Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 19

Ready to Travel! by Vicki Batman #FearlessFriday #travel #HolidayFiction

FEARLESS FRIDAY

Traveling has been a fearless endeavor ever since COVID made the scene. Vick's family finally took the plunge.

MunichAfter three years of Covid fear, our three-time postponed trip was back on. First, we traveled to Munich, Germany. With family members, we visited Octoberfest. Expecting excessive partying, we were hesitant about going, but we’re glad we did. The grounds were so colorful! And the beer halls were decorated differently. Lots of fun food stands and thrilling rides were situated outside. The event reminded us of our State Fair with an exception—no fried food. LOL. 

Next, we were bused to Oberammergau for the Passion Play which was held every ten years, but rescheduled because of the virus. The actors spoke and sang in German which was a bit challenging; however, all was beautifully done. 

ViennaIn Vienna, we were able to see the Lippizaner stallions at the Spanish Riding School. This has been a dream for me ever since I read Airs Above the Ground by Mary Stewart. That night, we attended a Strauss concert.

In Krumlov, we explored a Medieval castle, ate lunch, and shopped. I found a handmade shop where I indulged in Christmas gifts for the family. Our trip ended in Budapest. We loved it there. Our hotel sat on the ruins of a former monastery and next door to a cathedral. We walked tons of miles to many great places and ate yummy food. 

The past three years put the world’s lives on hold. We’re glad we could make our trip finally happen. 

Are you traveling for the holidays?  

In between your holiday activities, curl up with these holiday stories:

Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming holiday tales, filled with fun and forever possibilities. 

The Great Fruitcake Bake-off: When a five-time baking champion teams up with her new neighbor for The Great Fruitcake Bake-off, they discover baking a prize-winning entry is complicated, bad guys are plotting to take the crown, and first prize isn't just about a ribbon. 

Christmas Romeo: When two feuding co-workers win Christmas river cruises at the company holiday party, they discover each other isn't so bad after all. 

Twinkle Lights: When the owner of a Christmas tree stand has a heart attack, a do-gooder and a reformed high school delinquent-turned-lawyer meet the challenges of running the establishment; yet, when revenue goes missing, fingers are pointed. 

Find the fun at:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JQN19L6/

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1125179 

Funny, sweet, and quirky, Vicki Batman's stories are full of her hallmark humor and romance and will delight all readers. She has sold many romantic comedy works to magazines, several publishers, and most recently, three humorous romantic mysteries. Along the way, she has picked up awards and bestsellers. Avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Chocaholic. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. 

Website & Newsletter: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicki-Batman-sassy-writer-133506590074451/ 

Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman/   

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/vicki-batman/

 

Krumlov Castle
Budapest

Musing on Muses by Carmen Webster Buxton #SciFi #romance

MUSE MONDAY 

What better way to do Muse Monday than to talk about Muses with Carmen?

“Where do you get your story ideas?” It’s a question writers are often asked. So, where does inspiration for a story come from? The ancient Greeks believed in the existence of muses, inspirational goddesses of literature, science, and the arts who, presumably, could help those who needed inspiration. However, I’m pretty sure the Greeks didn’t have a muse for science fiction.

Some writers may use a specific process to inspire a story, but for me, most of my stories began their existence as a picture that popped into my head. The first novel I published The Sixth Discipline began with a man walking warily through a forest. The next thing I knew, he was being kidnapped by a bunch of strangers. I didn’t set out to write a far-future science fiction story about a man from a primitive culture being snatched by people with more advanced technology, but when that scene played out in my head, that was what was happening.

On the other hand, the story in my time travel/alternate history novel King of Trees started with a question generated by a real (but not in any way personal) event. I was reading about the abdication of Edward VIII of Great Britain (now the UK) and what a fuss it had caused in 1936. Edward wanted to marry a twice-divorced American woman and since the monarch was the head of the Church of England, that was (at the time) not considered acceptable. [Note: This is incredibly ironic when you realize that the Church of England split off from the Roman Catholic Church so that Henry VIII could divorce his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in order to marry Anne Boleyn.]

This made me think about what is, in effect, a contract between a monarch and those he rules— or, in more modern times, those from whom he accepts money and reverence, just for being their monarch. What does he owe them in return for what he gets from them? That led me to write a story in which a young man who is a king, but with no actual power, has to choose whether to marry the woman he loves or the woman who can help his country. He’s not named Henry or Edward but Bardolph, and while his country is called Albion, it’s an alternate version of the country we call England. Inspiration doesn’t mean you need to stick to realty.

But the most dramatic instance of story inspiration for me, was when a story came to me because of a major event that happened in my life. My parents had been married for 28 years and had four mostly grown children when my dad announced he was leaving my mom. What came out, eventually, was that he had had learned that a married woman he had admired decades before was now a widow, and so he left my mom and eventually married the other woman. My mom was, naturally, devastated. 

