Eleni Konstantine's Blog: Eleni's Taverna, page 14
March 12, 2013
Writing Buddy Wednesday: Claire Baxter
Today, I have the wonderfully sweet and adorable, Claire Baxter. I've known Claire for years via SARA. She also writes the most lovely romances.
So without further ado, here's the interview....
Welcome to the Taverna, Claire!
Your latest release is an Indie-Publishing novella called, ‘More Than Just One Night.’ What made you go the Indie-Published route?
It’s not an either/or choice for me, but the words ‘eggs’ and ‘baskets’ come to mind. Having attended seminars by romance authors who have made a success of self-publishing while also publishing traditionally, I wanted to try my hand at a series of romantic novellas. It sounded like fun to have control over all aspects of publishing an e-book, and it’s good to have some independence and choice.
‘More Than Just One Night’ is the first in a series of three stories about sisters whose stories I have wanted to tell for quite a while. I had thought of using all three in a multiple viewpoint novel, but with the popularity of novellas as e-books, it seemed like a good move to publish them as stand-alone stories with all three Selwood sisters appearing in each book.
You have a collection of short stories called Action Man Meets Miss Adventure & other romantic short stories. Can you tell us about this and how you came to write short stories? What attracts you to the short form?
I love writing short stories. I feel free to experiment more in a short story than in a novel, and I’ll try out different genres. Many of my short stories are romantic such as those in the collection you mentioned, but I also write stories without romance. They usually contain humour, or are twist-in-the-tale or simply feel-good stories. I sold the first short story I ever wrote to the Woman’s Weekly magazine in the UK which gave me a false sense of the magazine market! It’s not so easy to sell a story. It took time and effort before I sold my second story to a different magazine, and since then I’ve managed to maintain a fairly steady strike rate, selling stories to commercial women’s magazines in three countries. ‘Action Man Meets Miss Adventure’ is a collection of five stories that have been published in magazines, so this is a second outing for them. I plan to release another collection of romantic stories before too long, followed by a collection of humorous tales.
What was your road to publication like and is there anything you would rather do differently?
The only thing I would do differently if I could travel back in time, is start writing seriously much earlier. I feel as if my first 20 years at work were wasted. Imagine how many stories I could have written in that time!
My road to publication started in 2003 when I left work with the intention of attempting to write a book – just to see whether I could do it. I knew immediately that I would be a writer for the rest of my life, and I wanted to be published. My first completed manuscript had a central love story, so I thought I might be a romance writer and researched the market, joining Romance Writers of Australia along the way. I wrote three romances and a mystery, then pitched my fourth romance at the August 2005 RWA conference to a Harlequin Mills and Boon editor who requested the partial. When I returned home from the conference I learned that I’d won a US contest and had received a request for the full manuscript from the same editor. So I sent it off to London and in February 2006 received The Call.
After publishing five sweet category romances with HMB, I decided that I needed a change, and went on to have fun writing romantic comedy, romantic suspense, women’s fiction and lots of short stories.
What or who inspired you to write?
As a child I adored Arthur Ransome’s ‘Swallows and Amazons’ series and devoured all twelve books. Around that time I had to write a story at primary school and I wrote an adventure in the same vein as ‘Swallows and Amazons’. I was hooked, and the teacher let me continue after the lesson was over. It ended up 30 pages long and I received a gold star for each page! I told everyone I was going to be a writer when I grew up, but it was about 40 years before I made good on that promise. *grin*
What do you love about being a writer?
Beginning. Whether it’s a short story, a novella or a novel, I really enjoy the excitement of sitting down to start a new story.
What are you working on now? And what’s in the near future for Claire Baxter?
I’m working on the second Selwood sisters novella, ‘More Than Just Pretend’, and the third is also in progress – ‘More Than Just Good Friends’. I’d like to have them both published in the first half of 2013. Then in July, I have a romantic comedy titled ‘Anybody But Him’ coming out from Random Romance, the digital-first imprint of Random House Australia.
What would be your ultimate research trip? ;))
Ooh. I’d love to take off around Australia with no time limit, not visiting the capital cities, but touring the rural areas, stopping off in country towns to really get a feel for them. And then I’d probably have to write a rural romance to justify the trip J.
Thanks for joining me, Claire.
