Penny Estelle's Blog, page 6

Rose Red by Caroline Lee

Christmas is in the air!
Take it away - Caroline Lee
99-cent buy link: http://amzn.to/2dVOLXT

A wounded bear is more than he seems... even during an Everland Christmas! 

Shy Rose dreams of wild adventures-- gunfights and moonlit chase scenes--and the day when she can sell her novels to make enough to support her family. But her writing reflects her lack of experience, and she's determined to find a way to learn about the grittier side of life. So when a wounded outlaw shows up in her barn two weeks before Christmas, the opportunity is too good to pass up. While she nurses him, Rose can learn from his escapades... but how long will she remain unaffected by his dangerous good looks? 

US Marshall Barrett "Bear" Faulker might look like a dangerous bandit, but he can't give away his real identity until he knows that the gang who attacked him is behind bars. He needs to keep his distance from his beautiful young savior, but her winning smile and her probing questions about his life and missions makes him defenseless against her charms. And when the gang decides that Everland's Christmas celebrations are an easy target, Bear realizes that he'll do just about anything to save the woman he's come to love.


Here's a teaser:

“Well, let’s see that wound of yours, Bear.”
His sharp glance told her that she’d surprised him, and she set her jaw and tried to look firm. “Surely you didn’t think I was just going to let you walk—hobble—out of here, leaking blood?” No, she needed him here, to tell her all about being an outlaw. “There’s not a lot of medical supplies out here in the barn.” An understatement. “But by the time I get back with some from the house, I figure that you can have your pants off.”
The man on the ground made a sort of choking noise. “What?”
Rose felt her cheeks heat as she realized what she’d said, but was determined to push forward. She couldn’t let this man die, not when she planned to interview him…and then turn him over to the law. “I said that you need to take your pants off. That’s where the wound is, after all. No need to be squeamish, Mr. Bear. I’ll leave you alone to disrobe.”
“…Alone to…?”
“Disrobe.” Heavens, maybe he’d lost more blood than she knew. “To take your clothes off. Your pants, sir.”
Another choking noise. “You want me to take my pants off.” It wasn’t a question, and Rose didn’t bother repeating herself.
Instead, she clucked impatiently and crossed to his horse, praying that she could remember what to do with the big animal. “I’ll leave you the lantern while I go back to the house for supplies. I expect to be able to examine and work on your wound when I get back.” She fiddled with the strap under the horse’s belly. “And just to make sure you’re still here…” She nodded, satisfied, when the saddle slipped off the gelding and hit the floor. He wouldn’t be going anywhere for a while. Not with a bum leg and a saddle-less horse. 
And just to be doubly-sure, she scooped up the guns on her way past. He’d be defenseless without them, and she herself could use one to bolster her courage. Since she was taking on the role of lawman—law-woman?—after all.
As she hurried towards the barn door, she called back to the man who somehow managed to be a thick shadow in the middle of the pool of lantern light. “Your pants, sir. Remove them posthaste.” 
She closed the barn door on his curse, and resisted the urge to do a little dance on her way up to the house. An outlaw! A real, live outlaw, in her very own barn! Soon, just as soon as he was stitched and not bleeding to death any longer, she’d have her answers! Already, new scenes for Murderous Mitch and his nemesis, the heroic and dashing Sheriff Caraway, were flitting through her mind. Her fingers itched to begin writing again…but first she had to ensure that her new source would survive the night.

A Romance for Christmas by Kayelle Allen

Christmas is in the air!Take it away - Kayelle Allen
Sweet Contemporary Romance

Enjoy a sweet feel-good holiday romance for the holidays. It's Christmas Eve, and the end of a year in which everything Dara loves was lost. Everything but her little girl and a fierce determination to survive. When a cop brings Christmas to her door, he brings another gift she never expected to get.

Excerpt"Mommy?" Christine's young voice broke in on her thoughts.Dara put down the romance she'd been re-reading, the favorite she'd had since she was sixteen. She'd sold all her others at a yard sale the previous week. "What is it, sweetie?""Why don't we has a real tree for Chribmas?""Why don't we 'have'," she corrected. "Come sit by me." Dara patted the couch and tucked her chenille robe closer around her.One arm around Matilda, her cloth doll, Christine climbed up and cuddled.Matilda's going to need stuffing before long. Her head flopped forward, face against her flat chest. When did the lace on her dress get so ragged? Dara smoothed the doll's dress. "Remember when Daddy went home to heaven before Christmas last year?"Christine knuckled her eyes and yawned. "I 'member.""And then Mommy got hurt in the car accident and couldn't go to work?""Uh huh."Dara took a deep breath. "Well, it meant there was no money for a real tree this year. But I'm sure Santa will still bring you presents." Gifts Dara bought by selling her entire collection of romance novels at a yard sale at her friend Sherilyn's house. "And we drew a tree, right?" She pointed at the crayon-bright drawing taped to the wall. Construction paper ornaments decorated each branch."But it doesn't smell like a Chribmas tree."Dara hugged her. "I know, baby. I know.""How will Santa leave his presents?" Christine pulled away and got on her knees. "He can't put them under the tree, Mommy.""Oh, honey!" She ruffled her daughter's hair, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Santa will find a way." She leaned forward and kissed her little girl. "We should get you in bed so he can come. He can't leave presents while you're awake."