This made me contemplate the way marriage works in our society, both now and in the past. A few hundred years ago, divorce wasn’t acceptable. And yet marriages were often arranged, most often but not exclusively at the higher levels of society. In some cultures, arranged marriages happen even today. A 2020 article in the Washington Post described how many Indian families still rely on old-style matchmakers who connect people looking for spouses.

And of course, in the Western world, many people use online dating apps to screen prospective partners for compatibility, not only of temperament but also income, race, and looks, so I can't claim screening potential mates is a purely an Eastern thing. 

But after seeing my mom’s devastation, I tried to imagine a world where that circumstance could never happen to anyone. How could a human being make a lifetime commitment to someone and be absolutely sure it wouldn’t be broken? I realized, of course, such certainty wasn’t really possible for humans, so I invented a world where it was. I ended up creating Wakanreo, the planet that is the basis for the trilogy that begins with the novel Alien Bonds. The aliens known as Wakanreans are unique in my far-future universe because they mate for life from a purely biological reaction. And once mated, the attraction never fades.

Finding a life partner is a serious matter. Some people stay single from choice, some from despair after a bad relationship, and some because they're waiting for the right person to walk into their lives. But in the society I created on Wakanreo, every adult is either paired off or waiting to be paired off, based on a biological reaction beyond his or her control.

Once I had determined the mechanism for this bonding, I thought about how it would affect the cultures of this world. This system has advantages and disadvantages for individuals, but one side effect is, there are no castes, noaristocrats, no stratification of society, because pairing off cannot be controlled or arranged like marriage can be. Also because of that, sex has nothing to do with morality.

But the heart of that novel is that attraction and love are two different things. The couple in the story cannot resist the pull of the biological reaction, but that does not mean that they love each other. The bond from the biological mating is practically instantaneous, but the bond from love, like love itself, takes time to grow and must be nourished. And in that way, Wakanreans are like humans, in that while the lifelong commitment is unbreakable, love isn’t guaranteed to be part of it.

I don’t know if anyone could tell from reading my books whether they originated from an intellectual question or from pure spontaneous generation, but for me, the process was very different. I am a “pantser.” I write “from the seat of my pants,” without an outline. In fact, I credit a lot of my output to insomnia; I wrote most of my books in my head first, while lying in bed trying to go to sleep. The stories that started from a specific question were more constrained than those that simply flowed from my subconscious, because they had to conform to my inspiration. As to which are the better books, I will leave that to the reader to decide.

But if I were to create a muse for science fiction writers, I think I would name her Mary, after Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley who wrote Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus, the very first science fiction novel. It seems only fair.

And if you would like to visit Wakanreo, you can find Alien Bonds for sale online in paperback or on the Kindle.

Buy: US Kindle store (also currently available through Kindle Unlimited)
Buy: Paperback

Blurb:

A human woman and an alien man are unexpectedly bonded and must learn to navigate the sea of their
differences. Industrial chemist Dina Bellaire travels all the way to the planet Wakanreo to advance her career. Her carefully planned life goes up in flames the second she meets Kuaron Du, a Wakanrean who makes his living singing ancient songs in a dead language. Both of them know they can’t go back to the way they were before they met. They just have to convince the rest of the universe that what happened to them is real. From Kirkus Reviews--"Buxton offers an SF story about interplanetary love triumphing, despite the odds.. . . readers will feel truly immersed in their religion, values, and technology of Wakanreo and appreciate the relevance of Buxton's depiction of a couple fighting for their relationship in a climate of intolerance in this thought-provoking work. A dense but often engrossing tale, grounded in a relatable love affair."

Excerpt:

Neither of them had taken a step since he took hold of her arm. Dina swallowed once, conscious of discreet glances and overt stares from those around them.

“I’m all right,” she said finally, wondering if she was speaking the truth. The dizziness had passed, but she still felt lightheaded. “Thank you, but you can let go now.”

He loosened his grip but didn’t release her for a few seconds. When he did, he brushed her bare arm with the back of his hand. Dina was amazed when it sent shivers of anticipation up her spine.

“This is unexpected.” His wonderfully resonant voice had a rich, warm timbre to it that made Dina’s shivers change from anticipation to yearning.

“Yes,” she said, unsure of what he meant, but afraid to give offense.

“Where do you live?”

“I have an apartment in the off-world sector,” she said, wondering why she was answering him. She fought the urge to close her eyes and just listen to that wonderful voice.

“My house is in the cliffs outside the city. Let’s go there instead.”

“All right.”

It took Dina a moment to realize that she had agreed to go home with him.

Bio:

Carmen Webster Buxton spent her youth reading every book published by Ursula LeGuin, Robert Heinlein and Georgette Heyer. This combination of far-future worlds, alien cultures, and old-fashioned courting customs influenced her writing, especially in her ThreeCon series.

Carmen was born in Honolulu and experienced a childhood on the move, as her father was in the US Navy. Having raised two wonderful children, she now lives in Maryland with her husband Charlie, and a beagle named Cosmo. She writes science fiction, often with a romance or two, and the occasional fantasy. She is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America  (SFWA).

Reading and #Reviews (Henderson and Labrecque)

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author. 

