Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 12
January 28, 2023
WeWriWa: To See and Be Seen . . . BOUND BY MOONLIGHT
Those who know me well know I’m not a social animal. I’m not a mix and mingler. I’m a stand off to the side and observer. Big events that involve crowds of strangers and talking to be heard over others give me the queasies. I’ll take assigned seats or a group of friends over a massive crush any day. But one must do what one must do as Charlotte Caissie, the reluctant heroine of my “By Moonlight” series discovers and that means standing by her man.
Bound by Moonlight (By Moonlight - Book 4)
Length: 370 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→POLICE DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE CAISSIE AND HER SHAPE-SHIFTING PARAMOUR MAX SAVOIE THOUGHT THE PAST WAS BEHIND THEM. BUT IN NANCY GIDEON’S IRRESISTIBLE NEW ROMANCE, THEY DISCOVER IT MAY NEVER LET THEM GO. . . .
THEY SWORE THEY’D BE TOGETHER FOREVER.Detective Charlotte Caissie is suddenly sharing drawer space and making local news with her shape-shifter lover, Max Savoie. He’s determined to be accepted by her peers—so how can she ask him to return to his criminal roots to help her solve a complex case?
BUT THOSE THEY TRUST THE MOST . . .Working undercover with her partner to find the serial killer who’s kidnapped a colleague’s daughter, Cee Cee is caught between her job and her fiercely possessive lover. And when she calls on Max’s preternatural talents to aid his hated enemy, she crosses a line that strains their relationship to its limit.
. . . WILL DO ANYTHING TO TEAR THEM APART.With his secret spreading, Max is forced to protect his family and his clan. The only certainty is his love for his human mate . . . unless the loyalties that define them divide them forever. The Excerpt
I’ve just finished the first working read-thru of my original manuscript and was surprised to discover how closely it mirrored the published version (thank you, favorite editor ever Micki Nuding!!). I can’t wait to get into the next books of the series to absorb all the drama, excitement, and emotions all over again and to get these books back out to readers!! And I’m jones-ing for a trip back to the Big Easy!! More books in the series would make that a write off . . . just saying.
She swept the area with a professional stare, studying the scene with a cop’s attention to detail. The press were everywhere, seeking scraps to tantalize the public’s hunger for information, the more sensational, the better.
She scowled, wishing she had the authority to make them scatter like the vultures they were. Unfortunately, she wasn’t here in an official capacity. She couldn’t brush them off with a flick of her badge tonight.
And as she looked over their feeding ground, she asked herself yet again, What the hell am I doing here?
As her attention was caught by the most controversial criminal figure in New Orleans, she knew. He was hard to miss as he stepped out of a sleek dark town car, impossible to look away from as he came toward her, all lethal grace and fixed intensity. A shiver rode across her skin. She was here for Max Savoie.
. . . and a bit more . . .
Sleek, powerful, all deadly poetry. His animalistic aggression masked by smooth, easy strides still provoked all her senses, the same way it had the very first time she’d seen him walk through the station in handcuffs eight years ago as if nothing could touch him.
For this occasion, he wore the sophisticated trappings of a wealthy businessman. Tailored Armani created a glossy image but couldn’t disguise his harshly cut features. A bristle of dark hair arranged by the drag of fingers rather than careful barbering, the heavy horizon of solemn black brows above eyes like pale, impenetrable jade added to the ruthless mystique.
Unblinking, unsmiling, he stepped right inside her guarded circle of personal space—and offered his arm. “Ready?”
Coming to a close of the first month of the new year, I’m cautiously optimistic that good things are in store!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
January 21, 2023
WeWriWa: Not My Kind of Party . . . BOUND BY MOONLIGHT
In my youthful college days, I was up at 6:00 a.m. to get ready for my 7:30 a.m. full load of university classes (pulling an honors degree!), went from there to my 25-30 hours per week part-time job in retail, then spent evenings out with a group of friends until 2:30 a.m. Wednesday-Saturday nights. Only once did I do something truly stupid, but once, as in my excerpts from BOUND BY MOONLIGHT this month, could be more than enough . . .