Thanks for having me, Eleni! It’s always lovely to be here in the Taverna.
~~~
Check out the blurb below for More Than Just One Night...
Cora, the oldest of the Selwood sisters, has been keeping the family business going since her husband died six years ago. She doesn't need the distraction of secretly seeing a man who is too young for her, nor the gossip that will result if their relationship is discovered.
But what was supposed to be a one-night stand turns into so much more, and uptight, meticulous, conservative Cora finds herself unable to resist Alex, the laidback lawyer. Can he dismantle the barricades she's built around her heart and help her see that she's only living half a life?
Visit Claire at her website, Facebook, and Goodreads.
So without further ado, here's the interview....
Welcome to the Taverna, Claire!
Your latest release is an Indie-Publishing novella called, ‘More Than Just One Night.’ What made you go the Indie-Published route?
It’s not an either/or choice for me, but the words ‘eggs’ and ‘baskets’ come to mind. Having attended seminars by romance authors who have made a success of self-publishing while also publishing traditionally, I wanted to try my hand at a series of romantic novellas. It sounded like fun to have control over all aspects of publishing an e-book, and it’s good to have some independence and choice.
‘More Than Just One Night’ is the first in a series of three stories about sisters whose stories I have wanted to tell for quite a while. I had thought of using all three in a multiple viewpoint novel, but with the popularity of novellas as e-books, it seemed like a good move to publish them as stand-alone stories with all three Selwood sisters appearing in each book.
You have a collection of short stories called Action Man Meets Miss Adventure & other romantic short stories. Can you tell us about this and how you came to write short stories? What attracts you to the short form?
I love writing short stories. I feel free to experiment more in a short story than in a novel, and I’ll try out different genres. Many of my short stories are romantic such as those in the collection you mentioned, but I also write stories without romance. They usually contain humour, or are twist-in-the-tale or simply feel-good stories. I sold the first short story I ever wrote to the Woman’s Weekly magazine in the UK which gave me a false sense of the magazine market! It’s not so easy to sell a story. It took time and effort before I sold my second story to a different magazine, and since then I’ve managed to maintain a fairly steady strike rate, selling stories to commercial women’s magazines in three countries. ‘Action Man Meets Miss Adventure’ is a collection of five stories that have been published in magazines, so this is a second outing for them. I plan to release another collection of romantic stories before too long, followed by a collection of humorous tales.
What was your road to publication like and is there anything you would rather do differently?
The only thing I would do differently if I could travel back in time, is start writing seriously much earlier. I feel as if my first 20 years at work were wasted. Imagine how many stories I could have written in that time!
My road to publication started in 2003 when I left work with the intention of attempting to write a book – just to see whether I could do it. I knew immediately that I would be a writer for the rest of my life, and I wanted to be published. My first completed manuscript had a central love story, so I thought I might be a romance writer and researched the market, joining Romance Writers of Australia along the way. I wrote three romances and a mystery, then pitched my fourth romance at the August 2005 RWA conference to a Harlequin Mills and Boon editor who requested the partial. When I returned home from the conference I learned that I’d won a US contest and had received a request for the full manuscript from the same editor. So I sent it off to London and in February 2006 received The Call.
After publishing five sweet category romances with HMB, I decided that I needed a change, and went on to have fun writing romantic comedy, romantic suspense, women’s fiction and lots of short stories.
What or who inspired you to write?
As a child I adored Arthur Ransome’s ‘Swallows and Amazons’ series and devoured all twelve books. Around that time I had to write a story at primary school and I wrote an adventure in the same vein as ‘Swallows and Amazons’. I was hooked, and the teacher let me continue after the lesson was over. It ended up 30 pages long and I received a gold star for each page! I told everyone I was going to be a writer when I grew up, but it was about 40 years before I made good on that promise. *grin*
What do you love about being a writer?
Beginning. Whether it’s a short story, a novella or a novel, I really enjoy the excitement of sitting down to start a new story.
What are you working on now? And what’s in the near future for Claire Baxter?
I’m working on the second Selwood sisters novella, ‘More Than Just Pretend’, and the third is also in progress – ‘More Than Just Good Friends’. I’d like to have them both published in the first half of 2013. Then in July, I have a romantic comedy titled ‘Anybody But Him’ coming out from Random Romance, the digital-first imprint of Random House Australia.
