Margery Scott's Blog, page 13

Lucky in Love Blog Hop

This weekend, I’m taking part in the second annual Lucky In Love Blog Hop.

Almost 300 bloggers have giveaways and posts about those men we love!

But that’s not all….

We have TWO grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!

Now what are those prizes?

 

1st Grand Prize: A $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

2nd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

I’ve been lucky in love (I married my husband when we were still in our teens after only knowing him for five months. A recipe for disaster, right? Well, we’ve made it through a kazillion years of marriage and we’re still together.

Some would say I followed in the footsteps of my parents. They also married in their teens and were married for over fifty years.

St. Patrick’s Day is a bittersweet celebration for me. My father, a Scotsman through and through, was born on St. Paddy’s Day. So his birthday was a double celebration, complete with birthday cake and gifts, his green suspenders, green hat, shelalagh and Irish music Can you tell my father liked to party? I miss him every single day, but on Sunday, I’ll raise a glass of green beer to him and wish him a Happy Birthday and Top ‘o the Morning.

Because when it all comes down to it, if he and my mother hadn’t been lucky in love, I wouldn’t be here.

The heroine in my second Morgans of Rocky Ridge novella is Irish, and much as I’d love to offer a copy, it’s not ready yet. So, leave me a comment about how you’re lucky in love and you might win a copy of the first book in the series – Cade’s story.

When revenge leads Cade Morgan to hold up a stagecoach and kidnap his childhood friend, Isabella Morrow, he discovers his feelings for her are stronger than ever. He suspects Bella feels the same way, so why is she intent on marrying another man? And what kind of future can he offer her now that he’s wanted by the law?

Click here to check out the other blogs and to be entered into a draw for the fabulous grand prizes.

Guest post – Authors of The Calico Heart

I’m delighted to have co-authors Stephanie Michels and Patricia Kiyono visiting with me on my blog today. They’re going to tell us about the first book in The Stitching Post Romance Series, The Calico Heart.


 

Welcome ladies. First, please tell us a little about yourselves.

Stephanie: I laughingly refer to myself as a “Jill of All Trades” since I’ve worked as a computer trainer, advertising copywriter, cosmetologist, personnel agent, radio DJ, magazine columnist, and a financial planner among other things. I recently left the corporate world behind in order to focus full time on my writing.

I was born in Ohio but raised in Michigan then moved as a young woman to South Carolina, Missouri, and then Germany. When my children were young, I returned here to the Mitten State to be near family. I love being near the Great Lakes and having four distinct seasons – although I could do with a little less snow right now. When I’m not writing, I can usually be found reading, playing word games on computer, or spending time with family and friends, including my wonderful Beta Sigma Phi sorority sisters.

Patricia: I’m a retired elementary schoolteacher, mom to five kids and grandmother to eight—so far. I was born in Japan, but my family moved to southwest Michigan when I was almost a year old, and I’ve lived here (other than four years at Illinois State University) since then. Since I retired eight years ago, I’ve been able to pursue my dream of writing books and have been so pleased and proud to be published at Astraea Press since 2011.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why?

Stephanie: I love Michigan, Having lived in other places, I know I would miss it if I moved away again. But I would dearly love to spend the winters somewhere warm and sunny – preferably with a lake, ocean or pool nearby. Florida, Texas (I love the people there) or the Bahamas or Mexico or Hawaii or … well, you get the picture.

Patricia: Since almost all of my cousins live in Japan, I would love to live there for a while. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting them twice, but I’d like to get to know them better. And other than the typhoons, the weather is pretty good there.

Do you have other talents? Or is there a talent you don’t have that you wish you did?

Patricia: I’m a musician, so I enjoy playing in a local community band. I also adjudicate at regional and state solo and ensemble festivals, and I teach a university course in music education. I also love to sew, and belong to a quilting group at my church, so the group of close-knit women described in The Calico Heart is based on the women I sew with.

What do you like best about being a writer?

