Ruth Ann Nordin's Blog, page 76

Inspiration For the Book: A Royal Engagement (Book One in the Enchanted Galaxy Series)

I haven’t done one of these in a while but thought I would today.

Rambling a bit about my past (feel free to skip):

The first book in this series was written in 1996 when I was in college (getting my Psychology degree) at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota.  I love North Dakota.  It’s one of my favorite places to visit.  I especially love Medora and Bismarck.  After I graduated college in 1998 from the University of West Florida (I only stayed in Fargo for one semester), I moved to Bismarck, North Dakota.

I would have stayed in that state had I not married an x-ray tech in the Air Force and had to move to Florida, Alaska, and Nebraska.  I don’t regret moving around to these different places.  Looking back, I’m glad I got a chance to live in different places and check them out.  And I love Nebraska and am staying here for the time being.  Since my husband retired from the military, we can actually stay in one spot.  But…there is that part of me that will always love North Dakota.

Now for the actual post:

So anyway, while I was living in Fargo, I didn’t have a car and relied on my roommate/friend/fellow author Melanie Nilles, who was also in college, to drive me around.  There were times when I’d have to wait for her to be done at work or with her classes.  So to fill up the free time I had, I decided to write a story.  I asked myself, “If there was anything that could happen right now, what would I want it to be?”

And the answer was, “How cool would it be if some guy from another planet came to me and told me I was going to be a queen on his world?”

I thought the idea sounded pretty neat and started writing.  The world I chose was called Raz (which wasn’t all that original since all I did was use my initials “Ruth Ann” but then added a Z at the end because I rarely ever see “Z” anywhere).  I was also reading fantasy novels at the time.  My favorite fantasy book was Isle of View by Piers Anthony in the Xanth Series.  I have read a couple of other books by him because I loved his humor.  He took fantasy and made it a lot of fun.  These were light reads, and from time to time I like to take a break from the serious stuff out there.

Quick side note: I remember reading in his author’s notes at the end of one of his books that he was a fast writer.  I don’t remember his exact words, but he said it didn’t take him long to write a book.  And that freed me up so much because up to then, I thought if an author could write a book in a couple months, then the book wasn’t any good because it was rushed.  Well, nothing could be further from the truth.  Some writers work fast.  The ideas are there and they just flow out easily.  That’s how it is with me.  Piers Anthony was a huge inspiration to me as a beginning writer.

Back to the post:

So taking into account how fun Piers Anthony made his fantasies, I thought I’d try my hand at a light-hearted fantasy, too.  Back then, I loved a great romance but was too afraid to focus too much on the romance lest my family give me grief about it.  So the romance was toned down and the fantasy dominant.

In the rewrite I’m doing right now, I’m focusing more on the romance because romance is the really interesting part to me.  The fantasy that is woven around it is fun and light for the most part, and I enjoy that too, but without the romance, the whole thing falls apart.

The characters:

This is probably the most personal I have even gotten in a book.  At the time, I was hung up on this ex-boyfriend who I named “William” in the book and was looking for the hope of a “Hathor” (someone in my future I hadn’t met yet but would be even better than William).  I should state that “William” was a good guy.  It’s just that I did move while in high school and that was why we broke up.  I did move from Ohio to Florida.  From there, I went on to college.  I met Melanie Nilles while going to the University of West Florida.  She got me tuned into fantasy, which is how I found Piers Anthony.  She had grown up in North Dakota which is how I ended up in Fargo in 1996 as her roommate.

So at the time, I was looking for a hope that my life wasn’t going to be doomed to live in the past (which is the purposeless life the heroine in A Royal Engagement feels at the beginning of the book).  He had moved on, but I hadn’t.  And I was struggling look forward and believe that someone else would come along and that he would be my prince (which is why Hathor was the son of the Queen).  Everything Hathor was in the story was my dream guy.

The Palers (who were the enemies) developed out of a nightmare I had about these 7-foot thin white creatures that look similar to what we think of as aliens (except when we think aliens, we thing short creatures with big eyes).  These Palers went around eating people in my dream and one was lurking near me, hunting me.  So when it came time to come up with a suitable enemy for this story, I decided to go with the creatures in my nightmare that I named Palers (since they’re completely white).

The setting:

I just happened to put it all into the context of a fantasy setting because of the fantasy books and movies I was reading and watching at the time.  It was a lot more interesting than being stuck in class taking notes.  So when I went to all these different planets in the story, I was getting away from the tedious boredom of the days where I did kept wondering, “What the heck am I going to do with the rest of my life?”

I did get a Psychology degree, but it was only because I didn’t know what else to do.  Raz represented the perfect job I would love, that thing I was meant to do but had no idea what it was.  Now I know that the thing Raz represented was writing romance novels.

Today I have a husband (Tony) and four children and am doing what I love most: writing romances.

Story Sample Sunday: A Royal Engagement (Finding Out You’re Going to be Queen on Another Planet is Pretty Cool…If You Believe It’s Not a Dream)

This is the first book in the Enchanted Galaxy Series, which is a contemporary fantasy romance.  It’s about a college student who learns she is to be the queen on another planet.  As a warning, this is in first draft form.  I’ve decided to give it a complete rewrite.  Yes, the same events happen in it that happened in the original stories, but my voice and style has changed since 2003 and I want to make this the best book possible.

