Nancy Gideon's Blog, page 15

WeWriWa: He was no man . . . BOUND BY MOONLIGHT

FINALLY! I was finally able to get the rights to all but the first three books in my By Moonlight shape-shifter series. That’s five books to get repackaged with new covers, PR packets, and back out into circulation in both e-format and trade-size. Unfortunately, due to an error on the part of my then agent, the initial trio of novels that set up the series will remain forever in the hands of the publisher in poorly executed contract hell and probably will not be reissued except perhaps in e-format. Sigh . . . Too bad all the public info on contract negotiation that we have now through writers' groups or simply on line wasn’t available back then.
Nevertheless, I’m still over the moon at the chance to get books 4-8 reintroduced (perhaps scanned if I can’t find the original manuscripts) to readers as they lead into my self-pubbed portion of the series. Here’s a peek at BOUND BY MOONLIGHT and hero, deliciously dark, Max Savoie.

Max moved through the room not bothering to disguise his preternatural power, that quicksilver speed and sleekness of his species, letting Babineau see him as those of his kind did—as a cruel force of nature, destructive, deadly, unstoppable. He growled low in his chest as he stalked up behind Cee Cee to slip his arm about her middle. As he rubbed his cheek against hers, his eyes glittered with hot gold and ruby flashes. And as her hand lifted to cradle the side of his face, he smiled at Alain Babineau with teeth as sharp as the point he was making.
“I’d be very, very careful if I were you, Detective. You have no idea what you’re dealing with. I control more than Jimmy Legere’s interests in this city. If any hint of what you saw leaks out, I’d hate to think what that would unleash upon you and your friends.”
He stepped away from an unusually quiet Cee Cee to select a crisp white shirt from his closet—Louis Vuitton, for the up-yours attitude spoiling through him. He stripped off his sweatshirt, letting Babineau see the hard strength of his body and the scars on it: Deep tears in his upper arm, the pucker of bullet wounds, two to the chest with one exiting the back, and one to the stomach . . . fatal shots no man could have survived.
But then, he was no man.

I’ve already gotten in touch with my cover artist extraordinaire and we’ll be back to the search for perfect cover graphics for these five books while my VA reformats the manuscripts I can’t locate. So much work . . . but I am SO excited to revisit . . . and hopefully expand! . . . this award-winning paranormal series.
How’s Spring treating everyone? Looking forward to seeing what’s been growing in your word garden!

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: The Tough Gets Going . . .

Our June question is one most of us need to ponder, not just in regard to our W-I-P, but as to our writing life, as well . . .
June 1 question: When the going gets tough writing the story, how do you keep yourself writing to the end?
For most of my writing life, this one was a no brainer – my contract! I had a deadline to keep. To an OCD/ADD personality, that’s both the carrot and the stick. To me, the deadline was never just a suggestion – it was the law. Some writers can dink around until the last minute then pull all-nighters to getter done, but not me. For me, an all-nighter would have to end by 11:00 pm. I am not a night owl. I’m an obsessive planner. I’d take the time to deadline and divide it down to how many pages per day needed to get it finished, adding in a week for revisions. And I stuck to it because those were my work hours.
Now that sounds great on paper, but stuff happens. That’s the one thing you CAN plan on. No plan runs smoothly. Because I’m cynical, I always expect that dark cloud to spoil a sunny day, so I’d put in optional overtime to allow for those 4:30 a.m.s when ‘nope, nothing happening’ occurs (or Hey, carpal tunnel surgery! Or Second Son is appearing early! And still made deadline!). If that fabulous scene that happens someplace along the timeline does come to me in a dream, I put in optional OT and jot it down and store it in an Additional Scenes file. If that linking occurrence that needs to happen just ain’t happening, I’ll insert: ( . . . and then a miracle occurs!) and I move on. I never, ever sweat over the keyboard flogging that dead horse in hopes to drag out a few more pages. They probably won’t be pages worth using anyway! Inevitably, as I continue on, a light bulb will go on. Eureka! That’s why Cut/Paste was invented.
What gets tough is when you DON’T have a deadline. You’re either between contracts or writing that “Book of the Heart” so time, though it seems like your friend, is really the enemy! That’s when you have to pull up your big writer panties and make it a job! Otherwise, it’s just a hobby you can dabble with at your leisure – and I’m not looking down on that! Writing for fun is an awesome pleasure! But don’t fool yourself into thinking they are the same thing if you want to succeed.

