Sharon Wray's Blog, page 95

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Slow Cooker Shredded Beef

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Photo by Wout Vanacker on Unsplash

Another long week (even though we had Monday off) of deadline writing and I’m tired of grilled food but still want to eat outside. So here’s a super easy recipe for Slow Cooker Shredded Beef. And feel free to add in any extra spices or smoky flavors you prefer. I tend to keep things on the mild side to keep everyone happy, but it’s easy to “heat” this one up. And tonight, I’m using the meat to make sandwiches and serving it with a side salad I bought from the store. The adults also get wine.

Daring Debuts ’18: Eldonna Edwards New Release This I Know

[image error]Today I’d like to welcome Eldonna Edwards and her new release THIS I KNOW to Daring Debuts.

“Simply magical writing. Eldonna Edwards is a true storyteller. She tossed me straight into her book and there I stayed until the last word on the last page.” – Bestselling author Cathy Lamb

“In this outstanding debut, Eldonna Edwards has created an enchanting, loveable narrator by the name Grace Carter, who shares all she sees about her world and beyond.  Rendered in a voice at once singular and exquisite and with an old soul sense of wisdom, I was captivated by this story of a girl and her unique gift, her love of family, the pain of loss, the sting of indifference, and the simple joy of acceptance, but most of all by Grace, and her purity of heart.”  — Donna Everhart, USA TODAY Bestselling Author of THE EDUCATION OF DIXIE DUPREE

THIS I KNOW ~ Grace bears a strange gift that is also a burden, something we might call acute intuition, but which her small town at the tail end of the 1960’s sees as a kind of witchcraft and her father deems a sacrilege. As the era of small-town American innocence starts to come to an end, it’s the darker forces that push Grace’s mother into postpartum depression and permeate the town with a wider sense of loss when one of its young girls go missing.

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Eleven-year-old Grace Carter has a talent for hiding things. She’s had plenty of practice, burying thoughts and feelings that might anger her strict Evangelical pastor father, and concealing the deep intuition she carries inside. The Knowing, as Grace calls it, offers glimpses of people’s pasts and futures. It enables her to see into the depth of her mother’s sadness, and even allows Grace to talk to Isaac, her twin brother who died at birth. To her wise, loving Aunt Pearl, the Knowing is a family gift; to her daddy, it’s close to witchcraft.

Grace can’t see into someone’s thoughts without their permission. But it doesn’t take her special talent to know that her small community is harboring its share of secrets. A young girl has gone missing. Within Grace’s own family too, the cracks are widening, as her sisters Hope, Joy, and Chastity enjoy the normal life that eludes Grace. It’s Grace’s kinship with other outsiders that keeps her afloat—Lyle, a gentle, homeless man, and Lola, a free-spirited new girl at school. But when her mother lapses into deep depression after bringing home a new baby, Grace will face a life-changing choice— ignore her gift and become the obedient daughter her father demands, or find the courage to make herself heard, even it means standing apart . . .

Sharon: Welcome Eldonna! Can you share a teaser from your book?

Eldonna: Yes!

“I make people nervous, even Daddy. Especially Daddy. I know this by how they look away, as if their darkest secrets will be exposed like tea leaves scattered in the snow. The truth is, I can’t know another’s thoughts without their permission. I have to be invited. It’s one of the rules that goes along with having what I sometimes think is a curse but what Aunt Pearl calls a gift. I’d give anything to be normal like the rest of my sisters.

If you asked when I first realized I had the Knowing, I wouldn’t be able to say. It started like a seed and then grew bit by bit, just slow enough not to notice. I guess I was born with it. Maybe it was just supposed to be a regular amount of intuition. Maybe when Isaac died I ended up with a double dose, like dots sliding off dominos placed end to end on a crooked table.

Even Billy Wolf—the meanest kid in Cherry Hill—won’t give me the full Evil Eye. He aims it at my shoes or my chest or lately at my crotch, yet he still looks away sooner than he does with other kids. It’s hard to imagine out-creeping Billy.

I know things, such as when the telephone’s going to ring. Sometimes I hear and see things, too. Like the red bulge inside the back of Hope’s head that no one else sees or the lilies under the snow that I can smell long before they bloom. And that I really do hear my brother’s voice. We talk to each other all the time.”

Sharon: I’ve got chills from that teaser. Where did you get the idea?

Eldonna: Every story begins with “What if…?” and here’s where truth and fiction part ways. What if my dad had been a bit of a tyrant rather than the loving, compassionate, imperfect man that he was? What if instead of a rebellious teen with a wild imagination, one of his children was born with something that challenged his deeply-held convictions? What if his beautiful wife fell into a deep depression after popping out all those kids? (I’m number five of seven in my family.) What if I swapped some of the characteristics of my family, my townspeople, and our many congregations and molded them into fictional characters who remind us that despite our differences, we all just want to be loved and accepted?

