

[Anne] What's one of the more interesting experiences you've had with one of your readers?

[Nicole] I adore receiving emails from readers. I loved hearing from Shawna that one of her daughters turned down playing with a friend to read my book instead. Not necessarily interesting, I know, but it made my day! (Actually, it made a whole lot longer than a day.)

[Anne] Complete this scene: It was raining. The man came out of nowhere, and before I knew it, he was right behind me. Curse this fog, I can't see where I parked my car. I tightened my grip on my car keys, the metal biting into my palm, the only weapon I had.

I glanced at him. He wore a long trench coat, his head down. He was so close that the tail of his jacket brushed against my jeans. I stepped to the side and hoped her would pass me. It was bad enough that a terrible storm seemed to be on the way and I was a long way from home. I didn't need any more trouble.

He paused and looked at me, his eyes dark as a moonless night. "Be careful what you want," he said in a deep growl.

I blinked and brought up a trembling hand, my car key pointed toward him. "Excuse me?"

He glanced up at the dark clouds swirling overhead. "It looks like a storm's coming. You better get home."

I stared at him. His voice was now completely different, softer, a little higher pitched, his eyes a light blue. "You too," I squeaked out.

I watched him slink away, and he slowly disappeared into the fog.

It started to rain a few seconds later, and I ran to my car. I shoved the key into the lock and climbed in. Before I turned the car on, I stared through the windshield. An unsettling sensation filled me, and I slowly started to drive.

Be careful what you want.

What did I want?

At this moment, I wanted nothing more than to know who the man was and why he had said that to me.

As if he materialized out of my thoughts, the man stood before my car. I slammed on the brakes but the rain caused my tires to slid, and I slammed into him. I shoved my car into park and threw open the door. I ran to him, the ran beating onto me like pellets. "I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

The man stared at me, unblinking. With a sob, I touched his throat. No pulse. I had killed him.

A sob burst out of my throat like a banshee wail.

Be careful what you want.

Interview with Laurie Alice Eakes

Award-winning author Laurie Alice Eakes wanted to be a writer since knowing what one was. Her first book won the National Readers Choice Award in 2007, and her third book was a Carol Award finalist in 2010. Between December of 2008 and January of 2010, she sold thirteen books to Barbour Publishing, Avalon Books, and Baker/Revell, making her total sales fifteen. Recently, she added a novella to that collection, as well as having her first book with Baker/Revell, Lady in the Mist, picked up by Crossings Book Club, and three of her books chosen for large print editions by Thorndike Press. She has been a public speaker for as long as she can remember; thus, only suffers enough stage fright to keep her sharp. In 2002, while in graduate school for writing fiction, she began to teach fiction in person and online. She lives in Texas with her husband, two dogs, and too many cats even for her. http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com

[Anne] When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer, Laurie?

[Laurie] I think I was about ten or eleven. I was a poet then, but starting to dabble in fiction.

[Anne] Will you tell us about your latest book.

[Laurie] Lady in the Mist is the first book in The Midwives series. On her way home from a disastrous lying-in, midwife Tabitha Eckles encounters an Englishman in the early morning mist where no Englishman should be in 1809, as England and America rush toward another war. Consequences of the lying-in she’s just left and the charming, but possibly deadly, stranger, and the young men disappearing from the village on the Virginia shoreline, plunge Tabitha into a world of intrigue and danger, where she has hard lessons to learn about love and self-forgiveness.

[Anne] What inspired you to write this story?

[Laurie] Would you believe a project I wrote in graduate school for history? It was on midwives in history, and the more I researched, the more I realized how fascinating these women were. “Women of Power” is what I called my paper. You can read more about that journey on the Romantic Times blog on Feb. 8, and even more detail on my own blog from the January 3 posting. www.seizethechance.blogspot.com

[Anne] How did you go about researching your book?

[Laurie] I read books, diaries, obituaries, books published from as long ago as the 1670s. . . an overwhelming cornucopia of materials from the sixteenth through the nineteenth centuries. Being at a university, I had access to a rich assortment not open to the general public, as a rule.

[Anne] Do you have anything new in the works?

[Laurie] Oh, yes. From December, 2008 and Jan. 2010, I signed contracts for thirteen novels. In January, I sold two novellas. Right now, I’m writing the second of my career ladies series for Avalon Books, then will start my second Regency for Baker/Revell (the first one, A Necessary Deception is out in October of this year), and I just turned in my second book in the Midwives series, also from Baker/Revell.

[Anne] Wow! Congratulations on your wonderful success! What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

[Laurie] I am a definite plotter. When I started getting methodical about this, I started selling books. With my schedule—three novels and two novellas to write in 2011—outlining first makes the process go much faster.

[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you choose to be and why?

[Laurie] Oh, Tabitha, because she gets Dominick. LOL

[Anne] Say your publisher has offered to fly you anywhere in the world to do research on an upcoming book, where would you most likely want to go?

[Laurie] Great Britain—all of it—England, Scotland, Wales. I’ve been to continental Europe three times, but have never gotten to Great Britain.

[Anne] Oh, I’d love to go to England, too. What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Laurie] I read a lot of mysteries and young adult because I don’t write those, so I’m not constantly second-guessing the author; however, I do read in my own historical romance genre and wish more had suspense, as my books do. I love a good suspense plot.

[Anne] Name three things you can’t live without (excluding spouses and family because that’s a given).

[Laurie] Books, pets, . . . hmm. . . It’s a toss-up between coffee and chocolate.

[Anne] Great choices, but I’d have to go with the chocolate :-). What advice would you give to any aspiring writers out there?

[Laurie] Finish something. It’s the best advice I ever got and I pass it along.

[Anne] Where can we find you on the web?

[Laurie] http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com

[Anne] Where can we purchase your books?

[Laurie] Anywhere you purchase books—cbd.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, your local bookstore.

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Laurie] If you drop by my web site, I have excerpts from all my books up there. As soon as I get the final edition of my next book cover, I’ll be updating and changing things a bit, too, so do come and enjoy.

Thank you, Laurie!  I want to wish you continued success in your writing career.