Mary E. Thompson's Blog, page 21

#FiveOnFriday Mind Control with Staci Troilo

Staci Troilo is here with us today! She interviewed her hero, Vinnie, and man does he get around!

I’m choosing to focus on Mind Control , book two of my Medici Protectorate series. I thought we could do a Q&A with Vinnie, the male protagonist. Book one, Bleeding Heart, was set in Western Pennsylvania, but book two has five different settings. We’ll have a question pertaining to each locale.

Q: So, Vinnie, this novel starts out in Western Pennsylvania. What brought you there?

A: The Brotherhood has been tasked with protecting the Notaro family, sole descendants of the House of Medici. Most of the world doesn’t know they exist, but there’s a group of people after them who want to control them or eliminate them. The Notaros live and work in Western Pennsylvania, so that’s where we were sent.

Q: But you didn’t stay in Pennsylvania. You traveled to West Virginia next. Why?

A: Our mentors were released when John Notaro, their father, was killed. My brothers and I took over to protect the next generation—the four Notaro sisters. After we learned the identity of one of their enemies, our boss decided we needed to speak to our former mentors because they might have more information for us. The first one we visited was my old mentor, Marcus. He lives in West Virginia, and that’s where we went.

Q: You weren’t there long. Things kind of awkward between the two of you? Hmm? Nothing to say to that? Okay. Well, you left West Virginia and traveled to Atlantic City. For what reason did you go there?

A: Nico’s old mentor has a hotel and casino there. He also had some useful information for us, so the trip was well worth it.

Q: Useful how? Does he know who’s after the girls? Come on, give me something. No? Fine. From there you went to New York. Why was that?

A: That’s where my brothers and I lived after Mike rescued us from the orphanage. We spent our teen years there, and that’s where we met our mentors and completed our training. It only made sense to regroup there before making our next move.

Q: The next move being traveling to Italy. Why?

A: Based on the prophecy, the socio-economic and political climate, and the intel we gathered, the Notaros’ enemies are there. We could have run and hid the sisters somewhere else in the world—we certainly have the resources—but it’s more important to end the conflict so they can resume some semblance of a normal life. If the situation is going to come to a head in Italy, then we wanted to be there in plenty of time to have the high ground. In fact, I’m late for a security briefing. I have to go.

So, there you have it. Five cities, five questions, five not-so-revealing answers. Here’s hoping the Brotherhood can get the job done so the Notaro sisters can live safe and happy lives.

Mind Control

Three decades. Two continents. One secret that could cost him everything.

Too. Many. Secrets… and Vinnie Falco is buried in them. He works undercover day and night to keep watch over Jo Notaro, whose fiery temperament matches her boundless energy and unparalleled beauty. Jo is unable to withstand the endless scrutiny and constant surveillance, so when Vinnie’s ever-watchful gaze lingers too long, she can feel his touch—and she doesn’t know if she loathes it or loves it.

Vinnie’s job to watch Jo goes much deeper. He’s a vice president of an international corporation, a front for a secret organization—the Medici Protectorate—which continues a tradition going back nearly 500 years to guard the Medici line. Jo and her sisters are the descendants of the Medici and someone wants them dead.

But Vinnie has another secret he’s desperately trying to hide. A secret that could push Jo too far away for even him to save her.

Mind Control Universal Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/STmindcontrol
About Staci

Staci Troilo has always loved fiction, ever since her parents read her fairy tales when she was a young girl. Today, her interests are much more eclectic. She loves getting lost in sci-fi battles, fantasy realms, horror worlds, suspenseful intrigues, and romantic entanglements.

As goes her reading, so goes her writing. She can’t pick a single genre to focus on, so she doesn’t even try. She’s proud to say she’s a multi-genre author.

When she’s not reading or writing, she’s spending time with family and friends, possibly cooking for them, or maybe enjoying an afternoon in the pool. To learn more about her, visit http://stacitroilo.com.