Remember: The first draft is just that – The First Draft! It’s not your final work, so if you stall out along the way, just insert that place holder, and move on. Post It Notes were invented by the Writer Gods of file systems. Flag and tag but don’t let momentum lag!
And what happens when that story you start morphs into an entirely different animal and earlier chapters are obsolete? Never, never, NEVER delete. Copy, paste and save in that EXTRA SCENES folder. Sometimes you can adapt them for later chapters. Sometimes in different books. Words are versatile like that, which is why I love them.
When the going gets tough, the writer toughs it out! Looking forward to seeing how YOU get through those rough spots!
HAPPY SPRING (at last!)!

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 June 1st posting of the IWSG will be SE White, Cathrina Constantine, Natalie Aguire, Joylene Nowell Butler, and Jacqui Murray!
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: “In a Nutshell” . . . A RISK-TAKING RANGER

I’m enjoying a nice cool rain after days of sweat equity putting my patio garden together (my plants are loving it, too!). So, now it’s time to put BICHOK (Butt in Chair Hands on Keys) and work on my W-I-P. Here’s a snippet from my new romantic suspense . . .

“Could two people be any farther apart than the two of us?”
“No.” That single word was almost snatched away by the streamlining wind before he could catch it. “Or closer together.”
“Want to explain that?”
“What, that isolation has nothing to do with where you live, what you do or how many people you surround yourself with?” She turned to him then, dark gaze sucking his up for a dangerously long time until a curve in the road demanded his attention.
When he remained staring straight ahead, jaw working on whatever he meant to say, she prodded, “Tell me I’m wrong, Zayn.You can’t, can you, because you know me the same way I know you, right down to those ugly things we don’t share with anyone else.”
“Like two peas from the same damaged pod.”
(. . . and a bit more . . .)
He felt rather than saw her flinch. When he was able to take his eyes of the twisty road again, Zayn couldn’t read anything from her motionless figure and averted face. She’d remained silent for so long he didn’t think she’d respond. Probably, she considered it beneath her to qualify her existence to him. To someone so unsophisticated and dull.
Then she spoke, tone flat and glassy.
“Know me so well, do you? Just a shallow socialite filling her time doing good deeds for the needy to prop up her insatiable ego and use for a write off. Yep, that’s me in a nutshell. What a shrewd and insightful investigator you are.”

Another break from writing came by talking about BICHOKs with the Greater Detroit Romance Writers group who invited me to speak on “How to Produce Without Excuse.” Talk about technical difficulties! I couldn’t find the original speech that I gave some years ago and had to scramble to put a new one together three hours before the presentation. Then when I was getting ready to Zoom in, my laptop decided to update to Windows 11 forcing me to use my big monitor which doesn’t have a camera. So, I could see them, but they couldn’t see me. Sigh . . . At least my own speech made me feel guilty enough to get back to my writing, so I guess it did its job! I’m at 54K and really loving it.
Getting ready for the BIG event – celebrating the start of another birthday month by a trip to the theater for Doctor Strange and popcorn, then on the day itself, prepping to binge ObiWan and Stanger Things on TV. After the COVID decade (seemed like a decade!) it’s so nice to be entertained by new things again.
Speaking of new entertaining new things . . . I’m off to enjoy your tidbits.

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: First, Trust Yourself . . . A RISK-TAKING RANGER

I’m baaaack! What a wonderful respite I had at my critique partner’s. Wordage was accomplished on my new Texas-set romantic suspense and here are just a few of them ...

