Anne Carter's Blog, page 11

Alter-Ego, Anyone?

by Anne Carter

Have you ever wished you were someone else? Even fleetingly, say, while watching the Academy Awards and wanting to wear an insanely expensive Oscar de la Renta gown? How many Americans, men and women alike, have vocally (or secretly) expressed the desire to be president? To walk in his shoes and change the course of the world?

Maybe the person you want to be is Simon Cowell, formerly on American Idol, where you could seal the fate of any number of hopeful entertainers with a well-chosen word. Or perhaps you would aspire to be a well-known historical figure: Lincoln, emancipating the slaves; Princess Diana, beloved royal and the philanthropic activist.

What do all these admired folks have in common? Why do our heroes inspire us to want to be like them, to be them if we could? Is it because they wield a sort of power that we, in our own lives, don’t have?

As much as we’d like to be JFK, Cameron Diaz or even Stephen King, as adults we understand the line between reality and wishes. But what of children, for whom make-believe is a natural, normal part of childhood development? As a precocious second or third grader, I was Lois Lane to my neighbor’s Clark Kent/Superman as we tramped around our suburban neighborhood. Sometimes, I was Supergirl. When I went home to dinner, I was myself again, knowing that tomorrow I could don my imaginary red cape. For some children, however, the switch back is not so easy.

In WHEN HARRY MET SOLI, seven-year-old Harry Wilson has just been reacquainted with the father he’s never really known. Except that young Harry, grieving the recent loss of his mother, hasn’t really moved in with his dad; Hogwarts is his new home and Harry Potter his new identity.

Who could appear more powerful to a second grader than the illustrious boy wizard? For a child who’s just lost nearly his entire sense of identity through his mother’s death, becoming Harry Potter seems like a good idea. Why? Is it that same power, mentioned above, that little Harry craves?

The only problem is, Potter’s broomstick really flies.

A quick and heartfelt read, WHEN HARRY MET SOLI is a short story ebook, available from  Echelon Press, Fictionwise and other on-line booksellers in a variety of formats. Download it to your Kindle, nook™, Sony or other ereader today!

National Lighthouse Day!

Dimick Lighthouse in Port Townsend, WA

Serendipity…a happy coincidence! That’s what I thought when I sat down to write this blog and realized that today, August, 7th, is National Lighthouse Day! Can you imagine my delight? 7

What is it about lighthouses that inspire me so? A single page cannot possibly describe it all, but here goes.

Protection. Guardianship. Strength. Getting right down to the heart of their purpose, lighthouses warn mariners of danger. They are a welcome sight day or night as they stand guard on the coastline.

Mystery. Loneliness. Whether perched on a cliff, planted in the sand or surrounded by surf, these lonely beacons stand for isolation. It takes a special personality to live apart and separated from the masses. Mysterious because isolation brings out the  w e i r d  in people.

Romance. Intrigue.  There’s just something about climbing those stairs, anticipatory, anxious, finally reaching the lantern room and looking out upon the entire world. Walking around the gallery and feeling the brisk, salt air against your face. What better place to share with a paramour?

History. The past. Owing to all of the above, lighthouses are the ancients among today’s architecture, filled with a rich history of triumph and tragedy. Lighthouse lore swirls with tantalizing tales of murder, suicide, devastating accidents and even infidelity. Who’s not heard frequent references to haunted lighthouses?

Readers and writers alike will see the huge potential for a good story. I did, and so began my work on POINT SURRENDER. A mythical, abandoned lighthouse on the northern California coast, Point Surrender has seen love, hate, jealousy and entirely too much death. You see, its last keeper has been dead for over 25 years. Will the journal he left reveal why he died in the mysterious old lighthouse, and what became of his missing family? (Cue eerie music here.)

I knew my story. Knew how it would begin, progress and end, and yet I faltered about 3/4ths of the way through. Another serendipitous thing happened—I was invited to spend a few days inside of a lighthouse, and you can bet I had laptop in tow. Dimick Lighthouse in Port Townsend, Washington, became my home and just the place to coax out my reluctant muse. The next thing I knew, I was headed back to California with a completed manuscript, reddened eyes and sore fingertips!

