M.J. Fredrick's Blog, page 25

Things That Make Me Happy–Friends’ Books

This year I’ve had a few friends reach the goal of seeing their book published, either traditionally or self-published. Some of these friends have worked years and years and years for this goal. I thought I’d share some of this excitement with you.

Most recently, my friend Hattie Mae, one of the first to befriend me when I joined SARA, published her first book this week.

Nestled between the Atchafalaya Basin and Sugar Island lies Bon Amie, a friendly, quiet town, where nothing exciting ever happens. Until Joelette Benoit’s two sons find a man washed up in the murky water at the edge of the swamp.

Joelette Benoit, a widowed single mother, has sworn to never believe the promises of another sweet talking man. Fiercely independent and determined, she’s hidden away her heart, while struggling to provide for her two sons and lively mother-in-law. She swears the stranger will stay one night, and one night only, until she discovers he has no memory. Now duty-bound to aid him, Joelette decides to offer him a place to heal in exchange for his labor.

Against the colorful backdrop of life on the bayou, she watches as he immerses himself not only in her family but also in her town. She can do little to prevent her sons from bonding with the only man they’ve come to trust since the death of their father. Though she, too, is drawn to his kindness and vulnerability, she will not risk the heart of her family because without a past, this man cannot promise a future. But when his memory returns and he realizes he has blood on his hands, he knows he has unfinished business to attend to before he can claim the family he has grown to love.

Available only at Amazon, right now.

Also my friend Leslie Garcia, who I’ve known online for years, commiserated with over both writing and teaching, published her first book this year. It’s currently on sale at Amazon for $1.99.

Unreachable. Dell Rosales gained her nickname, “inalcansable,” or “unreachable,’” the old-fashioned way, earning it with every new rip in her heart.

Unwanted. Dell returns home to salvage her father’s ranch by opening the place to a group of girls with problems and pain not unlike her own. With her outlook on love soured – perhaps beyond salvation – she clings to Becky, the tiny little girl whose own mother preferred a life of drugs and men to motherhood.

Unwinnable. Former DEA agent Jovani Treviño has seen that the war isn’t winnable: people keep dying. Drugs keep killing them. But pleas for help from the DEA make him agree to one last battle for the good cause – checking out heiress Dell Rosales, whose ranch on the Rio Grande provides a perfect spot for traffickers to cross if she allows them to.

Unattainable. Suspicions, passion, and their respective pasts draw Dell and Jovi into a tumultuous relationship that both must avoid. Love seems distant, foolish to seek – unattainable. When an epic flood threatens not only Dell’s ranch but the surrounding area, will anything survive?

My friend Kris Fletcher revealed the cover of her second Harlequin Superromance. Kris and I have known each other online almost 20 year. We both had little kids when we met, and we’ve gone through graduation, college selection and I watched as she opened her heart and home to two little girls to add to her family. How she had time to write…

She just revealed her new cover on Facebook, and it’s an eye-catcher! Available on Amazon for pre-order.

Café owner Lydia Brewster wants to shake things up. And J.T. Delaney, infamous legend of Comeback Cove, just might be the man she needs. With his wild reputation, who better to help a girl shake off a “poor widow” image she’s too young to keep wearing?

Despite the rumors, J.T. doesn’t seem quite the troublemaker Lyddie’s heard about. He actually seems focused on business—the subject they don’t see eye to eye on. Really, all she wants is a fling. But after a few long, hot nights together, the most dangerous thing about J.T. is the unexpected way he makes her feel….

My friend Maureen Hardegree published her first historical paranormal just last month, available only at Amazon.

Autumn 1893

For seven years, professional nurse Elizabeth Brion has pretended to be something she isn’t. She has embraced science over the conjurer’s medicine practiced in the past she prefers to forget. In the autumn of 1893, when a deadly hurricane destroys coastal Louisiana, she cannot ignore the call to help and returns to the world she left behind. Rejecting her root and herbal knowledge, however, becomes difficult to justify in the face of great suffering. Even harder to keep at bay is her growing attraction to the enigmatic local doctor Holt Chatham, whose gruff exterior cannot hide how deeply he cares for his son, for the superstitious people who work his father’s land, and for his patients. Will she keep her carefully wrought mask in place? Or will she drop it and risk losing Holt’s love to save those around her from the dangerous conjurer who hides among them?