Quick note: On the planet Raz, the word “queen” is always capitalized.  This is not the case for “king” since the king is second to the Queen.  The Queen is the most important person on the planet and as such is given prominence.  I only mention this because if there are any typos in this sample, the way I use the word “Queen” is intentional.

Anticipated release month: Since this is a rewrite (and not something I am creating from scratch), I expect to have this out in May.

Ann yawned as the teacher at the front of the room droned on and on.  She had two more years of her undergraduate study before she went on to her master degree, but she had yet to decide if she’d go into counseling or some other field.  As she was writing down the definition of ‘cognitive appraisal’ in her notebook, she tumbled over her desk and hit the floor with a resounding thud.

What the…?

She blinked and assessed her surroundings.  She was in her apartment, face down on the floor.  But how in the world did she get here?  She was just at school for goodness’ sakes!  She rose to her feet and turned around in time to see a young blond-haired man standing in front of her.

She opened her mouth to scream when he clasped his hand over her mouth.  “I’m not going to hurt you.  Please don’t scream.”

Like she believed that one!  She’d seen enough TV shows to know that situations like this never ended well.  After considering her options, she gave him a nod.  As soon as he released his hand, she let out the loudest shriek she could muster.

He spoke a word and her voice went silent.  Not taking the time to figure out how he managed such a feat, she bolted for the door, but then he said another word and she froze in place.

This wasn’t possible.  First, she couldn’t scream and now this?  Just what was going on?  She tried to turn her head in his direction but couldn’t.  She saw a movement out of the corner of her eye and looked toward it.  Well, at least she could move her eyes.  That was something.  It wasn’t much, but she’d take whatever she could get right now.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he walked in front of her.  “I just got to this planet and thought the easiest way to find you was to summon you to your dwelling.”

Planet?  Summon her?  Dwelling?  Just who was this freak?

“First, I have to make sure you’re the right person.”

He reached out and took her left hand and turned it over.  She wanted to pull back her arm, of course, but she couldn’t.  She was powerless against him.  He could do whatever he wanted to her and she’d be at his mercy.  She wished she could go unconscious.  She didn’t want to be awake when he did whatever he had in mind to her.

He smiled and released her hand.  “Wonderful!  You have the birthmark.” Then, to her surprise, he bowed before her.  “You’re the next Queen of Raz.”

What a psycho.

Then she thought of how she suddenly appeared here.  Okay.  He wasn’t the only thing psycho about this whole thing.  There was definitely weird other stuff going on.  But how?

Maybe she fell asleep in class.  Of course!  She was having a dream.  Now it all made sense.  And that explained why the stranger in her apartment wore a silk white shirt and silk black pants that were tucked into his black boots that reached his knees.  No one in their right mind wore such ridiculous clothes, unless it was Halloween.

But she needed to wake up.  Even if this dream was a lot more interesting than the teacher, she couldn’t keep napping.  She mentally willed herself to wake up, but it didn’t work.

“It is my privilege to introduce myself,” the stranger said.  “My name is Hathor and I am from the planet Raz in the Enchanted Galaxy.  I am to bring you back with me so you can be the next Queen.  Upon our return, it will be my great honor to protect you and serve you.”

Why couldn’t she wake up?  Usually when she realized she was dreaming, she could pull out of it.  So why not now?  Come on, Ann.  You’re in the middle of class.  Wake up!

“You see,” Hathor continued, “my mother is the current Queen, and she’s due to step down from the throne on her next birthday.  The planet needs another Queen to take her place.  You’re the one who has been chosen for this task.”

This was ridiculous.  Never in her life did she have such a persistent dream.  With a sigh, she tried to answer him, thinking it might speed up the whole dream faster if she talked to him, but her mouth wouldn’t move.

“Oh!  Of course.  In my excitement, I forgot I unfreeze you.” He uttered a foreign word and her body relaxed, as if someone had been gripping her and had finally released her.  “There.  That’s better.” Then with a wider smile, he added, “I can’t believe I’m actually here.  I could hardly sleep at all last night.  I was so excited about meeting you.  And, if you don’t mind me saying so, you’re the loveliest woman I’ve ever seen.”

“Uh…okay.” Just how was she supposed to respond?  “Thanks?”

“Oh, you don’t have to thank me.  You are the most important person on Raz.” She didn’t think it was possible, but she thought his blue eyes grew a little bit brighter.  “I just can’t believe my good fortune.  You probably hear how pretty you are all the time.”

Well, maybe she should keep trying to wake up, but it was rather nice to be told she was pretty so it wouldn’t hurt to sleep just a little bit longer.  Besides, the class was a big one and she sat in the back.  No one probably even knew she was taking a nap.

“So,” she began, “I’m supposed to be a Queen on another world?”

“Yes.  The Great Magician let me borrow his Book of Spells so I could come here and get you.  When you arrive, my mother will transfer the crown to you and you’ll take her place.”

“Wait.  Your mother is the Queen?”

“Currently, yes.  But you will be the next one.”