Connect with Staci

Web | Blog | Newsletter Signup | Facebook Group | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Google + | LinkedIn | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon Author Page | BookBub Page |

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Introducing Curvaceous & Captivating

I know the cover has been out there for a while, but I haven’t said anything about Curvaceous & Captivating. Since it’s out in just two weeks, I better start telling you about it!

You know Olivia. She’s Abby’s new friend, and Tara’s best friend from high school. She’s Wyatt’s assistant, and Becca and Kevin’s mom.

But who is Olivia?

Olivia is an overweight woman. She’s a kick-butt single mom. She doesn’t swear. She wishes she never married her ex, but knows that means she never would have had her kids, so she’s okay with it. She’s a mess most days. She’s never on time for anything. She is always stressed, but loves her life and loves her kids and would do anything for them.

She’s also a little lonely. A lot sometimes. Her son is inching closer to his teenage years, and she wishes he had a man in his world. She wants things for herself too. A hot bath. A night off. A few minutes to collect her thoughts. A big glass of wine.

What she does not want is a man who’s going to push his way into her delicately balanced life and try to tell her how to live. Someone who’s going to challenge everything she thought she knew and shove her out of her comfort zone.

She doesn’t have the time, or the energy, for a man like that.

Too bad Ethan doesn’t take no for an answer…

Excerpt from Curvaceous & Captivating

“When are you free this weekend?”

Shocked at the rough tone and the personal question, I blurted, “I don’t work weekends.”

He was not going to be one of those sponsors who thought I’d work around the clock for them. I worked for Mayor Ramsey. And he never asked me to work weekends. I wasn’t changing that for a sponsor, no matter how much money he brought in.”

“I’m not asking you about work, Olivia. I’m taking you out.”

He could not be serious. Why in the heck did he think I’d go out with him?

“No.”

I heard a quick intake of his breath as I held mine.

“Yes, Olivia.”

“Why would I go out with you?”

“I told you I was going to fight for you, Olivia.”

“And then you accused me of sleeping with my boss and called me a slut.”

He sighed, or maybe growled, I wasn’t sure. “I did not call you a slut, Olivia. You were flirting with your boss, asking him out-”

“I did not ask him out!”

“I heard you, you kept telling him to come out with you. That he knew your friends.”

I groaned. “It’s really none of your business.”

“I didn’t figure you for a tease, Olivia. Usually women like you are not that way.”

What. The. Heck!

“Women like me. What does that mean?”

Another sigh. “I’m messing this up. Listen. Saturday. I’ll pick you up.”

“No, Mr. Norwood. I don’t want to go out with you.”

He growled. “Ethan. And yes, you do, Olivia. I know you want me. I saw it every time you looked at me Friday night. I acted like an ass. I didn’t like hearing you flirting with another man. I want the chance to get to know you. Please let me take you out.”

Preorder coming soon

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Q&A Sunday: Meeting Famous People

This question from Vicki had me stumped. Even as I write this, I’m still debating my answer!

If you could meet anyone famous, dead or alive, who would it be???

When I first read the question, my answer was quick and easy. My grandfather or my grandmother. My mom’s father passes away before I was born, and my dad’s mother passed away when I was only two. I’d love to sit down and get to know them.

But the question was famous person.

Hmm. That’s a lot harder.

An obvious choice would be Channing Tatum or Vin Diesel, because why not? Part of me wants to say Jesus because I am Catholic and that would be amazing, but I’m not sure I could handle it. I mean, how intimidating would that be!

There have been some amazing women in history that I would love meeting. And men. But if I’m going to have one shot at meeting one person, I want it to be someone who has had an impact on me. Someone who’s shaped my life in some way. Someone who has altered the way I think or feel or live.

But who?

My husband just left the room and flipped the channel to country music because he knows it’s what I listen to when I’m working. Something clicked for me when he did that.

Faith Hill.

