Casey Dawes's Blog, page 25
March 2, 2013
Suspense Story Coming...
Last year we traveled through back roads of Nevada to get to California. I wrote about a creepy rest stop we’d found and the suspense story ideas it generated in a previous post. In December I finally wrote and sold the suspense story — my first. I received the cover from the publisher, Books to Go Now, yesterday and it’s fabulous. (Can’t reveal it quite yet….just know it will be worth the wait!)
Read more, including an excerpt of the suspense story, Chasing the Tumbleweed, here...http://www.stories-about-love.com/sus...
Suspense Story Inspiration
My travel foot is getting itchy. This Montana winter has been the winter that wasn’t–plenty of snow in the mountains, but not here in the Missoula Valley. The open road calls.
Last year we traveled through back roads of Nevada to get to California. I wrote about a creepy rest stop we’d found and the suspense story ideas it generated in a previous post. In December I finally wrote and sold the suspense story — my first. I received the cover from the publisher, Books to Go Now, yesterday and it’s fabulous. (Can’t reveal it quite yet….just know it will be worth the wait!)
While there’s a few other things in my writing pipeline — finishing the next book in the California Romance Series and helping my alter ego create another erotic short story — I’m ready to hop in the car and wind through the roads less traveled to find another suspense story inspiration!
In the meantime, I’ll tempt you with the opening of my new suspense story, Chasing the Tumbleweed. If you’d like to know when it comes out, please subscribe to my newsletter in the box on the right.
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The hot August wind blew the tumbleweed across the two-lane highway. Laurie Bevin eased off the gas to avoid the rootless bush, even though the small movement increased the pressure in her bladder. There had to be a rest stop, didn’t there? In the blank Nevada countryside there wasn’t even a decent bush to hide behind to do her business.
What had possessed her to take this road? The interstate would have gotten her from Salt Lake to LA faster than this podunk highway through the heart of basin and range country.
But that was the problem. She didn’t want to go faster. Moving faster meant pulling up at her parents’ door, a failure at the ripe old age of twenty-four.
There! Black pipes rose from two squat non-descript buildings that blended in with the rest of the brown landscape. Only the gray thunderclouds to the east provided relief from the unrelenting drabness.
She drove her ancient Celica onto the dirt parking lot and pulled to a stop. As she got out of the car she noticed a bright red plastic ice chest exactly positioned between the two buildings.
Odd.
Holding her nose, she ran into the brick outhouse, using every ounce of willpower to keep from peeing in her pants. She sighed with relief when she finished and stood to zip up her jeans.
Something rustled from behind the building.
Probably some form of rodent. Time to get out of here.
February 22, 2013
Inspiration for Change to Find the Love You Deserve
In my California Romance Series the heroes and heroines need to go through a change before they can get the love they want and deserve. I’ve found that through my own life, as well as with friends, that love only improves when you face and deal with your own demons.
One of the reviewers of California Sunset hit the nail on the head when she said:
“I guess it is a symbol of our country that adults are afraid to take a chance and stay locked in jobs they do not like just to keep their seniority and insurance.”
The heroine of that book, Annie, has to take a risk to get the love she deserves as well as the life she deserves, but in order to do that, she needs to face the demons from her childhood, memories she’s locked away for most of her life. But it never ends with uncovering or facing those demons, does it? You need to actively do something different, or you’ll be in the same old rut.
It took me years to figure that one out. Years and dozens of self-help books, Al-Anon, therapists and yes, my own body-work. My first turning point was when three people recommended Melody Beattie’s Codependent No More. (I always figure when three people tell me the same thing in a very short period of time, God is really trying to get my attention!)
Some several years after that, I walked into a small bookstore in Santa Cruz and was inspired to take a session with a psychic. She recommended writing my life story and doing body-work. Since I’ve written my life story more times than I’d care to admit, and there are times its utterly depressing, I settled for the body-work.
It was amazing.
