Zara West's Blog, page 10

Fast Draft to Get to the End

My alter-ego has been very busy. While putting the finishing touches on my second historical novel about a forgotten woman, I was also writing some books for my writer friends. One has just released: Fast Draft Your Manuscript and Get to the End.

This year will be the sixth year I have participated in National Writing Month. Of the five novels I have completed in one month, I have published four my Skin Quartet and I am still waiting to hear on last year’s novel.

Not too bad a record.

Over the years I have learned better ways to outline, explored word trackers, got myself more organized, and most importantly learned how to draft fast.

Why I wrote Fast Draft Your Manuscript

After teaching a number of workshops and mentoring NaNoWri participants, I have finally gathered all my tips and tricks for writing fast into a book for you.

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Fast Draft Your Manuscript and Get It Done Now, written under my professional name, is published by Short Fuse Publishing. It is available in Kindle and on Kindle Unlimited and is the very first in my new Write for Success writer’s craft series.

About Fast Draft Your Manuscript

Fast Drafting is a proven set of techniques and strategies that can be applied to any piece of writing from blog post to novel. Tested over the author’s decades-long career as an author and educator, the Fast Drafting Method is easy to learn, customizable for your needs, and designed to get results quickly. Fast Draft Your Manuscript: And Get It Done Now.

About the Write for Success series

Don’t just write…write for success! This series of guides shows you the steps that helped me writing land an agent and book deal but win praise from readers and literary taste makers. Whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, romance, thriller, or historical, this series delivers behind-the-scenes tips, inspiration when you need it most, and the flexibility to fit your writing career. Write with confidence and write for success.

Upcoming books in the series

Revise Your Draft and Make It Shine

Power Charge Your Language and Make Your Writing Sing

Research Your Subject and Validate Your Writing

So are you doing NaNo or do you just have a draft to finish?



Here are few tips for you from Fast Draft Your Manuscript And Get It Done Now.

Fast Drafting is a time to forget about being perfect. So, type away.

Relish being sloppy.Use the first words that pop into your head.Don’t worry about clichés or repeating terms.Forget writing rules or making it sound pretty.If you can’t think of something, or you need a fact to fill in, or you are not sure about what you wrote, use the highlighter tool in your word processor to highlight that area in a color so when you do your first revision you can come back and fix it.



Intrigued?




Read an Excerpt



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I’d love your thoughts and comments. And if you want more of my writing tips check out my Writing Tip Blog.

The post Fast Draft to Get to the End appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Author Brenda Whiteside Talks about her Writing

Fellow Wild Rose author Brenda Whiteside talks about how her travels influence her writing. Her newest release is set in Arizona.

Take it away Brenda…

Is writing something that comes easy to you or not?

There are parts of writing that come easy for me. My writing tends to be character driven, so I often have a cast of characters before I know what the story will be. I might know their personal story, but not how it will be interwoven with the plot of the book. So, character creation comes easily to me. Setting is practically another character in my books. Visualizing the setting comes without effort.

What are some of your favorite things and do you incorporate them in your books?

Until you asked the question, I hadn’t thought about how I sprinkle my stories with my favorite things. I’m a morning coffee drinker year-round and add tea in the winter to my afternoons. I. LOVE. COFFEE. Ha! All of my characters drink coffee or tea and a couple of them make a whole ceremony out of it. In The Art of Love and Murder, my heroine owned a coffee café. I’ve had baristas and an author who did her writing in a coffee café. Mexican food is my favorite cuisine. Many of my characters feel the same. In my latest release, Secrets of the Ravine, a Mexican restaurant is frequented. I love trees. I usually describe the trees in the settings of my stories. I love anything with a moon/sun them. In Secrets of the Ravine, the Mackenzie siblings all wear necklaces with a sun/moon pendant. In book three the pendant will play a part in the mystery.

Do your travels influence your writing?

Most definitely. Not just my travels but where I’ve lived. FDW and I have moved frequently in our married life. Austria is a favorite country which I featured in A Legacy of Love and Murder. Prior to marriage, I went to school in Flagstaff. I’ve set two of the five Love and Murder books there. Two of the other books in the series are set in Chino Valley, Arizona where we lived just outside of for three years. My current series, The MacKenzie Chronicles, is set in the fictional city of Joshua, Arizona, but if you’ve lived in Arizona or been a tourist in our state, you’ll recognize Jerome. Jerome is magical for me. When the series idea came to me, I was more than happy to make several trips there doing research. Jerome hangs on the side of a mountain. Once a booming mining town, it died off in the 50s with under 100 residents. Revived in the 60s by the hippie subculture, it is now a ghost and art town.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Both. As you can see from my last answer, my settings are real although fictionalized. I use bits and pieces of people I know. My sister and her marriages inspired one book. My Native American heritage has played into some characters. My brother spent a miserable night in a cheap motel that inspired a character while I used that story of his night for The Power of Love and Murder. In my latest release, Secrets of The Ravine, The MacKenzie Chronicles book one, the mystical thread that runs through the story is a result of my dabbling during my wannabe hippie days.

What project are you working on now or what book will be next?

I’m a little crazy right now working on three projects. First and foremost is book two in The MacKenzie Chronicles. My goal is to release Murder on Spirit Mountain in the summer of 2021. My Christmas short stories book is a working project. I hope to have it written by the end of summer and released in late October of 2021. I’m also working on a joint project with another author, Joyce Proell. Together, we are writing a cozy which I’m pretty excited about.

Secrets of the Ravine by Brenda Whiteside



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When a ringer for her long-dead love walks into her life the same day skeletal remains are found at the edge of town, Magpie MacKenzie can’t ignore what the universe is telling her…solve the mystery, or become the next victim.

Lawyer Zack Peartree’s life is orderly and entanglement-free until he visits purportedly haunted Joshua, Arizona, and meets free-wheeling shopkeeper Magpie. Despite experiencing troubling visions and odd moments of déjà vu, Zack’s instantly drawn to Magpie and to the unsolved murder which troubles her so.