When I was in middle school, I started listening to country music. At first, it was because the boy I liked listened to it, but after a while, I realized I loved it. I had three friends I was really close to, and we all listened to country music. We went to concerts and bought CD’s and taped songs we liked off the radio.

One of the first female country singers I saw in concert was Faith Hill. She was fairly new at the time and opening for Tim McGraw. It wasn’t even public that they were dating at this point. I can still remember being on the floor during that show, standing the entire time. We had Faith’s CD’s and knew the words to all the songs. We loved her.

She was one woman who changed my life. She sang about love and freedom and all things four sixteen year old girls dreamed about. I knew after that concert that I would never listen to anything besides country music.

But it isn’t just her music that would make me want to meet her. She has a strong marriage, from what I can tell, and she’s a good mom. Those are two of my most important goals every day. To be a good mom and to keep my marriage strong. Who wouldn’t want a chance to get advice from someone with many more challenges and find out how she makes it work?

I guess there are a lot of people I would love to meet. Hopefully I’ll get a chance to meet Jesus one day. I’m doing my best. Same with my grandparents. Channing and Vin are not people I’d ever likely meet, and neither is Faith, but it’s nice to imagine how an afternoon with any of them would go!

Thanks so much, Vicki, for your question! If you have a question, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) with Q&A in the subject, or post it in the comments below, and I’ll answer your question right here on the blog!

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#FiveOnFriday with Madison Michael

Please welcome this week’s guest, Madison Michael! I think this book is right up my alley!
I have lived in 5 unique regions of this country and thought I would use my Five on Friday spot to tell something about what each taught me.

#1 New England  – Beacon Hill walks, leaf peeping, apple picking, small town charm, how to eat lobster, how the other half lives (Newport – see “Bedeviled”), ice cold oceans (Maine). I once saw Julia Child at the farmers market!

#2 The South – southern accents, southern hospitality, Carolina beaches, hushpuppies, Asheville, friends for life, cooking versus heating.

#3 The Mid-Atlantic States – blue crab, Buck’s county beauty, avoiding deer in the road, dog walking, sushi, Jersey tomatoes, small-town living

#4 San Francisco, CA – shopping, eating, olive oil and old-vine zinfandel, wineries, spas, beaches and stunning beauty, surfing at Mavericks (see “Bedeviled”), Big Sur and butterflies.

#5 The Midwest – You can take the girl out of Chicago, but you can’t take Chicago out of the girl. Architecture, impressionists, hot dogs and pizza, lakefront walks, winter hibernation, small theater companies, old friends, coming home.

Bedeviled

Beguiling Bachelor Series

Book 3

by Madison Michael

BLURB

Charlotte is on the run…

Charlotte Roche escaped dangers lurking in Boston by accepting a job in Chicago. A new name, a new beginning – all built on lies. Thinking she is safe, Charlotte drops her guard and sets her sights on her ruggedly handsome and wildly sexy running partner, Alexander Gaines. Can she advance their relationship from the track to the bedroom and still maintain her charade, or will Alex’s probing questions pierce her carefully rehearsed story?

Alex, with unrevealed secrets of his own, struggles to hold the irresistible Charlotte at arm’s length. But when Charlotte sustains a suspicious injury, Alex seizes the opportunity to cuddle up to the sassy beauty. Does he dare risk his reputation, his fortune, his friends, and his heart?

With exposure imminent, they appeal to their friends for help. Join Alex and Charlotte, along with characters you’ve met and loved in “Bedazzled” and “Beholden”, as they tackle the maze of half-truths and cover-ups threatening the lovers.

How can they build a bond with deceit on both sides? With malevolent forces advancing, is their love Bedeviled?

EXCERPT

“You look so beautiful,” he told her in a husky voice. “I have been wanting to do this all night.”

