Jerrie Alexander's Blog, page 12

Wednesday Coffee with…Me!

My scheduled guest blogger had to bow out, so I found a last minute replacement! Me.

First I have a couple of announcements and then I dug out and refurbished one of my first posts. One that’s still relevant today. Point of view.

 I’m super excited to tell you THE GREEN-EYED DOLL has been nominated for best Thriller/Suspense by InD’tale Magazine. Voting starts May 17th or you can vote right away by going here http://indtale.com/sites/default/files/editor_uploads/files/RONE_Awards_Mail_In_Ballot.pdf  Scroll down to SUSPENSE/THRILLER, fill out the book title and my name, and email back to tjmackay@indtale.com.

SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME, my 32K word short story finally has a cover! I’ll have it and a release date to post soon. Stay tuned!

 

Monday we talked about turning the reins loose and listened to our characters. I do this by metaphorically putting on that individual’s hat!

Imagine me sitting in front of my computer. Got it? I’ve donned my Phantom of the Opera’s mask, killing off character’s who refuse to do what I want. People who don’t understand that I have their best interest at heart. People who don’t realize how damaged I am inside. People who die for not bending to my will.

 

Then I slip on my heroine’s hat of mystery. How’d she get into this mess? Strong willed and brave, she’ll do what it takes to solve the mystery and survive. Maybe, as she fights her way through her story, she’ll fall in love on the way.

 

Ah, the hero. *sigh* Okay, so he doesn’t have a hat. Getting into the mind of a hundred percent kick ass male, who doesn’t think he needs love to survive, is great fun. Hat or no hat. If I struggle with his persona, I’ll turn to my standby song Holding Out For A Hero. If you don’t know this one, please, go to Itunes and look up Bonnie Tyler. 

 

While writing, I wear all those hats. Now, I don’t really have a wall of hats that I swap back and forth. It’s all in my head and done metaphorically. For me it’s a method. It’s my way to dig deep into the characters persona and tell the story from his/her point of view without my ideas or morals interfering.

Not that I’d be opposed to putting on a black fedora or silver belly Stetson if I thought it would get me past a particularly hard scene to write.

 

 

 

Shoot, I’d write naked if it worked. But that’s another post.

After all of my research is complete and I understand their motivations, immersing myself in a character, trying to feel and react as he or she would, is the best way for me to develop separate and distinguishable personalities for each person in the book.

What about you? Maybe you have a trick you can share. You don’t have to be a writer to slip into a character’s point of view. Maybe at the movies you lose yourself. Ever become Merle Streep? Or Alex O’Loughlin?

 

 

 

Monday-Monday Releasing the reins

The day I kicked off my blog, I accepted that one day I’d struggle with what to talk about. And here I sit, watching this cursed cursor blink. It mocks me. Really, it’s taken on a life of its own. You’ll never convince me otherwise.

That steady rhythm, the flash, repeating these words. Not now, not now, not now. Try it! Take a look at yours. Go on, I’ll wait.

Admit it, you tested me and mentally timed the flash by repeating not now, not now, not now. Didn’t you?

I decided the time had come to dig through my resources. I’d saved notes I’d taken at different conferences I’ve attended. Surely, one of those would have something that caught my attention. An idea would form and I’d have this keyboard humming.

I remembered how Kristen Lamb, a guest speaker who guided us through a session on social media at the North Texas Conference, instructed each of us to write 100 descriptive words that would define us. Being the folder freak I am, locating my list was easy. Much to my disappointment, I only had 43 written down. None of them appealed to me.

I emailed a friend. She fired back a super interesting list. Truth be told, one of her ideas peaked my curiosity. Why are there so many varieties of dry cereal? The question was too deep for my shallow brain to ponder. Besides, she’s started her own blog and will need to use those ideas.

[image error]The cursor continued its taunt.

This reminded me of when I write myself into a corner. That usually happens when I’m forcing my will onto a character. I had to cut an entire scene in NO TIME TO KILL, book two in the Lost and Found, Inc series, because my Army Ranger dug his heels into the jungle floor and refused to move forward.

Geesh, can you say temperamental male? Now I didn’t have him walking unarmed down an dark alley where a serial killer was waiting. I wanted him to walk away from the heroine. (Not forever, just temporarily to add drama.) But oh no, that went against his moral code. His job was to rescue this woman, and until I cut him loose and allowed him to do it his way…we watched the cursor blink.

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Sometimes, I have trouble releasing the reins. But when I do, things flow so much easier from my brain to my fingers to the keyboard.

How about you? Do you have trouble releasing the reins and allowing your imagination to run free?

Wednesday Coffee with Karen Whiddon

Karen! Welcome to Wednesday Coffee.

Karen and I  belong to the RWA North Texas Romance Writers. I had the opportunity to get to know her better at a writers retreat a few years ago. Aside from being a brilliant writer (count’em…35 books published) she’s warm and personable. Plus she’s a dog lover and you know that makes her special. I’m thrilled she stopped by today!

