Romance Interviews and Stories - Long and Short Reviews

INTERVIEW: BARBARA WHITE DAILLE

2012-01-26T04:00:00.002-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to welcome Barbara White Daille whose latest book, The Rodeo Man's Daughter, comes out next month. I asked her to tell us a little bit about it.

"The book is set in Flagman's Folly, New Mexico, the same small town as in my previous title, A Rancher's Pride, and tells the story of ex-rodeo star Caleb Cantrell.

After growing up dirt-poor and looked down upon by folks in town, Caleb took off while he was still a teen, headed for fame and fortune. A near-fatal injury destroys his rodeo dreams, and he returns to his hometown with the goal of settling scores with the folks who’d done him wrong and then leaving them all behind for good. Despite his rocky reunion with his high-school sweetheart, he finds his interest in her still going strong. All of sudden, he's got a hankering to hang around.

When he rents a room in her mother's bed-and-breakfast, Tess LaSalle's stuck with him day and night. She wants only to see the back of him as he leaves town, the way he left her years before. Though she's fighting attraction, too, those feelings are nothing compared to the memory of their bitter separation. When her rodeo-crazy nine-year-old discovers the great Caleb Cantrell has returned to Flagman's Folly, Tess is ten times more desperate to get rid of him—before Caleb and her daughter learn the secret she's kept from them all these years."

Barbara is finishing up her next book , also set in Flagman's Folly, which will be out in August. Honorable Rancher is the story of Ben Sawyer, who long ago lost the woman he loved from afar to his own best friend. When that friend dies a military hero, Ben has to keep the promise he's made to watch over the man's family—and to keep his hands off his best friend's wife.

A widow with three small children, Dana Wright will do anything to protect her children and to safeguard her secrets. Of all the folks in town, Ben would be the person most devastated by what she's trying to hide. Unfortunately, he's also the one determined to make her reveal what she knows.

"What inspired you to start writing?" I asked.

"I fell in love with stories. One of the most exciting moments for me as a child was having my mom take me to the local branch library to get my own library card. I had to wait until I could write, because in our town, a patron had to be able to sign (or print) his or her own name to get a library card. Even then, I was barely tall enough to see over the librarian's desk to hand her my application," she remembered. "Once I got that little card with my name on it, I started with the shelves in the children's section and never looked back. That love of reading stimulated my creativity and led me to writing stories of my own."

Sometimes Barbara will start her books with the character, as in The Rodeo Man's Daughter, where the hero came from a bad background and takes off as a teenager to find fame and fortune. He succeeds but almost loses his life in the process and is forced to return to the hometown he despises. Other times, she will begin with plot, as in Court Me, Cowboy, where she knew the hero and heroine had a whirlwind courtship and a marriage that ended in divorce almost as soon as it had begun. A few months later, the heroine returns, and the hero discovers he's still married—and about to become a daddy.

She's a character-driven writer, though, so even when she starts with the plot, it doesn't take her long to get involved with the people in the story.

"In no time, plot and character become so intertwined that there's no way to separate them again, and the development goes hand-in-hand," she explained. "I also ask a lot of questions, often multiple times. Some examples, in random order: Why are these two people so wrong for each other? Why do they have to stay together, anyway? What happens next? Why? Why? Why? And always important for the conflict: Why not?"

The hardest part of writing, for Barbara, is letting go after the book is done.

"Of course, I say that as a reader, too," she said with a smile. "I can live with some of my characters for weeks or months—or even years, in the case of a series, where characters from previous books make repeat appearances later on. It's hard not to get attached to these folks, though they're not real and come straight from my imagination.

"One of the many good things about writing category romance is that the readers love series. They also love a good epilogue, that little window into the future at the end of a book that lets us know what happened to the characters after the story ended. I'll admit, writing those epilogues gives me satisfaction, too...and makes it a little easier to let go."

"Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?" I asked. "If so, what do you do about it?"

"Yes, once in a while, I do deal with writer's block. Or maybe I should call it story block. If it hits when I'm in the middle of a book, it's usually because the characters are refusing to do what I want them to do. They can be contrary that way!

"When that happens, it means the story has taken a wrong turn somewhere. So I back up a chapter or two, or sometimes even return to page one, and read forward. Along the way, I either find out where the story went off-track or I figure out what the characters have been trying to tell me."

On a more personal note, I asked Barbara, "What is your favorite meal?"

She smiled. "You ask some tough questions! When I'm just hanging out—pizza, every time. Absolute best is pepperoni, but since I'm trying to be more diet-conscience, we've been ordering it with spinach. That's a favorite of mine, too, so it's not much of a sacrifice.

"When we're celebrating something special, such as a book release or a birthday—Alaskan King Crab legs. With lots and lots of hot, melted butter. And a deliberate ignorance of the fact that it's blowing my diet."

There are a lot of things that make Barbara happy—

"Great books that make me worry about the characters. Laughing babies. Long bubble baths. Having something to be grateful for every day. Chocolate. Finishing a chapter in my own manuscript. Writing The End in my own book. Chocolate. Waking up before the alarm clock. Curling up on the couch with my husband. Curling up on the couch with a good book. Dark chocolate. Reading positive stories in the news. Going out to dinner. Hearing from my readers. Going to sleep knowing I've accomplished my goals for the day.

"The list goes on and on—and on!"

Finally, I asked, "Do you have a favorite quote or saying?"

"Yes, and it's funny that you ask. I'm the Queen of Quotes. I collect them, keep them, and rotate them on my bulletin boards, computer desktop, and in places all over the house.

"At this time of year, of course, I've just made a new list of resolutions. And I mentioned them in a post at my own blog just after New Year's, which goes into more detail than I will with you now. In the post I say that, for various reasons, one of the mantras I'm going to be using this year is the Nike Shoes slogan, Just Do It. Short, simple, to the point—and so far, very effective.

"Please wish me luck that effectiveness continues through the rest of my year!

"I've enjoyed chatting with you and look forward to visiting with your readers and responding to comments and questions!"

About the Author: Originally from the East Coast, award-winning author Barbara White Daille now lives with her husband in the warm, sunny Southwest, where they love the lizards in the front yard but could do without the scorpions in the bathroom.

From the time she was a toddler, Barbara found herself fascinated by those things her mom called "books." Once she learned the words between the covers held the magic of storytelling, she wanted to see her words in print so she could weave that spell for others.

Barbara hopes you will enjoy reading her stories and will find your own storytelling magic in them!

www.BarbaraWhiteDaille.com
http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille
https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille

INTERVIEW: LORENA BATHEY

2012-01-25T04:00:00.002-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to welcome Lorena Bathey, whose newest book House on Plunkett Street is now available. It's Lorena's second novel—her first being Beatrice Munson which was released last March.

The theme of women going through change seems to central to each of her books. Beatrice Munson is about a woman in suburbia finding her way after her divorce. It's about how women lose themselves in roles and forget that being happy and finding their bliss is as important as everything else they do in life. House on Plunkett Street is about change, overcoming fears, and really deciding to live your life instead of just existing.

"It has three ghosts, so people ask if it's like A Christmas Carol. The similarities stop with the fact that there are three ghosts," she said. "This book is about a girl who really is lost in her life. She's come from a home where she was mostly overlooked so her expectations for life are not really high. But somewhere in her she knows she should want more. That's when the Universe, God...whatever you want to call the powers that be begins to work in her favor. She is forced to make changes and in that action she meets three women ghosts from other eras in time that show her what they've learned. It's a great story of change and transformation. Even better, there's friendship, love, and fun twists and turns along the way."

