Heatherly Bell's Blog, page 12
August 25, 2015
The Summer of Mishaps …. er, adventures
This has been the summer of traveling, so it was bound to happen. I just didn’t think it would happen all that once, but there you have it. On this one single trip to Missouri and back to California, I believe I may have covered every kind of traveling mishap that can happen.
Delayed flight? Check
Cancelled flight? Check
Delayed baggage? Check
Missed flight? Check
Forty minutes on the tarmac waiting for a gate to open? Check
Bad weather in Chicago caused our flight from San Jose to be delayed, and we realized we had a chance of missing our connection to Missouri. But when we arrived, we need not worry as our flight was cancelled. All us travelers had to scramble to rebook (on our dime because it was weather related and AA claimed not their fault) and get a hotel room for the night. All flights into my final destination were booked except for one at ten o’clock the next evening. Not wanting to miss an entire day, I chose to be rebooked into St. Louis, then drive one hundred miles to our destination.
However, all was not lost. We were “forced” to stay at the fancy schmancy Hyatt. In an executive room no less, as nothing else was available near the airport. So the good news: we were greeted by a plate of fruit, bottle of water and a nice card made out to an executive who must have also missed his flight.
Or did he? I’ve watched one too many Dateline episodes because my overactive imagination began to wonder if maybe this much hated oil tycoon executive had been lured here only to be poisoned. By the fruit.
Man Child really enjoyed his temporary stay here, truth be told. The next morning we had a sit down breakfast in the restaurant (included in our stay – believe me, with that price tag it was only right.)
The next morning we made our flight to St. Louis (it’s all a blur), got our rental and began the drive. I didn’t see much of St. Louis, but since I wasn’t even supposed to see any of it, how can I count that as a loss?
In Wentzville, we stopped for lunch. Fun fact from Man Child: Panera Bread was originally called the St.Louis Bread Company because that’s where it all began. It was delish, especially the flip flop cookie.
July 4, 2015
Small Town Summer is up for Pre-Order – only $0.99!
From warm sunny days to long sultry nights, spend your summer falling in love in a small town! These nine contemporary romances featuring sassy heroines, sexy heroes, and lots of heartwarming romance make the perfect beach read. Whether your pleasure is sweet small town romance or smolderingly sexy love stories, there’s something in the Small Town Summer box set for everyone!
AWAKENING ANNA, by Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Terri Osburn
ANYWHERE WITH YOU, by Heatherly Bell
MOONSHINE & MAGNOLIAS, by National Bestselling author Jamie Farrell
SUMMER IN STRINGTOWN PROPER, by Liz Flaherty
SUMMER STOCK, by Regina Kyle
SERENA’S SOLDIER, by Amy Lamont
A KISS IN KITE HARBOR, by Stefanie London
HER LAST SHOT, by Megan Ryder
SWEET HOME ALASKA, by Rebecca Thomas
Pre-order/purchase links for Small Town Summer:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010EJQNUM
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/small-town-summer-terri-osburn/1122204814?ean=2940152224047&itm=1&usri=2940152224047
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1012792191
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/small-town-summer-nine-contemporary-romances
May 2, 2015
Getting Ready for Small Town Summer
This summer I’ll be participating in an anthology with eight other wonderful authors with “from sweet to steamy heat” novellas in small town settings. Check out some of these wonderful authors. It’s such an honor to be among them.
My novella in this collection is titled Anywhere with You and is Joe the pilot’s story. You’ve seen former Air Force pilot Joe in every book starting with Somebody Like You in which he is feisty Brooke’s skydiving pilot. In Until There Was You, Joe is Genevieve’s big brother and Wallace Turlock’s best friend.
Finally, sexy bossy-ass pilot Joe Hannigan has his own love story. And what a love story! It’s another reunion story and I also hope you’ll fall in love with Kailey Robbins, the toughest little wimp Joe has ever met. She can’t stop running, but once she does it will be straight into Joe’s arms … take a look at those arms! Can you blame her?
