Raeann Blake's Blog, page 5

Red Says I Love You – FREE Dec. 15-16, 2012

Free 12-15/16, 2012

Continuing with the gifts this month, on December 15th and 16th, Red Says I Love You will be FREE for Kindle! Make sure that all of those readers on your Christmas list get their copy of Red Says I Love You for their Kindle this year.

The Blurb:

She passed up a four-year scholarship to put her husband through college. Then she paid her own way through after he was done…with college and with her, when he walked out the day after he got his degree. But now she was finished and enjoying a graduation present to herself in the form of one month in a mountain cabin between Bozeman and West Yellowstone. Things were definitely changing for Cass Wright. The vacation turned into a job opportunity at a local brewery. And she was intrigued by one of Bozeman’s talented sculptors and spent money she didn’t really have to buy one of his creations that she swore emitted invisible sex waves. It didn’t take long to figure out that it wasn’t the sculpture emitting those waves, but the sculptor himself.

Josh’s sculptures were not what most people would consider conventional. They each depicted a couple at one point or another in that journey where interest turned to desire, desire turned to hunger, and hunger turned to satisfaction. They weren’t pornographic or even exotic but more sensual or suggestive. He never used models, so it shocked him when he realized his latest sculpture was in the image of a woman he had seen the night before at a benefit for the Battered Women’s Shelter. A woman with alluring green eyes, who was now standing on the outside of the ropes that cordoned off the area where he was working. The woman who just bought that same sculpture. Little did he know that in the coming days he would find life imitating art and then art imitating life…until she got that new job. Then he found himself way over a line that he hadn’t even known was there.

More Info:

Josh’s imagination always conjured up feelings of what came before, during, and after the point in time depicted by his meticulously crafted sculptures. That’s how he knew he got them right. That’s how he knew that they said what he wanted them to say. But he had never sculpted one that physically aroused him… until now.

Cass never really healed from a marriage gone wrong. Still, she didn’t wall off her heart and walked right into Josh’s life without any real reservations. Or at least she didn’t have any until she learned the one secret Josh was hiding that changed everything.

Can Josh convince her that what they could have would be worth taking a risk? How many times can Josh be turned away before he gives up? How many times will Cass have to turn him away before she makes him understand why it has to be that way?

Most popular quotes highlighted by Kindle readers:

The thorns on a rose are there for the protection of the flower. A rose is like a love. You have to be careful with it, handle it gently, but cherish that the thorns are there not to keep you from having that love, but to keep it safe.
I don’t want them inside of me. That’s mine. I only share that with the people who are important to me.
I wanted a baby so much. And to find out he gave her one… it was like I lost a child. Like I was mourning the loss of a baby.


Current Ratings:

Goodreads: 4.48 out of 5 Stars
Amazon US: 3.7 out of 5 Stars


Just a few of my favorite quotes from reviewers:

I felt as though I was a part of it all. I laughed, I cried, my heart broke and soared right along with the characters.
it will make you stop and contemplate how we all carry the burden of emotional scars from life’s past experience, and that we each deal with them in our own way.
I will agree that the book was long, but so was Taming Clay and I found that in both cases that Ms. Blake used that time to let you fully know each and every character in each book. Knowing them made me love them all the more and made the ups and downs more meaningful.
I love a story that I finish with a smile, and this fit the bill.
For me it was a rollercoaster  ride of emotions, from tears to happiness and back again. It was a classic love story with twist.
I WANT TO SEE JOSH’S  SCULPTURES!!!!

Thanks to all of my readers and a special thanks to all of those who took a few minutes out of their busy day to share your thoughts about Red Says I Love You with all of us!

If you don’t have Red Says I Love You in your library yet, pick up your copy this weekend. And give your friends an early Christmas gift by telling them that Josh and Cass’ story is FREE to download to their Kindles, Dec. 15-16, 2012.

Happy Reading!

~Raeann

Taming Clay – FREE Dec. 8-9, 2012

FREE Dec 8-9,2012

In the spirit of Christmas, I’m giving gifts this month. On December 8th and 9th, the latest edition and newly updated Taming Clay will be FREE for Kindle! And as of the time of this post, Amazon is showing the paperback version on sale for $13.49. Got a reader on your Christmas list who loves long, transformative, real romances that make them laugh and cry? Do they love sexy cowboys and spunky heroines? Then make sure they get a copy of Taming Clay for their Kindle this year.

The Blurb:

Surly didn’t begin to describe Clay Cardell. A lifetime of experience taught him not to love and never to trust, but he desperately needed a business manager. What he got was a spunky, high-tempered woman who tilted his world more than a little off-center. But if he had learned anything in his life, it was to not expect her to stick around. You don’t trust a woman, any woman, to not just disappear.

Hailey Lambert just needed a shot. Montana was a long way from New Mexico and she just needed one chance to prove she could do the job. She was warned that Clay Cardell would not be the easiest man to work for. After their initial meeting she thought they might have understated that just a tad. The fact that her heart did some kind of somersault when she first saw him didn’t really concern her. If she could deal with the man’s attitude, she could certainly deal with some little physical reaction. Right? Well… maybe not.

