Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 51

#WickedWednesday with Sadira Stone #WRPbks #romance

WICKED WEDNESDAY
Back with us today is one of my favorite guests, Sadira Stone. Her latest novel is set in Oregon, a favorite state of mine. How about a wickedly sassy senior citizen? Read on...
Thanks for hosting me on another Wicked Wednesday, Brenda. Today I’m talking about my most recent steamy contemporary romance, Runaway Love Story, Book 2 in the Book Nirvana series. Set in Eugene, Oregon, this series centers around the owner and employees of an indie bookshop, complete with a friendly shop cat and a collection of—let’s say adult books—kept behind a locked red door. (Hence the title of Book One, Through the Red Door.)
My favorite character by far in RLS is the heroine’s 90-year-old great aunt Maxie. A quirky, artistic spitfire, Maxie is the adoptive grandmother to many young artists. Her colorful cottage in Eugene’s Whiteaker District is always buzzing with activity. With her neon-red hair, bedazzled cane, and funky outfits, Maxie is a role model for her grandniece Laurel, the model of the independent, artistic woman she wants to become.
Alas, Maxie has reached the point where she can no longer live alone. She’s elected to move into an assisted living senior complex, rather than burden her family. Here’s a snipped in which Laurel and Maxie arrive for a tour of the facility.
                 “Earth to Laurel.” Maxie’s cane rapped her knee.
                “Sorry, I was just…”                 “And they say I have memory troubles. Let’s go.” No question, Maxie was completely herself again, energetic and focused. And bossy.                 Laurel followed her to the office building. Really quite lovely for an old folks’ home, Willamette Grove resembled a college campus. Tudor-style buildings with dark wood trim surrounded a neat lawn. Pansies nodded from cement urns at every doorway. Beneath a huge sycamore tree, a dozen white-haired residents in pastel sweats glided through a slow-motion Tai Chi routine.                 “Looks boring,” Maxie grumbled. “I’m gonna sign up for Zumba class.” She toddler-stepped up the shallow stairs. “And painting, of course. The art building’s over there. The café next door is open all day. Good place to meet fellas.” Maxie handed her a spiral-bound notebook. “You take notes, in case I forget anything later.”                 Inside, a plump woman with freckled cheeks and a short pouf of white hair greeted them. “Welcome to Willamette Glen. I’m Pearl. What can I do for you ladies today?”                 “Mr. Mendez said I could take measurements for my new apartment. Maxine Schmidt.” She poked the desk calendar with one glittery fingernail. “That’s me. Ten o’clock.”                 “Just let me fetch a pass key.”                 While the receptionist stepped away, Laurel whispered, “Ritzy place, Maxie.”                 She nodded. “Been saving for a rainy day. I’m going out in style, my dear.”                 Maxie’s dark humor weighted Laurel’s shoulders. No matter how many pansies and classes this place offered, it was still the last stop for its residents.                 “This is the nice side, of course,” Maxie continued. “Over there, behind the dining hall, there’s the wing for the folks with CRS.”                 “CRS?”                 “Can’t remember sh**.” She cackled and smacked the countertop. “But hey, if they gotta lock me up to keep me from wandering off, at least I’ll be in a pretty place. With cute nurses.” She nodded toward a buff young man in scrubs. “Hubba Hubba.”
Author Bio Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance and cozy mysteries from her home in Washington State. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, belly dances, plays guitar badly, and gobbles all the books.
Visit Sadira at www.sadirastone.com.I love to hear from readers!
Author Website Facebook   Twitter   Goodreads   Bookbub   Amazon Author Page Pinterest   Instagram
Buy links for Runaway Love Story Amazon Barnes & NobleApple BooksGoogle Play BooksKobo

