Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 13

WeWriWa: “Husband Material” – A RISK-TAKING RANGER

Finally! Sitting down to start revisions for my new romantic suspense, A RISK-TAKING RANGER. Meet Texas Ranger Zayn Bass (yes, he IS related to Harm Bass, the hero in my Texas historical series!!). Family is everything to Zayn – because he’s never really had one of his own, except for the one he vicariously enjoys through his best friend. That’s who he is, and here’s a taste of what he isn’t . . .
 The Excerpt 

After some vigorous scrubbing of hair and bared upper bodies, Lu’s sister Ela provided towels along with a lingering once over of their guest that earned her brother’s derisive snort.
“It’s not like we didn’t swim naked in the river when we were kids.”
Full, red lips pursed. “We’re not kids anymore, brother.” Shooting Zayn a naughty wink, she sashayed back into the house.
Lu shook his head. “I need to track down that no-account that left her and her baby for parts unknown and drag him back to make good . . . or at least, cut her loose so she can find a decent man.”
Zayn blinked. “Not looking my way, are you?”
(and a bit more . . .)
Narrowed dark eyes assessed him. “Oh, hell no! She deserves someone who’ll come home every night to sit at her table instead to camping out on stake outs or going undercover for weeks at a time while she waits at home losing sleep.”
Though his friend’s assessment delivered an unexpected sting, Zayn couldn’t frame an argument. He was no prize as future husband material and nowhere near what a woman needed to help her raise such a vivacious daughter. Besides, he was already wedded to the job and content to enjoy casual encounters when they arose . . . as long as he could walk away without ties or obligations. The same way the two who’d made him between them had.

This baby was started over a YEAR ago while vacaying in Ireland. Not my usual speedy work but then these aren’t the usual circumstances, either. I’m now retired with all the time in the world to binge-watch, sun soak with my cats, and sleep in (which I still don’t). Instead of sticking to a stringent schedule of chapters written (sorry NANO!), I’ve been wandering along without an outline (another first and a BIG no-no for me!) and now that the book is finished, it’s time to tighten up that prose (and my lazy waistline) and get to work making this first draft lean and mean. It’s time to start that climb . . .

The big question is: Now that I have all the time in the world, how come it seems like I can never find any?

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.
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IWSG: NaNoWriMo – “If Not . . . Why Not?”

November brings about one of our profession’s biggest events: National Novel Writing Month. The goal – to getter done. Whether it’s your first attempt or the latest in three dozen, it’s fire up your computers in a race to meet a word count goal of 50,000 and finish your book in thirty days. Founded in 1999 by Chris Baty and a group of writer friends in Northern California, it’s Ready Set Go on November 1st in a challenge that ends at 11:59 pm on November 30 to draft a new book or redraft an old one by month’s end. Writers to your keyboards . . .
Our November 2nd’s optional question is “Have you ever participated in NaNoWriMo, and if not, why not?”
I’ve never been one to work under pressure other than what I apply to myself. I’ve written under and met publisher and personal deadlines for some 30-years, completing over 70 books. For me, it’s a personal thing, creating scenes and characters by my own circadian rhythm as time and inspiration allows. My motto has always been if you are forced to write, your writing is forced at best. It’s not the work of your heart if it’s work under pressure. And I don’t respond well to stress . . . at least at my age.
I know, I’m taking this WAY too seriously. It’s a challenge that’s meant to be fun and enjoyed. But for me, outside competition makes me freeze up. It’s like dogs chasing the rabbit on a track: A frantic race with blinders on that doesn’t even net a mangled rabbit. But that’s JUST me! Many of my writer friends swear it’s just the push they needed to get their project done. Me, I don’t like pressure or the thought of competition when it comes to something so intrinsically personal as my written words. Again, that’s just me.
To those of you who enjoy putting your feet to the fire, I’m cheering you on this November! Remember to hydrate, to stretch, and to get enough sleep. And bathe. That’s a good thing for the sake of everyone downwind. May your words have wings, your mind race free, and your pages accumulate into a novel you can proudly sell (after a good week of sleep and editing!).