More Info:

Clay was raised in an environment where he never learned how to trust and he never learned how a relationship with a woman is supposed to work. On the outside, he was a sexy, work-hardened cowboy with a chip on his shoulder. On the inside, he was a naive little boy trying to figure out how to be a man.

Hailey was raised having to fight for everything she wanted to do. She’d fought so long and so hard that she didn’t know how to be any other way. She developed a chip of her own that caused her to flare at the first hint of anyone suggesting she couldn’t do something just because she was a woman.

Sparks fly when these two products of their environments face off against each other. Her perky attitude and sassy mouth were in direct contrast with Clay’s rough demeanor and harsh words.

Can Hailey keep up the fight long enough for Clay to learn how to love and how to trust? Or will those who want them both to fail succeed in keeping them apart?

Notes shared from Kindle readers:

I am so glad I found this book.  It is one of the best stories I have had the pleasure to read.  I Loved it!
I loved this book! These characters are so flawed it made them seem like real people. This is not your typical harps and flowers instant perfection book but it slowly develops in to a true love story!
I want to cuddle in my sleeping bag and read this.
I think I yelled at this book more than any other book I have read.

Most popular quote highlighted by Kindle readers:

Just as she turned the knob his hand on her arm spun her around and he pulled her into his arms and lowered his lips to hers in a kiss that picked up right where the last one left off.

Current Amazon U.S. Rating:

4.3 out of 5 Stars
Out of 67 reviews, 41-5★’s and 12-4★’s.
Read the reviews!

Just a few of of my favorite quotes from reviewers:

Absolutely howled over her temper in private after remaining so calm during interactions with Mr. Yates.
The book took me through an emotional roller coaster. I laughed, I cried and some characters I thought should have been shot just because how awful they treated everyone. You will root for Hailey, and pray for Clay.
How Ms.Blake was able to pull off this guy being both Hot and Naive and Innocent all at the same time was what made this story so different than a typical Romance Novel. You couldn’t help but love him, while at the same time you wanted to smack him upside the head.
Wow….I loved this book from the beginning to the end! It had me crying, laughing and talking to the characters like they could hear me.
I laughed and cried and kept the Kleenex nearby, but the characters were wonderful, and I could actually see the Montana sky.
I laughed til I cried and cried til I had to laugh at myself for getting so emotional over a book.

Thanks to all of my readers and a special thanks to all of those who took a few minutes out of their busy day to share your thoughts about Taming Clay with all of us!

If you don’t have Taming Clay in your library yet, pick up your copy this weekend. And give your friends an early Christmas gift by telling them that Taming Clay is FREE to download to their own Kindles, Dec. 8-9, 2012.

Happy Reading!

~Raeann

Project Blue Light

We remember. We know you’re out there. We care.
And we thank you!

Anyone who has read or will read any of my books will discover that there is not a single one that does not have a law enforcement official, either past or present, in there somewhere. Big role or small, you will find at least one in every book. This stems from my personal high regard for any man or woman who has the courage to get up every day and pin a shield on their chest to go out and do their job in the protection of people they do not know. They are disrespected, they are ridiculed and in many cases hated. And yet they get up and pin on that badge every day anyway. I always find it particularly infuriating that the people who complain about law enforcement the loudest are the first ones to call them for help when trouble arises. And they will come. And when it’s over…you guessed it. They weren’t fast enough, good enough or smart enough. In any book, I wouldn’t hesitate to tell you what I think about that, but I do try to watch my language on this blog. So I will refrain other than to say that I have zero tolerance for those who do not respect or even attempt to understand what kind of courage it takes to go around corners, through doors, or walk up beside that car never knowing what is waiting for you.

What I will tell you is that a few years back (under another name) I wrote and worked with a non-profit Cause on Facebook entitled “A Tribute To Those Who Wear The Shield” that pays tribute to and honors these brave men and women. The Cause was started and headed by John A. Pasko, a Police Officer with the Melbourne, Florida Police Department and it benefits the American Police Hall of Fame and Museum in Titusville, Florida. As time has passed, the Cause itself has waned as those of us who have worked on it are forced to spend more and more time on other pursuits. But my respect and admiration for these men and women will never diminish.

So where is this going? Well, I’m going to ask you do something. Among the numerous blog posts that I wrote for them, there was a very short one regarding Project Blue Light. We wanted to extend that further and called it Project Blue Light and More. Those who don’t keep up with the statistics may be surprised to know that 113 law enforcement officers have been lost in the line of duty so far this year alone, which is thankfully down significantly from the 174 who were killed last year. Think about that. Even at this lower rate, that’s an average of 10 men and women who were protecting all of us killed every month this year. Project Blue Light and More is a simple way for us to pay respect to all of our first responders, especially during this time of the year, to let them know that we know they are out there for us and that we appreciate what they do. It’s also to honor the memory of those we have lost.

I hope you will join us by placing a candle in the window in memory of the law enforcement, fire, and emergency workers who have given their lives in the line of duty and to send a message to those who remain. “We remember. We know you’re out there. We care. And we thank you.”

Progress Is A Slow Process

First just a little update. A while back I posted that I had the first half of Davis ready to send to the editor. Well… I ran into a bit of a snag. As I was doing one last pass through it, I kept finding sections I decided needed to be rewritten. So that was a bit delayed. However, I am happy to report that the first half is now in the hands of the editor and I’m on to working on the second part.