Using clues from her father’s past and Zack’s déjà vu moments, Magpie and Zack race to solve the mystery, avoid a murderous fate, and to discover their future…together.

AMAZON US | AMAZON UK AMAZON CA







Learn More About Author Brenda Whiteside



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Brenda Whiteside is the author of suspenseful, action-adventure stories with a touch of romance. Mostly. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have decided they are gypsies at heart, splitting their time between Central Arizona and the RV life. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW is fishing, Brenda writes.

Visit Brenda at https://www.brendawhiteside.com

Or on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendawhitesid2

She blogs and has guests: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003V15WF8

Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3972045.Brenda_Whiteside

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/brenda-whiteside

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brendawhitesideauthor/

Brenda Whiteside would love to hear from you. Post your thoughts and comments below.

The post Author Brenda Whiteside Talks about her Writing appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Meet Romance Author Colleen Donnelly

Fellow Wild Rose author Colleen Donnelly writes beautiful award-winning historical romances that touch the heart.

Welcome Colleen

Is there an event in your life that affected you as a writer?

I will begin with my two favorite quotes.

“If journalists are sworn to the truth but fabricate, can we novelists who are sworn to fabricate write the truth?”

“Write What You Know…But Keep an Attorney on Retainer If You Do”

Not every event that digs the happily-ever-after out of a writer is pleasant. My first almost put an end to my wannabe days when I journaled my way across another country. A novice at writing and surviving foreign cultures, I daily logged my utter buffoonery alongside the comments a more worldly-wise co-traveler offered regarding my ignorance. Candid and honest about my mistakes and their observations, I wove raw human experience into the colorful backdrop of a beautiful culture. Coming home, I shared my almost comical journal with any who were interested, the whole of it finally catching the eye of an editor who offered to help me turn it into a novel or screenplay. Seeing my travel blunders in print or on the screen didn’t slow my “Yes!” down one little bit. But the idea of publicizing their negative remarks brought the co-traveler to a brash and quick, “No.”

Do your travels influence your writing.

That trip did. It gave birth to the writer in me, a new, though clumsy, experience that brought my soul to life as I logged it on the page. Follow that with the unexpected interest from an editor, and I was ready to write forever…until the firm “No” that forced my “Yes” into the same. My first story, the first fire that lit inside of me, the contrast and conflict of me vs a new place, and me vs the one pointing out my mistakes there came alive. Then the refusal to let me put their part of it into print brought about a death. One that lasted months, even beyond their apology once they regretted shutting my opportunity down. The writer in me did somehow survive. Eventually I picked up pen and paper again, and in time even cranked out an Amazon #1 bestseller…about pain and rejection, of course…what else?

Have you written a book that you love and have not been able to get published?

For a time, that would have been this travel journal. I was told by the editor it needed a love interest and conflict. That trip wasn’t about love, but he was right. My humorous bumbling and the conflict of having that pointed out to me at every turn, left this book rife with possibilities…but no hero or heroine destined toward love. Months after the co-traveler’s apology, I picked it up, repeatedly trying to turn it into what the editor suggested…this time on my own since the “No” forced him to move on. Dabbling with the journal merely proved the only love interest there was between me and my pen. True, conflict brought about a typical black moment when I laid my pen down, but when I finally picked it up again, this trip was no longer a part of that relationship. The happily-ever-after happened only in me.

What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author?

Reference all of the above. Add a few asides made by the co-traveler that looked something like this— !@#$%+)&*(^! —and you have my first and toughest taste of unconstructive criticism regarding “Write what you know.”

What has been the best compliment?

In light of that particular journal, the best compliment was, “I’m sorry.” This other traveler eventually confessed they wanted to be seen as a hero. Every book needs a hero, but upon looking at their behavior on this trip, heroic wasn’t going to describe them. So today, in light of their owning their mistakes and how I’ve grown as a writer, I can end this long tale with what the editor wanted, and the way the co-traveler wanted to be seen. I no longer have to fictionalize that person heroically—apologizing was the heroic thing to do.

Mine to Tell by Colleen Donnelly



An Amazon #1 Bestseller



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Annabelle Crouse is determined to reopen her great-grandmother’s boarded up house—and her shunned life. Many years earlier, after an unexplained absence, Julianne was relegated to a separate home by a rigidly unforgiving husband, and the Crouse women have suffered the disgrace of her assumed guilt ever since.

Despite her family’s strong disapproval, Annabelle is driven to pursue her mission through cobwebs and dust, finding the clues and the coded story left behind by her great-grandmother—Why did she go? And why did she return? Annabelle has to know.

Only one person, a man she grew up with but never noticed, stands with Annabelle as she discovers the parallels between her story and her great-grandmother’s—two women, generations apart, experiencing what love truly is.

Available from:



AMAZON







Learn More About Author Colleen Donnelly



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Website: http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ColleenLDonnell

Goodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/colleenldonnelly

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Colleen-L-Donnelly/e/B00ELP1GIA/

Colleen Donnelly would love to hear from you. Please post your thoughts and comments below.

The post Meet Romance Author Colleen Donnelly appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Romance Author Delsora Lowe has a New Contemporary Novella

Welcome back contemporary romance author Delsora Lowe. She’s here to tell us more about her writing life and the new release she has coming in just a few days.

Take it away, Delsora Lowe….

A little about me…

I’ve been writing for over fifteen years, but it wasn’t until right before I retired that I published my first book. With a career in a variety of non-profits and hospitality most of my life, my work “adventures” gave me a chance to travel and meet a variety of people. As with most authors, I imagine, there are tidbits of each of our lives represented in all our stories.

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

I have bouts of not having the energy to write, but I rarely shut down…until this year. All that is going on in the world and our country has made it hard for many of us, me included, to concentrate and dig deep into our imaginations. Which leads me to the next question—

Where do I get my book ideas?

