Rain Trueax's Blog, page 2
June 2, 2017
Kindle Unlimited
The following is a list of my books in Kindle Unlimited, Amazon's subscription service where the user pays $9.95 a month for unlimited borrows. These are all paranormal, contemporary romances with ♥♥♥♥ levels for spice. They are stories set in the real world but with mystical elements that may include witches, monsters, ghosts, spirit guides, shamans and assorted other fantasy beings.
Sky Daughter
Diablo Canyon
Enchantress' Secret
To Speak of Things Unseen
Sky Daughter
Diablo Canyon
Enchantress' Secret
To Speak of Things Unseen
February 1, 2017
book list
Historical, contemporary, and paranormal romances of women facing a challenge, all set in the American West.
Below is a current list of all my novels. Full novels run 80-125,000 words. Behind a title, (n) indicates novella which range in length from 20,000 to 40,000 words. For more on the books, click on the image in the sidebar for Romances with an Edge. There you will find a blog with links to buy and more info on the heat levels of the books. Most of my stories involve suspense, which means danger and violence. There is often mild profanity.
To alert readers to the heat level in any book, I've devised a number system. In Romances with an Edge , you will see hearts below the books.
♥ ------holding hands, perhaps a gentle kiss
♥♥ ---- more kisses but no tongue-- no foreplay
♥♥♥ ---kissing, tongue, caressing, foreplay & pillow talk
♥♥♥♥ --all of above, full sexual experience including climax
♥♥♥♥♥ -all of above including coarser language and sex more frequent
Generally speaking, novellas are ♥♥ and full length novels are ♥♥♥♥
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Historical Romances OregonThe Stevens family with three daughters and their mother as they live and love through Oregon's settling. Round the Bend-- 1852: wagons head out on the Oregon Trail. Amy is naive about what
love might be-- Matt disillusioned. Young love faces many challenges.Where Dreams Go-- 1855: Martha is a widow and does not expect the return of a man who presents temptations she'd forgotten. Western Oregon homesteading.Going Home-- 1965: Raine thought she found love and then the Civil War intervened. Now he's back and heading east of the Cascades to his ranch. What's she to do? Love Waits-- 1867: Belle has come to Eastern Oregon on a mission, which could be
compromised by the cavalry officer she's been unable to forget.
Arizona
Beginning with one outlaw, the O'Brian story follows two brothers and one daughter. Book 4, as a novella, provides a bridge to the Taggert brothers and their father. All of the books share some characters as friends or family. There will be a 9th Arizona historical in summer of 2017 with characters who are the ancestors of those in the Hemstreet witches.
Arizona Sunset-- 1883: Abigail is dissatisfied with her life but did not have in mind quite the change that one outlaw brings when he turns her world upside down.Tucson Moon-- 1885: Priscilla is not going to fall in love with a man who wears a gun, not
even if he's a lawman, but she'll help him when his small daughter arrives.Arizona Dawn-- 1898: With a university degree, Grace returns to Tucson, all grown up and ready to fight for the man she loves, who is back from war.Rose's Gift (n)-- 1899: Widow, Rose receives a proposal, but that's not possible at her age.
Ollie finds his life complicated by the arrival of a secret. Echoes from the Past-- 1901: Holly comes to Tucson to organize an archaeological dig--
not to fall in love. Vince is too old and has lived too hard a life Lands of Fire-- 1902: Lily finds artistic inspiration when she moves to Tucson to be close to her sister-- that and a lot more with Jesse.Bound for the Hills-- 1905: Wilhelmina rents a mountain cabin and shockingly discovers the hero of her dime novels actually exists, and he's not pleased.Sonoran Christmas (n)-- 1905: Frederica needs to find her daughter. Meeting a real life retired (mostly) outlaw is the help she needs-- in more
ways than one.
Historical Contemporarybooks set in an historic period but beyond the early 1900sLuck of the Draw-- 1974: Billy Stempleton, bronc and bull rider, comes to Pendleton for
the Roundup and meets someone, who will change his life.
Contemporary romancesSet in the American West-- Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana, these stories are romances with danger and suspense. Some share characters.
Desert Inferno-- Landscape painter, Rachel O'Brian finds a dying man on her family's remote desert ranch and Border Patrol comes to investigate.
Set in Southern Arizona Evening Star-- When Portland attorney, Marla Jamison, meets Randy O'Brian, she wants nothing to do with the younger, handsome cop. What we need and want, aren't always the same thing. Bannister's Way-- David Bannister has been undercover before but when he takes a job in Oregon and reconnects with his artist wife, Raven, undercover takes on a new meaning. David was in Desert Inferno. Characters from Evening Star are in this book.
Moon Dust-- Facing more stress than she can handle, Susan asks for a divorce. Dane
is facing his own stresses as tensions with a militia leader escalate.Second Chance-- Psychologist Barrett juggles being a single mother and an invasive ex. She cannot afford the complications a truck driver, animal rescuer,
much younger man would bring to her daughter or her. This book follows up secondary characters in Moon Dust.
Hidden Pearl-- Architect, S.T. Taggert needs to find his sister who apparently joined a
dangerous cult. He doesn't want the complications of a beautiful photo-
journalist. Her Dark Angel-- Katy has come to Reno to help her uncle while his receptionist is out. Dill, because of a precarious situation, is determined to make her visit a short one. Reno, Portland and Tahoe.
From Here to There-- A wedding that is a mistake (maybe) and two marriages are part of Rocking H ranch life-- MontanaA Montana Christmas (n)-- Can a family heal from years of dysfunction? Christmas may not be the easiest time to find out. Following up on From Here to There with a continuing love story.
Women Starting Over Series
When life deals you an unexpected shift, what do you do with it? Red Hawk Christmas (n)-- Leaving Chicago, Diana and her two Chihuahuas travel the
West in an RV. She's not looking for romance but it might find her. Supernatural romances
Set in the mountain West, these stories explore the 'other' side as ordinary people come up against what is anything but ordinary.
Sky Daughter-- When Maggie returns to the mountains of Idaho to heal from losses, she learns her family wasn't what she believed. Even more unexpected is Reuben. Violence, supernatural and spice Diablo Canyon-- combining in one book the three following novellas and set in Montana ranching country. This book has the spice the novellas don't When Fates Conspire (n)-- All is not as it seems when star-crossed lovers meet again and break the rules with the help of their spirit guides The Dark of the Moon (n)-- He sees and talks to the other side. She has a ranch to operate and a son to grieve. The supernatural problems are greater than either know even with spirit guides to help Storm in the Canyon (n)—Being a spirit guide apparently isn’t all that is possible for Racine. She is needed to combat an old evil returned. Falling in love with a human wasn’t in the plan—or was it?
Hemstreet Witch Series
Four sisters and their mother use the powers, with which they were born, for good. Evil always lurks. The novels run 50-60,000 words with violence and spice.Enchantress' Secret—Denali is asked to do a favor for her mother and help solve a murder. The main suspect has his own secrets but none are a match for Denali’s. To Speak of Things Unseen—Elke believes she can help people better understand those with natural born spiritual powers if she can convince an author to share his supernatural work more widely.
Below is a current list of all my novels. Full novels run 80-125,000 words. Behind a title, (n) indicates novella which range in length from 20,000 to 40,000 words. For more on the books, click on the image in the sidebar for Romances with an Edge. There you will find a blog with links to buy and more info on the heat levels of the books. Most of my stories involve suspense, which means danger and violence. There is often mild profanity.
To alert readers to the heat level in any book, I've devised a number system. In Romances with an Edge , you will see hearts below the books.
♥ ------holding hands, perhaps a gentle kiss
♥♥ ---- more kisses but no tongue-- no foreplay
♥♥♥ ---kissing, tongue, caressing, foreplay & pillow talk
♥♥♥♥ --all of above, full sexual experience including climax
♥♥♥♥♥ -all of above including coarser language and sex more frequent
Generally speaking, novellas are ♥♥ and full length novels are ♥♥♥♥
><><><><
Historical Romances OregonThe Stevens family with three daughters and their mother as they live and love through Oregon's settling. Round the Bend-- 1852: wagons head out on the Oregon Trail. Amy is naive about what
love might be-- Matt disillusioned. Young love faces many challenges.Where Dreams Go-- 1855: Martha is a widow and does not expect the return of a man who presents temptations she'd forgotten. Western Oregon homesteading.Going Home-- 1965: Raine thought she found love and then the Civil War intervened. Now he's back and heading east of the Cascades to his ranch. What's she to do? Love Waits-- 1867: Belle has come to Eastern Oregon on a mission, which could be
compromised by the cavalry officer she's been unable to forget.
