Brenda Whiteside's Blog, page 69

It's Tough to Get From Idea to Novel by Valerie Ullmer

MUSE MONDAYHow great to have Valerie as my guest today! Read on...Story ideas are easy, but expanding them into a full novel is the difficult part. 
For my newest release, Xander, the 3rd Novel my Dark Assassins paranormal romance series, I had a difficult time coming up with a story that would work in the world I had already created. 
My first imagining of the story was Xander, my hero, would fall in love with a librarian that was targeted by a bear shifter and needed his protection.  But after that initial story idea, I was stuck when it came to developing conflict throughout the book after Xander saved her from the first encounter at the beginning of the story.  I even had a different name for the heroine, Etta.  But the concept didn’t work and I scrapped it. 
The second reiteration was even less memorable.  Etta was still a librarian, but I imagined the story as more of a get to know you, without an antagonist threatening to kill them, but again, there was no conflict and no action, which is a miserable failure when you’re talking about government assassins. 
And by this time, I was starting to freak out a little.  I had set a deadline for myself and scheduled the edits.  I had to get it to my editor by May of 2017 because I planned releasing it at the end of July 2017.  And by March of 2017, I had nothing. 
Then it came to me.  Xander, although a government assassin, had a softer side to him.  One where he longed for a mate and thought, for the longest time, that she had passed him by.  And because of his personality, it was only right to have him and his mate be able to have an actual family.  And that is where the idea of their son, Silas, came about. 
Frost was unique character.  One, her name, her occupation, and her personality was so different from anyone that I’ve created before.  Also, she was half shifter, half human, which allowed her to become pregnant.  Most of all, Frost is a ferocious character that will protect anyone who threatened those she loves. 
And Silas is an exact replica of his father.  They are close and while Silas loves his mother, Frost, he has a special connection to Xander. 
And because of the turmoil I had while coming up with and dismissing ideas for Xander, I was able to come up with the perfect idea that fit both the character and the story. Blurb
Half-human, half-shifter.

Xander has secretly yearned for a mate for most of his immortal existence, and yet after three of his friends found exactly what he’s always wanted, he’d come to believe that he’d missed his chance at happiness.

Until he heard her voice.

Frost is a wildlife biologist and tracker and she has been assigned, despite her adamant protests, to lead mercenaries into the mountains of Snowfall, Colorado for the sole purpose of killing immortal shifters.  In order to protect those who have no idea the kind of danger they are in, she agrees.  As she leads the armed men on a wild chase around the snow-covered pines, she could sense that she was running out of time.

Until she heard his voice.

Xander understands exactly who Frost is the moment he hears her thoughts.  With the help of Kane and Gunnar, they eliminate those in her group as they try to keep her safe.  But during the fight, she is hurt and all of his protective instincts flare to life.  As Xander learns more about her, he realizes that Frost might be the key to the creation of the immortals, both vampire and shifter.  

But when she becomes a target from those who want to destroy the Dark Company and Xander’s family, how far will he go to save her? 
Excerpt
Can either of you hear the woman’s thoughts?
Woman?  Gunnar sounded confused.
Kane’s reply was quick and clipped.  No.
Hello?
Hello?
Xander tried to get her attention.  Can you hear me?
He held his breath when he heard her distinct gasp, knowing that their mind link worked.  His chest filled with dread at the thought that she gave herself away, until he heard her next words.
“I spotted a grizzly bear in the trees to the west.  Sorry, I startled him and he ran off.”
For long seconds, the men in the clearing stared at the woman before they were ordered to keep searching.
Xander stood close enough that he could see her curves underneath the heavy white parka.  And having the worst timing in the world, Xander felt his body react.  He took a deep, cleansing breath of sharp mountain air that instantly cooled his overheated body.
Yes, I can hear you.  These men, seven in total, are looking for immortals.  They have been contracted by my boss at U.S. Fish and Wildlife to kill them.  Apparently the immortals are supposed to become animals.  Can you help me without hurting yourself?  They are heavily armed.
Xander was taken completely by surprise.  She didn’t question their connection but instead relayed vital information that he would need.  He could also start to feel her emotions.  She wasn’t scared, just determined.  He could hear her heart beating at a fast rate and her breathing strained from either the hike up the mountain or the tension in the air.  He watched as she subtly shifted her head around as she searched for him, unable to spot him in the trees.
We can help.  I’m going to communicate with my team and we’ll take out the men.  Are you okay with that?
Yes, I know they are paid mercenaries and I’m mad that they killed a wolf two days ago for no other reason than they wanted to shoot something.
What’s your name?
Frost.
Frost, I’m Xander.  When I tell you to run, run south.  Okay?
Yes, I understand.
Xander relayed the conversation he had with Frost.  We are going to have to kill them, there’s no other way around it.  They couldn’t have a threat looming over them, especially if one escaped and brought in a stronger, more trained group of mercenaries.  Although they could easily defeat any group of fighters, keeping their existence a secret was crucial.  The more humans that knew about them, the bigger the danger it posed.
Buy Link: Amazon  
Author Bio
Valerie writes paranormal and contemporary M/F and M/M erotic romances. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her wonderfully supportive husband and their funny and wise black lab. She's addicted to coffee, crime shows, and reading and writing character driven romances. 
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Wicked Ideas by Luanna Stewart