His head lowered to hers, pulling her close against him as he leaned back until all her weight was leaning on his and she had no choice but to twine her arms behind his head or the tree trunk. His lips captured her slowly, softly pressing against hers. One hand rested low, on the curve between her back and her behind. The other came up to tangle in her short hair, holding her head still as he deepened the kiss. His lips demanded response, plundering her mouth with his tongue. He tasted of expensive wine and Alex as his tongue explored the recesses of her mouth, hot and insistent. Her breasts were flattened against his rock-hard chest, her hips tight against his as he held her to him.

When he lifted his head, shadowed by moonlight behind him, Charlotte was unable to read his expression. Unsure and unsteady, she waited, catching her breath. Blood was coursing through her veins, hot and urgent. Her heart was pounding from just one kiss.

“God, I want you,” he rasped, the words torn from him, raw and insistent before he dipped his head to kiss her again. She returned the kiss, opening her lips to his insistent ones, entwining her tongue with his, increasing the pressure against his mouth as she ran her hands up into his hair. She held fast to him, feeling his hand move from her hair to the nape of her neck, down along her bare arms, tracing a pattern there with his fingers. The feel of his hands on her skin was warm, strong and sure. She had longed for his touch and now desired it everywhere.

Alex lifted his head reluctantly. “If we don’t get back in that car now,” he told her, his voice hoarse with longing, “I will not be responsible for my actions.”

He lifted her away from his body, steadied her and then hefted himself away from the tree and wrapped his arm around her shoulders to lead her back to the car.

She felt bereft without the solid warmth of him hard against her. Neither of them said a word until he opened her car door and closed it again, without allowing her inside. Instead, he pushed her gently against it.

“Sorry, I can’t make it home without one more.” Alex took Charlotte’s mouth in a searing kiss that took her breath away, sucking her lower lip into his mouth then sliding his tongue over it and into the moistness of her mouth. He kissed her senseless until she would have happily made love there in the sand, and the world be damned. She wanted this man as she had never wanted anything before.

Charlotte kissed him passionately, running her hands up and down his muscular back as she tightened her hold on him, wanting to get closer, to feel his bare skin, until finally they mutually agreed to some restraint and dragged apart from one another. He kept his fingers touching her lightly until she got in the car and he closed the door behind her.

“Jeez,” he stated with a rough chuckle as he folded himself into the bucket seat, “I hope there are no cops out, cause I am planning to break speed records getting you home.”

Available on Amazon

Other books in the Beguiling Bachelor Series – a steamy, Comtemporary Romance Series

Bewildered – a prequel, short story  How can Sloane choose between two hunky millionaires?

Bedazzled – Can Wyatt overcome tradition and family to seize Kelli for his own?

Bedeviled – Randall is just not part of Sloane’s plan when she claws her way back into society, but she is definitely part of his.

Bio for Madison Michael

Madison Michael traded 28 years in Fortune 500 tech and management positions for a chance to spend her days with sassy heroines, sexy, rich heroes and nothing but happy endings. Growing up the daughter of a librarian, she learned to love books, especially classics and romances, and spent winters cuddled under blankets losing herself in books. 

Madison is the author of three novels in the Beguiling Bachelor series, as well as several short stories. She is a member of Romance Writers of America.

After living in the northeast, southeast and the west, Maddy returned to her Midwest roots. She lives in Evanston, IL with two feline editorial assistants and great views of Chicago’s famous skyline.

Madison welcomes your feedback at maddy@madisonmichael.net

Website: http://www.madisonmichael.net

Blog: http://www.madisonmichael.net/blog

FB:  http://www.facebook.com/madisonmichaelromance

GR:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15221601.Madison_Michael

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/madisonmichael_

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Introducing Love At First Fight

If you’ve already read Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, I know you’re dying to read Cody and Andie’s story. Well, it’s coming!

Love At First Fight will be out May 30! This is the first sneak peek, so enjoy!