“Hold on.  Doesn’t that make you a prince?  You can be the king.”

“It used to be that way on Raz centuries ago, but not anymore.  The Queen must marry and have a daughter in hopes of having an heir to take over the throne, but my mother only had me and I’m not able to assume her crown.  That’s why I have to bring you to Raz.”

It wasn’t the most logical story she’d ever heard but then she figured dreams didn’t require logic to be believable.  At least it was an interesting tale.

“And,” he continued, “if I protect you on the way to Raz, I get the high honor of marrying you.”

He stopped talking, an indication that he hoped she’d respond.  “Um…alright,” she finally replied with a shrug.

His smile faltered.  “Don’t you believe me?”

“Sure.  I mean, it makes total sense when you consider everything else that’s happened.  Me appearing in my apartment, you freezing me in place, me ruling a planet in another galaxy, and you marrying me…  It makes perfect sense when you put it all together.” At least it did in dream logic.

“It’s important that you believe me.  Someone or something out there doesn’t want you to be the Queen.”

Now that was an interesting twist she didn’t expect.  “Okay.”

By the way his face fell, she gathered he didn’t like her reaction.

“I could scream again if you want, but then you might make me mute again,” she joked, thinking since this was a dream, he’d laugh.

But as it turned out, her attempt at humor wasn’t even appreciated in the dream world.  “This is a serious matter.  We’ll need to be vigilant on our journey.”

Before she could reply, her cell phone rang.  “Hold on.” Maybe the dream was going to get even more interesting.  Maybe she’d find out the man had really brought her here to kill so the real Hathor couldn’t take her to Raz.  Now that would be an even better twist.  She pulled her phone out of the pocket of her jeans and saw it was William.  Well, it wasn’t the twist she hoped for but it was one, nonetheless.

Heroines Get Rejected Too: A Rant by Patty Dixon (Heroine in Patty’s Gamble)

Patty Dixon tells it like it is.

There seems to be a topic no one is willing to talk about. You read a romance novel and assume every heroine has an easy time of it when it comes to matters of a more personal nature.  You know what I’m talking about, hopefully.  The hero marries the heroine.  Sometimes they decide to consummate the marriage right away.  Sometimes they don’t.  If they don’t, they usually agree to wait together.  This is something they both decide.

Already Available

Most of the time, however, the hero is more than happy to welcome the heroine to his bed. Take Heather in Mitch’s Win as an example.  Mitch married Heather the very night they met.  She even proposed to him!  And he takes her home.

Does he make her sleep in another room?  No.  He brings her to his bed.  When she tells him he can sleep with her, does he run out of the room like a scared rabbit being chased by a hound?  Of course not.  He hops right into bed and enjoys his wedding night.

It’s enough to make me want to puke.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I like Heather.  She’s my friend.  I’m happy for her.  But sometimes it’s downright annoying that most heroines in these romance novels have it way too easy.

That’s why I’m glad Eva was brave enough to let us take a look into her world with Boaz in Boaz’s Wager.

Due out March 15

I, personally, have no desire to be with Boaz.  This is why I didn’t marry him.  Yes, I could have.  It would have made life easy for everyone, especially Greg Wilson.  But what’s the point in getting to marry to someone when your heart already belongs to another?  You think Greg is going to make it easy for me to slip into his bed?  You think he’s even going to be as polite as Boaz was to Eva in the Sunday Story Sample Ruth Ann Nordin posted on this blog?  Of course not.  Why?  Because Greg has decided that he will fight me every step of the way.

I’m getting so annoyed with all these romance novels by Ruth that make love seem easy.  Boy meets girl.  Boy marries girl.  Boy is 100% sweetheart.  He often waits for the heroine to be ready or they both get to it right away.  I can’t recall a single novel Ruth has done–besides Boaz’s Wager–where the hero absolutely refused to do it once it was offered to him.  And when I safe “offered”, I mean the heroine is 100% willing.

It makes me sick.

Is there no other heroine out there besides Eva Connealy who can understand my plight?  I really hope Boaz gets some sense knocked into him before Boaz Wager ends so poor Eva doesn’t have to be a virgin forever.  I’ve been trying to wrap my mind around how she’s going to get him to come to his senses.  I don’t think she has what it takes to go to the couch without any clothes on and demand he do his husbandly duty by her.  She seems like she’s too ladylike for that sort of thing.  I’m really interested in finding out if she overcomes this obstacle because no other heroine Ruth has ever written has ever had to deal with this issue before.

You’d think it wouldn’t take Ruth 39 romances to finally approach this subject.  That’s right.  It took her almost 40 romance to get to the fact that not every single heroine on this planet has a hero who is jumping up and down at the chance to get to be with her.  Seriously, I knew I couldn’t be the only one.

But I have to wait until March 15 when Boaz’s Wager is out to see if Boaz ever comes to his senses.  I don’t really understand Ruth at all.  You’d think after publishing 38 romances, she would have the whole writing thing down.  Why this continual hold up with something called “editing”, I’ll never understand.  If she can’t get it right the first time, then why doesn’t she go find something else to do?  Obviously, she’s incompetent if she can’t have a polished book on her first try.