What would be your ultimate research trip? ;))
Ooh. I’d love to take off around Australia with no time limit, not visiting the capital cities, but touring the rural areas, stopping off in country towns to really get a feel for them. And then I’d probably have to write a rural romance to justify the trip J.
Thanks for joining me, Claire.
Thanks for having me, Eleni! It’s always lovely to be here in the Taverna.
~~~
Check out the blurb below for More Than Just One Night...
Cora, the oldest of the Selwood sisters, has been keeping the family business going since her husband died six years ago. She doesn't need the distraction of secretly seeing a man who is too young for her, nor the gossip that will result if their relationship is discovered.But what was supposed to be a one-night stand turns into so much more, and uptight, meticulous, conservative Cora finds herself unable to resist Alex, the laidback lawyer. Can he dismantle the barricades she's built around her heart and help her see that she's only living half a life?
Visit Claire at her website, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Winner - Spectrum of Speculative Fiction Blog Hop
WINNER(thanks to random.org)isS.E. Gilchrist
I'll email you re the prize.
Thank you to everyone who popped in and commented.
Don't forget to check out Sealed With a Kiss - FREE until 15th March.Code: ZY68S
~yia~
March 11, 2013
Musa Monday: Lethal Refuge by Vonnie Hughes
Today, I'm shouting out fellow Wench, Vonnie Hughes. This isn't one of Vonnie's Musa books, but it's still important to share the love....
LETHAL REFUGE, a spine-tingling suspense book by Vonnie Hughes, is set in New Zealand.
I managed to pick this up at ARRC and have Vonnie sign it for me. How cool is that?!
LETHAL REFUGEVonnie HughesPrint ISBN 1-60154-996-2The Wild Rose Press
Available in both paperback and e-book from: The Wild Rose Press Amazon
Who can you trust if you can’t trust your own mother? Through the clammy fog, Celie Francis hears the chilling message. “I know who you are, Celie. I know where you live.” And in the terrifying aftermath she reconnects with her dysfunctional family in ways she had never imagined.
BLURB:Abused and abandoned as a child, Célie Francis knows better than to trust anyone. But after she witnesses a murder, she's placed in the Unit "New Zealand's witness protection program" where she's expected to trust strangers with her life.
It's psychologist Brand Turner's job to ease witnesses into their new identities, not to protect them, but Célie stirs feelings in him that are far from professional. When it appears someone is leaking critical information that could endanger Célie, Brand will do anything to protect her. But first he has to convince her to trust him.
Adrift in a frightening world, Célie would like to believe the handsome psychologist is everything he seems, but as witnesses are murdered and danger swirls around them, Célie must decide "can she trust Brand with her life?
EXCERPT:Célie Francis ran faster than she ever had in her life. Fingers of fog rolling in from the sea grabbed at her as her feet alternately flew and stuttered over the uneven pavement of the ocean road.
Where was he? How much time did she have? The wash of the sea was a calm counterpoint to her harsh, frantic breathing. Above the sound of her thudding feet, the shriek of a bird pierced the air.
No, not a bird. Something was squeaking. Occy’s old bicycle.
He had found her.
Faster, Célie, faster, shouted the little man on the treadmill in her mind.
I can’t, she sobbed.
Fancy the consequences?
No God, no!
Then run faster.
But her aching legs could not obey. And on the roadway the relentless squeak, squeak kept pace with her.
Frantically she zigzagged, seeking a haven in the fog. It was barely dawn on the lonely North Auckland cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. No help anywhere.
Have to hide. Have to hide. Her shoes slapped a rhythm.
Salty sweat stung her eyes. Ignore it.
The slap of her running shoes echoed then died in the mist. Died...
Her brain, tumbling in an endless whirl of fear and futile questions asked—-why Occy? Why had he killed a man this time?
Up ahead loomed a deep grey cloud of mist. Thank you, God. She blasted into the fog bank and the squeaking receded behind her. This is your chance, the little man said.
Veering off the sidewalk, she streaked across a pristine lawn and crouched behind a lavender bush. Her chest heaving, she struggled to gulp another breath of sodden air.