Where to Buy A Romance for ChristmasThis book is free on Kindle UnlimitedAmazon http://amzn.to/1wpW8qE
Amazon print http://amzn.to/2evml92Videohttp://youtu.be/Dzr6lv5DzgsMusic: O Christmas Tree, piano performed by Vladimir Sterzer, licensed by Jamendo.com
Images courtesy of PhotoXpress.com and RGBstock.comGiveawayA Peek Inside A Romance for Christmas includes excerpts, information about the characters, the reason the book was written. It's illustrated with original art. Everyone can download a copy. Peek inside the book:
About Kayelle AllenKayelle Allen is a best selling American author. Her unstoppable heroes and heroines include contemporary every day folk, role-playing immortal gamers, futuristic covert agents, and warriors who purr.
Homeworld/Blog https://kayelleallen.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/kayelleallen
Facebook https://facebook.com/kayelleallen.author

Kristy McCaffrey stops by for visit!

Morning everybody!  I'm thrilled to have the talented Kristy McCaffrey visiting on Penny's Tales.  Not only is she a best selling author, but a sister Arizonian!
Let's get this show on the road!

How did you get started writing?
I’ve always written, ever since I was a young child. It’s always been a compulsion for me. But I didn’t get serious until I was a stay-at-home with four rowdy youngins’.
What genre do you write and why?
I write historical western romances, set in the American southwest because … heck, I don’t know why. I grew up in Arizona, so maybe it was storytelling osmosis.
What is your favorite part of writing?
Nothing haha. Well, if I mustchoose, then I’d say when the first deep editing pass has been completed. That’s the point at which I finally have a viable story and I stop feeling so anxious.
What is your least favorite part of writing?
All those endless moments in the first draft when I wonder where the story is going.


When did you start writing toward publication?
I was in my 30’s and a stay-at-home mom to my four rugrats I’ve already mentioned. My mind was turning to mush, so I decided to try writing a novel. That book, THE WREN, was published by a small press. It was a wonderful opportunity, but in hindsight I think I was published too soon. I didn’t really have a good grasp of the craft. I promise it’s better now!
Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?
Keep going. It sounds cliché, but you truly learn by doing. It doesn’t seem like writing should be that hard, but it takes skill to work with words and imagery. I’m constantly learning new things. I really love it. You’ll know if you’re not meant to be a writer because the tediousness of it will easily drive you away. But if it doesn’t, then you’ve found your passion and your tribe.


Now AvailableAmazon or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited.99 cents for a limited time.Can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Molly Rose Simms departs the Arizona Territory, eager for adventure, and travels to Colorado to visit her brother. Robert left two years ago to make his fortune in the booming silver town of Creede, and now Molly Rose hopes to convince him to accompany her to San Francisco, New York City, or even Europe. But Robert is nowhere to be found. All Molly Rose finds is his partner, a mysterious man known as The Jackal.
Jake McKenna has traveled the bustling streets of Istanbul, exotic ports in China, and the deserts of Morocco. His restless desire to explore has been the only constant in his life. When his search for the elusive and mythical Bluebird mining claim lands him a new partner, he must decide how far he’ll go to protect the stunning young woman who’s clearly in over her head. A home and hearth has never been on The Jackal’s agenda, but Molly Rose Simms is about to change his world in every conceivable way.
Please note: Contains mild violence and a sensuous love scene.
Excerpt“What do you want?” she (Molly Rose) whispered.
“Someone’s following you.”
Her eyes narrowed. “I believe you’re right, and I’m guessing it’s not the first time you’ve done it.”
“Not me. Well, not exactly.” Jake glanced side to side and checked the hallway. “Can I come in?”
“How will my reputation survive it?” she groused, but she stood back and let him enter, shutting the door behind him. “Do you have news about Robert?”
She’d changed from her dark sneaking-around attire and now wore a wrap over what he presumed was her sleeping gown.
“No,” he replied. “But I’m guessing you do.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Look, I know you don’t entirely trust me, but I know you went to Robert’s room tonight.” He held up his hand when anger flashed in her eyes and she opened her mouth to speak. “Yes, I was watching you, but I’m the least of your worries right now. Someone else was following you.”
“Who?”
“A man who works for Shep Lannigan, and Robert’s mixed up with the lot of ’em.”
“Then maybe I should speak with them.”
Jake shook his head. “No, you shouldn’t. At least not until we can find your brother and learn what he’s gotten himself into.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Listen, we should get out of town.”
Incredulous, she laughed. “Now?”
“Yes, now. I have a place we can go.”
“You’re deranged. We’ve only just met. For all I know, you could be the one against Robert, if that’s what’s truly going on.”
Jake paused, watching the tigress before him. Why hadn’t Robert ever told him his beautiful sister was full of spit and vinegar? “I can assure you, I won’t hurt you. Robert is like a brother to me, and while we’ve had our ups and downs, I consider it my duty to look out for his sister. And right now, if you stay in town, I’ve a feeling you’ll—at the very least—be harassed, but more likely, you’ll get roughed up.”
“By who? This Shep person?”
“He might think you know where your brother is.” Jake lifted his hat and ran a hand through his hair. “Let’s change your location and throw them off your scent.”
He didn’t really expect her to agree wholeheartedly with him, so he was taken aback when she nodded her compliance.
“Be ready in one hour and meet me behind the hotel,” he said. “Pack light.”
He left before she could change her mind.
Copyright © 2016 K. McCaffrey LLC