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Q. Do you do any special research for your novels?

Since I’m a “seat of the pants” type writer, I do research as needed. If I’m writing and then need to know about something, I stop and do some online research.

Q. What made you pick your particular genres?

My first published books were short contemporary. After five of those, I wrote what I wanted – a time travel, Fae, Paranormal romance. I wasn’t sure I could sell it – I didn’t have an agent then. But I sent it off to Dorchester and they bought it! Five of those books later, and I now had an agent and wanted to write for Harlequin. I wrote a female shape-shifter book and Leslie Wainger loved it. Now I continue to do paranormal books for Harlequin Nocturne and also write for Harlequin Romantic Suspense. My 25th book with Harlequin (35th overall) will be out in September!

Q. What are you working on right now? Can you tell us about it?

Currently I’m working on a book titled Texas Lies, Lover’s Secrets. It’s due in less than two weeks and will be out from Harlequin Romantic Suspense in October 2013. The heroine ran away from her past but must return home after five years when her best friend disappears. The hero is the fiancé she left at the altar.

Q. Do you ever hit the wall or find you’ve written yourself into a corner? How do you turn that around?

Oh yes. All the time. When I hit the wall, I make a list of three random things that could happen in the book. The more outlandish the better. Then I pick one and write it. Most times, it ends up being something I can use. I also write out of order. Like right now, I’m labeling the random scenes so I can put them back in the book in order. As to writing myself into a corner – that’s what the delete button is for. I can always tell too, because not only do I feel that something’s off, but my characters totally stop cooperating.

Okay…enough with the business questions! How about some fun stuff. You know, just between the two of us.

Q. The opportunity to go on a surprise vacation arises. You have 90 minutes to pack and get to the airport. Where will you go and what will you pack?

Salmon Fishing at Campbell River on Vancouver Island, Canada. There’s a beautiful fishing lodge there called Painter’s Lodge. Best vacation ever. Pack layers of clothes, rain gear, lots of jeans and comfy shirts.

Q. Are you more likely to be spotlighted on the TV show Hoarders or Fashion Police?

Fashion Police. I don’t hoard, but my grown daughter often rolls her eyes at my fashion choices. I’m all about comfort.

Q. If they make a movie about your life, who do you want to play your part?

A movie about my life would be kind of boring. I’d pick Sandra Bullock, just because I love her.

Q. Tell us one thing about you that might surprise us…it can be a secret…we won’t tell.

I just signed up to volunteer for Legacy Boxer Rescue. I love dogs and have two Boxers (and one Schnauzer) of my own and want to do what I can to help.

Karen Whiddon’s blog is at www. KarenWhiddon.blogspot.com

She can be found on Facebook at Karen-Whiddon-Author or her personal page at Karen Whiddon. Her Twitter handle is @KarenWhiddon

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Monday-Monday You like me. You really like me!

Considering the tragic events of the past few weeks, I have to stop and express my  sympathy to the folks in Boston and Waco. I can’t imagine their sorrow, but I can and will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.

As a writer, I can honestly say receiving a good review is the most rewarding thing that happens. The recognition from one reader who was whisked away from reality and into a story I wrote is like mainlining adrenalin straight into my vein!

Their positive comments energize me. Renews my confidence and gives me the incentive to continue to improve. It means I did my job and did it well.

We writers build fictional worlds for readers. We create believable heroes and heroines; develop love stories layered with conflict and emotion. We commit heinous crimes (on paper), or become dragons or wolves. We’ll slay vampires. Heck; we’ll become a vampire for the sake of a good story. And we do that in hopes our readers love reading the story as much as we loved writing it.

Every single time I receive a glowing review, and it never ever gets old, I think of Sally Fields accepting her Academy Award. Clutching the statue to her breast, she exclaimed to the world, “You like me. You really like me!”

I’ve received a few negative comments, but that’s okay too. I read them, learn from them, and move on. There are lots of places to leave a review, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads. If you read a book, I encourage you to review it.

I asked a few fellow writers to share a review that lifted their spirits. I’ve included a link in case you’d like to read more.

Vicki Batman, author of Man Theory and Other Stories, received this review! [image error]

 5.0 out of 5 stars Humor with my romance any day, Batman has delivered with three hilariously wonderful short stories that will keep you entertained and thinking about them long after you finish reading. Her snappy dialogue, spot-on insight into the male brain and just the right amount of humor makes these stories a must read for lovers of Happily Ever After.

  http://www.amazon.com/Man-Theory-Other-Stories-ebook/product-reviews/B00704USSI/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_btm?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

 

[image error]Ellis Vidler, author of Cold Comfort, received this and it made her heart sing!