I knew I was headed in the right path when I was answering a personal ad. The man at the other end of the phone was a highly educated taxi driver in his 40s. I’d been with far too many men who had never achieved their potential and fallen too many times for “If I only had the right woman…” I told the guy I wasn’t interested. He told me I was a snob. I agreed and hung up.
And did a Snoopy dance of happiness around my living room!
How about you? What books or people or events have inspired you to make a significant change in your life? Leave a comment below.
February 7, 2013
Heartbreakers
Admit it. You’ve loved just one in your life. They’re the cool guys…always living on the edge. The sex, when it comes, and it will, is going to be fast, furious and fulfilling. He’ll swear he loves you to the day he’d die, that he’ll change everything about him if you’ll only be his.
And, except in rare cases, he’s lying.
But you don’t care–he could be the one for you and you could be the one to change him–reality be damned!
My favorite heartbreaker is Marco in Dangerous Beauty
. (Yes, I named Marcos, the hero in California Wine after him.) He’s one of those guys that looks great in tights…all the costumes in that movie are quite stupendous. But he is a future senator and must marry who his family 
dictates. Veronica, a future courtesan, is definitely not in the running.
He courts her, wins her and leaves her for being who she is. Their passion is grand; it’s only convention that denies them love. You’ll have to watch the movie to see who succeeds.
Bring lots of tissues.
Heartbreaker Blog Hop Is Over!
The winner for my drawing will be notified by Thursday. A few people commented after the deadline, unfortunately, and your comments could not be included.
Excerpt from California Wine
Marcos may or may not be a heartbreaker. To find out, you’ll need to read California Wine (Crimson Romance)
.
Oh, my.
Elizabeth’s eyes locked with a pair of the most intense blue eyes she’d ever seen. They belonged to a man with thick black hair to his shoulders, a strong aquiline nose, and high cheekbones. His smile was warm; his straight white teeth a sharp contrast to his light olive skin.
Why did Italy produce such heart-breakingly handsome men?
She looked down at the restaurant table and then looked up again. He was still staring, the smile even broader.
Maybe her daughter Sarah was right. Elizabeth should dine out more often, especially if the scenery was going to be like this.
The waitress brought her a salad and Elizabeth looked at it morosely. Was it possible to eat salad and not get some stuck in her teeth when a gorgeous man was staring at her? Or worse, drop a huge leaf of oily lettuce on her blouse, calling his attention to her less than abundant breasts?
But the salad looked so good…tiny red cherry tomatoes interspersed with baby carrots and radishes on a bed of mixed greens. She sighed and stabbed the nearest tomato with her fork.
The red orb escaped her plate and went bouncing off the table to land on the floor, rolled to the center of an open space, and sat there for only a minute before being squished by a waitress’ black shoe.
“Such a tragic end for a little tomato.” A rich masculine voice spoke near her ear.
She looked up into the blue eyes of the man standing next to her.
“Perhaps if you had not stabbed at it so viciously, it might have survived,” he continued.
She had to grin at his mock seriousness.
“May I join you?” he asked his hand on the chair.
She considered him. She’d intended to eat her supper alone, go upstairs to her room, run a hot bath, and relax with a good book.
He waited for her answer.
Suddenly, her plan seemed a lonely way to spend one of her last days in Italy. “Sure.”
He sat down next to her and a frisson of heat zapped her body. For the first time since her mother had died, life stirred in her heart. She put down her fork.
“My name is Marcos,” he said, holding out his hand.
“Elizabeth.” She shook. His palm was smooth and cool, and the long fingers fit the rest of his lean body. His touch electrified her skin.
“American? Yes?”
She nodded.
He grinned, looking as if he’d guessed a game-show answer correctly. “Are you here on business? Pleasure? Traveling all by yourself or is your husband with you?”
She took a sip of wine. Her best friend Annie had told her not to reveal too much personal information about herself when she was traveling. What could she safely tell her new acquaintance, a man she knew nothing about, other than he exuded masculinity?
He must have seen the suspicion in her eyes because he waved his hand and gestured. The proprietress of the hotel came over to their table.