Second, I am extremely happy to welcome Amy Jirsa-Smith to the team as our fabulous new proofreader. We are so happy to have her on board. Adding that additional pair of eyes will lengthen the time it will take us to get a release ready, but the end result will be worth it.

Since it is almost Thanksgiving now, I think we can honestly rule out a December release for Davis. I really wanted to have this out before Christmas, but it is just not going to happen. I will get the blurb and a sample up on the website around the first of December and we will hope for January but shoot for February on the release.

Have you ever wondered what my process is for getting these books ready or why it takes so long between each release when all of the books are already written?

It is true that they were all written years ago. So the first thing I have to do is a complete read-through to get back into the story again and correct any items that may not be relevant today that were just fine 5 years ago. At this point I will create the eBook cover and add the “Coming Soon” banner.

Next, I will go through the first half of the book at least two more times, making updates and corrections along the way. I may (which translates to ‘usually’) rewrite pieces in this step.

Once I am satisfied, I now go back through it yet again with a text-to-speech program, listening and reading at the same time. The brain may automatically fill in words that are missing when you are reading something and you never notice. But hearing it read aloud will often point out those errors.

As soon as I am satisfied with the first 2 or 3 chapters, I stop and write a blurb for the book. Then I’ll send that and the first chapters to use as a sample on the website over to my wonderful editor, Sharon Gunn-Jones, who allows me the leeway to keep my voice, my story but makes it better. Then I continue with the remainder of the first half.

When this step is complete, I send that section to Sharon and I start the process over again with the second part. Hopefully, by the time I am through with this piece, she will be finished with the part she has and we will swap. (Usually she is waiting on me here.)

Now I will make changes based on her recommendations and send that to Amy for proofreading. So at this point, Amy has the first half, Sharon has the second, and I have moved on to begin the same process with the next book.

Somewhere in the middle of all of this, I will have received the edited blurb and sample back from Sharon and I will create the sample file and update the website.

When Sharon finishes editing the second part, she’ll send it back to me for corrections and off it will go to Amy while I keep going on the next book. After Amy has finished, it comes back to me and I make any additional corrections needed. At this point I will also make any needed changes to the sample on the website that Amy may have found. Then the fun begins.

The eBook and print versions need to be formatted differently. So I will build those files with the appropriate formatting for each, update the eBook cover to remove the “Coming Soon” banner and the Kindle version is ready to upload… sort of.

Are you with me so far?

Next, I will email the Kindle version to my Kindle through Amazon where they will convert it to the Kindle format. I then go through the book AGAIN to make sure I don’t see something on my Kindle version that we all missed everywhere else or any issues with the formatting. (Am I beyond sick of this book by this point…you betcha!) Once I am satisfied, the Kindle version can now be uploaded and released.

Now, since I do my own covers, I need to create the cover for the print version (front, back and spine) and convert that into a high-resolution graphic that can be used for printing that glossy paperback. Once this is complete I can begin the process of sending everything to CreateSpace to publish this version. This usually consists of more than one attempt to get the cover exactly right and an error-free submission. Then just like magic…..VOILA! I can now order a proof copy of the print version and wait a week for it to come in. I receive the proof, allow myself a few minutes for a happy dance and, assuming it is okay, I can finally push the button to release it and the exhausting process of promoting it now begins.

Simple, right?

Wait…what am I forgetting? Oh yeah…both Sharon and Amy are patiently waiting on the first half of the next one. Get back to work!

There you have it. That is my process that gets squeezed in around my day-job and attempts to have at least a little cuddle time with my own Prince Charming (who is forever picking up the slack on all those things I can’t seem to squeeze into a 24-hour day) and the occasional ride on the Harley to decompress.

Disclaimer: Did this post go through Sharon and Amy? NO! So any errors you see are all mine. Happy Reading and Happy Thanksgiving!  :)

LIEBSTER AWARD

I was nominated for the Liebster Award by the talented author Constance Masters.

The Rules

When one receives the award, one posts 11 random facts about oneself and answers the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated you.
Pass the award onto 11 other blogs (while making sure one notifies the blogger that one nominated them!)
One writes up 11 NEW questions directed towards YOUR nominees.
One is not allowed to nominate the blog who nominated one’s own blog!
One pastes the award picture into ones blog. (You can google the image, there are plenty of them!)

11 Random facts about Raeann Blake

I have not read ’50 Shades’ of anything.
I grew up wanting to be a Physical Education teacher.
I play the piano.
I simply LOATHE shopping.
While I know people who have entire closets to house their massive collection of shoes, I own exactly 6 pairs: 2 pairs of dress shoes (1 dark, 1 light), 1 pair of cowboy boots, 1 pair of motorcycle boots, 1 pair of tennis shoes, and 1 pair of house shoes.
I bought my very first cell phone in 2009.
I love snow ice cream.
I played volleyball in high school.
I am one of those people who will spend hours searching for the one penny that I’m off when balancing my bank account.
I am the baby of my family with 3 older sisters.
I make lists for just about everything.