She has a secret…

Andie Young has always been good at hiding who she really is. Her emotions and truths have stayed buried beneath the sexy clothes, makeup, and endless amber waves that are her signature look. She had to do something to get attention. Between her three brothers and five cousins, she grew up feeling like the invisible one. So she changed that.

He’s loved her forever…

Cody Powell has been attracted to Andie since the summer she turned seventeen. Off limits back then, and involved with one guy or another since, Cody has kept his adoration secret from her. He spent fifteen years avoiding Andie, and stammering like a fool when he was face to face with her.

Cody spends weeks fixing up her house and falling harder for her with each passing day. He knows she’d never be interested in a country boy like him, but seeing her dating other guys has finally taken its toll. Cody doesn’t think he can handle it any longer.

They both want someone to share their lives with…

Is she strong enough to take a chance with Cody? Or will he finish her house and leave before she gets the chance to tell him how she feels?

Preorder coming soon

Excerpt from Love At First Fight

”Oh, hey,” Dillon said as he went to his room. “Wake up Andie, will ya? She’s a heavy sleeper so turn on the light, open the curtains, and yank the covers off her.”

He was gone before Cody could respond. Wake up Andie? That was not a simple request.

Andie. Sleeping. In bed. Rumpled. Sexy.

Fuck. Cody knew he was screwed. He was already getting hard at the thought of what he might see when he walked into the room. Andie had been starring in his fantasies for years, but he simply stayed away from her. He couldn’t afford to get close to her.

He took a deep breath and decided he would go in, do as Dillon asked and get out, leaving Andie to get herself out of bed. He wouldn’t look at her, or her rumpled sexiness. He would just wake her up and get out.

And pray he had enough time to calm down before Dillon came back.

Cody turned the knob on the door and pushed it open. It squeaked ever so slightly, but she didn’t stir. Cody flipped the light switch next to the door and saw Andie’s endless amber hair running across the bed like a river. He could smell her in the room, a soft and sweet scent that seemed to be unique to her. Even though she’d only been there one night she’d permeated the entire room. It was intoxicating and made Cody that much harder.

He quickly crossed the room and grabbed the string to pull open the room darkening shades sealing the light out. With a tug, the room flooded with light and Andie groaned. Cody turned toward her and grabbed the edge of the blankets tucked around her shoulders. He yanked the covers off her and froze.

Andie was completely naked.

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Q&A Sunday: Collaboration

I think I may have answered this question before, but Vicki asked again, so I’m answering it now…

If you could collaborate with any author for a new book, who would it be and why????

Collaboration. Working together. It’s tricky. I’d have to find someone who was a perfect fit. A person who had the same work ethic, but was also willing to push a little if needed. I think it would be easier to work with a friend, someone I know well, but maybe it would be easier to have a limited connection so it was more business and less personal.

In all reality, I’ve never looked into collaboration much. I think collaborating on a series would be a lot more up my alley than a single title. What do I mean by that?

Every author writes one book. All the books are set in the same world, the same location. They’re all friends. They all feed into each other. Just like any other series. But these books would come from different authors. You’d get a feel for a variety of authors.

I could see really enjoying something like that.

But who?

I have no idea.

I’d love to write with some of my friends. Many are unpublished though, so it would be something we’d have to look into at another point in time.

If I was going to do something now, and I could pick whoever I wanted to work with and write whatever I wanted, I’d want to write with either Jill Shalvis or Melissa Foster. Both are among my absolute favorite authors. Their stories pull me in and engage me off the bat. Plus, they both write stories similar to mine, so I wouldn’t feel like I was pushed to write something outside my limited comfort zone. I’d love to work with them and learn from their talents. I also think it would be a lot of fun.

For now, I’m too busy to think about anything other than what I’m working on. But it would be fun to work with other authors one day!

Thanks so much, Vicki, for your question! If you have a question, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) with Q&A in the subject, or post it in the comments below, and I’ll answer your question right here on the blog!