The Fearless Dream by C.B. Clark #FearlessFriday #hiking #adventure

FEARLESS FRIDAY Wow, do I have an exciting Fearless Friday for you today. Who says authors spend all of their time sitting on their butts writing? C.B. has charged into fearlessness and her travel adventures are amazing. Read on!
Hiking the Inca Trail in Peru has long been a dream of mine. The stunning Inca ruins, the gorgeous mountain scenery, the terraced mountainsides…I wanted to see it all. What I hadn’t counted on were the devastating effects of hiking at a high altitude.
The second the plane touched down in Cusco (elevation 11,152 feet), shooting pains attacked my C.B. hiking the Inca trailjoints, waves of nausea washed over me, and even walking the slightest uphill had me struggling to breathe. I took prescription medication for altitude sickness and chewed the cocoa leaves the locals swore would ease my symptoms. Nothing helped.
What an adventure!The hike was even harder. Each step up the ancient stone stairs required a massive effort. My heart thundered in my chest, and I gasped for oxygen in the thin air, but I was determined to finish. The trek lasted four days, and by the time I crested Dead Woman’s Pass (elevation 13,828 feet), I was exhausted, but thrilled. I’d done it! I’d pushed my body to its limits and beyond and made it to the highest elevation of the Trail.
This accomplishment filled me with a new confidence. I now know I can do anything if I put my mind to it. I went on to cycle through Central America and hiked towering, glacier-clad mountains in Patagonia. This strength of will also helps with my writing. When things get tough, and the writing muse deserts me, I keep on trudging…one step at a time until the writing flows.
Blurb:Head college librarian, Marissa Reynolds has spent years distancing herself from her crime king pin uncle and his criminal empire. When she awakens in an unfamiliar hotel room with blood on her hands and no memory of how she got there, the past returns with a vengeance, and her life spirals into a nightmare.
Straight-laced, Assistant district Attorney, Scott Bannister has spent a lifetime seeking justice for the senseless gangland shooting deaths of his parents. When he realizes Marissa is the niece of his prime suspect, he crosses a line guaranteed to put in jeopardy both his life and his beloved career.
He’s made it clear he’ll do anything to destroy her uncle. She fears he’s using her to achieve his goal. As the body count mounts, and their lives are threatened, they must put aside their distrust and work together to find the devious killer. Will they be able to forgive and find true love?
Excerpt:She pushed to her hands and knees. The pounding in her brain mushroomed into a full-blown, jackhammer assault. With a moan, she sank onto her bottom and grabbed her head in a fruitless effort to keep her brain from exploding. Despite the pain, she needed to get up. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.Faint wisps of light seeped through the edges of the window curtains. The distant sound of traffic echoed through the glass. A lamp imbued the room with a soft, rosy glow, revealing a king-size bed. The cover on the bed was a glossy, garish pink, the pillows covered in the same lurid color, the edges trimmed with frilly, black lace.She rubbed the back of her neck and closed her eyes, but when she opened them again she was still in the unfamiliar room. A battered desk faced the bed, a large, flat screen television on top. The flickering images of a naked, full-breasted woman being entertained by two equally naked men played across the screen.A wingback chair, covered in black leatherette sat in the far corner where a door was ajar revealing the cracked linoleum floor of a bathroom and the edge of a chipped porcelain sink. A framed diagram of a fire escape route was posted on the back of the other door. A hotel room? She dug her fingers into her temples. Why couldn’t she remember?
Buy Links:Amazon: https://amzn.to/2H4kvbOiTunes: https://apple.co/2Hno9O2Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/secret-betrayalNook: https://bit.ly/2Jlz4KpGoogle Books: https://bit.ly/2XlPANO
Author Bio:

Reading and #Reviews (Brennan, Buchbinder, Gallant)

I'm a writer, but I'm also a reader. Each month, I'll share with you what I'm reading and some reviews. My available time to read is limited because I write, but I love to curl up with a book or an eReader at night for the last hour of my day.

I tend to read what I write (romantic suspense), but not exclusively. My current read is a mystery/crime novel by James M. Jackson entitled False Bottom. No romance.
Here are some of the books I've read recently. Maybe you'll discover a new book or author!
Notorious (Max Revere Novels, book 1) by Allison BrennanCrimeThis is the first book I’ve read by Ms. Brennan. It won’t be my last. “Maxine Revere has dedicated her life to investigating murders that the police have long since given up any hope of solving. A nationally renowned investigative reporter with her own TV show and a tough-as-nails reputation, Max tackles cold cases from across the country and every walk of life. But the one unsolved murder that still haunts her is a case from her own past.”
I thoroughly enjoyed Maxine, routing for her when dealing with her snobby rich family, and for her gutsiness in standing up to most everyone in defense of a suspect. She’s out to solve more than one murder, and you’ll enjoy the tale.
AMAZON BUY LINK FOR NOTORIOUS