Stephanie: After spending what seems like a lifetime in the corporate world, I think it is absolutely heavenly to get up in the morning and not need to put on pantyhose and high heels to go to work. I often spend the mornings, wearing my pajamas and fuzzy slippers while I write on my laptop and cuddle with my Yorkie. On a more serious note, I love having the power to rearrange the world the way I think it should be in my writing. If something goes wrong in my life or a friend’s, I can rewrite things the way it should have happened. Since I’m a hopeless romantic, I really like “happily-ever-afters” and stories about a love so strong it overcomes obstacles. Writing lets me give people the happy endings they deserve.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Stephanie: I think my first aspiration was to be a cowgirl. My sisters and I would take turns being Annie Oakley when we’d play. I was the youngest, so I think I may have been skipped a few times. Then, I decided I wanted to be a Disney princess, probably Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty. It wasn’t until I was in second grade and wrote the Christmas play for my class that I decided I wanted to be a writer. I don’t think that ever changed.

Are you a plotter or a pantser? A combination?

Patricia: I’m a combination of the two. Someone recently coined the term “plantser”, I plan, but the characters often take me on side journeys. Even when I take the time to fill out character sheets and plot planners, surprises pop up. But most of the time they’re good surprises that end up in the book!

Which comes first – the plot or the characters?

Patricia: For me, the plot comes first. Specifically, I begin with the conflict, and then I come up with characters who would most be affected by that conflict. The conflict for The Calico Heart came from a heated argument I had with my husband. I love to travel, and he doesn’t. We didn’t resolve it the same way the couple in the book did, but I was able to harness that anger.

Tell us about your latest release. Isn’t this the cutest cover?

The Calico Heart is the first of a planned series about a group of women who belong to a quilting group meeting at a shop called The Stitching Post in southwest Michigan. Here’s the blurb:

On the surface, Sylvia Miller has a perfect life. She’s married to her college sweetheart, has three great kids, a rewarding career, and wonderful then friends. But beneath the appearances, Sylvia Is restless. She loves her husband, but wants to see more of the world than their peaceful Michigan town. Now, their youngest child is grown, and Sylvia is ready for adventure

Left a penniless orphan, David Miller promised himself his family would never know the same humiliation. For twenty-six years, he and Sylvia have lived frugally, saving for the future. Now, Dave is on the brink of a promotion that will ensure their financial security, but Sylvia wants him to retire and travel with her.

When Dave refuses, Sylvia decides to go alone. But it’s a decision that could cost them much more than money.

The Calico Heart is available at Astraea Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Kobo, and itunes, as well as other ebook distributors.

Thank you for joining me today. Wishing you much success with your series.

Want to learn more about Stephanie and Patricia?

Patricia Kiyono can be found at her blog and on facebook.

Stephanie Michels can be found at her blog and on facebook.

NOTE: Although I’ll still host authors here on my blog from time to time, today’s post will be the last regular installment of Writer Wednesday. Within the next couple of weeks, I’ll be revealingmy brand new website and blog, and I’ll fill you all in on the new themes and features I have planned.

Thanks for reading,

Margery

Sharon Cullen and The Notorious Lady Anne

Please help me welcome my friend and critique partner, Sharon Cullen, to my blog today. I’m reading her latest release, The Notorious Lady Anne, right now, and loving it!it! Five stars from me!

The blog is yours, Sharon. Take it away.

THIRTEEN YEARS LATER …

On February 11, 2013 by debut historical was released—The Notorious Lady Anne. The road to publication for this book was long. Really long. But my road to publication was even longer.

So 2/11 was a big day for me and not just because my book released. It was also my daughter’s 13th birthday. She’s now a teenager! Whoot!

That also means that I’ve been writing for almost thirteen years because I started writing soon after she was born.

She is the youngest of three and I feel like, being the third, I had this parenting thing down to a science (don’t laugh, I really did feel like that J). What was nice about her is that she took long naps. Really long naps. She liked to sleep.

My son was in preschool two days a week, my oldest daughter in second grade and I had a rule in my house that when the baby slept, it was Mommy Time. That meant I didn’t feel obligated to run around and do laundry, dust, cook, whatever. That meant I could do what I wanted. It saved my sanity and I’m sure my husband’s sanity as well.