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 November 2nd posting of the IWSG will be Diedre Knight, Douglas Thomas Greening, Nick Wilford, and Diane Burton!
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!
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WeWriWa: A Woman He Wanted to Know . . . MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE

In honor of Halloween (my favorite holiday!) I’ve been reading through my “Touched by Midnight” vampire romances . . . and loving them! It’s been decades since I wrote them and a long while since a reread, so it’s like discovering my favorite characters all over again. One of them is Nick Flynn. The flawed, down on his luck Louisiana attorney, who nabbed a too-good-to-be-true job in an exclusive D.C. firm, is discovering a dark layer beneath the glittering surface of their offer of employment. There’s something just not right about his bosses and the company they keep as he discovers on this night out with his employers . . .
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: May 4, 2011Length: 234 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Can they escape the shadows of the past?
This time, he could lose his soul . . . An invitation to join an exclusive D.C. law firm seems like a chance for Nick Flynn to leave his mistakes behind. But it's his shadowy past and unrealized inheritance that attracted his mysterious employers. Once embroiled in their dark schemes, his struggle for success becomes a battle for his salvation.
And she could lose her life . . . Loner detective Rae Borden goes undercover as a call girl to discover the truth about her best friend's death. Her carefully laid plan of revenge and personal redemption becomes a crusade against an unbelievable evil . . . with Nick Flynn in the middle.
"Nancy Gideon is one of the best supernatural writers on the market today!" — Midwest Book Review/BookWire The Excerpt 

Nick wasn’t sure what it was about the Noir. There was something about this place, these people, that put the hair up on the back of his neck. He recognized many of the politicians . . . none of his business if they wanted to be seen with a gorgeous creature on their arm while they drank and lost money on cards and dice . . . and the women were spectacular, each unique, each exquisite, each eager to please. Even though he wasn’t a man of any particular influence or power, the women noticed him as all women noticed him and he probably could have gotten more than his share of on-the-house entertainments.
But the truth of it was, the Noir women gave him the creeps: They were too perfect, too good to be true, too aggressively sexual, and blatant in their appetites. Hungry. That described them. Hungry as wolves circling through plump fowl seeking whom they could devour. Not him, thank you very much. If he got a yen for companionship, he could tune in a ball game or flirt with a counter girl from the deli down the block. These man-eaters were out of his league, and he didn’t mind admitting it.
Until he saw her.
. . . And a bit more . . .
The surprise of it stopped him dead in his tracks.
The woman from the Grover’s house. How could he mistake those incredible green eyes?
He hadn’t thought her particularly glamorous at their first meeting. At the Grovers’s she’d looked like a long night on the Red-Eye. But here, under the muted pseudo-candle glow of the Noir, she sparkled like a jewel reflecting flame.
He hadn’t remembered her as being particularly tall. Perhaps it was the dress, a sheath of liquid bronze cut to the navel and slit up to the hip bone, in combination with stiletto heels, or the unashamedly broad shoulders bared and equal to carrying any burden, or the blazing glory of her hair, teased up to the envy of any country singer and highlighted with a dusting of winking glitter. But despite the statuesque build, the eye-popping display of bosom, the legs that went on longer than most new television series and the glam clothes, there was a hint of vulnerability in the pale shade she’d chosen to shape the refined line of her lips, a fragility to the porcelain fairness of her skin even as it soothed over nicely defined muscle. And there was a glint of the dangerous in those constantly moving emerald eyes.
Here was a woman he wanted to know.

