Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I am originally from Springfield, Mo., in the Ozarks and about an hour from Branson. Currently, I live in Kansas City with my husband and our two young children.
Tell us a little about the book and your writing
This is my debut novel, though I have written and queried a novel and a novella before, plus written lots of short stories and unfinished ones.
One thing that stands out about writing “Skye, Revised” was the struggle to get it done. I got restless and resistant at times and even paused once to write an entirely different manuscript (a beachy romance novella).
However, I don’t know if I could have or would have done it differently. During one of my so-called non-productive periods, I decided to write some of the book from my antagonist’s point of view. That inspired me to get back to the story. So I guess it was actually a productive break. Not sure I would have come up with that if I would have plowed ahead. That said, I hope to get more efficient with each subsequent book.
What book have you read that you wish you had written?
“The Dovekeepers” by Alice Hoffman or “Jane Eyre” by Charlotte Bronte.
What was your first job?
My first job was at Heritage Cafeteria, an eatery many elderly people frequented. I was 17. I bussed tables and worked behind the buffet. It was fun because most of the other people who worked there were in high school, like me. It was also tiring work and my hair would always smell like the back kitchen after I left.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read your book?
I want readers to feel transported and as if they escaped from their normal lives, if only for a bit.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
I’m good with reviews that aren’t five stars, of course—but a truly bad one? I’d prefer no review.
What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?
I would love to write a thriller or suspense. I have some ideas and I think it would be really interesting to experience writing one and learn those particular beats.
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?
My phone and Kindle (hope we have Wi-Fi) and one of those water bottles that makes any water safe to drink.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes, I have an unpublished manuscript about a woman who follows her NBA player boyfriend to Miami and all the drama that ensues. I also have a few unpublished novellas, including that beachy romance I mentioned earlier. I put it up on Radish for a while, but have since taken it down.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
I met and shook hands with Jimmy Carter on an international flight. He was lovely and walked through the plane meeting everyone.
How did you come up with the title?
The title for the book was originally “Life, Revised”— it fit the theme and I probably had the term “revision” floating around in my head. I tweaked it to “Skye, Revised” later because I liked it better and it was a bit more specific.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Appreciate what you have, even if it seems “less than” from the outside. You never know the truth behind someone else’s surface. I hope the book inspires people to look at their lives a bit differently.
What if you got the life of your dreams … and it turned into a nightmare?
Excerpt:
“Skye, Revised” Excerpt
By Pamela Spradlin Mahajan
Chapter One
Skye
“Really? You’re going to wear that?” I said.
Teddy gave his outfit a once-over. “Yes…” The corner of his mouth inched up into a smile. “Is there something wrong with it?”
I wrinkled my nose as if a reeking can of fly-ridden garbage sat rotting nearby. “Khakis, Teddy? Pleated khakis?” I hadn’t even mentioned the cheap tucked-in polo shirt. “It looks like the uniform you wear on the show.”
Teddy swiped his jacket from the coat rack by the door and slipped into it. When it was sixty-one degrees in Los Angeles, you wore a jacket. “And, again, I ask: what’s wrong with that? Come on, Skye. We’re gonna be late.”
I exhaled an exasperated gush of air.
“You look great, by the way. The black really makes your blonde hair stand out.” Teddy lifted my knee-length coat from the rack and slid it over my form-fitting dress. I glanced down at the sheer cutout stretching across my collarbone.
“Well, it’s a nice place. I want to make a good impression—to look like we belong there.”
Teddy’s outfit did not demonstrate that we belonged anywhere worth being—especially not somewhere like The Hibiscus. It attracted A-list, red carpet fixtures the way spandex boy-cut underwear attracted wedgies. I was quite certain pleated khakis would be nowhere in sight, unless they were being worn ironically.
I side-eyed his chain-store-salesman look once more. It never failed—no matter how many slim, trendy trousers or jeans I picked out for him from Banana Republic or Asos, he still reached for the very same familiar item in the bowels of his closet. The very one I was trying to direct him away from. Honestly, what was the point?
My body ached with the exhaustion of defeat as I slid into the passenger seat of Teddy’s hatchback.
“Are you excited? You’ve been wanting to go here for years,” he said as he maneuvered out of the parking lot.
I’d be more excited if your outfit didn’t embarrass me.
I mumbled a nondescript response and we sat in silence for several minutes. As we pulled onto the 101, Teddy grasped the leather-wrapped steering wheel with one hand and rested the other on my bare knee. I glanced at his hand, watching the tendons move beneath his tan skin.
Then I gazed out the window as decrepit buildings morphed into sleek, glossy high-rise apartment complexes. Los Angeles was forever an unsettling contrast between seedy and superior, sad and spoiled. The only consistent thing was its palm trees. As I studied a tree outlined against the sky, my stomach knotted into a mixture of excitement and dread. We had never been to The Hibiscus before—we’d never been anywhere close. Teddy considered Red Lobster a classy establishment, for God’s sake. In my opinion, anywhere you have to wear a bib while eating is definite no no.
I took a measured inhale. The thought of Teddy’s stale outfit being scrutinized by L.A.’s hippest wasn’t the only reason for my frazzled nerves. I was replaying a conversation between us from several days earlier, searching it for hidden meaning. For clues.
Pamela Spradlin Mahajan is the author of “Skye, Revised,” a women’s fiction novel with a delicious dash of magical realism and romance. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and creative writing from Missouri State University and a Masters from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Her recent short stories have appeared in the online literary journal “They Call Us” and she has been honored in the WOW! Women on Writing Flash Fiction Contest. A native of Springfield, Mo., Pamela lives with her family in Kansas City, where in addition to writing women’s fiction, she also works as a copywriter, journalist, and reseller.
Please help me welcome Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy with 10 Moments that changed her life…
Giveaway!! Lee Ann is giving away a copy of her book to one lucky winner! She will draw a name from the commenters and the winner will have a choice between ebook, print and audio.
My grandfather died when I was nine. Although not my first death in the family, I was very close to him and it impacted me in a huge way. Because of his death, I became even closer with my grandmother.
I grew up in a blue-collar inner-city neighborhood. My extended family lived within a few blocks. My dad, after his Army service, had worked at a meat packing plant in my hometown but it closed and he became an over-the-road route salesman. At the end of fifth grade, he got a new job with the USDA and our family relocated more than 300 miles away to a small town.
On the night of April 24, 1975, a major tornado ripped through the town and mobile home park where I lived. My dad was injured but survived. We lost everything except the clothes on our backs and what we could sift through the rubble to find. I saw both the best and the worst of human nature because of this experience.