I asked Lorena, "Who is your favorite author and why?"

"I am really entranced with Stephen King. One, because he truly is a master of his craft. He is probably one of the best at character development, in my opinion. His book, The Stand, is like the pinnacle of what good characters and plot development can be. But the other thing I love about his writing is the ease with which he writes. I know that is years of development , but I have read his book on writing and I love the way he incorporates all that he is as an individual in his writing style.

"Of course, most authors write about what they know, which is a scary concept with a lot of Mr. King's books, but it takes more than just having a story. You have to get into a character's mind and make him real enough that those reading care about him/her. Mr. King is a pro at doing that. From his books The Green Mile toIt (which is one I couldn't read...too darn scary for me) he is able to make you believe that these people are living and breathing in some small Maine town.

"I hold him up as the type of author I want to be like."

For Lorena, both characters and plot seem to develop at the same time. She will either see a character or think of a plot and the other comes right after.

"I'll give you an example," she said. "Recently I was on vacation and the location we were at inspired a book. Immediately I saw the characters as they went through the process of the book. That's how it works. They kinda morph together.

"But the characters know who they are and why they are there. There's a not a whole lot of ambiguity to my characters. They come out of the box with their looks, personalities, and background stories. I usually get the title of the book and the cover design right away too. It's like my inspiration does a download. So I write everything down they give me right away. And in that I usually have the book pretty much defined in my head. Then I file it away until the book is ready to be written. That may mean that the character won't leave my head or the plot just keeps calling me back."

Lorena told me that it's easy for authors to get caught up writing and forget that reading is also an important aspect of their work.

"When I read I see things differently and it makes my writing better," she explained. "I see things from a reader's perspective which makes me pay attention to that aspect even more in my own writing."

She has just finished reading The Night Circus and I asked her what she thought about it.

"It was wonderful. It was such a cleverly written novel. The characters were quirky, but interesting. The entire idea behind the book was truly new and exciting and I found myself completely satisfied by the end of the book. That's not always the case."

Lorena's first book was a memoir, Happy Beginnings: How I Became My Own Fairy Godmother, written after she lost her mom to cancer and her husband left her. She started chronicling the changes that occur when a person takes a hard look at herself. She thought many women were going through what she went through, but no one was writing about it. She gave an honest look at finding the strength that exists inside.

"It was a bit easier to write because everything happened to me and they were my thoughts and ideas. But when I got the finished book, printed, with the perfect cover design I remember the feeling that washed over me. I opened the box and saw my books sitting there and I remember kinda catching my breath. It was a physical form and definitely real," she told me. "But it wasn't until I was standing up in front of over seventy people reading an excerpt and they were laughing that I realized, I was a writer. My writing was affecting others. They were responding to my words. They were feeling. They were laughing. That made it real. It also cemented in that I wanted to do this work. I wanted to use words to create stories and ideas that could not only inspire, but help people. So I guess that's what started the spark of my writing."

She started writing Beatrice Munson during the same time she was speaking and promoting Happy Beginnings. She only wrote half before the story started falling apart. She put it aside and only picked it up again after she met the love of her life. He asked her what she really wanted to do with her life. She answered writing, ideas started flooding in, and she finished Beatrice Munson in about six months.

Her next novel is coming out next year and is called The X. It's the story of a housewife whose husband divorces her and steals her sons away. She must dig deep in herself to find out why and face the fact that you often don't know the person you love. It's a suspense and, like her other books, shows a female character finding her inner strength, power, and place in her own world.

I asked her to describe her writing space and she told me she writes the best at Panera, a chain of sandwich shops.

"I don't know if it's the warm baking bread or the soft hum of people coming in and out that creates a writing cocoon for me. It was at Panera that I finished my first novel, Beatrice Munson, in a nine-hour writing session. Seriously, I could barely see when I left. I kept thinking the staff was going to throw me out after being there that long, but they didn't. I not only love their stores but their bread is just short of spectacular. It's a win-win since I get to write and eat yummy food."

Once a week she meets there with a friend, also an author, who she's known since the second grade, and they spend the day writing, helping each other, editing each other's work, and eating luscious bread and sandwiches.

When she's not writing, there are a lot of other things she loves to do with her family being her biggest enjoyment. She also just got engaged on New Year's Eve and she and her fiancé spends a lot of time together sharing their thoughts and ideas and having a great time.

"Through our blended family we have six kids and three grandchildren. They are the light of our life," she said. "Having everyone over to watch movies or for dinner is a great time and we always end up laughing so much drinks come out of our noses."

She also loves photography.

"I am not much of an artist in the drawing/painting sense. In fact, I can only draw a fuzzy kitty and a worm," she confessed. "But with photography, I can show art through my lenses. I love to walk around San Francisco and take pictures from odd angles and show some amazing things people may not have looked at before. I have also become the photographer for our business, www.TheDrumDoktor.com and did all the model shoots for our upcoming marketing campaign."

"I love traveling. Whether it's a jaunt on the motorcycle with my fiancée, or going to Italy for ten days," she told me, "I love the adventure and the opportunities that travel affords you. It's during travel that you not only get to meet some of the most interesting people, but you see things that are historic and astounding. It opens your eyes to your own world and makes you realize how small your world can get. I think travel is the best way to find yourself too. In my first book, Happy Beginnings: How I Became My Own Fairy Godmother, I traveled to Italy for ten days to really learn not only how to be alone but to find out who I really was."

About the Author: Growing up in Northern California, Lorena Bathey attended St. Mary’s College in Moraga graduating with a degree in English. Then she traveled, learned about life, and developed great fodder for books. Losing her mother to cancer and her own marriage’s demise pushed her to find herself. She wrote Happy Beginnings: How I Became My Own Fairy Godmother about her journey to unleash her inner fairy godmother.

Lorena found after writing her first book that characters were visiting her mind and wouldn't leave. She met Marissa, Andrea, Lily, Deidre and Beatrice and her first novel, Beatrice Munson, came to life. After finishing the book she knew that pursuing her passion was the best way to live her life, so a writer she became.

After meeting the love of her life, they decided to follow their dreams blending their families. Today Lorena has nine novels in her writing queue. But writing isn't the only muse that inspires Lorena. She has become a passionate photographer and likes to push the envelope taking shots. Travel, walking, enjoying new restaurants, and Italy are other loves and things she makes sure she has time for.

Find her at Lorena@LorenaBBooks.com or at www.LorenaBBooks.com, www.facebook.com/pages/Lorena-B-Books/1138014032926011 and at www.twitter.com/lorenabbooks

Phoebe Bertram is boring, bland, and unexciting. She works a job that is inadequate of her abilities. She has a boyfriend that is a dud. She is on the treadmill of her life and doesn’t know how to get off.

With changes in her job and her apartment going condo, she must find a new place to live. Her friend Meghan brings her to the perfect apartment and the moment Phoebe steps in the door she knows there is something atypical about this perspective residence.

What she never expects are the three ghosts that arrive on her couch to teach her how life is really meant to be lived.

Author of Beatrice Munson, Lorena Bathey, has brought us another great example of character study combined with a moral at the end of the story. This book will make you laugh, cry, and look at your world with new eyes.