I’ve only got a few chapter left to read of MIDNIGHT MASQUERADE and then one more book, MIDNIGHT CRUSADER, to go. Sigh . . . Not only have I gotten to reconnect with the characters but also with the settings, most of which I’ve enjoyed visiting during writers’ conference over the years: New York, Seattle, D.C., and New Orleans, as well as places I’d never want to go, i.e. the spooky Catacombs in France and after-dark cemeteries anywhere! Now, I’m thinking I might want to sink my teeth into writing more in this series. What do you think?
I’ve been dragging plastic tubs up and down the basement stairs for two days unloading goodies to decorate the house for Halloween. Here’s my favorite over indulgence ready to plug in and light up the scary night to come . . . complete with creepy sounds.

After shaking off the spooky vibes by spending some quality time outside in the spectacular Michigan weather with cats and fam, I’m ready to plunge back into the MIDNIGHT world, right after checking in with what’s up with you all.

Happy Fall, y’all! And a safe and ghoulishly good Halloween!

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.
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WeWriWa: Snap Up This $0.99 Sale You Can Sink Your Teeth Into with MIDNIGHT GAMBLE!

It’s beginning to feel a lot like my favorite time of year! Wearing long pants and a coat, closing the windows at night, turning on the lights to watch the 6:00 PM news, dragging up that blanket from the foot of the bed, and enjoying everything pumpkin spice (yes, even my coffee!). October is also the time to indulge in spooky entertainment—and I’ve got just the thing. My historical vampire romance, MIDNIGHT GAMBLE is on S*A*L*E—an irresistible treat at only $0.99! Here’s a calorie-free nibble to entice you . . .
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksAdd to Goodreads TBR→
 The Excerpt 

They weren’t her own kind.
Frederica wasn’t like her father or grandfather or any of their sleek, preternatural friends—she was her mother’s daughter, a hybrid of two worlds, of two realms, not an equal, not truly worthy of her father’s love and respect. Not yet . . . but she would be.
She jerked free one of the pretty costumes from her closet the same way she would pull a saber she intended to use for the kill.
She would prove to him that she was his daughter, too, that she had value beyond the weakness of her blood that allowed her to walk in daylight. A gift, he called it—a curse to her own thinking. A constant reminder that she was different, impure.
To rise above it, she’d be fearless and formidable even when facing indomitable foes. She’d prove herself equal if not superior by besting those she pursued, conquering them, and bringing them on their knees to her father’s court. A single word of praise from his lips was worth every moment of risk or consequence.
. . . And a bit more . . .
Marchand’s greatest fear was that she was not immortal. Hers was that she was not immune to her frail human half. A half she suppressed with ruthless determination. A half that she ignored when conscience interfered. A half she denied when emotion tugged upon the tender inner workings of her heart when she saw a man and woman together in a happiness she could never share.
Hers was a solitary existence, separate even from family. And so, she would go alone into this night, facing danger and possible death with a reckless disregard in spite of assurances she’d given to her father.
He wouldn’t have understood.

Now, as if caught in some vampire’s snare, I’m reading through the entire series . . . and still loving it after all these decades!
A sudden cold snap had me scurrying to haul in my favorite patio plants. Our living and laundry rooms resemble a greenhouse with large palms and ferny things lining the walls and herb trays covering the top of our washing machine and my dressers. Now . . . to keep the cats out of them! I went overboard this year with the big guys, not expecting them all to flourish, but darn them, they did! At least I’ll be well oxygenated!



Now, it’s back to watching a spooktacular array of howling good WooWoo and Way Waaay Out television: Interview with the Vampire, The Winchesters, Fate—the Winx saga, Werewolf by Night, Andor, Lord of the Rings, and House of Dragon. And waiting for my holiday favorite—Ernest Scared Stupid! Are you watching/reading anything spooktacularly related to the Halloween season?

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...