Squeeeak. He was back. This was it. Eyes streaming, she curled into a ball on the cold ground and waited.
Something yellow zinged past her face and tickled her arm. A needle-sharp sting pierced her elbow, then another. Bees, irritated by her invasion, were trying to drive her out. No you won’t. What’s out there is a lot worse than what you can do, bees. As the pinpricks tingled and burned, she pressed her lips together so hard that the muscles on the side of her face ached.
Louder now, the squeaking advanced and receded. He was casting up and down, looking for her. Please, please...
A sibilant whisper reached her through the clammy fog. “I know who you are, Célie. I know where you live.”
Available in both paperback and e-book from: The Wild Rose Press Amazon
Learn more about Vonnie Hughes on her website and blog .Stay connected on Facebook and Goodreads .
~yia~
March 8, 2013
Spectrum of Speculative Fiction Blog Hop!!!
Oh, boy, I can't believe it's the 8th.
And that means it's time for the Spectrum of Speculative Fiction blog hop!!! Ta-da-da-da-da!
The first stories I wrote were short stories - I think many writers especially in the spec fiction area, start that way. When I did my correspondence writing course many a year ago, I wrote all sorts of stories including contemporary ones, but the ones that people seemed to liked who read them, were my spec fiction stories.
Just over a couple of years ago, I started writing not just short stories but flash fiction and I found this was fun. I've had a few on Antipodean SF (all praise!) and a couple of other flash fiction markets. I find that I like mainly to be quirky, especially with my AntiSF stories, but that I like to test other genres in the flash fiction - including sci-fi and horror.
Looking at my works-in-progress because I have a lot in progress, I tend to do the same with the longer short stories (up to about 7K). Some have more romance than others, but in all of them, I ask the grand ol' question of 'what if'?
In Gateway to Hell, I wanted a woman who struggled with self confidence to have a unique gift and to accept that people do love her. It was a struggle though.
Zeta will protect the one she loves, even if it means living in Hell.Mastering a unique power was much safer for Zeta Kosmos with a mentor to help her along. Now that he’s disappeared, Zeta must continue alone with her calling—closing Gateways to Hell.
Daniel Richards is in the family business—Warding supernatural evil from causing havoc on humans. As such, he’s only interested in the safety of one-night stands. Until Zeta. This bad boy now wants a long, lasting relationship.
But Zeta can’t let go of her past, nor can she ignore the secret demonic threats against Daniel’s life. She’d rather fight demonic spawn and be dragged into Hell than allow anything happen to him. Can Daniel convince her to stay? Will she have to pay the ultimate price?
In Enchanted Realms, I have two short stories, which both beg the question - is their world real?STORMY DIVIDE - Will Ellie ever find a way home?
ANGEL EYES - What if the man of your dreams only existed in your dreams?
STORMY DIVIDE
Thom may be used to the dangers of the forest, but nothing has prepared him for this. When he stumbles across a woman dressed in weird clothing lying on the ground during a storm, he has no choice but to help her.
Ellie finds herself in another world, having travelled through time and space thanks to what Thom calls The Rifts. The question is whether she will ever be able to find her way back, or if she will be stuck in this new world forever. Or if she will even want to go home…
ANGEL EYES
Vera’s dreams are haunted each night by a man she only knows as Angel Eyes. He feels more real to her than anything else in her life, including her fiancé. Vera must try to forget her childish dreams of soul mates and happily ever after… but are they really only dreams or can she find a way to be with Angel Eyes forever?
In my current release, Sealed With a Kiss, I asked what if the guy you were attracted to wasn't all he seemed?
Yep, this one definitely has romance in it. Because I think it's a huge part of human relationships.
Can a gift from her grandmother protect Lise?
Lise doesn’t believe in vampires. Or so she tells herself. Though, she constantly wears the garnet necklace her grandmother gave her, which wards off the creatures. Andreas, the man she’s attracted to, seems more than a little interested in it. Could there be an ulterior motive?
You can get Sealed With a Kiss for FREE at Smashwords until 15th March. Just put the code: ZY68S
For your chance to win a copy of both Enchanted Realms and Gateway to Hell, please leave a comment.
Happy hopping ~ don't forget to visit my fellow authors for more fun and prizes!