Questions from Constance

What was the subject of your first blog? It was entitled “Show Some Love” and was encouraging readers to like, tag, and review the works of their favorite authors.
What was your favourite subject in school? Algebra
Have you ever done anything in your life you’re truly ashamed of? Absolutely. (What? You thought I would tell you what it was? Ummmmm….no!)
What’s your proudest moment in life so far? I don’t know how I would pick just one. The births of my kids, the realization that they have grown into the kind of people any parent would be proud of, the minute the love of my life placed a ring on my finger…there are far too many to pick one.
What did you type into the search box when you surfed the internet for the first time? Are you kidding? Do you know how many years ago that was? I barely remember what I ate yesterday and you want me to remember that? I have no earthly idea.
What’s the worst thing you ever got in trouble for when you were at school? I was setting up my exhibit for a Science Fair and instead of going right back to class I stayed to wander through the other exhibits to see what was there. I missed the rest of the class and that teacher was not known for her sense of humor or patience. She was not pleased. She basically considered it as skipping class and reported it as such.
What’s your favourite holiday? Christmas
What is your favourite genre of book to read? Westerns (both contemporary and historical)
Favourite TV show? How It’s Made on the Science Channel
Favourite season of the year? Fall. The beautiful palette of God’s paintbrush makes everything seem just right in my world.
What was the last book you read and who wrote it? The Rancher Takes A Bride (The Burnett Brides Book 1) by Sylvia McDaniel

Questions for my nominees

If money was not an issue and you could have any job in the world, what would it be?
Dogs or cats?
Log cabin in the mountains or expansive luxury house on an ocean shore?
Have you ever traveled to any destination that required the use of a passport?
What is your dream vacation destination?
What is your favorite type of music?
What is your favorite spot and/or activity for relaxing?
In school, were you a teacher’s pet, the class clown, or __________?
Do you prefer clear blue skies or rolling thunderstorms?
What is your favorite childhood Christmas memory?
What is the next book you plan to read?

My Nominees

I know everyone is extremely busy. I’m nominating 11 great folks from my Twitter buddies, but know that they will not be crucified or have their nails pulled out one by one if they do not participate. I nominated people I would like to know more about, but do not wish for them to feel obligated to respond. (Sorry if you have been previously nominated, too.) And for those nominated, whether they participate or not, go check out their blogs. You will find some real gems there!

Cynthia Woolf
Elizabeth Marx
Isabella Louise Anderson
Craig McGray
Sammy Sutton
A.J. Burton
Thomas Wilson
Patricia Obermeier Neuman and Rosalind Burgess
Nikki Mahood
James Paddock
Gae-Lynn Woods

The Booker Award

I received this award from a wonderful writing duo of Roz and Patty, aka Burgess and Neuman (@RozPattyWriters), at Roz and Patty Write . This award is passed among authors and bloggers to showcase their five all-time favorite books.

Now I love books. There’s no doubt that I love to write. And I love to read. My history covers everything from westerns, true crime, mystery, suspense, romance, both true and fictional air disasters, and everything in between. About the only thing I don’t read is paranormal and horror. Not that there is anything wrong with those, I just know better than to feed my overactive imagination and encourage the incubation of an always lurking anxiety attack just waiting to happen.

I’ll confess right now. I’m cheating a bit on this list. It’s not the first time I have run afoul of the rules, nor will it be the last. You will see my list includes a couple of collections in lieu of a single book. These were collections that can’t be defined by single book. While each book within the collection is outstanding alone, as a group they will stay forever in my mind and heart.

So with that said, here is my list of my Top 5 Favorite (or at least Memorable) Books of all time.

Call of the Wild by Jack London. This was my first “adult” book that was shoved into my hands by my daddy in response to that ever-present lament of children everywhere. “I’m bored.” London was the first of many to spirit me away to a world I had never imagined with his vivid descriptions of the sweeping frozen landscapes and introduced me to the concept of “people you love to hate”. I honestly believe that along with my parents, this book helped to develop my deeply ingrained sense of right and wrong. It, along with London’s White Fang, also jump-started my long-standing love affair with the majestic creatures of the wild, the legendary wolf. This one book started me down the path of being forever book-poor. Thank God for libraries.
Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey. Really I could have picked any of Zane Grey’s books. I grew up with a whole collection on our bookshelves. The first one carried me to another place and time. Once I read one, there was no stopping me. It takes a special talent to be able to transport a reader to another world. Zane Grey exploited that talent well.
The Sacketts collection by Louis L’Amour. There is no possible way to single out just one of the many Louis L’Amour books. The closest I could come was to choose the group that covers the many branches of the Sackett family. Besides wanting to be there instead of merely living that day and time vicariously through the members of this family, they embodied the very definition of my own personal sense of what family means. “Mess with one…you get us all.”
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. I don’t know if I would classify this under the category of a favorite book. But it definitely falls into the list of the most memorable. Why? Because it scared the hell out of me. I went through an extended period of reading nothing but true crime novels and this was one of them. This true story scared me silly to the point that I heard things go bump in the night for a very long time.
The Calder series by Janet Dailey. I stumbled across Janet Daily after I had already moved into the recent romance/romantic suspense books by the likes of Nora Roberts, Sandra Brown and Linda Howard. Then I found the Calders. Oh my! Without giving anything away, I will say that in the later stages of this series I encountered the first instance where an author left me heartbroken and so angry that I put the book down and swore I would never read anything by her again. Of course I did eventually finish the book and the series, but I still haven’t completely forgiven her to this day.