I joined Air Force Junior ROTC in high school. As part of the cadet corps, I found a niche in high school. I learned leadership, discipline, how to navigate an airplane, and how to lead. My highest rank was Major. I also met my future husband. I had the opportunity to travel to several different Air Force bases and enjoy experiences I would otherwise have never had.
After high school graduation, I enrolled in classes at our local junior/community college. I had been undecided about continuing my education until right before graduation. I made lifelong friends, was on the campus newspaper staff and literary magazine. I first saw real publication in those years and continued my education at a four-year university.
One of my English professors encouraged my writing when he told me I had the potential to become a writer. He stated it didn’t mean I would but that I could. My goal of becoming an author expanded with his words and led to a job in radio broadcasting. I wrote ad copy, voiced ads, and eventually worked an on-air shift. I hosted talk shows and interviewed several celebrities.
I married my high school crush after many years apart. I was thirty-two and almost settled for a solitary life. Through marriage, I realized a long-time dream. We bought land in a wooded area in the Ozarks which fulfilled my dream of living in the woods.
I had written and had publications for years but with my husband’s encouragement, I began to write seriously. I penned a novel, which eventually sold, and began my career as an author. My husband was my cheerleader, my beta reader, and was willing to take me anywhere in the country for research.
I had children, first twin girls and then my son. I was a stay-at-home mom with them until my son was in the second grade, when I became a substitute teacher. When I changed jobs to become first a reporter then editor of the local paper, my children rolled with the upgrade. My kids are now grown but remain a vital part of my life.
My husband, the rock I leaned on, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. His health declined and he had to stop working. The last two years of his life were filled with surgeries, hospital visits, long-term care facility stays, and additional health issues. By late 2018, it became evident he would not live long and was put on hospice care. He died in January 2019. I was not ready to become a widow. We would have celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary that year. I have, however, five years, later adapted to my status and kept on keeping on.
A story and a family as big as Texas.
Excerpt:
“I gotta tell you what I want,” he told them. “If I die.”
“You won’t,” Rachel said.
Boone shook his head a little and stopped. The slight movement made his head whirl.
“Just in case,” he said. Speaking took a lot of effort and strength he didn’t have. “You get six cowboys to carry me to bury. I want you both to walk behind, you’re all the family I got here. Then, the gals from the saloon can follow if they will. And I want a dead march. I reckon they should be in there somewhere with a drum to beat slow and a fife. Mac’ll know what I mean if you don’t. And get a preacher or someone to read that bit from Corinthians about seeing through a glass, and faith and charity.”
“Boone, you’re going to live,” Rachel said. She’d released his hand and was bathing his fevered forehead with cool water. “Don’t fret about all that now.”
He shut his eyes and tried not to worry. She sent his brother to fetch his friends, and when they returned, he listened.
“Get him to drink the laudanum,” Deacon said. “Mac, go down and see if you can’t get some hot water, maybe a cot or table. If one of us digs out that bullet where he lays, it’s gonna bleed all over the bed.”
Rachel lifted his head up so he could drink the opiate, and once he did, it wasn’t long until he could feel the numbing effects of it. Her capable fingers also undid the bandage and took away the garlic. Then, she washed the wound. The lye from the soap burned, and although she used a light hand, it hurt where she touched.
A cot was brought, and his friends lifted him onto it. Boone moaned, couldn’t help it because the movement sent pain radiating out from his chest through his body. The cot was lower than the bed, but as he began to slide into darkness, he was aware that Rachel held him on the right side, his brother on the left.
They were speaking to him, but it didn’t make much sense by that point. Boone liked the sound of their voices, especially Rachel’s, but his thoughts drifted toward Kentucky and home. His mind rolled back the years, and before he slipped into drug-induced oblivion, Boone relived scenes from his past, from his boyhood to the war to on the trail. He remembered when Ezekiel was born on a cold March day and the night his father died, sick with an ague. Boone saw his mother’s face when he rode away to war and remembered dancing with Ma at Jacob’s wedding.
Then, it all faded, and he knew nothing at all. His last thought was wondering if he’d wake again or if he would be dead.
From an early age, Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy scribbled stories, inspired by the books she read, the family tales she heard, and even the conversations she overheard at the beauty shop where her grandmother had a weekly standing appointment. She was the little girl who sat at the feet of the elders and listened.
As an author, she has published more than sixty novels and novellas written as both Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy and as Patrice Wayne for historical fiction. She is also the author of a new Faery Folk series from Evernight Publishing writing as Liathán O’Murchadha. Her books are found in many places, online and in brick-and-mortar stores including some in both Ireland and Australia. Her current publishers include The Wild Rose Press, World Castle Publishing, Evernight Publishing, and Champagne Books.
She spent her early career in broadcast radio, interviewing everyone from politicians to major league baseball players and writing ad copy. In those radio years she began to write short stories and articles, some of which found publication. In 1994 she married Roy Murphy and they had three children, all now grown-up. Lee Ann spent years in the newspaper field as both a journalist and editor and was widowed in 2019.
She teaches 7th and 8th graders each Sunday at church.
In late 2020, she hung up her editor’s hat to return to writing fiction. A native of St. Joseph, Missouri, she lives and works in the rugged, mysterious, and beautiful Missouri Ozarks.
I am thrilled to welcome my dear friend, Tina Fausett, with a fun interview and her fantastic new release…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I was born in Oklahoma City and currently live there in a historic neighborhood with my best friend, Draco (minpin/chihuahua mix). My home is a 107 years old…I sometimes like to refer to it as my life in ruins. My main focus is on my children and granddaughter.
Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
This book is a work of fiction, however, most of the characters are based on people I know. I don’t care how old you are, I think everyone can agree that dating is hard, but I truly believe it gets harder the older you are. We change, we know what we want and don’t want, and I know for myself that I’m not willing to settle…we get set in our ways. Women in my age range (Baby Boomers) have typically spent a lifetime working and being caregivers…to our children, our husbands, our parents, our spouses’ parents, to grandkids…now a lot of us don’t want to do that with the years we have left, and I think that’s difficult for a lot of men… So, in discussing men and dating and sharing experiences, my friends and I decided that newly widowed and divorced men, bless their hearts, really needed help learning how to live again as well as how to date a contemporary older woman and the idea for a Widower Whisperers’ business was conceived. Though we didn’t actually form a business, I decided to write about it.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Unrequited?