My friend Nancy Goldberg Levine, who I’ve known about as long as I’ve known Kris, has several of her books now published on Amazon.

Mr. Tall, Tan…& Tasteless…At her brother’s wedding, beautician Lorrie Galloway blurts out her undying love for paralegal Scotty Caldwell, her brother’s best friend. Scotty never saw the evidence coming. Once he gets used to the idea, he has to present his opening arguments and convince Lorrie that he’s in love with her. When his parents arrive from Miami and find Scotty and Lorrie kissing, his dad brings up old issues and insists that Scotty marry Lorrie…immediately. Can he patch things up with his dad and win Lorrie’s heart before her closing arguments lose his case for him?

And last, my friend Stef Feagan released her first historical romance. It’s at Amazon and BN.

Michael, Duke of Blixford, was all Lady Jane Lennox ever wanted in a husband. Growing up with her gregarious widower papa and six raucous older brothers, Jane was drawn to the handsome, taciturn duke and purposefully set her cap for him. Unfortunately, despite his attraction to her, the duke was less than impressed with her unladylike skills, and after he ruined her, then proposed at the same time he called her his very last choice as his duchess, she fled to Scotland.

To keep the ducal title and holdings from reverting to the crown, Michael needs a wife to give him an heir – but he doesn’t need to love her. Called the Duke of Death, a pariah said to have demon seed, Michael has lost three wives in childbed. His worst nightmare is following his father into grief driven madness after the woman he loved died. His iron discipline failed him four years ago when he succumbed to his fascination with Jane, and his fury was great when she jilted him. Now, she’s returned to London and, just as he is her only choice, she is his last chance.

She’s determined to have a real marriage; he’s determined to hold her at arm’s length. But when the past catches up and old ghosts demand their due, Jane is devastated, and Michael risks everything to save his last duchess from permanent ruin. All he has to do is not fall in love.

Cover Reveal Monday–Eden’s Promise

For MONTHS you’ve heard me talk about my post-apocalyptic novel. It will be available on August 6 (unless you sign up for my newsletter, then you can have it next week!) I got the cover on Friday and I LOVE it! What do you think.

The world has gone to hell after a terrorist attack sends the world back to nineteenth century technology. But on an island off the coast of Oregon, Eden McKay’s small town is safe and sound. But when Eden’s ill mother wants to see her other daughter before she dies, Eden must leave the safety of her home to find the sister she hasn’t seen in four years.

The only one to help her is Aaron Jenkins, the Navy SEAL who’s just made his way to the island after months of fighting his way across the mainland. After what he’s seen on the mainland, all he wants is the peace of his family’s home. He doesn’t want responsibility for himself, much less another person. But he can’t let Eden go on her own. She’s determined, but she’ll never survive alone.

Together they set off for the mainland, where wild dogs and mercenaries are the least of their problems, where they have to fight a mad man and search for a needle in a haystack, where the danger is not just to their well-being, but to their hearts.

Goals for the Week of….NOTHING? (Is that possible?)

Okay, just because nothing BIG is going on doesn’t mean I won’t be busy. I’m editing a book and a novella and I want to start writing my wedding planner book. Plus today is Josh’s party.

This week:

1) Get the house ready for Josh’s party. Need to sweep and do some furniture rearranging, and hopefully leaf-blow the patio.

2) Go to the grocery store.

3) work on edits for Starfish Shores

4) work on edits for Eden’s Promise

5) Work on promotion plans for Eden’s Promise

6) Start Wedding Planner story

7) Continue exercising every day. I’d lost 2 pounds by Thursday (a drop in the bucket, let me tell you, but encouraging.) I’ve not eaten well Friday and yesterday, and today will be a challenge as well.