Legacy of Evil (the Hotel Labelle Series, book 2) by Sharon BuchbinderRomantic SuspenseI happen to love horse stories. Emma Horserider is a horse whisperer. I’m also of American Indian heritage, so this book had it all for me. Horses are under attack and there’s a hate group to deal with. When Emma teams with Harley-riding Bronco Winchester, not only are they one tough couple to meet the challenge, but the romance will offer up its own challenges.
AMAZON BUY LINK FOR LEGACY OF EVIL



Fatal Encounter (A Counterstrike Novel, book 1) by Jannine GallantRomantic SuspenseThe first book in the Counterstrike Series by Jannine Gallant kicks off this series in true Gallant style. She starts with a great series premise…an organization who rescues kidnap victims any way they can.
In Fatal Encounter, we meet Jaimee Fleming who has left the organization because one of their own has been killed. I really enjoyed this character who is a former Olympic biathlete turned sniper turned dog walker.
Pair Jaimee with best-selling novelist Eli Croft and you have a good mix for a romance with lots of suspense. Eli’s grandmother is murdered and it looks like one of the family did the deed. Counterstrike joins in to bring the murderer to justice.
I’m looking forward to more books in this series.
AMAZON BUY LINK FOR FATAL ENCOUNTER

Creating a Kinder World by Susan Antony #YA #Romance

MUSE MONDAY Please welcome Susan Antony to Discover...
First, I want to thank you, Brenda, for giving me a voice on your blog. It’s an honor to be here. My name is Susan Antony and I write young adult fiction. Becoming a writer was a childhood dream I’d buried years ago. One day in the recent past while spring-cleaning, I came across a fifty-page novel I’d written as a ten-year-old and my long forgotten passion awoke again.
While I enjoy reading books of many genres, YA Contemporary and YA Romance novels are my favorites. I adore the genres. Young adults love, hate, and play hard in an arena where the world shines new and the future burns wide open. When I’m writing or reading YA, if I dig deep inside, I can recapture those intense, wonderful, sometimes painful feelings and immerse myself in that world once again through my characters lives.
Often times, I think as adults we don’t give our youth enough credit. Though still physically and mentally developing, teens have valid beliefs and concerns and deserve to be heard. I believe if everyone strives to be as pliable in his or her thinking as young people are naturally, together we could create a kinder and more brilliant world.
CHEROKEE SUMMER 
When Ace leaves home to spend the summer in Cherokee, North Carolina the last thing she expects to find is a boyfriend—until she meets Cherokee Tribe member John Spears. As Ace and John's friendship blossoms, they find their life experiences mirror each other and they fall in love. Despite hurdles thrown by well-meaning family members and jealous frenemies, the star-crossed lovers remain committed to their mutual belief that the universe has drawn them together. However, when Ace sends John a strange text and then suddenly disappears, the two must rely on their trust in each other to save both their lives and their love.
Excerpt I invite her into the circle of my arms. She leans against me and rests her head on my shoulder. Above us, the moon is nearly full, casting bluish light across the river. The sky is a starry mess. “Look.” I point to the sky. “There’s Ursa Major.”“What?” she asks.“The bear constellation.”“Where is it? Show me.”I raise her hand and trace the starry image like I’m doing a dot-to-dot picture. “There’s the head.” I swoop her hand left. “And there’s the tail.” I finish by pointing out the bear’s front and rear legs.“The way you do it makes it look like a skinny, headless dog,” she says.I laugh. “Where’s your imagination?”“Let me try.” She lifts my hand and traces a detailed shape of a bear, describing the air-drawing from ear to toe. “Is that better?”“Perfect,” I say. “Like you.”She laces her fingers through mine. I rub tiny circles on her palm with my thumb as I speak. “When I was a kid, I used to fear the bear would swoop down from the sky and eat me alive.”“That’s horrible.” She presses her lips together, and her ribs shake in suppressed mirth.“I wouldn’t laugh if I were you,” I say. “Elisi says that bear is pretty bad.”“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you from Star Bear.” She makes a muscle, flexing and releasing her cute bicep.“You will, huh?” I tickle her side.She squeals, wiggles around, and digs her fingers into my ribs. We engage in a full out tickle-war. In the middle of our battle, the wind shifts and the earth rotates, and soon we’re on the ground with her straddling me, both of us panting.Our eyes lock, and I brush a strand of hair behind her ear. She leans over inch at a time until her nose touches mine. She kisses me, only a peck, then runs the tip of her tongue around lightly around my lips. Unable to resist any longer, I pull her to me and crush mymouth into hers…
Buy links: Barnes and NobleAmazoniTunesGoogle PlayWalmart
Bio:I work in an IT department for a hospital by day. I’m a hipshaker and writer by night, an artist whenever possible, and an Internet addict. I live in the sunny south with my teenage son and two Cairn Terriers.
You can find Susan here:Twitter @SusanAntonyCS https://twitter.com/SusanAntonyCS  Instagram SusanAntony79  https://www.instagram.com/susanantony79 Tumbler  https://susanantony.tumblr.com Facebook  SusanAntony (author) https://www.facebook.com/SusanAntonyCS/?modal=admin_todo_tourAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Antony/e/B07N31L812