WICKED WEDNESDAY
I am very happy to have Luanna Stewart as my guest today. Let's get wicked!
Evidently, through no fault of my own, bits of my personality shine through in my characters. I’ve written heroines who love to bake, heroines who love the outdoors, and heroines who knit when they need a distraction from real life. All me. 
The heroine in my latest book loves to learn. When she’s confronted with a dilemma or with a problem that needs solving, she’ll go to the experts in that field and learn everything she can. She’s also stubborn as a goat. I freely admit to curiosity. Some call me stubborn, though I can’t imagine why.  
My heroine, Sybil, was almost 30-years-old and hell-bent on losing her innocence. From what she’d witnessed, however, husbands were more trouble than they were worth. So, after consulting an “expert”, she decided to take a lover.  Who better to serve that role than her brother’s friend, Max. 
I had tremendous fun writing the scene wherein she got the courage to suggest an improper liaison. Max was scandalized, of course. Proper young ladies shouldn’t even have thoughts of taking a lover. And when, after a kiss, she mentioned his obvious physical response in the trouser region, all he wanted to do was escape. He was an honourable man. If she wanted him in her bed she’d have to wait until they were wed. Sybil had no intention of waiting. Did I mention she was stubborn? Poor Max, I felt sorry for him after writing that scene. He really thought he was in control of the situation. 
Do you see yourself as others see you? Or are you surprised, like I am, when I see little bits of me in my characters and only then realize they are little bits of me? 
If you’d like to find out if Sybil gets her way, or if Max perseveres, pick up Love & Mayhem, available here: Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/non-american-historical-romance/5180-love-and-mayhem.html 
For additional vendors, or to sign up for my sporadic newsletter, please visit my website:
www.luannastewart.com

The Ghost and Mrs.Miller by Sandra Tilley

FEARLESS FRIDAY
For Fearless Friday, Sandra Tilley is introducing us to a character in her book that has an idea about being fearless. Read on and enjoy!
Libby Miller used to be fearless. And then life lulled her and Neil into a comfortable ho-hum. But nothing prepared Libby to celebrate her nineteenth wedding anniversary with a ghost. Or catch her husband Neil cheating or his BMW flipping over an exit ramp or his ghost showing up in her dining room. Despite Libby's efforts to coerce Neil’s meddling presence to move on to the light or wherever, he’s too busy sabotaging Libby's chances at starting a new life. Time for Libby to find her nerve. Time for Libby to be fearless. 
A dark hulk stepped into my path. My eyes trailed up his black leather jacket and stopped just south of his BPD ball cap. Eli Anderson. My Eli Anderson.
My feet stopped. My heart stopped. But not the waitress behind me balancing a large round tray loaded with drinks. An avalanche of icy cocktails tumbled over my shoulder and zoomed down my chest like skiers on a ski jump.
A collective gasp sucked the air from the room. My feet froze to the spot—like the frozen pina coladas on my chest. Eli scooped his finger into the icy mound on my cleavage. “Tasty. I don’t usually like fruity drinks.”
I opened my mouth but no words came out. The waitress muscled past him and wiped feverishly at my blouse.
Eli took her cloth and plopped it onto the pile of glasses at my feet and circled his arm firmly around my waist. “You can clean up at my house.”
It wasn’t a suggestion.
“Libby!” Angie’s high-pitched voice out-staged the band. She and Leah and the other bachelorettes waiting for me crowded around a table strewn with ribbons and wrapping paper and lots of empty glasses. Angie diverted their interest to my direction.
I waggled my fingers goodbye.
Leah lifted her gaudy white veil, smiled, and gave me two thumbs up. 