So there you have it. As I said, I can’t classify them all as favorites but at least memorable in that they have stayed with me long after the reading. And I have read all of them more than once…well except In Cold Blood. That one will sit on the shelf for an eon before I’m brave enough to pick it up again.

What are your favorites?

My task at the end of this post was to pass The Booker Award along to 5 more authors and bloggers. Unfortunately, despite a number of requests sent out through both Twitter and FB to fellow authors, I have been unable to gather 5 who currently have the time or inclination to accept. However, I did have one special author who accepted and I am pleased to present her with The Booker Award.

The fabulous Flick Merauld is the author of such immensely popular and highly-rated novels as “The Aunt Sally Team” and “The Sacred Marriage“. Keep watching her blog where she will share her favorite reads with all of us. And watch for her new release, “Aunt Sally and More“, coming in December. I can’t wait to read her list and appreciate her pulling out some of her proverbial time in a bottle to use for our reading pleasure.

Flick Merauld (@FlickM3) – cats dogs & eBooks: life love & having a novel published

An Interview with Brinley

When I decided it was time to do a little interview with Brinley it seemed to be the perfect excuse to make a trip back to the ranch and drop by for a little one-on-one. We settled out on the back porch, each with a cup of coffee. How interesting to watch Jake and Davis working in the distance. As enjoyable as that is, that’s not why I’m here so I should get down to business.

NOTE: This interview may contain some spoilers for Jake (The Seven Brothers of Elko: Book One)

Raeann: Brinley, I want to thank you for having me here and taking the time to answer a few questions. I promised the readers a little “Texas girls talking” time.

Brinley: You’re always welcome here, Raeann. If it weren’t for you, none of us would be here, now would we?

Raeann: I guess that’s true. Or maybe you would but your story just wouldn’t be out there for others to see. Let’s get something out of the way right up front. In the next book, Davis, people will hear you make a statement that many may not understand. You state that you are a bitch and proud of it. Would you explain that?

Brinley: Well, first I think it was more along the lines of “Damn right I’m a bitch. And proud of it. You got something to say about it?” For most people that word has a negative connotation. It brings to mind a mean-spirited, selfish, hateful, spiteful woman. And it can mean that. That’s one of those words where it depends on the circumstance, tone of voice, etc. But any good Texas woman worth her weight in salt has a little bitch in her. And she is proud of it. That doesn’t mean that we fit into the standard definition. I’ll use myself as an example. I consider myself a lady through and through. I was raised with all the proper manners and Mama actually did teach me how to act in public. I’m seldom inconsiderate of others’ feelings… until you cross the line. Then you will see the bitch. I’ll stand right beside you and help you fight your fights. I’ll give you the shirt off my back. But hurt me or mine and you better start backing up because I will be in your face. It’s not about being hateful or spiteful. It’s about standing up for what’s right, fighting for your family, friends and beliefs. It’s about not taking crap off of anybody and not being afraid to put them in their place.

(Brinley leaned back comfortably in the chair here with a wicked little grin and I knew what was coming.)

Brinley: And if you push me far enough… it’s about payback. So, yeah… I am a bitch, or I can be when I need to be. And I am proud of that.

Raeann: You knew that would make me laugh. So… exactly how are Linda’s jaw and your hand?

Brinley: (snorts in disgust) My hand is just fine. As for her jaw… I really don’t give a good damn how that bitch’s jaw is doing… and in this case bitch means exactly what you think it means.

Raeann: (laughing because I managed to get those little sparkles in her eyes firing up so easily) I understand. So let’s talk about Southern sayings. Just like the word ‘bitch’, it’s difficult to explain how it means one thing one time and something else another time. There are so many things that come to mind that are the same way. And there are things that mean one thing when we (Southerners) say them versus somebody from up North saying them. What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about that?

Brinley: That’s easy. “Bless your heart.”

Raeann: Can you elaborate on that for our readers?

Brinley: It all depends on the circumstances, the tone of voice, what type of smile accompanies it (if any), the facial expression and who it is said to or about.

If that’s said with a sad smile or a pat on the arm then it is a term of sympathy or at least empathy.

If it’s said with a little shock in the voice and maybe some raised eyebrows then it usually means “You poor thing. What can I do to help?”

If you’re talking about someone who did something really stupid, probably not for the first time, and you hear “bless her heart” with a little shake of the head, that translates to something like “that poor child has no clue.” If that’s accompanied by rolling eyes you can add “never has and never will.”

Now if it’s said with a hint of smugness or satisfaction “bless her heart”, can be correctly translated to “got what she deserved I’d say.”

But… if you’re saying it to another woman and the eyes are sort of glittering with a steady gaze and you add a condescending smile… well, if you’re saying that to another Texas woman who would understand the meaning, then everybody else probably better clear the area. There’s fixin’ to be a fight because that translates in no uncertain terms to “Bitch, I will stomp a mud puddle right in the middle of your ass.”

Raeann: That is the absolute truth! Fixin’… have you run into a lot of flak about that word?

(That got one of those huge eye rolls from her.)