I do. I do trust you.
That vow nearly escaped before she could catch it. Because she was tired, so tired of carrying the burden of her past alone. With his broad shoulders and broader mind, Zayn Bass was man enough to keep that promise. But something held her silent. Habit perhaps, fear more likely. Fear that once she opened her heart to him, he’d crush it, whether he meant to or not. And she wasn’t strong enough to rebuild from the emotional ashes again.
Better she take a step back than a fall from which she’d never recover.

Sorry I missed last week. Spring sprang and it requires a lot of upkeep . . . like dragging out all the patio furniture and spending hours upon hours in greenhouses looking for that perfect color combination. I’m on my third full day of plant organizing and potting (a true rite of spring for me!). Nirvana for my OCD soul. Since we have rain rolling in, I have to make hay while the sun shines (or sling compost as it were). Can’t wait to have that first blissful morning on the glider with my coffee watching the sun come up. Ahhhh. Now that’s inspiring!

And I’m hoping the weather will be accommodating here in Michigan so I can get a glimpse of that Blood Moon. Oh, there’s got to be a paranormal story there just waiting to howl!
Back to Texas . . . as soon as I see what you’ve been busy writing!

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

IWSG: The Best of Times; The Worst of Times. . . and Co-Hosting Time!

The Earth’s rotation creates tides both high and low. Our career as authors follows those same intrinsic ebbs and flows, which leads to this month’s IWSG question: What are your writer highs (the good times)? And what are your writer lows (the crappy times)?
Highs and Lows. Ebbs and Flows. And so goes every writing career. What goes up, must come down – and vice versa.
THE HIGH:A new idea! Spilling forth in a glorious tumble of engrossing scenes, characters that become your best friends, and dialog just begging to be written.the low:Separation anxiety. Writing “The End” and having to let go of all those dear friends who’ve filled your hours and hours and hours with conversations and dramas, poor choices and triumphs, living with you day after day like part of the family . . . then moving away.THE HIGH:Having the best editor/agent on the planet LOVE your writing and your books who promises you a long and glorious career.the low:Having them leave/retire or the line close, leaving you an orphan.THE HIGH:That exciting freshly unique new idea that pours out onto page after page after page.the low:Having a bestselling author release the same exact book and hit the Times List the month before your title is pitched or debuts, or the publisher just purchased five of the same kind of books.THE HIGH:You can’t type fast enough to keep up with the flow of your exciting new project.the low:Carpal tunnel surgery/computer crash.THE HIGH:Having four hours to write, uninterrupted.the low:Spending it on Social Media . . . just to catch up on things.Getting a call from an old friend who needs to dump about family drama.Lying down to rest your eyes while you mull over the sequence of events and waking up four and a half hours later.Having to wait for Microsoft to update.We’ve had them, we’ll survive them because these are the things that make us not just writers, but authors!!
I’m excited to be one of the co-hosts of this month’s IWSG along with Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, and Lee Lowery! I’m also off on a ‘writer’s escape’ at the home of one of my critique partners, getting words done on my W-I-P, hoping for the weather to improve enough to sit outside, and binge-watching Acorn TV. Life is GOOD!
Now, I’m off to see what you’ve been 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 May 4 posting of the IWSG will be Kim Elliott, Melissa Maygrove, Chemist Ken, and Lee Lowery!
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: Trust . . . A Risk-Taking Ranger

I’m spending two weeks relaxing on the other side of the state with one of my critique partners (who is a diehard Texan and proud of it!) where one of our goals is to get back into our writing. I’m ashamed to say my second modern Texas lawman W-I-P has lain fallow for over a month on my writing desk while I’ve been slothfully binge-watching on my big monitor across my office. But now it’s BICHOK (Butt in Chair Hands on Keys!) time and I’m thrilled to say I’ve got pages of new words done on my romantic suspense. Here are a few of them . . .

