Jerrie Alexander's Blog, page 14

Wednesday Coffee with Calisa Rhose

Welcome, Calisa Rhose! Here you’re allowed to have the drink of your choice. It will be great fun to get to know you better. Thank you for stopping by!

It’s so exciting to be on the blog of someone who writes such great mysteries, Jerrie! I hope I can do your blog justice.

Thank you! I appreciate your support. Let me tell share your bio first:

Calisa Rhose is an Okie, born and bred, through and through, and proud of it. While growing up, when she wasn’t on the back of a horse, she could be found with pen and paper in hand. Her writing career began with poetry in her younger days. Then she discovered Rock-n-Roll and cute musicians. Poetry turned into stories of romance and dreams. These days she lives with the same man who convinced her to take a romantic journey with him almost 30 years ago. After raising three strong daughters she spends her days loving their granddaughters, hoping for a boy someday, and writing. When she’s not writing, you can find Calisa putting on her editor hat and working to help other published and aspiring writers.

She is working on more projects with her favored contemporary cowboys, first responders  and firemen. She plans to have some paranormal stories on the way to publication soon, as well (under a pen name tba).

Find Calisa at her website/blog http://calisarhose.wordpress.com

Twitter@CalisaRhose, Facebook/Calisa Rhose, Goodreads and Amazon.

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

I do some research, I don’t know about ‘special,’ though. Lol For my Vietman era novella I researched the war on the internet only. For Risk Factors, the book I’m sharing today, I spent quite a bit of time on emails and a few phone calls with a  veteran ex-mediflight nurse in MO, since that’s where this story is set. In fact, she’s the one who taught me that an EMT is not the same as an EMT-P–the P is for paramedic and must be there to specify this. Who knew? I asked her to read a scene to make sure I had the accident and first responders parts true to life because Connor, my hero, is an EMT-P, and she was an immense help in that.  Sadly, I cut most of that scene in the end. Lol I also researched the top-of-the-line mediflight helicopters and learned something in the process.

Q. What made you pick your particular genre?

I don’t know anything about historical writing, can’t bring myself to pen erotic and don’t care for urban fantasy, sci-fi or steampunk. Contemporary is pretty much what I know and love. I also like to dabble with paranormal, but nothing to submit in that genre…yet. I do have a few projects underway.

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

I’m working on a contemporary western I wrote a few years ago and needed revising. I’m also working on a ghost story. Yes, simultaneously. Because I’m a glutton for punishment! LOL The western is about:

 Tobi Star needs help with a champion breeding stallion who stopped breeding,  so she calls a horse whisperer who has a penchant for whispering sweet nothings to other than the horses he treats, and she can’t help but listen. But after having her heart broken, she can’t trust any man.

Tanner Royal has his own issues and an ex-wife to support them. After the death of his unborn baby, he was forced to accept he’s not a hearth and home kind of guy. He needs Tobi to trust him, but what harm will come to her when she does?

Can Tanner heal Starfire before Tobi’s troublesome uncle manages to steal the stallion, and make her lose her family home? Can Tobi learn to trust Tanner and prove he is worth taking a chance on? Will anything save their damaged hearts?

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

Only all the time! LOL I’m in a corner with my ghost story right now, actually. When I get around that one I’ll let you know. But usually I can work on something else, or back away from the computer completely and let it steep in the gray matter and it works itself out. I might also try writing the troublesome scene another way (saving the original of course) and see if that gets me out of the hole I’ve dug.

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?

Ooh, this is a hard one! A swimsuit, one fancy dress and shoes, and a summer wardrobe because I like the heat. Where would I go? I would love to see Jamaica.

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

Hoarders, definitely. Between hubby and I, we can’t seem to throw anything away. Lol We are firm believers in the one man’s junk is another man’s treasure, although I do try to keep that “treasure” outside the house.

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

Sally Fields! She’s short and spunky…like me. Really, I just love Sally and always have.

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

Secret? I can’t keep secrets, not about myself. But I’ll go for something not well known. When I was younger I was very shy. I blushed at EVERYTHING and hubby teased me about it mercilessly when we first met! I still am shy in a lot of ways which has made writing and promoting hard at times. But I have to do it, so I push past the shyness.

Enough with the questions! Tell us about your book.

I’d love to share a little about Risk Factors with you now.

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Risk Factors- a Lyrical Press contemporary romance. Releases March 4, 2013.

  Tag: Love, like life, is not without risk.

BLURB- Veterinarian Vivian Dane has purchased her uncle’s practice in the tiny town of Wales, Missouri, where most residents still doubt her ability to treat their pets. But Viv is used to being considered less-worthy than her predecessors. After all, her parents are world-renowned wildlife vets, and most everyone is unimpressed she’s chosen to not follow directly in their footsteps.

Now Connor, a patient’s owner, is hot for Viv, but clearly doesn’t think she’s dating material because he has a daughter…who he believes no woman is good enough for.

Being a perfect dad is EMT paramedic Connor’s life focus. He can’t seem to stay away from sexy Doctor Viv, but attraction is as far as he’ll ever let it go. His mother abandoned him, leaving him to be raised in the foster system, and then his wife abandoned both him and their daughter. He absolutely will not risk bringing another woman into his little girl’s life and having her feel the hurt of being left…again.

Forfeiting is easier than attempting and failing. So why does Viv feel compelled to prove she’s a sure bet for Connor and his daughter? Can Connor trust Viv–and himself–enough to play the possibilities?