For the cover, my ingenious publisher and creative cover artist collaborated over a beautiful photograph of Heceta Head Lighthouse in Oregon. I couldn’t have been more delighted as this was the very lighthouse was the original inspiration for Point Surrender!

Maybe it’s just me (and a few thousand other lighthouse enthusiasts), but I feel the romance, the history, the sometimes palpable presence of the past when I enter a lighthouse. My mind conjures images of keepers, families, Coast Guardsmen, rogues and pirates. I see what they saw when I peer out at the vast expanse of water. One thing I have not done that I would like to do is visit one of these active beacons during the night. Likely scare myself to death, I would!

Next up for me was CAPE SEDUCTION, which takes place in an off-shore lighthouse, both in present day and in the late 1940’s. Water-locked light stations are a whole ‘nuther breed, and I delved deeply into new research for this book. Like POINT SURRENDER, this novel spans the genres of mystery, romance and the paranormal, and retells a captivating tale that begins in Hollywood, 1948… inspired by the real-life offshore lighthouse St. George Reef! Both of these romantic lighthouse mysteries are available from Echelon Press.

It doesn’t have to be National Lighthouse Day in order for you to visit one of the 665+ U.S. lighthouses. But a word of warning:  you could get hooked on living and loving lighthouses!

Fifty Years Gone

Hard to believe she’s been gone that long. But whether you believe that Marilyn Monroe took her own life–the “official” record–or was murdered, there’s no doubt that she affected us all in some profound way. Us being those who grew up on the peripheral of her stunning life. All seem to agree on one unsettling fact:  her life was tragically short and unfulfilled.

I’m reminded, here, of Elton John’s emotionally astute lyrics. She was, indeed, much like a “candle in the wind.” How utterly sad that she was so loved by her fans, and yet that love wasn’t enough to save her. As if it was just slightly out of reach, just beyond her ability to grasp.

If all the collective prayers and adoration could reach her now, she would be comforted by the knowledge that her life held purpose.

Bless you, Norma Jean.

The Good With the Bad

One of the worst things about having a shoulder impingement is waking up in the middle of the night with your forearm aching without relief. But that “twilight” state does bring with it some creative moments, if you can get past the pain.

Two nights ago at 3:40 am a story-line came to me for a book I’ve been stalled on for over a year. Its key words:  Los Angeles, 1942-WWII, battle, harbor, sacrifice, secrets, forbidden romance and of course—a lighthouse…

ANGEL’S GATE by Anne Carter is back on the desktop.

 

 

We, the People: Thoughts on Jury Service, Part IV

Harkening back to the moment I saw the jury summons among the envelopes I pulled from my mailbox a couple of months back, I remember the knot that formed in my stomach. I groaned, then complained to my husband that it seemed like I’d just had a summons.

The knot returned on the second night of check in, when I saw online that I was ordered to appear in the morning at the San Fernando courthouse. I found it hard to concentrate, even with our exalted L.A. Kings winning their playoff game 4 – 0. As I later printed out a map and instructions, I tried not to think about how obviously scared I was.

Fear brought on a mild malaise as I waited in the jury assembly room, and escalated to nausea when I actually entered the courtroom. But what, exactly, was I afraid of? All I could think about was, how can I get out of this? Nobody likes jury service, right? Everybody tries to avoid it. It must be horrible.

Now, I can understand that financial hardships do make it difficult for many people. After all, $15.00 a day is not enough to put groceries on the table for some families. I didn’t have a financial hardship, however. Distance wasn’t an issue, either—it took me barely 20 minutes door-to-door. Parking? Free and right across the street. No early mornings; court doesn’t typically convene until 10:30 am, and then there’s a 90 minute lunch break at noon. We were excused at 4:15 pm – ahead of most of the rush hour traffic. The judge, clerk, reporter, attorneys and bailiffs were all courteous if not friendly.

Once I was selected and “seated” with the other eleven, the trial began very quickly and I forgot about my discomfort. I became engrossed, avidly hanging on every word. I felt the weight of the responsibility placed on me, and yet it felt good, and solid. However trite it sounds, it felt American.