Arizona
Beginning with one outlaw, the O'Brian story follows two brothers and one daughter. Book 4, as a novella, provides a bridge to the Taggert brothers and their father. All of the books share some characters as friends or family. There will be a 9th Arizona historical in summer of 2017 with characters who are the ancestors of those in the Hemstreet witches.
Arizona Sunset-- 1883: Abigail is dissatisfied with her life but did not have in mind quite the change that one outlaw brings when he turns her world upside down.Tucson Moon-- 1885: Priscilla is not going to fall in love with a man who wears a gun, not
even if he's a lawman, but she'll help him when his small daughter arrives.Arizona Dawn-- 1898: With a university degree, Grace returns to Tucson, all grown up and ready to fight for the man she loves, who is back from war.Rose's Gift (n)-- 1899: Widow, Rose receives a proposal, but that's not possible at her age.
Ollie finds his life complicated by the arrival of a secret. Echoes from the Past-- 1901: Holly comes to Tucson to organize an archaeological dig--
not to fall in love. Vince is too old and has lived too hard a life Lands of Fire-- 1902: Lily finds artistic inspiration when she moves to Tucson to be close to her sister-- that and a lot more with Jesse.Bound for the Hills-- 1905: Wilhelmina rents a mountain cabin and shockingly discovers the hero of her dime novels actually exists, and he's not pleased.Sonoran Christmas (n)-- 1905: Frederica needs to find her daughter. Meeting a real life retired (mostly) outlaw is the help she needs-- in more
ways than one.
Historical Contemporarybooks set in an historic period but beyond the early 1900sLuck of the Draw-- 1974: Billy Stempleton, bronc and bull rider, comes to Pendleton for
the Roundup and meets someone, who will change his life.
Contemporary romancesSet in the American West-- Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana, these stories are romances with danger and suspense. Some share characters.
Desert Inferno-- Landscape painter, Rachel O'Brian finds a dying man on her family's remote desert ranch and Border Patrol comes to investigate.
Set in Southern Arizona Evening Star-- When Portland attorney, Marla Jamison, meets Randy O'Brian, she wants nothing to do with the younger, handsome cop. What we need and want, aren't always the same thing. Bannister's Way-- David Bannister has been undercover before but when he takes a job in Oregon and reconnects with his artist wife, Raven, undercover takes on a new meaning. David was in Desert Inferno. Characters from Evening Star are in this book.
Moon Dust-- Facing more stress than she can handle, Susan asks for a divorce. Dane
is facing his own stresses as tensions with a militia leader escalate.Second Chance-- Psychologist Barrett juggles being a single mother and an invasive ex. She cannot afford the complications a truck driver, animal rescuer,
much younger man would bring to her daughter or her. This book follows up secondary characters in Moon Dust.
Hidden Pearl-- Architect, S.T. Taggert needs to find his sister who apparently joined a
dangerous cult. He doesn't want the complications of a beautiful photo-
journalist. Her Dark Angel-- Katy has come to Reno to help her uncle while his receptionist is out. Dill, because of a precarious situation, is determined to make her visit a short one. Reno, Portland and Tahoe.
From Here to There-- A wedding that is a mistake (maybe) and two marriages are part of Rocking H ranch life-- MontanaA Montana Christmas (n)-- Can a family heal from years of dysfunction? Christmas may not be the easiest time to find out. Following up on From Here to There with a continuing love story.
Women Starting Over Series
When life deals you an unexpected shift, what do you do with it? Red Hawk Christmas (n)-- Leaving Chicago, Diana and her two Chihuahuas travel the
West in an RV. She's not looking for romance but it might find her. Supernatural romances
Set in the mountain West, these stories explore the 'other' side as ordinary people come up against what is anything but ordinary.
Sky Daughter-- When Maggie returns to the mountains of Idaho to heal from losses, she learns her family wasn't what she believed. Even more unexpected is Reuben. Violence, supernatural and spice Diablo Canyon-- combining in one book the three following novellas and set in Montana ranching country. This book has the spice the novellas don't When Fates Conspire (n)-- All is not as it seems when star-crossed lovers meet again and break the rules with the help of their spirit guides The Dark of the Moon (n)-- He sees and talks to the other side. She has a ranch to operate and a son to grieve. The supernatural problems are greater than either know even with spirit guides to help Storm in the Canyon (n)—Being a spirit guide apparently isn’t all that is possible for Racine. She is needed to combat an old evil returned. Falling in love with a human wasn’t in the plan—or was it?
Hemstreet Witch Series
Four sisters and their mother use the powers, with which they were born, for good. Evil always lurks. The novels run 50-60,000 words with violence and spice.Enchantress' Secret—Denali is asked to do a favor for her mother and help solve a murder. The main suspect has his own secrets but none are a match for Denali’s. To Speak of Things Unseen—Elke believes she can help people better understand those with natural born spiritual powers if she can convince an author to share his supernatural work more widely.
January 30, 2017
Timeline for Arizona Historical Romances-- O'Brian and Taggert families
Some of these people are ancestors of the Hemstreet witches, a contemporary paranormal romance series
1833 Charles Prevo
1840 Jeremiah Taggert b. Kansas; James Redman b. Iowa; Rose Jarred b. Missouri
1841 Victor Hemstreet b. San Francisco
1842 Roman Alexander Oliver b. Kansas1843 Lars Ericson b. Wisconsin1844 Raul Cordova b. Mexico; Valerie Simpson b. Kansas1845 Robert Mitchell b. New York; Frederica Jamison b. Boston1846 –1847 Delbert Sicilla b. West Virginia1848 Wei Song b. Weaverville California1849 Maria Jacinta b. Mexico1850 Constance Banyon b. Maryland1851 Eleanor Samuels b. San Francisco1852 Samuel Ryker (O’Brian) b. Kansas1853 Laura Ericson b. Wisconsin1854 Cordell O’Brian b. Kansas1855 ---1856 ---1857 James Redman m. Rose Jarrod Missouri; Clint Adams b. Nebraska1858 Abigail Spenser b. Illinois1859 --1860 Vincent Taggert b. Kansas; Frances Johnson b. Kansas; Jeremiah m. Valerie 1861 Priscilla Wesley b. Georgia1862 --1863 Ellen Buchanan b. Texas1864 --1865 --1866 Asa Taggert b. Utah; Rafael Cordova b. Mexico1867 Cole Taggert b. Utah1868 Jesse Taggert b. Utah; Connie m. Delbert Sicilla 1869 Juan Cordova b. Mexico m. Josita1870 Raquel Cordova b. Mexico d. 18701871 Laura Ericson m. James Ferris Tucson, Arizona1872 James Angus b. Illinois –1873 Eleanor Samuels m. Victor Hemstreet; Jason Ferris b. Tucson1874 Felipe Valencia b. Arizona1875 Clint Madison b. Illinois; Nathan Hemstreet b. San Francisco1876 Gabriel Cordova b. Arizona; Holly Jacobs b. Illinois; Wilhelmina Butler b. San Francisco1877 Grace O’Brian b. Kansas; Catherine Lawrence b. Boston1878 Anita Cordova b. Arizona; James Ferris b. Tucson1879 Alexa Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas; Lily Jacobs b. Illinois1880 Wei Zian b. Arizona1881 –1882 Sam & Abigail meet June and m. June and Nov. Tombstone1883 –1884 David Ryker b. Circle R Ranch1885 Priscilla & Cord talk; Grace arrives in Tucson1886 