Bound by Moonlight (By Moonlight - Book 4)
Length: 370 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→POLICE DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE CAISSIE AND HER SHAPE-SHIFTING PARAMOUR MAX SAVOIE THOUGHT THE PAST WAS BEHIND THEM. BUT IN NANCY GIDEON’S IRRESISTIBLE NEW ROMANCE, THEY DISCOVER IT MAY NEVER LET THEM GO. . . .
THEY SWORE THEY’D BE TOGETHER FOREVER.Detective Charlotte Caissie is suddenly sharing drawer space and making local news with her shape-shifter lover, Max Savoie. He’s determined to be accepted by her peers—so how can she ask him to return to his criminal roots to help her solve a complex case?
BUT THOSE THEY TRUST THE MOST . . .Working undercover with her partner to find the serial killer who’s kidnapped a colleague’s daughter, Cee Cee is caught between her job and her fiercely possessive lover. And when she calls on Max’s preternatural talents to aid his hated enemy, she crosses a line that strains their relationship to its limit.
. . . WILL DO ANYTHING TO TEAR THEM APART.With his secret spreading, Max is forced to protect his family and his clan. The only certainty is his love for his human mate . . . unless the loyalties that define them divide them forever. The Excerpt
Detective Charlotte Caissie knows what can happen during those few minutes of inattentiveness and now she works the streets of New Orleans to make sure others don’t suffer from the same kind of mistakes she’d made. But unlike most of them, she had a dark guardian angel looking out for her and they’ve been covering each other’s backs ever since.
She froze in the glare, like a performer with stage fright.
Stones crunched as the car moved forward at a slow stalking pace.
She started back peddling toward the main street, hearing those whispers in her head, warning her to be careful, warning of the danger. . . because of the other girls. Scrambling for the safety of the sidewalk, she fumbled in her purse, looking for the pepper spray she always carried as the car edged into view, turning onto the street to stop next to her. The passenger window slowly rolled down, taking with it the image of a frightened young girl all alone. She couldn’t make out the face of the driver within the shadowed interior.
Exhaling a shaky breath, she cast off the shivers of panic. Probably just a john looking for some early action. She straightened, cocking her hip, tossing her head. Maybe he’d be willing to give her a ride to the bus station if she threw in a little extra. A little lagniappe, ‘cuz these new boots weren’t made for walking.
“Hey there. Lookin’ for a party?”
. . . and a little bit more . . .
She started toward the car with an exaggerated roll of her hips, bending down near the window to begin the bartering when the passenger door pushed opened. A shadowed figure leaned toward her. She began to smile.
“You nearly scared me to death turning on the headlights on like that,” she scolded with a breathy little laugh as she leaned in. “What—?”
Strong fingers gripped her upper arm, jerking her off balance on the skyscraper shoes, pulling her upper body inside the car before she could think to struggle. Her temple struck the door edging, making everything go as bright and glittery as the New Orleans nightlife she loved. A sharp sting at the base of her throat, a flare of burning heat. Then nothing.
The door closed and the car moved in no hurry into the morning mists.
I’m having such fun reissuing the “By Moonlight” series, getting to know the characters all over again and now . . . wanting to explore more about them. 2023 is going to be an interesting year.
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
January 14, 2023
WeWriWa: Setting the Hook . . . BOUND BY MOONLIGHT
I LOVE a prologue – that tease that grabs you by the imagination and pulls you into the story, sometimes kicking and screaming, the way the beginning of this intro does in BOUND BY MOONLIGHT. . .
Bound by Moonlight (By Moonlight - Book 4)
Length: 370 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→POLICE DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE CAISSIE AND HER SHAPE-SHIFTING PARAMOUR MAX SAVOIE THOUGHT THE PAST WAS BEHIND THEM. BUT IN NANCY GIDEON’S IRRESISTIBLE NEW ROMANCE, THEY DISCOVER IT MAY NEVER LET THEM GO. . . .
THEY SWORE THEY’D BE TOGETHER FOREVER.Detective Charlotte Caissie is suddenly sharing drawer space and making local news with her shape-shifter lover, Max Savoie. He’s determined to be accepted by her peers—so how can she ask him to return to his criminal roots to help her solve a complex case?