INTERVIEW: JENNY TWIST

2012-01-23T04:00:00.001-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to welcome Jenny Twist, whose latest release is Domingo's Angel. I asked her to tell us a little bit about the story.

"It's about an English woman who travels to Franco’s Spain in the early 1950s. Tourism has barely touched the country yet and the people are only now beginning to recover from the deprivations of the civil war. She arrives in a remote mountain village and causes some consternation amongst the inhabitants, who have never met a foreigner before. But Domingo, the goatherd, falls in love with her. When she introduces herself, he believes she is saying she is an angel (‘Soy Ángela’ in Spanish can either mean ‘I am Angela’ or ‘I am an angel’).

"This is the story of their love affair. But it is also the story of the people of the tiny mountain village – the indomitable Rosalba - shopkeeper, doctor, midwife and wise woman, who makes it her business to know everything that goes on in the village; Guillermo, the mayor, whose delusions of grandeur are rooted in his impoverished childhood; and Salva the Baker, who risked his life and liberty to give bread to the starving children.

"The events in this story are based on the real experiences of the people of the White Villages in Southern Spain and their struggle to keep their communities alive through the years of war and the oppression of Franco’s rule.

"Some of these events are bloodthirsty and shocking, but there is a lot of love in the book too. I hope that I have succeeded in portraying for my readers the cheerfulness, humour and exuberance of the Andalusian people. And it would be nice to think that it might do something to dispel some of the ignorance about this fascinating period of Spanish history."

Jenny has had stories in her head for her whole life and even occasionally would write them down, but she didn't start writing seriously until she retired.

"Life continually got in the way," she explained. "I was the main breadwinner for my family for most of my life and I always had very demanding jobs. I used to wonder how on earth anyone found the time to write the first book, naively assuming that once you had written a book, the money would start pouring in and then you could afford to write full-time.

"We came to live in Spain in 2001 and I started writing then – all the stories that had been in my head all those years and a lot of new ones. I sent them to a local magazine for ex-pats living on the Costa del Sol and they commissioned me to write a piece every month; articles alternating with stories."

For Jenny, the most important thing about writing is the language. She wants it to flow, and she wants it to be right.

"Beautiful prose is such a joy to read. I hate it when poor grammar makes me lose the gist of the story, but I never mind pausing to appreciate a piece of superb prose," she assured me.

The next most important thing is characterization.

"I soon lose interest in a story if the characters are not well-drawn and I cannot empathise with them," she said. "The plot is less important for me, but I like it to be believable and hang together well. I particularly like thrillers, mysteries and ghost stories, but I read all genres except erotica."

Her favorite author is Stephen King.

"He uses language beautifully with no horrible grammatical errors. His characters live and breathe and I really care about them. He knows how to terrify without being gory and revolting. He knows how to portray human love without resorting to torrid, tasteless, explicit sex. And he knows how to take his readers into that other world where you lose all sense of self and surroundings and just live in the story," she explained. " He has also done something for me that no other author has done. Hundreds of authors have taught me to love stories, but only Stephen King taught me how to write my own. On Writing takes you through the process step by step. My story, "Waiting for Daddy" in Take One At Bedtime, was my first attempt at writing by the Stephen King method and I am still pleased with it, especially the twist at the end."

The title for Take One at Bedtime was suggested by her brother-in-law, along with the idea of putting: Warning: Do not exceed the stated dose in the blurb.

"I must say this was absolutely inspired," she said. "Virtually every reviewer has picked up on this and commented on failing to stick to the stated dose. Thank you, Nick."

For Jenny, the idea for a story comes first—she keeps thinking it over at odd moments, particularly during that time between sleeping and waking.

"Sometimes it doesn't go anywhere, but more often than not it starts to take shape almost of its own accord. I regularly wake up in the morning with the whole plot sorted out. The characters seem to come from nowhere," she said. "I suppose they must ultimately be based on people I have known but I have never in my life made a conscious attempt to develop a character. They just walk into the story apparently full-developed and then proceed to behave in their own way, Long before I start writing a story down I know exactly how each character will act in a given situation and from that point on they virtually write themselves. Maybe muses really exist and I've got one."

Jenny is currently doing the rewrites for another novel about an old woman who wakes up in a strange room inexplicably furnished in 1940s style. At first she thinks she has somehow slipped into the past, but it is even stranger than that. She is part of an experiment working on a cure for Alzheimer's disease. It seems to be succeeding, but it has a strange side effect. Tilly and her fellow experimental subjects appear to be getting younger.

She told me that researching, these days, was a piece of cake—with just about anything you can desire available on the web.

"I can usually find what I want by Googling it. Of course, some stuff just isn't on there," she admitted. "For example, when I was writing Domingo's Angel, much of which is set in the Spanish Civil War and Franco's subsequent dictatorship, I could find nothing about life in the mountain villages, although there was plenty about the major battles and life in the cities.

"I gleaned some information from my own neighbours, but it was very hard to get anyone to talk to me about what had been a very painful time for them. I subsequently discovered a definitive book on life in the white village of Frigiliana, Between Two Fires, by David Baird, which reassured me that I had substantially got the right picture. But I am still surprised at what I don't know. A couple of years ago there was a commemorative march between Málaga and Almería. Until then I had been unaware that thousands of Republican refugees, mainly women, children and old men, had walked the coast road from Málaga, trying to escape from the Fascist army. Some of them made it, but many were gunned down, strafed from the air by Franco's friends, the Luftwaffe, and bombarded from the sea by Spanish and Italian ships. How could such an earth-shattering event occur in a European country and go virtually unnoticed?"

For the full story about this episode, see this link: http://www.andalucia.com/history/civilwarandalucia.htm.

"What do you like to do when you are not writing?" I asked.

"I love going out for a drive with my husband and exploring places. We live in a very interesting area and there is always somewhere to new to visit. There are hundreds of little villages, each with its own personality and special history. An example is Acebuchal, which became a ghost town during Franco's rule. Franco decided the villagers were helping the freedom fighters in the mountains and he had the village evacuated. Since these people were peasant farmers who made their living from the land, this amounted to a death sentence for those who had no relatives in other villages to support them. It was still a ghost town when we first came to Spain, but it has been slowly repopulated, mostly by foreigners, and restored very tastefully to something resembling its original condition. Although I suspect it is now much cleaner and tidier than it was in the past."

"What is one thing readers would be most surprised to learn about you?"

"If they were new readers, they might be surprised to learn that I used to be an escapologist’s assistant. I was the lovely Tanya. All Tommy James' assistants were called the lovely Tanya, so he didn't have to change any of the advertising. The first time we rehearsed he hired a concert hall to set up the equipment, but the ceiling wasn't high enough to accommodate his full-size guillotine. Consequently, I felt very insecure on our first performance. After chopping a cabbage in half to demonstrate that it was a real guillotine, I hauled the blade back up to the top, using a rope on a pulley, secured it, locked him in the stocks, pulled a curtain in front of him to conceal him from the audience, and counted down thirty seconds on a stop-watch before letting go the blade. Unfortunately, the curtain also concealed him from me. I couldn't tell whether he had managed to escape in time! There was a sickening thud, then..... silence. I stood in front of several hundred people, still holding the end of the rope, convinced I had killed him. After an unconscionably long time, he threw the curtain aside and came out bowing and smiling, whilst saying between his teeth, 'Got you there, didn't I?' My reply, also between my teeth, whilst smiling at the audience, is unfortunately not fit for a mixed readership."