cabin—Jan; earthquake May 3; marriage—July1887 Alice Ryker b. Circle R Ranch1888 Jesse O’Brian b. Circle O Ranch; Raquel Valencia b. Tucson1889 Daniel Cordova b. Circle O Ranch Jan.1890 Ellen m. Robert Mitchell; Jose Valencia b. Tucson1891 Alicia O’Brian b. August Circle O1892 Roberto Cordova b. December Tucson1893 Grace leaves for back East; Royce Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas1894 Will Tremaine publishes first dime novel1895 James Redman dies Feb. Tucson; James O’Brian b. Circle O, July1896 Valerie Taggert dies1897 Rafe Joins Rough Riders; Margarita Valencia b. Tucson1898 Rafe mustered out Feb. 15; Grace returns to Tucson June; Marries Rafe Sept.; Victor Hemstreet falls down staircase and breaks neck1899 Donovan Cordova b. November Tucson on the Cordova Ranch; Holly returns to Arizona; Rose Redman & Roman Oliver m. Tucson 12-311900 Cole working ranch 1901 April Holly meets Vince Taggert as she readies her dig. Married same year1902 Lily comes to Tucson meets Jesse Taggert; Cole working as range detective1903 Tyler Taggert b to Lily&Jesse; Joshua b. to Vince&Holly1904 ---1905 Samuel Butler dies; Ruth T. born; Lucinda T. b. Willy rents lake cabin meets Cole1906 Nathan Hemstreet returns to Arizona 1907 Josiah Hemstreet b. Tucson1908 Redland Hemstreet b. Tucson
1833 Charles Prevo
1840 Jeremiah Taggert b. Kansas; James Redman b. Iowa; Rose Jarred b. Missouri
1841 Victor Hemstreet b. San Francisco
1842 Roman Alexander Oliver b. Kansas1843 Lars Ericson b. Wisconsin1844 Raul Cordova b. Mexico; Valerie Simpson b. Kansas1845 Robert Mitchell b. New York; Frederica Jamison b. Boston1846 –1847 Delbert Sicilla b. West Virginia1848 Wei Song b. Weaverville California1849 Maria Jacinta b. Mexico1850 Constance Banyon b. Maryland1851 Eleanor Samuels b. San Francisco1852 Samuel Ryker (O’Brian) b. Kansas1853 Laura Ericson b. Wisconsin1854 Cordell O’Brian b. Kansas1855 ---1856 ---1857 James Redman m. Rose Jarrod Missouri; Clint Adams b. Nebraska1858 Abigail Spenser b. Illinois1859 --1860 Vincent Taggert b. Kansas; Frances Johnson b. Kansas; Jeremiah m. Valerie 1861 Priscilla Wesley b. Georgia1862 --1863 Ellen Buchanan b. Texas1864 --1865 --1866 Asa Taggert b. Utah; Rafael Cordova b. Mexico1867 Cole Taggert b. Utah1868 Jesse Taggert b. Utah; Connie m. Delbert Sicilla 1869 Juan Cordova b. Mexico m. Josita1870 Raquel Cordova b. Mexico d. 18701871 Laura Ericson m. James Ferris Tucson, Arizona1872 James Angus b. Illinois –1873 Eleanor Samuels m. Victor Hemstreet; Jason Ferris b. Tucson1874 Felipe Valencia b. Arizona1875 Clint Madison b. Illinois; Nathan Hemstreet b. San Francisco1876 Gabriel Cordova b. Arizona; Holly Jacobs b. Illinois; Wilhelmina Butler b. San Francisco1877 Grace O’Brian b. Kansas; Catherine Lawrence b. Boston1878 Anita Cordova b. Arizona; James Ferris b. Tucson1879 Alexa Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas; Lily Jacobs b. Illinois1880 Wei Zian b. Arizona1881 –1882 Sam & Abigail meet June and m. June and Nov. Tombstone1883 –1884 David Ryker b. Circle R Ranch1885 Priscilla & Cord talk; Grace arrives in Tucson1886 cabin—Jan; earthquake May 3; marriage—July1887 Alice Ryker b. Circle R Ranch1888 Jesse O’Brian b. Circle O Ranch; Raquel Valencia b. Tucson1889 Daniel Cordova b. Circle O Ranch Jan.1890 Ellen m. Robert Mitchell; Jose Valencia b. Tucson1891 Alicia O’Brian b. August Circle O1892 Roberto Cordova b. December Tucson1893 Grace leaves for back East; Royce Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas1894 Will Tremaine publishes first dime novel1895 James Redman dies Feb. Tucson; James O’Brian b. Circle O, July1896 Valerie Taggert dies1897 Rafe Joins Rough Riders; Margarita Valencia b. Tucson1898 Rafe mustered out Feb. 15; Grace returns to Tucson June; Marries Rafe Sept.; Victor Hemstreet falls down staircase and breaks neck1899 Donovan Cordova b. November Tucson on the Cordova Ranch; Holly returns to Arizona; Rose Redman & Roman Oliver m. Tucson 12-311900 Cole working ranch 1901 April Holly meets Vince Taggert as she readies her dig. Married same year1902 Lily comes to Tucson meets Jesse Taggert; Cole working as range detective1903 Tyler Taggert b to Lily&Jesse; Joshua b. to Vince&Holly1904 ---1905 Samuel Butler dies; Ruth T. born; Lucinda T. b. Willy rents lake cabin meets Cole1906 Nathan Hemstreet returns to Arizona 1907 Josiah Hemstreet b. Tucson1908 Redland Hemstreet b. Tucson
January 29, 2017
Timeline for Oregon Historicals
Timeline for the Oregon Historical Romances with the Stevens family, friends, lovers, and historical events impacting Oregon
1795 Elijah (St. Louis Jones b. Missouri 7-31 Leo 1815 Martha Stevens b. Missouri 10-18 Libra 1825 Adam Stone b. Ohio 7/31 Leo 1826 Jedediah Hardman b. Georgia 12/4 Sagittarius 1829 Joshua Hardman b. Georgia 7/17 Cancer 1831 Matthew Kane b. Missouri 2/9 Aquarius 1832 Randall Phillips b. Virginia 1/10 Capricorn 1834 Loraine Stevens b. Missouri 10/31 1835 Han Jei b. China Bernice McDowell b. Illinois 1840 Arabelle Stevens b. Missouri 4/28 Taurus 1841 Jason Phillips b. Virginia 1/14 Capricorn 1849 gold discovered in California 1850 Homestead Land Act 1851 Amy Stevens and Matt Kane marry 1855 Adam Stone returns to Oregon Laura Kane b. Oregon Adam meets Rand Phillips fighting Rogue Indian War 1856 Trail of Tears—Oregon 1857 Elijah Stone b. Oregon Belle meets Lt. Rand Phillips 1859 Oregon becomes a state; Rufus Kane b. Oregon 1861 Civil War begins 1862 Jed Hardman meets Loraine and goes to war Gold discovered in Canyon City 1864 Snake War begins 1865 Lee surrenders -- Civil War is over Jed Hardman returns to Oregon Captain Rand Phillips returns to Oregon for new war 1867 Belle Stevens (Morgan) returns to Oregon 1868 Snake War ends 1872 Modoc War 1873 Portland destroyed by fire 1877 Nez Perce War 1878 Bannock-Paiute War
1795 Elijah (St. Louis Jones b. Missouri 7-31 Leo 1815 Martha Stevens b. Missouri 10-18 Libra 1825 Adam Stone b. Ohio 7/31 Leo 1826 Jedediah Hardman b. Georgia 12/4 Sagittarius 1829 Joshua Hardman b. Georgia 7/17 Cancer 1831 Matthew Kane b. Missouri 2/9 Aquarius 1832 Randall Phillips b. Virginia 1/10 Capricorn 1834 Loraine Stevens b. Missouri 10/31 1835 Han Jei b. China Bernice McDowell b. Illinois 1840 Arabelle Stevens b. Missouri 4/28 Taurus 1841 Jason Phillips b. Virginia 1/14 Capricorn 1849 gold discovered in California 1850 Homestead Land Act 1851 Amy Stevens and Matt Kane marry 1855 Adam Stone returns to Oregon Laura Kane b. Oregon Adam meets Rand Phillips fighting Rogue Indian War 1856 Trail of Tears—Oregon 1857 Elijah Stone b. Oregon Belle meets Lt. Rand Phillips 1859 Oregon becomes a state; Rufus Kane b. Oregon 1861 Civil War begins 1862 Jed Hardman meets Loraine and goes to war Gold discovered in Canyon City 1864 Snake War begins 1865 Lee surrenders -- Civil War is over Jed Hardman returns to Oregon Captain Rand Phillips returns to Oregon for new war 1867 Belle Stevens (Morgan) returns to Oregon 1868 Snake War ends 1872 Modoc War 1873 Portland destroyed by fire 1877 Nez Perce War 1878 Bannock-Paiute War
January 24, 2017
POV
I have been thinking of giving this blog a little break and picking it up again maybe in the summer if it seems a better time. It doesn't have very many readers and and only rarely comments. If you are one of the readers, please consider leaving a comment or emailing me as to whether you look forward to it or feel it's repetitive and you're considering dropping it also. Readers and writers help each other when they interact even if only a little.