Troubled Waters (Cypress Coast book 3) by Alison Henderson

Glassblower Angelica McDowell has aspired to be a full-time artist since she was a child growing up in Big Sur. When presented with a career-changing commission, she dares to believe her dreams might come true. However, the discovery of a desperate young woman on her doorstep and the subsequent murder of her shady landlord threaten to drag Angelica into a dark underworld, destroying her hopes, and possibly her life.

FBI Special Agent Hunter Blackstone, accompanied by his irrepressible pug, Jocko, has come to Monterey to join a task force pursuing a gang of international human traffickers. When he meets Angelica, he is immediately attracted by her bright wit and sunny disposition. But when she’s inadvertently drawn into his case by a pair of seemingly unconnected deaths, the stakes in their budding relationship soar, and he finds himself in a race against time to prevent her from becoming another victim. 

MY REVIEW 

This has been an entertaining series about three sisters. Mom plays a roll in the stories too with a restaurant I’d love to eat at. In the third book, Troubled Waters, Ms. Alison tackles human trafficking in her story, and she does it well. Heroine, Angelica McDowell has a fear of the water although living on the coast. That added another element of interest. A pug named Jocko almost steals the show, but I have to say FBI Agent Hunter Blackstone stands out in my mind. In fact, I loved him! His seemingly flat personality actually has depth. Ms. Alison does an excellent job of painting him for the reader. I love character driven stories and this book has that as well as a complicated plot. An entertaining read for sure.

AMAZON BUY LINK

 

Newsletter Nija 2: If You Give a Reader a Cookie: Supercharge Your Author Mailing List With the Perfect Reader Magnet Kindle by Tammy Labrecque 

You know you need a reader magnet. You know it will help you attract newsletter subscribers, launch to a bigger audience, and find more success as an indie author. You know that a good reader magnet can turn casual readers into superfans, and superfans into evangelists.

Everyone says so.

But knowing and doing are two different things, especially when all the advice out there is overwhelming and confusing.
Newsletter Ninja 2: If You Give a Reader a Cookie is a thorough breakdown of all the aspects of reader magnets—from choosing which type to write, through planning how it fits into your catalog, to getting it into readers’ hands. Written in the same down-to-earth style as Newsletter Ninja, and packed just as full of solid information and useful ninja tips, Newsletter Ninja 2 will help you. 

MY REVIEW 

Only authors will appreciate this book. I do have to read books that can help me in my career, and this one has already given me some direction. For some reason, I bought this one instead of book one, so I’m heading back to that one next. Authors, you need this book. 

AMAZON BUY LINK

Reinventing Yourself 101 by Liz Flaherty #romance #MatureHeroine #SecondLove

MUSE MONDAY

It's great to have Liz Flaherty back on Discover... for Muse Monday. I love books with mature heroines who have so much more to offer with life experiences. This story sounds like a fun one and makes my TBR list.

As any of us who’ve lived past the age of 40 know, life is all about reinvention. We wear so many hats as we go through those reinventions—the mom hat, the partner hat, the volunteer hat, the retirement hat, the nana hat…and so on. And on. Some of them fit really well and you never want to take them off, and some of them you might wear too long, or maybe they hurt your head, or maybe you wake up one morning and everything’s changed—hat and all.

Rye Winters grew up in Chicago, and she loves it there. After many years in a small-town subdivision, the forty-something widow is champing at the bit to go back. She’s sold her business and her house and made plans right down to the kind of apartment she wants to lease or buy—no more lawn-mowing or weed-eating for her! She’s not going to need a car—which is great because she hates to drive. She’d reinvented herself once—she could hardly wait to do it again.

But before making her final move, she goes to Fallen Soldier, Pennsylvania, population 2922, to be her best friend’s “widow of honor” in her wedding.

Where she meets the preacher, falls in love with a cottage on the lake, and can’t stop looking at a downtown building that has so many possibilities. Hmm…

He’s afraid a second time at love wouldn’t live up to his first. She’s afraid a second round would be exactly like her first.

Pastor Jake McAlister and businesswoman Riley Winters are in their forties and widowed. Neither is interested in a relationship. They both love Fallen Soldier, the small Pennsylvania town where they met, even though Rye plans to move to Chicago, and Jake sees a change in pastorates not too far down the road. Enjoying a few-weeks friendship is something they both look forward to.

However, there is an indisputable attraction between the green-eyed pastor and the woman with a shining sweep of chestnut hair. Then there’s the Culp, an old downtown building that calls unrelentingly to Rye’s entrepreneurial soul. And when a young man named Griff visits Jake, life changes in the blink of a dark green eye.

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B2FT1JLR

Excerpt

“Your eyes,” he said, “are extraordinarily blue.”

“Yours are extraordinarily green.” His sweater, the same color as his eyes, was soft under her hands, covering shoulders and arms more muscular than she had expected. He was just the right height to dance with, too. Looking up didn’t hurt her neck, but he was enough taller than she to reduce her tendency to lead. “Is this our first date?”