"What was the scariest moment of your life?"

"My sons and I used to live in a really creepy house near Oxford. The wardrobe door used to creak open of its own accord and you frequently felt as if there was a malign presence there. We used to fantasise that the last tenant had murdered his wife and put her body in the cesspit. The house was on top of a hill and very exposed, so damp that we had to rotate the clothes in the wardrobe or they would develop mould and so draughty that the carpet used to billow up in waves when the wind blew. One night there was a terrific storm and the big window in the kitchen began bowing in and out.We were terrified that it would smash, and up-ended the kitchen table against it. We weren't just afraid of the glass breaking, we were afraid of whatever was out there. The wind was making a noise like human screams and was rattling at the doors and windows like some manic nightmare figure trying to break in. We huddled together in abject terror in the living room, incapable of doing anything else, just waiting for whatever it was to come and get us. I hated that house. It was like living in Amityville Horror. Nothing actually came to get us. So it must have been just the wind. Mustn't it?"

About the Author: Jenny Twist was born in York and brought up in the West Yorkshire mill town of Heckmondwike, the eldest grandchild of a huge extended family.

She left school at fifteen and went to work in an asbestos factory. After working in various jobs, including bacon-packer and escapologist’s assistant, she returned to full-time education and did a BA in history at Manchester and post-graduate studies at Oxford.

She stayed in Oxford working as a recruitment consultant for many years and it was there that she met and married her husband, Vic.

In 2001 they retired and moved to Southern Spain where they live with their rather eccentric dog and cat.

Her first book, Take One at Bedtime, was published in April 2011 and the second, Domingo’s Angel, was published in July 2011. Her novella "Doppelganger" was published in the anthology Curious Hearts in July 2011, "Uncle Vernon" was published in Spellbound, in November 2011, "Jamey and the Alien" was published in Warm Christmas Wishes in December 2011 and "Mantequero" was published in the anthology Winter Wonders in December 2011.

Facebook Author Page
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenny-Twist-Author/291166404240446

Goodreads Blog
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4848320.Jenny_Twist/blog

Amazon Author Page
amazon.com/author/jennytwist

Melange: http://www.melange-books.com/authors/jennytwist/jennytwist.html

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JennyTwist1

INTERVIEW: LORELEI CONFER

2012-01-17T04:00:00.000-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to have Lorelei Confer, author of Deadly Deliverance, which was released January 3. Deadly Deliverance is the third book in the Deadly series about human trafficking, told from the investigator's perspective and set primarily in Washington DC.

Things get personal for Sam Brower, undercover task force detective for human trafficking, when his niece, Autumn, goes missing. To make matters worse, he’s forced to work with his ex-girlfriend, Lisa Conover, former DC cop, when she’s assigned to a cold case involving his long lost brother.

After infiltrating the gang responsible for the multiple abductions, Sam and Lisa try to unravel the stories behind the kidnapping of Autumn and the disappearance of Luke before their cover is blown.

Undercover work doesn’t lend well to trust. Even if they work together like a fine tuned instrument, will Lisa and Sam be able to salvage their love for each other after all they’ve been through?

Even though Lorelei has been writing since the fourth grade (she wrote a play, "Going to the Doctor," that her teacher liked so much she produced it and invited parents to come to the school to see), she didn't start writing seriously until four or five years ago.

"When I read an article in my local paper about a sting operation at a brothel in a nearby community I wanted to write about it," she told me. "I did a lot of research and wrote my first book, Deadly Deception. But I still had so much fodder left I kept writing my second book Deadly Revenge, which is set in the North Carolina mountains. North Carolina is the eighth likely state for human trafficking due to their interstate going north and south and east and west. Who knew?"

Human trafficking is a prolific "business" that keeps growing every day, Lorelei shared. Her books in the Deadly series points out the signs of others who may have been abducted and who are unable to get out of their current situation.

"I met with a detective on the local Human Trafficking Task Force for Human Trafficking who advised me about the seriousness and integrity of my fiction stories as well as actual past cases he’d worked on," she explained. "It’s a very heinous crime and needs to be controlled. Since then I attend all quarterly meetings of the task force for updates and fodder for future books."

"What was the hardest part of writing the Deadly series?" I asked.

"The hours of research. Not necessarily hard, but there was so much I had to learn about human trafficking, the crime, the pain, etc. that it became the hardest part."

Occasionally, Lorelei will get stuck, but normally when she's working on a book she's already thinking about the next book—a spin-off, of sorts. If she still gets blocked once she starts a new book, she'll step away and work on something else entirely, like a short story for Christmas.

Lorelei starts with a thought, then the character emerges and is given a name. The character is sometimes given many names until Lorelei really likes who her characters have become by the end of the book.

"I’m a ‘writing by the seat of my pants’ kind of gal," she admitted. "Many times my characters take control of where the plot is going."

She's currently working on a book, Lost and Found, about two young boys who raised themselves after their father left for Desert Storm and their mother passed away. The father never got over the death of his wife and never came back for them. So they track him down and work for him as handymen around his house during the summer, without him acknowledging who they are. They grow up and the oldest becomes a lawyer who takes on the case of a female colleague in search of her missing sister who has been abducted; however, someone from inside the police department doesn't want the sister found. As they dig deeper, they find out why.

I asked Lorelei how she came up with her titles.

"Sometimes I can put a title to it from the beginning and it changes throughout the writing process. Other times the titles don’t work for me until the very end. In the Deadly series, the last one was named ‘Aah’ until I finished it and titled it Deadly Deliverance. My current WIP was titled ‘Two Lost Boys’ until I got into it more and now its titled Lost and Found. We’ll have to see if that title sticks."

Lorelei writes in a bedroom they converted into an office with a wooden cherry desk, credenza and numerous bookshelves. She's always been into scrapbooking and genealogy, so their family history surrounds her on the bookshelves. There's also a large window that opens to the back yard and she can daydream while watching the birds and squirrels and their funny escapades.

When she's in her office, people know not to bother her, because she's working just as if she had a real job. She writes every day except on the weekends when she does household chores, laundry, and spends time with her husband. She also enjoys reading and scrapbooking in her down time.

"I have a grandchild now, four years old, and I want to capture his life in pictures just as I did my two boys," she explained.

On a more personal note, Lorelei had never wanted a dog until her son and his wife gave her one for Christmas five years ago.

"His name is AJ (Apple Jack of Aces) and he is a long-haired Chihuahua," she told me. "He weighs five pounds and can be found at my feet, on my desk or chair with me at all times. He has brought so much joy to me. I can talk to him and he doesn’t talk back. Man, has he heard some stories."

Other than AJ, she has a love for horses. Her sister lives on a horse ranch in Tennessee, and Lorelei tries to get there to ride every year. She loves the smell of horse and fine leather.

"I have often thought about writing a modern day ranch/western and still may do it," she told me.

About the Author: Good morning! This is my first time being interviewed so I’d better introduce myself. I’m Lorelei Confer and I write romantic suspense.