This excerpt is from one of my personal favorite contemporary books, Her Dark Angel. One scene in it came right out of one of my dreams. I consider it a bit of a beauty and the beast story (the beast more the soul of the hero than his appearance as he's a very handsome man-- actor and model, Daniel Sobieray well captures the complexity of the man).
With angel in the title, it might seem it's a supernatural story; but it's not-- even though there is one hard to explain event-- but more metaphysical and the sort of thing that shows up in the papers once in a while.
The main reason for sharing this excerpt is how the styles of writing have changed from when I wrote it in the mid-'90s to today regarding point of view. Back then to have the points of view switch around was perfectly acceptable. Today a few writers still do it, but it's much less favored. Today, it's more common to have a point of view last a scene, chapter. or more rarely a whole book. So here's the excerpt as it appears today in the book. Below it, I rewrote it keeping that scene in one point of view. I could redo the whole book and might (most of my books from the 90s were written in this style). The problem with shifting points of view is always being sure the reader knows whose head they are inside. Head hopping takes some skill to make that obvious.
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For a moment, Dill forgot what he'd intended to do, that he'd wanted her to fight him off, to have Johnny catch them like that. Johnny's anger with him should be cause enough for them both to catch a plane to safer ground, but the feel of her against him, the softness of her body pressed against his made him lose track of his intentions. One kiss. What could one kiss hurt? He bent, his lips brushed hers. She started to pull away, but his hands left the wall and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her against him. "God, sweetness," he murmured, half prayer, half entreaty as he felt her press against him, her lips softening as he again bent to claim their sweetness. Katy opened her mouth, letting his kiss more fully possess her. Her body was alive with the feeling of his lips, his tongue, his hands, his hard body against her. She gave up the battle and brought her arms up around his neck. In some distant corner of her brain, she thought, this was wrong, but she couldn't remember why, couldn’t push away, couldn't do anything but claim what he was offering. She heard a door open, felt Dill’s body tense and from somewhere found the strength to push away, except Dill held her, the smile on his lips cold as he shifted to cup her breast with his hand. She slapped ineffectually at him, beginning to feel a real anger as she understood what he was doing, all but the reasons for it "What the bloody hell," her uncle's yell came from the doorway. Dill moved away, turning to face the enraged rush of her uncle. "You punk," Johnny roared. His fist lashed out and caught Dill on the point of his chin. Dill made no attempt to defend himself and took the next blow too, letting Johnny vent the anger he'd known he would feel. Not wanting the older man's heart to be over worked by a fight, Dill stepped into the next wild swing and felt it lift him almost from his feet and stagger him against the wall where he slid to the ground, half dazed from the blow. Johnny turned back to Katy. "Did he hurt you?" "He… he was just kissing me." "I saw!" Johnny's voice rose with his anger. He turned to stare down at Dill who was rubbing his jaw. "I trusted you, and you treated her like one of your whores," he said, his voice now coming back to a more normal range. Dill pushed himself to his feet. "Trust?" he asked. "You used me, old man. I've always known it, and this proves it." Johnny stared at him, the hurt in his eyes. "How could you lay a hand on her? Don't you know what kind of woman she is?" "Too good for my kind? Is that it?" Dill asked, deliberately lighting a cigarette. Go for broke, that was his only thought now. "She's... You're..." Johnny stopped, unable or unwilling to voice the gulf between them. Dill wanted him angry, wanted him protective, wanted him gone, and he used a crude obscenity; then added, "She's just another woman."
<><><><><
For a moment, Dill forgot what he'd intended to do, that he'd wanted her to fight him off, to have Johnny catch them like that. Johnny's anger with him should be cause enough for them both to catch a plane to safer ground, but the feel of her against him, the softness of her body pressed against his made him lose track of his intentions. One kiss. What could one kiss hurt?Bending, his lips brushed hers. She started to pull away, but his hands left the wall, and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her against him. "God, sweetness," he murmured, half prayer, half entreaty as he felt her press against him, her lips softening as he again bent to claim their sweetness. It shocked him as she opened her mouth, allowing him access. He felt her body come alive with the kiss-- worse, so was his. When her arms went up around his neck, he knew it was wrong, a mistake, that this had been way more than he intended. He heard the door open and tensed his body, found the strength to push away but he had one last thing to do. He knew his smile was cold, soul destroying when he cupped her breast with his hand. She seemed to come awake and slap ineffectually at him, he saw the anger in her eyes. Good. He wanted her furious. "What the bloody hell," Johnny yelled from the doorway. There was shock in the old man's eyes, as his mouth dropped open. Dill moved farther from Katy ready to face the enraged rush of her uncle, the man who had done so many things for him, for whom he would have given his life. He was doing something even harder-- giving up respect and even his soul but it had to be this way.
"You punk," Johnny roared. His fist lashed out and caught Dill on the point of his chin. Dill made no attempt to defend himself and took the next blow too, letting Johnny vent the anger he'd known he would feel. Not wanting the older man's heart to be over worked by a fight, Dill stepped into the next wild swing and felt it lift him almost from his feet and stagger him against the wall where he slid to the ground, half dazed from the blow. Johnny turned back to Katy. "Did he hurt you?" "He… he was just kissing me." "I saw!" Johnny's voice rose with his anger. He turned to stare down at Dill who was rubbing his jaw. "I trusted you, and you treated her like one of your whores," he said, his voice now coming back to a more normal range. Dill pushed himself to his feet. "Trust?" he asked. "You used me, old man. I've always known it, and this proves it." Johnny stared at him, the hurt in his eyes. "How could you lay a hand on her? Don't you know what kind of woman she is?" "Too good for my kind? Is that it?" Dill asked, deliberately lighting a cigarette. Go for broke, that was his only thought now. "She's... You're..." Johnny stopped, unable or unwilling to voice the gulf between them. Dill wanted him angry, wanted him protective, wanted him gone, and he used a crude obscenity; then added, "She's just another woman."
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I have to admit, I like the version all from Dill's view but do I really want to rewrite this book? I can't afford the time right now. So if anyone reading here is willing to give their opinion, I'd appreciate it...
This excerpt is from one of my personal favorite contemporary books, Her Dark Angel. One scene in it came right out of one of my dreams. I consider it a bit of a beauty and the beast story (the beast more the soul of the hero than his appearance as he's a very handsome man-- actor and model, Daniel Sobieray well captures the complexity of the man).
With angel in the title, it might seem it's a supernatural story; but it's not-- even though there is one hard to explain event-- but more metaphysical and the sort of thing that shows up in the papers once in a while.
The main reason for sharing this excerpt is how the styles of writing have changed from when I wrote it in the mid-'90s to today regarding point of view. Back then to have the points of view switch around was perfectly acceptable. Today a few writers still do it, but it's much less favored. Today, it's more common to have a point of view last a scene, chapter. or more rarely a whole book. So here's the excerpt as it appears today in the book. Below it, I rewrote it keeping that scene in one point of view. I could redo the whole book and might (most of my books from the 90s were written in this style). The problem with shifting points of view is always being sure the reader knows whose head they are inside. Head hopping takes some skill to make that obvious.