In retrospect, I’m very glad I had the experience. Civic duty, yes, but much more than that. For someone like me, always interested in people, their stories, the human condition, a trial court is an opportunity to really participate in those life stories.

As I left the courthouse on that last day, it occurred to me that what people really fear is the unknown, and the jury box was no different. I was scared because I didn’t have any basis. I had no real clue, other what I’d seen on television or in the movies, about what went on or what my real responsibilities would be.

Many years ago, our LA Unified Schools taught a class in “Civics”. Here, we were supposed to learn about being an American citizen, the reasons behind why, and the various aspects of citizenship. Now, we only know that if we register to vote, we’ll get put on a jury list (I actually have a friend who claims that’s why she has never registered to vote.) What if, I wondered, schools could send their high school students to court? What if sophomores and juniors could file quietly in to the courtroom, take their seats and witness a real court in session; listen to the District Attorney, the defense, the witnesses and the judge as they recreated a crime or civil disagreement? Learn and see for themselves that there is nothing scary about sitting in the jury box, that on the contrary, it’s a valuable and necessary process and that as Americans, we should take pride in a justice system that provides for a fair trial. They could leave the courthouse knowing that if and when they get that first summons in the mail, they will have an understanding of what goes on behind those closed doors. Heck, they might even look forward to the day when they can help decide the fate of one accused, but innocent until proven guilty.

 

In the Land of a Thousand Guilts: Thoughts on Jury Service, Part III

I couldn’t make myself look at the defendant when the verdict was read. It felt so unreal, or surreal, actually… like I was in a movie or play. I had to constantly remind myself that this was real, it was happening, it was serious and the man we’d found guilty would be going to prison for some unspecified amount of time.

One of my fellow jurors later told me that the defendant didn’t flinch. Not a blink, not a twitch. By all accounts, he was a pretty tough guy, but still—I expected him to make some kind of response. This was a serious charge. We were saying we agreed with the People, the State of California, that this man had willfully, with intent, assaulted a man with a deadly weapon and had done great bodily harm to that victim; worse, we were saying he tried to kill the victim.

What constitutes attempted murder? Despite all the testimony about arguments, motive, possible premeditation, blood on the ground, drug abuse, vehicles and pregnant girlfriends, the only real question was whether or not this perpetrator had meant to kill the victim. The defendant saw and pursued the victim on the street, detained him, and despite the victim’s denial of any past wrongdoing against the defendant, the latter stabbed the victim no less than four times in the neck and left side beneath his arm. The victim had potentially mortal wounds. The defendant fled.

The defense claimed it was merely “ADW” – Assault with a deadly weapon. As a jury, we discussed what alternate “assault” methods were available to the defendant that would not have resulted in such life-threatening physical damage. Also, when one stabs another person, is there a point where the attacker can stop and say, “okay, I’m only assaulting, I don’t want to kill him, so I won’t push this knife another quarter or eighth inch.” I don’t think so.

Because the prosecutor brought only the one charge of attempted murder, the defendant would have walked free had we not found him guilty. There is no chance for a subsequent, lesser charge due to law of double jeopardy. Yet we were told not to consider this fact. Told not to consider that he did not take the stand in his own defense; that his counsel did not produce any witnesses or any case at all, for that matter. What she did do was remind us repeatedly that it was entirely the prosecution’s responsibility to prove guilt, which is, of course true. Innocent until proven guilty. Yet I can’t help but think that had there been anything to help her defense, she would have presented it.

Judge Feldstern thanked us profusely for our service. He acknowledged the sacrifices and hardship the service placed on some of us. I was surprised and impressed with his obvious gratitude, but felt awkward that he was happily bestowing whilst the defendant had to be reeling from the verdict right in front of the bench.

After all was said and done, we jurors—some of us, to be sure—were reluctant to leave. We’d shared some very important hours, made extremely weighty and serious decisions. In what now seems like the short span of seven days, we’d unwittingly formed bonds it can take others years to discover. So to Jesse, Roy, Isabel and Tina, I wish we’d met under other circumstances, but acting as responsible, civic-minded Americans together wasn’t half-bad.

Now that it’s been over for a week, I can reflect on the entire experience, and I ponder my earlier annoyance, anger and fear. I wonder how many others share these emotions when summoned to the court. How might these negative reactions be avoided by others in the future?