Nora studied his profile for a long, uncomfortable moment. “And that suits you, being invisible.”
“To a T. I’ve found it to be the safest place when the world is going to hell all around you.” A small curve touched his lips then those dark, soul-sucking eyes caught hers. “Something we learned too young in this unfair world, you, me, and Lu, to keep us from being pulled back under where all our demons hide . . . so we can pretend they never existed.”
“But they do,” she admitted in a rough little whisper. “Always there, always waiting to catch us unprepared.”
“I won’t let them, Nora, if you trust me.”
( . . . and a bit more . . .)
His stare slipped through her defenses, catching her emotional guard down. With one stabbing glance, he stripped her secrets from her, not to hold over her but to embrace them as carefully as he once had her traitorous body when it was at its weakest. His voice was soft as his caress had been.
“I’ve got a whole lifetime of experience to back that claim, and it’s one I don’t make easy or often.”
"I do. I do trust you."

Funny how after a few minutes at the keyboard words come flying back (if you’re lucky!) and your characters return to life to keep you engaged with their adventures. Instead of falling mindlessly into someone else’s fiction, you’re creating your own! Now, I can’t wait to get back to it . . . as soon as I visit your pages.
Happy May Day!! May spring arrive at last!

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: Some Enchanted Evening . . . MIDNIGHT ENCHANTMENT. . . Now on S*A*L*E!

WeWriWa: Some Enchanted Evening . . . MIDNIGHT ENCHANTMENT. . . Now on S*A*L*E!

We, as writing parents, try not to have any favorites when it comes to our characters. But, as we all know, that’s an impossible task. There are always one or two we can’t bear to part with. Those heroes/heroines are the heart and soul that make a great series come to life. Or, in my case, NOT. You see, my hero is a vampire. And he’s a baaaad boy! Meet Gerard Pascale, the anti-hero of my “Touched by Midnight” vampire series as our heroine meets this handsome devil for the first time . . . during their evening wedding. A forced marriage is never a good way to begin a relationship. Note to heroine: Girl, who insists upon a wedding AFTER the sun goes down!?
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo Books | iBooksPublished: May 3, 2011Length: 230 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→

“Ahhhh, here she is, my lovely bride. Buona sera.”
His voice slid over her senses like an intimate caress—soft, smooth, and silkily accented, stirring goose flesh in its wake. Before she could react, Percy placed her hand within her future husband’s. His palm was cool. His fingers curled possessively about hers to press with surprising strength as he lifted her whitened knuckles to receive his courtly kiss. That contact, too, held a distinct chill as he continued to smile with a secret amusement down upon her. A smile that held no warmth or welcome.
“Shall we get on with this little drama now that we are all here?”
And there was no mistaking the displeasure edging beneath his languid words.
( . . . and another little nibble . . .)
Confused, both by the situation and his mood, Laure tried to draw back from his intense stare, from his intimidating presence, but his grip grew commanding, anchoring her hand in the crook of his arm as he turned to face the priest.
“Father, you may begin.”
The ceremony was in Latin. In a daze, Laure managed to nod when the ancient priest looked to her for confirmation. The feeling of unreality continued to swell until it all but engulfed her. The intonation of vows she couldn’t comprehend bound her to the man beside her, a man she didn’t know and didn’t love. Was she making a good match or a huge mistake?
The suspicion that she was a mere pawn in some bigger scheme brought a dryness to her mouth and a tremor of panic to her rapidly beating heart. Her hand shook as a signet ring was pushed upon her finger to weigh as heavily as this stranger’s claim upon her.

Gerard has been and always will be my favorite character. He sprang to “life” as the ill-fated best friend of the hero in MIDNIGHT KISS, the first book in a vampire romance series that began in 1994 and ended eight more books later in 2002. While the tragic Louis is technically the main protagonist, the minute the irresistibly cynical and faintly sinister Gerardo appeared, he ruled as my favorite bad boy in need of redemption. So when the original three book series was brought back to life by a new publisher, I knew who I’d “unearth” as Book 4’s (anti) hero. Please let him introduce himself as a man of wealth and (unusual) taste . . . for only $0.99!
Pardon my previous absence as I snuck out for a writers’ Retreat. I’m escaping my COVID home prison again tomorrow to spend a week or two at the keyboard with one of my critique partners to get the creative spark ablaze again on my romantic suspense. Writing and binge watching will ensue! And while I’m there, I’m thrilled to hype that she and I both have books from our publisher, ImaJinn Books ON SALE for only $0.99!! So if vampires keep you up at night, settle in with Lora Lee’s cozy mystery (or have one for day and one for night reading!).