EXCERPT- Viv’s smile and throaty laughter burrowed deeper by the second, mutating into hot want that seemed to draw him to her at every opportunity. But her invitation shook him back to level ground. Dinner. With her. Vivian Dane, the woman who seemed to freely access his dreams lately, was asking him out.

Her voice fell to a low smoky grade that slid like satin over him, tightening around his chest, making it hard to breathe.

He wanted to kiss her.

Period.

There was something about her in the lab coat he couldn’t put his finger on. She appeared so fragile and delicate in pink that matched her lips…china doll perfect. Kissable.

He opened his mouth to refuse. He couldn’t afford to get close to anyone, wouldn’t risk Janna. He knew his daughter already liked the vet, had said so. If he got involved and it all nosedived south, he couldn’t stand to have Janna hurt. Even if she didn’t know it, Viv was their veterinarian now and he’d have to see her, Jelly Bean would notice the tension–

“Connor?”

“I’d like that.”

…

Awesome blurb and excerpt, Calisa.

Thanks for the fun, Jerrie! I had a blast visiting your cyber home.

Monday-Monday Catherine’s Never List

The NEVER List

While developing the heroine in The Green-Eyed Doll, I discovered Catherine McCoy had a list of things she would not do. Period. Ever.

Well, you know what happened next! The list became an important thread throughout the as my heroine grew and scratched each one off. 

What were those nevers? What did they mean to her?

(Thank you, Alice, for the beautiful picture.)

Never cry again:

She’d cried enough. Cried because she couldn’t fix her broken marriage. Cried because she’d had to take such extreme measures to protect herself.

Never look back:

Putting her past behind her was a start of a new beginning…a new life. Never looking back meant escaping the skeptical stares and vicious news mongers.

Never trust completely:

She’d trusted once. Her judgment had been bad and had almost resulted in her death.

Never run out of money:

Being broke put her in danger of having to trust somebody enough to ask for help. She had to keep moving and stay self sufficient.

Never have sex with the sheriff:

This one she added right after she discovered the sheriff was interested in her. Sex meant opening herself up to more criticism. As tempting as the sheriff was, she couldn’t allow him inside the walls she’d built. The risk was too great he’d see the real Catherine.

Never reveal her past:

People are too judgmental to trust with the truth. To have a new life the past had to stay buried.

Never depend on anyone else:

Depending on someone else meant trusting. That was a luxury she could not afford.

Catherine had a lot to overcome before she could scratch each one off and have her happy ending. Adding the NEVER List helped deepen her character.

Any Nevers you would have added?

Wednesday Coffee with Kayelle Allen

Today I venture out into the world of Science Fiction and BDSM. I’m not an expert in either field so we’ll learn together. My guest today is huge supporter of ALL genres, giving time and effort to promoting us all.

About the Author

Kayelle Allen writes about immortal role-playing gamers, warriors who purr, agents who find the unfindable–or hide it forever, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is the owner of the graphics company The Author’s Secret. She also runs Romance Lives Forever, a blog featuring authors and books, and Marketing for Romance Writers, an author mentoring group.

Homeworld http://kayelleallen.com

Blog http://kayelleallen.blogspot.com

Twitter http://twitter.com/kayelleallen

Facebook http://facebook.com/KayelleAllen.Author

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/kayelleallen/

Goodreads http://goodreads.com/KayelleAllen

 Interview

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

Yes. I have a Science Fiction series about immortals who were genetically enhanced. I studied genetics — at a bird’s-eye-view level — so I could write convincingly. What I discovered showed me that my story isn’t that far fetched. These creatures could exist eventually. Whenever I write a book, I try to base it on science fact. That said, the imagination is a wonderful thing. For Fifty Gays of Shade, which is contemporary romance, it took a bit more real-world research. I’m not male, gay, or into the BDSM lifestyle, although that fascinates me. Writing a BDSM story in first person from a gay man’s perspective took more in depth research. I continually read, talk to friends and acquaintances, and spend time online learning details.

Q. What made you pick your particular genre?

I chose Science Fiction because I’ve loved it since I was a child. My parents were both into it. I grew up watching it on television and reading books. As a teen, I read Isaac Asimov, Arthur C Clarke, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Heinlein. Their work had a huge impact on the way I viewed the world. Later, I discovered Ursula K LeGuin, Lois McMaster Bujold, CJ Cherryh, and a host of other female writers. Friends constantly bugged me to write a book, but I lacked the confidence. When I decided to go for it, I looked into the percentage rate of Science Fiction books being published, and it was dismal. I was tempted to abandon the idea, but then I happened upon a statistic for Science Fiction Romance that showed continual, rapid growth. I decided to tweak my stories and instead of having the romance aspect as a minor part of the story, to make it central. My first book sold to the first publisher where I submitted it, and within six months, it was published. From that point on, I was “in the door” as they say.

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

I’m writing a sequel to my EPIC award winning book Surrender Love. The new book, Surrender Trust, picks up where the first book left off. Izzorah “Rah” Ceeow, one of the heroes, is a newly created immortal. At the end of the first book, Rah doesn’t know it yet. In the second book, he discovers what he is, and that Luc Saint-Cyr, the man he loves, is immortal as well. As if that wasn’t enough, Rah also discovers there are other immortals around them who have a secret agenda for humans, and to remain with Luc, he must pass a test of fealty and swear loyalty to their leader. Trouble is, the leader is out to destroy mankind, and for thousands of years, Luc has secretly spied for a second group of immortals working to stop him. For Izzorah, failing the test will mean he and Luc remain in bondage to the leader. Passing means freedom, but leaving humanity at the mercy of a merciless creature who plots their destruction.