Due out by June 1

*long, frustrated sigh*

Well, I, for one, am not going to choose the path that Eva has.  I read the end of that Sunday Story Sample where Eva calmly accepts Boaz’s rejection and goes off to her bedroom to think about what she’s going to do.  I’m an action kind of gal.  I grew up on a ranch.  I’ve had a bull charge at me and had to get out of the way before it got me.  I’ve caught a rattler right behind the head before it could bite me.  I’ve handled the most stubborn of horses and tamed them all.  I’ll get Greg to consummate our marriage if it’s the last thing I do.

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Picture credit –

Patty: © Igor Dolgov | Dreamstime.com

Sunday Story Sample: Even Women Get Rejected (A Scene from Boaz’s Wager)

Today’s scene comes from a part in Boaz’s Wager where Eva decides she’s ready to consummate her marriage with Boaz.

*Side note: Eva first appeared in Isaac’s Decision as the girl Isaac Larson wasn’t interested in.  I moved her up to Montana so she could get her happily ever after.

It starts with Eva and Boaz doing their familiar routine in the evening.  After the children are in bed, he reads to her in the parlor.  He’s been sleeping on the couch and up to now, that has suited her just fine.  But tonight, she has other ideas…

She got comfortable in the chair and listened to him as he read.  But on this particular night, she couldn’t concentrate on what he was saying.  She kept debating how she could extend the invitation to her bed.  And though she thought of different ways she could bring the subject up, by the time he was finished reading, she still didn’t know what to say.

“Did you want me to read more?” Boaz asked after he’d closed the book.

She cleared her throat.  “No.  I’ve heard enough for the night, thank you.”

With a nod, he held the book out to her.

She took it but didn’t leave like she’d done every other night.

He stopped fluffing his pillow and looked at her.  “Is something wrong?”

“No.  I-I just…” She took a deep breath.  If she was going to extend the invitation, she’d be better off doing it now before she lost her nerve.  “I just wanted to let you know you don’t have to keep sleeping out here.  You can sleep in the bedroom, if you’d like.”

“Oh.” He lowered his gaze to his pillow, and after a long, awkward silence, he said, “I need to stay out here.” She waited to see if he’d explain what he meant or if he’d tell her when he’d join her in the bedroom, but he only added, “It’s for the best.”

Realizing that was the only answer she’d get, she swallowed and rose to her feet.  Somehow she managed to leave the parlor despite her shaky knees.  She’d faced rejection in the past, of course, but she hadn’t faced anything like this.  And quite frankly, she didn’t know what to do.  Did she go out there and ask him why or did she keep quiet about it and wait to see if he’d ever explain why?  Maybe he didn’t want to that night.  Maybe he’d wait until tomorrow.  Or another day.

She reached the bedroom and set the book on the table.  Releasing her breath, she sat down.  Well, there was nothing else she could do right now.  What she needed was a good night’s sleep.  Maybe tomorrow she’d have a better idea of what to do.

After a moment to regain her composure, she got ready for bed and slipped under the blanket, the slight breeze drifting in from the window cooling the room off.  She closed her eyes and waited for sleep to come, but it didn’t until well past midnight.

The First Draft of Boaz’s Wager is Done! (And Other Stuff I’m Up To)

And better yet, I’m very pleased with how it turned out. I’ll be sending this out to my editing team this week.

This puts me on track for publishing it in mid-March with my publisher Parchment & Plume.

I did put in some references (aka. hints) about what you can expect in Patty’s Gamble.  Patty’s Gamble takes place at the same time Boaz’s Wager does, so I couldn’t give too much away to what Patty’s going through.  But one thing I am really excited about (besides the scene where she goes to Greg’s bed completely naked and he runs off–should be funny) is what will happen when the mayor (mentioned in Boaz’s Wager) does to collect on a “favor” Patty will owe him for helping her get Greg to marry her.  John Meyer (from Mitch’s Win) also shows up in this book (I posted the sample scene on this blog).

Fun stuff coming up in Patty’s Gamble.  I am hoping to have the first draft done at the end of April. *fingers crossed*

This one is going along so amazingly well that it’s further along than the next Regency I’m working on.  Part of the fun for me is figuring out the past for all of these characters, especially the woman who the heroine is pretending to be.  Something was going on with her past that made her agree to be a mail-order bride.  But she doesn’t make it because she dies–but I know someone from that woman’s past is going to show up.  And I can’t wait to find out what this someone is going to do to the heroine.  I know some of it but not everything.

Part of the fun of writing by the seat of my pants is finding out how events unravel.  It’s like opening a Christmas present.

The next immediate book I’m working on, of course, is the first book in the Marriage by Arrangement series.  This one has been harder to figure out, much like Boaz’s Wager was.  I know what I want to do and where I’m headed, but it’s connecting one event to another that’s been the challenge.  But I’ll figure it out, even if it takes me longer than I expected.

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I’m really excited about revamping the fantasy romance series I did a long time ago.  I was going through the first book today and decided I’m going to rewrite the story.  Now, when I say “rewrite”, I don’t mean I’m going to change the story.  I like the story as it is.  I like the entire series as it is.