Not Your Usual #Villain by Jean M. Grant #MotherNature

WICKED WEDNESDAY Mother Nature can be a wicked lady. Even in her beauty, the volatile presence can make for a great villain. My guest today, Jean Grant, uses this fact to spin a great story. Tell us about it, Jean.
I have an interesting villain in Will Rise from Ashes. It’s not human. It’s not alien. It’s Mother Nature at her best: the Yellowstone Supervolcano. Though it can come off as fantastical, two giant magma chambers sit beneath Yellowstone National Park. It bubbles and hisses and erupts (ala geysers) daily. Will it unleash a grand eruption again? Yes. Tomorrow? Maybe not. Soon? Geologically speaking, yes.
Yellowstone is a scientist’s Disneyworld. How about some cool facts about this sneaky villain? Yellowstone National Park became the first National Park in 1872. Over 5 million people visit it annual.Yellowstone is a hydrothermal wonderland with over 10,000 hydrothermal features: geysers, hot springs, mudpots, steam vents, and over 500 geysers. It is a very active volcano.The park is the size of Delaware and Rhode Island combined, covering 2.2 million acres.Yellowstone is a supervolcano. Two massive magma bodies bubble beneath the park. There are over 20 supervolcanoes across the globe, Yellowstone being one of them.Old Faithful has been very faithful, erupting approximately every 90 minutes.Sadly, human trash and pollution has caused many of the vibrant hot pools to lose their color over the years. However, Yellowstone has created innovated programs to manage waste and human impact.Yellowstone has had 3 [2 of them being “supervolcanic”] caldera-forming eruptions over the past 3 million years (2.1 million, 1.3 million, and 640,000 years ago, respectively). The last eruption was 174,000 years ago, with 60 smaller ones since.The VEI scale measures explosivity of volcanoes and runs from 0 to 8.To date over 92 people have died in the park, mostly from falling into burning hot springs, off ledges, or tempting fate with a bison.Where can you learn more? The USGS and Yellowstone National Park websites are great places to get accurate facts. Happy digging, my aspiring geologists!
Set in present day, Will Rise from Ashes takes a mother on a perilous journey across the country to find her missing son in the wake of the Yellowstone volcano’s eruption. Though the eruption is not supervolcanic in level, it is BIG, and unleashes ash, destruction, chaos, and death upon half of the USA, forever impacting the country and world. Young widow AJ Sinclair travels with her 9-year-old autistic/Asperger’s son as her co-pilot straight for ground zero. Along the way, her son and a stranger she meets show her a world that she's almost forgotten...that living is more than mere survival. The book (women’s fiction) is a story of heartache, healing, and hope…exploring grief, anxiety/depression, autism…and redemption.
Social Media links:Website~ Twitter  ~ Facebook ~  Goodreads ~ Bookbub ~ Amazon Author Page ~  The Wild Rose Press
Buy links:Amazon~ Barnes and Noble~ iTunes~ Kobo ~ GooglePlay ~ soon to be on Audible (later 2019)