BUT THOSE THEY TRUST THE MOST . . .Working undercover with her partner to find the serial killer who’s kidnapped a colleague’s daughter, Cee Cee is caught between her job and her fiercely possessive lover. And when she calls on Max’s preternatural talents to aid his hated enemy, she crosses a line that strains their relationship to its limit.
. . . WILL DO ANYTHING TO TEAR THEM APART.With his secret spreading, Max is forced to protect his family and his clan. The only certainty is his love for his human mate . . . unless the loyalties that define them divide them forever. The Excerpt
Just like in your favorite scary movie, you just KNOW something bad is coming (even without the nerve-plucking music to put you on edge!). The set up is everything. The incident that incites the drama-to-come tells you the tone of the tale, so it needs to play upon the reader’s emotions and, in this case, fears. Admit it, you’ve watched those scary movies and found yourself internally yelling at the screen, “Run, fool! Don’t open that door!” But they always do, don’t they? And that set up of bad things to come is the hook that yanks you into Chapter One.
She paced in front of the clinic, her feet pinched by her new boots, then tried the door again. Cupping her hands by her eyes to lessen the glare, she peered inside. No lights were on, just the familiar soft fluorescent glow. Damn, where was the doc? If she didn’t hurry she’d miss her bus, and she couldn’t afford a cab.
Maybe she could call. Just this once. They’d come get her. She was sure of it.
. . . and a bit more . . .
She straightened and glanced about her gritty surroundings. It looked like a scene from one of those end of the world movies. Not a creature stirring. Just steam roiling out of the alleyways, swirls of white over oppressive gray, as if the streets had been bled dry of all color and life. In the grainy light, she could see her reflection through the grating over the window, seeing what others saw: A cold, frightened little girl with teased auburn hair, hiding behind heavy makeup and garish clothes. Alone.
Or was she?
This particular scene is one that still makes me shiver, because I’ve been there . . . almost. I’d taken a train to Chicago to visit my college roommate – my first trip out of the state alone. I took a wrong turn out of Central Station and found myself on deserted Sunday morning street dragging luggage in a neighborhood you don’t want to visit. And then a group of about six young men came up behind me. Observing my obvious out-of-placeness and isolation (pre-cellphone!), any number of things might have happened . . . and yes, in those few seconds I imaged them all. But realizing I was lost, they stopped and friendly as can be, gave me directions back to where I’d missed my turn to the El station, wished me a nice trip and walked on. Whew!
Worst case scenarios are a writer’s best friend . . . as long as they just play out safely in the imagination.
Where’s your imagination taking us this weekend?
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
January 7, 2023
WeWriWa: Back to the Future . . . Reissues: By Moonlight
The other blog besides this one that I participate in is IWSG (Insecure Writers Support Group) with a post on the first Wednesday of the month usually regarding a group topic. This month’s prompt was to pick a word to use as your focus for 2023. Mine was Reissue. Since I have a backlist long enough to have my own revolving genre/pen name library, while I take my time revising my latest romantic suspense, I’ll keep my name “out there” by dipping into the backlist well of plenty, starting with my “By Moonlight” shapeshifter series. Since I couldn’t get the rights back to the first three books of the series due to a contractual misfortune, I’ll be starting with Book 4 which puts my characters on the paranormal ground running in New Orleans in a pre-established relationship (that’s easy for new readers to get into) with plenty of problems to work out within its “former shapeshifter criminal enforcer/NOPD top cop” dynamic. Here’s a taste of BOUND BY MOONLIGHT . . .Bound by Moonlight (By Moonlight - Book 4)
Length: 370 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→POLICE DETECTIVE CHARLOTTE CAISSIE AND HER SHAPE-SHIFTING PARAMOUR MAX SAVOIE THOUGHT THE PAST WAS BEHIND THEM. BUT IN NANCY GIDEON’S IRRESISTIBLE NEW ROMANCE, THEY DISCOVER IT MAY NEVER LET THEM GO. . . .
THEY SWORE THEY’D BE TOGETHER FOREVER.Detective Charlotte Caissie is suddenly sharing drawer space and making local news with her shape-shifter lover, Max Savoie. He’s determined to be accepted by her peers—so how can she ask him to return to his criminal roots to help her solve a complex case?