IWSG: Paranormal Genre

Our question for October is: What do you consider the best characteristics of your favorite genre? Awesome question . . . and timely, considering the month!
I LOVE the paranormal genre! Why paranormal? Because it crosses over into all (or most) of the main fiction categories, bending them in a new and woo-woo direction. Historical, romance, contemporary, mystery, teen, mainstream, suspense—all can find a dark and stormy home within the realm of the otherworldly and unexplained. They take the normal and make it out of this world . . . by making a scary unknown relatable to ordinary dreams, desires, and fantasies, and safe to approach for sissies, like me, who still have night lights and overthink the slightest unidentified sound or shadow. Think of it as Out of the Ordinary . . . with Heart!
And as an author, there’s always the chance of breaking out into the multimedia world of television/movies, from True Blood, American Gods, The Vampire Diaries, The Witcher, and Ghost to Interview With The Vampire, Mortal Instruments, A Game of Thrones, and A Discovery of Witches (and Twilight, sigh). Hey, it could happen!
I just so happen to have one of my first paranormal romances on sale in honor of the spooky season. MIDNIGHT GAMBLE was one of the first vampire romances to appear when the genre exploded back in the ‘90s. It’s set in the Roaring ‘20s in Atlantic City with a heroine who stalks those who hunt the undeserving, and has been reissued (with a great cover!) along with a good deal of my backlist by BelleBooks. For a taste, stop by @WeWriWa this month for tasty snippets.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksAdd to Goodreads TBR→
What keeps me glued to the pages? It’s characters I can root for and action I can’t put down. How ‘bout 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 October 5th posting of the IWSG will be Tonja Drecker, Victoria Marie Lees, Mary Aalgaard, and Sandra Cox!
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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WeWriWa: Mortal Man or Unnatural Menace? MIDNIGHT GAMBLE on S*A*L*E!!

WeWriWa: Mortal Man or Unnatural Menace?MIDNIGHT GAMBLE on S*A*L*E!!

MIDNIGHT GAMBLE is the book that brought my paranormal career “back to life.” The original three books of my “Midnight” vampire romance series had come and gone in the ‘90s, but readers were constantly demanding it rise again . . . and ImaJinn, now BelleBooks, made that happen, not only with reissues of the original trio, but a continuation of a series that began with this book, the first of five to carry the series from the jazz age in MIDNIGHT GAMBLE, into the present. Here’s a nibble . . .
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksAdd to Goodreads TBR→
Will the hunter . . . Against the uninhibited decadence of 1920’s New York, where bootleg liquor flows until dawn to the sound of hot jazz and rolling dice, day-walking vampire, Frederica Lavoy stalks those of her kind to bring them to her father’s court for crimes against humankind. A series of careless murders leads her to an exclusive club where patrons drink more than champagne from unsuspecting guests. Drawn to the club’s owner, the enigmatic Darcy Edwards, Rica’s loyalty is torn when she suspects he’s the man her father has sent her to find.
. . . become the hunted? Tricked into embracing the night during the time of Pharaohs, Eduard D’Arcy struggles to bring peace to those who are damned by what they must do to survive. Yet he’s found no forgiveness for himself - until he’s captivated by the unique and spirited Rica. But in this game of cat and mouse they’re playing, the stakes are not just heart and soul, but life and death itself . . .
"4 1/2 Star Top Pick: Readers will want to sink their teeth into this hypnotic and compelling tale." — Kathe Robin, Romantic Times
"Nancy Gideon is one of the best supernatural writers on the market today." — BookBrowser
"Fun, entertaining vampire romance that makes the supernatural seem natural." — Under the Covers Book Review
 The Excerpt 

Time flowed toward dawn on a seemingly endless supply of champagne and Crème de Menthe, the bouncy strains of “Ain’t We Got Fun,” blending into the steady hum of conversation as Frederica listened on an entirely different level. As she moved between the elegant fox trotting couples, she wasn’t hearing the scuffle of their feet flying across the lighted dance floor, she was focused on a more basic rhythm, one that beckoned to her on a subliminal level in a hot, hurried tempo.
Heartbeats, fast, flurried, human, the blood of their existence pumping in time to the flinging elbows and twitching hips. The unmistakable tune of life.
But as she wove through the crowd of close to eighty bodies pressed tightly together in the artificial moon-drenched glow, not all greeted her with that resounding pulse of the living. Some met her mild queries with another force so strong and fierce it was almost physical.
Hunger.
That relentless surging need to feed pounded as purposefully beneath an Ivy League jacket or within a shimmering panel of pastel silk as the human heart did within the normal breast.
Vampires. The glittering room was filled with them.