8) Day with Mom.

9) Take the boy shopping for his birthday present.

I think that’s it! Last week I spent 4 days home, and hopefully I can do the same again!

Get Fit–Can I Do It?

Soooooo…..since the boy’s been home, he’s been exercising a lot. He’s decided he wants to run a marathon in February, so he’s been running every night (AFTER he broke my exercise bike). He’s been nagging us about our eating, too. We were going out to eat quite a bit, and I like to cook with cheese and creamy things. We’d stolen the nickname my stepbrother gave my dad’s dog–The Fun Police.

But I have decided that I don’t like how I look in my clothes. None of my shirts fit right (which is already a problem because I’m tall) so I keep wearing the same ones over and over again. So since I’m home the rest of the summer (no more vacations) I decided to start walking in the mornings again, eat home, cut back on going out to eat and be more conscious of what I’m cooking.

I’ve forgotten what a great neighborhood I have for walking. Wide streets, lots of shade, no dogs running around, plenty of pretty houses and yards to look at. I don’t listen to anything when I walk, though I take my phone, because I want to hear the sounds of the neighborhood.

Somebody on Plot Monkeys mentioned an app called MyFitnessPal, so I downloaded it. It’s a calorie counter, essentially. You put in your goal weight, your lifestyle, your height and weight, etc. The COOL thing, when you exercise, you get calories back to use! So, this morning I had breakfast (220 calories), grapes (99 calories) and walked 2.5 miles (308 calories burned.) So I’ve only used 11 calories! (I don’t get that many, because right now my lifestyle is sedentary, since I spend so much time writing, but when I go back to work, I’ll get a few more calories.)

My pedometer is messed up (something to do with my stride, I think, I need to get out the instructions) so I used MapMyWalk to figure out the distance of my route.

Another website I’m using is a Walking Calorie Calculator. This tells me how many calories I burn depending on my distance and speed.

Now, yesterday I went 200 calories over my recommended amount, but today I will be better. There is no chocolate in the house, for one. No chips. Dinner will be leaner. My one indulgence will be the strawberry limeade I made.

Wish me luck, and keep me honest!

Soooo, Cover Consideration Time

My post-apoc has not found a home, and so I’m thinking of self-publishing it. The hardest thing about a post-apoc (other than the world-building and the finding of love in a hopeless place?) is finding a cover!

I spent a lot of time looking at stock photo sites and seeing LOTS of happy people. My characters are not happy people. Hey, the world has ENDED. So I’m thinking of a two-image cover.

This is the first image:

Here are some of the images I like. What do you think?

I like this one, she’s sad. A little too well-groomed, though.

Again with the well-groomed, but I like her being in the forefront.

This one’s kinda generic:

Again with the well-groomed:

I love love love love this one, but he’s holding a wedding ring!

I discounted this one because it doesn’t look romance-enough, but she looks like Jennifer Lawrence, doesn’t she?

I kind of like the desperation in this, but he’s not at all handsome.

Another generic one:

So…any thoughts?

Goals for the Week of Josh’s Birthday

Can someone please tell me how I have an-almost-22-year-old son? I was just 22 a few minutes ago!

This week is relatively calm.

1) Write historical Christmas novella.

2) Spend day with Mom.

3) Guest blog.

4) Celebrate the boy’s birthday (though we’re having his party NEXT Sunday.)

5) Get the house ready for the party.

6) Exercise.

7) Cook.

8) Start revisions on Alabama story.

Simple. I like that.

Places I’d Love to See

This summer I had a working vacation and a family vacation. Because Josh will be living off-campus this year, I’m wary of spending money to go on a third vacation–plus I need to stay home and write. But I’ve been thinking about all the places I would love to see. The priority changes as my interests do, and there are some repeats in there, too.

1) Yellowstone. This is at the top of my list. Would love to see the area and the wildlife. I’m not really an outdoor person, but this one really appeals.