For pure entertainment, Ellis Vidler’s Cold Comfort deserves five stars, not four: it has pace and a compelling plot that kept me guessing what was going on right up to the concluding chapters. It’s also a relief to read good writing after a lot of material by people who’ve no grasp of the concept of editing.

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/446053120

 

[image error]Jeanne Guzman, author of Dragon Lover, received this review posted on Goodreads!

This is one of the few paranormal romance books I’ve read, and I must say during quite a few scenes I felt as hot as if a fire breathing dragon was in close proximity. A very scintillating read, Jeanne Guzman takes us into a world below the streets of Austin, Texas in her imaginative vision of love and war between dragon tribes and the humans who love them. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13077235-dragon-lover?ac=1

 

Barb Han, author of Gone, received this from The Printed Fox!

I must admit, it’s been a very long time since a book grabbed me, held me prisoner, and had me emotionally invested on the first page. Gone by Barb Han did just that…Han’s writing is gripping, and beautifully executed. There were a few times when I just had to re-read a sentence because it was so perfect, or poignant.”

http:/theprintedfox.blogspot.com/

 

[image error]P.L. Parker, author of The Chalice, received this from Coffee Time Romance!

This is what I call a complete novel. The author has left no stone unturned. Every question and doubt is answered beautifully. From the very first page I was pulled in and could not let go till it was finished. Each and every character is so vibrant and individual; you can imagine them right in front of you.

http://www.coffeetimeromance.com/BookReviews/thechalicebyplparker.html#.UW9ZNbWuzgY

 

[image error]Larissa Reinhart, author of Portrait of a Dead Guy, received this from Mystery Scene Magazine!

The tone of this marvelously cracked book is not unlike Sophie Littlefield’s brilliant A Bad Day for Sorry, as author Reinhart dishes out shovelfuls of ribald humor and mayhem. It takes a rare talent to successfully portray a beer-and-hormone-addled artist as a sympathetic and worthy heroine, but Reinhart pulls it off with tongue-in-cheek panache.” 

http://www.mysteryscenemag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2777%3Aportrait-of-a-dead-guy&catid=26%3Abooks&Itemid=187

 

[image error]Karen Doctor, author of Satin Pleasures, received this review posted on Amazon!

“Every now and again, you come across a book that sweeps you, the reader, into the folds of a pleasurable and needed distraction. Karen Docter does that in this funny romantic comedy that is Satin Pleasures. Both main characters, Dan and Tess, are friends or coworkers that you know in your real life. They’re believable, flawed, yet hopeful, even when they fight the obvious signs (of subtle manipulation and love). I laughed out loud so many times it surprised me. It’s a fun fast read. I recommend this book. Bravo, Karen.”

http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A2GC8XWYUFKF6K/ref=cm_cr_pr_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&sort_by=MostRecentReview

 

Have you read a book you loved and reviewed it for the author?

If you’re an author, want to share a review or your thoughts on reviews?”

 

Wednesday Coffee with Lois Winston

Welcome, Lois Winston! I’m thrilled to have you as a guest. Let’s get to know you a little better.

Q. Do you do any special research for your novels?

First, thanks for inviting me to guest at your blog today, Jerrie.

Because I write mostly humorous contemporary novels, I don’t need to do the kind of in-depth research that writers of some other genres need to do, but that doesn’t mean I don’t do any research. I want my characters and plots to be believable and free of factual errors, so my research tends to be quite eclectic. I’ve done everything from speak to a funeral director regarding how deaths at nursing homes are handled to trolling Google Earth to find just the right neighborhood for a scene to take place.

Q. What made you pick your particular genres?

I write in several genres – romance, romantic comedy, romantic suspense, humorous women’s fiction, and mystery. Currently I’m writing a humorous amateur sleuth mystery series, the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. Prior to writing Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, I hadn’t considered writing mystery. The idea for the series came about as a result of a conversation my agent had with an editor several years ago. The editor was looking for a crafting mystery series. I have a background as a crafts designer. My agent thought this might be a marriage made in heaven. So I gave it a shot, and it paid off. Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun was followed by Death by Killer Mop Doll, the recently released Revenge of the Crafty Corpse, and the ebook only short story Crewel Intentions.

Q. What are you working on right now? Can you tell us about it?

I’m currently working on Death by Decoupage, the fourth book in the series. My protagonist, Anastasia Pollack, is the crafts editor for a women’s magazine. When her gambling-addicted husband permanently cashes in his chips in Las Vegas, her life craps out. She’s left with two teenage sons, a mountain of debt, her semi-invalid communist mother-in-law, and a menagerie of pets that includes a Shakespeare quoting parrot. Throughout the series Anastasia moonlights at various jobs in order to dig her way out of debt. Unfortunately, she keeps stumbling over dead bodies. The one bright spot in her life is Zack Barnes, the photo-journalist who rents the apartment over her garage and who may or may not work for one of the alphabet agencies, no matter how much he denies it.