BioKristy McCaffrey has been writing since she was very young, but it wasn’t until she was a stay-at-home mom that she considered becoming published. She’s the author of several historical western romances, all set in the American southwest. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, two chocolate labs, and whichever of their four teenaged children happen to be in residence. She loves to travel and frequently blogs about her adventures.
Connect with KristyWebsite: http://www.kristymccaffrey.comBlog ~ Pathways:  http://www.kristymccaffrey.blogspot.com/Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKristyMcCaffreyTwitter:  https://www.twitter.com/McCaffreyKristyNewsletter: http://kristymccaffrey.com/Newsletter.htmlAmazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2erVsze

It's Everybody Reads YA Sunday - Ride of a Lifetime

21 century bully meets 18 century female Paul Revere



Ride of a Lifetime
Jim Abernathy is the new kid at Langdon Middle School - and a bully.  With the death of his mother, and his father having to work two jobs, Jim has been on his own for the last year.  In that year, Jim has become a bitter and brooding young man. A new job in Phoenix is just what Jim and his dad need for a new start. 
Miss Wickware, and all the students in her history class, get a dose of Jim’s surly attitude the second he walks through the door. Everyone holds their breaths when their teacher and Jim go nose to nose.  Miss Wickware wins the first round.
The class must draw historical subjects out of a box and present oral reports on whom or what they have drawn. Jim draws Sybil Ludington.  “Great, a woman” His words are dripping with sarcasm.  “Real exciting!”
Jim’s ideas about women in history take a whole new turn when he walks out of class and into the Eighteenth Century and the life of Sybil Ludington.

Excerpt
“These aren’t my clothes. Where are my clothes?” His voice grew louder with each word.
The girl stood and took a few steps back. Her eyes were wary but there was concern in her voice. “Please, you may have hurt yourself when you fainted. Maybe you shouldn’t be dancing around.”
“I’m not dancing around. What the heck is happening…?” He stopped talking and his head snapped back around to her. “Faint! I didn’t faint! Only sissies faint!”
http://www.amazon.com/Ride-Lifetime-Wickware-Sagas-ebook/dp/B00D91Z1JM
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/ride-of-a-lifetime-penny-estelle/1115530815?ean=2940016766348
http://museituppublishing.com/booksto...

I write for all ages, from the early reader to adults.  My books range from pictures books for the little ones, to fantasy, time-travel adventures for ages 9 to 13. I also write adult stories, including a family drama and contemporary, paranormal and historical westerns romances, under P. A. Estelle.
I was a school secretary for 21 years.  My husband and I moved to our retirement home in Kingman, AZ, on very rural 54 acres, living on solar and wind only.  More about my books can be found in the following links:
www.pennystales.comwww.pennyestelle.blogspot.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBYhttps://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82www.facebook.com/pennystaleswww.pinterest.com/pennyestellehttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estelle- Goodreadshttp://www.twitter.com/pennystales

Talented Jack Strandburg talks about Showing Character by Being Specific!