WIP Update #RomanticSuspense #Series

I am happy to report that I typed THE END on the first draft of my latest Work In Progress.
First draft…if you aren’t a writer, that term might now mean much. To an author, it might signal a book nearly ready to go to her editor, or it might mean several more months of work. I’m taking a wild guess on this one, but I think there are at least two more months of editing ahead for me. There are times a page will spew out of me. There will be enough dialogue, enough description, the point of view (POV) is deep, and only a few tweaks are needed. Other times, it’s a bare bones narrative that needs layers of work.
Maybe I can give you an example. This is a first draft:
Laughter came in with the jingle of the bell above the door. Magpie MacKenzie glanced over her shoulder from the stepping stool where she arranged music boxes on the top shelf display.
Three women and two men tumbled into the shop, apparently anxious to leave the cold outside. The midday sun blazed through the front windows of Magpie’s Mercantile, but outside the chilly wind snaking through the mountains severely neutralized the sun’s rays. “Good afternoon.” Magpie descended the stool as comments sprinkled the air.The sweet sense of pride that enveloped her whenever someone appreciated her shop never grew old. As soon as the door closed behind patrons, they became immersed in textile creations on the left; music boxes, some small wooden instruments, and pottery displayed on the right. The counter nestled next to the music boxes.
After I did my first edit, it reads like this:
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.Three women and two men tumbled into the shop, hands stuffed in coat pockets and chins tucked down, apparently anxious to leave the cold outside. The midday sun blazed through the front windows of Magpie’s Mercantile, but outside the chilly wind snaking through the mountains severely neutralized the sun’s rays.
“Good afternoon.” Magpie descended the stool as comments sprinkled the air.“Hi.”“Oh, it’s warm in here.”“What a great store!”The sweet sense of pride that enveloped her whenever someone appreciated her shop never grew old. Although the store was narrow, the depth of the shop was four times the width. To the left of the entry, a stairway led to her apartment upstairs, and to the right, where Magpie worked, a counter and shelves. As soon as the door closed behind patrons, they became immersed in textile creations on the left; music boxes, some small wooden instruments, and pottery displayed on the right. The counter nestled next to the music boxes. Beyond, deeper into the shop, customers found carvings, sculptures, and paintings.
I can’t guarantee it will read the same once I do my final edit of the book, but it’s much richer than the first draft.
Besides layering in description, appropriate dialogue, and attention to POV, I’ll comb through for over used words, inactive verbs, words not needed, scene clarification, tightening, and the list goes on. The good news is as the years go by, and I write more and more books, some of this fine tuning happens as I write. Practice makes perfect. Or so I hope.
Next month, I’d like to say it’s completed and on an editor’s desk. Wish me luck.

Four Favorite #Wicked Women by Kate Hill #horror #EroticParanormal

Please welcome Kate Hill to Wicked Wednesday. Let's talk wicked women. Oh yeah!
Wicked can be a beautiful word, especially if you're as into the horror genre as I am. When I write, I love a happily ever after, but when it comes to movies, give me horror. Often when the horror genre is mentioned, great male villains come to mind, but the genre also has some fantastic female fiends. I'd like to share some of my favorite wicked women of horror--one from each of the past four decades. These women are unapologetically evil, and while you probably wouldn't want to hang out with them, they're fantastic on screen.
1981: Marsha (The Howling): She's a werewolf who loves her wild side. Marsha isn't going to be tamed, and she usually gets what she wants, even if it's another woman's husband.
1994: Molly(Tales from the Crypt Episode Only Skin Deep): Molly is a combination of sadistic demon and avenging angel. She's secretive and morbidly sexy. Follow her home at your own risk.
2003: Baby(House of 1000 Corpses and The Devil's Rejects): Baby is as sadistic as she is attractive. If she takes you home to meet the family, don't expect to get out alive.
2015: Lucille Sharpe (Crimson Peak): Sick, twisted, and vengeful, Lucille is tougher than she looks. Like Molly, she has a sympathetic side, but it's overshadowed by her sadistic nature. Who are your favorite female horror villains?
Kate Hill Bio
Always a fan of romance and the paranormal, Kate Hill started writing over twenty years ago for pleasure. Her first story, a short erotic vampire tale, was accepted for publication in 1996. Since then she has sold over one hundred short stories, novellas and novels.
When she's not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, spending time with her family and pets and running the Compelling Beasts Blog, dedicated to antagonists, antiheroes, and paranormal creatures. She also writes under the name Saloni Quinby. Visit her online at https://www.kate-hill.com.
Demon’s Grotto (Erotic Paranormal)Ben wants Laura to reconsider staying overnight at Demon's Grotto, and he has information about the club’s history that should convince her. He tells her three creepy love stories, hoping she will change her mind. After hearing these stories of love and murder, will Laura decide to spend the night at Demon’s Grotto?
Amazon Link:https://www.amazon.com/Demons-Grotto-1-ebook/dp/B07PCVV5R9