Q. Do you ever hit the wall or find you’ve written yourself into a corner? How do you turn that around?

I hit the wall constantly! I’m not one of those writers who outlines every scene in every chapter. I’ll write a very short synopsis, maybe a paragraph or two, so my editor knows what the next book will be about, but aside from knowing how I want to begin and how I want to end, I don’t have a clue as to how I’ll get from Point A to Point B. I rely a lot on a combination of divine inspiration and banging my head on the keyboard. Long, hot showers also help. Sometimes I’ll get an idea in the shower and start writing on the steamed-up glass so I don’t forget.

Okay…enough with the business questions! How about some fun stuff. You know, just between the two of us.

Q. The opportunity to go on a surprise vacation arises. You have 90 minutes to pack and get to the airport. Where will you go and what will you pack?

I’d grab my steamer flat iron, my iPad, my phone, and adapters for plugging in all those electrical gadgets. I can buy everything else when I arrive. (You are paying for this trip, right?) As for where I’d go, I’ve always wanted to walk along the Great Wall of China and see the terracotta warriors, but it’s such a long plane ride that you’d better be springing for a first class seat.

Q. Are you more likely to be spotlighted on the TV show Hoarders or Fashion Police?

Good grief! I’ve never watched either. I’m certainly not a hoarder; I can’t stand clutter. Since I work out of my home, you’re not likely to see me wearing anything that would be considered the height of fashion. I suppose the Fashion Police might have a thing or two to say about my everyday wardrobe.

Q. If they make a movie about your life, who do you want to play your part?

Tina Fey. I’ve had more than one reviewer compare me (favorably) to her.

Q. Tell us one thing about you that might surprise us…it can be a secret…we won’t tell.

I hate peanut butter.

Bio:

Award-winning author Lois Winston writes the critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series featuring magazine crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack. Assault With a Deadly Glue Gun, the first book in the series, received starred reviews from both Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Kirkus Reviews dubbed it, “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” Lois is also published in women’s fiction, romance, romantic suspense, and non-fiction under her own name and her Emma Carlyle pen name. She’s also an agent with the Ashley Grayson Literary Agency and the author of Top Ten Reasons Your Novel is Rejected.

Websites: http://www.loiswinston.com and http://www.emmacarlyle.com

Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers character blog: http://www.anastasiapollack.blogspot.com

Twitter: @anasleuth

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/anasleuth/

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Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 1)

When Anastasia Pollack’s husband permanently cashes in his chips at a roulette table in Vegas, her comfortable middle-class life craps out. She’s left with two teenage sons, a mountain of debt, and her hateful, cane-wielding Communist mother-in-law. Not to mention stunned disbelief over her late husband’s secret gambling addiction, and the loan shark who’s demanding fifty thousand dollars.

Anastasia’s job as crafts editor for a magazine proves no respite when she discovers a dead body glued to her office chair. The victim, fashion editor Marlys Vandenburg, collected enemies and ex-lovers like Jimmy Choos on her ruthless climb to editor-in-chief. But when evidence surfaces of an illicit affair between Marlys and Anastasia’s husband, Anastasia becomes the number one suspect.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738723479/ref=asliqfspasiniltl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0738723479&linkCode=as2&tag=loiswins-20

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Death by Killer Mop Doll (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 2)

Overdue bills and constant mother vs. mother-in-law battles at home are bad enough. But crafts editor Anastasia Pollack’s stress level is maxed out when she and her fellow American Woman editors get roped into unpaid gigs for a revamped morning TV show. Before the glue is dry on Anastasia’s mop dolls, morning TV turns crime drama when the studio is trashed and the producer is murdered. Former co-hosts Vince and Monica—sleazy D-list celebrities—stand out among a lengthy lineup of suspects, all furious over the show’s new format. And Anastasia has no clue her snooping has landed her directly in the killer’s unforgiving spotlight.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738725854/ref=asliqfspasin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=loiswins-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0738725854

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Crewel Intentions (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mini-Mystery)

In this short story addition to the critically acclaimed Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery series, crafts editor and reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack receives a desperate phone call from former American Woman fashion editor Erica Milano. Erica is now in Witness Protection and living under a new identity in Western Pennsylvania. But someone is stalking her, and Erica has compelling reasons why she can’t go to the police or notify her Witsec handlers. Anastasia is the only person she can trust to help her, and she knows Anastasia won’t let her down. After all, Erica once saved Anastasia’s life. But will Anastasia be able to return the favor before the stalker strikes?