To be continued…

 

 

Can I Get a Witness? Thoughts on Jury Service, Part II

[image error]We were each given a steno book and a pencil, but warned that excessive note-taking could cause us to miss important comments. Ms. Allen, attorney for the defense, explained that the case we were about to hear was all about the charge, not the crime. Something about assault vs. attempted murder. Richard Quinones presented that the case was clear enough to go for the more serious charge.

For 2.5 days we listened to testimony, including that of the victim and of the E.R. doctor who treated the victim’s stab wounds. We heard witnesses who pieced together the events leading to the attack, some credible, some fraught with obvious mistruths. One was openly hostile, two admitted to criminal records themselves.

I was mesmerized. At some point on the first day, I was elected to replace Juror #3, a woman whom for some reason was deemed unfit to continue. (I suspect it was a language barrier.) Now, at least, I would have a vote at the end of it all. Every time we left the room we were reminded by the judge not to discuss the case with anyone, including fellow jurors. It was an awkward kind of atmosphere; how do you not say anything about that which consumes your every thought? “Sure is warm out today. How about those Kings?”

Just when the trial was at its most interesting, something completely unexpected occurred:  the prosecution rested. Huh? Does that mean he’s done? The defense had nothing further. Things began to happen quickly, with Judge Feldstern giving us new instructions and reading to us an eleven page document on how to deliberate. I felt my pulse actually quicken. We were about to go into a private room and be allowed to finally talk about the case.

The jury room was chilly, and contained exactly twelve chairs around a long conference table. The bailiff kindly explained that if we needed anything at all, we were to press a buzzer once. When we reached a verdict, we should press the buzzer twice. When the door closed behind him, we all sat in awkward silence for a few moments before someone finally suggested we select a foreperson. The gentleman to my left, a confident, personable guy named Jesse who reminded me of Terry O’Quinn, had prior experience and so we thrust the responsibility onto him. We took an immediate, preliminary vote on folded squares of steno paper which we threw into a conveniently placed basket. The count was 9 to 3, Guilty. After an hour of discussion, the second vote yielded the same. After a break and more discussion, a few of the jurors asked for testimony to be re-read. We were told we’d have to wait until morning and were dismissed for the day.

On the second day of deliberations, the court reporter came in twice to read back sections of testimony. Two of those originally voting “not guilty” changed their votes as our discussions progressed. Just before noon, we took a final vote, with the one dissenter upset and conflicted. We all assured her to vote however she felt strongest, that no one would hold her responsible for anything but honesty. She ultimately voted with the rest of us, although I felt she was unhappy with her vote.

Ultimately, after about 5.5 hours, a guilty verdict was reached. I believe that all but one juror felt confident with the conviction. Just before noon, Jesse pressed the buzzer twice and we waited for the bailiff to lead us back to the courtroom.

To be continued…

Fair and Impartial: Thoughts on Jury Service, Part I

Like some – I won’t say most, because I couldn’t know – I was annoyed when I receive my latest jury summons in early May. I was mad when I was told to report to San Fernando Courthouse on  June 5, the second day of my service period. But I was downright petrified when I was called into jury selection that afternoon.

There were sixty of us. A literal soup of garden variety Angelenos – albeit picked from diverse gardens. Young and old, male and female, brought together from neighborhoods near and far. The well-dressed businessman, repeatedly checking his watch; the youth, whose eyes only occasionally left the screen of his iPhone; the young mother, swaying to comfort an infant in her arms; the middle-aged woman on the phone, arranging alternate appointments for her customers or patients. And me, trying not to act too shell-shocked when we were all called upstairs to Department “C”, which is just another name for the courtroom of the Honorable Daniel B. Feldstern.

Sixty individuals, all handed numbered cards at random. I got #51, and immediately breathed a sigh of relief; surely they’d find fourteen suitable jurors among those first fifty, right?