BUT THOSE THEY TRUST THE MOST . . .Working undercover with her partner to find the serial killer who’s kidnapped a colleague’s daughter, Cee Cee is caught between her job and her fiercely possessive lover. And when she calls on Max’s preternatural talents to aid his hated enemy, she crosses a line that strains their relationship to its limit.
. . . WILL DO ANYTHING TO TEAR THEM APART.With his secret spreading, Max is forced to protect his family and his clan. The only certainty is his love for his human mate . . . unless the loyalties that define them divide them forever. The Excerpt
It started back in 2008 at a writers conference when, during a cocktail party, I’d casually pitched a book idea to a former editor who then worked for Pocket Books (Love you, Micki!!). Abruptly, she stopped me mid-sentence and said, “Get an agent and have her come see me.” I could tell by the tone in her voice that I was on the verge of something new. That something became an eleven-book shapeshifter series surrounding the mysterious enforcer for a New Orleans mobster, a man who was “more” than just a man, and the NOPD detective whose determination to destroy his boss leads to a love neither expected nor could escape. Now that I’ve gotten the rights back to all but the first three books, I plan to repackage with new covers and added content and reissue books 4-8 in 2023 to lead into books 9-15, which I self-pubbed, and are still available.
Even knowing what he was, she continued to think of him as a man. He looked human. He sounded arrogantly, maddeningly, like an everyday testosterone-fueled male of her species. If she got closer to him she’d smell man next to the pulse at his throat, she’d feel man as her palms moved over him in restless appreciation. When she parted her lips beneath his, she wouldn’t be thinking Lon Chaney Jr. of Creature Feature fame.
But that didn’t change the fact that he wasn’t an X-chromosome male. Something else flickered behind his unblinking stare. Something different. Something other. Something more.
. . . and a bit MORE!
And it was that difference that drew her, not the sameness he tried to project.
She loved him and trusted him with all that she was precisely because he wasn’t a man. Men had failed her, harmed her, betrayed her. They didn’t possess the singular, all-consuming sense of loyalty intrinsic in Max Savoie. When they said forever they meant until next month, next week, next commercial, next orgasm.
When Max said it, he meant for eternity.
Here’s to 2023 and lots of writing and great reading ahead!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
January 3, 2023
IWSG: Word for 2023 . . . Reissue!
2023 in a nutshell comes down to one word . . .
I’ve had the majority of my paranormal and historical western titles reverted back to me after first releases in the late ‘90s and early 2000s. And they’ve just sat there in their files, doing nothing, earning nothing. Then, I heard a rousing speech by Alessandra Torre about putting that backlist back to work . . . and my 2023 ambitions took on a new mantra: Reissue!
I’m big on recycling. Waste not, want not. With the return of rights, those books could get another lease on literary life with shiny new cover packaging and additional content to entice a repurchase/reread! Thank goodness I’m a packrat and all my original files are still sitting in folders stuffed with media graphics, extra/deleted scenes, and other goodies to charm back original readers and hopefully, latch onto new ones. The bad news is the first three books of my paranormal series won’t be returned to me due to a poorly written contract (Who knew? I didn’t, which is why I’d gotten an agent who apparently didn’t do their homework!). The good news is those titles are available in e-format so new readers can still obtain them and jump right into the later books. A hard lesson learned.
And with reissues, another option arises . . . What about adding to the series? Additional books. Spinoffs. A collection of secondary character short stories. The options are . . . really exciting! My Virtual Assistant is already rolling up her sleeves in anticipation.
Be watching for BOUND BY MOONLIGHT, the first re-release my “By Moonlight” shapeshifter series this spring in keeping with my word for 2023: REISSUE!!
Now to find out what you’ll be doing . . .