So what I chose to do was read. I’ve always been a voracious reader and I’ve always loved romances. It was at this time that I really got back into romance and I was, no lie, reading a book a day (I told you she loved to sleep). After a few months of this I started thinking, “I can do this. I can write a love story.” Yes, now looking back, I laugh at my naiveté. Like I can just whip up a romance story.

Undaunted, I started to write one of the many stories in my mind and it was like I finally, FINALLY discovered who I was and what I was put on this earth for (other than to be a mommy to my 3 kidlings). I fell in love. With my characters and with the process of writing.

Four years later my first book was published. Thirteen years later my twelfth book was published with the publisher of my dreams. And my baby was a teenager.

Time flies when you’re having fun.

The Notorious Lady Anne (On Sale Now):

Nicholas Addison, celebrated captain of the Blackwell Shipping Fleet, has agreed to take Mrs. Emmaline Sutherland aboard the Pride and ferry the raven-haired beauty across the Atlantic on what he imagines will be a routine trip. But when the ship is attacked by pirates, the seemingly innocent passenger is revealed to be none other than the infamous marauder Lady Anne, whose name strikes fear in the hearts of sailors everywhere—and whose seductive wiles commandeers Nicholas’s affections.

Lady Anne, a legend of the high seas, has spent the last eleven years plotting revenge against her father, the owner of Blackwell Shipping. She’s targeted the Pride in hopes of plundering its captain’s company secrets. But beneath her fierce courage and bitter determination, Anne has the delicate heart of a woman—a heart that cannot help falling for Nicholas. Now Anne must make a difficult choice: bring down Blackwell or surrender to love.

BIO:

After earning a degree in journalism from Ohio University, Sharon found the stories inside her head were more interesting than what was going on in the world around her. Yet, it wasn’t until years later that she decided to pursue her secret dream of writing a romance novel. Since then she’s been published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance and contemporary romance and historical romance.

Sharon’s other job descriptions include chauffer, laundress, cook and mediator to her three very busy kids, her husband and two dogs. She lives in southwest Ohio with her brood although her dream is to someday retire to St. Maarten and live on the beach.

If you’d like to find out more about Sharon and her books, you can visit her at her website. She’s addicted to social networking so you can find her on Facebook and Twitter. Friend her! Like her! Follow her! She’d love to hang out with you and talk about her passion—books.

Amazon      Barnes & Noble      Random House

Romancing the West Blog Hop

WELCOME TO THE ROMANCING THE WEST BLOG TOUR

Why do we enjoy writing and reading about the West? What is it about cowboys that is just plain irresistible? Over thirty authors and bloggers tackle these and other questions by explaining why we love Romancing the West.

But that’s not all, as you enjoy some awesome blogs and find fantastic books, for every post you comment on with your email address, you will be entered for some amazing prizes.

***PLEASE LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO QUALIFY***

Grand Prize: A swag pack which includes books (both ebooks and paper), Amazon gift card, custom made butterfly jewelry, book cards, magnets and much more all tucked away in a keepsake box. (Available to US residents only. Winner will be announced on February 26 at 10 PM EST)

I’d never heard of cowboys or the American west until my parents brought me to Canada as a little girl. TV came with three channels (yes, it was back in the Stone Age), and prime time and Saturdays were filled with series set in the old west. Every week, I’d be glued to the TV to watch the The Lone Ranger and The Cisco Kid bringing outlaws to justice. Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok upheld the law in places like Tombstone and Ellis County, Kansas. Annie Oakley was my hero, and The Big Valley and Bonanza taught me everything I’d need to know to run my own ranch.

It was a violent time, but on TV, the good guys (the ones in the white hats) always won. I have no idea what attracted me to that period in history. I’ve never lost my love of the old west and the men and women who settled it. Maybe one of these days westerns will make a comeback. I’ll be there in front of my TV, popcorn ready. I suppose that’s why, when I decided to write, it seemed a natural fit to write about heroes and heroines from that long-ago time.

