Lynn Marie Hulsman's Blog, page 3

Written Fireside: His Way Home, Part 4 by Lynn Marie Hulsman

HIS WAY HOME

Before you read Part 4, be sure to read parts 1, 2 and 3 by other fab HarperImpulse authors:

Part 1  by Lori Connelly

Part 2 by Sarah Lefebve

Part 3  by Zara Stoneley

Written Fireside, Part 4

by Lynn Marie Hulsman

 

Walter struggled to hoist himself out of the chair. The poor man was wracked with urgency, but couldn’t relate to Beth where he needed to be or why. “I’ve stayed far too long…” His eyes scanned the middle distance. The photograph fell to the floor.

“Please rest,” Beth jumping to her feet to steady her troubled guest. She feared he’d fall and hurt himself further. In the short space of time that he’d been sitting by the fire, he seemed to have aged ten years.

She slid under his arm to steady his tall frame. “Let’s make a deal, Walter. My partner, Matthew, is an EMT…”

“EMT?”

“Emergency Medical Technician.” A fresh pain stabbed Beth in the heart. If only she could take back her judgmental words. She felt so alone. “He drives an ambulance. If you’ll just lie down until he gets home, we’ll help you get back to your Rose.”

He chuckled softly. “To get back to Rose… that I must do on my own. But I can’t go yet.” He allowed himself to be led to the downstairs guest room, shuffling on heavy feet. “You see, I’m here to make it right. I just have to remember… I can almost remember…” He sat on the side of the bed.

“Please, lie down,” Beth pleaded. She was torn. Perhaps she should call 911, but she felt protective. She didn’t want Walter chucked in a psych ward, friendless. “I’ll call Matthew and apologize,” she said distractedly.

“Did you quarrel with your man?” Suddenly Walter was alert, his eyes bright and focused on Beth. “Do you love him?”

Beth squirmed. Matthew had asked her the same question point blank hours before. She did, of course.  But having been laid off, and the threat of losing the farm had brought stress to the relationship.

“Take my counsel,” he said sincerely, “don’t trifle with love. He eased his sodden shoes off, prying them with his feet. Lying back, he let out a wheezy sigh. “Why did you argue?” he asked breathily.

Her face flamed. “It’s stupid, really.” Beth felt exposed. She usually played things close to the vest, and she already felt more intimate with this strange grandfather figure than with some people in her own family. “It was about money.” She folded the quilt upward from the foot of the bed, tucking Walter in.

“Money means nothing,” he whispered. “You can’t take it with you, they say…” He trailed off, and Beth leaned in to hear him. “There was a girl once… a farm girl.” He wheezed. Beth stood stock still, listening to Walter’s words. “Not your class, Father said…Mother cried…didn’t raise you to take care of a nobody…”

Walter’s eyes closed, and for a brief second, Beth was afraid he’d stopped breathing. It was hard to tell. Satisfied that he’d be allright for the time being, she backed out of the guest room, flicking off the light. Steeling herself to call Matthew, she began planning what she’d say, if she’d apologize. How she’d apologize.

“Beth,” Matthew said. Startled, she turned around to see him standing in the middle of the living room as if she’d conjured him up by wanting him so badly.

He held out the photograph from Walter’s wallet. His face was pale. “Where did you get this picture of my grandmother?”

 

To be continued Tuesday December 10th by

Romy Sommer
on her blog

While you are waiting, why not check out her book?
The Trouble with Mojitos

 

 

Part 6 by Jane Lark on December 17th
Part 7 by Teresa F Morgan on December 24th
Part 8 by Carmel Harrington on January 7th
Part 9 by Sue Fortin on January 14th
Part 10 by Erin Lawless  on January 21th

Part 11 by Mandy Baggot  on January 28th

Big December Book Giveaway

12 Days of Christmas Tour with Jane Lark

Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Tour with Jane Lark.

After signing with publisher Harper Impulse, Jane, author of the smash-hit Marlow Intrigues series, has decided to end 2013 with a bang! She’s gathered together some of the industry’s best authors to create one enormous Christmas giveaway.

The huge prize is made up of more than 30 books, a combination of signed paperbacks and eBooks, and two gorgeous book bags. It’s the perfect early Christmas present for any bookworm and all you’ve got to do to win is feast your eyes on the details below and enter via the Rafflecopter . . .

To kick off the prizes, Jane is giving away copies of her much loved The Illicit Love of a Courtesan and its highly anticipated follow-up The Passionate Love of a Rake

 

Jane’s books have been a huge hit with fans, leading to an ever-increasing fan base and comments such as:

“Jane Lark has an amazing talent to draw the reader in from the first page onwards.”

– CosmoChickLitan

And to celebrate her upcoming December release of NA novel I Found You, you could also win a unique rucksack.

The book is already causing excitement among readers and looks set to be the must-read NA of 2014.

 

 

But that’s not all folks! As if Jane’s books weren’t enough, check out the other amazing books included in the prize pot, you’re sure to find one or two of your fav authors getting involved . . .