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

I wish I could say this wasn’t a problem, but it’s happened to me. In writing Surrender Trust, I hit that wall more times than I can count. Sometimes things don’t go the way you think they should. I have never given up, however. For me, the turning point was finding a new way to tell the story. I’ve spent several years fighting with the plot of this book. Again, research paid off. I encountered a program called Dramatica, which helps you plot and lay out the story within a framework. It meant studying the program and learning the language of their concept (the contagonist and impact characters, for example), and after a few weeks of study, I decided to purchase the software. It was an incredible investment. Within a short period, I’d rewritten the plot, and sketched out ideas for other stories. I’m writing again, and after years of struggling with effective ways to tell this story, that is a blessing. If you are blocked, don’t view it as the end. Look for ways to go around the obstacle. Teach yourself new skills. Learn from your mistakes.

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 love Las Vegas because I grew up in the area, and even though I’m not a gambler, I definitely want to go there. I also love the mountains, so the Grand Tetons are a big draw. I’ve never seen them or Yellowstone, and I’d love to do that, especially if I could make the trip by rail. I’d also like to see Mount Rushmore, and nearby, the Crazy Horse Monument. It would be tough. If I could make that vacation a tour across the country, starting at Mount Rushmore, jumping to the Grand Tetons, and ending in Vegas it would be perfect!

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

Wow — I am not much of a TV person. I’ve seen commercials for Hoarders. I am not that bad, my garage notwithstanding. But sadly, I have no idea what Fashion Police is about. If it’s someone looking for people who break laws of fashion though, I’d probably be guilty. My work uniform for writing is comfortable pants, T-shirt, over shirt, and socks. I own a skirt (yes “a” skirt), but never wear it. Going out is something I don’t like doing because I loathe getting all dressed up. I am not a girly girl. I have one pair of heels, and as for jewelry… I wear a wedding ring and have a few favorite necklaces. I have seen What Not to Wear, and there’s no doubt they would toss my entire wardrobe, although they’d have to pry my New Balance running shoes out of my cold, dead fingers. Fashion is no excuse for ruining your feet with miserable shoes. However, my daughter is a Mary Kay consultant. I practice good skin care and when forced to *grin* will don makeup.

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

A movie about me would be sold as fiction, because no one would ever believe the life I’ve lived. Not even me. Who would play me? She’d be an anime character. I can’t think of anyone who’d come close.

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

Most people know that I founded Marketing for Romance Writers and that it’s dedicated to helping authors learn how to market, promote their books, and brand themselves and their writing. Our motto is “Seek, teach, share, learn, succeed” and we are open to the entire literary community. What they don’t know is why I’m committed to always providing the training there at no cost. I was homeless as a child. For a long time, my family lived in a car. I understand how desperate people can be to make something of themselves and to succeed. For me, it’s all about service. Seeing others succeed validates my work. I am a firm believer that you cannot help others succeed without succeeding yourself.

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Books by Kayelle Allen

At the Mercy of Her Pleasure, For Women Only, Wulf: Tales of the Chosen, Alitus: Tales of the Chosen, Jawk: Tales of the Chosen, Surrender Love, Fifty Gays of Shade (anthology) See more: http://kayelleallen.com/Books.html

 

 

 

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Excerpt from Fifty Gays of Shade (“Bill Me” by Kayelle Allen)

When an old member of the Shady Business BDSM club returns from a hiatus, he meets a new member searching for a proper identity — and a master who’ll help him find it.

“Is that you, Erik?”

I turned to see who had used my name so freely in one of the country’s premier BDSM clubs, and found the club’s owner walking toward me. “Hello, Shade.” I accepted his firm handshake. “Long time no see. You look fit as always.” The man wore a black leather hat, black zipped leather shorts, boots, and had a chain wrapped around one wrist.

“I could say the same.” He raked his gaze down me. “Damn, man. Where the hell have you been? I heard you relocated again.”

I shrugged. “You know me. Never could settle anywhere.”

“Let’s grab a drink.” Shade led me deeper into the club, away from the noisy stage and DJ.

We passed the elevator, and sidestepped around a laughing couple exiting the bathroom. From their tousled appearance, it took little imagination to guess what they’d been doing in there. Had house rules changed? Shade rubbed a spot between his brows and pretended not to notice. He continued through reception, and used a keycard to open a passageway to his office and the play room area.

Gesturing between the two, he quirked his brows, giving me a choice of location. I opted for the privacy of his office, and he opened the door.

Little had changed here, other than a few additional awards on the wall. I sat in the leather chair opposite his desk. He flipped open a cabinet and withdrew a bottle of whiskey and two glasses, handing me one. Shade surprised me by dropping into the chair next to mine. He poured generously, set down the bottle, and leaned back.

“You want to tell me what’s up?” He gazed at me over the rim of the glass while he sipped.

I swirled the whiskey, gave it a sniff, and smiled over at him. “What do you mean?”

He pulled a face. “We going to play a head game or are you going to tell me what brings you here — wearing a three piece suit– after fifteen months away?”

“Fifteen months? What, were you counting the days?”

“You were here for my birthday party for the past five years, and then missed it last year. I happen to know yours is in three days. We always celebrated together when you were in town. So yeah, I know the number of days.” He downed the rest of his drink, set aside the glass, and folded his arms across his beefy chest. “What’s with the suit?”

“In town on business.” I hesitated, but remembered this was Shade I was talking to, and sighed. “Corey moved out six weeks ago.”