I tend to do things backwards. I write the book and then I go back and outline what I’ve written to make sure the plot and the emotional arc are in sync. ~ Eldonna Edwards
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Sharon: I love the story premise and I also love the title.  Did you come up with it?

Eldonna: The title is taken from a children’s hymn Jesus Loves Me. I chose the title and my publisher loved it.

Sharon: Can you tell us something we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket?

Eldonna: Grace feels responsible for a tragedy that occurs in her small town and makes a deal with God in exchange for needed forgiveness.

Sharon: Sounds like a powerful book. Do you have a favorite character?

Eldonna: Other than my protagonist, it would be Aunt Pearl. She lives several states away in Mississippi but is the one adult who doesn’t shame Grace for her uncanny gift of intuition. They have a very special bond that extends beyond the realm of family.

Sharon: If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

Eldonna: Definitely Isaac. We’d have a long philosophical conversation about the afterlife and what happens after we die.

Sharon: I’d love to listen in on that conversation. How long did you take to write this book?

Eldonna: I started writing this book about seventeen years ago. I put it aside while raising my last child as a single parent. After publishing a memoir in 2014 about donating a kidney to a stranger, I blew the dust off the ms and started revising it with the help of my beau, who is an amazing editor. I queried several agents in the fall of 2015 and signed with one that November. She pitched my book to her list of editors and sold it to John Scognamiglio in a two-book deal. He subsequently selected THIS I KNOW for his new hardcover imprint.

Sharon: Kensington is one of my favorite publishers. What kind of research did you do for this book?

Eldonna: Most of the research had to do with music of the era, news headlines and Bible stories. Although I grew up as a preacher’s kid, my memory of verses and passages is cloudy at best. I’m embarrassed to admit I bought “The Idiot’s Guide to The Life of Christ” to add to my research library.

Sharon: LOL. Are you a plotter or a pantser?

Eldonna: Definitely a pantser! I have a general idea of where I’m headed and how the book will end but I much prefer organic story-telling to using a formula. I tend to do things backwards. I write the book and then I go back and outline what I’ve written to make sure the plot and the emotional arc are in sync.

I have a general idea of where I’m headed and how the book will end but I much prefer organic story-telling to using a formula. ~ Eldonna Edwards
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Sharon: I love hearing about everyone’s different writing processes. Can you share your writing routine?

Eldonna: I own a vintage 1957 Siesta trailer aka “glamper” that I’ve turned into a cozy writing space. I write best in the mornings after I’ve had my espresso and caught up on the news.

Sharon: I’d love to see that one day! If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Eldonna: Write it all down because you will forget it later, usually by the time you find a piece of paper to record it.

Sharon: Great advice I wish I’d heeded. Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Eldonna: I owned an operated a busy massage therapy business for twenty-five years. I still run the business but I no longer practice. I live with my beau who is a brilliant editor and my sixteen-year-old lab-mix Bella, a rescue. A former Michigan native, I moved to the beautiful central California coast in 1997.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be? Write it all down because you will forget it later, usually by the time you find a piece of paper to record it. ~ Eldonna Edwards
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Sharon: How did you get into writing?

Eldonna: I wrote my first poem at the age of nine. It was simply titled Mother. I don’t remember the words but I do remember the impact it had. Not just on my mom, but on me after writing it. I soon discovered that language was a powerful vehicle not only for self-expression, but for self-healing. I kept journals throughout my teens and adulthood and went on to become a journaling workshop facilitator before delving into memoir and fiction.

Sharon: Apart from novel writing, do you do any other kind(s) of writing?

Eldonna: I’ve published a memoir, several essays, and I blog about life, relationships and the writing process.

Sharon: Share something about you most people probably don’t know.

Eldonna: Most people don’t know that I was featured in a documentary about living donation title “Perfect Strangers” that aired on PBS.

Sharon: Now I have to go look that up! What are you working on right now?

Eldonna: I’m currently in the revision phase of a book about a young boy raised in a spiritual commune set in Northern California in the 1970’s.

Sharon: What’s your favourite writing advice?

Eldonna: Be open to constructive criticism. We tend to become very attached to our words but well-intentioned feedback can help stretch your creative muscles and improve your story.

What’s your favourite writing advice? Be open to constructive criticism. We tend to become very attached to our words but well-intentioned feedback can help stretch your creative muscles and improve your story. ~ Eldonna Edwards
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Sharon: Why did you choose to set your novel in the 60’s/70’s instead of a contemporary setting?

Eldonna: Having been born just a wee bit too late to experience the cultural revolution of the 60’s, I’ve always felt a little like a left-behind flower child. The music was so good, the civil rights movement was blowing up, and people started pushing back against the war machine. I think it’s a fascinating time in our cultural history.

Sharon: What was your hardest scene to write? Which scene was your favorite?

Eldonna: Hands down, the sexual assault. I am fortunate not to have experienced this in my lifetime, but people very close to me have. I cried through the whole scene and it shook me to my core. I had to let the book sit for a while before I could come back to it.