He looked thoughtful. “No. Actually, I think we’ve had several. We’ve just kind of avoided calling them that.”

“That’s good then.” She sounded breathy again, but the truth was, she was feeling a little winded by his proximity and how it made her feel. “Because, I wouldn’t want to be known as someone who…you know…would kiss on the first date.”

“No, that wouldn’t be good, would it?” His arms tightened. “But maybe after several dates it would be okay?”

“I think so. A nice kiss goes well with wine and cheese and Ebenezer Scrooge’s story.”

“Does it?” His lips, warm and firm, met hers then. Searching. Tasting. Releasing. For a moment. “If one goes well, how would they be with two?”

“Oh.” She raised her hands, threading them through his thick, soft hair. “I think they’d be even better.”

The wine, cheese, and movie were wonderful after four kisses, splendid after five. The wine had had plenty of time to breathe and the cheese had warmed so that its flavor was rich and its consistency creamy.

Kind of like the kisses. Not the creamy part, but warm and rich and leaving her with a wish for more.

Bio: USA Today bestselling author Liz Flaherty started writing in the fourth grade when her Aunt Gladys allowed her to use her portable Royal typewriter. The truth was that her aunt would have let her do anything to get her out of her hair, but the typewriter and the stories it could produce caught on, and Liz never again had a day without a what if… in it.

She and Duane, her husband of at least forever, live in a farmhouse in central Indiana, sharing grown children, spoiled cats, and their grandkids, the Magnificent Seven. (Don’t get her started on them—you’ll be here all day.) To find out more about her, stop by http://lizflaherty.net/ or sign up for her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/df7dhP.

LinkTree to Social media links: https://linktr.ee/LizFlaherty

Felony Melanie and the Prank War, based on characters from the movie Sweet Home Alabama is a laugh-out-loud #YAlit #RomanticComedy #comedy #romcom #romance

FEARLESS FRIDAY

This is a fun fearless post...a restless teen who is game for reckless adventures. I remember the movie, and this series sounds like a great prequel. 

You met her in the movie Sweet Home Alabama. Now see what Melanie Smooter was like before she became hot fashion designer Melanie Carmichael. 

In high school, Melanie Smooter is known as Felony Melanie, the teenage troublemaker of Pigeon Creek, Alabama. Aching to escape the boredom of small-town life, her restlessness sparks many reckless adventures. Her boyfriend, Jake, is always by her side – and the local sheriff is usually close behind. 

 

Head back in time to the early 1990s for this laugh out loud rom com based on one of the best rom com movies of all time. 

Sign up for our Rom-Com newsletterand get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. These first two chapters from the novel Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium stand alone as a short story. In the future, you’ll get fun content about upcoming Felony Melanie novels and other romantic comedy news and links. Or Visit the Amazon series pagefor Felony Melanie:  Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels or find the books at other E-book retailers.

EXCERPT:

Melanie pounded on the door.

Jake opened it. “Melanie?”

“Y’all got to come with me, Jake. Right now.”

Jake looked over to Coach. “I’m kind of in the middle of something. As you know.”

“Yeah, but…” Melanie needed a story that would get Jake out of there immediately. “It’s your mama.”

“What about my mama?”

“She’s at the hospital. There was an accident at the roadhouse.”

Jake blanched. His lip trembled. “Is she okay?”

Uh oh. Maybe she’d gone a little too big. “Oh yeah. Just a little burn. There was a fire in the kitchen. Very small. She put it out with the fire extinguisher. She’s kind of a hero, actually.”

Coach stood up and grabbed a set of keys off his desk. “Come on. I’ll drive y’all over there.”

Melanie held up her hands. “No, no, no. That’s not necessary, Coach. She’s fine, really. She mostly went as a precaution.”

Jake crossed his arms. “Then why is it so important that I leave right now? I have something important to discuss with Coach.”

Shoot, this lie was growing bigger than a possum in a restaurant’s garbage can.

Author Bio:

Douglas J. Eboch is a screenwriter and author who wrote the original screenplay to the movie Sweet Home Alabama starring Reese Witherspoon. In his novel Totally Rad Wormhole, two nerds from the eighties accidentally open a wormhole to today, go to their high school reunion, and meet their future selves. Horrified at what they’ve become, they set out to change their fate. 

His sister is the author of over 100 books under the names Kris Bock, M.M. Eboch and Chris Eboch. As Kris Bock, she writes novels of mystery, suspense, and romance, many with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. In the Accidental Detective series, a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the challenges of turning fifty. This humorous series starts with Something Shady at Sunshine Haven. The Furrever Friends Sweet Romance series features the workers and customers at a small-town cat café, and the adorable cats and kittens looking for their forever homes. 

Sign up for our Rom-Com newsletterand get Felony Melanie Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin. These first two chapters from the novel Felony Melanie in Pageant Pandemonium stand alone as a short story. In the future, you’ll get fun content about upcoming Felony Melanie novels and other romantic comedy news and links. Or Visit the Amazon series pagefor Felony Melanie:  Sweet Home Alabama romantic comedy novels or find the books at other E-book retailers. 