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the January 4th posting of the IWSG will be Jemima Pett, Debs Carey, Kim Lajevardi, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, and T. Powell Coltrin!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Click Here →
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
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December 17, 2022
WeWriWa: Nobody’s Fool . . . A RISK-TAKING RANGER
Nora Prescott’s past has forged her into a hard-core realist. She can’t afford to let sympathies or daydreams influence the path she’d sworn to take in defense of those who cannot help themselves. Romantic fancies, she’s determined, are for the weak, not for one who has survived the unimaginable. Until suddenly, a confrontation with the past has her thinking about that road not traveled . . . The Excerpt
She wasn’t staying in this desolate stretch of desert and broken dreams. The bitterness of her confrontation with Lu anchored that truth. She wasn’t now nor would she ever be family to the lone wolf ranger. She couldn’t heal the ache in his heart or fill that empty hole. She wasn’t enough. Never would be. For anyone. That realization left only one outcome to be brutally faced.
. . . and a bit more . . .
She’d give the search for Lenna Lupan a few more days, though hope had all but faded. She’d check in on Alopay to make sure she was safely settled. Then, there was no reason for her to remain beyond saying her good-byes. To the best friend who’d gotten her to dream an impossible dream that would never come true. To the man who’d encouraged her to think that maybe, just maybe she might have something in her future beyond that cluttered apartment and the relief of other people’s sorrows. She was a realist and those were false hopes only a fool would cling to.
And she was nobody’s fool. Never again.
At year’s end, I’m tidying up my projects before making deadline resolutions for 2023. I’ll be discussing mine on that first Sunday of the New Year, which is . . . just two weeks away!! It’s hard to believe next weekend is Christmas and the following week the start of a whole new calendar filled with Weekend Writing Warrior Sundays. It’s beginning to look a lot like tying up loose ends and starting new adventures. But more about that next time. Now that the house is all holly jolly, I’m off check in with your projects and finishing gift wrapping with a little help from a friend.
Let it SNOW!!❅❅❅
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
December 6, 2022
IWSG: Juggling Writing and Holidays
Happy last month of 2022!! If they took all the holidays in the year and put them together, they wouldn’t equal the delightful chaos of December in our household. And one of the things on my plate this year is the delightful duty of being a host for IWSG along with my cohorts Joylene Nowell Butler, Chemist Ken, Natalie Aquirre, and Cathrina Constantine! So you’d better watch out, we’ll be stopping by your pages for a visit to see if you’ve answered this month’s question:
“It's holiday time! Are the holidays a time to catch up or fall behind on writer goals?”
As a Christmas-aholic, the holiday officially begins December 1st. That’s when the house becomes overrun with all things Christmas. First, it’s hauling a dozen or so plastic tubs of what my son calls affectionately “Christmas crap” up from the basement to transform our street-facing dining room (and every other room I can invade) with holiday cheer (and glitter, unfortunately!). First, my collections (some begun decades ago!): Santa Clauses, Nutcrackers, and music boxes that I add to every year. Then it’s our two trees—a round one for the family room which features decorations that began when my eldest son was a baby to represent the significant event(s) of each year, and a half-tree that fits snug against the wall in our dining room that has become our forest animal and pet tree. I also have small office tree that has writing-related ornaments! Then, I find a place for everything else until the rooms look like the North Pole threw up all over the house (also a fun descriptor from my son!). By the time this all-day event is over, I’m reaching for the eggnog (regrettably not spiked!) to starting through our endless library of Christmas movies. But back to this months’ question . . . Writing time.
Regardless of whether under contract or in the midst of inspiration, pre- and post-retirement, holidays or no, I’ll still log in at 6:30 a.m. (it used to be 4:30, so I’ve gotten slothful with age) every day, with that first cup of coffee to visit Social Media sites then, when fully revved, attend to my monthly blog posts (because those are my “job” too) and my WIP until I finish the day’s goal of scenes and/or pages.
I’m planning to start a new writing project the first of the year – reissuing my extensive back list, so I’ll probably use much of that time scrolling through “naked male torsos” clipart – a dirty job, yes I know—to find cover fodder for those six “By Moonlight” paranormal romances and five “Texas” historical romance books I’ll be reissuing hopefully throughout 2023 and perhaps beyond.
So, holiday or no, I’ll be at my desk, reaching for that black coffee and inspiration. Every day. How about you?
The Insecure Writer’s Support Group
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. The awesome co-hosts for the December 7th posting of the IWSG will be Joylene Nowell Butler, Chemist Ken, Natalie Aquirre, Nancy Gideon and Cathrina Constantine!
Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!
Twitter hashtag is #IWSG
Click Here →
To join the IWSG Blog Hop and view the List of Hop Participants!
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group
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December 3, 2022
WeWriWa: “If You Stayed” . . . A RISK-TAKING RANGER
There comes a time when everyone has to take a minute or two or three to consider their options . . . even if their path to a pre-set future seems written in hard work, sweat, and blood. That little “What if?” sneaks in when least expected and suddenly, things are never the same again. Just ask the heroine in my recently completed romantic suspense . . . The Excerpt
After following a certain path—even a lonely, rocky one—for the better part of her life, the slightest deviation seems drastic to someone as single-minded and driven as Nora Prescott . . . especially when it could contain something as unexpected as a future for two. That “What if” takes my heroine on a wild, unpredictable, and downright scary ride I hope you’ll be taking with me over the next few weeks as I start polishing my newly completed Texas-set RS for publication. Where, is the question: Traditional or Self-Pubbed. Still working that one out as I dig into another HUGE project—reissuing an extensive and diverse backlist. Where to start . . . with historicals or paranormals? What do you think?
“So . . .?”
Drawn by the dangling question, Nora glanced at her driver. “So, what?”
Tommy Walker’s smile stretched wide at her defensiveness. “What are your intentions toward my partner? I feel it’s my duty to protect his best interests . . . and mine.”
She gave a snort and a cool, “I don’t think Ranger Bass needs your protection in that area.”
“Reeeeeally? There were some unmistakable about to do something crazy vibes going on back there. Do I need to give you the brotherly talk, because I’ve got it on speed dial?”
“Only if you enjoy the sound of your own voice falling on disinterested ears.”
( . . . and a bit more . . .)
His smug chuckle took her blood pressure up a notch, bringing heat to Nora’s cheeks with his too close for comfort intuition. Zayn’s young partner was going to make one heck of an investigator, but she couldn’t make herself dislike that about him.
“I don’t think you need to concern yourself about your friend taking a high dive into an emotion entanglement.”
Tommy’s noncommittal, “Hmmm,” only provoked the tension churning through her.
Not sure whom she was arguing with, Nora stated, “Zayn Bass doesn’t get involved. He’s made that very clear. And I’m not going to be around long enough to convince him otherwise.”
“But if you were? If you stayed?”
I’m going to put that question on hold as I drag a dozen plastic tubs filled with artificial trees, lights, and decorations up from the basement to turn our house into a Christmas wonderland . . . watch for photos next week.
How’s your Christmas shopping going? With two sisters who BOTH have birthdays in November, I haven’t even started looking yet. Now the big question: On line or out amidst the masses?
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
November 26, 2022
WeWriWa: “What’s Next?” – A Risk-Taking Ranger
It’s the end of the trail . . . at least that’s what it looks like to the heroine in my romantic suspense, A RISK-TAKING RANGER. And it’s “The End” for me as well as this latest project wrapped up yesterday on page 315 at 80K words after a very satisfying read-through. I can certainly relate to this scene’s reluctance to let go . . . The Excerpt
Now comes the really hard work . . . deciding what to do with that finished book. First, I’ll be sending it out to a couple of readers to search out those dangling participles/pieces of plot line. Then it’s decision time: Traditional or Self-pub? It’ll probably be an after the first of the year issue, but I’m not concerned about finding something to do in the meantime...
“So, what’s next?” Nora looked to him then frowned when his set expression grew even more remote. Her tone sharpened. “A little late in the game to ask me to step aside for my own safety, Ranger Bass, so I wouldn’t suggest you go there.”
Silence thickened like the dust cloud billowing behind them until he finally got to what darkened his mood.
“It’s time for you to head back to that comfortably messy apartment in Chicago and let us do our job without having to worry about you, too.”
Her jaw dropped. Even expecting him to come up with something equally unacceptable in the macho department, those words cut deeper than simple exclusion from their case. He wanted her gone, out from under his feet, out of sight and mind and potentially heart. For a moment, she couldn’t think around the huge swell of hurt. She waited for some contentious warnings and arguments to resurface but none did . . . because he was right.