Deep down, I’m a hopeless romantic. I would like people to come away feeling good and understanding that it’s never too late…never to late to fall in love, never too late to pursue writing, art, a business…your dreams. And to know that on the inside, most of us seniors still feel young on the inside.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
Susan Sarandon, Steve Martin, Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren
What is your favorite quote?
“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” I mean who hasn’t said it…or at least wanted to say it?
If you could spend time with a character from your book, whom would it be? And what would you do during that day? (PG-13 please 🙂
It would have to be with Thomas Fitzsimmons. I’d be picking his brain, cooking and/or baking. He’s intelligent, well read, has a sense of humor and he likes to get in the kitchen and stir things up. I just find it such a joy when a man likes to cook…for a multitude of reasons.
What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
I was told by an agent that I wasn’t commercial enough. What has been the best compliment? I was told by the same agent that she couldn’t put my manuscript down all weekend, and I wrote like the classics. That being said, I still wasn’t commercial enough. That was years ago!
Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Ha! Almost all the main characters are based off people I know. The idea for the book came from my 50th reunion. People kept coming up to me saying they remembered me and my red hair. I have high school amnesia and didn’t remember most of them. My graduation class had almost 1,000 people. A couple of different men kept asking if I remembered them and showing me their badges with their graduation pictures on them. Young or old, past or present, their faces didn’t ring a bell. One man was a bit tipsy and actually got upset (I figured he must have been a big deal in high school and expected everyone to know who he was). Later I asked a friend (Betty in the book) if I had dated him or something, because according to her, I don’t recall going out with a couple of guys that were really cute. She didn’t think so, but out if it all I thought what if…what if there was really a story between them and a reason she doesn’t remember him. Except for his looks, Thomas is one hundred percent fantasy…much to my chagrin…he’s almost too good to be true! Darrell on the other hand…
What do your friends and family think of your writing?
That’s a mixed bag. I have such wonderful, supportive friends. Sometimes, I’m not sure if they’re excited if I base a character off them and/or something that’s happened to them or they’re terrified what I might write. But they are always so sweet. As for my family…they’re supportive of my endeavors, but my granddaughter has helped me a lot. She taught me about different writing apps and is great for getting a young opinion. I’ve been writing most of my life, and I feel that people who don’t write, don’t really don’t grasp what we do… It’s like they think if you’re not a best seller and a household name, you’ve just got this little hobby that you piddle around at.
What character in your book are you least likely to get along with?
Absolutely Darrell! He is a culmination of some of my worst dating memories.
How did you come up with the title?
If the story was based on a relationship that Sally and Thomas had in high school, and he was disappointed that she didn’t remember him and didn’t return the crush he had on her…the one word that came to mind was Unrequited.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Yes, definitely. I think it was said by one of the bachelorettes in The Golden Bachelor. She said something about when you get older, people don’t see you anymore. There isn’t a lot of respect for elders these days…it almost feels like people are just waiting for us to pass on and quit taking up space. I would love for the younger generations to understand that we still have the same feelings and fears…that we’re capable of falling in love again…and we’re not dead till we’re dead. I started this book prior to the pandemic then health issues and 4 surgeries caused me to quit writing for a couple years…I can’t tell you how happy I was to see The Golden Bachelor and the chance those beautiful women had to be seen and to shine.
How much of the book is realistic?
Probably way too much. A lot of conversations and a few of the scenes actually happened…I’m positive a man will now think more than twice before asking me out.
Getting Old isn’t for sissies…and neither is falling in love
Blurb:
After a coffee date from hell, Sally Estes and her friends come up with an idea for a business-The Widower Whisperers, LLC. They train Newbies, recently widowed and divorced men, on how to start living again and to do the things their wives used to do for them. The hardest part is teaching them how to treat and court a contemporary woman. Little did Sally know this new venture would change all their lives forever, bringing back a man from her past she can’t remember and a history she wants to forget. What started out as a promising enterprise now threatens to destroy her friendships and everything she’s worked so hard for.
Excerpt:
His head was bent but Elaine could see the trace of a tear escape from the corner of his eye. She stretched forward and ruffled his hair. “Could we get back to Sally?”
“Yes, let’s,” he mumbled without looking up.
“I was just reading an article about her and some of her girlfriends starting a business called the ‘The Widower Whisperers’. Ghastly name I know and doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but catchy.
“They evidently help widowed and divorced men…newbies, they call them, get back into the swing of life and train them how to do the things their wives did for them, as well as getting them ready to start dating…I think they even have a course called ‘Women 101’. When I first saw their ad about four months ago, I kind of thought it was a ridiculous idea and had no clue Sally was involved. But it looks like they’re doing really well and have so many male clients that they’re going to branch out to females soon.”
“That’s charming and I wish them all the luck in the world, but it has absolutely nothing to do with us.”
“Well, if you think about it, it really is a good idea. It’s hard for most people to start over. You know what it was like after you and Gayle divorced. I remember what it was like dating after Jake died, before I met you. It was horrible. Men were absolute idiots, thinking they were suave and debonaire. You’d go to dinner, and they’d be putting down the ex, drinking too much, start trying to hold your hand and talking about back rubs…” She shivered and ran her hands over her arms. “It was creepy, and I don’t imagine it’s gotten any better as we’ve aged.”
First off, I want to say that I never pictured myself this old writing about people this old. But we’re not dead yet and I realized there’s definitely a market and a need to tell our stories. (I think the fascination with the Golden Bachelor proved that). My favorite place is New Orleans where I once lived. A native of Oklahoma City, I grew up with a southern mom and she used to tell me I had swamp water in my veins. I’ve owned an antique store and art gallery, been a pickle pusher (I had a company called Red Hot Mamma’s Pickles), I’ve sold real estate in the Big Easy and OKC, yet I am always drawn back to writing. I’ve written mainstream, a children’s book that’s not published, some mystery and suspense with romantic and paranormal elements and even erotica. I can say, quite proudly that I have two Raunchy Read Awards. A rather haughty an unimaginative woman once asked if I regretted not focusing more on my intelligent side. woman. In response, I quoted Einstein. “Creativity is intelligence having fun.”
Blurb: Falsely accused of wrongdoing at a Princeton Prep school, Sophie Kearns accepts a temporary teaching position at an environmental school in the Florida Keys to wait out her suspension. The time away is meant to be an anxiety-free escape, but her clashes with the hot but arrogant marine biology teacher, Max Heaton, are anything but tranquil.
Max is determined to start an environmental research institute at the school, but he suspects the gorgeous new Lit teacher, who lacks even the most basic outdoor skills, is there to hinder that dream. Yet, something about her tames the demons from his past, and he can no longer ignore the fire she’s lit inside him.