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#FiveOnFriday Curse of the Healer by Ashley York

Please give a big welcome to Ashley York! She’s sharing five great things about history and her new release, Curse of the Healer!
Five Things to Know About My Novel

1-It is set in Ireland, Éire, more than a thousand years ago! Not a lot or artifacts or written manuscripts to go with from that far back but rest assured I am a historian. I take my job of recreating the time and place for you very seriously.

2-Warriors kick ass…arse! Heroes tend to be well-built in all time periods but let me just say, my warriors don’t have to go to the gym, don’t have to play any particular sport, don’t think at all about how their bodies look. These guys are fighting just to survive! Life was freaking hard. Those things alone create heroes that are drool worthy.

3-Feminism did not exist. However, in this culture women had rights. They may need protection from other hard ass warriors that may seek to dominate or abduct them but their own men (i.e. brothers, fathers, husbands) knew their value. And that value was very high for a lot of reasons: the continuation of their tribes; all the times the men were away and the woman had to keep things going; and, on occasion, when they needed to fight alongside the men. We all know women multi-task better than men. In this civilization that comes through loud and clear.

4-This is just the first book in my new series so I’ll be keeping you entertained with new and old characters that you’ll love with more books to come.

5-I love this time period so much, I may need to keep writing about it right up until the Normans invade near the end of the 12th century. What I’m saying is that there may be more than three books in the series.

Curse of the Healer

After the death of Brian Boru in 1014, a legend arose of a healer so great she could raise a man from the dead, with a power so strong it could make any warrior the next high king of Éire…and to steal it away from her, he need only possess her. 

Fated to be a healer…

Aednat has spent her entire life training to be the great healer, knowing she must remain alone. When she meets Diarmuid, the intense attraction she feels toward him shakes her resolve to believe in such a legend. If she gives in to the passion he ignites in her, can she settle for being less?

Destined to be his…

Diarmuid of Clonascra is renowned for his bravery in battle. Only one thing daunts him: the prospect of taking a wife. The safest course would be to keep his distance from Aednat, the bold, headstrong healer who’s far too tempting for his peace of mind. But his overking orders him to protect her from a group of craven warriors intent on kidnapping her to steal her power.

What starts as duty for Diarmuid quickly transforms into something more. Aednat’s power might be at risk, but so is his closed-off heart.

BUY LINKS – Curse of the Healer

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Healer-Descendants-High-King-ebook/dp/B06XC1J99P

iTunes   https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1210186885

KOBO   https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/curse-of-the-healer

Ashley’s Bio:

Aside from two years spent in the wilds of the Colorado mountains, Ashley York is a proud life-long New Englander and a hardcore romantic. She has an MA in History which brings with it, through many years of research, a love for primary documents and the smell of musty old libraries. With her author’s imagination, she likes to write about people who could have lived alongside those well-known giants from the past.

Connect with her online at:

Website: www.ashleyyorkauthor.com

Email: ashleyyork1066@gmail.com

Twitter: @ashleyyork1066

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Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride, reviews

The reviews for Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride are starting to come in, and I gotta say, you guys are awesome! I wanted to share one of the reviews with you today, you know… just in case you’re still on the fence!
From Lupita…

Just finished reading [Never A Bridesmaid, Always A Bride] and have to say I really, really, really enjoyed this book!!!!! I mean Jake……SWOON 

Q&A Sunday: Motivation and Being Stuck

It’s time for another question. An interesting one from Sheila…

Are you an artist/illustrator/teacher/caricature artist? What motivates you to be creative?  What do you do when you’re stuck?

A lot of writers talk about writer’s block. I think it goes so much deeper than that. I really like this question because it’s not just how do you avoid writer’s block, or any kind of creative block, but what pushes me to do all this in the first place. Very interesting!