Visit Doug’s website or his Amazon page. Find Doug on Goodreads, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. 

Visit Kris’s website, Amazon page, or her blog, the Southwest Armchair Traveler. Find Kris on BookBub, GoodReads, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram

Muse Monday Goes Medieval Monday by Jennifer Ivy Walker #medieval #French #fairy

MUSE MONDAY

Oh la la! Please welcome Jennifer Ivy Walker to Muse Monday on Discover... With some classic French tragedy. Fun post. Oui, oui!

As a high school French teacher, I used puppets to illustrate the medieval legend of "Tristan et Yseult" to my French IV students as part of our study of the Middle Ages.

I always took my students to the state competition where they performed a French I play I had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--a combination of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" (Tristan and Isolde in English) with the fairy tale, "Beauty and the Beast".

Last summer, I had an epiphany--to incorporate that play into a trilogy.  A retelling of the classic French tragedy of "Tristan et Yseult", blended with my love of medieval knights, Arthurian legends, and dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande in la Bretagne (Brittany in English), birthplace of Merlin the Magician, Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, and Lancelot du Lac.

My debut novel, "The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven", is a compilation of my years of studying French literature, my numerous trips to France-- exploring troglodyte caves, medieval pilgrimage sites, châteaux of the Loire Valley, Normandy, Bretagne, and Provence--and my love for myths and legends. 

Book Blurb:

In this dark fairy tale adaptation of a medieval French legend, Issylte must flee the wicked queen, finding shelter with a fairy witch who teaches her the verdant magic of the forest. Fate leads her to the otherworldly realm of the Lady of the Lake and the Elves of Avalon, where she must choose between her life as a healer or fight to save her ravaged kingdom. Tristan of Lyonesse is a Knight of the Round Table who must overcome the horrors of his past and defend his king or lose everything. When he becomes a warrior of the Tribe of Dana, a gift of Druidic magic might hold the key he seeks. Haunted and hunted. Entwined by fate. Can their passion and power prevail?

Excerpt:

The fairy witch motioned for Issylte to kneel at her side among the flowers. Her luminous brown eyes twinkled in the filtered sunlight.

“Every tree, plant, flower and herb has an essence. A spirit. A life force.” She gestured to the verdant forest all around.

Issylte raised her eyes to the lush canopy of trees overhead, the blue sky peeking through the fluffy clouds. She inhaled deeply, the green notes of pine mingling with the rich scent of earth and the tangy fragrance of blossoms in the early summer breeze.

“The essence of the forest can be beneficial. Benevolent. Essential for healing.” She picked up a sprig of red clover and handed it to Issylte with a knowing smile. “Yet others are harmful and deadly.” Maiwenn gestured to the alluring deep purple flowers before them.

Issylte’s breath caught in wonder. She sensed an aura. A tingle in her veins.

Maiwenn’s chestnut eyes bore deeply into hers. “Have you ever felt the thrum of the forest in your veins?”

Issylte nodded, her eyes wide with discovery and delight. She held Maiwenn’s gaze, nearly breathless with anticipation.

“That, Églantine, is power.” Maiwenn’s eyes were deep brown, like the nourishing earth of the Hazelwood Forest.

“You, my dear princess, are a forest fairy. Like me.”

Buy Links:

Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Rose-Sea-Raven-ebook/dp/B0B8XNMYBS/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SD77E1OYZFRI&keywords=wild+rose+sea+raven&qid=1661375960&sprefix=wild+rose+sea%2Caps%2C106&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wild-rose-and-the-sea-raven-jennifer-ivy-walker/1141977954?ean=2940186736387

 Jennifer Ivy Walker 

Enthralled with legends of medieval knights and ladies, dark fairy tales and fantasies about Druids, wizards and magic, Jennifer Ivy Walker always dreamed of becoming a writer. She fell in love with French in junior high school, continuing her study of the language throughout college, eventually becoming a high school teacher and college professor of French.

As a high school teacher, she took her students every year to the annual French competition, where they performed a play she had written, "Yseult la Belle et Tristan la Bête"--an imaginative blend of the medieval French legend of "Tristan et Yseult" and the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast", enhanced with fantasy elements of a Celtic fairy and a wicked witch.

Her debut novel, "The Wild Rose and the Sea Raven"--the first of a trilogy-- is a blend of her love for
medieval legends, the romantic French language, and paranormal fantasy. It is a retelling of the medieval French romance of "Tristan et Yseult", interwoven with Arthurian myth, dark fairy tales from the enchanted Forest of Brocéliande, and otherworldly elements such as Avalonian Elves, Druids, forest fairies and magic.

Explore her realm of Medieval French Fantasy. She hopes her novels will enchant you. 