Brinley: Oh my God! I don’t understand why people who aren’t from the South get so upset over one little word. I have had people practically froth at the mouth over it. What is the big deal? I’m fixin’ to get some coffee. Or… I am preparing to rise from my chair and cross the room to the coffee pot and pour a fresh cup of that dark liquid it holds. Then I’m going to turn around and proceed back across the room, bringing that cup of coffee with me and settle back into the chair once again. Now why would I say all of that when “I’m fixin’ to get some coffee” says the same thing by stating that you are preparing to do something and covers the whole trip to the coffee pot and back again? And by the way…. if you look up prepare in a thesaurus you know what you’ll find?  Fix.

(Brinley shrugs her shoulders here in a way that reads… enough said.)

So if I say that I’m fixin’ to go get something to eat and you’re hungry, then you better plant your ass in that car seat… or you’re fixin’ to get left behind.

(Once we both stopped laughing we actually did get some more coffee then continued.)

Raeann: It’s very difficult to come up with things to ask you that won’t give away too much of what’s still to come or act as a huge spoiler for those who haven’t read the first book yet, but let me get serious for a minute. A lot of people mistakenly thought they were watching a love triangle in the making between you, Jake and Davis. Tell me about your relationship with Davis.

Brinley: Seriously? They really thought that? Oh… well, yeah I guess they could have thought that for a bit. I come from a family of huggers so we do hug a lot. And we are very close. I’m just as likely to sit down in Davis’ lap as I am Jake’s. Just as likely to lie down on a blanket and use his shoulder for a pillow as I am Jake’s. But Jake is my heart. Jake is my reason for being. Davis is my best friend. He’s not just Jake’s brother. He’s my brother, but more than a brother. It’s very difficult to explain.

Raeann: Believe me, I know firsthand how difficult it is to explain. So… Texas girl moves north and west. Do you miss Texas?

Brinley: Sometimes. I miss what was, more than what’s there. What I mean is I miss Mom and Dad. I miss Carl. I miss those times more than I miss living there. Home is where the heart is and a tiny piece of my spirit will always be in Atlanta with me and Casey riding everywhere on the back of Carl and Tommy’s motorcycles or fishing with Daddy along the bank of some little creek. But my heart is right here in Nevada. My heart is wherever Jake is. This is where I belong. It’s where I was meant to be.

Raeann: You went through a lot to get where you are right now. Would you change anything?

(That brought a deep frown and a long period of silence before she finally spoke.)

Brinley: No. No, I wouldn’t. I wish I’d had more time with Carl. I wish Mama and Daddy could have stayed with us longer. I wish Warren had not turned out to be who he was. I wish all of the things that happened after he first got out of prison hadn’t happened. I wish I could give Jake back what Warren took from him. But at the same time, I can’t say that I would change anything. If any of those things changed… if there was a single change to any one second in time during my life… I might not be here. I might not be the person I am. I might not have Jake. And that’s not a chance I would be willing to take to change anything regardless of how difficult or how painful those events were. The love we have, the family we’ve made… that’s everything.

Raeann: Complete this sentence. The thing I miss most about living in Texas is…?

Brinley: Sweet tea.

Raeann: You can’t get sweet tea in Nevada?

Brinley: There is only one place I have found around here that serves real sweet tea. I hate being served a glass of unsweetened tea and having to put sugar in it at the table. Yuck! It’s not the same and anybody from the South will agree with me on that. Or even worse, bring me something you call sweet tea but in reality it’s been polluted with some kind of artificial sweetener. Double yuck!!! Our favorite steak place in Elko is the only place I can order sweet tea and get the real thing. You can bet your boots when you come here and ask for some tea that you will get a big glass of honest to God sweetened with real sugar iced tea.

Raeann: Who would play your role if The Seven Brothers of Elko was turned into a movie?

(Wow… that got an immediate scowl and something that sounded almost like a growl.)

Brinley: Please tell me that you are not going to let them turn our lives into a cheesy movie with the story and dialogue so chopped up that it won’t even be recognizable. And then they’ll hire some actors from God knows where that couldn’t even pull off a half-decent Southern accent if you held a gun to their heads.

Raeann: Ummmm….o-kay. Moving on. Any regrets?

Brinley: About?

Raeann: Anything.

Brinley: Sure. Lots of things. Some of them we’ve already touched on. I regret that I didn’t meet Jake sooner. And all the bad things that happened after we did meet. I regret some choices that I made. Lot of things. Who doesn’t have regrets?

Oh… and I regret that I didn’t pop Shelley Jean McCallister right on that perky little nose back in the 10th grade.

(Wanting to let her change the subject and end on a lighter note, I played along.)

Raeann: And what did Shelley Jean McCallister do?

(One shoulder went up in response and what could only be described as a mischievous grin graced Brinley’s face.)

Brinley: She had just moved to Atlanta that year from New York City. And it didn’t take her long to make the rounds of pretty much every boy in class. Then one day she snootily informed me that her name was Shelley and she would prefer that I not call her Shelley Jean like she was some common member of our “backward hillbilly Southern clan”.

Raeann: Go ahead. I know there’s more.

Brinley: Well… what was I supposed to say? I told her, “Why bless your heart. Honey, don’t you worry about drowning when it rains with your nose stuck that high up in the air? And we’re really not backwards you know. At least we’re not doing the whole sacrificing a blonde virgin on the altar anymore. Of course you wouldn’t have needed to worry. I mean they were using virgins. And they did require natural blondes. By the way… your roots are showing. And I’m not talking about just your hair… Shelley Jean.”