The ideas for the book I will release at the end of this month, October 2020, came to me this last spring. The pandemic had just started and I was waiting for edits to come back on another book. Truthfully, my brain had shut down. On one of my writer loops, a friend put up a string of writing prompts. Two of them ran though my head over and over. One afternoon, while I was taking a walk to clear my head from endless editing, the two prompts, (1) one meets another at a wedding AND (2) one learns a shocking secret about the other, melded into a story line.  The Love Left Behind was born. This is a mid-life, second chance, secret baby book. I had such fun writing this story. In fact, not sleeping well, I did a lot of writing in the wee hours of the night. Many times, authors slow down as they reach the mushy middle of our stories. We may know how the story ends—a happily-ever-after, of course—but we might have to push through filling in the middle to link the beginning to the end. This book practically wrote itself, and for that I’m grateful. Of course, there were many rounds of editing in between before the final draft was produced…

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Even though the book came from my imagination, I believe all authors in some way insert their experience into their books. As I went through The Love Left Behind for its final read, I realized there are nuggets that I dropped into this book that reflect specific experiences in my life.

I had a brief career as a manager of a small event venue that was once a summer estate in the Northeast for a New York tycoon from the late 1800s. They would arrive by train from the city on the railroad that still runs through the small town. The original gardens were landscaped by the architect of New York City’s Central Park. The mansion was turned into an event venue. I helped plan a lot of weddings there…and have many stories to tell about that occupation, so it was great fodder for this story.

The book’s Thanksgiving dinner scene has a recipe from a woman who was a great friend of my mom’s. She passed away, but she was like a second mother to me, as was my aunt. So I paid homage to both women by using their names (and some ingredients from the recipe) in the book. For some reason I have always loved old cars. Not that I know anything about them, but…on my last trip to a writer’s conference in Rhode Island, I drove by a sign for Jay Leno’s museum of antique cars. I plan to visit the next time I go to RI. But a few years ago, I did go to a wedding reception that took place in an antique car museum near Boston. I used that car collection in this book. My several trips to the Newport, RI area for writer’s retreats were inspiration for the setting.

All authors build a world when they write a story. Because I write contemporary romance, bits and pieces of my life experience tend to be used to build my character’s story. Those bits and pieces in a story do not mimic my life, but are used to build and add color to my fictional characters. It’s always fun for me to weave a little part of myself and my life into each story, even though as I write I am not aware of doing that.

How did you come up with the title?

Usually I am able to come up with titles as I write the book. For some reason, I struggled with finding a title for this one. As I mentioned above, my brain has been mush for most of 2020, so I will blame the difficulty on that. After coming up with a list of over fifty ideas and discarding most, I narrowed the list down to about seven. I sent them off to other writer friends. Of course, everyone had a different opinion. One day, I heard a song on the radio. I wasn’t really listening, as I was preoccupied with something else. But suddenly one line of the song stuck in my brain. I looked up the song lyrics on the computer, and—YAY—I had found my title. I did tweak the line to come up with the title: The Love Left Behind.

The Love Left Behind is now at the formatters and will be released by the end of October. As with all great plans these days, life got in the way for releasing at the end of September. But we are working as fast as we can to get The Love Left Behind out…soon.

Zara will let you know when the book is posted on Amazon and Books2Read, where you can link to many other book vendors including Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, etc.

The Love Left Behind by Delsora Lowe



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Her only worry was the out-of-control mother-of-the-bride, until the past slammed head first into the present.

Marlee Thomas looks at life head-on. No looking back, no second chances on what could have been. Except to thank her great aunt one more time for giving her love, a home, a legacy, and the means to mold an event planning business she loves.

Brian Mason is on his own. Left behind is his family’s law firm legacy and a disastrous marriage born out of family loyalty. He’s starting fresh, away from the big city where his surname is infamous.

Coincidence finds Marlee and Brian face to face for the first time in twenty-seven years. She the event planner, he the divorced father of the bride.

Mixed signals, a secret baby, instant passion ignited years ago, and second chances divide the years. Can either forgive past mistakes to learn to love again?

The Love Left Behind will be released in late October and found on Amazon and Books2Read.

Read an Excerpt of The Love Left Behind

The broad-shouldered man dressed in a crisply tailored tux appeared in the entryway as his wife sailed toward the table, waving like a queen. He, too, screamed confidence, as he ambled through the room with shoulders back, chin high. But instead of leaving a wake behind him like his wife, his stride was slow, measured. He glanced around, waved to friends, or stopped to proffer his palm to another.

Marlee couldn’t take her eyes off him.

When he turned her way, his eyes bored into her. The vivid blue lapis like none she’d seen since— Oh. No.

She shook her head so hard she listed and almost lost her balance from atop her bordering on sensible two-inch heels. An arm reached out to cup her elbow.

“You all right?” Darcy asked.

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Learn more about Delsora Lowe

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet and spicy romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine. Her new novella, The Love Left Behind, will release in October, 2020.

Social Media Links

Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/community/
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe
Instagram: #delsoralowe

The post Romance Author Delsora Lowe has a New Contemporary Novella appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Historical Romances by Susan Leigh Furlong

Wild Rose author Susan Leigh Furlong writes historical romance–one of my great loves. Today she shares her love of writing, history, and has some good advice for all writers.

Please welcome Susan Leigh Furlong…

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I was born in the middle of a blinding spring snowstorm at the University of Michigan, which forced my mother to walk across campus in the snow to the hospital while in labor. I don’t remember any of this auspicious beginning, but it always makes for a good story! As a child I moved across the country six times to various big cities before the age of fourteen because of my father’s career in women’s ready-to-wear clothing. These moves always made me the “new kid,” and taught me that while new beginnings may be confusing and sometimes upsetting, you need to greet the change on your own terms.

At college I met and married my love, and moved to his small hometown in southern Ohio. I never thought I’d live somewhere so small that the stop light went on flasher at 11:00 pm, but now you couldn’t get me out of here with a crowbar! I taught first grade and fourth grade here and raised my children who did not have to change schools even once.

When did you first start writing and when did you publish your first book?

Creating stories started early in life—as is typical of most writers—even before I could actually write. I remember when I was ten, someone sent my sister and me kimonos from Japan, and I penned a play about a brokenhearted woman in love who wore one of the kimonos. My sisters and the neighborhood kids put it on.