Excerpt:
How’d Sophie end up working with women who could have been in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue?
She glanced down at her own one-piece halter and smoothed out an imaginary wrinkle. Not ready to venture back to the bikinis of her college days, she’d chosen a lime-green hue that looked great against her tan. And even though her midriff wasn’t bare, the high-cut detail on her legs showed plenty of skin. At least she wasn’t embarrassed standing next to Maddie. Or the other two.
She’d come a long way from the buttoned-up professor at Valen, thanks to her new friends here. After their shopping spree in Key West, they’d made sure to compliment Sophie on her new look—obviously afraid that if they didn’t, she’d go back to her old ways. And it had worked. Along with the exercise she was getting from boating and swimming, she looked and felt like a new woman.
Stealing a glance at Max, she assumed he’d be staring at Maddie. A slow burn crept across her face when his gaze fell on her.
His mocha eyes blazed a scorching trail as they traveled up her legs, her torso, then stopped at her face. She turned and looked out over the ocean, swallowing hard, to banish this erotic discomfort. But try as she might to ignore his scrutiny, she felt it deep down in the pit of her stomach as fingers of heat spread over her skin, doing much more damage than the sun.
Maria Imbalzano is an award-winning contemporary author who writes about strong, independent women and the men who fall in love with them. She recently retired from the practice of law, but legal issues have a way of showing up in many of her novels. When not writing, she loves to travel both abroad and in the states. Maria lives in central New Jersey with her husband–not far from her two daughters. For more information about her books, please visit her website at http://mariaimbalzano.com where you can also sign up for her newsletter.
I’m pleased to share this Regency anthology from nine authors…sounds like some great reads!
Under the Harvest Moon
As the village of Reabridge in Cheshire prepares for the first Harvest Festival following Waterloo, families are overjoyed to welcome back their loved ones from the war.
But excitement quickly turns to mystery when mere weeks before the festival, an orphaned child turns up in the town—a toddler born near Toulouse to an English mother who left clues that tie her to Reabridge.
With two prominent families feuding for generations and the central event of the Harvest Moon festival looming, tensions rise, and secrets begin to surface.
Nine award winning and bestselling authors have combined their talents to create this engaging and enchanting collection of interrelated tales. Under the Harvest Moon promises an unforgettable read for fans of Regency romance.
Moonlight Wishes and Midnight Kisses by Collette Cameron
A scarred veteran with no future, Courtland Marlow-Westbrook wants to be left alone. Scottish heiress Avery Levingtone never stopped loving him and is determined to win his love again. Will these former sweethearts find happiness together, or will the wounds of the past keep them apart?
A few favorite lines from your story:
A swiftly smothered gasp from across the store made him glance toward the other clerk and the woman, now completely visible.
No.
Don’t let it be her. Please.
Not Avery Levingtone.
The auburn-haired spitfire, with the slightest Scots accent, Cortland had hoped to make his bride—his countess, before everything had gone head over arse in his life, leaving him scarred and without the means to support a family.
But Fate wasn’t smiling kindly upon him today—hadn’t in a very long while.
It was Avery.
Even more impossibly beautiful than he remembered.
A fact about you or your story:
My hero and heroine were introduced in the last book in another series, before I knew they would get their own story in my Chronicles of the Westbrook Brides Series.
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors?
Coordinating all the little details and dates to ensure the stories didn’t conflict in any way was a bit tricky.
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors?
The incredible attention to detail, sharing of information, and coordinating settings and characters was the best I’ve ever experienced.
Adam Wagner is meant to save lives, not take them. He is haunted by Waterloo. The horror of it keeps him from those he loves. Meg Barlow doesn’t understand how Adam could turn his back on her so thoroughly, but she isn’t about to let him get away with it.
A few favorite lines from your story:
His eyes widened when he noticed Meg, fixated as if drinking in the sight of her, in her new moss green and buttercup gown. She suspected he was seeking the strength to look away, but before he could a bundle of energy dressed in blue muslin threw herself at him.
“Papa, oh Papa, I missed you. You said you would come to visit but you didn’t, and I don’t want a visit, I want to come home, even though Lord Barlow said I could stay forever, and Miss Meg is all that is, kind and…”
A fact about you or your story:
My father suffered from PTSD from 1950 to the day he died. I understand my hero’s plight.
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors?
Sometimes I just need to go off on my own and let my story simmer, even if I know I’ll end up needing to alter details.
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors?
Comradery, fun and a shared sense of accomplishment. And the final product is brilliant.
All the battles are over, or are they? When Captain Thom Owen is forced into a false engagement, he must escort his pseudo-fiancée home to meet his father. Can an English vicar’s son and a French Comte’s daughter find love despite their differences?
A few favorite lines from your story:
She stabbed the Thom’s father with a glare. “That is a child crying. You have a child in this house? Where?”
“I do have a charity case living here. The boy is not quite two and sleeps in the old nursery on the third floor.”
“And you left him alone?” She scolded. “Tell me his name.”
“Sam. His surname is yet to be determined.”
“Hmpf.” Charité stood, threw down her napkin, and swept out the door as fast as her skirts permitted.
“My word? Is she like that all the time?”
A fact about you or the story.
Language development in children varies widely from child to child. Sam, the child in our story, was only just beginning to speak, yet he had to struggle with two languages. Deciding what he did and didn’t know how to say was a challenge.
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors.
Being patient, we aren’t always ready at the same time.
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with other authors.
The creativity and brainstorming. Each author, each story inspires and informs the other.
Home from Waterloo, Captain David Buckley contemplates settling down near his home town of Reabridge—only it is full of painful memories. The mysterious Lady Lorna falls literally into his arms, and he begin to understand the true meaning of love and home.
A few favorite lines from your story:
“Following her gaze, David saw a young woman at the top of the stairs. Her hair glowed like sunshine, and her face…was pale, her eyes unfocused. He knew the instant before she began to fall and bolted to the steps, leaping up them just in time to catch her tumbling person against his chest.”
A fun fact about you or the story:
It was Jude Knight who came up with the backstory for our feuding families which inspired my hero, David Buckley.
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors?
Having to keep track of each other’s characters!
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with other authors?
Keeping track of each other’s characters :). Seriously, it was well worth the difficulty, because it was great fun learning about the depths and quirks of (to me) minor characters, especially Sherry Ewing’s heroine, who was at the other side of our feud,
Fleur Hardouin’s heart longs for Captain Gareth Ardleigh, but she needs an advantageous marriage. Gareth has promised to find Fleur—on behalf of another man. Now he must choose between honoring a promise and trying to win the hand of the woman he loves.