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For a moment, Dill forgot what he'd intended to do, that he'd wanted her to fight him off, to have Johnny catch them like that. Johnny's anger with him should be cause enough for them both to catch a plane to safer ground, but the feel of her against him, the softness of her body pressed against his made him lose track of his intentions. One kiss. What could one kiss hurt? He bent, his lips brushed hers. She started to pull away, but his hands left the wall and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her against him. "God, sweetness," he murmured, half prayer, half entreaty as he felt her press against him, her lips softening as he again bent to claim their sweetness. Katy opened her mouth, letting his kiss more fully possess her. Her body was alive with the feeling of his lips, his tongue, his hands, his hard body against her. She gave up the battle and brought her arms up around his neck. In some distant corner of her brain, she thought, this was wrong, but she couldn't remember why, couldn’t push away, couldn't do anything but claim what he was offering. She heard a door open, felt Dill’s body tense and from somewhere found the strength to push away, except Dill held her, the smile on his lips cold as he shifted to cup her breast with his hand. She slapped ineffectually at him, beginning to feel a real anger as she understood what he was doing, all but the reasons for it "What the bloody hell," her uncle's yell came from the doorway. Dill moved away, turning to face the enraged rush of her uncle. "You punk," Johnny roared. His fist lashed out and caught Dill on the point of his chin. Dill made no attempt to defend himself and took the next blow too, letting Johnny vent the anger he'd known he would feel. Not wanting the older man's heart to be over worked by a fight, Dill stepped into the next wild swing and felt it lift him almost from his feet and stagger him against the wall where he slid to the ground, half dazed from the blow. Johnny turned back to Katy. "Did he hurt you?" "He… he was just kissing me." "I saw!" Johnny's voice rose with his anger. He turned to stare down at Dill who was rubbing his jaw. "I trusted you, and you treated her like one of your whores," he said, his voice now coming back to a more normal range. Dill pushed himself to his feet. "Trust?" he asked. "You used me, old man. I've always known it, and this proves it." Johnny stared at him, the hurt in his eyes. "How could you lay a hand on her? Don't you know what kind of woman she is?" "Too good for my kind? Is that it?" Dill asked, deliberately lighting a cigarette. Go for broke, that was his only thought now. "She's... You're..." Johnny stopped, unable or unwilling to voice the gulf between them. Dill wanted him angry, wanted him protective, wanted him gone, and he used a crude obscenity; then added, "She's just another woman."
<><><><><
For a moment, Dill forgot what he'd intended to do, that he'd wanted her to fight him off, to have Johnny catch them like that. Johnny's anger with him should be cause enough for them both to catch a plane to safer ground, but the feel of her against him, the softness of her body pressed against his made him lose track of his intentions. One kiss. What could one kiss hurt?Bending, his lips brushed hers. She started to pull away, but his hands left the wall, and he wrapped his arms around her, drawing her against him. "God, sweetness," he murmured, half prayer, half entreaty as he felt her press against him, her lips softening as he again bent to claim their sweetness. It shocked him as she opened her mouth, allowing him access. He felt her body come alive with the kiss-- worse, so was his. When her arms went up around his neck, he knew it was wrong, a mistake, that this had been way more than he intended. He heard the door open and tensed his body, found the strength to push away but he had one last thing to do. He knew his smile was cold, soul destroying when he cupped her breast with his hand. She seemed to come awake and slap ineffectually at him, he saw the anger in her eyes. Good. He wanted her furious. "What the bloody hell," Johnny yelled from the doorway. There was shock in the old man's eyes, as his mouth dropped open. Dill moved farther from Katy ready to face the enraged rush of her uncle, the man who had done so many things for him, for whom he would have given his life. He was doing something even harder-- giving up respect and even his soul but it had to be this way.
"You punk," Johnny roared. His fist lashed out and caught Dill on the point of his chin. Dill made no attempt to defend himself and took the next blow too, letting Johnny vent the anger he'd known he would feel. Not wanting the older man's heart to be over worked by a fight, Dill stepped into the next wild swing and felt it lift him almost from his feet and stagger him against the wall where he slid to the ground, half dazed from the blow. Johnny turned back to Katy. "Did he hurt you?" "He… he was just kissing me." "I saw!" Johnny's voice rose with his anger. He turned to stare down at Dill who was rubbing his jaw. "I trusted you, and you treated her like one of your whores," he said, his voice now coming back to a more normal range. Dill pushed himself to his feet. "Trust?" he asked. "You used me, old man. I've always known it, and this proves it." Johnny stared at him, the hurt in his eyes. "How could you lay a hand on her? Don't you know what kind of woman she is?" "Too good for my kind? Is that it?" Dill asked, deliberately lighting a cigarette. Go for broke, that was his only thought now. "She's... You're..." Johnny stopped, unable or unwilling to voice the gulf between them. Dill wanted him angry, wanted him protective, wanted him gone, and he used a crude obscenity; then added, "She's just another woman."
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I have to admit, I like the version all from Dill's view but do I really want to rewrite this book? I can't afford the time right now. So if anyone reading here is willing to give their opinion, I'd appreciate it...
January 17, 2017
A Price to be Paid
With the need to inspire myself for the book I need to finish, here's a snippet. It's paranormal, and third in the Hemstreet Witches Series. The problem has not been that I don't like the characters. The issue the hero will be facing is a huge one, and I have not been sure how to handle it.
The story is about reincarnation and the question of redemption. Can a soul who has done horrible things find a way to redeem itself in a future lifetime? If so, what is the price? In the newspapers, we read about human monsters, are shocked at what they have done, and some say they go to hell for eternal punishment. What if that's not what happens after they die?
It's definitely not the light topic that many want in a romance. He's a complicated character as a rancher, horse trainer, lawyer and hoping to win a major state political office in Arizona. What he has to deal with in terms of his soul, that's not even on his radar as he is a very practical minded person. The person he was in 1901 is someone he's heard very little about. He's about to learn more, and it won't make him happy.
The political aspect is probably what stopped me in September. I needed time to really think about it. I've had the time and still not sure of how to proceed but proceed I will this week.
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He had barely gotten in from working, taken a quick shower, and opened a beer when he heard a car driving in. Out on the porch, he watched as Jason got out of his low-slung sports car. “Hot for March,” he said as his friend stepped onto the porch. “Maybe be an early summer. Want a Nimbus or a Lager?” “Make it light. I have work yet to do.” A few minutes later, they were sprawled on the porch lawn chairs and sipping from their beers. “You said you needed to talk,” Asa said. “Your mother in town?” Asa shook his head. “On her way back to Flag.” “All right. Well, for one, we need to go over your meetings for next week. You will need some endorsements.” He handed Asa a sheet of names. “These would be a good start.” Scanning down them, Asa looked up. “This could all have been covered in an email.” Jason handed him another sheet. “These are issues likely to come up where you need to have positions.” “Again—why not an email?” “For what I want to discuss, emails are less than safe if you are being hacked." "Am I?" "You could be and besides, I wanted this conversation face to face.” Asa nodded. “So spit it out.”
January 10, 2017
Bannister's Way with new cover and excerpt
I am supposed to be writing on the new book; but this week-end, with all the snow to admire and knowing the coming week would see it all turned to slush and disappear into the creek or ground (depending on whether we are lucky to avoid flooding), I actually spent my time redoing some covers. One in particular has now had four covers. Covers are so important to getting a book seen. They need to attract interest but stick to the story that will be inside.
There are a lot of elements to Bannister's Way and deciding on which ones to emphasize on the cover created part of the problem. One of the things I used in the book was my experience in taking life drawing as well as years of painting and sculpting nudes. I thought it'd make for an interesting side element to a mystery/suspense romance.
For added fun in writing, I chose to have four old ladies as minor characters. These ladies share various bits of wisdom they have gathered over the years. One has the same name as my mother-in-law :).
Whether a new cover will bring this book out of Amazon's black hole, of course, is debatable. The important thing for me is that it fits the hero and the story. Since I do my own covers, I never say never on changing them. There are many though that have had the same cover all along. It's all in hitting the mood of the book right from the start-- a little luck doesn't hurt.
I do not plan to totally edit the writing (at this point) even though it has some aspects regarding point of view that were more common when I wrote it in the '90s than today. I don't mind reading books that change points of view within a scene, as long as it's clear whose head I am inside. Today, I prefer keeping a scene from one viewpoint, but I've learned that changing one written in the other style is pretty difficult. I still prefer reading books that do share the viewpoint of the hero and heroine, and maybe one other characters, sometimes the villain.
Excerpt:
><><><><
Raven frowned. This was not going to be much fun. The stresses of teaching, of inspiring those who had no desire to be inspired, left her wishing--not for the first nor probably last time--that her own artistic efforts gave her enough funds not to need to teach those with no interest in being artists themselves. Oh well, show time.