Next came handwritten pages stuffed in my underwear drawer, followed by stories created on a manual typewriter, typing while I cooked dinner. My first computer—a Commodore 64—has been replaced by a series of computers and laptops, which my husband promised I could never fill up the storage space, but I always did.

At age 32, I performed in my first community theater play—Guys and Dolls—where I quickly realized that I wanted to play ALL the parts, which is exactly what a writer does. I write and/or direct church-related plays and sketches and perform and sing with a music and drama ministry, LightReaders. My head is always so full of stories, I have to express them in any way I can.

I’ve finished a number of books, all of which are on the shelves in my closet, but my first official published work was The Twelve Seats at the Table, a play I co-wrote about the Last Supper. Over one hundred venues have put it on across the country since it came out in 1997.

Arcadia Press published two books of mine filled with antique photos and captions about my hometown entitled Tippecanoe to Tipp City – the First 100 Years and Legendary Locals of Tippecanoe to Tipp City. All the proceeds support the Tippecanoe Historical Society.

My first fiction book, Steadfast Will I Be, was published by The Wild Rose Press in 2019. My second book, By Promise Made, also published by Wild Rose Press came out this month.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

For a long time I snubbed my nose at historical romance until I won a copy of Velvet Song by Jude Deveraux from the local bookstore. I was immediately smitten, and Deveraux’s book A Knight in Shining Armor is my all-time favorite romance book. I read all varieties of books, preferring anything historical regardless of the era, but historical romance is forever my first choice.

As I look back on the books I was drawn to as a child, they were almost always historical. My favorite childhood book was Caddie Woodlawn, and I devoured all the orange covered biographies of famous people when they were children.

If I could choose to have dinner with anyone in history, it would not be a famous person. It would be someone who lived an ordinary life. I’d love to talk to a pioneer woman who made it across the country on a wagon train or to one of Queen Elizabeth I’s servants, especially the one who put that white powder all over her face.

Where do you get your ideas?

Old documents make me sneeze and cough, but they are filled with treasures. History has so many unbelievable, but true events, throughout it. You can’t make this stuff up! It only takes a nugget of some event to get me on a roll. My favorite thing is to find an extraordinary event and drop my hero and heroine into it to see how they survive.

In Steadfast Will I Be I started with the fact that King James V’s step-father held him prisoner until he escaped at age sixteen to regain his throne. In By Promise Made, I used the story of King Henry VIII waging war against Scotland because the toddler, Queen Mary, would not marry his son.

Do you have a writing tip for other writers?

The best bit of advice I try to give myself, and that I can give to other writers, is to stop being so hard on yourself.

 My son texted me something that put it in perspective. He wrote “Whether you sell one million books or only one book, I am proud of you. You wrote a book. You accomplished it.”

That is the point. You created. You are a writer even if you are the only one who reads it. Something I love the most is a series of stories I wrote and printed out for my granddaughter every year from the time she was born until she was twelve. And no one reads them now but me. I love them, maybe because she is my granddaughter, but also because I did it for her. No one else is able to say that.

Theodore Roosevelt wrote, “…who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Yes, it’s great to see a book in print. Yes, it’s great to hear from other people that they love your work, and rotten to hear from the naysayers, but the point is that it is your work. Not theirs. In reality, it belongs to you and to no one else.

BY PROMISE MADE BY SUSAN LEIGH FURLONG



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Hugh Cullane, accused of murder and sentenced to hang, is forced to deliver a message of betrothal to four-year-old Queen Mary of Scotland. He faces death yet again when, in rejecting the proposal, the queen’s guardian orders his severed head sent back to England in a jar.

Trained to protect her queen at all costs, Katherine Payne can show no mercy to the handsome messenger, despite the way his stolen kiss unsettles her single-minded sense of duty. Trapped between the English and Scottish armies, she must escape with Mary. Hugh joins her as men chase them, determined to murder the young queen in their own quest for power.

EXCERPT:

Although this wasn’t his first kiss, it somehow mattered more than any other kiss he’d ever had.

He kissed her again. His tongue darted along her teeth and then into the juicy cavern of her mouth. She did not refuse him as he suckled her tender lips. She responded to his kiss, pulling him near, offering more of her mouth. She moaned quietly and ever so slightly eased her body closer to his as her hands worked their way up his back.

Pausing briefly in the most delicious kiss he’d ever had, he whispered, “My name is Hugh Cullane.” He brushed his lips against hers again. “What should I call ye, my beautiful princess?” Softly he licked her lips with his tongue.

“Call me whatever ye wish,” she said, locking her fingers into his hair and snapping his head and shoulders away from her with unexpected strength. She swung her right fist squarely into his jaw, and after a quick jerk of her knee into his groin, he fell to the ground, coughing and gagging. With one last powerful kick to the ribs, she ran madly away around the hill.

As he struggled to take a full breath, a sharp jab of pain bit through his side. Letting his head drop to the ground, he rolled over onto his back.

“Oh, my Lord!” he said aloud between coughs. “I do believe I have offended the lady.”

By Promise Made is available on:

Amazon  | B&N | iBooks







Learn more about Susan Leigh Furlong



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Susan Leigh Furlong was born in the middle of blinding spring snowstorm at the University of Michigan, which forced her mother to walk across campus in the snow to the hospital while in labor. Susan doesn’t remember any of this auspicious beginning, but it always makes for a good story! As a child she moved across the country six times to various big cities before the age of fourteen because of her father’s career in women’s ready-to-wear clothing. At college she met and married her love, and moved to his small hometown in southern Ohio, and you couldn’t get her out of there with a crowbar! She taught first grade and fourth grade and raised her children who did not have to change schools even once. Creating stories started early in life—as is typical of most writers—even before she could actually write. Then came handwritten pages stuffed in her underwear drawer, followed by stories created on a manual typewriter. Her first computer—a Commodore 64—was replaced by a series of computers and laptops, which her husband promised she could never fill up the storage space, but she always did. At age 32 she performed in her first community theater play—Guys and Dolls—where she quickly realized that she wanted to play ALL the parts, which is exactly what a writer does. She writes and/or directs church-related plays and sketches and also performs and sings with a music and drama ministry, LightReaders.