But what I need to do is write it over again so it matches my writing style now.  The way I used to write isn’t the same as it was back in 2003 and 2005.  I’ve come a long way and I want to build up more romantic/sexual feel to it.  So I’m going to write the same story with my current writing style/voice.  I expect the process will go fast.  I’m not sure how soon I can have the books out, but I want them to be worthy of the other romances I’ve done.   I want it to be similar to His Abducted Bride in the Across the Stars series, except instead of a know-it-all hero, the hero in these books will be the beta type I usually do.

Also, these three books feature the same hero and heroine through the whole thing, something I haven’t done in a trilogy before.  Each story is complete and runs are each full-length novels.  But the events in one book does impact the events in the next book (much like the events in the Native American Romance Series did).  Don’t worry.  I don’t “kill” the hero off in this one.

The series is the “Enchanted Galaxy Series” and here are the books:

Book 1

Brief description: An ordinary young Earth woman discovers her destiny is to be queen of a planet in another galaxy.  And her first order of business will be picking a husband.

Book 2

Brief description: An old nemesis sends our ordinary Earth woman back in time on Earth to ensure she never gets to become the queen.  And the king risks losing her and all they built together if he doesn’t intervene.

Book 3

Brief description: The queen is sent on a mission on another planet whose roots will take her back to Earth and to someone who has plans to make her his forever if the king doesn’t stop him first.

Old Books That Are Finally Free For Me To Republish

Long story short, I finally got off my butt and sent in requests to for a vanity press to unpublish my old works.  Yes, I had been dragging my feet on it because I was having too much fun writing.  Well, I decided if I was serious about doing it, I needed to sit down and do it.  So I did and the ebooks are being removed.  Some residual paperbacks are going to remain out there just because they already stocked somewhere.  But no new paperbacks will be created.

Okay, so that’s the short version.  Now to get to the books I will republish.   (I did a post listing all of these books way back in 2012.)

Romantic Fantasy Series

I’m going to do some very light revisions on these.  Specifically, I’m going to spice things up a bit.  I had done them over and published them for a while under a pen name, but then three things happened.  One, I realized I was using someone else’s name (and that made me feel guilty because I never intended to do that).  Two, the books got stolen (I did get the stolen versions removed).  Three, when the vanity press put the originals in ebook, there was no point in having two versions of the same books out there.

So I unpublished the pen name editions and let the vanity press versions remain up.  Now that the vanity press versions are down, I’m going to take those books and do what I should have done to begin with (add some spice–yes, this means sex) to them.  Then I’m going to put my real name on them.  I do need to change the covers to update the new versions.

This will be my primary project for my old books since I really do like the series and quite frankly, they should have been under a fantasy romance category to begin with (except at the time I wrote them, everyone I knew pretty much referred to romance as “trash” so didn’t for fear of what they’d say).

The Dimensions – a YA Romantic Fantasy Trilogy

I’ve talked with Stephannie Beman about helping me revamp this thing.  I’d like to take the original book and break it into three parts so it’s a trilogy.  Stephannie Beman has a gift for fleshing a story out, and since she loves fantasy and romance, I asked if she’d like to go into it with me.  I’m not sure how long it will take for these to come out.  I need to go back and dig up the old files that I have somewhere on a flash drive.

Witness to a Murder – YA Thriller with Romance

This one is a favorite of mine so I’m going to republish it.  I think it was a novella, not really a novel.

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As for the other old books on that 2012 post, I have no interest in putting those back out.   But the books above, I do and since I’ll self-publish these books, I have the luxury of doing it.

I’ll make posts as I get them out again.  There’s no huge rush on it.  My priority is the romances currently on my To Write list. I hope to finish Boaz’s Wager tonight. *fingers crossed*

Just One Chapter Away From Finishing Boaz’s Wager (Featuring Boaz Grady, Patty Dixon, Eva Conneally, Richard Larson)

And thank goodness! I tell you, Boaz has been such a pain to deal with for the past month. I can’t recall having such a difficult time working with any character ever since Dave Larson “disappeared” after I refused to give into his irrational demands back on April 17. 2012.  No wonder I never worked on the third Dave and Mary book.  Who needs that kind of headache?

Boaz: Whoa, whoa!  Are you saying I am nothing but a headache to you?

Ruth: Well, you are hard to deal with.

Boaz trying to look innocent when he’s caused Ruth nothing but grief

Boaz: Can I help it if you didn’t understand my motivation?  The key to writing any book is to understand what the character wants.

Ruth: Which I believe you summed up as getting your kids back in an interview I did with you not too long ago.

Boaz: While that’s true, you didn’t look deeper than that, and that’s something you’re supposed to do as my author.

Ruth: I can’t look deeper unless you let me.

Boaz: It sounds to me like you’re trying to blame me for something that is wrong with you.  I can’t tell you how many men thought the horse was the problem when it was really the way they handled the horse that made the horse “hard to work with.”

Ruth: I have 38 romances under my belt.  After writing that many of them, I can assure you that I understand the process a lot better than you do.

Boaz: You’d better be careful.  It’s those who think they know it all that really don’t.

Ruth: *thinks to herself* I only have one more chapter left and then I’ll be done with him.