An author of romantic suspense I love reading almost as much as writing. I have filled my book shelves with my favorites, i.e. Harlan Colban, Eliza March, Johanna Lindsey, Kathy Carmichael, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Andrew Gross, Terri Garey, Karen Rose, LuAnn Rice, and Bobbi Smith just to mention a few, as well as all the classics.

I live on a peninsula in the mid west coast of Florida with my husband, two cats, and AJ, my long haired Chihuahua.

I love hearing from readers so please visit my website: www.LoreleiConfer or blog at www.LoreleiConfer.blogspot.com.

INTERVIEW: LAURI OWEN

2012-01-16T04:00:00.001-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to welcome Lauri Owen who is currently working on book three of the Ember Series, which starts at the very moment book two ends.

"Will this third book end the series?" I asked.

"I think not," she said.

Lauri's been researching and writing nonfiction since high school, telling me, "I was forced to produce more nonfiction prose than in humane throughout college."

She also writes a lot as a lawyer, but never tried her hand at writing fiction until a few years ago.

"The first night I sat down to write, I tapped out a little more than 9,000 words. I wish my next sentence was, 'And I was shocked at how great I was at fiction writing!' However, the truth is that I sucked. Bad," she said with a laugh. "I loved my story, though, and I kept at it, and after about 300,000 edits, I got it where I liked it. I’ve never looked back."

Lauri has two favorite authors: Terry Pratchett and Katharine Kerr.

"Mr. Pratchett writes the Discworld series, and his books are some of the best written books ever put to paper. Their humor will lull you, the innate sweetness will comfort you, but their intellectual depth will shock you, but not in a bad way. His characters are so well turned that you feel like you know them. I’ve never seen a better character creator," she explained. "Ms. Kerr writes the Deverry series, a fantasy kingdom based on ancient Wales, and her writing so ensnares me that I’ve missed train stops (and even once flunked a test because I missed my stop – lost in a scene -- and had to take a train back, and then was late to class), and every single time I reread a passage in any of her books to try and deconstruct how she created such a compelling scene, I get lost in the plot and forget. Every time."

The most important thing about good writing, Lauri told me, is being able to make the characters come alive.

"Don’t write your story from a tower, or from some idea in your head: live your book," she urged. "See every act happening through your own eyes – feel every emotion your characters feel – when you write. It’s easy to write from the head, but it creates a distance your reader cannot breach. If you live your characters’ lives, so will your readers, and just as you can’t forget their pain, and their joy, neither will your readers."

Charlaine Harris' books have heavily influenced Lauri's own style. She loves the one character POV, the way things are hidden, and how challenging it is to lead her main character to find all she needs to learn.

"Some things she never knows, just like real life, and that is both good and bad," Lauri said. "Jim Butcher is another author I struggle to emulate in some ways. His writing is so flawless, and so fun."

Lauri sits on a barstool next to the wall at her kitchen bar and types on a tradition keyboard attached by a USB to her laptop. She hangs maps she creates and pictures of people who look like her characters around her, then she will put on her headphones, listens to a writing soundtrack she specially made, and types for hours…and hours…and hours.

"What is the one question you wish an interviewer would ask you?" I wondered.

“'What are the main messages that you want readers to take from you books?' And the answers, should someone ask, will be these: (1) Heroes aren’t born, and they aren’t always forged in fire. Heroes are ordinary people, people like you and me, who are faced with difficult circumstances, and make the right choices and stick to them, even though it would be easier to do something less difficult, and less right. Heroes are defined by ethics, and courage, and by one more thing that we don’t often think about anymore, despite that it’s no less important now than it was in past millennia. What is it? Honor. (2) Compassion and kindness do not equal weakness. In fact, the opposite is true. It takes a lot of strength to reach out again, to keep loving, after you’ve been hurt. (3) Beauty is a social construct, and not an independent fact. Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, and we need to start thinking about how we’ve been manipulated to believe in just a very few, and often impossible, ideals for both women and men, and then create space for the beauty existent all around us – in every person."

On a personal note, I asked her if she wanted a dog.

"What I really, really want is for no more dogs, and no more cats, to be euthanized at animal shelters. I am a huge rescue advocate, and donate all the proceeds from my books (plus lots more) to no-kill animal rescue. I am also owned by several rescued kitty companions. Spay and neuter your pets! Don't buy from breeders! Adopt from a shelter and save a life!"

"Have you ever cried during a movie?"

"This is a great question. Most people who know me see me as a tough, no-nonsense person, someone who’s considerably further on the strong side than the sensitive side. The truth, however, is that I am more than a little bit sentimental, and I cry every single time I read books or watch movies that touch me – like Feet of Clay and Mulan. "

Lauri told me that she was both a nerd and geek at time, while at other times she'd openly label herself a thug.

"At yet other times, I’d say I’m an intellectual," she continued. "Like Walt Whitman, I am vast and contain contradictions."

Finally, I asked, "What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?"

"First, writing is hard, heart wrenching work. Have you found your computer, or Xbox games, steal quality time from your family? Writing is worse. Writing – well, writing well – requires an enormous commitment, a lot of work, and sacrifices by you and all who love you, or at least love your time. Know this before you start. And if you do start, read. Read, read, read. Read every book you can get your hands on. I learn something from every single writer. Practice free writing. Write scenes. Dialogue. Listen to conversations around you, and then go write them down. You will probably suck at first. I sure did. But keep at it. Don’t give up. Be prepared to do fifty (or more) edits to your first manuscript. And when you’re ready to write, do some background preparation first. Sketch out your world. The overarching plot. Your characters. Then research. Write an outline, because if you don’t, your writing will meander and end up in places it shouldn’t be. Work on developing a better vocabulary. Stop using adverbs. Stick with it. Have faith that you’ll get better. Never give up."

They have won. With help from Kiera, Fire Mage, the shapeshifting slaves of Fairbanks have broken their chains, and then lifted her to govern their city. But Kiera and her co-rulers struggle to integrate the former slaves and the remaining mages.

A worse threat outside Fairbanks waits to fracture the fragile peace. Governor Vrishka, the Skani Water Mage of Barrow, has marched an army from the North, and sends terms: Surrender Fairbanks and restore the Skani mages to rule, or he will raze the city and kill all the shifters. He gifts them ten turns of the sun to make their decision.

Halfway through the armistice a devastating blow steals all hope for Fairbanks’ victory, and crushes Kiera’s heart. Can she summon the strength to transcend her grief and find a way to defeat Vrishka? If so, what price is she willing to pay? Five days—and a city—await her decision.

Welcome to the Alternate Alaska, where those born with the power to control the elements rule as nobility over those who cannot. For now.

INTERVIEW: ROCHELLE WEBER

2012-01-12T04:00:00.001-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to welcome Rochelle Weber, author of the Moon Rock series, Rock Bound and Rock Crazy.

When I asked Rochelle what got her interested in writing, she told me, "I don't know that I ever actually became 'interested' in writing. When I was about seven, I had chicken pox and I read all of my Little Golden Books, got tired of coloring and wrote a story. I was adopted, but when I would try to read to my granddaughter, she would take the book, look at the pictures and make up stories to match, so I think it’s in our blood. In high school, I wrote Cherry Ames into The Rat Patrol.”

Rochelle tends to start with the plot first. She shared with me how she came up with the plot for Rock Crazy.