Sink your teeth into the series with one of my favorites, MIDNIGHT GAMBLE, featuring the granddaughter of the original couple as she stalks the Roaring ‘20s in search of a killer amongst her own kind. It’s now ON SALE for only $0.99 from October 1 to 15! Frederica “Rica” Lavoy (no relationship to shapeshifter Max Savoie!) is unique, a daywalker out to bring those who threaten to expose their kind to unsuspecting mortals. Reading the first three isn’t necessary but don’t blame me if once you’ve had a taste, you want to devour them all!
Once this series whetted my appetite for the paranormal, it couldn’t be quenched, leading from vampires to shapeshifters in my 15-book “By Moonlight” series.
Which intrigues you more: Vampires or Shapeshifters?

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...

WeWriWa . . . Making Truly Terrifying Villains

I’m doing double duty blog postings today because I’m in the middle of a weekend Facebook event and I’m as sick as dog. So, if you follow me on Paranormal Romantics and you happen to catch my Weekend Writing Warriors post and think . . . Déjà vu! . . . you’re not wrong. It’s not often that both posting dates fall on a 25th that just happens to be a Sunday, so I’m taking it advantage of it . . . and then I’m going back to bed.
I picked a topic that would boost my adrenaline level enough to overcome my cough medicine and lack of sleep. Villains! Oh, I LOVE a good villain and one of my own favorites is in the series I just finished reading through again while keeping my sniffling away from the fam. RISE BY MOONLIGHT, the concluding book in my “By Moonlight” dark shapeshifter series had to go BIG with a bad guy (who just happens to be a BAD girl!) to tie up all the overlapping plot danglers. And Genevieve Savorie is the Queen B (and I don’t mean Bee!) of them all; the big bad in charge of all the other bad-enoughs that have darkened the pages of earlier books. Here’s a glimpse of her . . .
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksAdd to Goodreads TBR→

Evil whispered in his ear, “Hello, Michael. Friends again?”
He turned to face the lovely creature he’d once admired, back when having a soul was a deficit and cold cunning, the highest aspiration.
“You use that word as if you know what it means.”
“I’ve no use for things that get in the way of what I want or what our people need. Have you remembered what those things are or have you called me here for a different reason, one that would allow you to live beyond our reunion.”
She was so beautiful it was difficult to believe such evil thrived beneath that glamorous surface. Tall, fashionably garbed, flawlessly pale, dark in hair and soul, a lovely surface covering the blackest ichor, her resemblance to her sister Marie went only skin-deep. She craved power the way her poor sister, Marie, had sought love, with an unquestioning fervor that brought about her destruction - a fate Genevieve would share if her nephew had his way.
In that moment, Father Michael Furness decided he would not fall with her.

Soooooo, what makes a villain a reeeeeal nasty piece of work? One that’s terrifying . . . and yet strangely fascinating beyond just being a foil for the HEA? Here are some of the things I want from my favorite villains:
Provide contrast to the hero/heroine. The villain is what makes their heroic traits shine, he’s their dark mirror and tempter;A lack of boundaries. Good guys have to follow a moral code. Bad guys throw it out the window. They’re full of nasty surprises that walk outside the norm and the acceptable;Add plot movement. The quality of the villain/antagonist in any form heightens the tension and ups the conflict to force an active response to overcome them;Lack of remorse/empathy. That’s why they’re called Bad Guys. They walk unapologetically on that dark side without regret or concern for the evil they do because they have a reason to justify their actions – unless they’re just plain nuts;Force conflict/heroism: Even the mildest, meekest character can become heroic if the stakes make them desperate or the corner they’re in requires action to escape or save another. There’s a lion inside every mouse.No one appreciates a good nasty bad guy for contrast like the film industry. Here’s the best of the baddest . . .
10 Greatest Villains In Film History, According To The American Film Institute
Who are some of your favorite Baddies?