I’d love to hear what you think. Leave me a comment (including your email address), and when the blog hop is over, I’ll give away two e-copies of my historical western romance, Emma’s Wish.

Here’s the blurb for EMMA’S WISH:

Still grieving his wife’s death, Sam Jenkins needs a mother for his children. He can’t build his ranch and care for three precocious youngsters alone. Emma Witherspoon has accepted the fact that she will never have a husband and children of her own, but that doesn’t ease the ache in her heart. When Emma makes Sam an offer he can’t refuse, neither of them can foresee the changes in their lives because of two little words – “I do.”

Here’s a short excerpt from the opening scene:

Texas, 1880

“Please don’t send us away, Pa.” Six-year-old Nathan tugged on the rolled up sleeve of his father’s shirt. “We’ll be good. We promise. Don’t we, Joseph?”

Beside him, his older brother nodded vigorously, then scrubbed at his tear-stained eyes with his grimy knuckles.

Studying the two boys, Becky’s head bobbed in agreement, setting her pale blonde curls bouncing. She was too young to understand the significance of what Sam had just told them, but whatever her brothers did, Becky followed suit, as much as any three-year-old could.

Sam Jenkins raked his fingers through his hair. God, if there was any other way … But there wasn’t. It was the right thing to do. He’d done his best to look after the children and the ranch, if it could be called that – but it wasn’t good enough. He was failing at both, and now he had to muster up the courage to do what was best for them, no matter how painful it was. Seeing the children lined up in front of him, looking at him as if he was some kind of monster, just about tore his heart out.

Leaning over, he picked Becky up and settled her on his lap. Her pudgy arms reached up around his neck, and she planted a loud smacking kiss on his cheek.

Swallowing painfully against the grief choking him, he took Nathan’s small hand. His gaze rested on the calluses on the little boy’s palm. Dammit, his hands shouldn’t already show signs of hard labor. Youngsters shouldn’t have to work that hard.

This was exactly why he’d made the decision, the decision the children hated him for right now. But they’d thank him later. He had to believe that.

He was doing this for their own good. Sam had to remind himself of that every single day. By sending them back east to live with his wife’s parents, he was giving them the life they deserved, a life of privilege and wealth. But even though his reasons made sense, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that he was making a huge mistake.

“It’s just for a little while.” He tried to sound convincing, but the promise rang false even to his own ears. “Right now, I need to work too hard–”

“We can help,” Joseph volunteered. “I’m almost a man. You said so yourself when Ma died.”

When Ma died. That said it all. Their lives had fallen apart when Catherine died six months before. The children had lost their mother, and he’d lost the only woman he’d ever loved.

 

Emma’s Wish is available on Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Apple and Smashwords

Thanks so much for stopping by. To get back to the main blog hop page, click here

Sneak Peek Sunday – Sam’s heartbreak

Welcome back to Sneak Peek Sunday. This week, I’m leaving Charlotte in Calico Creek and taking my six paragraphs from my first published book, Emma’s Wish, which is currently one of Amazon’s top 100 western historical romances. These are the opening six paragraphs.

“Please don’t send us away, Pa.” Six-year-old Nathan tugged on the rolled up sleeve of his father’s shirt. “We’ll be good. We promise. Don’t we, Joseph?”

Beside him, his older brother nodded vigorously, then scrubbed at his tear-stained eyes with his grimy knuckles.

Studying the two boys, Becky’s head bobbed in agreement, setting her pale blonde curls bouncing. She was too young to understand the significance of what Sam had just told them, but whatever her brothers did, Becky followed suit, as much as any three-year-old could.

Sam Jenkins raked his fingers through his hair. God, if there was any other way … But there wasn’t. It was the right thing to do. He’d done his best to look after the children and the ranch, if it could be called that – but it wasn’t good enough. He was failing at both, and now he had to muster up the courage to do what was best for them, no matter how painful it was. Seeing the children lined up in front of him, looking at him as if he was some kind of monster, just about tore his heart out.