Patty, the kind of gal who doesn’t stop until she gets what she wants

Patty Dixon (heroine in Patty’s Gamble): Well, I for one am celebrating this great feat, Ruth.  It’s about time we finally got around to my story.  I’ve been waiting all these years for you to rewrite and expand the novelette “The Keeping of Greg Wilson”.  I’ve been patient for a long time as I waited to finally get Greg to admit he loves me.  Why, in Mitch’s Win alone, Heather’s plan failed miserably.  For a while there, I wondered if you were going to pair me up with Boaz since you had him sit right next to me at the supper table.

Ruth: I’ll have to post the scene from Mitch’s Win on Sunday to remind everyone of that time.

Patty: It was downright disheartening.  No offense, Boaz, but I don’t want anyone but Greg.  I’ve had my heart set on marrying him from the first time I saw him when I was just a school girl.

Boaz: No one cares about your silly fantasies.

Eva as she tries to reason with Boaz

Eva: I’m shocked, Boaz!  How could you talk to her that way?

Boaz: It’s Ruth.  She brings out the worst in me.  Did you see how she opened up this post?  She said I was a pain to deal with.

Eva: Well, you have been a tad bit difficult.

Boaz: After all we’ve been through, you’re taking her side?

Eva: No, but to be fair, you haven’t been very forthcoming in what you wanted.  I’ve had to sit you down a time or two and find out what was going on.

Ruth: Thank you, Eva.  Had it not been for you, the book would have been a total flop.

Patty: And mine wouldn’t have gotten started.  I really don’t understand why you men have to be so difficult.  You have a woman who’ll cook and clean for you, and on top of that, you get another benefit I’m too much a lady to mention on this blog.

Boaz: Though you have no trouble undressing in front of Greg or slipping in his bed.

Patty: *gasps* How do you know that?

Boaz:  *snickers* I know all about that conversation you had with Eva and Heather in my book.

Patty: I never said anything about undressing in front of him.

Boaz: I might have peeked at the notes Ruth has for your story.

Patty: Boaz, you are horrible.  I hope the book ends with your hair setting on fire.

Eva: Patty!

Patty: It’d serve him right for going into my personal moments.

Boaz: Personal moments?  Ruth writes about everyone’s personal moments.  With her, there is no such thing as privacy.  Quite frankly, she’d be better off writing something pure for a change.

Ruth: No way.  Spice is nice, guys.

Richard Larson, the one who never got a book….and boy is he upset! LOL

Richard Larson: I sure wouldn’t mind you throwing some spice my way.  In fact, I’d be happy if you got my book done this year.

Boaz: Who are you?

Eva: I think I know who he is.  The name Larson is pretty familiar.   Rachel Larson marries Herb in Boaz’s Wager.

Richard: I’m Rachel’s uncle.  But no one even remembers me because I never got my own book.  It was supposed to be Wagon Trail Bride.

Ruth: I didn’t forget you.  In fact, I have your book over at my Works In Progress page on this blog.

Richard: But you put me on hold.

Ruth: I’m writing in it when I have time.

Richard: Which is never thanks to Boaz the time hog.

Boaz: Hey!

Patty: Well, the rewrite did cost the rest of us some missing days.

Ruth: This is why I say Boaz has been a major pain.  He has caused all of us a great deal of missed days.

Patty: Don’t take it personally, Richard.  Ruth delayed the writing of my book so she could work on the Nebraska series, the South Dakota series, and some other books.

Richard: Yes, but will my story ever be told?

Ruth: Yes, but I need to finish up with the Montana stories.

Boaz: Speaking of which, will you write about the men who sold Rachel and Eva at the beginning of Boaz’s Wager?

Ruth: I plan to but I don’t plan to put it in the Montana series.

Richard: Please tell me you’ll write my book first.

Ruth: I hope to.

Richard: I want a guarantee.

Ruth: I can never tell anything this far out.

Boaz: Be a pain, Richard.  It’s the only way to get her attention.  *hehe*

***

Credits for Photos:

Boaz: © Megdypro4im | Dreamstime.com

Patty: © Igor Dolgov | Dreamstime.com

Eva: © Candybox Images | Dreamstime.com

Richard: © Yuri Arcurs | Dreamstime.com

Sunday Story Sample: Patty’s Gamble (How On Earth Did a Nice Girl Like Patty Get Tangled Up With a Creep Like John Meyer?)

This scene does come into play later on in the book. After facing constant rejection in Mitch’s Win, Patty has decided to take matters into her own hands and is going to make Greg Wilson marry her. But she’s going to need the help of a sleazy, scummy character who would be willing to do whatever it takes to get Greg to marry her. I’m hoping to bring Patty in for an interview. I think she might be fun to talk to.

This book should be out before June.  And it’s the 3rd book in the Montana Collection.  Mitch’s Win is Book 1 and Boaz’s Wager (due out next month) is Book 2.

Patty Dixon entered the saloon and lowered the hat over her eyes.  This was the last place she wanted to be.  But desperate times called for desperate measures.  She could only hope that no one would realize she was a woman.  She had her hair tucked under a wig and a fake long beard covering her face.  To top it off, she’d borrowed her father’s duster and boots.  Beside that, she wore her own shirt and denims, but no one was going to open the duster to find that out.