A few favorite lines from your story:
Gareth dipped his head her way and sniffed. “Mmm. Lilac?”
Her eyes turned a steely gray, and the slight wash of color creeping up her pale neck cheered him beyond reason. Fleur was a flower, but not a fragile one, and not one to blush easily at an importuning man’s flattery.
A fact about you or the story
This story sprang (or is it sprung?) from something I learned in an online class about Regency drinking habits. It all started with a bit of knowledge about the Veuve Clicquot, a French widow who invented the process of riddling and transformed the champagne industry during the Napoleonic era when France was at war.
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors
Probably getting the time chronology right. My characters went to pay a call on Rue Allyn’s characters. Getting the date of that visit and the participants sorted was probably the trickiest thing.
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with other authors
It’s wonderful to take on a project with folks who share a passion for historical details and who are also very supportive. The skilled beta reading of other authors is invaluable.
Widowed at Waterloo, where she also nursed the wounded, Veronica Petersham promised a dying man to bring his effects to a family in Reabridge. She falls ill just short of her goal, in the milking shed of kind and stoic Martin Bromelton.
Perhaps there is hope for the future after all and the opportunity to find love once more.
A few favorite lines from your story
He was spreading himself thin and knew it. He did what needed to be done—and there was so much that needed to be done—for the farm and those who relied on him.
The hard-won success of his freehold had not come without cost. To his regret, it was a sight his father had never lived to see. Even now, Martin recalled the days when the farm couldn’t even manage to feed the family, let alone bring in an income.
There had been more than one night in his youth that he’d gone to bed hungry. He didn’t intend to do it again as an adult.
A fun fact about you or the story
The town of Reabridge in Under the Harvest Moon is located in Cheshire, and it so happens that my favourite cheese is Cheshire Cheese. By that, I mean the real stuff from Cheshire you used to buy at northern markets and take home wrapped in paper. A lovely tangy taste and crumbly texture.
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors
Writing a tale that’s closely interwoven with a set of stories from other authors poses a particular set of challenges. I know from involvement in relatively ‘disconnected’ anthologies, it’s somewhat easier when what you’re doing is, having agreed on a time and perhaps also a location, you’re then writing completely separately with no reference to others’ characters.
In the case of Under the Harvest Moon and other Bluestocking Belles anthologies, there’s a lot of referring back and forth between the group, negotiation on getting characters in particular places at specific times, and moving your own story towards a mutual climactic scene. It adds a significant extra degree of difficulty, but I believe it also creates a deeper ‘world’ for the reader to become immersed in.
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with other authors
The camaraderie and willing ‘give and take’ of all the authors involved is simply the best!
Eight years ago, Hannah Pownall had her heart broken by a young lord.
Captain Brandon Worthington returns to the town of Reabridge to recover from the war and finds the girl he once loved still unwed. Can love at first sight be reborn after heartbreak, proving a second chance is all you need?
A few favorite lines from your story
Today he was dressed as the young lord he was and always would be.
Those hypnotic amber eyes melted Hannah’s heart like they had the very first moment she had seen him.
“Don’t you dare say your goodbyes, Hannah Pownall. I will return to Reabridge and to you.”
A fun fact about you or the story
It may seem crazy but I love Disneyland and embracing my inner child whenever I can go down to the park.
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors?
The most difficult thing about writing an interconnecting story is ensuring that the dialogue matches. I had to rewrite several scenes because of this issue.
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with other authors?
I always enjoy that the Bluestocking Belles’ boxsets are interconnected. I love seeing the characters from each story making their way through the whole set. I think its what sets our boxsets apart from others.
The new Earl Barlow returns home from Waterloo, intending to live by his own rules. The woman he loved and lost years ago visits for the Harvest festival—and he plans to offer Vicky Wright what they both want. Can a lady who has lived by the rules throw them all away to seize her last chance for happiness?
A few favorite lines from your story:
She grabbed her courage to blurt out the truth. “He had affairs. He told me the night before our wedding.” After I had given you up. After I had lashed myself to my duty to marry him as Papa’s agreements demanded. “He informed me that he would not change his life for me. In fact, if I wished to jilt him, I could.”
“But you didn’t.” He put a hand with his rough calloused fingertips to turn her face toward him, and smiled in sorrow at her. “Why not?”
A fun fact about you or the story:
About Cerise: I did my master’s degree in Chinese and Japanese History and have taught college courses in both!
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors:
The challenge in writing these coordinated sets is to include other authors’ characters in the most natural time in one’s story and in the most natural scenes. To accomplish this, we read each others’ works to ensure continuity.
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with other authors:
The most fun here in these sets comes from the knowledge that what you have written is not only a superbly crafted story which fits into others’ stories well, but that each of your colleagues has taken the time and care to help you produce the best fiction you can!
The Battle of Waterloo lost Jack Wrath the use of one arm and ended his career in the cavalry. He has no place to go and nothing to offer. Gwen Hughes has a business to run and no time for romance. Under the harvest moon, two people who believe romance has passed them finally reach their season for love.
A few favorite lines from your story:
Jack listened, absorbed as the preacher spoke of building things up, and all things in their season, and something in his heart shifted. He had had his fill of war, of killing, of tearing down and mourning.
For everything there is a season. He could do this. His harvest for all those years in the army was peace and all that came with peace. He could be Gwen’s husband and the father of her children. It is my season for love.
A fun fact about you or the story:
My Jack’s given name and those of his mentors was based on a tradition common among English puritans. They saw common names as too worldly, so named their children after virtues or religious slogans. Praise-God Barebone gave his name to the Barebones Parliament, but he is also remembered for naming his son If-Christ-had-not-died-for-thee-thou-hadst-been-damned. Other historical names include Joy-in-Sorrow, Sorry-for-Sin, Humiliation, Make-Peace, and Kill-sin.
Apparently, Damned Barebone grew up to take the name Nicolas Barbon. Just as, in my story, Refrain-from-Anger-and-Forsake-Wrath Thursday renamed himself Jack Wrath when he enlisted in the army.
What was the most difficult thing about writing in conjunction with the other authors:
Two virtues are needed. Patience, and patience. We all write a different paces, and use different processes. Yet, to truly intermesh our stories, we needed to share what we were doing and fid out what the others were doing. Sometimes, when I needed to know something that happened in another story, I just had to wait. It was worth it, though.
What was the best thing about writing in conjunction with other authors:
The tremendous support and camaraderie is important, but I think the best thing is a final product. It is a superb. I know I say this every year, but I think it might be the best we’ve done.