Her love of history led her to write two plays about her now hometown, followed by two historical non-fiction books published by Arcadia Publishing. She loves to do the research even though old books and documents make her cough and sneeze! Susan first discovered romance novels when she won a copy of Velvet Song by Jude Deveraux at the local bookstore. She reads all varieties of books, but historical romance is forever her first choice.

The shelves in her closet are filled with her unpublished stories and books, but Steadfast Will I Be and By Promise Made are her first published by The Wild Rose Press.

Susan would love to hear from you. Please post your comments and thoughts below.

The post Historical Romances by Susan Leigh Furlong appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Debby Grahl Writes Exciting Romance

Fellow Wild Rose author, Debby Grahl, writes both contemporary and paranormal romances. Wait until you discover how creative she is!

Welcome, Debby Grahl

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I grew up in southeast Michigan, but now that my husband, David, is retired, we live on Hilton Head Island, SC. I find water to be calming, so I enjoy walking on the beach or sitting listening to the waves. I’m social by nature so I like meeting people. I love to shop, go to lunch, have cocktail parties, and decorate for Christmas.

I belong to two book clubs, and I’m part of a Bunco group. I also enjoy traveling, especially England. My husband and I have been there three times, and to my total delight, we toured Highclere Castle, which was used in Downton Abbey.

Is there an event in your life that affected you as a writer?

I have a disease of the retina called Retinitis Pigmentosa which causes gradual vision loss. I lost the ability to read in my early twenties, but even when I had sight, seeing the printed word was difficult for me. Reading a book would take me twice as long as a person with normal sight. I became frustrated with this and began to make up my own stories. It wasn’t until the invention of computers and wonderful screen reading software that I was able to put my stories into words. Everything I type is read back to me aloud.

Is writing something that comes easy to you or not?

Artistic abilities run in my family. My grandmother, uncle, and aunt all painted, and my cousin is an art teacher. My niece and cousins do graphic design. I believe with my vision loss, instead of my creativity coming out visually, mine comes out in words.

Do your travels influence your writing?

Another of my favorite places to visit is New Orleans. Each September, the author Heather Graham holds a conference there. After attending the conference, David and I rent a great little place on Dauphine Street. Besides writing contemporary romance, I also write paranormal. Witches and ghosts are my two favorite characters to create. So what better place than the streets of the French Quarter, or St. Louis cemetery #1, for my imagination to take flight.

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

I, like many beginning authors, thought that you just write the book and send it off. I quickly learned that there are many no- no’s in writing. For example, I sent twenty-five pages of my first book off to an editor who was offering a free critique. She wrote me back and said I had a good story if I could write it. Ouch! She also outlined all my mistakes in red. To my chagrin, most of the ages were red. I finally got a contract with a small press for my paranormal romance, The Silver Crescent. Needless to say, I was walking on air. About half-way through editing the book, I received an email telling me they were sorry, but due to lack of funds, they were closing their doors.

When I finally calmed down, I began looking for another publisher, and found small press. This time, we made it all the way to the book going to print before they went out of business. After my histrionics ran their course, I actually found a publisher who stayed in business long enough to publish The Silver Crescent and Rue Toulouse. Now, I’m thrilled to say, I’ve found a happy home with The Wild Rose Press.

What project are you working on now or what book will be next?

Mountain Blaze is the first in my Carolina trilogy. Next is Island Heat which takes place here on Hilton Head. And the last, which I don’t have a title for yet, is going to be set in Charleston.

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Mountain Blaze by Debby Grahl

Can Dillon and Diana elude a killer while their newfound love grows?

Disillusioned by his wife’s betrayal, rodeo star Dillon McCoy comes home to the mountains of North Carolina to lick his wounds. When he agrees to take over the family ranch, the Lazy M, he’s unaware danger waits.

Diana Thompson is having doubts about her engagement to Trent Sawyer. She agrees to leave Chapel Hill and spend Thanksgiving with her friend Jenn at the Lazy M. When Diana and Dillon meet, neither can deny their attraction, but both must resolve past relationships while fighting their growing desire.

After Dillon turns down an anonymous offer to purchase the ranch, attempts are made on his life. When a body is found, Dillon sets out to discover who wants the McCoy land enough to commit murder.

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Excerpt

Dillon smiled and Diana thought it the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. There was a slight cleft in his chin, and fine lines formed at the corners of his eyes. Diana inwardly groaned. The butterflies were back.

“I’d hold onto you. I wouldn’t let you fall,” he softly said.

With his slow southern accent, the words sounded like warm honey rolling off his tongue. The depth of his eyes and the sound of his voice mesmerized her.

The horses stood side by side. Her and Dillon’s legs touched. He leaned toward her, and the light aroma of wood smoke, hay, and his spicy cologne filled her nostrils. Diana knew what he was about to do but had no willpower to stop him. He cupped her cheek and their lips met.

Gentle at first, his lips glided over hers. He increased the pressure until she opened her mouth and his tongue slipped in. Diana moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms around her waist, he deepened the kiss. Before she realized what he was doing, without breaking their kiss Dillon lifted her from Flora and placed her across his lap.

Cradled in his arms, Diana clung to him, delicious sensations filling her. Her body came alive in a way that surprised her. The only thing that mattered was this man and this moment.

Flame moved, bringing her back to reality. Diana’s eyes fluttered open, and she stared into Dillon’s, deep with passion and need.

AMAZON | B&N







Learn More about Debby Grahl

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Award winning author, Debby Grahl, lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach, and a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City, Captiva Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of Michigan.

She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. His Magic Touch, a paranormal romance, was released by Wild Rose Press December 5, 2018. Her latest book, Mountain Blaze, will be released November 2.

You can find Debby at the following:

Website — www.debbygrahl.com
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/debbygrahlauthor?ref=br_rsBookbub — https://www.bookbub.com/authors/debby-grahl
Twitter — https://twitter.com/DebbyGrahl







Debby Grahl would love to hear from you. Post your questions and comments below.