Allowing her eyes to adjust to the smoke filling the place, she thought over her plan.  If her father knew what she was doing, he’d forbid it—which was exactly why she’d waited until he was asleep before leaving the ranch.  And now she was in the seedy part of town, the part she’d never venture to under ordinary circumstances.

“Buddy,” a gruff voice called out.

She glanced over her shoulder at a large man who stood behind her.

“I can’t go through you,” the man said.

Oh!  She quickly moved aside so he could enter.  Then she proceeded further into the establishment.  She studied the men who were laughing, drinking, playing cards, and—if she saw clearly—a few were trying not to cry into their beers.  From the other side of the room, a group sang out of tune around a piano that’d seen better days.  And from the stairs at the back of the room, a lady wearing very little was waving to someone.  Patty’s gaze went to the man who looked to have a winning hand.

She grimaced.  She didn’t know what the gesture he gave her meant, and quite frankly, she didn’t want to know.  She was on a mission.  She continued scanning the room and finally caught the man she was looking for.  John Meyer.  She’d heard rumors about him.  He wasn’t one to be trifled with.

But what choice did she have?  She’d exhausted all her other options.  As long as she was careful, everything would be just fine.  Taking a deep breath, she proceeded forward, weaving around tables until she reached the one she needed.

John set the cards on the table and snickered.  “Read ‘em and weep, boys.”

The other men at the tabled groaned and threw down their cards.

“I got to get another drink,” one muttered as he rose from the table.

“Me too,” a second agreed.

“I’m out,” a third said.  “I’m not losing any more money tonight.”

“Come back when you learn to play like a man,” John told the third man as he collected the pile of coins in the middle of the table.

That left no one at the table but John.  This was her chance.  Patty stepped forward and cleared her throat.

“You want somethin’?” John asked as he counted his winnings.

Taking that as an invitation, she plopped down in the seat as she’d seen other men do and leaned back.  Then, in the lowest voice she could muster, she said, “Need your help.”

His eyebrow rose.  “You feelin’ alright?”

“Feel fine,” she replied, wondering why he’d ask such a ridiculous question.

He leaned forward and, before she could stop him, tugged on her beard.

She gasped and quickly brought it back up, giving a quick glance around to make sure no one else saw what he’d done.

He chuckled.  “Didn’t think you were a man.  So, what’s a lady doin’ in a place like this?  Unless you plan to entertain men with the soiled doves upstairs.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

She swallowed the lump in her throat.  “No.  I want to hire you for a job.”

“I can certainly do the job, little lady,” he said, leering at her in a way that made her squirm.

“I’m not sure what you mean, but I want you to make it so that Greg Wilson will marry me.”

Updates on What I’m Writing (4 Books I Hope To Get Out Between March and June)

The book that’s taken most of my attention is Boaz’s Wager. This is book 2 in the Montana Collection. Mitch’s Win is the first one and Patty’s Gamble will be book 3. At the moment, I am in chapter twenty-one. I finally got through all the rewrites I had to do, switched some scenes around, and modified most of them. Now I’m back on track to finishing it.

I am hoping to have the first draft done in two weeks or less. This puts it on track for a mid-March release.

I am also working on Patty’s Gamble. After this, the Montana Collection will be complete. Patty’s Gamble takes place during the same time Boaz’s Wager does. I’m only at chapter 2 so there’s still plenty more to go in this one. I want to get this one out before June. *fingers crossed*

In the meantime, I am working on a mail-order bride story.  I’ve been wanting to do one for over a year and am finally getting around to it.  This takes place in the Black Hills of South Dakota in the late 1800s.  I went there last year and really enjoyed the scenery so I thought it’d be fun to write a romance that takes place there.

The basic plot is that the heroine happened to stumble upon a mail-order bride who was on her way to meet Allen Grover, but she got sick and died before she could complete her journey.  So the heroine (who’s desperate to escape her life at a brothel) assumes the other woman’s identity and becomes Al’s mail-order bride.  But the woman who was supposed to marry him has some secrets and those are going to catch up to the heroine before all is said and done. I can’t say too much or I’ll spoil the book.

At the moment, I am in chapter 5.  I have this book tentatively scheduled for release in April or May.  We’ll see how things progress.

I put this one on hold while I was doing the rewrites for Boaz’s Wager, but I should be back to writing this book in the upcoming week.  I’m currently at chapter 6.  This will probably be out around the summer.  *fingers crossed*

Interview with Boaz Grady (Hero in Boaz’s Wager)….With Eva Connealy Jumping In

While I’m rewriting portions of Boaz’s Wager, I thought I’d bring Boaz in for an interview to better understand his character.

Boaz: What’s to understand? I thought I was pretty clear on what I wanted.

Ruth:  Not really.  You seem to change your mind quite a bit.  I spent most of the day swapping scenes around in this rewrite I’m doing because you kept changing your mind on what you want to do and when.  It was crazy, Boaz.  I’ve never had a character give me this much trouble.