SandraTilley.com
Facebook.com/sandrafetnertilley
Twitter.com/sandyftilley
Thewildrosepress.com/sandratilley
Amazon.com/sandratilley

Sweaty Butt Cheeks Where the West Still Lives

TRIPPIN' THURSDAYA few years back, we retired from the day jobs. You followed our farm experiment here on Tortuga Thursdays for three years, but we sold the farm. We traded in the little RV for a bigger one, but we aren’t ready to hit the road fulltime. What comes next? We’re not sure. It's all about transition these days. These are...

The In-Between Years
Sign over the road coming into townWe're living life on the RV Ranch these days. If you're from the western United States, you might have a feel for a little town, that's not a town, like Tonto Basin. There are two gas stations, an IGA Market, a Dollar Store, and numerous RV parks. And don't forget the local hardware store with local color. One day, I complained to the counter guy that it was really hot. He said, "my granny used to say if you wake up and there ain't sweat tricklin' between your butt cheeks, then you're dead."Up the road is Punkin' Center with a post office, school, and library. Down the road is Roosevelt Lake.I dislike the desert...well, most deserts. This part of Arizona is what I call pretty desert because we have mountains and trees. It's also only a thirty
Get our slogan on a shirt minute drive to pine country.There's an owl who lives in the tree outside our door. Javelinas (nasty wild pigs) stroll through the park early mornings, and bunny rabbits are everywhere. At night, the coyotes howl. A tribute to deceased dogsMost everyone owns a dog. We don't. Can't seem to replace Rusty. AND a dog does limit mobility. The people here are from everywhere. Some are year round, others are weekenders, and still others come for the winter months.These in-between years mean our household goods are in storage. I want to sell it all and if or when we get another real house, buy more. FDW isn't entirely on the same page. This month we compromised, and we're selling Buy local and gain wisdomsome. The antique German clock sold last week. There is some interest in two of FDW's cameras. I really want to sell our hand carved, teak tables from Taiwan. No bites yet.How will it all shake out? Not sure, but I'll let you know. For now...I'll go with the flow.

Kris Bock on Inspiration from a Bird of Prey

MUSE MONDAYPlease welcome Kris Bock to Muse Monday with a most inspirational and fun post. Take it away, Kris.

On a beautiful fall afternoon, just outside of Socorro, New Mexico, we witness the ancient battle between hunter and prey. This hunter, weighing in at under three pounds, is a Harris hawk named Etta. 
Falconer Matt Mitchell releases the bird and moments later we’re striding across the scrub desert. Etta flies ahead, soaring 20 or 30 feet above the ground before landing on a small tree. We pass by, trying to flush a rabbit from the brush. When we get ahead, Matt raises his left arm, which is protected by a thick leather glove, and the hawk flies to him. 
As the late afternoon sun drops towards the horizon, a jackrabbit bolts from a bush. The hawk takes off on silent wings. Seconds later she dives behind a bush. The rabbit shrieks. 
We run toward the action. The rabbit has vanished, leaving only a tuft of fur caught in the bush. One of Etta’s feathers sticks out at a sharp angle. I’m probably imagining her indignant glare. “She got beat up,” Matt says. “That rabbit put some moves on her. The jackrabbit went around these bushes in figure eights and whatnot and stalled the bird out. The bird ended up on the ground and the rabbit took off.” 
Chalk one up for the prey. 
I met Matt several years ago. I tagged along on hunts and visited his home to see newly hatched hawks and falcons. Raising falcons is an intense, time-consuming, and expensive hobby, but as an author, I could do the next best thing – I could write about it. 
In What We Found, set in a small town in central New Mexico, a young woman stumbles on a dead body in the woods. Audra gets drawn into the investigation, but more than one person isn’t happy about her bringing a murder to light. Fortunately, she has some allies, including her brainy 12-year-old brother and self-appointed sidekick, Ricky. And because this is suspense with a dose of romance, she has a love interest, Kyle.
 Audra accompanies Kyle on a falcon hunt. As you can see, this scene is closely based my experiences with a falconer. 
   We strode across the desert, angling to pass by bushy patches where rabbits might be hiding. The hawk flew ahead again, soaring about twenty feet above the ground before landing on a small tree. She waited until we passed by, then made another hop, farther that time. Kyle raised his left arm to shoulder height. The hawk flew back and landed. Watching her come in sent a strange breathless thrill through my chest. I’d seen owls and eagles fairly close in the zoo, but there they were sitting quietly on perches. This was a glimpse of something wild and beautiful.