We were given a lot of information before the selection actually began, giving me plenty of time to figure out how I was going to get out of the situation. I remembered my sister telling me, “Just say your nephew is a cop. They’ll disqualify you.” But I was wary. My last experience, with downtown’s Federal court, ended disastrously with me in tears after facing a mean-spirited judge who clearly despised me for suggesting that my customers might need me (and therefore I should go home.) I was dismissed, but not because I’d asked. The memory still stings.

Here, in San Fernando, the charge of attempted murder was briefly described. We were given a variety of scenarios to consider, and asked how we might be affected by factors such as the testimony of law officers (would we be more likely to believe them than others?) circumstantial evidence (if there was nothing concrete?) and the defense relying 100% on the People to prove her client’s guilt (could we truly believe “innocent until proven guilty?”). We were admonished not to make assumptions about the defendant. We were read the names of prospective witnesses:  doctors, police officers and private citizens—in case we knew any of them.

Eventually, we were individually questioned about our occupations and relationships and experiences that could jeopardize our ability to be fair and impartial. One of every two being questioned knew someone in law enforcement. Judge Feldstern was serious, professional and tactful. He was clear about his expectations, and while he took obvious exception to some of the lame excuses he heard from the jury pool, he remained respectful. His honor took time to explain the concept of civic duty and our judicial system. I was impressed—but still scared, anxiety churning in my stomach.

One by one, prospective jurors were dismissed. Deputy District Attorney Richard Quinones struck down fewer than defense attorney Ms. Allen. Even after one side would eventually accept the jury “as seated,” if the other dismissed another juror, it changed the perceived balance and the first side would react with another change. As seats in the jury box emptied, they were filled from the courtroom pool.

When my turn came, I dutifully answered as truthfully as I could. As the last/most recently seated, I occupied the “Alternate #2″ seat. And was astounded when, after a last round of questioning, both counsels accepted the jury. Surely my face reddened, and I hoped Judge Feldstern couldn’t see it as I sat closest to him.

We were dismissed for a break before hearing opening remarks. I walked to the courthouse cafeteria in a fog. My jury service was about to begin in earnest.

To be continued…

 

Emerging Author: Welcome Susan Griscom!

From time to time, I “discover” new authors that I just have to share with others. Susan is one such wordsmith, and I’m pleased to provide a stop on her Blog Tour this month.

Hi Susan! I’m so glad to be visiting with you today.

Thank you, Pam, and tha nks for the guest spot. I am delighted to be here.

Here are some questions our readers want to ask:

Your fabulous debut novel, WHISPER CAPE, is a romantic fantasy adventure that comes across so believable, it seems like reality. What real-life experiences, if any, inspired some of the scenes?

You’re kind, thank you. As you stated so well above, the story is pure fantasy—well paranormal fantasy. The only thing I can think of that would even be remotely true to any of my life experiences would be the setting. The beach house that Cael rents, is forged from The Little River Inn in Mendocino, California where my husband and I spent one of our wedding anniversaries. It’s a little different, but I’ve tried to keep the view and the surrounding area as true to my memory as possible.

Not every reader comes away with the same response to a book, but WHISPER CAPE‘s fans seem to all agree on one aspect:  Cael is a to-die-for hero. Describe, if you can, how you created this luscious man and how your understanding of him evolved from the beginning.

Believe it or not, this is not a very easy question to answer. I would have to say that Cael is a combination of every good quality of every gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. He is my fantasy man. I’m a sucker for blue eyes. Green or even gray isn’t bad either. Heck, a beautiful man with dark dreamy eyes … I’ll take him. A rock hard body, with muscles in all the right places is a must. But I wanted a man with the opposite color of Addison’s and I gave her golden brown eyes. I wanted a man with a sensitive side, but someone with enough arrogance and strength that he could kick the crap out of any bad guy or demon as well. The fact that he can take a girl anywhere she might like to go at the blink of an eye is just a bonus.

Writing habits. Most readers and writers like to know how an author progresses through the writing of a great novel. In the case of CAPE, did the story come to you wholly formed, or did it sort of construct as you wrote? How long did it take to write, and what was your writing pattern like?

I wish I could tell you that I have great writing habits and that I do it all a certain way, but each story I write, I do it differently, depending on how I’m relating to the characters.  With Whisper Cape, I had no idea what the story would be like. I only knew I wanted to write a novel and I wanted it to be paranormal but different from anything I had ever read or heard about. Basically, I let Addie and Cael run the show.