First, no. I am not a creative person by nature. I was a nerd growing up. I excelled in math and always loved reading, but ask me to do an art project and you wouldn’t be able to tell which one was mine and which came from a child. I never thought I was creative because I didn’t have talent for art. My sister is an artist, a very talented one, and I was never nearly as good as she was.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that creativity is different than art. I am creative, but I don’t have the talent to put that into a work of art, such as a painting or a sculpture or a light display like my sister does. I do have the talent to put my creativity into a written form, and I do enjoy art on the computer. I design my own books covers and I love doing it. It’s a different outlet for me that I’ve really enjoyed learning.

Do I consider myself an artist? I guess I could be stretched to say yes. I’m an artist of the written word, and I think I’d enjoy graphic design, but I have no training. Just don’t hand me paint brushes. Seriously, I think my kids’ artwork, at six and eight, is better than mine!

Motivation… That’s a tough one. I’m a big believer in intrinsic motivation – motivation that comes from within – and extrinsic motivation – motivation driven by outside forces. I love my job, that’s my intrinsic motivation. I’m very fortunate that I have a career that is so enjoyable for me. I do have days where I want to read or watch Netflix all day. And there are days I do exactly that.

When I was going through chemo, I had a huge issue getting Bulky & Beauteous written. I started writing it shortly before I was diagnosed, and I couldn’t finish it until after I’d finished treatment. I tried to write, and constantly told myself I was busy, but I know there was a part of me that figured there was no point if I wasn’t going to be around to finish it. I knew I wanted to write, but there was something stopping me.

I’m in remission now, and I’m ready to work. I want to get the stories in my head out onto my computer so I can share them. That’s the extrinsic part of my motivation. My readers. I save comments from readers. If you send me an email that says how much you loved my book, or how excited you are to read what’s coming, or how something I wrote really connected with you, I save it. If I’m really feeling down and struggling to get moving again, I read those emails. I remind myself of my readers, the people who keep coming back for my books, the people who love my characters as much as I do, and it helps motivate me to get back into it.

Once the intrinsic and extrinsic motivators start to work their magic, the task before me can seem daunting. A 90,000 word novel is huge when I’m staring at a blank page. That’s when I get stuck. But forty-five minutes to write while my daughter is in gymnastics is manageable. Even ten minutes, or five, can get me started. Usually I find myself getting sucked in and I want to do more, but that can only happen if I start with those five or ten minutes. I’m always working on something, but if the scene I’m writing isn’t fleshed out enough that I feel confident writing it, I’ll write a scene that has already played in my head. It’s about getting something done, even if it gets scrapped later. I’ve learned to start small and accept it, because small parts add up in a hurry!

Now tell me, where do you find your motivation?
Thanks so much, Sheila, for your question! If you have a question, send me an email (mary (at) maryethompson (dot) com) with Q&A in the subject, or post it in the comments below, and I’ll answer your question right here on the blog!

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#FiveOnFriday with Alyson Reynolds

Alyson Reynolds is with us today, sharing about her new novel, Waiting To Breathe! Say hi!
Five things to know about my newest novel Waiting to Breathe:

Sometimes life gets in the way and makes you grow up faster than you should ever have to. WtB is a story about overcoming those obstacles and learning how to trust and love yourself again.
Twins always make a story fun. The first book in the WtB duet is about Olivia Crawford. Her twin brother Finn gets his story told in May when the second half of the duet, Waiting to Fall, is released. Double the trouble, double the fun. Right?
The beach is one of the best places on earth. Not only for me, but for my characters too. I’ve spent more hours than I can count laying out in the sand. All of the characters in WtB have a special connection to one of my favorite places.
There’s a thing about a cupcake. Honestly, I had a boyfriend that used to call me shortcake and for years it was a running joke. I never kept in touch with him after we broke up, but he was a great guy and I wanted to remember some of those good times.
Love can find you when you really don’t want it. Olivia fights her attraction to our swoony hero Nate for as long as she can, but sometimes you just don’t have a say in these things.

Waiting to Breathe

She’s broken.