Welcome to my weekly feature where authors share about the hobbies, careers, or passions of their characters.
I’m pleased to introduce today’s guest, Wendy Kendall…
George’s Best Friend
George loves his career as a chef at an assisted living facility, and he loves his family. Phil is his family, and what a tail-wagger he is. Once these two lost souls teamed up, they never looked back and a corner of the world became a brighter place. After therapy training together, this beagle and his partner enthusiastically serve up emotional support and nourishing meals for the facility residents who delight in Phil. When this dear beagle with the pudgy silhouette and low-to-the-ground amble enters a room, all eyes immediately fall on him and coo’s encourage him from every direction. His whispered “arf” stirs laughter, and his celebratory howls are legendary. This doggone beagle’s company is a treat, and George’s heart skips a beat as he savors the relief and delight Phil brings to others. His own life is brightened by their caring gift.
Researching this noble endeavor of animals and their owners was a labor of joy. I learned so much and met wonderful people and dogs. A therapy dog is a dog that offers affection, comfort, and stress relief to a group of individuals. These dogs are commonly seen in nursing homes, schools, courtrooms, and hospitals. These dogs help multiple people throughout their day. They do not solely provide comfort to their handlers. These dogs are usually certified and evaluated by therapy dog organizations. Therapy dogs are trained to master certain skills and must have a very good disposition. Therapy dog handlers are only allowed to enter public spaces with permission.
A husky/german shepherd adorable mix named Leela is the inspiration for adorable Phil. The beauty of Leela’s soothing temperament and personality embraces compassion and empathy around any troubled spirit. Leela, and Phil, are filled with the heart of Christmas. They jump in joy and run with ribbons of love.
Ribbons of love run through the heart of Christmas
Blurb:
Liz buried her hopes three years ago when she buried her husband. She hides under a corporate desk, struggling for time with her young son and his grandmother Violet.
George is chef at the assisted living facility where Violet recovers from an accident. He loves his adopted beagle, Phil. This tail wagger is George’s only family. They are a therapy animal team for the patients.
Juggling work, her son, and Violet is complicated for Liz. Continual collisions with meddling George irritate, and intrigue her.
Violet plots a cookie bake, as matchmaker and to reunite her family. She conspires with George as chef, not realizing it puts his job at risk. Could baking together soften Liz’s heart?
Phil’s sudden disappearance interrupts plans. George is desperate to find his dog. The search leads him into a surprising twist of fate, and accidentally pulls Liz along with him.
Excerpt:
She approached the car and noticed the back tire. Flat. She rolled her eyes and groaned. She put her hands on her hips and paced back and forth next to it. She gently kicked the rubber, but it squished against the rim, confirming no air inside.
She crouched down and pulled her wallet out, searching for her road-assistance card. Phil walked around her and licked the back of her hand. “Thanks, Phil, but that won’t help me get to work on time.”
She stood up again and turned around to see George. His hands on his hips. “Flat tire? Can I help?”
“Thanks, but I’ll call somebody.”
“Do you have a spare?”
“Yes, in the trunk.”
He grinned. “Assuming your spare is in good shape, I can get this changed faster for you.” Her mouth dropped open. Someone willing to help.
“Really? I couldn’t put you to the trouble.”
“No worries. Lunch is over, and we came outside for a break.”
“This isn’t a very nice break, but I’d really appreciate it.” She unlocked the trunk.
George took off his black chef shirt, putting it on the front seat of the car. He rolled up the sleeves of his blue shirt, revealing toned forearms. Liz’s glance lingered. She called her assistant to have the VP of Sales step in to host the client. Disaster avoided. Someone else could help.
She felt like celebrating. She scratched Phil’s tummy, talked nonstop to George about his cooking, baking, and recipes, while she stole admiring glances at his physique, including his broad shoulders and flat stomach.
When he finished, he put the jack and flat tire into the trunk. “You’re all set to drive.”
“I don’t know how I can thank you, but I’ll find a way. This was really nice of you.” Impulsively she hugged him. The warmth of his arms wrapped around, then her phone rang. They broke apart, and Phil barked. She looked into George’s brown eyes.
He grabbed his shirt off the driver’s seat. “I’m happy to help.” He turned toward the building and called Phil. She glanced at her phone screen and let it go to voicemail. Had she misjudged George? She’d actually felt comfortable talking with him. She hadn’t talked about baking in years. It felt good. When she hugged him, she’d surprised herself. What a pleasant embrace.
She drove across the lot to the exit, smiling to have all tires turning. She waited for a chance to turn onto the road, one problem solved. Maybe today she could dream of a little dream? In the rear-view mirror, her back window was fogged. She turned onto the road with an unfamiliar feeling of hope, although she had no idea what might be around the corner.
The result of Wendy Kendall’s passion for purses, mystery and romance is the intriguing In Purse-Suit Mysteries. Kat Out of the Bag introduces Katherine Watson purse designer/sleuth. As Kat moves from designer bags to body bags, she’s uncovering clues to a murder. The prequel, Purse-Stachio Makes A Splash delves into a chilling cold case. Finalist for Best Romantic Suspense at Killer Nashville, Snow Kiss Cookies To Die For creates a tangle of mystery and love and raises suspicions about Desiree’s romantic new sweetheart, Leo. A summer read that will keep you on the edge of your beach towel, Cherry Shakes In The Park blends danger, divas, and frothy delights. And ribbons of love run through Wendy’s newest book, Heart of Christmas Cookies and Dreams. Wendy enjoys investigating the Pacific Northwest life, and she leaves a trail of her own clues as a blogger, YouTube podcaster, speaker, project manager, and syndicated columnist.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Avis M. Adams…
Good morning, Avis…please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I am a Pacific Northwest native, and I love this area. All of my books take place in this region (so far). I live on a farm that was my grandparents homestead of ninety acres. I still have 3 ½ acres. I have two grown children, a son who is married and lives a mile down the road on a beautiful lake, and a daughter who is married and lives in Portland with my granddaughter. I have one rambunctious dog named Zero after the ghost dog in A Nightmare Before Christmas.
Where did you get the idea for The Christmas Wish Knotts?