"I'm Dr. Lawrence, but you can call me Raven as that feels like me. You are in Life Drawing 301. If you are in the wrong room, leave now. If you belong here, I want your registration cards. As the basket comes past, put them in it. No chatter now. Listen up. I want to explain to you something about the class you've registered for."
David only half listened as he heard her tell them about the value there was to be had from taking seriously a study of fine art, how throughout the ages great artists have seen the study of the body--the musculature, the bone structure, in short the anatomy--was important to make their work come alive. They must take seriously the study of the nude--"
Whoa! What had she just said? Nude! Who said anything about... nude? And then he knew and wished nothing so much as that Vance was nearby where he could get his hands around his throat. A good dodge, a natural way in, his friend had said. Friend, hah! He'd kill him!He barely heard the rest of Raven's instructions. It was impossible. No way under this earth or above it could he take off his clothes in front of all these people! He looked at the students, at their interested gazes in a new way. They must know he was the model, the guinea pig, the sacrificial lamb, the... No! He would not strip. It was out of the question. No way could he do it.
Bannister's Way
Banniter's Way with new cover and excerpt
I am supposed to be writing on the new book; but this week-end, with all the snow to admire and knowing the coming week would see it all turned to slush and disappear into the creek or ground (depending on whether we are lucky to avoid flooding), I actually spent my time redoing some covers. One in particular has now had four covers. Covers are so important to getting a book seen. They need to attract interest but stick to the story that will be inside.
There are a lot of elements to Bannister's Way and deciding on which ones to emphasize on the cover created part of the problem. One of the things I used in the book was my experience in taking life drawing as well as years of painting and sculpting nudes. I thought it'd make for an interesting side element to a mystery/suspense romance.
For added fun in writing, I chose to have four old ladies as minor characters. These ladies share various bits of wisdom they have gathered over the years. One has the same name as my mother-in-law :).
Whether a new cover will bring this book out of Amazon's black hole, of course, is debatable. The important thing for me is that it fits the hero and the story. Since I do my own covers, I never say never on changing them. There are many though that have had the same cover all along. It's all in hitting the mood of the book right from the start-- a little luck doesn't hurt.
I do not plan to totally edit the writing (at this point) even though it has some aspects regarding point of view that were more common when I wrote it in the '90s than today. I don't mind reading books that change points of view within a scene, as long as it's clear whose head I am inside. Today, I prefer keeping a scene from one viewpoint, but I've learned that changing one written in the other style is pretty difficult. I still prefer reading books that do share the viewpoint of the hero and heroine, and maybe one other characters, sometimes the villain.
Excerpt:
><><><><
Raven frowned. This was not going to be much fun. The stresses of teaching, of inspiring those who had no desire to be inspired, left her wishing--not for the first nor probably last time--that her own artistic efforts gave her enough funds not to need to teach those with no interest in being artists themselves. Oh well, show time.
"I'm Dr. Lawrence, but you can call me Raven as that feels like me. You are in Life Drawing 301. If you are in the wrong room, leave now. If you belong here, I want your registration cards. As the basket comes past, put them in it. No chatter now. Listen up. I want to explain to you something about the class you've registered for." David only half listened as he heard her tell them about the value there was to be had from taking seriously a study of fine art, how throughout the ages great artists have seen the study of the body--the musculature, the bone structure, in short the anatomy--was important to make their work come alive. They must take seriously the study of the nude-- Whoa! What had she just said? Nude! Who said anything about... nude? And then he knew and wished nothing so much as that Vance was nearby where he could get his hands around his throat. A good dodge, a natural way in, his friend had said. Friend, hah! He'd kill him! He barely heard the rest of Raven's instructions. It was impossible. No way under this earth or above it could he take off his clothes in front of all these people! He looked at the students, at their interested gazes in a new way. They must know he was the model, the guinea pig, the sacrificial lamb, the... No! He would not strip. It was out of the question. No way could he do it.
Bannister's Way
January 3, 2017
Arizona timeline
With Tuesday, putting forth a list of my books and their order, I thought I'd add this timeline for the Arizona books. If you have read my books, or for that matter, write your own, a timeline can be useful. It keeps track of births, marriages and deaths. When you have written a lot of books (in this case eight of them), it's easy to lose track of logistics. A few characters, like Charles Prevo, are only in one book, but you never know when they'll crop up in another.
On the Arizona one, I have more to add to it as I also have the connecting births to the contemporary Taggerts, Hemstreets, O'Brians, and Cordovas.
I have the same kind of timeline for my Oregon historics and maybe will share that next Tuesday. Besides helping readers to keep track, it might help other writers to see how to create one for their books.
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1833 Charles Prevo
1840 Jeremiah Taggert b. Kansas; James Redman b. Iowa; Rose Jarred b. Missouri
1841 Victor Hemstreet b. San Francisco
1842 Roman Alexander Oliver b. Kansas
1843 Lars Ericson b. Wisconsin
1844 Raul Cordova b. Mexico; Valerie Simpson b. Kansas
1845 Robert Mitchell b. New York; Frederica Jamison b. Boston
1846 –
1847 Delbert Sicilla b. West Virginia
1848 Wei Song b. Weaverville California
1849 Maria Jacinta b. Mexico
1850 Constance Banyon b. Maryland
1851 Eleanor Samuels b. San Francisco
1852 Samuel Ryker (O’Brian) b. Kansas
1853 Laura Ericson b. Wisconsin
1854 Cordell O’Brian b. Kansas
1855 ---
1856 ---
1857 James Redman m. Rose Jarrod Missouri; Clint Adams b. Nebraska
1858 Abigail Spenser b. Illinois
1859 Jeremiah m. Valerie
1860 Vincent Taggert b. Kansas; Frances Johnson b. Kansas
1861 Priscilla Wesley b. Georgia
1862 --
1863 Ellen Buchanan b. Texas
1864 --
1865 --
1866 Asa Taggert b. Utah; Rafael Cordova b. Mexico
1867 Cole Taggert b. Utah
1868 Jesse Taggert b. Utah; Connie m. Delbert Sicilla
1869 Juan Cordova b. Mexico m. Josita
1870 Raquel Cordova b. Mexico d. 1870
1871 Laura Ericson m. James Ferris Tucson, Arizona
1872 James Angus b. Illinois –
1873 Eleanor Samuels m. Victor Hemstreet; Jason Ferris b. Tucson
1874 Felipe Valencia b. Arizona
1875 Clint Madison b. Illinois; Nathan Hemstreet b. San Francisco
1876 Gabriel Cordova b. Arizona; Holly Jacobs b. Illinois; Wilhelmina Butler b. San Francisco
1877 Grace O’Brian b. Kansas; Catherine Lawrence b. Boston
1878 Anita Cordova b. Arizona; James Ferris b. Tucson
1879 Alexa Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas; Lily Jacobs b. Illinois
1880 Wei Zian b. Arizona
1881 –
1882 Sam & Abigail meet June and m. June and Nov. Tombstone
1883 –
1884 David Ryker b. Circle R Ranch
1885 Priscilla & Cord talk; Grace arrives in Tucson
1886 cabin—Jan; earthquake May 3; marriage—July
1887 Alice Ryker b. Circle R Ranch
1888 Jesse O’Brian b. Circle O Ranch; Raquel Valencia b. Tucson
1889 Daniel Cordova b. Circle O Ranch Jan.
1890 Ellen m. Robert Mitchell; Jose Valencia b. Tucson
1891 Alicia O’Brian b. August Circle O
1892 Roberto Cordova b. December Tucson
1893 Grace leaves for back East; Royce Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas
1894 Will Tremaine publishes first dime novel
1895 James Redman dies Feb. Tucson; James O’Brian b. Circle O, July
1896 Valerie Taggert dies
1897 Rafe Joins Rough Riders; Margarita Valencia b. Tucson
1898 Rafe mustered out Feb. 15; Grace returns to Tucson June; Marries Rafe Sept.; Victor Hemstreet falls down staircase and breaks neck
1899 Donovan Cordova b. November Tucson on the Cordova Ranch; Holly returns to Arizona; Rose Redman & Roman Oliver m. Tucson 12-31
1900 Cole working ranch
1901 April Holly meets Vince Taggert as she readies her dig. Married same year
1902 Lily comes to Tucson meets Jesse Taggert; Cole working as range detective
1903 Tyler Taggert b to Lily&Jesse; Joshua b. to Vince&Holly
1904 ---
1905 Samuel Butler dies; Ruth T. born; Lucinda T. b. Willy rents lake cabin meets Cole
1906 Nathan Hemstreet returns to Arizona
1907 Josiah Hemstreet b. Tucson
1908 Redland Hemstreet b. Tucson
On the Arizona one, I have more to add to it as I also have the connecting births to the contemporary Taggerts, Hemstreets, O'Brians, and Cordovas.