Website:  https://jenniferivywalker.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferIvyWalker

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/bohemienneivy

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/jenniferivywalkerauthor/

Amazon link:  https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B0B91R2MJZ

Barnes and Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wild-rose-and-the-sea-raven-jennifer-ivy-walker/1141977954?ean=2940186736387&fbclid=IwAR3DwraRnElU-XxxDXI-

Forging Ahead Fearlessly by C. B. Clark #ForgingForgiveness #RomanticSuspense

FEARLESS FRIDAY

You can't imagine the biggest fear for an author if you haven't been there. THE PITCH! I guess it's akin to an audition for an actor or a solo for a singer. A lot of writers have manuscripts collecting dust under their beds for fear of putting themselves out there. So for all those writers who do, this Fearless Friday is for you. Tell us about yours, C.B.

There’s nothing more frightening than pitching a story you’ve poured your heart and soul into to an editor or agent. The first writers’ conference I attended offered agent and editor appointments. I’d just completed my first manuscript, and I was ready to get it out there. I did my homework and carefully planned what I was going to say. I had an index card with the story’s log line and plot points. I practiced my pitch for hours until I’d memorized every word. 

On the day of the pitch, I dressed in what I hoped was a professional looking outfit. I had my lucky penny in my pocket, took a deep breath, and plastered a smile on my face. I was prepared, I was ready…until it was my time to pitch. My heart raced, my mouth dried of all moisture, and I forgot the plot of the work I’d spent the past year writing and endlessly revising. I giggled several times and fidgeted in the chair, crossing, and recrossing my legs until the editor took pity on me, and we chatted about something inane. (I don’t remember what.) Finally, I resorted to reading the notes on my index card. Incredibly, in spite of my botched pitch, the editor requested the full manuscript, and I was euphoric. 

That publisher didn’t acquire my manuscript. Neither did the next one, or the next one. But finally, an editor did, and now I have eight published romantic suspense books. Pitching hasn’t gotten any easier. I’m still nervous, but I remind myself that editors and agents are just people. Most of them are compassionate and understanding. They want to hear about your book. That’s their business.

Blurb:

When small-town college instructor Candace Cooper discovers bloody, bare footprints in the snow while running in a state park deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, it brings back the horrific nightmare of her past.

Detective Aiden Farrell is determined to redeem himself in his new position in Colorado, even if that means ignoring his growing feelings for the beautiful professor he meets during an investigation. His fear that the footprints she saw are connected to a recent spate of missing teens intensifies when Candace is assaulted on campus. 

Aiden and Candace join forces, but as they start unraveling the truth, they get closer to each other—and to a killer who'll stop at nothing to achieve his nefarious goal. 

Caught between duty and love, Aiden fights in a race against time to save the woman he loves.

Excerpt:

Candace Cooper’s breath fogged out in plumes in the frosty, late afternoon air as she pumped her arms and loped along the narrow trail. Yesterday’s rain had turned to sleet, and overnight, two inches of fresh snow blanketed the trail.

Something caught her eye, and she slowed to a stop, turned around, and walked back three yards. What the heck? Indentations—a heel, the pad of a big toe, and the four, smaller indents of the other toes—were clearly formed in the smooth dusting of snow. The set of small, narrow footprints tracked along the snowy trail, veering into the deeper shadows of the forest. Someone had walked in his or her bare feet down the cold, snow-covered path.

The wind gusted against her damp face, and she shivered. Late November was too cold for anyone in their right mind to be out in the mountainous backcountry of northeast Colorado walking around without proper footgear. She squatted for a closer look. A smear of dark red, stark against the white snow, marked the heel depression of each left footprint. She touched the red splotch with the tip of her gloved finger. A rust-colored smudge stained the light blue cotton. Her heart rate kicked up.

Blood!

FYI, readers, I've read this book, but I haven't had time to post reviews lately on Discover... Do yourselves a favor and Discover this book. It's an entertaining read. I'll get the review up soon.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ASuXim

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3Rc1Vje

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3U8zVzh

Apple/iTunes: https://apple.co/3BeiN3E

Google: https://bit.ly/3PSWbd3 

Author Bio:

Forging Forgiveness is award-winning author, C.B. Clark’s eighth novel published by The Wild Rose Press. When she’s not busy traveling around the globe or hiking and camping in the wilderness near her home in northern British Columbia, she can be found in front of her laptop plotting her next story. 

Social Media links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbclarkauthor/

Blog: https://cbclarkauthor.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbclarkauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cbclarkauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15029617.C_B_Clark

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/C.-B.-Clark/e/B01BK61TQG/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-b-c...

Reading and #Reviews (Gallant, Clark, Cornwell) #suspense

I'm an author, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you reviews of present and past reads. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a paperback or an eBook at night for the last hour of my day. 

I tend to read what I write, but not exclusively. Besides Romantic Suspense, I read crime and law novels, once in a while a true story, WWII historicals, mysteries, and mainstream character driven books.

Here are some of the books I've read recently or in the not-too-distant past. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author.

Twilight Deception (Leave No Trace Book 3) by Jannine Gallant

Shot, wounded, and bleeding, Tristan Flanagan is on the run from a once trusted business partner who stole money from their company and set him up to take the fall. He flees into the Grand Canyon, hoping for a miracle.