Show Character by Being Specific
There are arguably three basic ingredients to a work of fiction – Characters, Plot, and Setting.
You’ll find more information than you’ll ever need on all three. Since this blog addresses characters, at the time of this writing, I googled ‘Characterization,’ and returned 77,600,000 results.
Whether you believe characters, plot, or even setting is most important, I believe you cannot have one without the other two to write an interesting story.
You can profile the most interesting characters, but if nothing happens to them, you have no story. You also want something to happen in an interesting location. For example, the apparition of a Civil War soldier in a public mall would not create the same dramatic effect as if he appeared in a graveyard.
I went through a phase where I believed characters were the most critical component. (In my early days of writing, I was naïve and easily brainwashed). I developed a character profile consisting of over 250 rows in an Excel spreadsheet. Believing I had to know my main characters backwards and forwards before I could even consider writing a draft, I’d spend weeks determining how a character walked, sat, drank, ate, where he or she was from, in short, all the character’s sociological, psychological, geographical, and physical traits.
I eventually settled on a more basic and much shorter list, knowing if my story had no scene where my character dined, there was no reason to show how or even what, they liked to eat.
This brings me to the point of the blog.
One method I find effective is to be specific as to his or her actions and movements.
Specificity adds to the story without appearing as “fluff,” or “padding” for the sake of increasing word count, and is an effective way to fight writer’s block.
Consider this seven-word sentence. Tom Jones left home to go to college.
That sentence tells us little more about Tom other than he’s (we assume) at least 18 years old and (probably) graduated from high school.
Forgetting for the moment a physical description, you can tell the reader a lot about Tom just by filling in the blanks, and asking questions, starting with Who, What, When, Where, Why, How.
Did Tom go with anyone? (Who)What did he take with him?When did he leave? (month, day, year, time, etc)Where did he leave from and where did he go?Why did he leave?How did he get to his destination?
Your seven-word sentence might become:
On the morning of August 21, 2015, Tom Jones stuffed three suitcases of clothes and personal items into the trunk of his 2002 Ford Civic, said goodbye to his parent’s home in Phoenix, Arizona, and began his three-day scheduled trip to Los Angeles, to study mechanical engineering at UCLA.
From the paragraph above, it sounds like Tom is planning to stay in Los Angeles for an extended period. We know he lived in Phoenix, Arizona, perhaps with his parents, and since the drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles is between five and six hours, depending on traffic, we know Tom is not planning to drive straight through. We also know what college he plans to attend, and has an interest in mechanical engineering.
The rewrite adds 42 words, but also provides potential for brainstorming, and can help avoid writers block.
How does Tom plan to pay for tuition and books?Did he leave by choice or did his parents coerce him, or kick him out?Is Tom traveling alone? If not, with whom? Male or female?What will Tom do for money during the trip, and while in California?Since Tom is planning three days for the trip, what other plans does he have? Is he meeting someone? If so, who? Is he going sightseeing? If so, where? Do his plans work out as desired?What does he plan to do for a living?
I’m sure you can come up with many more questions, but depending on the answers to the above six, Tom’s character, the plot, and the setting can be worked in a number of ways, including change the genre of the story.



Hustle Henry and the Cue-Ball Kid (A Solstice Western) Clarence Flannery was luckier than most men his age to discover his life’s ambition, particularly in the unpredictable years just following the Civil War. Born with an unmatched skill to play pool, he left his home in Kansas when he turned twenty-six and traveled throughout the Southwestern United States to make his mark as a legendary pool hustler, with every intention of amassing a fortune in the process.Clarence needed help for both support and protection, and recruited James Skinner as his partner, along with nine other highly-skilled pool players to assist him in his quest.Wanting to be included in the same sentence as Attila the Hun and Alexander the Great, Clarence changed his name to Hustle Henry, Skinner became the Cue-Ball Kid, and the eleven men would go down in history as The Hole-in-the-Table-Bunch, known far and wide for hustling wannabe pool sharks out of their life savings.All goes to plan and life has a rosy and profitable outlook, but Henry and his men want more than what pool halls and saloons offer, so they decide to challenge the more affluent clientele on a riverboat.Initially, the venture proves profitable, but the millionaire tycoon and owner of the fleet of riverboats, takes exception, and intends to bring down the Bunch and thrust Henry and The Kid into a life of destitution.Taking along the Kid’s girlfriend, Penelope Henderson, the Kid and Henry flee to South America – where there will be a final showdown.Hustle Henry and the Cue-Ball Kid is a fiction work of Western humor with an interesting and amusing cast of characters. Buy Links http://solsticepublishing.com/hustle-henry-and-the-cue-ball-kid/ http://www.amazon.com/Hustle-Henry-Cue-Ball-Jack-Strandburg-ebook/dp/B00BJ83O5K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1461339661&sr=8-1&keywords=hustle+henry+and+the+cue-ball+kid


The Monogram Killer (A Solstice Mystery) When Julia Ballard meets Kelly Nichols, she believed he was the man of her dreams. Julia’s best friend has doubts, and her investigation into Nichols’s life encourages her suspicions. Despite Jessica’s warnings, Julia is convinced he is sincere and cares for her.  Nichols is hiding secrets from a legacy he cannot escape, and Julia is the key to a sinister plan. When two homicide detectives combine forces to search for a serial killer, it becomes a race to see who accomplishes their goal first. Buy Links https://www.amazon.com/Monogram-Killer-Jack-Strandburg-ebook/dp/B01G2B7IIC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1471791612&sr=8-1&keywords=the+monogram+killer#nav-subnav http://solsticepublishing.com/the-monogram-killer/