The World of #Audio for Sleeping with the Lights On #Interview with Lily Dubuque

Sleeping with the Lights On , the first book I published, is now available in audio. Ten years ago, this month, I signed my first contract with The Wild Rose Press. I’m so excited about this fun, humorous romantic suspense launching as an audio book. I never dreamed that would be possible ten years ago.
Today, I’d like you to meet the most talented Lily Dubuque, the narrator for Sleeping with the Lights On . Her voice makes this audio story perfect! I think once you get a listen to her, you’ll just have to check out her other books.
Let me introduce you to Lily and get a glimpse into her world.
Me: Hi Lily! Great to have you here. First off, where do you work and turn the written word into audio? I understand most narrators work out of their homes. Do you have a special area, room, or nook where you make your magic happen?
Lily: Hi Brenda, first I'd like to say how much I enjoyed narrating Sleeping with the Lights On .  What drew me to this book was the middle-aged main character. You made her smart, sexy and fun!  And the plot was as riveting as the characters were compelling.  It was easy to sit in my booth to narrate this gem.  My booth is in my finished basement. Some narrators sit in a closet all day long. I am lucky enough to have a room! 
Me: In Arizona, we don’t see many basements. When we lived in Minnesota, every home seemed to have one. So versatile.  Thank you for the compliments. I love writing characters with a little mileage. Glad you enjoyed her. How did you get started as an audio book professional?
Lily: I worked as a television reporter in my 20's, and when my son was born, I decided to get into voice-overs so that I could stay home with him.  I have done radio and television commercials and my favorite...audio books.  It is really fun to bring the words to life. 
Me: Wow, a reporter. Sounds romantic in an exciting way. And you do bring words to life. How do you approach a book when you first see it and make the decision to audition a sample? 
Lily: Some narrators only look at how the kindle version sells. But I look at more than that. If I can identify with the characters (as I did with Sleeping with the Lights On ) and really enjoy the story line, then I audition. If you are sitting in a room recording for hours on end, you really have to enjoy the story!
Me: How long does it take to complete the average book? What are the steps?
Lily: If a book is let's say, eight hours, it will take double to triple that amount of time to create the audio book. I read the book over, figure out how I will make the characters sound, and then go over the pacing and the mood.  I usually record a chapter at a time, and then edit it. 
Me: That is so interesting. I have to compliment you on the job you did narrating Sleeping with the Lights On . Now, I know why you did such a good job. Although set in Minneapolis, the hero and heroine are from the southwest. You had just the right amount of twang in your voice. And then there was Wesley. He’s one unique character and you nailed him, too. Do you have a favorite genre to narrate? Is there any type of book you avoid?
Lily: Wesley was so fun! His personality was really unique and quirky!  I lived in Tupelo, MS for almost four years in my 20's, so I used a little bit of that accent in Carson's voice.  I like all genres as long as the story is compelling. I have also narrated non-fiction but it isn't nearly as much fun!  What I enjoy so much about your books is that you combine romance and suspense.  I like to really feel the emotion between the characters when I narrate. And if there is a plot twist, you don't want to stop reading!
Me: Okay now some lighthearted questions…
Because I write Romantic Suspense, do you ever fall for any of the heroes or heroines? 
Lily: No, but I have a hard time letting them go. After I finish a great book, I feel like the characters are my friends!  I definitely would love to hang out with Sandra and her sister!
Me: When you aren’t working, what’s your favorite pastime? 
Lily: My husband and I love the beach! We don't get there often enough, but hope to move to the Florida gulf coast someday!
Me: Coffee, tea, or cola? 
Lily: I am a coffee girl all the way!
Me: We have coffee in common. Mountains, seaside, or cosmopolitan city?
Lily: Definitely the seaside!
Me: It’s been great getting to know you, Lily. I’m looking forward to working with you in the future.
Lily: I would love to narrate your next book.  Even if I weren't a narrator, you are still one of my favorite authors!
Me: Ah, thanks, Lily…mutual admiration!
Find Lily’s audio books here:
https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Lili+Dubuque
Buy Links for the audio of Sleeping with the Lights On :
Amazon Audible (you can hear a free sample too!)