~yia~
March 5, 2013
Writing Buddy Wednesday: Kylie Griffin
Today I have fellow DarkSider, Kylie Griffin, visiting the Taverna. Kylie is funny and also one of the most supportive writers I know. She is a former contest queen and all round good people. :)
Over to Kylie....
PROCRASTINATION or RESEARCH?
Writing in the fantasy genre most of my stories play like movies in my head as I write. Even in my down time I'll often drift off in a daydream, playing with scenes until it's their turn to be added to my story.
As a visual person I like to have those images recorded in my notes and series bible, so one of the tasks I work on as I type out my story is finding photos of settings, clothing, weapons, buildings, models or actors who resemble the world and the heroes and heroines I envisage. I can spend hours searching for just the right picture, particularly with my heroes/heroines - until I find the picture that resonates the most.
After I've finished writing the book, usually the next task is putting together a portfolio of ideas for the art director at Berkley. My editor takes the photos and written descriptions to a meeting with Berkley's art director and they brainstorm a "look" for the cover of the book. This is made into a brief that is then sent to the cover artist (Gene Mollica is the man responsible for the covers in my Light Blade series) and he does his magic.
The process from start to finish is particularly exciting. I love putting together the portfolio, of showing my editor and the art director the world I see in my head, and then waiting in anticipation as the brief is put together then eventually Gene sending back the finished product. When the cover comes through to my inbox it's an exciting time and I spend several minutes to'ing and fro'ing, hesitating to open the email, knowing months of work lie within.
Chris Hemsworth as Arek
So far I've been blown away with what Gene and the art director have envisaged for each of the Light Blade covers. The heroes and heroines have matched what I spent months seeing in my head. Their clothes and the landscapes are spot on. And it makes the time I spend surfing the internet for images worth it.
But some might call this procrastination, but I think it deserves the honorable title of RESEARCH - what do you think? :-)
ALLEGIANCE SWORN
There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…
With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.
Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.
But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…
BIO
Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures.
Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.
Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at kyliegriffin.com
~~~Thanks, Kylie.
I think looking at pictures of Chris Hemsworth is research for sure :0)
Over to Kylie....
PROCRASTINATION or RESEARCH?
Writing in the fantasy genre most of my stories play like movies in my head as I write. Even in my down time I'll often drift off in a daydream, playing with scenes until it's their turn to be added to my story.
As a visual person I like to have those images recorded in my notes and series bible, so one of the tasks I work on as I type out my story is finding photos of settings, clothing, weapons, buildings, models or actors who resemble the world and the heroes and heroines I envisage. I can spend hours searching for just the right picture, particularly with my heroes/heroines - until I find the picture that resonates the most.
After I've finished writing the book, usually the next task is putting together a portfolio of ideas for the art director at Berkley. My editor takes the photos and written descriptions to a meeting with Berkley's art director and they brainstorm a "look" for the cover of the book. This is made into a brief that is then sent to the cover artist (Gene Mollica is the man responsible for the covers in my Light Blade series) and he does his magic.
The process from start to finish is particularly exciting. I love putting together the portfolio, of showing my editor and the art director the world I see in my head, and then waiting in anticipation as the brief is put together then eventually Gene sending back the finished product. When the cover comes through to my inbox it's an exciting time and I spend several minutes to'ing and fro'ing, hesitating to open the email, knowing months of work lie within.
Chris Hemsworth as ArekSo far I've been blown away with what Gene and the art director have envisaged for each of the Light Blade covers. The heroes and heroines have matched what I spent months seeing in my head. Their clothes and the landscapes are spot on. And it makes the time I spend surfing the internet for images worth it.
But some might call this procrastination, but I think it deserves the honorable title of RESEARCH - what do you think? :-)
ALLEGIANCE SWORNThere is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…
With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.
Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.
But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…
BIO
Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures.
Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.
Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at kyliegriffin.com
~~~Thanks, Kylie.
I think looking at pictures of Chris Hemsworth is research for sure :0)
Coming soon... Spectrum of Speculative Fiction blog hop
I'm back from ARRC - fantastic - and ready to get back to work.
Coming this Friday, there is the Speculative of Speculative Fiction Blog Hop. Join this bunch of speculative fiction authors for some great posts and prizes.
Here is the list....