The scene I most enjoyed writing is when Grace’s sisters convince her to dress up as a fortune teller and charge the neighborhood kids to get their questions answered. What child doesn’t love turning a refrigerator box into a store, a space-ship or a fortune-teller booth? This scene allowed me delve into our insecurities that begin at an early age. Do my parents love me? Will I find my soul mate? Will I overcome these awkward years to enjoy a successful life?

Having been born just a wee bit too late to experience the cultural revolution of the 60’s, I’ve always felt a little like a left-behind flower child. I think it’s a fascinating time in our cultural history. ~ Eldonna Edwards
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Sharon: Thanks so much for spending the day with us, Eldonna! I wish you tons of success with your new release!

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Eldonna Edwards is the subject of the award-winning documentary Perfect Strangers and author of the memoir Lost in Transplantation, both of which follow her choice to donate a kidney to an anonymous person in need. Her debut novel, This I Know, won the Lillian Dean Award for fiction based on its opening chapters. Also a veteran massage therapist and former journaling instructor, Eldonna is a born storyteller who “cut her teeth” on the back of Southern Baptist pews in her provincial Midwest hometown where her father was a preacher. The voice in this novel comes straight from the heart. Eldonna currently lives on the central California coast with her long-time partner

You can find THIS I KNOW here: Amazon

You can find Eldonna here: Website |  Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines retell Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.

Her debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

It’s available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo.

And adding it to your Goodreads TBR list is also always appreciated!

The post Daring Debuts ’18: Eldonna Edwards New Release This I Know appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Oven-Baked Ribs

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Photo by Scott Madore on Unsplash

It’s almost Mother’s Day and my absolute favorite thing to eat is BBQ Ribs. But since it can still be cold in May in Virginia, my husband bakes them in the oven (because I’m NOT cooking on M-Day). They are the easiest and best Oven-Baked Ribs I’ve ever had. And the rub and cooking directions are bits and pieces adapted from multiple recipes I’ve tried throughout the years. I’m not a big fan of smoked meat, and I’m not great with a lot of spice, but the rub can easily be “fired up” by adding whatever ingredients you want.

I serve this with cole slaw because my mother told me I need a veg at every meal. But, honestly, I’d rather just eat the meat.

Daring Debuts ’18: Amy Mason Doan’s New Release The Summer List

[image error]Today I’d like to welcome Amy Mason Doan and her new release THE SUMMER LIST to Daring Debuts!

THE SUMMER LIST: Two friends. Ten clues. One breathtaking secret.

A trip down memory lane becomes a hunt for long-buried secrets in Amy Mason Doan’s gripping and poignant debut about the bond between two compelling outsiders. The Summer List is an evocative tale of family, first love, and the unique and lasting gift of a friendship formed in girlhood.”

-Meg Donohue, USA Today bestselling author

“There is not a word or a plot line out of place in The Summer List, Amy Mason Doan’s fabulous debut. These characters and their stories are going to stick with you for a long, long time.”

-Meg Mitchell Moore, author of The Admissions and The Captain’s Daughter

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Sharon: Welcome, Amy! Can you tell us about your new release?

Amy: THE SUMMER LIST is about Laura and Casey, two women who were inseparable in high school but haven’t spoken in 17 years. Laura reluctantly accepts an invitation to reunite for the weekend in their lakeside hometown, where she joins Casey in a scavenger hunt like the ones they did as girls. The clues lead them to their favorite summer haunts, revealing why their friendship fell apart one summer night—and unearthing a stunning family secret.

Sharon: I love women’s fiction stories, especially when the main character has to return home. Where did you get the idea?

Amy: I was camping by the Oregon coast one summer and a bunch of kids ran up asking for a graham cracker for a scavenger hunt. I’d been half-heartedly plotting a story about two former girlhood friends reuniting after a mysterious rift, and suddenly I saw them going on an adult scavenger hunt together, following a list written by someone who wanted them to reunite. It would be initially awkward and sometimes loopy, but would help them heal old wounds.

I started writing fiction a few years ago, after I turned 40. I’d always wanted to do it but never pushed through my fears. ~ Amy Mason Doan
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Sharon: Can you tell us something we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket?

Amy: Five of the scavenger hunt clues are physical items and five are Polaroids that Laura and Casey have to take in favorite places from their high school summers.

Sharon: And Polaroids are all the rage again! Who is your favorite character?

Amy: Casey! She lives across the lake from my other main character, Laura. They’re close enough to see each other’s houses and swim back and forth, but they’re complete opposites. Casey is impulsive, fearless, completely secure in her skin. She’s a loyal friend, intensely protective of Laura. She practically lives in the water, and she has a weakness for old paperbacks like Queenie and Princess Daisy.