 

 

 

Entry to Jane Lark’s 12 Days of Christmas giveaway extravaganza is easy, just follow the authors on Facebook or Twitter, plus maybe give the comp a shout-out tweet (or two) all via the Rafflecopter below and you’re golden. But don’t forget to keep your fingers crossed too!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please take a moment to read through the giveaway terms and conditions:

This is an international giveaway.

Signed paperbacks are to be sent from the authors themselves. Jane Lark, BestChickLit and/or any authors involved accept no responsibility for delivery failures. The winner must be open to accepting eBooks in any format i.e. Kindle copies and via iTunes voucher, from different sources. In the event of .mobi copies, the winner must have an Amazon Kindle account and be prepared to add selected addresses as approved emails on their Personal Document settings.

Some of the books involved in the giveaway contain adult and sexual content and this should be taken into consideration before reading. Jane Lark, BestChickLit, Harper Impulse and any of the participating authors are free to amend any of the giveaway details at any time.

Good luck!

My New Book!

“Need a fun, festive treat to warm you up on cold winter nights? Don’t miss this terrific debut from a witty new voice in romantic comedy!

When Juliet Hill unwittingly discovers a most-definitely-not-hers-rhinestone-studded lace thong in her high-flying lawyer boyfriend’s apartment, this usually feisty chef is suddenly single and facing a very blue Christmas – with only a ready meal for one to keep her company!

So when she’s personally requested to cater for the family at Thornton Hall three days before Christmas, it’s not long before Juliet’s standing at the (back) door of the impossibly grand ancestral pile.

The halls are decked, the guests are titled, those below the stairs are delightfully catty, and all-American Juliet sets to work cooking up a glorious British Christmas with all the trimmings.

But other flames are burning besides those on the stove… Sparks fly with Edward, the gorgeous ex-soldier turned resident chef, and are those sidelong looks Juliet’s getting from her boss, the American tycoon Jasper Roth?

As the snow starts to fall on the idyllic Cotswolds countryside, so does the veneer of genteel high society and there are more than a few ancient skeletons rattling out of the Hall’s numerous dark cupboards!

CHRISTMAS AT THORNTON HALL is a country house romance for the modern age, a must-read for fans of the scandals and drama of Downton Abbey and the charm and wit of Helen Fielding.”

Written Fireside, Part 8 by Lynn Marie Hulsman

As promised, here is my installment in the fabulous round-robin romance story that I co-authored with the fabulous writers of Written Fireside, hosted by amazing author Lori Connelly . Romance, mystery, and the spookiness of the season…

Written Fireside October

 

A Witch by Chance, Part 8 — By Lynn Marie Hulsman

 

Ivy strode quickly as she could down the path to her grandmother’s house, given she could only see one step in front in the blackness. The cat wriggled but Ivy didn’t dare let him go. “It’s always darkest before the dawn, handsome. Trust me and we’ll get there together.”

She saw dim light coming through the cracks in the windows. Her cells tingled with warning, but she soldiered on. Was the white-hot urgency in her belly a hunger for Chance, or for answers? Either way, she knew what she needed lay ahead.

The wind picked up. Without warning the sky opened, pelting the girl with a mix of fat drops and stinging hail. Ivy burst into a sprint, clutching Karma to her breast. Just as she reached the porch, a fiery light encircled the front door. Karma screeched, jumping from her arms. With a loud boom, she was blown backward into silent darkness.

Ivy awoke with a throbbing head, and aching bones. “Where am I?” she asked out loud, eyes closed against the light. No one answered. Under Ivy’s fingertips were cool, scratchy cotton sheets.  She peeled open one eye to see a small woman in the bed next to hers. “Hello.” She turned to face her. “I’m Ivy Mitchell.”

The woman turned her face. It was her grandmother. “No, you are Regina Lamia,” she said. Her voice sounded like a thousand voices, like a chorus. Ivy felt a chill as she watched the stiff body float upward, disappearing through the ceiling.

“Sleeping Beauty! Welcome back. It’s been over a week.” A nurse pushed through the door, and picked up Ivy’s wrist to take her pulse. The bracelet had twisted itself around her ring finger! “Where’s my cat?”

The nurse laughed. “We’ll ring your mother at home. And tell me how to get in touch with your gorgeous fiancé. He’s asked that we keep you peaceful.”

“I don’t have a fiancé! Chance is a spirit. He needs a bride. No matter the pull she’d felt, the attraction, Ivy knew she’d never be wed to Chance. Her fate was written. What day is it?” The nurse pointed to a pumpkin brooch on her uniform front. “Halloween!”

Ivy bolted from bed, pulling the drip from her arm. “Wait,” called the nurse. “You can’t leave.”

Barefoot, in a dressing gown, Ivy ran down the fire stairs, out of the hospital, and across the town green. Get the book. She felt neither the stones under her feet, nor the cold nor fatigue. Infused with inexplicable power, she reached the path to her grandmother’s house in a seeming blink of an eye. His destiny is not your destiny; Karma holds your true fate.