~yia~
Coming this Friday, there is the Speculative of Speculative Fiction Blog Hop. Join this bunch of speculative fiction authors for some great posts and prizes.
Here is the list....
~yia~
February 28, 2013
Release Day: Sealed With a Kiss!
I've been in uber uber busy mode lately but today is technically the first day of Autumn here in Australia and I do love Autumn.
What a better day than to kick off my latest release, Sealed With a Kiss.
Can a gift from her grandmother protect Lise?
Lise doesn’t believe in vampires. Or so she tells herself. Though, she constantly wears the garnet necklace her grandmother gave her, which wards off the creatures. Andreas, the man she’s attracted to, seems more than a little interested in it. Could there be an ulterior motive?
To celebrate, I have this FREE until 15th March on Smashwords.
Use the code: ZY68S
I'll be heading off to ARRC in just a few short hours, so I'll see you on the other side.
Happy reading!
~yia~
February 24, 2013
Musa Monday: Wench Patricia Yager Delagrange
Today, I have fellow Wench Patricia Yager Delagrange. From what you'll see below, Patricia knows how to write emotion.
Inspiration Behind the Book
by Patricia Yager Delagrange
How many times have I seen an Amber Alert on the news which ends in the child’s death? How many times have I been driving down the freeway and read about another child kidnapping in yellow lights across a billboard? How many times have watched on the news that another child has been murdered?
Too may times. One time is too many.
And each time this occurs I wondered how in the world do the parents make it through such a tragedy? How do they go on? How can they return to work? How can they face interacting with family and friends after their child’s death? How do they go on living?
This question had burned in my mind for years and I wanted to write about it. People have asked me how I can write about something that’s never happened to me. I counter with: I write fiction. All fiction writers tell a story they’ve made up in their heads. But they imbue that story with their own feelings. Which is what makes a good book. And I have a wealth of feelings that I used when I wrote Moon Over Alcatraz. I have two children. I know what it’s like to love two human beings unconditionally, with no reservations. My kids often ask me, “Do you love me, mom?” And my answer is, “Always and forever.”
So I took a happily married couple, excited to have their first child, placed them in the delivery room, and had the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck, which produced a still birth.
And that’s pretty much what happened to that couple - their lift stood still. They didn’t know how to move on from there. Instead of looking to each other for solace and renewal, they turned away from each other. Both of them, unbeknownst to the other, dealt with their grief in a way that broke them apart, instead of pulling them together.
Losing a child is devastating. And each person deals with that emotional turmoil in their own particular way. I’d go so far as to say that no one can predict how they would act in that circumstance. Emotions can be unpredictable, surprising even to the person who’s experiencing them. This is what happens to Brandy and Weston. You have a difference in their emotional upheaval. One character is the mother who carried her baby to term, and the other is the father who didn’t have that same physical experience.BLURB:Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston Chambers are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage; however, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty. But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return.
EXCERPT:Three days later we were standing at the edge of a hole in the ground at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Hayward, the silence so thick, the insides of my ears buzzed like a distant swarm of angry bees. Mr. Peralta and another gentleman stood off to the side while Weston and I held hands next to a tiny casket.
Weston had chosen a simple mahogany box with gold handles, a bouquet of white lilies graced the top of the small box. I knelt down and laid a kiss on the smooth wood then wiped off the tears that had fallen on top. Weston joined me, placing a single red rose in the middle of the lilies.He helped me up and we stood side-by-side in silence, my guilt over her death like a stone in my empty belly. I missed everything I’d dreamed would be happening right now, yearned for all that could have been.
Weston nodded at the man standing next to Mr. Peralta and our baby was slowly lowered into the gaping maw. She reached the bottom, and a bird landed on the rich brown dirt piled next to the grave. It pecked around, chirping a little song then flew off - as if saying goodbye. My heart squeezed inside my chest.
I picked up a small handful of soft dirt. “Goodbye, Christine,” I whispered, throwing it on top of her casket.Weston wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in close to his side. Why her? Why my baby? Was this supposed to make sense? And, if so, to whom?