Boaz: Well, this is my book.  I want to make sure it’s just write.  Get it?  I put “write” where right should be.  *laughs*

Eva: Nothing is sadder than a person who thinks they’re funny when they’re not.

Boaz Grady who runs the risk of being replaced with someone else if he doesn’t start cooperating with Ruth

Boaz: That was plenty funny.  Anyone who didn’t laugh doesn’t have a sense of humor.

Ruth: Anyway, I have some interview questions to ask you.  If you answer them, it might help me figure you out.

Boaz: What’s to figure out?  I want a mother for my children.  I can’t raise them by myself. I train horses so I can’t be there during the day.

Ruth: Okay, so maybe that is what you start out wanting, but during the course of the story  I’m sure you developed another want.  Something that involves an attractive young lady who came all the way from Omaha in order to be in this book?  She had to leave behind possible suitors behind in order to marry you.

Eva: Give me a break.  There were no suitors.  And thanks to the major rejection I faced in Isaac’s Decision, everyone probably thinks I’m a loser.  Not to mention a snob.  I really didn’t care of the way Emily Craftsman talked about me.

Ruth: That’s the beauty of point of view, Eva.  In Isaac’s Decision, everyone got to see how Isaac and Emily saw you.  In Boaz’s Wager, we get to see you as you really are.

Eva: I hope no one reading Boaz’s Wager read Isaac’s Decision.  They’re not going to think I’m worth having my own story.

Ruth: Sure they will.  In fact, some might even be rooting for you.

Eva:  Rooting for me to take my stuck up ways and shove my books up my–

Ruth: Eva!  This is a G-rated blog.  You are not allowed to say that word on here.

Eva: I was going to say “up my snobby old nose” but it appalls me you think I’d say something inappropriate.  I was a teacher up until the time you placed me in this book, after all.

Boaz: I thought this blog post was about me.

Eva: It might be if you would come up with something interesting to say, but all I’ve heard so far is “I know what I want” but no one else can figure out what that is except that you want your children back.  That only takes you up to chapter three.  After that, more stuff needs to happen or else we all might as well do a short story.

Boaz: Are we happily married or does this story end in a tragedy?

Ruth: It’s a romance, Boaz.  You two end up happy.

Boaz: Does she complain during the whole book?

Ruth: No.

Boaz: From the sample you posted on Sunday, it looks like she does.  To be honest, she scares me.  How do I know she’s not going to come in and kill me while I’m asleep because I forced her to marry me?

Eva Connealy who isn’t sure people will believe she’s a sweet, tender heroine based on her past in Isaac’s Decision

Eva: Oh for goodness’ sakes!  I’m not a murderer.

Boaz: Are you kidding me? You got the look of “crazy” in your eyes.

Eva: No, I don’t.

Boaz: Your eyes are ready to pop out of your head.

Ruth: Don’t exaggerate, Boaz.

Boaz: Who’s exaggerating?  Look at what she’s doing.  She’s on the phone and drawing something.  I think she’s planning to be a widow.

Ruth: She’s doing no such thing.  Now, back to this interview.  Boaz, what is your big motivation in this book besides getting your kids back?

Boaz: Easy.  I want to stay alive.

Ruth: *sighs*  It’s a romance, Boaz.  You are the hero.  The hero doesn’t die in the romance.

Boaz: I don’t know.  What about the movie Titanic?

Ruth: That movie wasn’t a romance.  It had a romantic subplot.

Eva: Thanks for spoiling a movie, Boaz.  Some people out there might be reading this and haven’t even seen the movie.

Boaz: Hey, I just watched it to see the ship sink.

Eva: That’s alarmingly gruesome.

Boaz: Who is going to watch that movie without knowing the ship is going to sink?

Ruth: Boaz, this is the problem with you.  I’m trying to stay on course as I’m rewriting your book.  And just like you’re doing in this blog post, you keep bouncing around on me in the story.

Boaz: You keep saying I’m in a romance novel.  Then the whole plot is obvious to me.  I marry Eva.  She’s a good mother to my kids.  Somewhere along the way, she decides not to kill me for buying her when she didn’t want to be sold.  And we end up living happily ever after.  The end.  See?  Now that I just stated the whole entire plot, no one even needs to read the book when it comes out next month.

Ruth: But you’ll need to get to the point where you consummate the marriage.

Boaz: No.  That’s not going to happen.  I’m not putting another woman through another risky pregnancy.  Sorry.  This will have to be a G-rated book.

Eva: Are you kidding me?  I didn’t sign up for this.  It was bad enough Isaac Larson didn’t want me.  I won’t have you not wanting me either.  We’re going to consummate the marriage whether you like it or not, Boaz.

Boaz: I don’t think so, Eva.

Eva: We are.

Boaz: Not.

Ruth: While you two continue to argue about it, I’m going to go back to your book and see what I can do about that thing Heather just slipped Eva to use with Boaz.

Boaz: What thing?

Ruth: That’s for me to know and you to find out.  You’re not the only one who can keep the other one guessing on what’s going to happen next.

***

Photo credits:

Boaz: ID 20962790 © Megdypro4im | Dreamstime.com

Eva: ID 11450598 © Candybox Images | Dreamstime.com