“No shit? You okay?”

“Yeah. Now.”

Shade shook his head. “I’m sorry, Erik. You here to get back in the saddle?”

I took a slug of the whiskey, wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, and then finished it. “Figured it’s time.”

He sat forward. “Looking for the same type?”

“Hell, no. Older. He was twenty when we met. I need someone a little less…” While I struggled for the best description, Shade supplied an apt one.

“Full of shit?”

We both laughed. He poured me another drink. The sound of the liquid sloshing into the glass filled the silence in my head.

“Yeah. That’d work.” I sipped.

“We’ve got some new talent. You walk in wearing that suit, and they’ll be licking your shoes.”

I polished off the drink, and refused another. “Not really what I want licked tonight.”

—

Fifty Gays of Shade is edited by Kiernan Kelly author of Weapon of Choice, and dozens of other gay romance stories.

Monday-Monday Passing on the avenger’s cape

I truly believe in not being judgmental… well, most of the time. My personal flaws are many and I can’t justify me sitting in judgment.

In fact, I try to smile down at the child whose mother just allowed him to run over me with the grocery cart. I’ve been there and shopping with two kids two years apart is still fresh enough in my mind that the mom has my sympathy.

But occasionally, the Avenger in me pops out. I tend to turn a deaf ear to rude people, especially if they are tacky to me. But there are times holding my tongue isn’t possible.

The first time my daughter was exposed to the Avenger, she was young, innocent, and easily embarrassed. (I mention this because later it becomes relevant.)

We were a couple of carts back in the checkout line of our local grocery store when I noticed the cashier. Undoubtedly, she’d skipped her morning coffee because nobody could be that rude after a jolt of caffeine. At first, I shook it off. Maybe her boss had been mean to her or her car had broken down. She snapped at the customer a couple of times. It registered, but I ignored how she tossed the items in the bags and the nasty tone of voice she used when asked a question.

I kept quiet until the five foot nothing, maybe weighing in at eighty pounds, older woman in front of us began unloading her cart. Moving slowly she placed each item on the on the conveyor belt. I gritted my teeth when the cashier commented on how it was going to take all day to get through this one customer. The older woman ran her credit card through the machine and nothing happened. She tried again but failed. Just as I stepped forward to help her (the card was turned the wrong direction) the cashier mumbled something, snatched the card from her hand and did it for her.

By this time, my blood was boiling. Enough. Right?

I stepped closer and said, “You’re not planning on being a cashier forever, are you?”

Her eyebrows drew together. “Why not?”

Leaning even closer, I said where the older woman could hear, “Because you don’t have the personality to deal with the public.”

Her jaw unhinged and she stared at me with disbelief.

The older woman beamed up at me and mouthed the words “thank you”.

Her smile made my day.

 

 

 

 

Having said my piece, I turned to my cart and began emptying it on the conveyor belt.

I scanned my card and signed the receipt without any further exchange with the cashier. Still livid, I all but dared her to speak. Her teeth were clamped tightly which was as it needed to be.

It was then I realized my beautiful daughter had vanished as if sucked off the face of the earth by unseen forces. It took maybe three seconds to spot her standing just inside the building by the exit doors. She was looking everywhere but at me. I’d embarrassed her beyond words.

On the way home, I pled my case, explaining why I felt compelled to intervene. There is no excuse for the kind of rude behavior we’d witnessed.

Today it’s seldom I step forward, maybe that means a more polite generation is manning the cash registers. My daughter and I both make a concentrated effort to bring a smile to the face of cashiers, bank attendants, flight attendants, or anyone who appears to be having a bad day. Sometimes it works.

I share this story with you as proof that our children do learn from our example. My daughter is now a grown woman, and she too had taken up the mantle against mistreatment of the public. My proof for you is the following statement she posted on Barnes and Noble, February 8th…I quote,

“Shame on you people that are giving this author (or others) a bad rating because B&N is choosing romance, or a genre you don’t care about, for Free Fridays. Obviously you don’t understand how ratings affect the sells of books and the reputation of authors. This is their life and how they make their living. Quit whining. There are thousands of free books available…don’t be lazy and wait for Free Friday. Go find the genre you like.”

I’ve always been proud of her, and today, I’m even prouder.

 I think it’s time to pass the Avenger’s cape to her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you think? Should we speak up or not?

 

 

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Wednesday Coffee with Milly Taiden

 Hello Milly, welcome to my blog. [image error]

Author Bio:

Want to know about me? Milly Taiden (aka April Angel) was born in the prettiest part of the Caribbean known as the Dominican Republic. She grew up between New York, Florida and Massachusetts. Currently, she resides in New York City with her husband, bossy young son and their little dog Speedy.

She’s addicted to shopping for shoes, chocolate (but who isn’t?) and Dunkin Donuts coffee.

A bookworm when she can get her hands on a good story, she loves reading all Mina Carter, Cynthia Eden, and Dianne Duvall among others.

 

Let me ask a few questions but then I want to know about your new release.

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

Sometimes. If it involves guns, something going wrong like in Stranded that there was a car accident and I needed more information. I work in the financial services industry and have worked in pharmaceuticals with new drug development so those have all helped in my writing.

Q. What made you pick your particular genre?

Well I’m a romantic. I love stories that are about finding the person mean to be with us forever. I like to believe in commitment and being a couple that can connect and work through the differences. So romance was always my favorite since I was a little girl. I like to believe in happily ever afters.