A Head in the Game (A Solstice Mystery - coming soon) Chicago Homicide Inspector Aaron Randall faces his toughest case while dealing with doubts about his career and the potential of a romantic relationship.Jared Prescott, a Heisman Trophy winner and Vice President of a large and respected pharmaceutical company, is found murdered at a seedy motel. The investigation uncovers multiple suspects with multiple motives. When the body of his close friend and informant is found stabbed to death in a deserted alley, followed by the murders of two women, Randall suspects a conspiracy.Randall is hamstrung during the investigation by pressure from the commissioner down the chain of command because the president of the pharmaceutical company, anxious for resolution to Jared Prescott’s murder, is a close friend with a Senator whose sights are set on the Oval Office.

It's Everybody Reads YA Sunday - Hike Up Devil's Mountain

Ten-year old Andy Thompson disobeys his mother and sneaks into the basement of an old abandoned house that’s due for demolition. He stumbles upon a mysterious box under an old cabinet. And his troubles begin when he looks inside.

The Crew brothers, twelve-year old Jason, and ten-year old Danny, also find their way to the basement. New to town, Jason has established himself as the school bully. A struggle ensues between Andy and Jason, and the bully ends up as a toad.

Somehow, the boys must reverse the magical spell. And that means hiking up the dreaded Devil’s Mountain to find the only person that can help them.  Hike up Devil’s Mountain is fast paced, lots of action and has some scary, hair-raising turns on the way! There is a surprise at the end, you just don’t see coming.  The lives of all three boys seem destined to change forever, if they survive…



Excerpt from Hike Up Devil’s Mountain
Jason was getting closer to Andy.  His voice hissed through his teeth.  “You must think we are some kind of stupid.  We aren’t like the hicks who live in this town and if you think we would even begin to believe some story about an old witch who lived here, then you better think again!”  Jason pushed Andy hard against the wooden cabinet.            Andy shut his eyes waiting for the first blow.  Nothing happened.  He squinted open his left eye and saw Jason’s head cocked to one side, trying to see behind Andy’s back.  “What have you got there, Andy Pandy?”            Uh oh, the glowing stick.  Andy wasn’t about to give that up.  “Nothing,” he told him, trying to back away but there was no place to go.            “Oh I think there is something,” Jason sneered.            “It’s mine!” Andy shouted.  “You will have to do your worst if you think you are taking this from me!”“No problem,” Jason said, lunging forward.  Andy tried to fake him out, pretending to run one way and then the other.  That didn’t work.  That never worked!   Jason grabbed Andy’s arm that held the stick and tried to grab it.  Something was going to break, and Andy wasn’t sure if it would be the stick or his arm.  They both fell and were rolling on the floor.  Andy knew he was losing this battle.  No matter how hard he held on, he could feel his new-found treasure start to slip out of his grasp.            “Jason, stop it!”  Danny shouted.  “You’re acting like a big dumb toad!”            “Yeah…you’re … acting… like…a…toad!” Andy gasped between each word.             The stick exploded into a flash of light and then the fight was over.  Andy jumped up, trying to fill his lungs with air.  What happened?  Danny came running over to where Andy stood.  “Where’s Jason?”  Andy couldn’t answer because he couldn’t catch his breath.  Danny yelled, “Jason, where are you?  Quit messing around!”            His chest still heaving, Andy stammered, “I don’t know.  I . . . don’t know what just happened.”              They both looked to the floor.  Under one of the boxes was what looked like a pair of pants.  “Jason!” Danny hurried to lift the box.  No Jason — just his pants.  Lying close by were his nice Nike shoes, socks and a short distance away was his shirt.  “What did you do?” he yelled at Andy.            “Nothing!  I didn’t do anything!  I . . . don’t know!”  Andy had no answers.              Danny tried again.  “Jason,” he screamed his name.  “Where are you?”

ebook -
http://www.amazon.com/Hike-up-Devils-Mountain-ebook/dp/B0058DE9YC

print -
https://www.createspace.com/3694330

audio - 
http://goo.gl/jj92J



I write for all ages, from the early reader to adults.  My books range from pictures books for the little ones, to fantasy, time-travel adventures for ages 9 to 13. I also write adult stories, including a family drama and contemporary, paranormal and historical westerns romances, under P. A. Estelle.
I was a school secretary for 21 years.  My husband and I moved to our retirement home in Kingman, AZ, on very rural 54 acres, living on solar and wind only.  More about my books can be found in the following links:
www.pennystales.comwww.pennyestelle.blogspot.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBYhttps://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82www.facebook.com/pennystaleswww.pinterest.com/pennyestellehttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estelle- Goodreadshttp://www.twitter.com/pennystales
 