    A jackrabbit bolted out of a bush twenty paces ahead. The hawk took off after it.
    Seconds later, she swooped down behind some bushes several hundred feet away. She rose up, made a small loop, and dropped down again. Something shrieked.
    Kyle was already running toward the action. By the time I got there, he had the hawk on his arm again. She had a feather sticking out awkwardly from her wing. I didn’t see the rabbit and wondered if Kyle had hidden it to make it easier on me.
    “She got beat up,” Kyle said. “That rabbit had some moves.”
    “It got away?”
    He nodded and plucked a small tuft of gray fur from the bush. “She made contact. But this time, it looks like the rabbit won.” He opened his fingers and the small tuft of fur drifted away on the breeze.
    “The rabbit won!”
    “It happens sometimes. Fortunately for our girl, she won’t starve.” He looked into her black eyes. “It’s frozen quail for you tonight, my dear.” 
The falconry aspect helped me develop thematic elements of What We Found, added some unusual action, and provided readers with insight into an usual pastime. One reader wrote, “The falconry aspect was almost as intriguing as the unveiling of the murderer!” 


Kris Bock writes novels of suspense and romance with outdoor adventures and Southwestern landscapes. The Mad Monk’s Treasure – currently free at all e-book retailers – follows the hunt for a long-lost treasure in the New Mexico desert. Whispers in the Dark features archaeology and intrigue among ancient Southwest ruins. In Counterfeits, stolen Rembrandt paintings bring danger to a small New Mexico town. 
Fans of Mary Stewart, Barbara Michaels, and Terry Odell will want to check out Kris Bock’s romantic adventures: “Counterfeits is the kind of romantic suspense novel I have enjoyed since I first read Mary Stewart’s Moonspinners.” 5 Stars – Roberta at Sensuous Reviews blog 
Read excerpts at www.krisbock.comor visit her Amazon page. Sign up for the Kris Bock newsletter for announcements of new books, sales, and more.

Artists Helping Artists: Collaborating on a Suspense Book Cover by Rolynn Anderson

WICKED WEDNESDAYGhosts qualify for wicked. And Rolynn Anderson is about to release a really great suspense novel.
My newest novel, Cézanne’s Ghost, releases in a couple of weeks.  If you enjoy suspense novels, spiked with romance, and have some time to read my story and consider reviewing it, please let me know and I’ll send you an advance copy!  Email me at rolynna (at) earthlink.net One example of artists helping each other, right? 
Here’s another stunning example of artists collaborating.  About a year ago, I was looking for a sketch of a woman to use on my Cézanne’s Ghost cover.  I discovered the work of Jeff Haines.  When I first contacted him on e-mail, he explained he sold custom drawings; he had never worked with a novelist who wanted cover art.  The price he quoted was impossible for me to pay, so I passed on the picture.  Later, because I was attached to the picture, I decided to negotiate with him. He said he liked the artist-to-artist relationship and gave me I price I could afford. Yay! 
Here’s a picture of Aline, my heroine, sketched by Jeff. 
But there’s more to a cover than a sketch of a woman.  Who could help me interpret my story into a picture that enticed readers? 
Enter Kris Lynn.  Now, I met Kris at a conference in Hollywood.  She took a look at some of my covers from the past, and told me she’d like to help me interpret my works.  I said ‘Yes!’  Kris Lynn listened closely to what I wanted for Cézanne’s Ghost, and here is her result, which includes a wonderful painting by Cézanne.  I couldn’t be happier with her creation.  The picture of Aline creates a ghostly presence (perfect for suspense) and my title underlines the mystery.  Cézanne’s picture provides the exotic beauty of Aix-en-Provence.  Here it is:


Five artists: a writer, an editor, a formatter, a sketch master, and a cover creator.  How lucky we are to work with brilliant colleagues!  Do you have a story about how another artist helped you with your work? 
Here’s a summary of Cézanne’s Ghost:Three young American women vanish in Aix-en-Provence, France. The FBI suspects their American tour guide.
Leon Beaudet, formerly a U.S. Olympic wrestler, is proud of his five-star guide business, but when tourists disappear on his watch, the FBI dredges up a violent episode in Leon’s past and tap him for the crime. Worse, his new tour group includes Aline Kerig, who is as beautiful and carefree as the three missing women. Leon is fascinated and puzzled by Aline even while he fears for her safety. She refuses to go back to the States, forcing the FBI and local police to involve her in the hunt.
With the French tourist industry about to collapse and Leon as a prime suspect, how does he protect Aline and find his lost tourists? 
And remember, if you’d like to read an advance copy, e-mail me at:
rolynna (at) earthlink.net
Web and Blog:
http://rolynnanderson.com Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rolynn-Anderson/188767867821613 Twitter:
https://twitter.com/rolynnanderson Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4990049.Rolynn_Anderson http://www.amazon.com/author/rolynnanderson

Creating a Villain by Joan Leotta

MUSE MONDAYPlease welcome my guest, Joan Leotta who has a most interesting post. I'm hooked! Read on.
My friend Julia told me the story of how she and her husband met and married in the mid 1950s. Her tale of going toWashington, DC to marry her then-fiancé, John started it all. He met her train and when she put her foot on the top of the set of metal steps leading from her car to the platform, he reached up and swept her around and down onto the platform. Once her feet touched the ground he pulled her close and sealed her arrival greeting with a kiss. That story and an interest in history grew into a book on WWII in Wilmington, NC which became book one of my Legacy of Honor Quartet.
 So, I had the romance, but what about the rest of the story? World War II work posters always talked about loose lips, the possibility of spies trying to sabotage war work, so it was a natural for me to create a villain who was a spy. My spy was a Nazi. I gave him the very ordinary name of Herbert and characteristics that were ordinary as well. He was a lonely sort of guy, whose goal was to sabotage the key elements of the shipyard—the part developing secret equipment—which is where Giulia worked (of course!). The ins and outs of defeating the spy's efforts are what give the plot its action elements and of course, are one more way I bring Giulia and John closer together. 
I did a lot of research using original resources—newspapers, magazines, records of people who lived through the era. The book is sprinkled with details about life in Wilmington, NC during WWII. Some of my favorite are descriptions of the dances at the USO center, now known as the Hannah Block Center. 
There were spies on the east coast, but nothing has ever been disclosed about any activity in the Wilmington shipyard. There are records of a U-boat attempting to land on the NC coast, a bomb and more, but up the coast from Wilmington. I merely moved the entire activity down the coast so the action could be a part of my story. 
The book is about 35,000 words, a novella. All of this came from a simple conversation that started my imagination rolling. I kept it powered with interviews from folks who lived through the various eras, research in libraries and the simple question, "What if?" 
Here is a small excerpt from Giulia Goes to War , the first book in the Legacy of Honor quartet. This section is from one of the chapters dealing with Giulia's work in the shipyard.
"Giulia had just shown the guard at the door her pass and was entering the Quonset hut when the boom shook the ground. The sound started her ears ringing and sent a flash of heat and light throughout the area. The young guard who had just cleared Giulia to enter the room, pushed her inside and threw himself on top of her. She heard him gasp as a piece of wooden plank implanted itself in his arm. 
She could hardly hear now because of the ringing in her ears, but she thought she heard John calling to her as though from very far away. "Giulia! Giulia!"  It was John! He grabbed her and the guard and pulled them inside the Quonset hut. Before John could assess the situation he heard the shipyard’s alarms wailing.

Giulia's immediate supervisor appeared in the hallway where they were all huddled a few seconds later. "Everyone all right here?" 
Check out my FB page, Joan Leotta, Author and Story Performer
Please Take a Look at my Blog, Recipes for Success, www.joanleotta.wordpress.com
Giulia goes to War
Desert Breeze Publishing Volume I in the Legacy of Honor series
ISBN-10: 161252639X
ISBN-13: 978-1612526393
Buy link to Giuliahttps://www.amazon.com/Giulia-Goes-War-Legacy-Honor/dp/161252639X

The In-Between Years (special edition)

A few years back, we retired from the day jobs. You followed our farm experiment here on Tortuga Thursdays for three years, but we sold the farm. We traded in the little RV for a bigger one, but we aren’t ready to hit the road fulltime. What comes next? We’re not sure. 
These days, FDW fishes when the weather permits or reads (2-3 books a week), and I write my novels of discovery, suspense, and human relationships. We don’t want to go far from our young granddaughter or my elderly mother for too long, so the next BIG adventure will come when the time is right. For now, the adventures will be small, short, common, drastic, or ecstatic. My outlook has always been that we lead a charmed life. We’ve been where we needed to be, when we’ve needed to be, with what we’ve needed. As a result, I’m changing the drift of my Thursday blog again. 
It's all about transition these days. I hope you’ll check in every other week. These are The In-between Years…