What’s your favorite writing advice? Richard Bausch’s from his “letter to a young writer” – “Ask yourself…did I work today? If the answer to that question is Yes, then no other question is allowed.” ~ Amy Mason Doan
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Sharon: If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

Amy: I’d spend the day roller-skating with J.B., Laura’s long-lost love. When they’re in high school he works at the old roller rink. He has to wear a silver shirt and run the games—Shoot The Duck, The Dice Game, The Hokey-Pokey. I spent half of my childhood making up skating routines to the Grease and Xanadu soundtracks in my garage in California, so I’m still a pretty mean roller skater.

Sharon: I used to roller skate all the time, but I was never very good. I just went for the boys.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Vinegar & Pineapple Coleslaw

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Photo by Gianna Ciaramello on Unsplash

This recipe is so easy to make, especially if you buy the cabbage and carrots pre-shredded. It’s a perfect Spring side dish that goes with Oven-Baked Ribs, Chili Shredded Pork, BBQ Beef, and even hamburgers. It’s a bit sweeter than my other cole slaws, but my kids LOVE it. I always serve it on Memorial Day, if I’m cooking.

Daring Debuts ’18: Samantha Heuwagen’s New Novel Dawn Among the Stars

[image error]Please welcome Samantha Heuwagen and her debut novel DAWN AMONG THE STARS to Daring Debuts today.

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Set against the backdrop of intergalactic politics and war, DAWN AMONG THE STARS follows the stories of three Humans as they struggle to understand the universe on a cosmic scale.

Kayin has a rough start when the Shielders, a potential alien ally for Earth, come out of hiding and into the public consciousness. Not only does their very existence cause her trouble, her panic attacks threaten to derail her everyday life. Can she overcome her mental health issues or will she be swallowed up in a political mess?

As for Henry Rickner, he wishes he could take back all of his mistakes in life, starting with his choice to leave Kayin.  Yet he finds himself within the chaos of war as he tries to reunite with those he holds dear.

Melissa Pebbles only has one goal: to keep her family safe during the attack. She will do anything to make sure she and her family make it through whatever challenges are thrown their way. While Melissa fights to keep her family alive, she learns that family is more than just blood.

Can these three work with the Shielders to save Earth or will they lose the only home they’ve ever known?

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Sharon: I’m so happy you’re here today, Samantha. Can you share a teaser from your book?

Samantha: Aliens are real and living on Earth will never be the same.

Aliens are real and living on Earth will never be the same - Dawn Among the Stars by Samantha Heuwagen
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Sharon: Is there a story behind the title? It’s wonderful.

Samantha: DAWN AMONG THE STARS was originally the series title, but we worked together to switch it around. I’m very happy with it and I think it portrays a hope for the future in the book.

Sharon: I’m so glad to hear there’s a series! Can you tell us something we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket?

Samantha: Alien sex… Hold on, it’s about to get steamy in here.

Sharon: Haha. You’re talking to a romance author! Do you have a favorite character?

Samantha: My favorite character has to be the sassy and smart, Kayin Aves. She’s a feisty Latina that isn’t sure she should trust these aliens that pretty much showed up out of nowhere, but she isn’t given a choice when she’s taken off planet to fight for Earth. I love that she’s true to herself and even though she struggles through panic attacks and PTSD, she’s willing to do what it takes to reclaim her home.

Dawn Among the Stars, set in a time of war and upheaval, follows three humans as they deal with their inner demons, while adjusting to the suddenly changing world. ~ Samantha Heuwagen
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Sharon: I can’t wait to meet her. If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

Samantha: Unlike Kayin, I would want to get to know the La’Mursians. I think I’d want to see what their world was like and get to know them on a deeper level. I’m a therapist, so I always have questions up my sleeve and getting to know Space in such a unique way would be so interesting!

Sharon: Are your characters based on real people, or do they come from your imagination?

Samantha: I think all the characters have a little bit of me in them sprinkled with personality quirks from the people around me. Gotta keep it interesting!

I think all the characters have a little bit of me in them sprinkled with personality quirks from the people around me. Gotta keep it interesting! ~ Samantha Heuwagen
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Sharon: Yes you do! How long did you take to write DAWN AMONG THE STARS?

Samantha: Several years, but I did take a few years off while I was in graduate school. I only started taking it seriously a couple of years ago.

Sharon: I’m so glad you did. What is your favorite part of your writing process?

Samantha: I make myself laugh a lot, so when I’m writing and I bust out laughing it just feels good. It might never be funny to anyone else, but at the end of the day I’m not writing for everyone else. Sometimes writing takes a toll and is very serious, but if I can laugh through it, it makes the process that much more enjoyable.

Sometimes writing takes a toll and is very serious, but if I can laugh through it, it makes the process that much more enjoyable. ~ Samantha Heuwagen
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Sharon: And the most challenging part of your writing process?