SPOTLIGHT - Still Crazy by Diana Rubino

About STILL CRAZY…Can an obsession continue from beyond the grave?
Clay Lynch is obsessed with his ex-girlfriend Alyssa Tyler. Convinced they’re destined for each other, he stalks, pesters and torments her…he creeps up to her bedroom window, he follows her onto planes, he wrecks her wedding by abducting her. His arrest and prison sentence assure her he’s finally out of her life… until his remains are found in the Arizona desert. On the anniversary of the day they met, she receives a haunting text message. Is he now stalking her from beyond the grave?
Where did STILL CRAZY come from?
It went through many incarnations over the last 26 years! In 1989, I took a detour from my romance genre and wrote a thriller about a stalking ex. It was set in the present, then, but I updated and revised it many times. Back then there were no cell phones, no internet, no GPS’s, and none of those songs or bands existed!
Is there anything specific that inspired you to write Still Crazy?
Yes, the media has provided the public with a lot of useful information about stalkers, and we now realize what a serious problem it is. I also added an essential dimension to Alyssa's personality: she can't understand why she's attracted to certain types of men who abuse her in different ways. Then she sees a television show about codependent people, which hits her like a ton of bricks. Knowing what her problem is, she finally gets the help she needs. I'm hoping this will make readers aware that codependency is also a serious issue.


If this book was made into a film, who would you cast in it?
I visualized Greg Kinnear as Clay, for no particular reason. He just seemed to fit my image of Clay. For Alyssa, I see Dakota Fanning.

An excerpt from STILL CRAZY:She brought her car in for servicing the next morning, parking in his lot next to a red and white taxi. Her mechanic called her a little after two. “Your car is ready, Alyssa. Hey, do you know you have a GPS tracking device attached underneath it?”“What?” She shook her head, baffled. “I have a GPS in the dashboard, but not under the car.”“Oh, yeah, you do. This is a tracking device. Somebody has a GPS and a dot will flash on the screen to show your exact location, as long as you’re within range. You want me to take it out?”She instantly knew who this ‘somebody’ was. She felt as if a ton of bricks clobbered her square in the face.
Purchase STILL CRAZY:Amazon PaperbackKindleSolstice PublishingBook Goodies

About DianaMy passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my books, and short stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, and New York. My urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. I live on Cape Cod with my husband Chris. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano and devour books of any genre.

 Contact Diana at: My WebsiteMy BlogFacebookTwitterGoodreads

Marie Piper talks about her series, Maidens and Monsters

Making the Old West More GothicBy Marie Piper
I came up with MAIDENS & MONSTERS while bed-bound. Terribly dramatic, right? 
Back in February, Chicago had a bitter cold winter, and I was down for the count for a few weeks with a one-two punch of bronchitis and a terrible sinus infection. All I could do was lay around, and so I figured I could at least write something. 
For months, I’d been thinking about adapting THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA to the old west. The Opera House/Music Hall comparison made sense to me, and I liked the idea of finding the “Wild West” counterparts to the well-known characters from Gaston LeRoux’s novel (and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical, if we’re being honest.) So I did it. 
(Now only 99 cents)  
 http://amzn.to/2bAX2OR

The result was CHRISTINE (Book #1) –

an adaptation of PHANTOM set in 1880 in a small Kansas town awaiting the coming of a railroad branch. Along the way, the book became more than just a straight-on adaptation. I’m a big believer in writing female friendships, so of course Christine got some friends. Four of them, in fact—and I decided they would be the leading ladies of four other horror/gothic novels-DRACULA, THE STRANGE CASE OF DR JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and FRANKENSTEIN. Together, these five young women became the Maidens of Mapleton, and the series took off.
I’ve always loved adaptations, and I’ve read a lot of great ones. I’ve seen Jane Eyre set in the old west, and recently have fallen in love with Caroline Lee’s EVERLAND, EVER AFTER series—fairy tales in a small town. 
But horror? Was I nuts? It turns out I’m not! (At least, I don’t think so…)
For starters, though these books are mostly considered horror, as I delved deep into them I came to realize that four of the five books don’t really contain any supernatural/paranormal elements. 
Grandly, I declared a rule for the series: No supernatural elements. 
And then I sort of kicked myself because that meant I had to figure out what to do with DRACULA. Because, you know, he’s a vampire. 
 https://www.amazon.com/Mina-Maidens-Monsters-Marie-Piper-ebook/dp/B01JYDNYL0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474030462&sr=8-1&keywords=mina+marie+piper#nav-subnav