(Brinley mumbles under her breath here, but I caught it. The words didn’t go with the super sweet, innocent smile.)

Brinley: I should have punched that little bleached blonde Wicked Witch of the North wannabe right in that stuck-up nose.

Reann: Now I thought Glinda was the Good Witch of the North in the Wizard of Oz.

(That got dismissed with a wave of the hand.)

Brinley: Whatever… Wicked Witch of the East then.

At this point we’re both practically rolling in the floor when a commotion across the yard drew our attention and we turned just in time to see a bare-chested Jake dive across the top of the fence, hit the ground and roll then glare back at the rambunctious horse that still had Jake’s ripped shirt clamped firmly in his teeth. When he started brushing off his chest and turned for the porch, I quickly gathered my supplies. The last thing I needed to do was sit there and openly drool over that sculpted chest. The next thing you know I’ll be hearing “Bless your heart”.

Raeann: I believe that’s my cue. Time for me to go.

Brinley: Chicken.

Raeann: Not chicken. Smart. See ya, Brinley. Bye, Jake.

So now I’m back in Texas. It was a nice visit and it was really great to be back at the ranch again. I certainly can’t complain about the unexpected view towards the end either. Shhhh… don’t tell Brinley.

If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, you can find Jake (The Seven Brothers of Elko: Book One)here.

If you want to know more about Brinley and Jake plus the stories of each of the other brothers, watch for the release of Davis (The Seven Brothers of Elko: Book Two) late 2012 to early 2013.

The Next Big Thing: Authors Tagging Authors

I’ve been invited by Nikki Mahood to join in on The Next Big Thing: Authors Tagging Authors by tagging me in her own post. Thanks, Nikki, for inviting me to “tag” along. The premise it to answer ten questions about my current work in progress and then tag five more authors who can move the chain along another link should they choose to do so.

Before I get started I want to invite you to connect with me on Twitter and Facebook. I’d love to see you there!

With that said, I’ll be talking specifically about Davis (The Seven Brothers of Elko: Book Two) which is in the rewrite/edit stage at this point and The Seven Brothers of Elko series in general.

What is the Working Title of your Book?

The original working title was “Until the Day After Forever”, but is now “Davis (The Seven Brothers of Elko: Book Two)”.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Davis is the second book in The Seven Brothers of Elko series which follows seven men who become as close, if not closer, than any seven brothers related by blood and the family they build together. All of the brothers were introduced in Jake (Book One). Davis is Jake’s younger brother. When I wrote Jake, I didn’t intend for it to turn into a series, but once it was complete Davis started whispering in my ear, begging me to tell his story, too.

What genre does your book fall under?

It will be listed under Romance >> Contemporary and Romance >> Series. But it doesn’t fall into just one or two categories. Davis, and the series as whole, certainly belongs to the romance genre, but they each contain elements of a western, suspense, mystery, and family saga all rolled together.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

There are so many characters in the series and, like I said before, all of the men are in each book, so I’m going to have to stick with just the hero/heroine of this single book here. This won’t be easy because I honestly don’t watch much in the way of recent movies.

Davis is a tough decision because Davis and Jake are nearly identical and the fact that they are becomes a major part of the story in one of the later books in the series. So I see this as having to be a dual role for a single actor. And the picture I’ve always had of these two isn’t really an actor at all but a photographer who was involved in a Marlboro cigarette promotion a few years back. I don’t know his name but here is his picture, right down to those Reardon gray eyes. (Hopefully Phillip Morris/Marlboro or the hunky photographer won’t sue me for this, especially since this is an edited image of one I got from them. What can I say? He needed a cowboy hat to go with that spiffy leather jacket.)

The closest I can picture to “my” Jake/Davis I guess would be Mark Wahlberg but I’m just not sure his voice would match the way I hear them in my head. And I believe he’s only about 5’ 7” so we’re going to have to have some creative camera angles to make him appear around 6’. Or maybe Timothy Olyphant, but he might be better for Michael. Seriously? They would do in a pinch, but I’m going to have to stay with the photographer. Maybe Hollywood could track him down.

The heroine in Davis is Dusty. I could see Olivia Wilde in this role. And I’m going strictly by a picture I saw of her from Cowboys & Aliens. I have to admit I don’t think I’ve ever seen any of her many films or television appearances.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

When the other part of Davis Reardon walks into his life, he and those he loves are forced to make life-threatening choices and risk everything to hold on to that matching piece of his heart.

Will your book be Self Published or represented by an agency?

It will be self-published. I struggled early on with that decision before I released any of my books. Standards are standards for a reason. But I seldom play by somebody else’s rules, professionally or personally. My books are considered too long for the industry standard. They are my books and regardless of what the mainstream publishing industry believes is the maximum length to fit in their neat little boxes for any particular genre, they will stay as I wrote them. The stories were told to me by the characters and I refuse to let them be chopped up to fit into any specific limitations dictated by some predetermined set of rules rather than allowing the story to be told the way it should be told.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

This series was originally written more than 5 year ago so it’s hard to remember. My best guess if 2-3 months for Davis.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I don’t like making comparisons to other authors’ works. Every author has their own style and their own way of telling the story. But I will admit when I first read the question two other series immediately popped into my mind–Janet Dailey’s Calder series and any of Linda Lael Miller’s McKettrick series.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Davis did that himself. The first book started from a long-standing saga I built in my head around an actor who had a popular television series at the time. Over the years I added to it until I reached the point where I was afraid I would lose it so I started writing it down. The story I wrote turned out to not be the story I started with although there are bits and pieces of it in there. The original didn’t have even one brother, much less seven. But as soon as Jake was finished it felt really important to “finish” Davis’ story line. And from there it just kept going until the family was complete.