Samantha: Finding time. I have to schedule my day in such a way that I can meet with all my clients (I’m a sex therapist), be present for them, teach (I teach at Kennesaw State University), and sit down to write or edit something. Luckily, there are 24hrs in a day or I’d be sunk!

Sharon: I know all about scheduling time and have lots of planners to prove it! Can you share your writing routine?

Samantha: I write in my home office mostly, though I’ve been known to venture out to my local teashop. I light candles, turn on my salt lamp, blast some music usually by Sleeping at Last, and get to work–– oh and can’t forget the tea!

Sharon: Have you ever gotten writer’s block?

Samantha: No. If I don’t feel like writing, I don’t. Why push myself until it hurts? That’s no fun.

Q: Have you ever gotten writer’s block? R: No. If I don’t feel like writing, I don’t. Why push myself until it hurts? That’s no fun. ~ Samantha Heuwagen
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Sharon: Agreed! If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Samantha: Oh yes, girl, you’re going to be an author! How insane is that?

Sharon: Can you share something about yourself?

Samantha: I’m a bilingual sex therapist in Atlanta, GA. When I’m not doing therapy I teach the class, Love and Sex at Kennesaw State University.

Sharon: How interesting. How did you get into writing?

Samantha: While in graduate school I needed more self-care options. I started rewriting Dawn Among the Stars because it felt good and slowly I realized I had something special I wanted to share with the world.

Sharon: Apart from novel writing, do you do any other writing?

Samantha: I’m a blogger. You can visit SamanthaHeuwagen.com and read my thoughts on mental health and how to live your best life!

Sharon: I love blogging too! Can you share something most people probably don’t know about you?

Samantha:I hated words when I was younger. Being diagnosed with two learning disabilities I thought writing and reading were for other people. I’m so shocked this is where I am today, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Sharon: What are you working on right now?

Samantha: The follow up to DAWN AMONG THE STARS, FADING STARLIGHT.

Sharon: Your titles are fabulous! What’s your favourite writing advice?

Samantha: Practice, practice, and then practice some more.

Sharon: What’s your favourite writing advice?

Samantha: Practice, practice, and then practice some more.

Q: What’s your favourite writing advice? R: Practice, practice, and then practice some more. ~ Samantha Heuwagen
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Sharon: I love it! Will you share a short pitch of your novel?

Samantha: They say ignorance is bliss, but at what cost? Aliens have made contact with Earth and Humans are having a hard time digesting the new reality. Weak and unprepared, Earth is immediately plunged into intergalactic chaos. As the governments of the world scramble to incorporate aliens into political and religious texts, the everyday citizen struggles to live day by day.

Dawn Among the Stars, set in a time of war and upheaval, follows three humans as they deal with their inner demons, while adjusting to the suddenly changing world. With Earth in the middle of an intergalactic war, Kayin, Henry, and Melissa must follow separate paths to reclaim their planet.

Sharon: Thanks so much for sharing your work with us today, Samantha. I hope you find great success with your debut!

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[image error]Samantha Heuwagen is a sex therapist, author, and activist in Atlanta, Georgia. When she’s not doing therapy, she teaches the class, Love and Sex, at Kennesaw State University. Her debut novel, DAWN AMONG THE STARS, will be released in May 2018.

You can find Samantha: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads

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Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines retell Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.

Her debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

It’s available on: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | IndieBound | Kobo.

And adding it to your Goodreads TBR list is also always appreciated!

The post Daring Debuts ’18: Samantha Heuwagen’s New Novel Dawn Among the Stars appeared first on Sharon Wray.

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Whole Wheat Orzo with Parmesan

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Photo by Daiga Ellaby on Unsplash

I love picnics but I’m not a fan of picnic food because it’s usually cold and often the same things. But this Orzo with Parmesan is as good cold as it is served hot. I like to serve it alongside BBQ ribs, shredded pork sandwiches, or any other kind of meat. (Yes, I’m a meat girl.

Every Deep Desire & The History of the Fianna Army: Part 1

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EVERY DEEP DESIRE is the first in the Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets and smart, sexy women redeem Shakespeare’s greatest love stories. This team of ex-Special Forces soldiers, accused of vicious war crimes, is determined to prove their innocence and desperate to find the enemies who want to destroy them. Before time runs out and their enemies attack again.

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Photo by Thomas Tucker on Unsplash

One of these enemies is a private army of brutal assassins known as the Fianna led by a man called the Prince. Rafe Montfort, the hero of Every Deep Desire was once a Green Beret who left his unit to work for the Prince, and has returned to Savannah, GA to protect his wife and his men he left behind. The problem is the Fianna have never let a man go and they’re not about to start now. As the story unfolds Rafe’s wife Juliet, and Rafe’s men, learn who and what the Fianna are. And today I’d like to introduce you to the real Fianna of pagan Ireland that was the basis for my fictional army.

Since there’s more history than one blog post can cover, I’m telling Part 1 of this tale today and will conclude the post next month.