"I found myself divorced in a town where the only other person I really knew was the woman my husband left me for. When he dumped her before I even knew they were together, she convinced me he was going to disappear with my kids and that I had to do so first. Like Scott in Rock Crazy, he was a rent-a-tech who worked outages at various nuclear power plants. He could pick up the phone and have a job across country in five minutes, so I believed her. After we got the kidnapping and custody thing worked out, I went back to school and majored in writing. And the book I started was partly autobiographical, working out my angst about the divorce. That book evolved into Rock Crazy some twenty years after college.

"Then, I decided to write a bit of back-story about some of the secondary characters and they took over and became Rock Bound. Come to think of it, I had a plot there, too. Katie looked down her nose at the prisoners who settled Rockton, the city on the Moon in which she finds herself abandoned by her husband, Scott. In their case, she’s bi-polar and he divorces her to convince her to have brain surgery. At any rate, the plot for Rock Bound was how these prisoners got arrested and settled the Moon. Since it pre-dated Rock Crazy, I published it first.

"In my WIP, Crystal Lady, the plot again came first. I thought about writing a third Moon Rock book, but the characters aren’t speaking to me, and I don’t have a good plot idea."

She's also struggling with a good conflict for Crystal Lady, but someone suggested she write about her eating disorder and weight loss. She might make the happenings in Crystal Lady the character's reward for losing over 100 pounds. Rochelle herself is about 2/3 or maybe even ¾ of the way to her goal. She started at 296 pounds and her goal is to get to 130/140.

"How do you come up with the titles to your books?" I wondered.

"I think the title sort of comes with that first glimmer of the plot. When I lived in Hawaii, I lost both of my parents and gave birth to both of my children. Everything was ridiculously expensive and the Hawaiians have no love for the military. Hawaii is paradise if you’re a tourist with plenty of money, not if you’re a young, pregnant, military wife who knows your father is dying back in Chicago with a nine-hour flight and a five-hour time change between you and home. I referred to it as 'this God-forsaken rock.' The Moon became 'that God-forsaken rock' and Rock Crazy came from there. Katie is going crazy on it. Annie and Jake were bound for the Moon in the first half of Rock Bound, and then bound to it as indentured slaves in the second half."

Rochelle thinks of Rock Bound and Rock Crazy as parts of the same story, even though they can each stay alone.

"I think I’ve lived with Annie and Jake (Rock Bound) longer than I lived with Katie and Scott, since Rock Bound went through Inara Press and Red Rose, and I finally self-published last Spring," she told me.

Rochelle confesses to being a TV junkie and said she needed to get better at turning the laptop on and doing evening chats with the TV on.

"I reach a saturation point with the computer and turn on the tube. I also get tired when the chat loops end up talking about sex. There’s some sex in my books, but they’re more about feelings," she explained. "In Rock Bound, Annie’s a sex slave and the scene where she’s with a client is more about her feelings than the mechanics of what’s going on. But, I also love playing Buzztime Trivia and Tuesday nights are trivia nights. I sing karaoke, as well—even when I’m sober. Like Katie, I’m bi-polar so I don’t drink. Besides not mixing well with my meds, alcohol metabolizes as sugar so it’s not part of my food plan."

I asked her to tell us a little bit about her latest book.

Katie McGowan is bi-polar, and she’s run the gamut of medications, but nothing works anymore. Everyone says her she should have a microchip implanted in her brain that can regulate her mood swings. But Katie doesn’t want to be a robot. In a tough love move, her husband, Scott takes her to the Moon—and dumps her. Katie’s stuck on that God-forsaken “rock,” and thinks she’s space sick. But she’s wrong; she’s pregnant. Now the surgery’s too dangerous and she has to go off her meds until the baby’s born.

Scott’s elated that he’s going to be a father and assumes Katie will take him back. He has no clue how badly he’s hurt her, how thoroughly he’s broken her trust—or that he may not get her back at all.

"If you went to the Moon, what would you take with you?"

"My Kindle and my laptop. Yesterday was a disaster. My granddaughter asked me to take her and her friends to Great America. We left the house around 1:30 or so, but by the time we went to her friend’s house and got passes for some of the kids (not all), and I took a road that veered south and added a good twenty minutes to the ride, it was about 3:15 when I dropped the kids off. I didn’t realize Great America closed at 6:00. I left my laptop at home. If I’d had it with me, I’d have answered these questions at the mall while I was waiting for the kids. If I’d had my Kindle, I’d have spent about $3.00 at a food court and read while I waited for the kids. I forgot both. I ended up going to a movie and spending way more than I planned. And I’m getting these questions out a day later than I planned as well. I am never leaving home without at least Kindle and probably my laptop again."

"You can erase any horrible experience from your past," I told her. "What will it be?"

"I realize that which doesn’t kill us makes us stronger, and the alternative timeline might have gotten me mixed up in the Enron hassle, but in 1997 I was temping at Arthur Andersen Accounting and they asked if I would like to go permanent. I gave them my resume and was quite happy about it.

"Then my world fell apart with a phone call to my daughter. My eighteen-month-old grandson, Alex, was in the hospital. He had e-coli. I wanted to rush down to Mattoon, Illinois, to be there with them but she said not to come. It was December 17, so I went Christmas shopping. The next morning I called the hospital to see how he was and they said he wasn’t a patient there. I thought he’d gone home so I called my daughter’s apartment and her roommate said his kidneys had failed and they’d transferred him to the Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. I ran out of Arthur Andersen crying, and lost my job there. Although my co-workers did leave a Christmas card with a generous gift with my temp agency.

"E-coli destroys blood cells. They couldn’t put Alex on hemo-dialysis so they had to resort to a less-effective method called peritoneal dialysis. The peritoneum is the membrane that encloses the abdominal cavity. It is the most permeable membrane in the body. They fill the abdominal cavity with fluid that draws toxins out of the peritoneum and leave it in for about an hour, and then drain it. As I said, it’s not as efficient as hemo-dialysis. Toxins still built up in his blood.

"Before it was over, Alex spent a day in a vegetative state. His eyes were open, but he clearly was not there. That night (December 22), he had a grand-mall seizure and cardiac/respiratory arrest. They revived him and put him into a medically-induced coma. Over the next two days they replaced all of the plasma in his blood twice. On Christmas Eve they took him off the ventilator and he breathed on his home and on Christmas Day he gave us a teaspoon of urine. That turned out to be his only output for four months. I think it’s because I sat by his bed singing 'I’m Dreaming of a Wet Diaper,' and 'All I Want for Christmas is a Wet Diaper.'

"It is extremely rare for babies that age to survive hemolytic-uremic syndrome brought on by exposure to e-coli. They figured someone at Alex’s daycare didn’t wash their hands after they changed a dirty diaper, but they couldn’t prove it. Alex is fifteen now and still on medication and a restricted diet. He may still need a kidney transplant. If I could erase anything from my life, I would spare my grandson and our family that trauma."

Finally, I asked Rochelle, "What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?"

"Don’t quit. Keep writing; keep honing your craft. Take courses and listen to your beta readers and your editors. PLEASE listen to your editors. No one’s baby is too precious to benefit from the advice of more experienced, wiser heads. If you really think your editor is off, get a second opinion. I recently reviewed a book in which every use of the plu-perfect tense had been removed. The author said her editor made her remove the word 'had' everywhere it occurred. I think that editor was a bit confused about the difference between legitimately using plu-perfect tense and passive voice. Meanwhile, she missed major continuity issues such as the sun setting about an hour after breakfast."