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AFE2IX8/ref=asliqfspasiniltl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00AFE2IX8&linkCode=as2&tag=loiswins-20

 

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Revenge of the Crafty Corpse (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery, Book 3)

Anastasia Pollack’s dead louse of a spouse has left her with more bills than you can shake a crochet hook at, and teaching craft classes at her mother-in-law’s assisted living center seems like a harmless way to supplement her meager income. But when Lyndella Wegner—a 98-year-old know-it-all with a penchant for ruffles and lace—turns up dead, Anastasia’s cantankerous mother-in-law becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Upon discovering that Lyndella’s scandalous craft projects—and her scandalous behavior—made her plenty of enemies, Anastasia sets out to find the real killer before her mother-in-law ends up behind bars.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738725862/ref=asliqfspasiniltl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0738725862&linkCode=as2&tag=loiswins-20

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Lost in Manhattan

One by one members of the Montgomery family have died in tragic accidents. Sarah Montgomery, the last surviving member of the aeronautics dynasty, suffers amnesia and extensive injuries that leave her unrecognizable when she’s hit by a cab. Industrialist Trent Caldwell already harbors guilt over the death of his wife and now feels responsible for Sarah’s injuries. After her surgery, he brings her to his home to recuperate. Mrs. Kearn, his housekeeper and surrogate mother, sees in Sarah someone capable of bringing Trent back to life. She begins playing matchmaker.

But the Montgomery family deaths weren’t accidents. Someone harbors a deadly secret and using skills perfected as a youthful IRA operative, has systematically eliminated the family out of a need for revenge. Realizing Sarah’s true identity, the assassin now has one more kill to make in order to fulfill a promise made long ago.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008P0B8M6/ref=asliqfspasinitl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008P0B8M6&linkCode=as2&tag=loiswins-20

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Hooking Mr. Right

Can a butt-ugly alley cat named Cupid bring together two people driven apart by secrets and lies? After writing a doctoral thesis that exposed fraud in the pop-psychology genre, thirty-two year old professor Althea Chandler sacrifices her professional integrity to save her family from financial disaster. She secretly becomes best-selling romance guru Dr. Trulee Lovejoy, self-proclaimed expert on how to catch a man, even though Thea’s a miserable failure when it comes to relationships—especially those with the opposite sex.

Burned by a failed marriage, Luke Bennett finds himself pursued by Dr. Lovejoy toting women after a gossip columnist dubs him New York’s most eligible bachelor. When he at first mistakes Thea for one of the women out to snare him, sparks fly, but the two soon find themselves battling sparks of a less hostile nature, thanks in part to that alley cat.

Luke believes he’s finally found an honest woman. Unfortunately, Thea is anything but honest. She’s got more secrets than the CIA and a desperate gossip columnist out to expose her. Cupid definitely has his work cut out for him.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008E95NPG/ref=asliqfspasintl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B008E95NPG&linkCode=as2&tag=loiswins-20

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Top Ten Reasons Your Novel Is Rejected

Most novels are rejected by agents and editors for one or more of ten basic reasons. Writers have control over some of these reasons but not all of them. In this book award-winning author and literary agent Lois Winston discusses these reasons and how writers can control more of their destiny by not falling prey to them.

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A4EN1Q2/ref=asliqfspasiniltl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00A4EN1Q2&linkCode=as2&tag=loiswins-20

Monday-Monday My love affair with Georgia

Recently, I blogged how important setting was in The Green-Eyed Doll. It occurred to me that an even better example is The Last Execution. I used Atlanta, Georgia and the surrounding areas for the setting.

 Years ago, my job took us to Newnan, which is about 30 miles southwest of Atlanta. The company flew in for the weekend to look for a place to lease. No use buying, because within two years, no telling where we’d live.

To say I was surprised, would be an understatement. In 2000, this community’s population was 16,242, and yet a stone’s throw from everything the city of Atlanta could offer. I fell in love.

As we drove through town, I kept waiting for Scarlett and Rhett to walk out the front door of some of the homes. Shade covered streets with beautiful homes took my breath away.

[image error]Newnan has six historic districts, all on the national register, contain some of Georgia’s most beautiful houses and commercial buildings. The houses are represented by the antebellum and Victorian styles that dominated Newnan’s early and mid-19th century development. Buildings that make up the Central Business District comprise several architectural styles, including Neoclassical, Italianate, Classical Revival, Romanesque, and Victorian.

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The Civil War came closest to Newnan in July 1864, when the Battle of Brown’s Mill occurred three miles south of town. College Temple, the first college to offer a Master of Arts degree to women, was used in the War Between the States as a hospital for wounded Confederate and Union troops as were the courthouse and local churches. Newnan was spared some of the ravages of the Civil War, and many historic homes, including General Wheeler’s headquarters, still line the streets of Newnan, known today as the “City of Homes”.[image error]

 

 

 

 

[image error]That kind of beautiful setting needed a worthy character. Someone of grace, someone with a wisdom that comes with age. My hero in The Last Execution grew up in Newnan. His grandmother raised him and still lived in the same house. His trips to visit her helped define his character for the reader.

Have you read a book that left you longing to visit that location?

 

 

 

Wednesday Coffee with Alexa Bourne

Alexa! Welcome to Wednesday Coffee. It will be fun learning more about you and your writing.  