Daring Debuts ’18: Carolyn M. Walker’s New Release Immortal Descent

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Please welcome Carolyn M. Walker and her new Urban Fantasy release IMMORTAL DESCENT to Daring Debuts today!

“Deep in the caves of rural Western Germany, the truth about immortality has remained a secret for centuries, but now that secret is about to break free…

Ethan West knows what it means to be different. With a haunted past and a strange sixth sense he sometimes can’t control, Ethan’s in search of a better future. Instead, he’s brutally attacked. Narrowly saved by the beautiful and mysterious Rue, Ethan quickly learns the world is darker and more bizarre than he had ever imagined. And sparing his life comes with a price: being reborn immortal. Now, a dark faction of ancient, cursed immortal beings known as Lorns are after him. And they want his rare, newly awakened soul.

Descended from the mythological Nephilim, Lorns are bound by either the divine force of order or the mortal force of chaos. Ethan is a rarity, bound by neither, yet he is ruled by both. Now, wielding an ancient and volatile power, Rue and her Alliance work to keep Ethan from spiraling out of control. At the heart of a terrifying underground war between Lorns, Ethan becomes the target of one side and a savior to the other. Amid everything, Ethan struggles to understand his own purpose and power—an ordeal that tests his loyalties, beliefs, and sanity in ways unimaginable. And the greatest danger is yet to come.”

Sharon: Carolyn, I love the premise! Can you tell us a little more about IMMORTAL DESCENT?

Carolyn:  IMMORTAL DESCENT is about the mystery of immortality coming to the forefront in the modern world. A young man gets thrown into the underground world surrounding an age-old secret and he discovers he plays an integral part in a dangerous plot that has potentially epic consequences.

IMMORTAL DESCENT is about the mystery of immortality coming to the forefront in the modern world. A young man gets thrown into the underground world surrounding an age-old secret and he discovers he plays an integral part in a…
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Sharon: What a wonderful idea! Where did it come from?

Carolyn: The idea originally came from studying world religion. The notion of immortality and how it was portrayed across world cultures was fascinating to me. The more I thought about it, the more I thought “what if” and before I knew it I said, “why don’t I write a novel about it.” I came up with the title myself. I love to play on words and the title has a dual meaning. Immortal represents immortality of course but descent represents the mysterious lineage of the Lorn creatures in my story, as well as the downward spiral into the unknown—a descent which the main character makes.

Sharon: Is there something you can tell us that we won’t find out just by reading the book jacket?

Carolyn: There is an entire backstory to Ethan that plays an important role in the story. It will also come up again in future installments since this book is the first in a series.

Sharon: I know it’s not nice to play favorites, but do you have a favorite character?

Carolyn: My favorite character is Rue. She is the main female character, opposite Ethan. Her sense of duty, strength, and ethics are deeply rooted qualities that make her memorable.

My favorite character is Rue. She is the main female character, opposite Ethan. Her sense of duty, strength, and ethics are deeply rooted qualities that make her memorable. ~ Carolyn M. Walker
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Sharon: I can’t wait to meet her. If you could spend a day with one of your characters, who would it be and what would you do?

Carolyn: I would spend the day with Oryx, one of the oldest Lorns in the book. He is one of the most interesting characters with an interesting past, and the ability to see the future. He is very knowledgeable about the world of IMMORTAL DESCENT and I know he’d be a most gracious host as is his personality!

Sharon: I’d love to go along with you! How long did you take to write IMMORTAL DESCENT?

Carolyn: The mere notion for the story came as a partial short story idea way back in 2002. Shortly after, I shelved the idea for years before picking it back up in 2015. I finished writing it that year, began querying it out in early 2016 and a few months later I landed my publishing contract with Clean Reads.

Sharon: Did you have to do any research for this book?

Carolyn: I did TONS of research for  IMMORTAL DESCENT. I did a lot of reading of historical books, mythological texts, and scholarly journals. I also had to brush up on international travel because half the book takes place in Western Europe.

Sharon: Hopefully you got a chance to go to Europe. What is your favorite part of your writing process?

Carolyn: My favorite part is the research in the beginning because I love to learn and educate myself on new things. I also enjoy the editing process where I’m polishing it up for the final run. I love seeing the finished product, so I can sit back and just be proud.

Sharon: What is the most challenging part of your writing process?

Carolyn: The most challenging part for me is laying the groundwork in writing. There are times when the story comes to me like a flowing faucet and I can’t type fast enough to keep up. Other times (when the faucet seems clogged) it can be frustrating and challenging to keep plodding along.

Sharon: First drafts are always the hardest for me too. Have you ever gotten writer’s block? If yes, how do you overcome it?

Carolyn: If it means sitting and staring at a blank screen because I literally have no idea on how to start (or continue), then yes! I combat it by either skipping the troublesome area or throwing myself into research. Research gets me thinking about stuff and before I know it, an idea pops into my head and bam, I’m writing again!