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...

WeWriWa: Writing and Relaxing with A RISK-TAKING RANGER

Sorry I missed last weekend, but I was getting my battery recharged. Not for my car, for ME! One of the joys of early autumn is the chance to hang with other writers in Grand Haven within walking distance to Lake Michigan. Three days of WIPs, jaunts to the lake, soaking up relaxation in the sun, and eating out with writer pals you just don’t see often enough. AHHHH! It just doesn’t get any better and was just what I needed to do a “quick” continuity read through (of 254 pages!) to prepare for the big wrap up of my romantic suspense, A RISK-TAKING RANGER. Here’s a sample of what was accomplished:

He’d made it a point of never involving civilians, not only to prevent potentially messy legal entanglements but because they often ended up as collateral damage. His shoulders ached with the weight of innocent lives ruined through no fault of his own. Tommy Walker knew what the job entailed. Though young, Zayn had discovered he was hardly green. He preferred to work his cases without a partner, but if the kid started hanging on his coattails, it wouldn’t be the worst thing that could happen. He was smart, quick on his feet, knew enough to know what he didn’t know, and didn’t mind taking suggestions.
A smile twitched across his lips at an unlikely thought. What a hell of a team he, Tommy and Lu could make in the private sector; just like one of those flashy ‘70s TV shows with their improbable action and incredible suspension of belief. He already had the cool car . . . and if Nora Prescott came on board, she’d be more than fluffy window dressing. That girl was grit to the backbone.
He snorted as reality slapped him upside the head. His future held a group of one and one alone, and that’s the way he liked it.
That’s what he told himself as he turned his music on loud so he couldn’t hear any arguments over it.

I’m down to my final two chapters, then decision time on whether I want to try to go traditionally pubbed again or just enjoy the instant gratification of having it available as soon as a cover is done. Weighing the pros and cons. Any thoughts on the matter?
As of this writing, I’m off to an “In Person” writers meeting for Mid-Michigan RWA, our first in it seems like forever! Geez, that means actually getting dressed up below the shoulders! Then it’s back to get this dang book finished!
Happy 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...

IWSG: It’s a Matter of Strengths

No one has ever come up with better advice than “Know your strengths and target them.” And that’s where our September 7th IWSG question comes in: “What genre would be the worst one for you to tackle and why?”

I know, a good writer can write anything, but a smart writer knows where that written word has the best chance of finding the right audience. To find that reader, you must first define your genre style. To do that, you need to identify your strengths and weaknesses.
While publishing approximately 70 titles, most through four traditional NY houses, I had to teach myself how to look for what they wanted. It was more than just good writing. They wanted to be able to market those words to a specific audience – that audience now defined by genres, both broad and very specific. My resume expanded from Historical to Contemporary then to Romantic Suspense and Paranormal, and I loved the diversity, responding to it with different pen names so readers would know what they were getting.


And then came a fantastic offer to write a contemporary set in an established series. It was a genre I’d never written in, and I confess, one I’d never read, but I’m a writer, right? I can do this. I came up with a plot and characters for my suspense, but when I started writing it, I discovered something surprising – plot/characters wasn’t enough – I didn’t have the “tone/voice” for the genre of “Inspirational Suspense” because it was one that didn’t connect with my creative strengths.
That was a hard pill of truth to swallow, but to force it would have produced a product that didn’t take advantage of my best writing abilities. Still, it taught this old dog a new trick.
Life is too short to not love what/where you’re writing.