I Delivered My Nephew by Linda O' Connor

FEARLESS FRIDAYCan you imagine delivering your own nephew? Linda did. Read on!
I’d have to say the scariest thing I’ve ever done was … deliver my nephew. At the time, I was an intern in my final year of medical training, and I’d had a few deliveries under my belt. But, you know, when you’re the aunt, in the delivery room for moral support, and the obstetrician is running a little late, and the baby is in a rush to make an appearance, all the warnings about what could go wrong, how you’d never forgive yourself if something went horribly awry, if you made a mistake … well, they just vanish like a popped balloon, and you step up to the plate. Now, apparently I commented that it was a tad messy and it’d be a shame to ruin my shoes, but frankly, I don’t remember that part. Heart racing, sweaty brow, nausea in the pit of my stomach – that I remember. But when that slippery, little, adorable bundle slid into my waiting hands, the terror was replaced with joy.
Today, that little baby is a kind, witty, wonderful adult, and for that, I’m taking credit. After all, they say it’s all in the delivery. :D 
I’ve replaced delivering babies with working at an Urgent Care Centre, but the most fun I have is writing romantic comedies. I’m thrilled to be a part of the Tropical Tryst Boxed Set. It features 25 brand new sexy romances set in hot and tropical settings. Escape with us for only 99 cents. It’s available for pre-order now and will be released Aug. 1. Can’t wait to share Perfectly Skeptical, a Perfectly Series novella, with you! 
About Perfectly Skeptical (Perfectly Series novella)
Dr. Brianna Scott looked forward to sleeping away her staycation, until a windfall meant an upgrade to palm trees, an ocean view . . . and the sexy Dr. Matt Gaelen. She’ll have fun, but can a holiday fling really turn into a soul mate for life? Doubtful. 
Matt has no radar for sniffing out gold-diggers and protecting his heart. Except Brianna is more turned off than turned on by his wealth. What are his chances of getting her to overlook it? Dubious at best. 
Improbable and iffy – the typical path to love. 
Buy links:
Amazon:https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0713MQ2TP/ 
Barnes and Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tropi...
Kobo:https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/tropical-tryst
Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Nicole_Morgan_Tropical_Tryst?id=kOO4DgAAQBAJ 
Linda loves to connect with readers ~
Website:  http://www.lindaoconnor.net
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LindaOConnor...
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LindaOConnor98
Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Linda-OConnor/e/B00S7CNLEA
Blog: http://www.lindaoconnor.net/news-muse... 
Visit www.tropicaltryst.com for special pre-order giveaways and join the Tropical Tryst Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/Tropi...) for updates and a chance to win Tropical Tryst swag!

Wicked, Wickedly, and Wickedness of All Kinds

WICKED WEDNESDAYLots of wicked going on today. Did some outside work and it’s Wicked Hot here in Arizona. In fact, it’s been a Wicked Hot summer so far. 
I should be working on my back-cover blurb for my next release, The Deep Well of Love and Murder, book five in the series, but I’m Wickedly Avoiding it. I’ve completed the first draft, sent it off to my critique partners, and they’ve responded. The Wickedly Avoiding part is my stalling looking at their suggestions and finishing it up. You can guess, blurbs are not my favorite writing task. Condensing the entire book to 150 enticing words is Wick-Hard. 
Want to help me achieve a little more wicked? I also need a tagline. Now here’s the wicked part…cheating with a bit of help from you. The object of a tagline is also to entice, to give a reader just enough about the story that they can’t resist reading more. 
Here’s what I have for my rough drafts: 
A vengeful ex-husband isn’t the only obstacle to happiness for Laura Katz and Randy Silva…a high stake, bloody fight for his land puts them at risk. 
A vengeful ex-husband isn’t the only obstacle for Laura Katz and Randy Silva…a high stake, bloody fight for his land threatens not only their happiness, but their survival. 
Do either of these appeal to you? Any suggestions?


Don’t forget to hop over to The Romance Studio for their Heatwave Party. There are some Wicked Good prizes to be had! Click on the graphic at the top of the page.