Bringing in the Thieves | Midnight Enchantment
I may be late checking in on your snippets. My D-in-L and grandguy are visiting today (squee!!) and we’re sitting down to a meal I didn’t have to make! WooHoo!!
Happy (almost) Spring!

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: Audio Book Challenge – Hear All About It!

Our April Insecure Writers Support Group Question is “Have any of your books been made into audio books? If so, what is the main challenge in producing an audio book?”
I confess, I’m not a fan of audio books. Maybe it stems from childhood. Being read to . . . puts me to sleep. I find myself being lulled by the tone of the words instead building pictures from seeing them in print until I . . . nod off. That said, having had one of my titles out in audio format was a unique and profitable venture!
When my first published book, historical Regency, SWEET TEMPEST, written under the pen name Lauren Giddings, was reissued by new publisher, Tell Tale Publishing Group, they not only gave me a gorgeous new cover in trade paperback size, but also provided red carpet promotions to relaunch it. . . things that purely terrified and delighted me. Their taped interview had me quaking - I loathe hearing my recorded voice! But I was assured “extra content” was what hooked new readers. After that, came a wonderful book trailer, which I helped build, and then, the biggest surprise, an audio book. They were a new tool at that time, and, I was assured, a booming market. As long as I didn’t have to read it out loud, I was excited by the opportunity. First decision was whether to have a single narrator or to have male and female voices reading the dialogue. There were voice auditions (!) both with accents and without. I spent my lunch hours as a law office assistant listening to clips, some awful, some comical, and finally, some contenders. Once they were selected, I spent more lunch hours listening to the audio version making notes of mispronunciations and mistakes which was laborious – noting where on the tape by time point, finding the passage in the paperback for reference. Then another version to test. Problems staying awake and familiarity breeding skipped errors. Finally . . . a finished product – with a hefty price tag for readers not in Amazon’s audio program. Who would pay that?
A lot of listening readers!
Amazon
SWEET TEMPEST in audio was not only the publisher’s best seller, but brought me more royalties than any other form of the book – triple to be exact. Who knew?
Listening readers, that’s who!
Moral of story: Don’t be so intimated by new technology that you overlook its ability to get you out to a wider readership!
Looking forward to tuning in to your experiences!

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 April 6th posting of the IWSG will be Joylene Nowell Butler, Jemima Pett, Patricia Josephine, Louise - Fundy Blue, and Kim Lajevardi!
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: Those Books of the Heart . . . the Bass Family Series

Sorry I missed last week’s post, but I was . . . friend-napped! There I was, minding my own uninspired business last Thursday when “Knock Knock” came opportunity in the guise of one of my critique partners and her sister (also an aspiring author!) who was visiting from Chicago. After a great gabfest lunch, we were talking at my dining room table and boom – an invite to Chicago for a long writer weekend. A blink was followed by a “Yes!” that surprised them more than me. In 15 minutes, I was packed, and we were on our way. Why is this such a big deal? Because I am the LEAST spontaneous person on the planet. I have to have a list and a plan before I go from one room to the next. From all my books, the character most like me grew up in my favorite Western Romance series. Jack Bass was introduced as a boy in the first book of the series, TEMPTATION’S TRAIL and I knew then that he deserved his own story . . . and one spin off became a five-book series. Here’s a glimpse at a true hearted Texas hero:

AmazonPublished: August 1, 1994Length: 448 PagesAdd to Goodreads TBR→

It was heaven and hell.
The woman in his arms was everything Jack desired – strong, brave, sweet-spirited, and beautiful. Her touch made everything inside him all hot and fluid, like the spring waters at Boquillas. She was the kind of woman a man looked for all his life, and if he was lucky enough to find her, he was smart enough to never let her go. Most of his fellow rangers were happy with the solitary life, content to roll themselves in a blanket under the stars, eat their meals out of a tin, and wash when they started scaring away game. They had no dreams beyond the moment, and most didn’t care if the future lasted fifty years or fifty minutes, but Jack wasn’t like them. He’d come from a solid family background, had seen the love between his mother and Will, between his uncle and Amanda, had held his baby brothers and sister in his arms and had known right then that he wanted children of his own. He wanted the vision Harmon had given him years ago, of looking out over land of his own, a wife and kids beside him, a table to sit at, and the satisfaction of belonging. Heaven was finding the woman to make that dream come true.
Hell was having her belong to someone else.

TEXAS DESTINY was started in a notebook on my kitchen table . . . in long hand . . . and in just over three-weeks, was ready to be typed and sent in. Imagine my surprise when I got the cover with it’s half-Apache hero as a blond and his captive love interest in a frilly dress in a lush setting that was supposed to be dusty West Texas. Sigh . . . Cover aside, the series continued with TEXAS RENEGADE (and the BEST cover ever!), featuring Jack’s half-Apache step-son and his uncle’s wild daughter; WILD TEXAS BRIDE with Jack’s sister and his impulsive best friend, and SWEET TEXAS DREAMS , bringing rough-and-tumble Texans into conflict with a city slicker from New York. I’d just started a new book, that would take Harm’s restless son to the conflict in Cuba when my contract ended along with the popularity of Western romance, and I was house-hunting again. I’d just rediscovered those first few chapters and WOW! I think I might be donning the Dana Ransom mantle again someday soon with reissues with a brand-new concluding (perhaps!) book in this series that helped win me ROMANTIC TIMES MAGAZINE’s “Career Achievement Award for Romantic Adventure.”

For now, it’s back to the W-I-P Romantic Suspense world set in – Texas, after I check in with your progress!

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: Leave the Past Buried . . . IN THE WOODS

It was 1995 when I got a strange call from Deadly Passions, the local indie bookstore I loved working with to get my vampire romances out there. A customer had picked up one of my “Local Author” tagged books and wanted to meet me . . . for a business proposition. O—kay. We met at a local restaurant and what he proposed was a writer’s dream come true. He wanted me to write a novelization for his horror movie. Lynn Drzick and co-writer/star, D.J. Perry came to my house with their rough screenplay, and we tossed around ways to beef it up in book form. I’ve never had so fun in my life. They had the whole package planned: locally filmed and produced movie with a local theater premiere, a DVD, a novelization complete with book signings, AND a bit part for me as Bar Extra (as immortalized on IMDB).
Was I interested? Oh heck yeah!
Writing from someone else’s words is not easy, but I had creative license to beef up characterization, add scenes, and do some very light editing on the screenplay. What I couldn’t do was stray from the plot which was . . . prime horror camp: Two firefighters hunting in the woods find the unexpected in a grave. . . What could go wrong? Here’s a snippet.
Amazon

"Wayne, what the hell is this?"
It was no natural clearing they'd stumbled upon, that much was obvious. The opening was approximately twenty feet in diameter, a nearly perfect circle carved from the native wilderness, leaving barren ground of rock and coarse soil. Not a blade of grass grew within that oval void.
Which was why the one thing planted there stood out so graphically against the starkness.
A cross.
Made of rough branches lashed perpendicularly together with ancient thongs of leather and twine, the cross was less than a yard high. Though it had the appearance of weathering timeless passages, it stood straight, unbent by years, unbowed by time. As if it was planted deep and religiously tended where it jutted up from out of a gentle mound of dirt.
A mound of specific size and shape that could only be one thing.
A grave.

Though my star wasn’t launched in Hollywood lights, I did have a fantastic experience working with enthusiastic visionaries. And I got to sit in a real movie theater to see my name roll in the credits! Just in case you have time on your hands . . .

Would I do it again? In an accelerated heartbeat! Preferably from one of my books this time!

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...