2) Cody, Wyoming, the rodeo capital of the US. Dad and Sue went there and said they have a great museum, and lots of other sites.

3) Deadwood, since we’re keeping with a western theme here.

4) De Smet. Because of Laura Ingalls Wilder. Also her museum in Missouri.

5) Santa Fe, NM. I’ve heard so much about it, how much I’d love it. I want to go.

6) Sedona, AZ, because of the Woo-woo factor.

7) Astoria, Washington, because it just looks cool, and it reminds me of those Jill Shalvis books.

8) The Outer Banks. Again, I’ve heard of them and want to see.

9) Chinocoteague and Assateague Islands, because of Misty.

10) Colorado, because I’ve never been.

11) Maine, because of the lighthouses and Stephen King.

12) Asheville, because it looks cool.

13) Hawaii, though I don’t think I could handle the long flight.

14) Alaska, but ditto.

Where would you want to go?

Goals for the Week of Independence Day

This week I’ll be home, but I probably won’t get back into a routine with the holiday. STILL, I need to:

1) Finish my beach novella

2) Fly home

3) Celebrate the holiday with my family

4) Hit the grocery store

Goals for the Week of Minnesota

My dad gave me a trip to Minnesota for my birthday,so we’re heading up there this week–just Fred and I. Josh will be here to take care of the critters, and hopefully the house. Last time we left him alone, he locked his keys in his car and Mom and Joe had to ride to his rescue. And if he had any wild parties, he hid the evidence well.

So this week:

1) A day with Mom

2) Lunch with JoAnn

3) Do laundry/pack

4) Finish revisions on novella

5) Work on my beach novella

6) Clean sewing room. I know this was on the list for last week, but I didn’t get to it.

7) Head to Minnesota!

And I think that’s it! I like lists like that.

Shipping (Not the Postal Kind)

I’ve been watching the new show Defiance on SyFy because I’m a sucker for post-apocalyptic shows (except Revolution. I just don’t like the main girl, or her mother.) This one is after a war and there are aliens on Earth and they terra-formed it to suit their needs, so there are weird plants and such. The main character is Nolan, who has promised the alien daughter he adopted that he’ll take her to the paradise that is Antarctica. They end up settling in old St. Louis, and he becomes a law keeper. The mayor is played by Julie Benz (Darla from Angel), and her sister Kenya (seriously, I’m so bad at names, but this one I remember!) runs the brothel. Nolan has, er, taken advantage of Kenya’s services a time or two and I LOVE them together, but the story is turning in a different direction. Trish wants Nolan with the mayor. I think they have no chemistry, so I’m “shipping” Nolan and Kenya.

“Shipping” is the term for fans who wish for a certain onscreen couple to be together. It’s short for “relationshipping,” and from what I remember of the Internet, started with Mulder and Scully from the X-Files.

I’m a big “shipper.” If there isn’t a possible romantic connection, I’m not interested in the show, for the most part.

Other couples I ship–

Daryl and Carol from The Walking Dead. Yes, she’s a LITTLE bit older (she’s my age, and I think he’s a little older than my brother), she’s a widow who’s also lost her child, but he’s a reformed bad boy who’s lost his brother. Don’t you see how they can turn to each other and lean on each other?

Oliver and Felicity in Arrow. Lauren WHO? I love Katie Cassidy, but Oliver belongs with smart, loyal, adorable Felicity. When he was carrying her in the elevator shaft, I was reminded of Star Wars, and wanted just one little kiss, so he could see how great she is.

Alex and Jo on Grey’s Anatomy. Friends to lovers, my very favorite trope. And Alex needs reason to love again after crazy Izzy.

Now, shipping has bitten me before–I shipped Damien and Elena on Vampire Diaries, and when they got together, I quit watching. But mostly because Elena was a vampire and almost killed Caroline and I just…eh.

I shipped Wade and…ah, forgot her name. Main chick, Hart of Dixie. They got together, but the writers made it a triangle with George. Also, main chick was annoying.

So, do you ship? Who?