Apple iBooks

On Helicopters, Guns, and Being Fearless by Jessica James #Fearless #Romance

FEARLESS FRIDAYNot only is my guest today fearless, but she writes about fearless characters. Please welcome award winning author, Jessica James to Fearless Friday.
I’m the type of author who needs to feel, hear, see, and experience what I’m writing about—which often leads me to try out new, uncomfortable, outside-my-comfort-zone activities.
When I was writing Civil War fiction, I attended large battle re-enactments (and slept on the ground), so I could more realistically capture the sights and sounds.
When I began writing military suspense, I attended the Special Operations Forces International Conference in Tampa, where I stood feet away from a lifelike drill of a hostage rescue.
My most recent foray took me to the national A Girl and a Gun Conference in Burnet, TX. This involved three days of shooting shotguns, pistols, and long guns, as well as a wide array of self-defense classes.
But the bestpart of the conference (and the real reason I attended), was getting to target shoot with a military-grade weapon while hanging out of a fast-moving helicopter. (And when I say fast-moving, I mean the pilot came over the radio and said, “on this run, we’re going to pretend we’re being shot at).We skimmed right over the tops of trees, zig-zagged, climbed and dove—while, at times, going over a hundred miles an hour—just like the characters in my books do.
It was one of the most amazing, albeit terrifying, experiences of my life. And if I could do it again I would jump at the chance!
Does that make me fearless?
Or crazy?
I’m not certain which one of those is true, but I’m pretty sure I have the best job in the world!
A Love Story That Spans Centuries…My new release Lacewood, didn’t take any daredevil research….just deep soul-searching. Here’s a short blurb: Two people trying to escape their pasts find a connection through an old house—and fulfill a destiny through the secrets it shares. Part love story, part ghost story, Lacewood is a timeless novel about trusting in fate, letting go of the past, and believing in things that can’t be seen. 
Release price is $3.99. Will be $8.99 after June 25.
AMAZON BUY LINK CLICK HERE
UNIVERSAL BUY LINK CLICK HERE
You can find Jessica here:Web Page: https://www.jessicajamesbooks.comAmazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001IYTXOGFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RomanticHistoricalFiction
Jessica James Bio:Jessica James believes in honor, duty, and true love—and that’s what she writes about in her award-winning novels that span the ages from the Revolutionary War to modern day. She is a three-time winner of the John Esten Cooke Award for Southern Fiction, and has won more than a dozen other literary awards, including a Readers' Favorite International Book Award and a Gold Medal from the Military Writers Society of America. Her novels have been used in schools and are available in hundreds of libraries including Harvard and the U.S. Naval Academy.

The Rest of the Story #ThursdayThoughts #RescueDog

Back in February, I started the story of our rescue dog, Amigo. To recap, we’d searched for a rescue dog and heard about a mixed breed with a sad story. After several attempts to make the trip to Gallup, New Mexico to pick him up, we succeeded. Now, here is the rest of the story.
On her way to work each morning, a doggie rescue lady in Gallup, NM, noticed a small dog or puppy living in a culvert with another older dog. They were always there and looked healthy. As it turned out, the homeless people in the area were feeding the pair. These two took care of each other. The older dog was blind, but had his years of experience. The pup was agile and could see. She named them Wylie and Amigo.
Trapped but rescuedShe finally asked the agency she volunteered for, The BlackHat Humane Society, if she could attempt a rescue. It wasn’t easy. Wylie, the blind dog, fell for her trap first time. It took her a couple of times to trick Amigo. And she had a tense moment with some homeless men who believed she was going to do the pair harm.
Both dogs were placed in foster care. Wylie was several years old and placed in a home that specialized in blind dogs. Amigo was believed to be between nine months and a year. We learned of Amigo before he was featured on The Black Hat site. Wylie ended up being adopted by his foster mom who fell in love with him. We adopted Amigo and his foster mom cried as we drove away.
Amigo before adoptionFrom the beginning, Amigo has loved people. I’m guessing because the homeless fed him. He was afraid of other dogs. After a couple of times at the dog park in Payson, he warmed up. Now, he’s the official greeter when he’s there. In the beginning, we had to keep a close eye on him. He chewed through two leashes. His flee instinct was fierce. Although he took to us immediately and seemed to love us, when he got the chance, he’d run. 
That was four months ago. 

Amigo nowToday, he heels on command, comes when called, loves to retrieve sticks from the water, and chases balls and brings them back. He’s loving and good natured. He’s still highly food oriented, but that’s to be expected considering he never knew where his next meal would come from. But that doesn’t pose a problem. He has quite the personality and brings us lots of laughter and enjoyment. We really lucked out with this little guy.