I chose The Christmas Wish Knotts for my title because it is part of the TWRP Christmas Cookies Series, but also because of the importance of the changing name of these cookies. They begin as Knotts, then become Wedding Knotts, then Friendship Knotts, then Thanksgiving Knotts, and finally by the end of the book, they are Christmas Wish Knotts, because Sif’s wishes come true.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
I wrote this book as a challenge from my crit group. Almost all of us took a stab, and two of us got ours published. I’d never written romance before, so I enlisted my best friend Nancy. With her cat, Mr. Martini, we sat for hours laughing and plotting out this book. It was so fun, and we had done so much plotting that when I sat down to write, the book practically wrote itself. Nancy died last spring of renal failure, but I have the memories of writing this book with her, and all the fun and laughter, and the pride I took in telling her the book would be published.
Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
As I said, I’d never written a romance, and my friend Nancy loves romance, so I picked her brain, and she told me: this is when they have their first kiss, and this is when they have a disagreement, and this is when the misunderstanding takes place, etc. Her cat was on her lap the whole time, so he was given a major role, but Nancy’s condo and her million-dollar view really stole the scene, pun intended. It was a blast to write, and I miss my friend with all my heart, but she is alive in this book! She is the bad-ass lawyer.
What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular? The most difficult thing about this book is Nancy isn’t here for the release party. She’s here in spirit, though, lifting her glass and toasting. P.S. Her favorite drink was a lemon drop martini. 😊
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
I’ve been an English Instructor at Green River College for almost thirty years. I had a coveted tenure-track position but retired early so that I could focus on my writing. I still teach one class, though, because I love working with students to help them become better writers. Also, I love to read and write, and I get to do both at my job, which is more vocation than job. I still can’t believe I get paid to do this!
What do you love that most people don’t like and wouldn’t understand why you do?
I love to write poetry, and many of my friends and relatives can’t understand why and tell me they don’t understand poetry or even like poetry. I’ve also published a book of poetry, Quilcene. Over the years, I have published many single poems, and some have won awards.
Do you collect anything?
I collect many things, but books are a major love of mine, and one type is graphic novel versions of Beowulf! I love seeing the artists’ rendition of Grendel! My favorite version is by Gareth Hinds. He draws an amazing Grendel and a fierce dragon. I have since given that collection to my eleven-year-old nephew. I also collect picture pop-up books, and my favorite was a book that started my collection. I bought it thinking it was an illustrated “Jabberwocky,” and I wanted to see how they imagined the monster. When it arrived, I was so confused them delighted to find it was an amazing and beautiful pop-up book.
What was your first job?
My first job was veterinary assistant and horse farm worker. I lived and worked on Blue Spruce Farm where the vet I worked for raised thoroughbreds, had a stallion he used for breeding, and a horse hospital with an operating room and barn for animal recovery and rehab. I assisted in operations and learned to give injections, dress wounds, and the special care these beautiful animals needed. My first love has always been horses, and this was an amazing job, but it was also physically demanding. Once when they brought in a truckload of hay, the men were so disgusted to find me as their helper. They thought I was a runty boy until I took of my stocking cap, and they saw I was a girl. I was eighteen and looked twelve. I was so angry that I pushed myself to keep up with them, and later vomited for my efforts. I didn’t let the guys know, though. They let me drink beer with them after, slapping me on the back, and teasing me about being the toughest runt they’d ever met.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
My farm and my dog. I’m in the process of doing that now, and it’s breaking my heart. The housing market sucks, and I love my dog, so each day I’m still here is a blessing because I really don’t want to do this, but financially it’s a must. My dog is going to a new home, and I’m happy that she’ll be on an even bigger farm with people who know how to handle tough dogs. My big house and yard still need to be vacuumed, mowed, and tended, and the dog still needs to be walked, but I look forward to the days when I can spend my mornings writing without interruption, and save my energy for revisions instead of marathon lawn mowing sessions, window washing, and worrying about the bills that come with a big house and farm.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Christmas Wish Knotts?
I want my readers to think about our planet, or think about relationships, or about an ever-changing world and our place in it. My first novel is about climate change. It’s a genre known as clifi with elements of dystopia. I wanted to discuss this important issue without preaching or being too pedantic, but I wanted people to think about climate change, and perhaps do something about it. I love dystopian novels, but they always show a world after something happened, and the reader often doesn’t find out what it was that destroyed the world. I wanted to write the book that showed the event that changed everything, and created a world where people had to struggle and work together to survive. I guess the short answer is I want people to come away with the fact that our world can change at any moment, and we need to pay attention and prepare if we can. We need to make good decisions if we want to continue to enjoy the privileges we enjoy.
Would you rather have a bad review or no review?
I would rather have a bad review. I’m not afraid of bad reviews. They are thought provoking, and I think readers want to know why a person only gave a book one or two stars. It brings attention to the book. I just hope not all my reviews are bad ones! So far, I’ve been lucky. 😊
One woman’s journey from jilted bride to independent woman who believes, once again, that wishes can come true.
Excerpt:
Sif dropped her bouquet. “This is all my fault. If I only . . .”
“None of this is your fault.” Nanc took her hands and gripped them. “Look at me. He did this. Not you. We’ll see him in court.”
“What will I do with two-hundred Wedding Knotts?” Sif rubbed her eyes trying not to smear her mascara. Who cared about mascara?
“Send them to Boris’s family?” Dad said. “I thought it was odd when they didn’t show.”
Mom brushed a strand of hair from Sif’s face. “I never liked him, by the way.”
Avis Adams loves to write. Her first YA novel, The Incident, released in 2022. Several of her poems have won awards and been published online and in various literary journals, and Quilcene, her first chapbook was released in 2019. She belongs to the Baker Street Writers Group, and the Flamingo Writers, and is an active member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. She loves to present sessions on writing craft at local conferences. She lives in the Puget Sound area of Washington State, where she writes, hikes, kayaks, gardens, and walks her dog. She teaches English at a local community college.
Today’s spotlight is on Michelle Godard Richer and her Thriller, Fatal Hunt (which I edited and enjoyed very much!)
Be the hunter.
After being widowed and surviving the wrath of a serial killer, Jessica believes her misfortunes are over. She’s reunited with her first love, Jon, and together, with her son Bryce, and a baby on the way, they’re living their happily ever after on their ranch in Montana. That is until secrets, lies, and a formidable foe from Jon’s past emerge to shake the foundation of their relationship, forcing them to flee for their lives.
A decade earlier, Jon worked undercover for the FBI. He infiltrated Hugh Jones’ Kansas City mob, and almost destroyed his empire. Unaware of the breach in his own defenses, Hugh, obsessed with revenge, unleashes every weapon in his arsenal, targeting those Jon loves the most.
Excerpt:
Jessica’s limbs weighed a ton. She forced her heavy eyelids open. After a split second they shut on her again. She lay on something soft, and an engine droned around her. Where am I? What happened?