Sharon: If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Carolyn: Do NOT doubt yourself! Thinking you cannot do something is as good as not doing it. Oh, and stop editing stuff to death—learn to let go!

Do NOT doubt yourself! Thinking you cannot do something is as good as not doing it. Oh, and stop editing stuff to death—learn to let go! ~ Carolyn M. Walker
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Sharon: I LOVE this. Thank you! Can you share anything about non-writing self?

Carolyn: In addition to being a creative writer, I write professionally as a copywriter. I’m also a mom to a fast-growing teen girl and a loving wife to my hubby of 13 years! We have a long-haired chihuahua named Dixie.

Fear, Resistance, and Zombies: A Cure For All Your Writing Woes

[image error]E. B. White (author of Charlotte’s Web) said he admired anyone who “has the guts to write anything at all.”

I’ve always loved this quote because I’m a writer easily paralyzed by fear. Fear of success. Fear of failure. Fear of zombies. I guess you could say I’m afraid of  just about everything. Added to that basket of worries is a horrible propensity for  perfectionism. So it’s not surprising that when I sit down to create something out of nothing that my stress about writing  books my readers will love turns into a paralysis that I have to fight daily.

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Fear is a terrible thing. It prevents you from writing the books that’ve been pressed onto your heart (or living the life you want) and steals your joy. Add in the struggle with needing to be perfect, and a writer can send herself into a whirlwind of procrastination and sense-of-failure. And that’s just during the drafting phase!

While I’m no where near qualified to talk about these things in a professional way, I thought today I’d offer a few of the resources I use ALOT to get myself out of these cycles of fear-perfectionism-procrastination-perceived failure.

Today I’m on the Sisterhood of Suspense blog talking about courage. You can click the link or scroll down to read more.

All of these resources are available in book, e-book, or podcast format. There are also YouTube videos and websites. And some of these sources are free!

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Hopefully one of these resources will help, especially if you’re like author Cynthia Ozick who has to talk herself “. . . into bravery with every sentence, sometimes every syllable.”

Books
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

First published twenty-five years ago, The Artist’s Way is the seminal book on the subject of creativity. Perhaps even more vital in today’s cultural climate than when it was first published, The Artist’s Way is a powerfully provocative and inspiring work. In it, Julia Cameron takes readers on an amazing twelve-week journey to discover the inextricable link between their spiritual and creative selves. This groundbreaking program includes:

–  Introductions to two of Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery–The Morning Pages and The Artist Date

–  Hundreds of highly effective exercises and activities

–  Guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors

A revolutionary program for artistic renewal from the world’s foremost authority on the creative process, The Artist’s Way is a life-changing book. This 25th anniversary edition includes a new introduction from the author.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work,  embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.

The Courage to Write {How Writers Transcend Fear} by Ralph Keyes

In The Courage to Write, Ralph Keyes, an author who has taught writing for more than thirty years, assures us that anxiety is felt by writers at every level, especially when they dare to do their best. He describes the sequence of “courage points” through which all writers must pass, from the challenge of identifying a worthwhile project to the mixture of pride and panic they feel when examining a newly published book or article.

Keyes also offers specifics on how to root out dread of public “performance” and of the judgment of family and friends, make the best use of writers’ workshops and conferences, and handle criticism of works in progress. Throughout, he includes the comments of many accomplished writers — Pat Conroy, Amy Tan, Rita Dove, Isabel Allende, and others — on how they transcended their own fears to produce great works.

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

What keeps so many of us from doing what we long to do?

Why is there a naysayer within? How can we avoid the roadblocks of any creative endeavor—be it starting up a dream business venture, writing a novel, or painting a masterpiece?

Bestselling novelist Steven Pressfield identifies the enemy that every one of us must face, outlines a battle plan to conquer this internal foe, then pinpoints just how to achieve the greatest success.

The War of Art emphasizes the resolve needed to recognize and overcome the obstacles of ambition and then effectively shows how to reach the highest level of creative discipline.

Think of it as tough love . . . for yourself.

Whether an artist, writer or business person, this simple, personal, and no-nonsense book will inspire you to seize the potential of your life.

Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield

The follow-up to his bestseller The War of Art, Turning Pro navigates the passage from the amateur life to a professional practice. “You don’t need to take a course or buy a product. All you have to do is change your mind.” –Steven Pressfield TURNING PRO IS FREE, BUT IT’S NOT EASY. When we turn pro, we give up a life that we may have become extremely comfortable with. We give up a self that we have come to identify with and to call our own. TURNING PRO IS FREE, BUT IT DEMANDS SACRIFICE. The passage from amateur to professional is often achieved via an interior odyssey whose trials are survived only at great cost, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. We pass through a membrane when we turn pro. It’s messy and it’s scary. We tread in blood when we turn pro. WHAT WE GET WHEN WE TURN PRO. What we get when we turn pro is we find our power. We find our will and our voice and we find our self-respect. We become who we always were but had, until then, been afraid to embrace and live out.