“Is there something wrong?” she asked, a frown creasing her forehead. “Marcos, are you being a bother?”
“Nothing like that. I was only trying to assist the lady with her vegetables. They seem to be escaping.” Marcos pointed to the stain on the floor.
The woman snapped her fingers at the nearest waitress and pointed. Then she turned back to Elizabeth. “I am so sorry. Would you like me to bring you another tomato?”
“Another tomato? No, no, I’m fine.” Elizabeth stifled a laugh. “It’s nothing, really.”
She glanced at Marcos, who was holding his hand over his mouth. His eyes were sparkling with laughter.
“And him,” the woman poked a long fingernail into Marcos’ shoulder. “Is my cousin annoying you?”
“Uh…” Now was Elizabeth’s chance to get rid of him if she wanted.
Marcos’ eyes pleaded for a reprieve.
An impish spark rose in her soul. Why not have an adventure in the safe confines of the hotel dining room? Her trip was almost over anyway. Surely no harm could come from a little fun. Could it?
(Note to readers of Italian extraction. Yes, I know it should be “Marco.” The reason it’s not will be explained in my upcoming novel, California Homecoming.”)
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January 25, 2013
Readers –Thank you
Yesterday I had the privilege of being part of Kindle’s Daily Deal. It’s an opportunity that not everyone gets and a big thanks to my publisher, Crimson Romance, for getting me that slot for California Sunset.
As the numbers shot up, I felt like a I was at a horse race. My aunt and uncle used to take me to a track somewhere in Pennsylvania across from where they lived in Titusville, New Jersey. We’d sit there in the almost empty stands, eating the occasional bad hotdog and spending a little bit on a bet here and there. A cheap and pleasant way to spend a day with my retired aunt and uncle.
There was plenty of time to talk in the time before races. People in the stands would sit there, read, check the racing forms or chat. Then, imperceptibly, the movement would start to pick up and you’d know it was coming–the race. Adrenaline pumping, ticket stub clutched in my hand, I’d be gripped for the few minutes it took the thoroughbreds to run around the oval.
That’s how it was yesterday. Writing, quilting, doing taxes (ugh)…and waiting for Amazon to post new numbers. Thank you thank you thank you so much, readers, for making those numbers go up and up — not only for California Sunset, but for California Wine as well. More and more people liking my Facebook page.
Truly amazing and filling me with gratitude.
But it didn’t end. My colleague, Danica Winters, interviewed me for Southwest Magazine. I think it turned out well!
The best was this morning when I found out one of you, dear readers, had read BOTH my books yesterday and taken the time to write a quick review on Amazon. I got tears in my eyes.
You see, not only are reviews important for sales, there one of the ways that readers let us know if we’ve hit the mark, where we need to improve and give us some insight into your lives. I’m very grateful for the feedback.
I am truly blessed. Thank you.
January 20, 2013
Santa Cruz Wines
Read more about the Santa Cruz wines featured in California Wine
January 3, 2013
California Wine Blog Hop
To celebrate, I'm participating in a blog hop from January 1 - 6, 2013. This is your chance to win prizes from a $5 Amazon gift card to a Kindle or Nook. So hop on over and leave a comment with your email address to enter and learn more about the hop. http://www.stories-about-love.com/new...California Wine
October 4, 2012
Celebrating with Montana Romance Writers
August 29, 2012
Blog Tour Over
If you missed any of the posts, check them out here: California Sunset Blog Tour
http://stories-about-love.com/califor....
Let me know what you think about the blog tour and I may find another copy to give away!
August 27, 2012
Changes
In my writing life I've finished the second book in the California Romance series -- Elizabeth's story. Elizabeth is facing changes, too. Her daughter is moving on and she has a fabulous idea to launch a line of skin care products. Oh, and there is the handsome Italian she met over the summer.
I'm waiting to see if my publisher will pick it up. Wish me luck and in the meantime, enjoy California Sunset!
Thanks to everyone who has written reviews -- I am thankful!