Leaning over, he picked Becky up and settled her on his lap. Her pudgy arms reached up around his neck, and she planted a loud smacking kiss on his cheek. Swallowing painfully against the grief choking him, he took Nathan’s small hand. His gaze rested on the calluses on the little boy’s palm. Dammit, his hands shouldn’t already show signs of hard labor. Youngsters shouldn’t have to work that hard.

This was exactly why he’d made the decision, the decision the children hated him for right now. But they’d thank him later. He had to believe that.

I’d love to hear your comments, so don’t be shy. And don’t forget to check out the other sixes here.

MFRW Blog Hop – Firsts

Do you remember the first time you ate ice cream? The first time you danced? Your first pair of jeans? Probably not. But I’ll bet you remember your first love – the first person to make your heart race and your insides tingle? I do. Eighth grade. Dark hair, blue eyes, and a smile that made me melt in my shoes. And he didn’t even realize I lived on the same planet. I was sure I’d never survive such heartbreak. Luckily I did, and eventually I met the man I’d spend my life with. The funny thing is, I was his first (and only) love.

In Cade, the FIRST book in my western historical series, The Morgans of Rocky Ridge, Cade also remembers his first love, Isabella Morrow. They’ve been apart for years, but he’s never forgotten the one person he’s always loved. Unfortunately, she’s going to marry someone else. So what does he do? He holds up the stagecoach taking her home and kidnaps her.

Here’s a short excerpt:

Who was he kidding? He’d known even back then – before he’d even thought about girls for anything besides what fun it was to tease them and make them mad – that Bella was special. That he’d do anything to keep her safe and happy.

Cade couldn’t take it. In one swift move, he closed the gap between them and gently slid his arms around her shoulders.

Her floral scent reached his nose and he sucked in a greedy breath. He drew her closer, expecting her to pull away. Instead, she reached up and clutched his shirt in her fists and rested her head on his shoulder. Her hair felt like corn silk against his cheek.

“I’m sorry, Bella. You know I’d rather cut my heart out than hurt you, but I have to do this.”

She didn’t answer. He felt her heat against his chest, her heartbeat and his blending together until he wasn’t sure which was his and which was hers. Finally, she drew back slightly and looked up at him. Her lashes were damp, ringing dark blue irises. “I thought I knew you … but that was a long time ago. You’re not the same person now.”

No, he wasn’t the same carefree boy he’d been back then, when a fishing pole and Bella’s smile were the only two things he needed to be happy.

I’d love to hear about your first love. Leave a comment with your email address to be entered into a draw for one of three copies of The Morgans of Rocky Ridge: Cade.

The Morgans of Rocky Ridge: Cade is available on Amazon and Smashwords.

To learn more about me and my books, visit my website and follow me on Facebook and Twitter

Thanks for stopping by. Click the image at the top of the page to be transported back to main page of the hop.

Sneak Peek Sunday – a sign?

As well as this weeks’s six paragraphs for Sneak Peek Sunday, I’m also taking part in the first MFRW Blog Hop. If you’d like to read that post, click here.

This week, I’m continuing on with six paragraphs from the first book in a new historical western series set in the fictional town of Calico Creek, Texas. When last we left Charlotte, she was debating whether she had a future in Calico Creek other than becoming a “soiled dove.”

Her stomach rumbled. She couldn’t remember the last time she ate. The day before? Two days? She might not have much schooling, but even she knew a body couldn’t survive without food. She had to find something to eat.

Moving on, she wandered down the boardwalk, past the bath house and the surveyor’s office. A faint glow shone through a window of a building a few doors away. Picking up her pace, she hurried toward it. Maybe whoever lived there would be charitable enough to give her a chunk of bread at least.

She stopped in front of the window, squinting as she read the fading words on the glass – The Lucky Star Hotel. Proprietor: William A. Johnson. Through the muslin curtains, she could see a shadow moving about inside. She crossed to the door. Then she saw the piece of cardboard leaning against the window, the words “Help Wanted” in bold print.