More news on this coming soon … sign up for my newsletter to be among the first to hear about our cover reveal and sign-ups for reviews.
March 31, 2015
March 22, 2015
Pilot Humor
Some pilot humor for this sunny Sunday in spring.
I have an ex-military Air Force pilot in one of my MS, hopefully releasing sometime this year. He was a whole lot of fun to write, and I can picture him doing something like this just to mess with the heroine.
March 20, 2015
Raising an Alpha Hero
This morning #2 son told me to “calm down” since we were both frantically (all right, I was the only frantic one in the room) searching for one of his University acceptance letters.
“Calm down,” #2 said.
“Sorry, too much coffee,” I said, throwing papers in the air.
He studied me for a second. “No, too much crazy.”
He doesn’t realize it but I will be using this line for one of my heroes.
March 17, 2015
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
He is wearing green …
The memories I have of St. Patrick’s Day range from childhood, when on this one significant day it was okay for boys to pinch girls if they weren’t wearing green. I don’t know how pinching became related to St. Patrick’s Day, but it made forgetting to wear green on one particular of the year a cardinal offense. Having green eyes didn’t count.
Fast forward into young adulthood, when St. Patrick’s Day became a suggestive day of the year. It was a day in which you might whisper to a man, “I am wearing green. I just can’t show you.”
Wherever you are, I hope you have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day and try not to pinch anyone.
It’s so irritating.
March 7, 2015
Synopsis Time!
There are probably no two more dreaded words in the English language to a writer than “synopsis time”. But they occasionally must be hammered out. Today I finished a synopsis for a submission request. This is what my process looks like. I don’t recommend it.
Stretch fingers
Review advice on how to write a synopsis
Go get a snack because I’m suddenly famished
Pep talk
Check Facebook
Stretch fingers
Stare into space
Go to Costco with my son (we’re out of EVERYTHING)
Stretch fingers
Cry because I’m not done with synopsis
Stretch fingers
Review how to write a synopsis
Decide I can’t do this
Pep talk
Stare into space
Take a closer look at the synopsis and realize this is not brain surgery
Go let the dogs outside
Stretch fingers
Hammer it out – I’M DONE!
Go have a glass of wine
Here are pictures of my beagles Jack and Riley, just because!
March 1, 2015
Coming Soon
Here’s an excerpt from Until There was You, coming soon to Amazon:
*****
He could have a little bit of fun here now, and see about this crush Genevieve seemed to have on him. Again. “Actually, my wife will need to be a big, strong and stout woman.”
Ground control to Major Thomas. We have achieved lift off. Gen’s mouth gaped open. “Why?”
He leaned on the counter edge. “Because of all the work-outs I’m going to put her through.”
If he wasn’t mistaken, Gen blushed a little bit. “How do you mean?”
“If she can run a mile in three minutes, that’s a good start.”
Her eyebrow quirked up. “Three minutes? Isn’t that way too fast? How fast of a mile can you run?”
“Seven minutes, but that’s not the point. I don’t want my wife to die an early death from cardiovascular disease. That would make me sad. Do you want that for me?”
Gen looked indignant. “Of course not!”
It had become difficult not to smile. “So if you see any big women around, wide shoulders and say about six feet tall or so, send them my way.”
February 21, 2015
Cover Reveal – Until There Was You
I’m so excited to bring you Wallace and Genevieve’s love story. This story literally flew off my fingers, and this almost never happens to me. I hope readers will fall in love with Wallace, as I did. It will be available on Amazon retailers late this month.
“Contractor Wallace Turlock should have never agreed to do the renovations on Genevieve’s bakery. Her constant change orders have delayed his annual trek to the Sierras. When his best friend, Genevieve’s brother, asks him for a favor Wallace winds up spending more time with the sweet southern redhead he shouldn’t want … but somehow still does.
Genevieve Hannigan won’t give up until Wallace sees her as more than a silly girl with a raging crush. But when her ex-husband shows up in town, Gen’s life is about to get complicated.”