While on an overnight camping trip, artist Willow Larkin stumbles across a man more dead than alive. Though skeptical of his wild story of betrayal and embezzlement, especially when she was burned once before by a charismatic liar, Willow is still drawn to this desperate, sexy stranger. Against her better judgement, she hides him in her secluded cabin to recover—unaware that helping him puts her in the crosshairs of a violent criminal.

Staying one step ahead of both the police and a man intent on murder, the pair embark on a dangerous mission to prove his innocence. But finding the truth to clear his name is a deadly game—one they must win before he’ll be free to love again. If they survive . . . 

MY REVIEW

What Ms. Gallant does so seamlessly is dropping us in nature’s setting for a wild ride of suspense and romance. 

When Tristan takes off, shot and bleeding, we’re with him on his escape into the wild…the wild being the Grand Canyon. Born and raised in Arizona, this setting held an extra punch for me, especially with some of it taking place in Flagstaff where I went to college. 

Lucky for him, an outdoorsy, gutsy woman rescues him and joins him on a ride to prove his innocence. 

You’ll enjoy this one!

AMAZON BUY LINK

Forging Forgiveness by C. B. Clark 

When small-town college instructor Candace Cooper discovers bloody, bare footprints in the snow while running in a state park deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, it brings back the horrific nightmare of her past.

Detective Aiden Farrell is determined to redeem himself in his new position in Colorado, even if that means ignoring his growing feelings for the beautiful professor he meets during an investigation. His fear that the footprints she saw are connected to a recent spate of missing teens intensifies when Candace is assaulted on campus.

Aiden and Candace join forces, but as they start unraveling the truth, they get closer to each other—and to a killer who'll stop at nothing to achieve his nefarious goal.

Caught between duty and love, Aiden fights in a race against time to save the woman he loves. 

MY REVIEW

A college professor with a tragic background meets a detective who is still smarting from recent indiscretions. Sounds like the makings a conflicted story with many possibilities. Add murder and love to the mix, and you’ve got a great romantic suspense. Ms. Clark delivers. Enjoy the read!

AMAXON BUY LINK

Serial by Patricia Cornwell 

Forensic investigator Reilly Steel, Quantico-trained and California-born and bred, imagined Dublin to be a far cry from bustling San Francisco, a sleepy backwater where she can lay past ghosts to rest and start anew.
But a serial killer soon puts paid to that idea.

A young man and woman are found dead in a hotel room, the evidence initially suggesting a suicide pact.
But as Reilly and the investigative team dig deeper and more bodies are discovered, they soon realize that each crime has an intriguingly unique element in common.

And that a cunning mind is at work, one who seeks to upset society's norms in the most twisted way... 

MY REVIEW

This story was twisty but unfortunately, some of the twisting seemed to have broken ends not connecting. I think part of the problem was Reilly’s guilt over her sister’s disappearance so many years earlier. Of course, she’d be affected, but to the degree portrayed didn’t quite seem real. She also seemed to connect dots that just weren’t there between the crimes. I liked a lot of the supporting characters—I tend to like a book if the plot is weak but has good characters. The plot twist at the end is a good one leaving the story with a redeeming quality.

AMAZON BUY LINK

First Lines #FictionNovel #Writing #Reading

 How important is that first page to you?

There’s an adage in the fiction writing world that the first few lines of a novel are the most important in the book. You’ve got to hook the reader. It's highly unlikely you would throw away a book you'd paid for or delete it from your eReader if the first paragraph doesn't totally knock your socks off. But an author does need to set the tone and keep the reader turning the page. I have hung in past that first page, but if the magic doesn’t kick in by the third chapter, paid for or not, the book is history.

As an experiment, I pulled some of my favorite books from the shelf. I tested the rule to see how impressive these published, successful authors did with their first couple of lines. See what you think:

Diana Gabaldon, Outlander
It wasn't a very likely place for disappearances, at least at first glance.

Maeve Binchy, Circle of Friends
The kitchen was full of the smells of baking. Benny put down her school bag and went on a tour of inspection.

Robert James Waller, The Bridges of Madison County
On the morning of August 8, 1965, Robert Kincaid locked the door to his small two-room apartment on the third floor of a rambling house in Bellingham, Washington.

Nora Roberts, Angels Fall
Reece Gilmore smoked through the tough knuckles of Angel's Fist in an overheating Chevy Cavalier.

Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
When he was nearly thirteen, my brother Jem got his arm badly broken at the elbow. When it healed, and Jem's fears of never being able to play football were assuaged, he was seldom self-conscious about his injury.

Hmmm...A couple might pass the test, but all in all, it’s going to take at least the first page to hook me. A couple of these do rope me in after the first page, but a couple of others took even more reading to make me want to hang in until chapter three.

In the end, I'll keep doing as they say and not as they do. Trying to hook a reader on the first page is a good model to follow.

Here are the first lines of some of my stories. When I separate them away from the rest of the text, it's easy to see which have "oomph" and which do not. 

Sleeping with the Lights On  I woke before Wesley that morning, the first morning waking up next to him. I silently yawned, stretching my feet against the cowboy sheets tucked tight at the foot of his bed. 