The post Debby Grahl Writes Exciting Romance appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Romance Author Jennifer Wilck Writes Happy Ever Afters

Romance author Jennifer Wilck is here to share a little bit about her life as a writer and to tell us about her newest release.

Welcome, Jennifer…

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Sure, although I have to say I much prefer talking about things other than myself (I think that’s why, as an author, I have such a tough time with marketing). Anyway, I’m married with two college-aged daughters and one rescue dog. I’ve been writing forever, but my first book was published in 2011, I think. I live in New Jersey, where I’ve lived my entire life, except for the four years I spent in St. Louis at college. My husband and I started dating on a bet. And I love writing books where there is always a happily ever after.

What are some of your favorite things? Foods. Flowers. Books. Whatever.

I love flowers and am always trying to grow something, with various degrees of success. Outside, it depends on how persistent the deer and chipmunks are. Some years I win, other years they do. And I love walking/hiking through nature. My family has adjusted to the fact that when we walk on the trails—our county has a beautiful trail system through woods and fields, etc.—I will always lag behind with my camera, taking pictures of something. Occasionally, I’m even able to get a photo of them.

What interesting jobs have you had? How have those jobs affected your writing?

When I first graduated from college, I worked for a public relations firm in New York City. My first client was the Jewish Funeral Directors of America (one of their members actually threatened to kill me, but that’s another story, and I got a huge bouquet of flowers as a thank you). Most of my other clients were technology companies. I learned very quickly how to write about topics I knew nothing about, how to turn that information into something others would care about, and also how to make it simple enough to understand. My husband used to tease me and say I knew more about how a computer actually worked than how to use one, which was true at the time. I think that knowledge has come in handy as a writer, whether it’s creating jobs for my characters or writing descriptions so readers can “see” them.

Where is your favorite place to write?

I usually sit at my dining room table, where I can look through the French doors out to my backyard. Since I have a laptop, I always move around, though, and when I need another view, I move to the couch in my family room or my deck when the weather is nice. Although I have a desk, I rarely use it for writing purposes.

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I’ve always enjoyed writing romance. I love taking two people who don’t think they belong together and finding a way to make them happy. With the world as crazy as it is, writing romance has become a way for me to escape. There are so many things I can’t control or change, but I can always guarantee a happily ever after for my hero and heroine. Plus, I enjoy writing snappy dialogue that I’m never quick enough to say in real life.

Whispers in Washington by Jennifer Wilck



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Naomi’s life has been destroyed…

When Naomi Adelman’s crooked politician husband was arrested, her life, and that of her daughters, was destroyed. Divorced and rebuilding her life, Naomi is wiser, stronger, and determined not to let anyone hurt her or her family again. Her new life doesn’t include falling for her charming and good-looking neighbor.

Max bet everything and lost…

Max Bruder bet his entire career on the Adelman story and lost everything. So, he figures that karma has smiled down on him when Naomi moves in next door. This is his chance to revitalize his career. Except the closer he gets to her, the deeper he falls for her. And soon, the line between interview subject and lover blurs.

If they fall for each other, they may jeopardize their chance at a future.

When Max’s true motive is revealed, will Naomi be able to forgive him? And will Max be able to stop the whispers to protect her before it’s too late?

Excerpt

“Problem?” Max asked. They’d stopped in front of their building.

She turned so fast, her hair caught on the stubble at his jaw. “No.” She brushed the hair away from his cheek, the slight textured stubble rubbing against her palm and sending heat straight to her belly. His lips parted, and he leaned forward.

Would he kiss her? Did she want him to? She shouldn’t, she barely knew him, but her skin tingled, her breasts tightened, and her breath came in short gasps.

He didn’t kiss her. Instead, he reached his free hand out and stroked the side of her head, smoothing her hair in place. “Yes,” he whispered.

She frowned, and tried to hide her disappointment. “Yes, what?”

“Your hair is as silky as I wondered.” He let his hand glide down her neck to her shoulder, and the contact brought out goose bumps. “Are you cold?” he asked.

She didn’t know how to answer. Was it okay for her to say, “no, I’m attracted to you?” Or should she say “yes”?

As if he understood her dilemma, he let go of her hand, slid his arm behind her shoulders, and drew her into the warmth of his body.

The man was a furnace, and she wanted to groan in pleasure. They stood toe to toe, his hand running up and down her spine, her breasts pressed against his hard chest. Would he kiss her? Should she kiss him? Her brain short circuited and desire flooded through her. All she could do was focus on the warmth flooding her, the soothing sound of his humming something she couldn’t quite catch, and the zings of desire running throughout her body.

Buy Links:



Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo







Learn more about Romance Author Jennifer Wilck



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Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.

In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.

She writes contemporary romance, many of which feature Jewish characters in non-religious settings (#ownvoices). She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com



Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletterTwitter: https://twitter.com/JWilckInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck







Jennifer Wilck would love to hear from you. Please post your thoughts and comments below.

The post Romance Author Jennifer Wilck Writes Happy Ever Afters appeared first on Zara West Romance.

Mary Morgan Writes Medieval Romance

Mary Morgan writes amazing medieval romance. A fellow Wild Rose, Mary loves magic, ancient curses, and history. But I will let her tell you about what she writes and her newest release.

Take it away, Mary…

I am a constant daydreamer, Zara. Creating a tale has always come easily. I blame it on my Irish, Scottish, and Welsh heritage. There were many great bards in my family.

Is writing something that comes easy to you?

My first recollection as a weaver of stories was when I was four years old. After a vivid dream, I told my mom the story, giving her a detailed description. Within a couple years, I was jotting down stories in a diary. I lived in my own fantasy world most of the time. Even now, I’m always in another realm with my characters.

Do your travels influence your writing?

My travels definitely influence my writing. They are the spark and muse for my stories.

On my trip three years ago to the Orkney Islands, I discovered a vast landscape steeped in ancient legends, ruins, standing stones, and my fictional world of the Wolves of Clan Sutherland. They emerged quietly before I took my journey across the northern seas and entered with force once I arrived in Kirkwall.