Thanks so much for having me!

It’s my pleasure. First let me tell everyone a little about you.

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Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romance writer by nights, weekends, and all school holidays. She also teaches online classes for writers throughout the year. She writes romantic suspense and contemporary romance for Decadent Publishing and is thrilled to have the chance to share her love of Great Britain with readers everywhere.

When she’s not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring new cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV and thinking about exercising. She loves to interact with readers, so visit her web page, hang out at her blog, follow her on Twitter or drop her a note at Alexa@alexabourne.com!

Q. Do you do any special research for your novels?

I do a bit of research, depending on the setting or the crimes involved in each story. Sometimes I need to also research an occupation for one of my characters.

Q. What made you pick your particular genre?

I’ve always loved stories about crimes and how they’re solved.

Q. What are you working on right now? Can you tell us about it?

I’m working on a couple of stories right now, both novellas. One is a romantic suspense set in Mexico with an American woman who doesn’t understand Spanish and the Spanish-speaking villains who believe she overheard their conversation.

My other novella is a contemporary romance. It’s about a Scotswoman going through some medical issues and she feels she has no support. The man she’s been in love with since childhood, her best friend’s brother, wants to help but doesn’t know how to be her rock.

Q. Do you ever hit the wall or find you’ve written yourself into a corner? How do you turn that around?

Yep! It usually happens when I don’t listen to my characters. LOL. If I let them guide me, the story comes out great!

Okay…enough with the business questions! How about some fun stuff. You know, just between the two of us.

Q. The opportunity to go on a surprise vacation arises. You have 90 minutes to pack and get to the airport. Where will you go and what will you pack?

Scotland! Edinburgh is my favorite city in the world, so I’d definitely go there. I would pack my money, some clothes, some notebooks (because I write all my rough drafts by hand) and my camera!

Q. Are you more likely to be spotlighted on the TV show Hoarders or Fashion Police?

Fashion Police. I know what looks good, what goes well together, but I’m usually in jeans and T-shirts. And I’m also accused of holding onto a piece of clothing looooooong after it should be trashed. (Hey, if it’s comfortable, why get rid of it???)

Q. If they make a movie about your life, who do you want to play your part?

Hhhmmmm, that’s a good question. I don’t really know. Maybe Anne Hathaway or Emma Watson. Or Jordana Brewster from the Fast & Furious movies. I like all of them and think they could do a great job playing me.

Q. Tell us one thing about you that might surprise us…it can be a secret…we won’t tell.    I’ve lived in 5 states and have visited 11 countries….so far!

Okay! let’s tell everyone about your romantic suspense novel, Through The Eyes of Darkness.

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BLURB:
The International Protective Network hires the most efficient operatives to protect their clients, but what happens when those employees need to face their personal demons in order to get the job done?

A broken-down bodyguard with no confidence…an American lass with no memory…a technical analyst more confident with computers than people…a lad living in the past…a new operative with something to prove…a former soldier struggling with her war scars.

In the cozy communities of the British Isles, three couples charge through the dangers confronting them in order to find truth, justice and the love they deserve.

Website: www.alexabourne.com

Blog: http://alexabourne.blogspot.com

Twitter: @AlexaBourne

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaBourne

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5818611.Alexa_Bourne

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=alexa+bourne  

 

 

Monday-Monday Weathering the heatwave

Hello and welcome to Monday-Monday. I have news!

My publisher has put THE GREEN-EYED DOLL on sale for .99. Download from Amazon or Barnes & Noble for one week!

But I’m sharing with you the scoop on my really big news. Drum roll please!

Between Tuesday, April 9th and Saturday, April 13, THE LAST EXECUTION will be free! Again, Kindle only.

It’s a great deal, two full length novels for less than a buck!

Have you signed up for my newsletter? I’m planning on no more for four a year with the first one in June. We’ll have news and maybe a prize! Okay, enough business, lets talk about my favorite time of the year.

As spring arrives bringing along with it budding trees, colorful flowers, and plentiful vegetable gardens, I have to wonder. Will our always unpredictable Texas weather provide enough water to keep things flourishing? Will we skip spring and jump straight to summer as we often do, wiping out crops of all varieties and turning our fields into a dry parched wasteland?

As I developed Catherine McCoy, the heroine in THE GREEN-EYED DOLL, Texas was having a record breaking year. Little did I know when the plot started taking shape that summer would be exactly as I was describing in the book.

Weather and setting can provide an additional external conflict to heighten the tension and danger in a story. Catherine had to survive the hottest summer and the longest drought on record. Almost broke, she took what work was available and still didn’t have enough money to fix her car’s air-conditioner when it went on the fritz! To test her determination, tenacity, and will to live, I created a serial killer who intended her to become his next doll.