She grinned. It was a sign. She just knew it. Everything was going to turn out fine. All she had to do was get the job, whatever it was.

She looked a sight. She knew that. Even in the faint light glowing from the lanterns inside, she could see the smudges of dirt on her skirt, the three-cornered tear on the sleeve of her blouse. She couldn’t even imagine what her hair must look like since it hadn’t been brushed in three days. Then there were the bruises …

Nothing she could do about any of it. Sliding her hands down her creased, worn skirt, she sucked in a calming breath and pinched her cheeks to give them some color. Holding her head high, she opened the door and went inside.

I’d love to hear your comments, so please don’t be shy. And don’t forget to click here to read the other authors’ snippets.

I hope you’ll stop by again next Sunday. Have a great week!

Sneak Peek Sunday – Will she or won’t she?

Welcome back to Sneak Peek Sunday. This week, we’re continuing on with six paragraphs from Under a Lucky Star, my current work-in-progress. Charlotte (or Charlie, as she prefers to be called) needs to find food and shelter. I’d love to hear your comments, so don’t be shy.

Startled, her heart skipped a beat. She bounded to her feet and ran.

Finally, she stopped in the alley between the mercantile and the sheriff’s office. She leaned against the wall, her breath coming in short gasps. A wave of dizziness washed over her. She sank to the dirt until it passed.

Laughter and music drifted through the night air. She got up, and using the wall as a support, she trudged to the alley entrance and looked out.

The swinging doors of the Broken Spur Saloon across the street opened, and two men staggered out. Flattening herself against the wall, she held her breath until they passed by.

Satisfied they’d moved on, Charlie scurried across the hard-packed dirt street and slid a glance into the saloon. Saturday night, and the saloon was packed with men drinking and playing poker. Her gaze drifted to the women casually moving from table to table. Women with painted lips, satin and silk dresses that showed their legs – and that barely covered their private parts. She watched the way the women smiled while the men ran their hands over them …

She couldn’t do it. Nausea bubbled in her stomach at the thought. Yet what choice did she have?

Thanks so much for dropping by. Please come back next week to see what Charlie does next. As well, don’t forget to check out the other amazing authors here

Going After the Heart with Kristen Beairsto

Please help me welcome my guest today, author Kristein Beairsto. Kristen is going to tell us a little about herself and her book, Going After the Heart. She’s also giving away an e-copy of her book to one lucky commenter.

Thanks so much for visiting today, Kristen.

First, tell us a little bit about yourself.Thank you so much for having me! I live in San Diego, Ca, so I tend to wear flip-flops year round – yes, even in the rain. LOL! I’ve been addicted to romance novels since I was a teenager. The rare times I’m not reading or writing, I can usually be found spending time with my husband and our two little girls or cheering on one of my favorite New York sports teams.

Lucky you living where it’s warm enough for flip-flops year-round.

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Certainly. Going After the Heart is about a woman named Lizzy Bergstrum who thinks her life is going great. Her marriage, career, and daughter – everything is perfect. Then out of the blue, her husband leaves because he’s convinced she doesn’t even know he exists anymore. After getting over her shock, she decides to go after him to fix things and has to find the fine line between making changes and not compromising who she is.

Isn’t that the worst – something happening that you didn’t even see coming? Good for her going after what she wants.

What is the single most important thing you’ve learned about managing your career?

Patience. Everything takes time in this business. From building a brand and author recognition to receiving royalty checks, literally everything takes longer than you would expect it to. If you’re going to survive, you need to become good friends with the art of waiting patiently.

Agreed. Unfortunately, patience is not one of my strong suits

Everyone always wants to know about a writer’s writing space. What’s yours like?

In a closet, literally. I live in an apartment and in the master bedroom there is a walk-in closet that has a little nook area with some small cabinets and a small vanity. When we moved in about a year ago, I decided to use it as a desk and would make the best spot for me to work because I could close my bedroom door if I needed to hide from a couple of little girls I know. ; )

Do you write every day? Every week? Odd times?