Here is a rough draft of what I wrote in my travel journal after a long day on Orkney…

“Though this warrior moves with stealth-like mastery, the veil of darkness cloaks him. The light of the full moon shimmers not from the steel of his weapon, but the silver within his eyes. He walks between the shadows of man and wolf.”

These words resonated inside me and managed to become a central part of my prologue for the first book in The Wolves of Clan Sutherland, MAGNAR.  

How did you choose the genre you write in?

I’ve often been asked this question, “Why Medieval romance? Why not Regency, Victorian, or Western?” In truth, I love them all, but my heart belongs to one. It started when my fingers opened a book about the great Irish King, Brian Boru (941-1014A.D.). His story is legendary, especially with the people of Ireland. King Brian led the Irish to the peak of their Golden Age—from poetry, arts, saints, and scholars. A spark ignited within my soul for more. 

I sought out tales of knights in shining armor and folk heroes, delving into a life teeming with richness, though at times harsh and violent. Yet, it wasn’t until I devoured the history of Brian Boru that I became immersed in medieval life. From there, I treasured tales of life in castles, traveling on horseback, studying foods and herbs. My list is endless and always growing on medieval ways. Yes, there are even days when I long to travel back in time and explore the history, lore, and beliefs.

Furthermore, when I combined this time-period with my fascination with Celtic and Norse mythology, I found I had the perfect genre to write my tales. My brand says it all, “Where history meets magic!”  

One might say I live vicariously through my characters. It’s a love affair with all things medieval and paranormal.

Where is your favorite place to write?

The magic happens in the corner of my bedroom overlooking my garden. My writing desk is an antique, approximately 300 years old. To my right is my father’s desk he had as a child. Books on writing, history, and mythology surround me. Ancient maps, stones (from my travels in Europe), and crystals are tucked into nooks within the desk. In addition, I’ve become a collector of blades—from owning a claymore to a small sgian dubh, a Scottish small, single-edged knife.  

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

Currently, I’m working on the second book in The Wolves of Clan Sutherland. Here is a snippet…

His love conquests are many. Yet only one has captured the heart of this man—she is also the one woman who despises everything about Rorik MacNeil, also known as The Dark Seducer.

Thank you so much for hosting me on your lovely blog, Zara!

MAGNAR: The Wolves of Clan Sutherland, Book 1 By Mary Morgan

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Known as the Barbarian, Magnar MacAlpin is a fierce ruler for those under his command. As leader of the Wolves of Clan Sutherland, his loyalty and obedience lies with Scotland. However, the king’s last demand is not something Magnar will tolerate.

After Elspeth Gunn’s brother the Chieftain of Castle Steinn is murdered, she flees with her nephew, and finds safety amongst a band of men who are rumored to be part wolf. When the king forces her to wed a heathen Northman, she fears losing her heart and soul not only to the man, but the beast as well.

After Elspeth Gunn’s brother the Chieftain of Castle Steinn is murdered, she flees with her nephew, and finds safety amongst a band of men who are rumored to be part wolf. When the king forces her to wed a heathen Northman, she fears losing her heart and soul not only to the man, but the beast as well.

In order to restore peace to a shattered clan, Magnar and Elspeth travel a treacherous path that challenges their beliefs. When evil seeks to destroy ancient traditions, will Magnar be compelled to restrain his wolf or allow him free to protect those he loves?

Read An Excerpt:

She stomped the ground with her foot. “I will not be forced to marry a…a heathen!”

He gritted his teeth—her words sparked outrage from his inner beast. Glancing over his shoulder, he offered, “Then which would you prefer? Halvard or me? Make your choice, Elspeth. Did you not consider I do not favor this union either?”

Confusion marred her features. She fisted her hands on her hips and glanced upward. “Did you argue against this marriage with King William?”

“Aye.”

“Yet he convinced you?”

“Aye.”

When she returned her gaze to him again, resolve and a bit of stubbornness filled them. “Why, Magnar?”

 “The king will permit me to continue with my duties with the elite guard, including an important task which requires my attention after our marriage.”

Chewing on her bottom lip, she nodded slowly. “Then you will be absent most months from Steinn?”

“Most assuredly, and when I am there, Erik will be my focus.”

Her face softened as she moved slowly toward Magnar. “Therefore this marriage is in name only for Erik’s protection, aye?”

Annoyed with the direction of his thoughts, he looked away. How Magnar longed to tell the lie on the tip of his tongue. The word ached to be released. He turned and stared into her jeweled eyes in an attempt to offer her any hope of what she wanted to hear.

When she placed a hand on his arm, she whispered, “Tell me honestly, Magnar.”

He swallowed and removed her hand from his arm. Placing it securely over his heart, he stated, “Our marriage will be binding in all ways, Elspeth—in name and body. You may worship your God and I shall do so with mine, but ken this, you will be mine completely.”

The battle of emotions splayed across her face. She stepped closer and pulled her hand free from his. “Then you understand this, Magnar MacAlpin, you can have my body on my terms. The time of my choosing. I am tired of having men telling me what to do. Will you accept my terms?”

By the hounds! Her words sparked his lust further. Magnar concluded he did not want a simpering wife by his side. For the first time, he yearned to have one challenging him—in mind and body.

Grasping her around the waist, he ignored her gasp and cupped her chin. Her eyes widened as he slowly lowered his head. “Agreed.” He breathed the word against her cheek.

Buy Links:



AMAZON | B&N | APPLE | KOBO







About the Author

Award-winning Celtic paranormal and fantasy romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Northern California with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling by writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of magic, then time-travel within the pages of her books.

Connect with Mary at these places:

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Website/Blog:  https://www.marymorganauthor.com/Amazon Author:  http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryMorganAuthor/Twitter:  http://twitter.com/m_morganauthorGoodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan



BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-morganAudible: https://www.audible.com/author/Mary-Morgan/B00KPE3NW Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marymorgan2/

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Slow Dancing at Sunrise Book Review

Another great summer read from Jo McNally.

The Finger Lakes in New York State are one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. That is why I particularly enjoyed Jo McNally’s new release Slow Dancing at Sunrise. Set on a struggling vineyard in the Finger Lakes, this romance starts off unromantically.