We drove home in silence. No words existed to express my grief.BUY LINKS Musa Publishing Amazon Barnes & Noble
Learn more about Patricia Yager Delagrange on her website and blog . Stay connected on facebook and
~yia~
Inspiration Behind the Book
by Patricia Yager Delagrange
How many times have I seen an Amber Alert on the news which ends in the child’s death? How many times have I been driving down the freeway and read about another child kidnapping in yellow lights across a billboard? How many times have watched on the news that another child has been murdered?
Too may times. One time is too many.
And each time this occurs I wondered how in the world do the parents make it through such a tragedy? How do they go on? How can they return to work? How can they face interacting with family and friends after their child’s death? How do they go on living?
This question had burned in my mind for years and I wanted to write about it. People have asked me how I can write about something that’s never happened to me. I counter with: I write fiction. All fiction writers tell a story they’ve made up in their heads. But they imbue that story with their own feelings. Which is what makes a good book. And I have a wealth of feelings that I used when I wrote Moon Over Alcatraz. I have two children. I know what it’s like to love two human beings unconditionally, with no reservations. My kids often ask me, “Do you love me, mom?” And my answer is, “Always and forever.”
So I took a happily married couple, excited to have their first child, placed them in the delivery room, and had the umbilical cord wrapped around the baby’s neck, which produced a still birth.
And that’s pretty much what happened to that couple - their lift stood still. They didn’t know how to move on from there. Instead of looking to each other for solace and renewal, they turned away from each other. Both of them, unbeknownst to the other, dealt with their grief in a way that broke them apart, instead of pulling them together.
Losing a child is devastating. And each person deals with that emotional turmoil in their own particular way. I’d go so far as to say that no one can predict how they would act in that circumstance. Emotions can be unpredictable, surprising even to the person who’s experiencing them. This is what happens to Brandy and Weston. You have a difference in their emotional upheaval. One character is the mother who carried her baby to term, and the other is the father who didn’t have that same physical experience.BLURB:Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston Chambers are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage; however, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty. But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return.
EXCERPT:Three days later we were standing at the edge of a hole in the ground at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Hayward, the silence so thick, the insides of my ears buzzed like a distant swarm of angry bees. Mr. Peralta and another gentleman stood off to the side while Weston and I held hands next to a tiny casket.
Weston had chosen a simple mahogany box with gold handles, a bouquet of white lilies graced the top of the small box. I knelt down and laid a kiss on the smooth wood then wiped off the tears that had fallen on top. Weston joined me, placing a single red rose in the middle of the lilies.He helped me up and we stood side-by-side in silence, my guilt over her death like a stone in my empty belly. I missed everything I’d dreamed would be happening right now, yearned for all that could have been.
Weston nodded at the man standing next to Mr. Peralta and our baby was slowly lowered into the gaping maw. She reached the bottom, and a bird landed on the rich brown dirt piled next to the grave. It pecked around, chirping a little song then flew off - as if saying goodbye. My heart squeezed inside my chest.
I picked up a small handful of soft dirt. “Goodbye, Christine,” I whispered, throwing it on top of her casket.Weston wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in close to his side. Why her? Why my baby? Was this supposed to make sense? And, if so, to whom?
We drove home in silence. No words existed to express my grief.BUY LINKS Musa Publishing Amazon Barnes & Noble
Learn more about Patricia Yager Delagrange on her website and blog . Stay connected on facebook and
~yia~
February 23, 2013
Super Sunday incl Minion news
Hi everyone, hope you've had a great week. Before I launch into the Super Sunday shennanigans, I'd like to let you know that you can hear me read my Flash Fiction story, Minion, on the AntiSF radio show 175.
The link is here. The story starts at around 30:40 but why not listen to the whole show and more great stories.
And now for the funnies.
~yia~
February 21, 2013
Upcoming release: Sealed With a Kiss
I've decided to try Indie Publishing with a paranormal romance short story, Sealed With a Kiss.
Cover design by moi (aka Helzkat Designs)Can a gift from her grandmother protect Lise?
Lise doesn’t believe in vampires. Or so she tells herself. Though, she constantly wears the garnet necklace her grandmother gave her, which wards off the creatures. Andreas, the man she’s attracted to, seems more than a little interested in it. Could there be an ulterior motive?
You can read an excerpt on my website.
More details when it comes to hand.
~yia~
Eleni's Taverna
The blog of fantasy and paranormal author, Eleni Konstantine.
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