Q. Marketing is daunting. Have you found a way to manage both marketing and writing?

To me marketing is more like a Sudoku game and every time you think you got the right number you have to go back and change it. Really it is a game of chance. You try a million things. Some work, some don’t. Then you try what worked before, but now doesn’t. It is so difficult. I have no idea what I am doing. All I know is that as a reader I like to connect with authors, so I like to connect with readers. I like to do giveaways and blog hops (I think they’re fun). I like Facebook and I can’t stand Twitter but I have become used to helping RT my friends. I think the fact that I am helping promote others while I promote my books helps make it less like a task and more like a nice thing. I enjoy doing my Share a Friend’s Book Sunday and it’s really catching on. Others have started to do their own shares. I think you need to find what you feel comfortable with and build on that. Whether it’s blogging, FB, Twitter, Pinning, Google +, whatever it is you need to work that angle for your books.

I love writing and I try not to go more than a week without putting words on paper. I like to take full days and just write. I can get a lot more word count down that way. I have a hard time going back and forth between promo and writing at times of new releases, but after a few days it gets a little less hectic.

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

Oh yes this has happened before, but my awesome friend Mina Carter told me that is why I should write an outline. The thing is I tend to deviate from them, but by having the outline, I can easily see different avenues to use for the story to move back to where I want to head. I also leave it for a day but keep rolling options in my head until I can see the rest of the story work around that until it ends in a satisfactory way.

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?

Tahiti. Bikini, shorts, tanks, toiletries, laptop with charger, and get to the airport within 30 minutes. I am in desperate need of a break so that would be heaven sent.

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

I am ashamed to admit that both right about now. Normally it would be Hoarders. My husband has stuff from 15 yrs ago still. I can’t get him to get rid of anything. It’s exhausting. But with as busy and tired as I have been lately, I kind of look like a mess. People at work keep asking me if I’m sick LOL.

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

Someone like Jordyn Sparks. She’s cute and bubbly. She’s very real. I think I would love for people to see someone like that portray me.

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

I am a bookworm. I have a large kindle library of over 1500 books. I have around 500 saved PDF books I bought before my kindle and I used to buy 3-4 books per week sometimes more, which would be donated to the local library by the end of the week. I only keep the ones I love most. I love to read. I don’t have the time I used to with writing, but I am a reader first before being a writer. I have had a passion for reading since I learned to read but my 7yr. old dislikes it intensely. It makes me realize that no matter what we do, each child has their own personality. I still don’t understand how he doesn’t like reading or writing.

Now, tell me about [image error]WYNTER’S CAPTIVE

Being held captive for winter never felt so good.

Lili is on her way to her cousin’s wedding when she thinks she hit a man in the road. Leaving the safety of her car to check on him turns out the be a big mistake, and pretty soon Lili is being abducted and held against her will by a super-sexy wolf who her body longs to touch. But just because he’s hot doesn’t mean she’s going to remain a captive.

Cade is not just an alpha, he’s a very wealthy man, used to getting what he wants. So when he attempts to abduct his ex-friend’s fiancé, he doesn’t expect to wind up with the wrong woman. Just how did he wind up with the maid of honor? And why does the woman melt every inch of him? But when she escapes, real danger awaits her beyond his protection. Cade must convince her to see beyond his deception if he has any chance to keep her alive.

WYNTER’S CAPTIVE is available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon and ARE

Monday-Monday My reaction to the word ‘plot’

I interrupt this post for a special announcement! Did you notice the new slot where you can sign up for my newsletter? I promise not to spam with a barrage of information. In fact, I’m planning on once a quarter. I thought it would be a fun way to stay in touch. You’ll get information and sneak peeks before anyone else! Who knows, there might be a contest from time to time. 

Since I love research, let’s start with the dictionary definition of the verb – to plot:

1. Secretly make plans to carry out (an illegal or harmful action)

2. To form a plot for; prearrange secretly or deviously

3. To conceive and arrange the action and incidents

My definition:

Actually, all four of those work for the genre I write. But to me, this is a four letter word never to be spoken in the presence of children. It’s as alien to my thought process as a little green man showing up on my doorstep selling Girl Scout cookies. In fact, if cornered by it, I’d probably run shrieking from the room.

I’m just not convinced I need to break the habit of letting the story unfold and then going back to ensure I’ve tied of any loose ends. I love the surprise that comes when the story takes me down an uncharted (plotted) road or an unplanned character shows up almost stealing the story. It’s part of the fun and excitement of telling the character’s stories.

While writing The Green-Eyed Doll, the dog and my hero’s best friend surprised me by having such compelling personalities. As an aside, I’ve had a few requests to write Ash Hunter’s book, and as demanding as he is, he’ll probably get his way someday.

But, and you knew there was one, through some innovative classes taught by creative instructors, I’ve learned the value of at least laying out the pinch points and the black moments ahead of time. I actually made it half way through writing a synopsis before I started the story. I haven’t plotted out the solutions to those conflicts.

I want my characters to deal with the conflicts I place in front of them in a way that fits their personality. Is this the correct way to write? In my humble opinion, there is no ‘correct’ way. It’s what works for that author at that particular place and time.

 But I’m getting better. Coming out of hiding from time to time.

I may even develop a twelve step program. How about it? Got any ideas on what some of those steps should be?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Coffee with LynDee Walker

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Welcome LynDee Walker! I’m thrilled to have you over today. Kick back and tell us all your secrets.  

Thanks for having me, Jerrie! I really enjoy reading your blog and am glad to be here.

Tell us about your new release.