In writing  MINA (Book #2), there was so much good stuff to work with – Lucy’s three suitors, the disappearance of Jonathan Harker, and a big scary asylum. I don’t know if you’ve ever done any research into asylums/mental health treatments in the last few centuries, but it’s dark stuff.  
Still, the looming spectre of the most well-known vampire in literary history stood waiting. I decided to make my Count (Count Dalca, which means lightning in Romanian) elusive and mysterious, sure. But I decided to explain his condition and quirks in a very (I feel) logical and time-appropriate way. I can’t spoil it here, but it comes down to money and what we knew of medicine at that time, and of course vice.
Three of these books are about medicine, and scientific discoveries. The 1800’s were a time of huge discovery and innovation in those fields, and so this town needed a doctor.
Enter Dr. Henry Jekyll.LUCY (Book #3) will come out October 25th. Though the Jekyll & Hyde story is hugely famous and gives me a fantastic jumping off point, it’s also notably absent of female characters. The original 1886 novella features a maid or two, but no women characters of substance or even name. By 1887 when it started to appear onstage as a play, the character of Jekyll’s proper society fiancee appeared, and she’s been a part of the story in most film/tv/musical adaptations since then. So I decided to give her a book and a voice of her own.  
Did you know that in 1880 scientists had figured out that Indian tribes chewed willow bark to alleviate pain, but hadn’t yet figured out and isolated the specific element in the bark that we would come to know as aspirin? Or that, in this same time period, it wasn’t uncommon to boil morphine into heroin and use it to treat patients? Me neither—but these kinds of discoveries came into play as things Henry Jekyll would be interested in. LUCY also takes place in December of 1880, which was right after the election of President James Garfield, the closest election in US History. Of course,Garfield would be assassinated by Charles Guiteau the next summer/fall.
All of this science and history has a place in MAIDENS & MONSTERS. I love history and research, finding tiny tidbits I can work in to enhance the book. Despite momentary quirks, it’s proving surprisingly easy to take and set these “horror classics” in my chosen time period and locale. These are books about science and architecture and religion and greed, themes which fit perfectly and are prevalent in the creation of America.
I hope MAIDENS & MONSTERS delights readers as a mystery romance series, but I also hope people will enjoy the liberties I took. I love the original books, and hope I did them justice.
Happy Reading!Marie Piper
To find out more about myself and my books come visit me anytime!

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MariePiperBooks Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/MariePiperWebsite: http://mariepiper.comTwitter: @mariepiperbooks

It's Everybody Reads YA Sunday - the Bearded Dude in the Puzzle

Many years ago, in the land of kings and knights, Dozer, a powerful wizard, casts a spell over Scartin, and changes him into a tiny toy wizard and puts him inside the box of a puzzle.
Centuries later, Shelly Taylor, and her two kids, Bobby and Andrea, find their lives in turmoil. They are uprooted from their home and friends and moved to a small town in Idaho.  Their parents’ marriage falls apart, and to make matters worse, for some reason the kids at their schools are shunning them.
Shelly, once an advertising executive, starts cleaning houses to make ends meet.  It is in one of these old homes where the ancient puzzle is found.
As the family works on the puzzle, strange things start to happen.  An evil presence is making its way to the Taylor house, intent on making sure that puzzle never gets put together, no matter the cost, and it’s up to Bobby and Andrea to make sure that it does!

Excerpt
Miss James turned to look at the two kids in the backseat.  “Andi – that’s a name you don’t hear everyday.”  When there was no reply, Steve jumped in.  “It’s short for Andrea.”“How darling,” the woman said, smiling at Steve.  She turned her attention again to the back seat.  “So, how do you like our little town?”Oh no!  Bobby groaned inside, squeezing his eyes shut.Andi sat up a little straighter, smiling.  “Oh Miss James, my mom, brother, and I are just loving it here.  We are living the dream.”  The woman smiled; apparently not having a clue sarcasm was being thrown in her face.  “Picture this,” Andi continued, “My mom has a fabulous, great paying job, but because our dad loved us so much he talked her into giving up her career to come to Smallville, USA.”“Andi,” her dad said in a low warning tone.“Not only that, Miss James, Bobby and I were in schools we loved and we both had so many friends, but what was important was our family being together. You know, a loving family, everyone being a team member, so dad could have his chance.”The woman’s eyes darted nervously around the car.  “Well…uhm…that’s just lovely Andi.  Now if we…”Andi wasn’t through.  “It is a lovely story, isn’t it?”  She leaned forward, as if to tell the woman a secret.  “But the love didn’t stop there,” Andi said, putting her hand on Miss James’ shoulder.  “Bobby and I were nervous about going to a new school, yet excited to meet new friends.  You can surely understand that, right?”  Andi’s stare demanded the woman’s eyes to stay trained on her face.  Miss James, her mouth partly opened, slowly nodded.  “Can you imagine Bobby’s and my dismay when the kids, all but shunned us?  We didn’t understand.  We are nice people.  Why would the kids, at a new school, who have never even met us, give us dirty looks and talk about us?”            Miss James, wide-eyed, shook her head back and forth.  “Why would they?” She asked.            “That’s what we wanted to know.”  Andi sat back in her seat.  Her voice changed from sugary sweet to matter of fact.  “Imagine our surprise when we found out our father felt the need to shag the neighbor’s wife.”            “Andrea!” Her father snapped.  “That’s enough!”            .  “And who could have guessed that the lady’s family that our dad destroyed, had two kids that are the same age as Bobby and me?  Yep, John Slater, who is extremely popular, has apparently told everybody in my sophomore class that it’s my fault that his family life is in the toilet.”            “I’m warning you, Andrea,” her father threatened.            The sugary sweet voice was back.  “What?” Andi purred.  “Seriously, dad, how could you have known that mom wouldn’t understand about you screwing around with another woman?  The nerve of her telling you to get out!  Now, Miss James, she is working two jobs.  An up and coming advertising expert is now answering phones at a real estate company, part time, and cleaning houses for a management company.  Isn’t that priceless?” Andi’s voice dripped with sarcasm.
http://www.amazon.com/Bearded-Dude-Puzzle-Penny-Estelle-ebook/dp/B00V5QBYVC