What else about your book might pique the readers’ interest?

As I said, this is the second book in a seven-book series. It’s very difficult to tell what will appeal to readers on any given day. And what will appeal to one won’t appeal to another. I can probably best answer that by telling you what pulls me in about this whole series every time I go back and read them again.

The strong family bond that is built between the men and the women who come into their lives defies the conventional definition of what makes a family. But conventional wisdom aside, the bond is there and builds throughout the series. They have a strong sense of honor. They fight for what they believe in. They fight for their family. And they fight for the women they love.

Not one of these men gets to skip lightly down a flowery path to the land of “happily ever after” with bluebirds singing and heavenly harps playing in the background. You feel what they feel. You know what they’re thinking. Individually and as a group they find hope and despair, love and heartache. Lies, deceit, kidnappings and murder are only a few of the things thrown into their paths. And it all started with one chance meeting.

And there you have it. I hope you have enjoyed this quick peek behind the scenes of Davis and The Seven Brothers of Elko. Davis is expected to be released somewhere in the range of December 2012-February 2013. If you haven’t read Jake yet, you can pick that up today on Amazon at Jake (The Seven Brothers of Elko: Book One).

For my tags I chose some great author friends from the Chick Lit Goddesses Facebook group and some of my many Twitter buddies who have provided me with an immeasurable amount of support and advice on this winding trail. Be sure to check each of them out next week for their Next Big Thing.

Sarah Louise Smith – http://www.sarahlouisesmith.com/

Janet Eve Josselyn – http://open.salon.com/blog/janet_eve_josselyn

Elizabeth Marx – http://elizabethmarxbooks.blogspot.com

Constance Masters – http://creativelyconstance.blogspot.com/

WINNERS – Jake (The Seven Brothers of Elko: Book One) Release Party

WINNERS, WINNERS, WINNERS!!!

Okay, here we go. Each person’s name was entered in the drawing. Those for second chances were added twice. Entries came from the Party Facebook Event page, the Raeann Blake Facebook page, the Ramblings from Raeann blog, and emails. All total there were 132 entries.

Remember if you won a Kindle or paperback version of JAKE and you already have a copy, you have the options outlined in the giveaway description for substituting another book, gifting it to another person, or have your name added to a list of those who will receive a free copy of DAVIS in the same format on the day it is released.

Winners will need to send me a private message on my FB page or email me at raeannblake@yahoo.com with either your email or mailing address as needed.

And the winners are…

5 Kindle versions of JAKE  

Kathleen Bell
Lyn Brown
Judy Wright
Margaret Massey Morones
Sharon Moore

2 signed paperback copies of JAKE with Seven Brothers bookmarks

Michelle Nageldinger
Caroline Bird

5 Seven Brothers mouse pads and matching bookmarks

Elke Feuer O’Donnell
Phillip Riley
Devonna Ragsdale
Natasha Allie
Lottie Henderson

10 Seven Brothers bookmarks and JAKE magnets

Cassie Jo
Cassie Cass
Michelle Sauce Bishop
Judie Burley Townsend
Vicky Koch
Helen Clark
Julie Darden Smith
Murlene Norris Crowley
Belinda Zuniga
Brittany Hass

1 Super Swag Pack containing one signed paperback copy of JAKE, one Seven Brothers mouse pad, one Seven Brothers bookmark, and one JAKE magnet

Stephanie Barker

Congratulations to all of the winners!

I want to thank each and every one of you for making this party so much FUN. I hope you have all enjoyed it. I wish each of you could have won and I promise we will do something similar for DAVIS. But just because the party is over doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. Keep telling your friends about The Seven Brothers of Elko. DAVIS is right around the corner!

You’re invited to a party with Jake!

Jake is now available. Let’s celebrate!.

Oct. 14-20th we’re having an online party with a lot of giveaways.

To enter for your chance to win, leave a comment here, on the event picture on my FB page, attend the FB Party Event, or send me an email at RaeannBlake@yahoo.com with PARTY as the subject. On the 21st, we’ll put all the names in a hat and pick the winners at random. (Want an extra chance? Post about Jake on your FB page, Twitter, website, blog, etc. Leave me a comment or email me the info on where you posted it and we’ll add an extra chance in the drawing for your name.)

If you’re a winner, we’ll contact you to obtain the necessary information to gift your Kindle copy or mail your prizes.

Come on, let’s party with Jake!

Want your copy now? Buy Jake on Amazon.com

And don’t forget that during the same time frame, more Jake nd Seven Brothers items are also included in The Romance Writer’s Reads Bloggervesary along with some really cool swag from a lot of other great authors. Check them out and enter for your chance to win there, too!