 

Talk a little bit about the cover: there is special significance to the background photo?

The cover is actually a picture I took at The Little River Inn, I think I mentioned it above. When I saw the ghostly or angelic figure in the center form by the rocks, I knew I had to include that setting somewhere in the story.

One of the things I like best about WHISPER CAPE is Cael’s ability to teleport Addie around. To me, being embraced tightly to the man of my dreams while traveling through spacial dimensions is an exciting prospect. Authors have favorites, too, and I’d like to know yours. What scene(s) do you yourself swoon over in this book? (C’mon, we all do it…)

You make me laugh. Yes, we do. The idea of traveling somewhere at the blink of an eye has always intrigued me and I’ve always wished I could do it or knew someone who could. There are many scenes in this story that I loved writing. A particular one that comes to mind is the scene in the kitchen after Addie almost kills Cael. I wrote that scene right before dinner one night, and when I finished, I was so excited and pleased with it, I rushed upstairs and reenacted the entire scene in our kitchen for my husband. He stood there smirking at me the whole time. I felt rather silly afterwards. I liked writing the scene with Addie and Gerry when she is bei ng a complete bitch outside on the back deck of the bar and he is trying really hard to understand why. Gerry is one of my favorite characters in this story and I am having a lot of fun with him in the sequel.

Whisper Cape was a very emotional story for me for some reason. There are a couple scenes that actually make me cry when I read them now. It’s silly, I know, but I get so emotional. One is the scene with Cael’s mo ther explaining everything to Addie and I have to admit some of the love scenes shock even me with the amount of emotion I poured into them.

During the editing phase of WHISPER CAPE, a scene concerning a child’s prophetic vision (of the main characters in an intimate setting) came to be questioned. If a book is obviously aimed at adult readers, should the author consider whether such a scene may be offensive, or stick with their inclusion for the sake of story?

I think that is entirely up to the author. I don’t think any scene should ever be deleted if it changes the story. Breena is a very bright young lady and when I wrote Whisper Cape, I hadn’t taken her age into consideration. In fact, originally, she was much older, somewhere around fourteen. But the story took a different path and Breena had to be a bit younger. It didn’t really affect the story either way, so abiding with what my editor had suggested wasn’t a problem for me.

Butler as Gerry

WHISPER CAPE is a very satisfying read. At the end, one can’t help but wonder what’s up next for Cael and Addie, because of their unique powers and evolving relationship. Further, secondary characters such as Gerry and Maia have so much potential for a story. You know my next question, right?

I adore Gerry. I have said before that , my all time favorite, is welcome to play Gerry in my story when they make it into a movie. Yes, there is another story in the works involving Maia and Gerry as well as all the other characters. There’s really not much I can say about it, except Maia is implicated in a nasty murder involving one of Gerry’s past lovers.

And your answer brings up another question. Although we see it a lot, one of my favorite questions to explore is… if your book was to be made into a movie, aside from the luscious Mr. Butler, whom would you cast in your starring roles?  [Note:  this interviewer already knows the answer for Cael, but I'd rather Susan share her selection!]

Dapper as Cael

 

If you don’t mind, I do believe I’m going to have a little fun with this question. I do have a couple of men in mind who could definitely play Cael. Here is a picture of Marco Dapper; and/ or my other pick is (Ed. Note:  YUM.)  HA!  It’s almost too hard to tell them apart. Yes, they both have brown eyes, but with contacts…

 

For Addie, I have to pick I loved her in Twilight as Alice. She has a beautiful soft voice that goes so well with her personality, and she can act tough when she needs to. Of course, my husband disagrees with me and he would like to see Megan Fox. I have a couple picks for Maia. One could be if she dyes her hair and the other could be . Both women have extraordinary talent and can play tough when they need to. You don’t see much of a tough side to Maia in Whisper Cape, but stay tuned.

 

Ashley as Addy?

After you’ve finished your next paranormal romance, are there other genres you’ve thought about dipping a toe into?

Funny you should ask. I am working on edits for a young adult novel called, Allusive Aftershock , a story of disaster, jealously, hate, and of course, love. I don’t think I could ever write a story without love.