About the Author:Rochelle Weber is a Navy veteran and holds a BA in Communications from Columbia College in Chicago with an emphasis on creative writing. Her first novel, Rock Bound, is available at Create Space, Smashwords, Amazon and BN.com and the second book in the series Rock Crazy is available from MuseItUp Publishing. She edits the Marketing for Romance Writers Newsletter. Rochelle fights her own battle with bi-polar disorder, quipping, “You haven’t lived until you’ve been the only woman on the locked ward at the VA.” Her song, It’s Not My Fault, won a gold medal in the National Veterans Creative Arts Competition.

www.RochelleWeber.com

INTERVIEW: ANGELA ADAMS

2012-01-11T04:00:00.002-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to welcome Angela Adams, whose short story "Burgers and Hot Chocolate" appears in Whimsical Publications anthology Winter Wonders. Angela Adams is actually her pen name—well, one of them.

"I have two pen names," she confessed. "I started using a pen name to write book reviews. Then I took a second name for fiction to separate the two. I was looking for something that was easy to say and remember, so I became Angela Adams."

Angela told me that she's kept a journal for as long as she can remember.

"English/Composition, now known in schools as Language Arts, was always my favorite subject," she remembered. "As far as starting to write to be published, I was a Liberal Arts major in college with a lot of English classes. I started submitting stories that I wrote for class to the small, literary magazines."

So, she admits she's been writing "many, many years." It's not so much a matter of what inspired her to write, it was a matter of who inspired—as in encouraged—her grandmother.

"At ten years old, I was writing short stories that were about two copybook pages long. There were no computers back then. I showed my grandmother a hand-written story about a young woman waiting to go to Hollywood to be an actress, and after the typical grandmotherly sentiments, she added, 'You need a typewriter.' She got me one that Christmas."

"When did you first consider yourself a writer?" I asked.

"Before transferring to the university in Vermont, I started classes at a local community college. The college had a writing contest each semester. My second year attending, I won for short fiction. So along with the accolades from friends, family, and professors came a check, all of which made me feel like a writer. I went on to sell that story several years later, but it was that initial recognition of winning the award that made me feel like a writer."

In recent years, Angela told me that she's become a big Robyn Carr and Susan Mallery fan, because she's all for that Happy Ever After ending.

"Plus, both these authors write characters who endear themselves to the reader," she explained. "I love Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series, mostly because the place, Virgin River, leaves me nostalgic for the small town in Vermont where I went to college. This summer, after I read in a trade magazine that she had just signed to write nine more books in the series, I sat down and read each Virgin River book again, back to back. There was no waiting for the next book to be released since I only had to grab it off my shelf. I read all fifteen books in about two weeks. It was great, like watching a mini-series on television.

"Susan Mallery is another author who writes series. I love her Fool’s Gold series. Especially her third book, Finding Perfect, since we got to see the teenager from a previous series, Raoul Moreno, as an adult male/hero."

For Angela, the most important elements of good writing center around the central characters, or in romance—the hero and heroine.

"If the hero isn’t someone I can fall in love with and the heroine, not the co-worker I want to meet for lunch and swap stories about our lousy work day, then I’m not really interested in what happens to them in the story," she said. "I feel strongly that if readers care about the characters, they want to know what happens with them.

"And I’m not saying that I have to identify with the characters or their dilemmas. I have friends whose point of view I can’t understand. But they have other qualities that I admire. They’re supportive, honest, compassionate. Those are the traits I look for in my characters, both those I read and those I create."

Because of this, in her own writing, the characters always come first. She will figure out who they are, give them qualities and traits, then will say to herself, "Okay, if this should happen, what would he/she do?" In "Burgers and Hot Chocolate," Kelly was created first, then Will, and Theresa was last. Then, Angela mused over a situation that could bring them together.

I asked her to tell us a little bit about this latest project.

"I kind of have The Long and Short Reviews to thank for being involved with Whimsical Publications and this project. I view LASR and Whipped Cream websites weekly, always checking out the Thrifty Thursday Short Story and Author Interview. One week, I was clicking on the banner ads, and I saw Whimsical Publications’ notice that they were looking for short stories for a winter anthology.

"A collection of nine stories, Winter Wonders, was released on December 12th. Authors like Janet Durbin ("If Only"), Sharon Donovan ("Christmas Angel"), Regina Puckett ("Hearts of Fire"), and Melissa Hosack ("Saving Santa") have previous books with Whimsical. Also included in the anthology are S.M. Senden ("Till Death Do Us Part"), Paul McDermott, ("Long Winter"), Jenny Twist ("Mantequero"), Jane Wakely ("Christmas Hope"). The unique feature of this book is the variety. There’s a mixture of contemporary romance along with a melancholy tone and a bit of the paranormal.

"If I had to describe my story, "Burgers and Hot Chocolate", in one word, that word would be 'heartwarming'. Set during the holiday season, in the small coastal village of Magic Lake Island (I combined my fondness for small town Vermont with my love of the New Jersey shore), "Burgers and Hot Chocolate", is the story of a widower, his five-year-old daughter, and a volunteer in the elementary school’s After School Program.

"Will Keegan just doesn’t know how to let Theresa Reynolds know he’s interested in her. At the school’s holiday concert, little Kelly does her part to get her father’s message across."

Angela likes to listen to the radio when she's writing. Sometimes, a song she hears, the title, a line from the song, or whoever is singing will give her an idea for a story title. The radio is also useful in coming up with the names of her characters.

"I’m a big baseball fan, and several times while I’ve been listening to a game, the first name of the player who came up to bat became the name of my character," she shared.

She also listens to a lot of classic rock and the oldies.

"I was writing part of "Burgers and Hot Chocolate" when the Four Tops started singing and they ended up in my story (along with a few other of my favorites like The Supremes and The Beatles). I typed a line and said to myself, 'that works,'" she told me.

I asked her to tell us about her favorite character.

"My grandmother was a big reader and she would pass her paperbacks on to me. She gave me a book, when I was maybe 12 or 13, titled Joy in the Morning by Betty Smith. Published in the 1960s and set in pre-depression era New York, the heroine Annie McGairy Brown, comes to New York to be with her law student husband, Carl. They have little money, no friends, and are pretty much ostracized from their families for getting married so young. She also gets pregnant. Annie is a strong person who faces every challenge thrown her way with a positive disposition and confident outlook.

"Although this book was written over fifty years ago, Annie is exactly the type of heroine a writer wants to write and a reader wants to read no matter what the time period."

INTERVIEW: LAURA BRIGGS

2012-01-09T04:00:00.001-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to welcome Laura Briggs here to talk with us about her latest releases, Ghosts of Romances Past, an inspirational romance from White Rose Publishing, Dear Miss Darcy, publishedand The Fairy Godmother's Apprentice, the third installment in Laura's The Dark Woods series.

"Ghosts of Romances Past is about a young woman whose imagination seems to be haunting her in the form of three dynamic women from her past– all of whom have opinions on why her love life is imperfect. As an indie author, my latest release is Dear Miss Darcy, a novel about a modern-day descendant of the Bennet-Darcy alliance who works as a love columnist at a London newspaper– and is hiding a secret about her own love life from everyone around her, including the playboy antagonist whose personal life may make or break her career. It's the first full-length romantic novel I've published as well as my first salute to Regency-themed literature."