Since Catherine had to suffer the heat, it seemed only fair the Sheriff Matt Ballard and his deputies do the same while they searched for each missing woman. In addition, a stray homesteaded Matt’s place during this time. A No-Name dog who allowed Matt to feed but not touch him. (How No-Name finally got a name is another post.)

I’ve included a few facts about the summer of 2011. I hope you find them interesting. It’s hard to imagine 70 days with 100-degree heat with temperatures of 105 or 107 and finally 108. Combine those incredible temperatures with the fact we hadn’t had rain since the fall of 2010 and the situation became critical.

                                                                                       

The weather bureau reported over eleven-thousand fires in Texas during 2011 resulting in almost three-  and-a-half million acres burned.

Sometimes good things can come from bad. And the dry lake beds gave Texas back some of its history. Graveyards were found and are now being relocated.

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Have you experienced weather like this? What’s summer like in your neck of the woods?

Wednesday Coffee With Sharon Horton

Sharon, welcome! Grab a cup of coffee, kick back and let’s get to know you better. I’m thrilled you stopped by.

A friend once asked Sharon to try writing a single paragraph. That paragraph led to a novel of over 200,000 words! She’s been writing ever since. From her first attempts at writing, and after learning the golden rule – 200,000 word novels don’t fly – she settled into the warm and comforting world of Romance.  Inspired by those dedicated to serving others and a passionate belief in “love conquers all” Sharon’s books offer stories of bravery, hope and unconditional love.

Born and raised in Northern California, Sharon now lives on the East Coast where her husband and cats have learned to overlook her endless quest to blend the hearts and spirits of people who don’t exist – until she creates them with words.

Hi Jerrie!  Thank you for having me on your blog.  I’m very happy to be here.

Q. Do you do any special research for your novels?

A.  Yes, I do research, but not a whole lot.  Basically, I want to get facts right, but as I’m writing fiction I don’t want my stories to sound like ‘how to’ manuals.  With my latest book, SPARKS, I received lots of helpful information from the wife of a firefighter.  SPARKS is about a woman firefighter, so I wanted to make sure I got certain procedures correct, but still kept to the main idea of the story being a romance.

Q. What made you pick your particular genre?

A.  I suppose I’m a romantic at heart, but I also love weaving characters and plots into a reality that I knew I’d never be part of.  For instance, some of my books are about women secret agents or cops.  I loved watching spy shows as a kid, so I guess they rubbed off on my.  I knew I was a romantic when I always wanted Sister Bertrille to marry Carlos Ramirez on The Flying Nun.  LOL

Q. What are you working on right now? Can you tell us about it?

A.  Currently, I’m working on a story where a man and woman find themselves alone on an island and don’t know why.  I can’t give too much detail, but I will say this will be a Romantic Suspense. 

Q. Do you ever hit the wall or find you’ve written yourself into a corner? How do you turn that around?

A.  I used to hit walls all the time, but mainly because I tended to second-guess myself too much.  I finally realized that once I write a paragraph that I should leave it alone for a few days before rereading it.  That’s helped a lot.  I still hit walls, but not as often.  Writers are their own worst enemy, I think.

Okay…enough with the business questions! How about some fun stuff. You know, just between the two of us.

Q. The opportunity to go on a surprise vacation arises. You have 90 minutes to pack and get to the airport. Where will you go and what will you pack?

A.  That’s an easy one.  I’d go to Egypt to see the Pyramids.  The first thing I’d pack would be a camera.  Other items would include my toothbrush, comfy shoes, whatever underwear and other clothing was at the top of the drawers, and last but never least…my mascara! 

Q. Are you more likely to be spotlighted on the TV show Hoarders or Fashion Police?

A.  LOL on both.  I’m not quite as bad as Hoarders, but I will admit to having a few collections.  I love horses, so my model horse collection takes up a bit of room.  I used to collect dolls, but since moving to a smaller house I don’t have the space.  My biggest hoard, though, is probably the collection of dust bunnies under my couch.  I have four cats that seem to think shedding is lots of fun.  I’ve never seen Fashion Police, so I can’t really comment.  However, if it helps – if I’m not in my sweatpants, I’m in jeans.  

Q. If they make a movie about your life, who do you want to play your part?

A.  That would depend on who portrays my husband in the film.  If it’s Adrian Paul then I’ll play myself, thank you very much.  Otherwise, I guess I’d like to see Bridget Fonda portray me.  I’ve been fond of her acting since seeing Lake Placid.