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 September 7th posting of the IWSG will be Kim Lajevardi, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguirre, Olga Godim, Michelle Wallace, and Louise - Fundy Blue!
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!
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WeWriWa: Appearances Can Be Deceiving Cruising with TOTALLY YOURS Now on S*A*L*E! for only $0.99!!

I’ve found a waist is a terrible thing to mind. Having spent the majority of my adulthood after childbirth battling the bulge, like most of my fluffy friends, I invested waaaay too much time and money looking for that quick, easy way back into lower digit clothing . . . and all I ended up with were closets filled with enough sizes to stock a teen-through-plus-size store. So, when looking for plotlines after I was contracted back in the 90’s for a quartet of contemporary romances, for one of them, I stuck with what I knew . . . that struggle for unrealistic perfection through “guaranteed” programs, something that’s built my fictional self-help guru, Harlan Jameson’s reputation and changed newly picked spokesmodel, Lisa Reynolds’ life. Selling the dream is one thing . . . but learning to live it are all-together different, because beauty is not just in the eye of the beholder.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo BooksPublished: July 23, 2014Length: 196 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→
When a popular self-improvement program gives Lisa Reynolds a smoking hot body, she wins an unexpected prize: a Caribbean cruise as the club's corporate spokesmodel. Lisa, a hardworking insurance sales rep who prides herself on her brains, hesitantly accepts the siren call of being admired for her figure, too.
But suddenly this new glamour girl faces magnetic CEO Harlan Jameson, whose interest in her matches her attraction to him, except . . . the "real" Lisa isn't this workout babe he created. And old self-doubts about being loved for herself resurface.
Harlan's not what she thinks. A self-made success, lonely, and isolated by a busy schedule . . . he's drawn to Lisa's honesty and warmth. When he understands her fears, he sets out to prove there's only one thing he wants her to change for him: her last name.

Gorgeous.
Lisa Reynolds was gorgeous.
It wasn’t something Harlan didn’t already know, but studying the contact sheets of the morning’s shoot brought it home like a hammering punch to the solar plexus. Teddy had developed the pages of tiny photos so his employer could pick the ones he wanted blown up in the makeshift darkroom he and Moe had assembled. All of the pictures looked good. It wasn’t just because Teddy was an excellent photographer. It was Lisa.
Harlan tried to maintain a cool objectivity as he went from shot to shot but it escaped him. He found himself admiring the sleek curve of Lisa’s throat in one, the mystery of her smile in another, the powerhouse sexuality in yet another; the Marilyn Monroe pose that in his own words, knocked his socks off. Everything he wanted was there, the fresh quality, the heart-yanking vulnerability, the spirit, and poise. Everything he wanted . . . and it made him irritable as all get out.
(…and a bit more…)
He was being stupid. He knew it. He was a powerful man, a wealthy man. He could control all those around him, but he could not control the direction Lisa’s heart chose to take. She had no way of knowing that he’d gone half-crazy over her before they’d even met. She wasn’t responsible for the fact that he had chosen her as the woman to fill the gap in his life. And he would be totally, certifiably crazy if he decided to pursue her now that he knew her affections lay elsewhere. He wasn’t used to having a rival. In business, where he was always in complete command, he competed only with himself. An outside challenge unsettled him and chafed against his confidence. He didn’t like feeling vulnerable. He didn’t like the idea that he might lose.

I’ve enjoyed going on two Caribbean cruises; touring the islands, crisping the skin, but most of all waking early up to watch the sunrise from our stateroom balcony while working under deadline as roommates were still sleeping. The sound and scent of the water . . . ahhhhhh! Now that’s how to set a creative mood!! 
Escape with TOTALLY YOURS from Sept.1 to Sept. 15 to get your feet wet and your face warm for only $0.99!
Hope your WIPs are “cruising” along as we move into Fall, my favorite season.

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.
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