The book is a humorous mystery with sassy, smart heroine who is a lot of fun to write. Nichelle is a reporter who gets herself into more than she was really looking for when she starts poking around in a crime story that doesn’t add up. Plus, there are sexy men, shoes, and chocolate.

You write with a sense of humor, which I think is a true art form. What made you pick this genre?

I’m not sure I picked it—at least, not consciously. I read a lot of humorous mystery: Laura Levine’s Jaine Austen mysteries are some of my favorite books, and have been for years. When I started writing about Nichelle, I really didn’t know what kind of story it was going to turn out to be, but the funny elements have always been there. I love to read books that can make me laugh, so that’s what I wanted to write. The early drafts had a lot more romance, though. It wasn’t until I was revising that I figured out it was a mystery.

Where do you find story ideas?

A lot of the ones in Front Page came from my experience as a reporter, but I made them a little more interesting or funny.

How do you research for your novels?

I am on a first-name basis with Google (and probably on some sort of watch list for serial killers for some of my search terms). When I can’t find what I need online, I interview people.

What about your current release excites you the most?

Everything! It’s my first novel, so just the idea that people will read it and it might make someone laugh or make their day a little better is very exciting.

Do you set daily expectations or goals for your writing?

I try to hit at least 1,000 words a day, on average, and to write every day.

 What do you know now that you wished you’d known when you started writing?

That fiction is a tough business! I worked in the news business for almost a decade and I have a pretty thick skin, but fiction publishing is a whole different beast. I took a break from querying for an entire year before I finally sold Front Page Fatality, and I think it really helped me gain perspective. Often, writers get so miserable in the query-go-round, they forget why they started writing in the first place. In that year, I wrote a whole other book, and rediscovered what I loved about writing. I think that also strengthened my skills, which helped when I went in to revise Front Page Fatality again.

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

All. The. Time. I plot out my mysteries (usually backward), but when it comes to the rest of the story, I’m a total pantser. So I find myself following rabbit trails that turn out to be ridiculous and won’t work in the story. I fix it by cutting the parts that don’t go. I’ve learned that you can’t get too attached to a particular scene or subplot, because that makes it hard to ax it.

Okay…enough with the business stuff! How about some personal insider info.

When you’re not writing or reading, what would we find you doing?

Playing with my little ones, drinking coffee, reading, or eating Mexican food. Or occasionally, sleeping. 

Favorite food or recipe?

My all-time favorite food ever is my mother’s cornbread. She made it in a cast-iron skillet with sugar and Crisco, and it was legendary. Seriously. People talked about it in eulogies at her funeral. Unfortunately, no matter how many times she showed me, I never learned how to make it right. But I keep trying.

Do you have a pet? Cat or dog?

I have a six-pound toy pomeranian, and we think she’s the most awesome dog ever. Her name is Scarlett.

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

Oh, goodness! I’m a reporter at heart, and as such, I’m lousy at keeping secrets. Let’s see … okay here’s something that people might not guess from reading my work: I’m a total Disney nerd. I have always loved the movies (Pooh bear is my favorite) and my husband took me to the parks for the very first time on our first wedding anniversary. It was on my “I want to do this before we have a baby” list, because I’d never been for myself. Now, we take the monkeys about every other year, and as much fun as it is for them, it’s more fun for me. I love the colors and the sounds and the food and the characters. I’m one of those people who could actually be happy going to Disney World every day.

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Blurb:

Crime reporter Nichelle Clarke’s days can flip from macabre to comical with a beep of her police scanner. Then an ordinary accident story turns extraordinary when evidence goes missing, a prosecutor vanishes, and a sexy Mafia boss shows up with the headline tip of a lifetime. As Nichelle gets closer to the truth, her story gets more dangerous. Armed with a notebook, a hunch, and her favorite stilettos, Nichelle races to splash these shady dealings across the front page before this deadline becomes her last.

Excerpt:

“Sweet cartwheeling Jesus. Let’s go see what else we can find out,” I said. “Kiss your Saturday goodbye, Mr. Columnist. You’re going to be at the office tomorrow.” And so was I. So much for my leisurely weekend.

I turned to dive back into the crowd in search of Aaron and mid-whirl, I noticed Jenna standing there, still and surprised. Her eyes were doing that white-all-around thing again.

“People died out there?” she squeaked.

I patted her hand. “You want to go back to the car?”

“No.” She squared her small shoulders and gripped my arm a little tighter. “I want to go to work with you.”

I turned back to Parker. “Grant Parker, this is my friend Jenna Rowe. This wreck crashed girls’ night. She drank too much tequila, but she’s very excited to see the glamorous world of journalism up close.”

“The best way to do that is after too much tequila,” he said. “Nice to meet you, Jenna.”

The thin fingers around my arm dug in tighter, and I didn’t think their owner was breathing. I elbowed her lightly in the ribs, rolling my eyes. Her forceful exhale sounded like a sigh as she gazed at Parker.

“I really love your column,” she lied. Jenna hated sports in any incarnation. She was already bemoaning the start of Gabby’s soccer season, and it was three months away.

“Thank you.” He smiled.

We moved through the crowd as a unit until I saw a familiar face.

“Mike!” I waved at Sergeant Sorrel from the narcotics unit.

“Nichelle,” he said, turning from the water to face me when I stopped next to him. “Where’ve you been? You missed the TV crews. They all left about twenty minutes ago.”

Damn. Charlie no doubt drank her margaritas with her scanner in her lap.

 

 

Monday-Monday Time to kick back and refill the well

I’m often asked what I do to relax and rejuvenate. How do I refill the well? I figure if doing crazy things doesn’t qualify, I don’t know what does.