I have the same kind of timeline for my Oregon historics and maybe will share that next Tuesday. Besides helping readers to keep track, it might help other writers to see how to create one for their books.
><><><><><
1833 Charles Prevo
1840 Jeremiah Taggert b. Kansas; James Redman b. Iowa; Rose Jarred b. Missouri
1841 Victor Hemstreet b. San Francisco
1842 Roman Alexander Oliver b. Kansas
1843 Lars Ericson b. Wisconsin
1844 Raul Cordova b. Mexico; Valerie Simpson b. Kansas
1845 Robert Mitchell b. New York; Frederica Jamison b. Boston
1846 –
1847 Delbert Sicilla b. West Virginia
1848 Wei Song b. Weaverville California
1849 Maria Jacinta b. Mexico
1850 Constance Banyon b. Maryland
1851 Eleanor Samuels b. San Francisco
1852 Samuel Ryker (O’Brian) b. Kansas
1853 Laura Ericson b. Wisconsin
1854 Cordell O’Brian b. Kansas
1855 ---
1856 ---
1857 James Redman m. Rose Jarrod Missouri; Clint Adams b. Nebraska
1858 Abigail Spenser b. Illinois
1859 Jeremiah m. Valerie
1860 Vincent Taggert b. Kansas; Frances Johnson b. Kansas
1861 Priscilla Wesley b. Georgia
1862 --
1863 Ellen Buchanan b. Texas
1864 --
1865 --
1866 Asa Taggert b. Utah; Rafael Cordova b. Mexico
1867 Cole Taggert b. Utah
1868 Jesse Taggert b. Utah; Connie m. Delbert Sicilla
1869 Juan Cordova b. Mexico m. Josita
1870 Raquel Cordova b. Mexico d. 1870
1871 Laura Ericson m. James Ferris Tucson, Arizona
1872 James Angus b. Illinois –
1873 Eleanor Samuels m. Victor Hemstreet; Jason Ferris b. Tucson
1874 Felipe Valencia b. Arizona
1875 Clint Madison b. Illinois; Nathan Hemstreet b. San Francisco
1876 Gabriel Cordova b. Arizona; Holly Jacobs b. Illinois; Wilhelmina Butler b. San Francisco
1877 Grace O’Brian b. Kansas; Catherine Lawrence b. Boston
1878 Anita Cordova b. Arizona; James Ferris b. Tucson
1879 Alexa Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas; Lily Jacobs b. Illinois
1880 Wei Zian b. Arizona
1881 –
1882 Sam & Abigail meet June and m. June and Nov. Tombstone
1883 –
1884 David Ryker b. Circle R Ranch
1885 Priscilla & Cord talk; Grace arrives in Tucson
1886 cabin—Jan; earthquake May 3; marriage—July
1887 Alice Ryker b. Circle R Ranch
1888 Jesse O’Brian b. Circle O Ranch; Raquel Valencia b. Tucson
1889 Daniel Cordova b. Circle O Ranch Jan.
1890 Ellen m. Robert Mitchell; Jose Valencia b. Tucson
1891 Alicia O’Brian b. August Circle O
1892 Roberto Cordova b. December Tucson
1893 Grace leaves for back East; Royce Johnson (Oliver) b. Kansas
1894 Will Tremaine publishes first dime novel
1895 James Redman dies Feb. Tucson; James O’Brian b. Circle O, July
1896 Valerie Taggert dies
1897 Rafe Joins Rough Riders; Margarita Valencia b. Tucson
1898 Rafe mustered out Feb. 15; Grace returns to Tucson June; Marries Rafe Sept.; Victor Hemstreet falls down staircase and breaks neck
1899 Donovan Cordova b. November Tucson on the Cordova Ranch; Holly returns to Arizona; Rose Redman & Roman Oliver m. Tucson 12-31
1900 Cole working ranch
1901 April Holly meets Vince Taggert as she readies her dig. Married same year
1902 Lily comes to Tucson meets Jesse Taggert; Cole working as range detective
1903 Tyler Taggert b to Lily&Jesse; Joshua b. to Vince&Holly
1904 ---
1905 Samuel Butler dies; Ruth T. born; Lucinda T. b. Willy rents lake cabin meets Cole
1906 Nathan Hemstreet returns to Arizona
1907 Josiah Hemstreet b. Tucson
1908 Redland Hemstreet b. Tucson
December 27, 2016
book list
End of year is a good time for bookkeeping measures. Since I've had readers ask which books come first and if any are connected, a basic list seemed needed. It will be here and in my
Romances with an Edge
blog. Full novels run 80-125,000 words (all with spice). Behind a title, (n) indicates novella (books from 20,000 to 40,000 words with no spice). For more about the books, you can also click on the image alongside.
Oregon historical romancesThe four books (currently but more may come) follow one family, the Stevens with three daughters and their mother through the settling of Oregon. Round the Bend-- 1852: wagons head out on the Oregon Trail. Amy is naive about what
love might be-- Matt disillusioned. Young love faces many challenges.Where Dreams Go-- 1855: Martha is a widow and does not expect the return of a man who presents temptations she'd forgotten. Western Oregon homesteading.Going Home-- 1965: Raine thought she found love and then the Civil War intervened. Now he's back and heading east of the Cascades to his ranch. What's she to do? Love Waits-- 1867: Belle has come to Eastern Oregon on a mission, which could be
compromised by the cavalry officer she's been unable to forget.
Arizona historical romancesBeginning with one outlaw, the O'Brian story follows two brothers and one daughter. Book 4, as a novella, provides a bridge to the Taggert brothers and their father. All of the books share some characters as friends or family. There will be a 9th Arizona historical in spring of 2017 with characters who are the ancestors of those in the Hemstreet witches.
Arizona Sunset-- 1883: Abigail is dissatisfied with her life but did not have in mind quite the change that one outlaw brings when he turns her world upside down.Tucson Moon-- 1885: Priscilla is not going to fall in love with a man who wears a gun, not
even if he's a lawman, but she'll help him when his small daughter arrives.Arizona Dawn-- 1898: With a university degree, Grace returns to Tucson, all grown up and ready to fight for the man she loves, who is back from war.Rose's Gift (n)-- 1899: Widow, Rose receives a proposal, but that's not possible at her age.
Ollie finds his life complicated by the arrival of a secret. Echoes from the Past-- 1901: Holly comes to Tucson to organize an archaeological dig--
not to fall in love. Vince is too old and has lived too hard a life Lands of Fire-- 1902: Lily finds artistic inspiration when she moves to Tucson to be close to her sister-- that and a lot more with Jesse.Bound for the Hills-- 1905: Wilhelmina rents a mountain cabin and shockingly discovers the hero of her dime novels actually exists, and he's not pleased.Sonoran Christmas (n)-- 1905: Frederica needs to find her daughter. Meeting a real life retired (mostly) outlaw is the help she needs-- in more
ways than one.
Historical Contemporarybooks set in an historic period but beyond the early 1900sLuck of the Draw-- 1974: Billy Stempleton, bronc and bull rider, comes to Pendleton for
the Roundup and meets someone, who will change his life.
Contemporary urban and country based romancesSet in the American West-- Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana, these stories are romances with danger and suspense. Some share characters.
Desert Inferno-- Landscape painter, Rachel O'Brian finds a dying man on her family's remote desert ranch and Border Patrol comes to investigate.