I write for all ages, from the early reader to adults.  My books range from pictures books for the little ones, to fantasy, time-travel adventures for ages 9 to 13. I also write adult stories, including a family drama and contemporary, paranormal and historical westerns romances, under P. A. Estelle.
I was a school secretary for 21 years.  My husband and I moved to our retirement home in Kingman, AZ, on very rural 54 acres, living on solar and wind only.  More about my books can be found in the following links:
www.pennystales.comwww.pennyestelle.blogspot.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBYhttps://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82www.facebook.com/pennystaleswww.pinterest.com/pennyestellehttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estelle- Goodreadshttp://www.twitter.com/pennystales

Vivienne Vincent is in the hot seat on Penny's Tales

Good morning everybody!  Today I am so pleased to have Vivienne Vincent on my blog today and in the hot seat!  Let's get started.....
Tell us about yourself and what makes you tick and what do you like doing when you aren't writing!I grew up in a fairly conservative environment. It's quite unusual for someone like me to be writing romance. I'm not sure what motivates me but I feel inspired at really, really odd moments. I don't spend that much time writing. These days I'm spending most of my time reading and doing research for my next book.Tell us about your family – married? Kids?I am married but I don't have children. We have a bird though, who enjoys sitting on my laptop. I call him my co-author.If you can travel anywhere in or out of this world, where would it be?This is an interesting question. I've been thinking about writing paranormal but I don't have a story or a setting. Maybe if I can figure out the answer to your question, I'll have a story.If you could do anything in this world to make a living, other than writing, what would it be – money being no object?I think I'd like to be a caricaturist.What's your favorite weekly TV show? Why?I don't watch that much TV anymore but my favorite sitcom is Seinfeld. There's something about that show that makes me feel better. No matter how bad things are, it makes me feel all right.Have you ever met anybody famous?Never.Now, tell us about your book?Dandelions is my debut. It's contemporary romance. But it's not your typical romance. It has a somewhat dark feel to it which was not deliberate. I think our personalities reflect in our writing even if it's pure fiction.Where did you come up with the idea for your story?I'm not sure how it started and I was a total pantser too. So, a lot of it came along as the story progressed.What is your biggest pet peeve about writing?When you start a new project, you feel lost. Then you get into it and it becomes a part of your life to the extent where your real life gets disrupted, because you start living inside your own head. Then there's rewriting, writer's blocks, editing, and so much more. It can be very frustrating. But once you're done with the book, you feel lost. So you have to find some other reason to live. It's not just writing that's extremely difficult but the emotions that you have to deal with are also a challenge. In the end, there are people who appreciate your work and there are those who rip it apart without a second thought. But I think that people telling you how much they hate your work is also a good thing because you feel more relaxed about your next project. Being on top of the game takes all the fun out of it so I'm pretty cool with an average response.Where can people find you? (give all your links)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vivienne-Vincent-850442295083956/?ref=aymt_homepage_panelTwitter: viviennevincen8I love hearing from readers and if they write to me, I will respond for sure :)Most important – where can we buy your story?It's available on Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Dandelions-Vivienne-Vincent-ebook/dp/B01IG97RCU#nav-subnavhttp://www.booklinker.net/book-links.php


Blurb
“There are no Rhett Butlers and Darcys in real life. Only Heathcliffs.”

An avant-garde romance that goes beyond sexual chemistry and digs deep into human nature and relationships.

Elizabeth Goodenough met Saber Fergus for the first time when she was eight and he was twelve. He broke her heart when she was eighteen. Ten years later, an unwitting mistake on Izzy’s part once again brings her face to face with the same one-night stand that once brutally crushed her.

But something seems different this time. Has her dark knight really transformed into a knight in shining armor, or is he playing her all over again?