She knew what she’d see before she burst in the door. Chance, dressed in wedding clothes, smiling sexily in welcome. She heard yowls and screeches coming from a square wicker basket. Chance had one foot on the leather-bound book. “I knew you’d come to me, Ivy.”

The girl squared her shoulders and raised her jaw. “I’m not Ivy, I’m Regina Lamia, Queen of the Witches.” The wicker basket began to shake and rumble, and gray smoke seeped out through the cracks. “Now give me my book.”

Dying to know what happens next? Check out the final chapter by Jane Lark on Tuesday October 29!

 

Part 1 by Lori Connelly on Tuesday October 1st

Part 2 by Aileen Harkwood on Saturday October 5

Part 3 by Zara Stoneley on Tuesday October 8

Part 4 by Kari Lemor on Saturday October 12

Part 5  by Sarah Lefebve on Tuesday October 15

Part 6 by Carmel Harrington on Saturday October 19

Part 7 by Teresa F Morgan on Tuesday October 22

Part 8 by Lynn Marie Hulsman on Saturday October 26

Part 9 by Jane Lark on Tuesday October 29

 

 

Written Fireside: A Witch By Chance

Written Fireside is the brainchild of Lori Connelly, a romance writer for HarperImpulse. The story creation takes place around a virtual camp fire, with one author adding her part at a time, while we all stuff our faces with virtual s’mores and slug shiraz straight from the bottle. I’m honored to have been invited to participate with all of these hot, up-and-coming romance authors.

As it’s October this story has a Halloween theme for extra deliciousness, with none of the calories of mini-chocolate bars. I should really be saving those for trick-or-treaters anyway.

If you have a moment while you’re taking a break from your day to sip mulled cider or a pumpkin-spiced latte, I urge you to read an installment or two. My section — Part 8 — will be posted on Saturday, October 26th.

Until then, boooo-oooooo-ooooooooooo!

Written Fireside October

A Witch by Chance 


 
Watch for a new segment every

Tuesday & Saturday

Part 1 by Lori Connelly on Tuesday October 1st

Part 2 by Aileen Harkwood on Saturday October 5

Part 3 by Zara Stoneley on Tuesday October 8

Part 4 by Kari Lemor on Saturday October 12

Part 5  by Sarah Lefebve on Tuesday October 15

Part 6 by Carmel Harrington on Saturday October 19

Part 7 by Teresa F Morgan on Tuesday October 22

Part 8 by Lynn Marie Hulsman on Saturday October 26

Part 9 by Jane Lark on Tuesday October 29

 

Why Me? Why Now?

When I was an actor, friends and colleagues always told me, “You should put up a one-woman show.”

They said I was funny and told a great story. “Meh,” I’d answer. It’s not enough.” I resisted because to me, my life seemed normal. I hadn’t grown up fighting for food in a war-torn country. I’d never been to rehab. I’d never swum the English Channel.

“So,” they’d say. “You could do a whole show about that Jewish Argentine tennis pro. Or the Harvard dude who fancied himself French, and was a big wuss about his allergies. Or the time you got on a plane by yourself, and goofed around Guatemala for a month. Or how you illegally worked in your Grandma’s beauty shop when you were 13, and hid when the state inspectors came.”

I never did put up a one-woman show. And it’s kind of a shame. Because now I realize that any one of those ideas, spun out in my own voice, and told with authenticity would be worth listening to.

I’ve come to realize that there’s nothing new under the sun, really.

But! But… I personally LOVE hearing about other people’s trips to the fish market or the conversations they have with the wrong-number callers. As long as it’s a story told with a slant, an opinion, some emotion, and some stakes, it thrills me and makes me feel alive.

That’s the reason that my favorite favorite favorite thing in the world to do is read. And my next favorite thing to do in the world is write.

Boy meets girl never gets tired for me if the author is brave enough to infuse the tale with her unique hurts and triumphs. Me? I’ve been through some things. Now I’m that brave.

That’s the Why Me? part of why I’m posting this blog today.

So, what’s the Why Now? The world is becoming a less welcoming place. I won’t bring you down by listing all the ways. You know. It would be so easy for me to darken along with it.

I work hard to refresh my optimism. I watch funny movies. I hang around people with a sense of humor. I play.

And I mainline the kind of books people like to ghettoize by calling them Chick Lit or Rom Coms. Label them, don’t label them, don’t take them seriously, whatevs. Some say the genre is dead, but I’m seeing tender green shoots of renewal.

Publishing is changing by the hour. The emergence of smaller houses, e-book only publishers, and self-pubbing is fueling the proverbial phoenix. As they say, “Sisters are doin’ it for themselves.” And I greedily download and read (and pay for!) the Chick Lit I crave.

I also read (and re-read) traditionally published books by authors like Marian Keyes, Trisha Ashley, Jennifer Weiner, Helen Fielding, Claire Cook, and Sophie Kinsella. I do it constantly and voraciously. Always have.

And now, I write them.

What we’re talking about here are novels — works of fiction in which women triumph over adversity and enjoy a happy (or at least happier) ending.

For me, that’s what it’s all about.