For the past seven years my daughter, granddaughter and I have left the husbands at home while we girls traveled the world seeking adventure.

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And I do mean girls, the baby was seven when we went in search of our first big exploration. She’s like one of the fish now! We’ve snorkeled with almost every species of fish, my granddaughter being the brave one of the bunch, she’s held varieties I can’t even pronounce.

The trip where I completely lost my mind was when we spent a week in Belize. We flew into the main airport and took a small hop to an island. Now when I say small hop, my granddaughter sat in the copilot’s seat. But we were thrilled because Belize and its barrier reef offers more species of fish and some of the deepest water we’d ever ventured into.

The second day, we were picked up at the dock and headed toward open water. We listened to a few instructions from the two guides, and when he asked if we were ready, I pulled on my mask, inserted the snorkel mouth piece, nodded at him, and dropped from the side of the boat into the warm water.

The numbers and colors of fish were astounding and beautiful. We’d already watched dolphins playing a few feet off the boat dock at the hotel, but now we were venturing into new territory.

The water got colder as we moved further away from the boat into deeper water. Peering down into the abyss a huge black shadow passed under me. OMG! Admittedly this isn’t a clear picture, but he was many feet below us at the time.[image error]

 

 

 

And we hadn’t been to shark alley yet. That required returning to the boat and going to a completely different location.

Shark alley? What the hell were we thinking? Not to worry, one of our guides reminded us, nurse sharks aren’t interested in eating people. Holy crap,it was if the sharks expected us. They were everywhere when we arrived. Magnificent, long, sleek, and cold eyed creatures.

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It was the experience of a lifetime, but I’m not sure I want to repeat this trip for a while. But the girls would go again without hesitation.

These trips free my mind from day to day chores. I don’t work for six days. I eat, relax, read, and enjoy my girls. Without fail, they refresh, rejuvenate, and bring me home ready to get back to work.

We start searching for the perfect (and affordable) spot in January. My daughter is the best at finding incredible deals.

Seven years – seven different countries and it’s time to pick a new spot. What do you think? We’re open for ideas and suggestions. Where do you go? Or what do you do to relax?

Wednesday coffee with Christine Warner

I’m excited to have Christine Warner with me today! A dual genre writer, I think you’ll enjoy learning more about her.

Christine is living her dream in Michigan along with her husband, three children, one laptop and a much loved assortment of furry friends.
Besides laughing and a good round of humor, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, reading, writing but no arithmetic. A confessed people watcher, she finds inspiration for her stories in everyday activities. She loves to read and write about strong heroes and determined, sometimes sassy, heroines.
A girl gone wild, at least where social media is concerned, she enjoys meeting other avid readers and writers on facebook, twitter and her website at christine-warner.com.

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

It depends what my story is about. Generally I do have to do some type of research. When I wrote my first novel Some Like it in Handcuffs I did do some research about guns, police procedures. But I also have always enjoyed true crime novels and true crime television shows, so could borrow some info from that.

When I wrote Two-Timing the Boss I didn’t have to do a ton of research because my main character Farah Smith works in an office and I’ve always worked in an office as well. But there was a scene where my characters visited Las Vegas, and since I’ve never been I had to interview a few friends who’d been there and I also researched online.

Q. What made you pick your particular genre?

Some Like it in Handcuffs is a light-hearted romantic suspense with humor, but Two-Timing the Boss is a contemporary romance. I enjoy both genres, but have always been more drawn to contemporary. My romance reading started out contemporary and that’s what I truly enjoy J

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

I have a book titled Bachelor’s Special coming out with Entangled Publishing this year and I’m also working on 2 other contemporary stories. One involves and island, a heroine who can wear a bikini year round, a hot hero who should only be allowed to wander the world shirtless and how one of them is in charge of training the other for the responsibilities of running an island retreat.

The second is also a contemporary and deals with an ex-surfer who broke my heroine’s heart years ago and wants to win her back, but she’s not to keen on the idea just yet. lol

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

I’m more of a plotter, so I generally have my books worked out from start to finish. If I do run into trouble, I find that if I plot my story out chapter by chapter that works best for me. I love to work off an outline. Going that route doesn’t mean I can’t change the direction of my story, but it does make sure I get all the key points included and resolved.

 

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?

Oooh..love this one. I’d pack my credit card, toothbrush and few pairs of shorts and tops…and my comfy jammie pants (great for traveling) and hit the ticket counter for Hawaii. Anywhere in Hawaii will work for me. Lol And that credit card will come in handy for anything I didn’t remember to pack .

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

Hmm…Probably the Fashion Police. I hope I’m thinking of this the right way since I’ve never seen the show, but I’m not one to get all crazy in regards to what I dress unless I have to. Like when I attend a wedding or something like that. Otherwise I like to dress very casually. My daughter has threatened to sign me up for What Not To Wear because I am always in t-shirts and scrub pants or jammie pants when I’m home. Lol But I don’t understand why I have to dress up if I’m at home? lol

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

Well, if we are going to daydream I might as well go all the way. How about Angelina Jolie..she’d look awesome in my jammie pants! lmbo

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

Oooh..so much to tell..I’m not sure what I want to reveal. Let’s see, I could tell you that I gave up coffee about a month or so ago and haven’t missed it (well, not much anyway)…or I could tell you that I have a major addiction to chocolate, pasta, and the reality cooking show Chopped. Or maybe I should tell you that I love watching scary movies and am always on the lookout for something new and gory to watch. Of course, there’s always that one major secret that really only 2 or three people know, but I don’t’ think you’d want to hear it. So, I guess I’ll let you pick from the ones I mentioned! Lol

While I’m here, I hope you don’t mind my sharing a blurb and excerpt from my latest release Two-Timing the Boss

Not at all! We want to hear all about it!