I really wish I got the chance to write every day, but that’s often wishful thinking. I have a day job, plus a husband and kids and all the activities that busy kids entail. So I don’t really have a set time that I get to write, I fit it in at whatever odd times I can.

When you get deep into a project, how do you balance your time between work and family?

It really depends on what’s going on. Usually it involves me getting a lot less sleep. LOL! I’m also very lucky in the fact that my family is very supportive. I usually just have to let my husband know what’s going on and he does his best to keep our girls out of my hair for a few hours at a time.

What was the most exciting thing that has happened in your career so far?

Having been published for almost a year, there’s a lot of things that have been exciting for me because so much of it is still new. But if I had to pick, I’d have to say my sales slowly, but steadily picking up over time. It’s a wonderful feeling to be selling that many copies and know your stories are reaching new people – because I don’t know that many people to buy that many copies! LOL!

That is a fabulous feeling.

What are you currently reading?

I just started the fourth book of HP Mallory’s Dulcie O’Neil series, Wuthering Frights. I discovered HP Mallory about six months ago with her Jolie Wilkins series. I love her voice, the characters, and how she’s able to draw out the story into so many books without making it seem like its dragging.

Yay! A new author for me to check out.

Why is the setting to your story so important?

The setting in Going After the Heart plays a very vital role in the story. The small Oregon town the story takes place in is the Gavin’s (Lizzy’s husband) home where he grew up and it’s where his family and friends live. The small country town is a foreign environment for Lizzy, who’s visited but has always been an outsider. So while Lizzy is trying to win Gavin back, she also has to deal with being in an environment that she’s not use to and doesn’t always understand. So the setting in this story really has some major effects on the characters.

Going After the Heart Blurb

Lizzy Bergstrum thought she finally reached a point in her life when she could honestly say she had it all. A thriving writing career.A wonderful daughter.And a marriage to the love of her life. But looks can apparently be deceiving because her husband just walked out on her and their eight year old daughter hates her.

Gavin Bergstrum can’t handle the direction his life has taken. Not only did he get laid off from his job, but his wife seems to barely remember he exists. Convinced he’s tried his best to change things, he begins to wrestle with the possibility of divorce. But he can’t think straight in the same house as Lizzy. Hating to leave his daughter, but needing time to think and come to terms with what he feels he needs to do, Gavin decides to return to his small home town in Oregon and stay at his family ranch with his father and brothers.

In shock, Lizzy gives Gavin his space. But as time passes and he doesn’t say a word about their marriage, Lizzy decides it’s past time she takes matters into her own hands. Without a word, she follows Gavin to Oregon.

Now facing a daughter who blames her for everything, an irritated husband, and a small town that feeds on the drama, Lizzy finds herself trying to figure out how to convince Gavin to give her another chance, teach her daughter it takes two to make a successful marriage, and overcome her own insecurities – all without compromising who she is.

Going After the Heart Excerpt

“Here’s the keys to the cabin. The round one is to the front and back doors and the square one is for the shed.” Ray’s voice sounded clear and even behind him.

Turning, Gavin watched his father hand Lizzy a small set of keys.

“I had Clare clean it up for you. Like I said on the phone, it’s not the newest place in the world, but it’s still in pretty good shape considering its age.”

Lizzy gave his father a small smile as she took the keys from him. “I’m sure it’s great.”

Her gaze moved to him and resentment swelled watching her smile fade. Although, what did he expect, she hadn’t smiled at him for months prior to him leaving. Why would she start now?

But the indiscernible look settling on Lizzy’s features startled him. After ten years of marriage and five years together before getting married, Gavin would have bet big money he knew every single one of his wife’s expressions. But this one, he realized dumbfounded, he didn’t recognize.

Her gaze dropped down to Sky. “Come on, Sky, we’ve got to go up to the cabin to settle in.”

Beside him, Gavin felt Sky’s shoulders tense.

“No!” She shouted the word venomously. “I don’t want to go with you,” she spat before turning pleading blue eyes up at him. “Dad, can’t I stay here with you and Papa? I don’t want to go with her.”