The Morning After  The throb behind Abigail’s eyes scraped at her temples like chiseled fingernails. She squeezed her lids tight. Was the sheet twisted around her? 

Post-War Dreams  The cheap chenille could have been angel hair as I smoothed the spread over the bed, my mood sunnier than the faded yellow walls of the room. For most of my life, I'd never had my own room. 

Southwest of Love and Murder  Phoebe awakened sudden and breathless. Not slow like when the sheet tangled around her legs or when she needed a trip to the toilet in the gray fog of near-sleep. What noise had she heard that now wasn’t there? 

Curse of Wolf Falls  “Cameron!” Elidor MacKenzie screamed. The excruciating crunch of bones and
flesh meeting rock vibrated in her ears. 

The Art of Love and Murder  Lacy quickened her pace. The footsteps behind her did the same. As fast as her feet touched the bricks, her heart beat twice that speed. If only she could clear the narrow alley, step onto the lit sidewalk… 

Secrets of The Ravine  Laughter mingled with the jangle of the bell above the door. Magpie MacKenzie glanced over her shoulder from atop the stepping stool where she arranged music boxes on the top shelf of a four-tiered display. 

You can read the first chapters of all of my books here:

https://brendawhiteside.com/first-chapters  

The Bad Guys Behind “Hollow Hearts” – with #Giveaway By Donna Schlachter #FreeBook #Romance

WICKED WEDNESDAY

Hey gang, gather round and welcome Donna Schlachter to Wicked Wednesday on Discover... It's not often we have a giveaway and a print book (US only) or eBook to boot! So, enjoy the post and be sure to let us know you're there. Check back on the 14th for the announced winner.  

Set in 1860 at a Pony Express station near Green River, Utah, this book is the second in the Hearts of the Pony Express series.

Edith Cooper is a forty-ish woman traveling west with her husband, Paul. They’ve been married for many years, but they’ve not had any children. This leaves a hole in Edith’s heart when Paul dies along the trail to Oregon.

Green River, Utah, provides the only suitable place for many miles to bury bodies. In fact, the soil is soft and relatively rock-free, and hundreds—if not thousands—are buried there.

As Edith leaves the cemetery, two men approach her independently. The local pastor, a widower with six rowdy children, suggests he could be the man she needs. After all, he’s obviously not deficient when it comes to producing offspring, and although he realizes Edith is getting along in years, no reason they couldn’t still enjoy the physical benefits of marriage.

Edith says thank you and she’ll think about it.

The second man is an alcoholic private who has been in the army for twenty-plus years, but because he keeps getting into trouble when he drinks, has been demoted to the lowest rank possible. He suggests he is the man for her because—well, because he is a man.

Edith, horrified by what could become her life, thanks him and says she’ll let him know.

The pastor and the sergeant continue to pester Edith, insisting she give them an answer. The pastor’s rowdy children have no respect for her, and neither does he, apparently, when she brings them a cake at the church social.

Without giving the story away, both men accost her at different times, and when she resists, they turn on her. In fact, the pastor humiliates her at that church social, blaming her for his out-of-control kiddoes.

Humiliated, Edith feels pressured to choose her future.

Maybe she’ll stay, get her own lodgings, and find a job.

Or figure out a way to continue west.

Or return east where she and her husband came from.

There is, of course, a hero lurking in the shadows. Albert wants Edith to stay because he’d like to expand the kitchen and dining area at the station. But he also sees that having her around makes him miss her when she isn’t there. And that wasn’t part of his plans.

To find out which man Edith chooses, you’ll need to read the book. https://www.amazon.com/Hollow-Hearts-Book-Pony-Express-ebook/dp/B0B5B7H4XG 

Leave a comment, and we’ll draw randomly for a print copy (US only) or ebook of Hollow Hearts. Don’t forget to cleverly disguise your email address like this: Donna AT livebytheword DOT com

Question: Do you have a favorite family name in your family? 

About Hollow Hearts:

Middle-aged widow Edith Cooper walks away from the cemetery along the Green River near Simpson’s Hollow, Utah Territory. Away from the husband buried there this morning. Away from their plans and dreams for their future. Along the way, two men offer their hand in marriage. For her protection, one says. For his children’s sake, says the second. Were any of these reasons enough to marry? She must choose one. But which?

Albert Whitt, stationmaster of the Pony Express Station, loves his independent life. Twice stood up by women, he takes the only course that ensures no more rejection: stay clear of them. But when he learns that the stoic Widow Cooper is considering two proposals from men not worthy of lacing her boots, he must do something. But what?

Can Edith and Albert find a new beginning in the midst of tragedy, or will they choose the most convenient path—alone? 

About Donna:

 

www.DonnaSchlachter.com Stay connected so you learn about new releases, preorders, and presales, as well as check out featured authors, book reviews, and a little corner of peace. Plus: Receive a free ebook simply for signing up for our free newsletter!

www.DonnaSchlachter.com/blog

Check out previous blog posts at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com and www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com

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