The heroine Whitney arrives at her Aunt’s vineyard hoping to find refuge from her recent job loss. Instead, she finds the place where she once spent her summers in ruinous condition and being run by a scruffy, untrustworthy looking man she doesn’t know.

The hero Luke, confronted with a big city girl with attitude, takes an immediate stand-offish position that will take an entire novel, and the aunt’s busybody book group to change. If you are looking for a spit-fire romance in a delightful setting, this is the book for you.

Slow Dancing At Sunrise by Jo McNally

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Welcome to Rendezvous Falls, New York, where love is where you least expect it…

When accountant Whitney Foster’s carefully calculated life blows up, she escapes to the one place that’s always felt like home. But Rendezvous Falls has changed since she’s been away. Her aunt Helen’s winery is in trouble. And she doesn’t trust the sexy, surly stranger working the vineyard as far as she can throw him.

Luke Rutledge would do anything for Helen, who’s been like a mother to him. Revive the winery? Sure. Repair her property? No problem. Tolerate Helen’s infuriating, big-shot niece? Well…maybe. But as he and Whitney are forced to work together to rebuild the business, her chilly facade reveals a woman as complex and intoxicating as a fine merlot. Throw in a matchmaking book club hell-bent on happily-ever-after and it’s a potent cocktail.

Love should never be calculated. But it doesn’t take Whitney’s math skills to see that this is adding to up to one tantalizing adventure…

Get the Book



AMAZON | B&N | GOOGLE | KOBO







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Learn more about Jo McNally

Website: https://jomcnallyromance.com/

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo.mcnally/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoMcNallyAuthor

What are you reading this summer?

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Cathy Skendrovich Writes Romantic Suspense

Do you love high action romantic suspense? Cathy Skendrovich is here today to tell you about her newest release and share her writing experiences.

Welcome Cathy Skendrovich…

How much research do you do for each book you write?

I have a love/hate relationship with researching each book I write. While I love to learn new information as it pertains to what I’m writing, I find it tedious to do. I want to get to writing the story, for goodness sake, yet I have to take the time to get everything right so that readers don’t call me out on certain facts. And writing a military novel, when you don’t know much about the military beyond TV? I’d better do it just right, or I’m going to hear it from former soldiers, active duty, or military buffs. For example, the Army calls a uniform hat a “cover.” My younger son is in the Army, and he told me in no uncertain terms, not to call it a hat. I didn’t. Likewise with former soldier vs. ex-soldier. Once you serve, you’re never an “ex-soldier.”

What other genres of novel would you love to write?

While I love to write and read romantic suspense, I do like historical romance, as well. I’d love to write a western romance and see it on bookshelves. I know a lot about the American west as well as cowboys and horses. I’ve travelled through the western states multiple times, read about the old west, and I think I could write a western that would catch peoples’ interests even now, when westerns aren’t the “in” thing to read. Maybe someday…

Can you tell us about any other upcoming books, series, or writing plans?

Right now I’m working on Book 2 of the In the Zone series. I still have to sell it to my publisher, so I’m polishing up my pitch. Each book will be a standalone yet be part of the terrorist threat series I started with Zone of Action. My personal tagline for this series is “Who will protect the protectors?” The second book will continue with the terrorist threat to the U.S. Army. The question is, will it be from within, or an outside source? Only I know. I hope to get Zack’s (a secondary character in Zone of Action) story out there, but we shall see what the publishing gods have to say.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

Zone of Action is a book I made up in my imagination with little help from life experience. When my publisher asked for a terrorist plot novel that could work into a series, I started racking my brain for an original plotline. Having a son in the Army, I leaned heavily on him for proper military decorum and terms but did all my own research; hours of it. I loosely based Audrey’s hometown on Ferndale, in the California redwoods, but all the action, suspense, and romance came out of my wee little head. I’m proud of what I accomplished.

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

My favorite chapter to write in Zone of Action was the one where Brett catches Cam and Audrey with their pants down (literally). I wanted an awkward scene where past lover meets current lover. I had some sharp lines I wanted Cam and Brett to say to each other in this scene, and I also wanted to showcase just how “badass” Audrey could be, even without a stitch of clothes on. And I’m especially proud of the opening scene to that chapter, where Brett mimics Robin Williams’s “Good morning, Vietnam!” lead-in, while cocking a shotgun. That chapter is priceless to me.

Zone of Action by Cathy Skendrovich



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Former terror cell expert Audrey Jenkins has seen enough death and destruction to last a lifetime. When she uncovers her ex, Brett, a higher-ranking officer in her unit, selling military secrets, she turns him in and returns to the simpler life she has embraced since leaving the army.

CID Special Agent Cam Harris is a career military man with a strong sense of duty. When a military prisoner who once saved his life in Afghanistan escapes while in his custody, he requests the assignment to track him down.

Cam’s manhunt leads him to Audrey’s door. His prisoner—her ex—will resurface here, he’s sure of it. The feisty woman wants nothing to do with hunting down her ex, but when a terror cell she’s all-too-familiar with launches a deadly attack on army intelligence soldiers and officers, she knows it’s Brett.

Helping Cam is the right thing to do. But the attraction burning between them may be the mistake that gets her and Cam killed…

Buy Links

Entangled Publishing

Goodreads

Learn more about Cathy Skendrovich

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Lover of dogs, reading, and the outdoors, Cathy Skendrovich looks for story ideas in everything she does. Recently she moved to Star, Idaho, with her real-life hero, and now they enjoy living overlooking a pond. Her favorite genre to write is romantic suspense, though she’s also dabbled in historical romance. Her fifth book, Zone of Action, blends her love of suspense with the military. Her younger son, who’s currently in the army, has stopped taking her calls because of all the research questions she asks him. Seriously.

V isit Cathy’s Website Friend Cathy on Facebook Join Cathy’s Newsletter Like Cathy’s Author Page Follow Cathy on Twitter Follow Cathy on Instagram Review Cathy’s Books on Goodreads Amazon Author Page







Cathy Skendrovich would love to hear from you. Please post your questions and comments below.

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