He’s lost.

Olivia Crawford had been through the wringer. All she wants is to start over without any complications or anyone figuring out her secrets. When her twin brother Finn convinces her to move back home and finish her degree at his school, it’s just the push she needs to start over.

Nathaniel Ford is the golden boy of SCU. He seems like he has it all, perfect family, awesome friends and fraternity brothers, and a few buildings on campus with his last name on them. But things aren’t always what they seem.

From the first time Nate and Olivia bump into each other, literally, he wants more of her feisty attitude, but Olivia throws more walls up with each step he takes closer, and he isn’t sure he can break them down fast enough.

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Excerpt from Waiting to Breathe

Nate

“Dude, you’re late.”

“I know.”

I tugged my shirt off over my head and threw it against the wall. Grabbing the bar so I could spot Finn, he shook his head at me.

“That’s the third time this week. Hitting on another young co-ed?”

“Actually no. I was setting up a study group and trying to stay out of Lila’s clutches, smartass.”

“You’re losing your touch then, Ford.”

If you only knew.

The little cupcake fiasco hadn’t gone over very well with Olivia. I grunted at him and watched him count his reps.

“So how’s Olivia doing? Getting used to her classes yet?”

“If she could find them, I’m sure she would be. I have no idea how she functions. I swear she has absolutely no sense of direction. It’s bad enough she’s text me twice this week because she was lost on campus.”

“But no more mishaps of nearly falling down a flight of stairs?” I asked laughing.

“No, thank goodness. I’m just glad she’s here. I didn’t know if she would actually come or not.”

“Why not? Last rep.”

“She went through some rough shit last year and I don’t think she really wanted to come back to South Carolina. Switch.”

Finn never said anything more than that and as much as I respected him for it, I wanted to find out more about his sister. He wasn’t willing to tell anything that was her business. The guy was locked up like Fort Knox with her secrets. But I had a feeling that it would go both ways if anyone was pressing Olivia for information on Finn.

I added additional weight to each side and tested it. The bar was heavy, but manageable. Finn just shook his head at me and stood there so I didn’t drop the stack on my face.

“Fucking showoff. So, why all the questions about, Olivia? Are you interested?”

“Your sister is hot. I’ll admit I’m interested as long as you don’t beat the shit out of me.”

“I just want to make sure this isn’t some game to you. Not that I think you would do that, but Olivia’s been through enough and I won’t let you fuck around with her.”

I stared at Finn for a minute before answering. “I’m not the guy you would have to worry about doing that. She’s not someone I would screw with just to see if I could, and not just because of you. Olivia’s…different.”

“Well then, you have my blessing to go for it, but I doubt you’ll get anywhere. I know for a fact that she’s off dating for the unforeseeable future. If you can convince her to go out with you then you deserve it.”

I lifted the bar into the rack and sat up. Finn stood in front of me with his arms crossed over his chest. He was built like a fucking tank and standing like that he was intimidating as hell.

“I do have to warn you though, if you make her cry I will beat the shit out of you.”

I looked up at Finn. He definitely wasn’t someone I wanted to cross. Ever.

“Noted.”

Meet Alyson

Romance writer. Wife. Mother of two. Avid reader. Queen of multitasking.

Originally from the south, Alyson likes to incorporate what she knows into her books. She’s lived not only on the east coast, but the west coast and a few places between. Alyson loves sharing stories about her crazy family to anyone who will listen. Her guilty pleasures consist of coffee, country music, brunch, breaking the rules, and pedicures. And she will always be a daddy’s girl.

When Alyson isn’t chasing around her two kiddos, she’s normally writing. Or reading. Her Kindle library is out of control. Alyson writes mainly contemporary novels and novellas with a few new adult stories is the mix.

Website: www.authoralysonreynolds.com

FB author page: www.facebook.com/authoralysonreynolds

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorareynolds

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/22slSBn

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/authoralyson/

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