Do the Work by Steven Pressfield

“There is an enemy. There is an intelligent, active, malign force working against us. Step one is to recognize this. This recognition alone is enormously powerful. It saved my life, and it will save yours.” — Steven Pressfield Could you be getting in your way of producing great work? Have you started a project but never finished? Would you like to do work that matters, but don’t know where to start?The answer is Do the Work, a manifesto by bestselling author Steven Pressfield, that will show you that it’s not about better ideas, it’s about actually doing the work. Do the Work is a weapon against Resistance – a tool that will help you take action and successfully ship projects out the door. Picking up where The War of Art and Turning Pro left off, Do The Work takes the reader from the start to the finish of any long-form project—novel, screenplay, album, software piece, you name it. Do The Work identifies the predictable Resistance Points along the way and walks you through each of them. No, you are not crazy. No, you are not alone. No, you are not the first person to “hit the wall” in Act Two. Do The Work charts the territory. It’s the stage-by-stage road map for taking your project from Page One to THE END.

Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg

With insight, humor, and practicality, Natalie Goldberg inspires writers and would-be writers to take the leap into writing skillfully and creatively. She offers suggestions, encouragement, and solid advice on many aspects of the writer’s craft: on writing from “first thoughts” (keep your hand moving, don’t cross out, just get it on paper), on listening (writing is ninety percent listening; the deeper you listen, the better you write), on using verbs (verbs provide the energy of the sentence), on overcoming doubts (doubt is torture; don’t listen to it)—even on choosing a restaurant in which to write. Goldberg sees writing as a practice that helps writers comprehend the value of their lives. The advice in her book, provided in short, easy-to-read chapters with titles that reflect the author’s witty approach (“Writing Is Not a McDonald’s Hamburger,” “Man Eats Car,” “Be an Animal”), will inspire anyone who writes—or who longs to.

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

Advice on writing and on life from an acclaimed bestselling author:

“Thirty years ago my older brother, who was ten years old at the time, was trying to get a report on birds written that he’d had three months to write. It was due the next day. We were out at our  family cabin in Bolinas, and he was at the kitchen table close to tears, surrounded by binder paper and pencils and unopened books on birds, immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead. Then my father sat down beside him, put his arm around my brother’s shoulder, and said, ‘Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird.'”

On Writing by Stephen King

Immensely helpful and illuminating to any aspiring writer, this special edition of Stephen King’s critically lauded, million-copy bestseller shares the experiences, habits, and convictions that have shaped him and his work.

“Long live the King” hailed Entertainment Weekly upon publication of Stephen King’s On Writing. Part memoir, part master class by one of the bestselling authors of all time, this superb volume is a revealing and practical view of the writer’s craft, comprising the basic tools of the trade every writer must have. King’s advice is grounded in his vivid memories from childhood through his emergence as a writer, from his struggling early career to his widely reported, near-fatal accident in 1999—and how the inextricable link between writing and living spurred his recovery. Brilliantly structured, friendly and inspiring, On Writing will empower and entertain everyone who reads it—fans, writers, and anyone who loves a great story well told.

Becoming a Writer by Dorothea Brande

Becoming a Writer recaptures the excitement of Dorothea Brande’s creative writing classroom of the 1920s. Decades before brain research “discovered” the role of the right and left brain in all human endeavor, Dorothea Brande was teaching students how to see again, how to hold their minds still, and how to call forth the inner writer.

Websites & talks

Author Jeannie Hall’s (yes, of my Sisterhood of Suspense sisters) website Writing in you Jammies provides links to articles and podcasts that help you work through fear, procrastination, and anything else that might be holding you back. Seriously, her podcasts are the best! 

Author Steven Pressfields website offers wonderful daily articles about how to defeat Resistance and finish the book your meant to write.

KM Weiland’s website Writers Helping Other Writers has great articles on everything writing related, including Fear and Resistance.

JK Rowling’s famous Harvard Commencement speech on the benefits of failure:

Elizabeth Gilbert’s TED talk on Your Elusive Creative Genius:

I hope if you ever worry about things like fear and failure, or if you’ve ever hoped for the zombies to show up so you don’t need to finish your current WIP, these resources will offer some hope. And maybe a few laughs along the way.

(Book covers and blurbs courtesy of Amazon. Photos courtesy of Sharon Wray)

Sharon Wray is a librarian who once studied dress design in the couture houses of Paris and now writes about the men in her Deadly Force romantic suspense series where ex-Green Berets and their smart, sexy heroines retell Shakespeare’s greatest love stories.

Her debut book EVERY DEEP DESIRE, a sexy, action-packed retelling of Romeo and Juliet, is about an ex-Green Beret determined to regain his honor, his freedom, and his wife.

It’s available on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | IndieBound

Adding it to your Goodreads TBR list is also always appreciated!

You can find Sharon on:

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