(…and a bit more…)
Worrying about her was no help to the task set before him. All she’d done was tangle about his feet like an overly eager annoyance that distracted him from what he needed to focus upon. What Lenna Lupan needed him to focus upon.
She sat back in her seat and stared straight ahead toward the destination she no longer anticipated—the end of their collaboration and whatever it might have led to beyond her goal to protect other innocent girls from being carelessly discarded.
So, when Zayn rolled to a stop to drop her off by the dumpsters like trash that had begun to smell, she was out of the car and striding toward the casino entrance without a look back over her shoulder. Nothing to see there, anyway.
When you reach the end of one trail, it’s time to start on another. While I’m waiting to find out what will happen with my romantic suspense, I’m going to do something I’ve wanted to do for a loooong time – take a trip back to the past, not just historically but into my own publishing history. And the best place to start, as far as Dana Ransom is concerned, is at the beginning of my Bass family Texas historicals. It’s not going to be quick or easy because I’ll have to hunt for text files for the books. Time to scour my office nooks and crannies to see what might turn up . . . and give it a good cleaning while I’m at it!
But first, time to go revisit those Thanksgiving leftovers to enjoy while I see what you’ve been doing.
Giving Thanks for all of you!!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
November 12, 2022
WeWriWa: “Reflections” A RISK TAKING RANGER
Now that I have your attention . . . How we see ourselves is every bit as important as how we see each other. Maybe more so, considering our view of self, determines how we interpret everything around us. Some of us have panoramic views – taking in the big picture without ever narrowing it down to make it personal. Some have a scope so narrow there’s no room for broader horizons. And sometimes, it’s all in the appreciation of one moment, of what’s right in front of you . . . The Excerpt
A gasp.I never thought spending over an hour looking through pictures of naked men wrapped in towels would be such a chore. But finding my ideal for Zayn Bass was worth the hard work. You are welcome! Revisions are done and I’m doing a read through before deciding what in heck I’m going to do with this project. Part of me wants to try traditional publishing again. I have fantastic contacts who would at least look at what I send. But then there’s the instant gratification of going indie and having full control. What do you think??
Clearing his eyes with a corner of damp terry cloth, Zayn found himself facing an unexpected guest. The towel was whipped down to cover his immodesty just a second too late.
Nora Prescott sat unblinking on his couch. Rounded eyes slowly lifted from bunched terry cloth to startled face. A lengthy silence hung between them until she made a distracted gesture toward the door. “Tommy gave me your extra key. I thought I’d wait . . .”
His lips twitched. “For the floorshow? You’ve got the best seat in the house.”
and just a little more of a peek . . .
A strangled sound escaped her, half snort, half laugh as dark eyes subtly detailed damp toweling. “And me, without quarters.”
Zayn stretched out one hand to snag his clothes off the desk chair then backed toward the open bathroom door. “I’ll be just a second.”
A smile twitched. “I’ll wait.”
Tracking backwards onto the wet tiles, he shut the door before turning . . . right into his reflection in the full-length mirror. Which had undoubtedly provided a nice rear view for his guest.
Well, hell . . .
I think I’m going to spend the rest of the day (after checking in with your excerpts) cuddling my youngest (and biggest!) cat who just went to the vet for an eye infection. The joy of holding a 13-lb big baby (all muscle and claws!) still to put goop in his sore eye while telling him what you’re doing is good for him, without having him rip you to pieces. The good news - he can be bribed with food.
I’m going to be gone next Sunday. My D-i-L and grandguy are meeting us at a halfway point restaurant to celebrate our family Thanksgiving. No clean up! Woo Hoo! If you celebrate, have a wonderful Turkey Day -without getting too stuffed!
Weekend Writing Warriors is a weekly hop for everyone who loves to write! Share an 8 to 10 sentence snippet of your writing on Sunday. Visit other participants on the list and read, critique, and comment on their #8sunday posts.
Spread the word, share the love, warriors - Hashtag #8sunday.
Nancy on the WebBlog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads | AmazonGoodreads “Nancy Gideon by Moonlight” group!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="https://nancygideon.blogspot.com//pla...