Q. Tell us one thing about you that might surprise us…it can be a secret…we won’t tell.

A. I’m not sure how much of a surprise it will be, but when I was a kid I wanted to grow up to be a jockey.  As I said, I love horses, so it seemed a good way to make a living and be around horses.  However, as I got older I realized I wanted to be something more than a jockey – a housewife and mom.  I know I probably could have done both, but once my son was born the thought of not being around him, full time, wasn’t something I wanted to do.  That said, I would have loved to win the Kentucky Derby.  LOL

Well, Jerrie – thanks again for inviting me to be on your blog.  I loved your questions!  Below, I’ve included the blurb and excerpt from SPARKS.  If anybody would like to learn more about my other books, they can read blurbs, excerpts, and reviews on my website:  http://www.sharonhorton.com/

[image error] Blurb:

All her life, Callie O’Rourke wanted to be a firefighter. A lifelong nightmare of being in a fire has driven her to pursue a career to fight fires and save lives. She won’t let being a woman stop her from achieving that goal. When her determination and training land her a job, Callie has no idea being the city’s first female firefighter will gain the attention of more than just its citizens.

Although haunted since childhood by the fiery death of his father, firefighting is in Danny Redmond’s blood. He comes from a long line of firemen, all the way back to his great-grandfather. Callie’s refreshing candor ignites Danny’s interest. With her ability to fight fires, combined with the way she puts him at ease, it’s not long before they become friends. Focused on being the best firefighters possible, neither is looking for romance. Yet the more they’re together, the more they realize firefighting may not be their biggest challenge.

 SPARKS Excerpt:

Callie turned to kiss Danny’s cheek just as he turned to face her. The result brought her lips onto his. The act was innocent and accidental, and yet as they understood what happened and how they touched, neither moved. The action would have been comical had either not been so drawn into it. Callie’s mental thoughts were replaced by physical ones as she realized she was kissing Danny, and not just the affectionate thank you for the medallion kiss she’d intended to give him, but an actual hard against the mouth, lips parted, tongues introducing themselves to each other, kiss.

And he was responding, not by pushing her away, but by accepting and inviting his way deeper inside.

Now beneath Danny, Callie’s mind reeled. Was this really happening? What started as a short kiss exploded into a continuous, senses-blinding experience. When she felt his hands slipping inside her robe, she thought certain someone had drugged her and she was hallucinating. Yet when her eyes opened to the reveal of Danny’s actual flesh, Callie understood everything she could see, touch, and feel was as real to her as it was to him. Their clothing somehow appearing on the floor told her that.

Should they be doing this? What if Will or Bex returned? But the more she and Danny kissed and caressed and moved in perfect rhythm, Callie couldn’t care less about anyone or what they could hear. Out of breath, they backed away just enough to inhale and look at each other. Danny wore the same expression of shock and pleasure that Callie knew she did, and just as Danny slowly lowered himself into Callie’s depths, she noted another expression, and this one was combined with emotion. Was it love?

I can also be reached via email: hortonsharon@yahoo.com and Facebook under the name, Sharon Erickson Horton.

All of my books can be found in e-book and/or print at most on-line stores, including:

The Wild Rose Press – http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/mai...

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&field-author=Sharon%20Horton&search-alias=books&sort=relevancerank

Barnes and Nobel – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/sharon-horton

Fictionwise – http://www.fictionwise.com/servlet/mwsearch

Kobo – http://www.kobobooks.com/search/searc...

Monday-Monday Searching for Poseidon

Are you tired of gloomy, no sunshine days, where the temperature demands heavy clothes and the wind chills you to the bone? Seven years ago I started a ‘girls trip’, taking my daughter and granddaughter to distant islands where we could spend quality time together. It’s a break in our busy lives designed to allow us to reconnect.

We love the warm months, where t-shirts, shorts, and sandals are the uniform of the day. Where visions of gorgeous men ride the high waves, their six-pack abs ripping as they balance themselves on that narrow board, and their tan skin glistens under the bright lights.

Got a picture in your head? Just makes you warmer thinking about it.

But there’s a sad reality that goes with those dreams. In the Bahamas, we snorkeled, para-sailed, and toured the area. Not one golden boy did we see.

In Aruba, we watched baby turtles hatch. We held our breaths as they struggled to the water only to be tossed back by a wave. Through sheer perseverance, they finally succeeded, and we cheered, sharing their victory.

But did we spot our god of the beach?

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Surely, he was in Mazatlan, where we swam with Dolphins, snorkeled, and visited all the tourist areas.

I kept a trained out for Poseidon to emerge from the deep at any moment.

 

In Jamaica, the girls stayed active playing sand volleyball. I’ll have to admit, some of the men were trim with a nice build. The entertainment crew consisted of a couple of handsome, fun loving young guys, but still, they didn’t come up to the pictures we’d seen in all the advertisements.

Belize produced tons of fish and fabulous clear water. But alas no water gods. My granddaughter did meet the cutest boy ever but he was as close as we got to finding the guys always seen on the commercial.

 

Truth be told, we’ve never really missed finding them. Not once ounce of regret have we felt. What these trips did…every time…was to make us appreciate the men waiting for us at the airport. Without a doubt, what we have at home far exceeds anything we might see while on vacation!

So what are your plans for the summer? Spending time with loved ones? Isolating yourself from everyday life and just chilling?