 

Well, you’re probably exhausted from your tour, so I’ll leave you to pour a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest of us will just have to kick back and wait for your next awesome book! Thanks again for visiting me at Beacon Street Books! I know our readers have enjoyed this time with you, and I hope they will visit your website!

Thank you so much, Pam. I loved your questions and enjoyed answering them.

What’s up next for Susan? Tomorrow her train pulls into author/blogger Angela Kay Austin’s terrific blog where Susan will be revealing WHY she writes romance! Click on over on Sunday for a visit! http://angelakayaustin.blogspot.com.

And thank you to our readers, for tuning in today! Please take time to check out my review of Susan’s dynamite premiere novel. Don’t forget to enter to win an “e” copy of WHISPER CAPE by Susan Griscom — contest will be open for all of President’s Day weekend — and if you don’t get lucky this time, you can click here and support this talented author yourself!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

<a href=”http://rafl.es/enable-js”&amp... need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>. 

 

 

Emerging Author: Welcome Regan Walsh!

 

From time to time, I "discover" new authors that I just have to share with others. Regan is one such wordsmith, and I'm pleased to provide a stop on her Blog Tour this month.

 

Hi Regan! I'm so glad to be visiting with you today.

Thank you, Pam, and tha nks for the guest spot. I am delighted to be here.

Here are some questions our readers want to ask:

Your fabulous debut novel, WHISPER CAPE, is a romantic fantasy adventure that comes across so believable, it seems like reality. What real-life experiences, if any, inspired some of the scenes?

You're kind, thank you. As you stated so well above, the story is pure fantasy—well paranormal fantasy. The only thing I can think of that would even be remotely true to any of my life experiences would be the setting. The beach house that Cael rents, is forged from The Little River Inn in Mendocino, California where my husband and I spent one of our wedding anniversaries. It's a little different, but I've tried to keep the view and the surrounding area as true to my memory as possible.

Not every reader comes away with the same response to a book, but WHISPER CAPE's fans seem to all agree on one aspect:  Cael is a to-die-for hero. Describe, if you can, how you created this luscious man and how your understanding of him evolved from the beginning.

Believe it or not, this is not a very easy question to answer. I would have to say that Cael is a combination of every good quality of every gorgeous man I've ever seen. He is my fantasy man. I'm a sucker for blue eyes. Green or even gray isn't bad either. Heck, a beautiful man with dark dreamy eyes … I'll take him. A rock hard body, with muscles in all the right places is a must. But I wanted a man with the opposite color of Addison's and I gave her golden brown eyes. I wanted a man with a sensitive side, but someone with enough arrogance and strength that he could kick the crap out of any bad guy or demon as well. The fact that he can take a girl anywhere she might like to go at the blink of an eye is just a bonus.

Writing habits. Most readers and writers like to know how an author progresses through the writing of a great novel. In the case of CAPE, did the story come to you wholly formed, or did it sort of construct as you wrote? How long did it take to write, and what was your writing pattern like?

I wish I could tell you that I have great writing habits and that I do it all a certain way, but each story I write, I do it differently, depending on how I'm relating to the characters.  With Whisper Cape, I had no idea what the story would be like. I only knew I wanted to write a novel and I wanted it to be paranormal but different from anything I had ever read or heard about. Basically, I let Addie and Cael run the show.

Talk a little bit about the cover: there is special significance to the background photo?

The cover is actually a picture I took at The Little River Inn, I think I mentioned it above. When I saw the ghostly or angelic figure in the center form by the rocks, I knew I had to include that setting somewhere in the story.

One of the things I like best about WHISPER CAPE is Cael's ability to teleport Addie around. To me, being embraced tightly to the man of my dreams while traveling through spacial dimensions is an exciting prospect. Authors have favorites, too, and I'd like to know yours. What scene(s) do you yourself swoon over in this book? (C'mon, we all do it…)

You make me laugh. Yes, we do. The idea of traveling somewhere at the blink of an eye has always intrigued me and I've always wished I could do it or knew someone who could. There are many scenes in this story that I loved writing. A particular one that comes to mind is the scene in the kitchen after Addie almost kills Cael. I wrote that scene right before dinner one night, and when I finished, I was so excited and pleased with it, I rushed upstairs and reenacted the entire scene in our kitchen for my husband. He stood there smirking at me the whole time. I felt rather silly afterwards. I liked writing the scene with Addie and Gerry when she is bei ng a complete bitch outside on the back deck of the bar and he is trying really hard to understand why. Gerry is one of my favorite characters in this story and I am having a lot of fun with him in the sequel.