Set in Southern Arizona Evening Star-- When Portland attorney, Marla Jamison, meets Randy O'Brian, she wants nothing to do with the younger, handsome cop. What we need and want, aren't always the same thing. Bannister's Way-- David Bannister has been undercover before but when he takes a job in Oregon and reconnects with his artist wife, Raven, undercover takes on a new meaning. David was in Desert Inferno. Characters from Evening Star are in this book.
Moon Dust-- For her health, Susan needs a divorce. Dane, a Portland high school principal
is facing more than heartbreak as tensions with a militia leader escalate.Second Chance-- Psychologist Barrett juggles being a single mother and an invasive ex. She cannot afford the complications a truck driver, animal rescuer,
much younger man would bring to her daughter or her. This book follows up secondary characters in Moon Dust.
Hidden Pearl-- Architect, S.T. Taggert needs to find his sister who apparently joined a
dangerous cult. He doesn't want the complications of a beautiful photo-
journalist. Her Dark Angel-- Katy has come to Reno to help her uncle while his receptionist is out. Dill, because of a precarious situation, is determined to make her visit a short one. Reno, Portland and Tahoe.
From Here to There-- A wedding that is a mistake (maybe) and two marriages are part of Rocking H ranch life-- MontanaA Montana Christmas (n)-- Can a family heal from years of dysfunction? Christmas may not be the easiest time to find out. Following up on From Here to There with a continuing love story.
Women Starting Over SeriesRed Hawk Christmas (n)-- Leaving Chicago, Diana and her two Chihuahuas travel the
West in an RV. She's not looking for romance but it might find her.
Supernatural romances
Set in the mountain West, these stories explore the 'other' side as ordinary people come up against what is anything but ordinary.
Sky Daughter-- When Maggie returns to the mountains of Idaho to heal from losses, she learns her family wasn't what she believed. Even more unexpected is Reuben. Violence, supernatural and spice Diablo Canyon-- combining in one book the three following novellas and set in Montana ranching country. This book has the spice the novellas don't When Fates Conspire (n)-- All is not as it seems when star-crossed lovers meet again and break the rules with the help of their spirit guides The Dark of the Moon (n)-- He sees and talks to the other side. She has a ranch to operate and a son to grieve. The supernatural problems are greater than either know even with spirit guides to help Storm in the Canyon (n)—Being a spirit guide apparently isn’t all that is possible for Racine. She is needed to combat an old evil returned. Falling in love with a human wasn’t in the plan—or was it?
Hemstreet Witch Series
Four sisters and their mother use the powers, with which they were born, for good. Evil always lurks. The novels run 50-60,000 words with violence and spice.Enchantress' Secret—Denali is asked to do a favor for her mother and help solve a murder. The main suspect has his own secrets but none are a match for Denali’s. To Speak of Things Unseen—Elke believes she can help people better understand those with natural born spiritual powers if she can convince an author to share his supernatural work more widely.
Oregon historical romancesThe four books (currently but more may come) follow one family, the Stevens with three daughters and their mother through the settling of Oregon. Round the Bend-- 1852: wagons head out on the Oregon Trail. Amy is naive about what
love might be-- Matt disillusioned. Young love faces many challenges.Where Dreams Go-- 1855: Martha is a widow and does not expect the return of a man who presents temptations she'd forgotten. Western Oregon homesteading.Going Home-- 1965: Raine thought she found love and then the Civil War intervened. Now he's back and heading east of the Cascades to his ranch. What's she to do? Love Waits-- 1867: Belle has come to Eastern Oregon on a mission, which could be
compromised by the cavalry officer she's been unable to forget.
Arizona historical romancesBeginning with one outlaw, the O'Brian story follows two brothers and one daughter. Book 4, as a novella, provides a bridge to the Taggert brothers and their father. All of the books share some characters as friends or family. There will be a 9th Arizona historical in spring of 2017 with characters who are the ancestors of those in the Hemstreet witches.
Arizona Sunset-- 1883: Abigail is dissatisfied with her life but did not have in mind quite the change that one outlaw brings when he turns her world upside down.Tucson Moon-- 1885: Priscilla is not going to fall in love with a man who wears a gun, not
even if he's a lawman, but she'll help him when his small daughter arrives.Arizona Dawn-- 1898: With a university degree, Grace returns to Tucson, all grown up and ready to fight for the man she loves, who is back from war.Rose's Gift (n)-- 1899: Widow, Rose receives a proposal, but that's not possible at her age.
Ollie finds his life complicated by the arrival of a secret. Echoes from the Past-- 1901: Holly comes to Tucson to organize an archaeological dig--
not to fall in love. Vince is too old and has lived too hard a life Lands of Fire-- 1902: Lily finds artistic inspiration when she moves to Tucson to be close to her sister-- that and a lot more with Jesse.Bound for the Hills-- 1905: Wilhelmina rents a mountain cabin and shockingly discovers the hero of her dime novels actually exists, and he's not pleased.Sonoran Christmas (n)-- 1905: Frederica needs to find her daughter. Meeting a real life retired (mostly) outlaw is the help she needs-- in more
ways than one.
Historical Contemporarybooks set in an historic period but beyond the early 1900sLuck of the Draw-- 1974: Billy Stempleton, bronc and bull rider, comes to Pendleton for
the Roundup and meets someone, who will change his life.
Contemporary urban and country based romancesSet in the American West-- Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, and Montana, these stories are romances with danger and suspense. Some share characters.
Desert Inferno-- Landscape painter, Rachel O'Brian finds a dying man on her family's remote desert ranch and Border Patrol comes to investigate.
Set in Southern Arizona Evening Star-- When Portland attorney, Marla Jamison, meets Randy O'Brian, she wants nothing to do with the younger, handsome cop. What we need and want, aren't always the same thing. Bannister's Way-- David Bannister has been undercover before but when he takes a job in Oregon and reconnects with his artist wife, Raven, undercover takes on a new meaning. David was in Desert Inferno. Characters from Evening Star are in this book.
Moon Dust-- For her health, Susan needs a divorce. Dane, a Portland high school principal
is facing more than heartbreak as tensions with a militia leader escalate.Second Chance-- Psychologist Barrett juggles being a single mother and an invasive ex. She cannot afford the complications a truck driver, animal rescuer,
much younger man would bring to her daughter or her. This book follows up secondary characters in Moon Dust.
Hidden Pearl-- Architect, S.T. Taggert needs to find his sister who apparently joined a
dangerous cult. He doesn't want the complications of a beautiful photo-
journalist. Her Dark Angel-- Katy has come to Reno to help her uncle while his receptionist is out. Dill, because of a precarious situation, is determined to make her visit a short one. Reno, Portland and Tahoe.
From Here to There-- A wedding that is a mistake (maybe) and two marriages are part of Rocking H ranch life-- MontanaA Montana Christmas (n)-- Can a family heal from years of dysfunction? Christmas may not be the easiest time to find out. Following up on From Here to There with a continuing love story.
Women Starting Over SeriesRed Hawk Christmas (n)-- Leaving Chicago, Diana and her two Chihuahuas travel the
West in an RV. She's not looking for romance but it might find her.
Supernatural romances
Set in the mountain West, these stories explore the 'other' side as ordinary people come up against what is anything but ordinary.
Sky Daughter-- When Maggie returns to the mountains of Idaho to heal from losses, she learns her family wasn't what she believed. Even more unexpected is Reuben. Violence, supernatural and spice Diablo Canyon-- combining in one book the three following novellas and set in Montana ranching country. This book has the spice the novellas don't When Fates Conspire (n)-- All is not as it seems when star-crossed lovers meet again and break the rules with the help of their spirit guides The Dark of the Moon (n)-- He sees and talks to the other side. She has a ranch to operate and a son to grieve. The supernatural problems are greater than either know even with spirit guides to help Storm in the Canyon (n)—Being a spirit guide apparently isn’t all that is possible for Racine. She is needed to combat an old evil returned. Falling in love with a human wasn’t in the plan—or was it?
Hemstreet Witch Series
Four sisters and their mother use the powers, with which they were born, for good. Evil always lurks. The novels run 50-60,000 words with violence and spice.Enchantress' Secret—Denali is asked to do a favor for her mother and help solve a murder. The main suspect has his own secrets but none are a match for Denali’s. To Speak of Things Unseen—Elke believes she can help people better understand those with natural born spiritual powers if she can convince an author to share his supernatural work more widely.