Apparently he missed the memo about today being Surprise Day, Gavin realized, as he could only stare at his daughter for a moment, never having seen this side of her before.

“I tell you what, little missy, no little girl is welcome in my house that sasses her mama the way you just did. No matter what injustice you think she’s handed you, a child never speaks to their parent that way.” Ray delivered his little speech with an even look and matching tone.

Sky’s cheeks turned bright red. Gavin frowned down at her. “Your grandfather’s right, you know better than to talk to your mom that way.”

Looking up to his wife, he arched a brow. Apparently the statute of limitations for surprises for the day hadn’t been reached yet, he thought silently in disbelief when Lizzy didn’t scold, or even comment on, Sky’s behavior.

Rather than say anything, Lizzy looked away and her back stiffened so much he thought her spine would snap.

What the hell is going on? His bewilderment bothered him.

Seeing Lizzy wouldn’t say anything, Gavin looked back down at Sky. “Honey, since I didn’t know you were coming, I don’t have anywhere set up for you to sleep. I’m sleeping on a cot in one of the extra rooms. I’ll try to look at setting something up tomorrow so you can stay a few nights with me. How does that sound?”

A stubborn look Gavin recognized all too easily surfaced on Sky’s face, but she remained silent, temporarily mollified and nodded. Turning away from him, Sky made her way back to the car and climbed in without so much as a single glance in her mother’s direction.

Gavin returned his gaze back to Lizzy, but she completely ignored him as she turned to climb back in the car.

That, at least, he’d grown used to.

Kristen Beairsto

In between her to-be-read pile and trying to bring the characters in her head alive, Kristen spends as much time as she can with family and friends. Much to her husband’s dismay, she enjoys collecting purses, shoes, and jewelry. During those rare times she’s not working at her day job, rushing her daughters somewhere, watching movies with her husband, and trying to meet a deadline, she can usually be found energetically cheering for one of her favorite New York sports teams.

As with just about every other writer on the planet, Kristen grew up an avid reader. She started with young adult before she technically hit the age range and moved on to sci-fi classics by Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury. At fifteen, her best friend gave her a book she just had to read! The book was Honest Illusions by Nora Roberts. Always a sucker for a happy ending, she was a goner and fell in love with the romance genre. Having started writing novel length stories at the age of eleven, Kristen’s stories all took a romantic turn from that point on.

You can connect with Kristen through her website, Facebook, or Twitter.

You can find Going After the Heart on Amazon, Barnes & Noble , Kobo and Smashwords

Thanks again for spending this time with me today, Kristen.

Don’t forget to leave a comment. You may be lucky and win a copy of Going After the Heart.

Sneak Peek Sunday

Since the close of Six Sentence Sunday, fabulous romance author – and my friend – Sara Ellwood has created Sneak Peek Sunday. Each week, authors are encouraged to post six paragraphs from a work in progress or a published book. I’m thrilled to be included in the first official SPS. I’m taking my six paragraphs this week from a historical western romance I’m working on tentatively called Under a Lucky Star.

A gust of wind whistled through the alley where Charlotte Reed huddled in the doorway behind the saddlemaker’s shop. She shivered. It sure was colder here at night than it was back in Austin.

She couldn’t stop the tears welling up in her eyes, but she sniffed loudly and blinked them back. What was she crying about? There was nothing left in Austin for her, and the less she thought about it, the better off she’d be.

Besides, crying didn’t help. Never had. Likely never would.

Crying stopped her from thinking, and right now, she needed to think. What was she going to do? She had no money left, no place to live, and no way to get to California. And she couldn’t stay holed up in an alley forever.

She could steal a horse, she supposed. But if she got caught … Things might not be looking very rosy right now, but she had no desire to end up on the wrong end of a noose. And horse thieving was a hanging offence in these parts.

A door creaked open. “Hey! You!”

Thanks for stopping by. I’d love to hear your comments. Want a sneak peek at some other great stories? Check them out here, and please stop by next week.