Then she remembered her fruitless struggle in the hospital room. Willing her head to the side, she forced her eyes to open again. Her kidnapper sat in a chair across from her reading a newspaper.
He looked over the top of his paper and smiled. “You’ll be groggy for a while longer. Go back to sleep.”
Too tired to fight, she gave into the void sucking her down.
Growing up as an only child in a small town, with only my imagination for company, I dreamed of becoming an author. My father laughed and said something like: okay, but you might be broke. I shrugged and kept clacking on the keyboard of our home PC, delighted when my words appeared on the small monitor, a staple of early 90s technology.
In high school, when it was time to decide on a future career, I chose to pursue an Honours Degree in Criminology at the University of Ottawa, but at the back of my mind, the dream of writing for a living persisted.
Fast forward fifteen years, and as a happily married woman and proud mother to two children, four dogs, and a cat, my dream came true.
Please help me welcome my prolific and sweet author friend, Kara O’Neal…
Hello, Kara…please tell us a little about yourself.
Hello! My name is Kara O’Neal, and I am from a small town northeast of Houston. And I still live there! I’ve been married for almost twenty-four years. My husband and I have three children – two are in college and one is a freshman in high school. I asked them to stop growing up, but they didn’t listen. (Kids, right?) We also have a sheltie named Stormy, and she is the princess of the house!
Where did you get the idea for Katie’s Gamble?
In my Texas Brides series, I met Rowdy Denton. He was a secondary character in another book. A villain, truthfully. But as I wrote him, I felt like he had a good heart that was covered up by bad circumstances. I couldn’t get his backstory out of my head. I had to see if he could be redeemed or saved.
Do you have another occupation, other than writer? If so, what is it and do you like it?
I am the Special Education Campus Specialist for a middle school. I like this job most of the time. It is very demanding, but for good reasons. I adore the people I work with. I can’t do life without them. And let me tell you, they are heroes. What they do every day is inspiring.
Do you collect anything?
Yes! I collect castles, crosses, Christmas ornaments, and things with the number seven on them.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read Katie’s Gamble?
I hope that they will feel happy that someone like Rowdy Denton can be saved. I also hope that they will find Katie’s dedication and loyalty inspiring.
What actors would you like in the main roles if your book were made into a movie?
Because their chemistry is fantastic, I would hope that Jennifer Morrison and Colin O’Donoghue would take the roles!
What is your favorite quote?
Fear not.
Your most prized material possession? Why?
I have the Texas flag that was flying over the capital of Texas the day I graduated from high school. It’s gorgeous. It’s home.
Your favorite…
Movie – Pride and Prejudice
Music – Texas Country/Red Dirt
Place you’ve visited – Marfa, Texas and Vatican City
Place you’d like to visit – Ireland!
TV show from childhood – Golden Girls
TV show from adulthood – The Closer
Food – Brisket, Cheeseburgers, Tacos, Tamales, Blue Bell Ice Cream
Sports team – Houston Astros
Which do you prefer: Board games/card games or television? Games!
She’s trying to keep her family together and will do whatever’s necessary. He’s a gambler and gunslinger who will do anything to protect her.
Excerpt:
“Miss McCord?” the gambler asked, his voice hard and gruff.
“Y-Yes. I’m Katie McCord.”
He jerked his head at the doors. “You need to go.”
She gulped and curled her hands into fists. “I need to speak with my brother.”
The fellow shook his head. “No. And this is not a place for a lady like you. You need to go before it’s too late.”
Was he concerned about her safety? If so, then the best thing would be for him to let her see Johnny. “I would like nothing more than to leave, sir, but I can’t until I talk with my brother.”
A muscle twitched in his jaw. “That’s not gonna happen. Best to give up.”
The thought of what she might lose if she left here without Johnny’s half of the confectionery drew her up. She lifted her chin. “I can’t afford to. Do you know where he is?”
He didn’t reply, only watched her with a hard glint.
“Please, take me to him. I can’t stress the importance enough.”
That muscle jumped again. “I’m sure you have your reasons, but McCord won’t see you.”
His flat statement punched her in the stomach, and she felt panic rising within her. “He can’t ignore me. Please.”
Something flashed behind the rigid light in his eyes, but it disappeared so quickly that she had no time to determine what it was. “Miss McCord, I suggest you leave before the evening crowd arrives. Find yourself a safer hotel or return to your home.”
Anger flared. “My home is in Texas. It was once Johnny’s, and he has been neglectful. I’m here to discuss personal matters with him so that I can continue providing for myself and our siblings.”
The gambler, and probably gunslinger, rolled his tongue against the inside of his cheek as he studied her in silence.
After a few, quiet moments, during which she refused to fidget, he finally said, “He won’t listen, won’t care. It’s best that you just go and find an alternate way to take care of your kin.” His gaze swept over her once more. “Get married. That ought to do it.”
She let out a frustrated exhale. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, and I demand that you take me to my brother or send him out here to me.”
One corner of his mouth quirked. “Finding your backbone, huh?”
She set her jaw, sensing if she said more, she’d only end up giving him a laugh.
He shook his head. “The McCord temper might run in your veins, but this is no place for a woman like you. Heed me and go home.” With that, he turned around and strode toward the hall on the opposite side of the lobby.
Award-winning author, Kara O’Neal is a teacher and lives in Texas with her husband and three children She write stories with strong family ties, lots of romance and guaranteed happy endings! Please visit her at www.karaoneal.com.
Please help me welcome today’s guest, Jill Piscitello…
Book blurb:
Hair stylist Scarlett Kerrigan lost her job and her apartment. To alleviate a touch of self-pity, she succumbs to her stepmom’s pressure to attend a wedding in the New Hampshire White Mountains. Unfortunately, she runs into the vacation fling who promised the moon but disappeared without an explanation. Months have passed, but she is not ready to forgive and forget.
After a chaotic year, executive Wes Harley settles into his family’s event venue, The Timeless Manor. His carefully structured world is shaken to its core when Scarlett arrives for the Victorian Christmas wedding weekend. The feelings he never quite erased flood to the surface.
When secrets are revealed, will a magical chateau and a sprinkle of tinsel be enough to charm Scarlett?
Jill Piscitello is a teacher, author, and an avid fan of multiple literary genres. Although she divides her reading hours among several books at a time, a lighthearted story offering an escape from the real world can always be found on her nightstand.
A native of New England, Jill lives with her family and three well-loved cats. When not planning lessons or reading and writing, she can be found spending time with her family, trying out new restaurants, traveling, and going on light hikes.
Author Alicia Dean 