Whisper Cape was a very emotional story for me for some reason. There are a couple scenes that actually make me cry when I read them now. It's silly, I know, but I get so emotional. One is the scene with Cael's mo ther explaining everything to Addie and I have to admit some of the love scenes shock even me with the amount of emotion I poured into them.

During the editing phase of WHISPER CAPE, a scene concerning a child's prophetic vision (of the main characters in an intimate setting) came to be questioned. If a book is obviously aimed at adult readers, should the author consider whether such a scene may be offensive, or stick with their inclusion for the sake of story?

I think that is entirely up to the author. I don't think any scene should ever be deleted if it changes the story. Breena is a very bright young lady and when I wrote Whisper Cape, I hadn't taken her age into consideration. In fact, originally, she was much older, somewhere around fourteen. But the story took a different path and Breena had to be a bit younger. It didn't really affect the story either way, so abiding with what my editor had suggested wasn't a problem for me.

Butler as Gerry

WHISPER CAPE is a very satisfying read. At the end, one can't help but wonder what's up next for Cael and Addie, because of their unique powers and evolving relationship. Further, secondary characters such as Gerry and Maia have so much potential for a story. You know my next question, right?

I adore Gerry. I have said before that , my all time favorite, is welcome to play Gerry in my story when they make it into a movie. Yes, there is another story in the works involving Maia and Gerry as well as all the other characters. There's really not much I can say about it, except Maia is implicated in a nasty murder involving one of Gerry's past lovers.

And your answer brings up another question. Although we see it a lot, one of my favorite questions to explore is… if your book was to be made into a movie, aside from the luscious Mr. Butler, whom would you cast in your starring roles?  [Note:  this interviewer already knows the answer for Cael, but I'd rather Regan share her selection!]

Dapper as Cael

If you don't mind, I do believe I'm going to have a little fun with this question. I do have a couple of men in mind who could definitely play Cael. Here is a picture of Marco Dapper; and/ or my other pick is (Ed. Note:  YUM.)  HA!  It's almost too hard to tell them apart. Yes, they both have brown eyes, but with contacts…

For Addie, I have to pick I loved her in Twilight as Alice. She has a beautiful soft voice that goes so well with her personality, and she can act tough when she needs to. Of course, my husband disagrees with me and he would like to see Megan Fox. I have a couple picks for Maia. One could be if she dyes her hair and the other could be . Both women have extraordinary talent and can play tough when they need to. You don't see much of a tough side to Maia in Whisper Cape, but stay tuned.

Ashley as Addy?

After you've finished your next paranormal romance, are there other genres you've thought about dipping a toe into?

Funny you should ask. I am working on edits for a young adult novel called, Allusive Aftershock, a story of disaster, jealously, hate, and of course, love. I don't think I could ever write a story without love.

Lovely Kate as Maia

Well, you're probably exhausted from your tour, so I'll leave you to pour a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest of us will just have to kick back and wait for your next awesome book! Thanks again for visiting me at Beacon Street Books! I know our readers have enjoyed this time with you, and I hope they will visit you at ReganWalsh.com!

Thank you so much, Pam. I loved your questions and enjoyed answering them.

What's up next for Regan? Tomorrow her train pulls into author/blogger Angela Kay Austin's terrific blog where Regan will be revealing WHY she writes romance! Click on over on Sunday for a visit! http://angelakayaustin.blogspot.com.

And thank you to our readers, for tuning in today! Please take time to check out my review of Regan's dynamite premiere novel. Don't forget to enter to win an "e" copy of WHISPER CAPE by Regan Walsh — contest will be open for all of President's Day weekend — and if you don't get lucky this time, you can click here and support this talented author yourself!

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