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TWO-TIMING THE BOSS BLURB:

Farah Smith is on a mission: secure the funds for her twin sister’s surgery. She’ll do whatever it takes to succeed. Even if that means putting her values aside to work for a man she finds morally bankrupt. But when the real Farah meets her new boss, she wonders if she’ll be able to resist his sexy advances long enough to help her sister.

From the blonde wig, to the stilettos strapped around her ankles, Farah’s a clone of Keller Donovan’s harem of past assistants. She can’t believe she’s let herself be talked into the disguise, let alone working for the man planning to demolish the hospital her sister so desperately needs, but the salary he offers is the only way she’ll be able to afford her sister’s surgery. The moment Farah meets Keller she realizes her most daunting task isn’t typing, spreadsheets or organizing travel arrangements, but fighting the growing attraction toward a man whose ruthlessness is legendary in the boardroom as well as the bedroom.

Determined not to end up in a disastrous marriage like his divorced parents, Keller believes all relationships should have a shelf life of sixth months or less. But when he meets Farah, all bets are off. He not only wants her to continue as his personal assistant, but his own private bed warmer. Unfortunately, his offer of an affair doesn’t sit well with her fairytale dreams or the strangled hold gripping his heart.

 

Excerpt:

These damn shoes would be the death of her. She could read the headlines now: Penniless P.A. Falls to her Death while on Job Interview.

Almost to her destination, with no more mishaps, her confidence surfaced. Okay, maybe mastering this heel thing wouldn’t be such a big deal. Her steps became light, almost bouncy. Although she sensed Keller Donovan behind her, she didn’t let it deter her feeling of success. She stepped onto the large black and red area rug, less than ten feet from her target. The leather chairs.

“Oh!” Farah’s spiky heel caught on the edge of the expensive rug. Her legs shook and she shot her arms out from her sides, circling them like a bird about to take flight. She fought to regain balance inside the ridiculous stilts strapped to her feet. A brawl to the death. Over when she looked down to see the rug coming up to kiss her face. She threw out her hands, sucked in a breath and closed her eyes, scrunching her face as she prepared for impact.

But nothing happened. There were stars all right, and a blazing jolt of electricity shot from her toes, up her legs, through her body and exited with the small gasp which escaped her lips. Somehow Keller Donovan had grabbed her around the waist before she met the floor.

Heat burned her cheeks. He may have saved her body from bruises, but her ego, and whatever confidence she’d walked in with had shattered.

“Let’s not have an accident before your health benefits kick in.” His breath tickled her ear from behind. Chills hugged her backbone.

His touch released an unsettling flutter in her abdomen. She sucked in her stomach from the pressure of his strong arms wrapped around her middle, afraid to breathe.

 

Two-Timing the Boss as well as Some Like it in Handcuffs 

are both available in print and digital format at:

http://thewildrosepress.com/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

http://www.amazon.com/

And you can find me at:

My blog/website: http://christine-warner.com/

Twitter under ChristinesWords: https://twitter.com/#!/ChristinesWords

My Facebook page…stop by and give it a LIKE to informed of what I have in the works: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Christine-Warner/143430882396013

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

I love to hear from readers and other authors

Thanks so much for letting me visit…I have a wonderful time and loved your questions

 

Monday-Monday Bring on Weight Watchers

 

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Sensitive topic…people’s weight. We females are seldom happy with how we look. Years ago, I fretted because I was so very thin. Seriously. At 5’10″ and 130 pounds people used to tease me that I had to stand up twice to make a shadow!

Ah, but time has a way of changing things doesn’t it? Restructuring so to speak! Truth is, I’ve completed a 180 degree turn. Let’s just say, I’ve blossomed. I carry any extra pounds in the unhealthiest area of all…yep, dead center in my belly!

Image by © Royalty-Free/Corbis

My love for sweets doesn’t help either. Trust me when I tell you that long before Paula Dean discovered butter and sugar, they were old friends of mine. I’m firmly convinced for every egg I crack, every spoonful of sugar I measure, or ounce of milk I use, an extra pound of flesh slithers from the bowl and attaches to my waist line!

Getting me to diet is tantamount to forcing the horses head into water much less making him drink. It’s like plotting. I freeze up. Go into full body tremors at the thought!

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Exercising? Please. That’s not the most fun thing to do with my day. None of the weight loss programs are cheap. Weight Watchers advertises you can join for free, but you pay dues every week even if you don’t attend the meeting. Skip a week and when you show up next time, you owe for two.  

But and that wasn’t intended to be a pun! Being overweight ain’t healthy folks! That alone should motivate me to push back from my computer, drop, and do a few pushups. Doesn’t work. What will?

Opening our bedroom door to ensure my granddaughter didn’t kick off the covers (when we’re lucky enough to have her over) and seeing her curly hair spread across the pillow works for me.

 

Watching her slam a volleyball over the net or walk on stage to accept a National Honor Society Award or the smile on her face when the snorkel guide places a sea worm in her arms motivates the hell out of me.

 

So it’s back to walking each day. Back to water aerobics twice a week. Back to yoga on Wednesdays. Why? Because I intend to stick around while my daughter and her husband bring up the first woman president!

How about you? Any super recipes you want to share? Any thin in particular that motivates you?