Laura started loving books around junior high and checked out tons from the library, mostly mysteries like The Spotlight Club and the Brillstone books. A few years later, she started reading classics like Jane Eyre and The Last of the Mohicans because they seemed like books everyone should read.

"I ended up loving and re-reading most of them," she told me. "I wanted to write a story that had the same effect on someone else, the kind of book that invites a reader to come back to it again and again."

It's a tossup between Jane Austen and Charles Dickens for her favorite author.

"I love their intricate plots and the color and attention given to even the smallest characters," she explained. "And I really enjoy the thread of humor that runs through Austen’s novels and the fiery wit of the heroines. I also love the way she makes you think the story couldn’t possibly have a happy ending and then, somehow, she manages to pull it all together at the last moment."

In her own writing, Laura tends to lean towards popular story lines or scenarios that are "classics" in romance, but the ultimate criteria is how effective it sounds as a simple, one-line scenario. She likes to bounce ideas of close friends and family members.

"If the mere mention of a scenario produces the right reaction– such as a laugh or a smile– then I know this is a story I probably want to write," she said.

In nine out of ten cases, the plot will come first with her. She starts with a "what if" scenario—an adventurous proposition, an alternate path, a simple mistake– then she builds the story bigger. She's noticed that, for her, in most cases the characters will fall automatically into place, then she fleshes them out through plot development.

"If a role doesn't fill itself naturally, I often picture actors or characters from my favorite stories and try them out as possibilities who could be molded or cast as the part," she said.

She has recently read The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King.

"It’s a fun take on Sherlock Holmes’s retirement period, with a spunky teenage girl replacing Watson as the sidekick. I spent last summer reading the bulk of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories, and since then I’ve gotten hooked on some of the new adaptations, like the BBC’s Sherlock and the Robert Downey Jr. Film," she told me. "I love classic crime and mystery books, including Agatha Christie and Mary Roberts Rinehart. In fact, I’d love to branch into the mystery genre for future works, though romance is primarily on the schedule for now."

"When did you first consider yourself a writer?" I wondered.

"That’s kind of hard to say, since I did a LOT of writing before I ever got a contract from a publishing company. While I was still in college, I worked on a few ideas for Contemporary Romances, submitting partials to contests for feedback. In between, I wrote freelance articles for different websites. Getting the contract for Only in Novels was a new kind of thrill, though. Even though it was only available in eBook format, it was so incredible to see its cover art and product page, and to know that it was for sale, competing with so many other books."

Only in Novels is set in a bookstore, as the heroine struggles to save her floundering business. And the hero– a famous adventure novelist– gets booked for a signing by mistake and ends up helping her.

"Of course, there are a ton of references to my favorite books and literary characters," Laura shared.

When she's not writing, Laura likes to read books ("lots of them," she admitted), and rewatch her favorite films. She also likes hunting antique or vintage copies of her favorite books at flea markets and spends some time doing "necessary" landscaping projects.

"A lot of my non-writing time is spent paving the way for other writing-related projects, such as book trailers, promotional ideas, drafting submission letters, etc.," she said.

Most of the readers she hears from come in the form of reviews on Amazon or other sites, but she does have a blog and a Facebook page for fans to visit, www.paperdollwrites.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/authorlaurabriggs, where she posts book trailers, deleted scenes, and interactive things like polls or giveaways. She also creates fan pages for current book series.

On a personal note, Laura told me that her strangest habit is probably her tendency to clean things when she's frustrated--scrubbing sinks, sweeping floors, tackling mold and mildew.

"Strange, I know, since most people feel less enthusiasm for cleaning when they're upset," she said, "but it's the first habit I turn to when I'm feeling stressed."

Her favorite animal is probably cats.

"I’ve had a lot of them through the years, and I find that they’re just as affectionate as dogs, but in a low-key sort of way. They have such unique personalities and little quirks too. And I love their strong sense of independence."

Finally, I asked, "Can you taste the difference between Pepsi and Coke? If so, which do you prefer?"

"I’ve always thought that Pepsi tasted a lot stickier and sweeter than Coke. I love a good, ice cold Coke on summer days or with a juicy hamburger on the side. Although, I don’t really drink sodas all that often, " she admitted with a laugh. "I probably don’t even have one per week now that I’m no longer a college student with an endless supply from the cafeteria soda dispenser."

About the Author: Laura Briggs graduated from a small liberal arts college in Missouri with a degree in English. She is an author of both indie and traditionally published fiction, including the CAPA award nominated Only in Novels.

http://www.paperdollwrites.blogspot.com/

INTERVIEW: LAURA PEDERSEN

2012-01-06T04:00:00.000-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to welcome Laura Pedersen, who is with us to promote her newest release Fool's Mate, which was published in October 2011. Laura lives in New York City and teaches at the Booker T. Washington Learning Center in East Harlem.

Set in the adrenaline-pumping world of television journalism, Fool's Mate introduces readers to Josie Kincaid, a 28-year old talented, aggressive and street-smart journalist at a cable news network. Laura told me that it's "a newsroom rom-com. This genre is not unknown to us, but in the past I always found that a man played the clever, witty, rogue reporter who knows what's really going on and is prepared to use unorthodox methods to prove it. I thought it would be fun to let a woman have that role, and also include more emphasis on politics versus morality."

She's always enjoyed telling stories in an attempt to make people laugh (in the process, disrupting class was a secondary plus), so writing them down was a logical progression. She won a number of essay contests in middle-school and high school. A number of her stories have also won contests run by magazines and literary journals, but her first book was published when she was 24.

"Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?" I wondered. "If so, what do you do about it?"

"Usually it's because I'm facing a problem of getting characters from A to B, or working out the ending of a book, and in that case I try to muscle through the trouble spot. However, I think sometimes that writer's block means the project isn't viable or else your heart isn't in it and you should reconsider."

When she is stuck on a plot problem or title, she has a unique way of solving it—she goes rollerblading.

Laura has a book of humorous travel essays on India coming out next July, called Planes, Trains, and Auto-Rickshaws. Her particular area of interest was how women and children are faring with all the social economic changes underway as opposed to the usual yoga and meditation route.

"I'm too hyper for that," she admitted. "Maybe a toe ring would work."

In her own reading, Laura's usually in the middle of more than one book. Recently she was reading Will Rogers by Richard E. White, Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson, The Penguin Anthology of 20th Century American Poetry edited by Rita Dove, Must You Go? by Antonia Fraser, and Rome by Robert Hughes. Her favorite author is Nora Ephron because her work is smart, funny, and well-crafted. She also enjoys humor based on experiences so she's been encouraged by the popularity of work by Bill Bryson, P.J. O'Rourke, Erma Bombeck, Betty MacDonald, and Carol Batrus. You can find a list of her favorite funny books by women at http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/Funny-Books-Written-by-Women/643.

"How do you come up with the titles to your books?" I asked.

"A good title is difficult to find and I'm not good at coming up with them. The hardest thing is knowing that you don't have it yet and to just keep trying. Johnny Carson once said about having a talk show that you'll eventually use everything you've ever knew. The same is true of wracking your brain for a title -- take the Bible, poetry, expressions, cliches, song lyrics, Shakespeare, etc., dump it all in the mind blender and turn to high."

On a more personal note, Laura told me that she always wants more dogs—she currently has three, but said, "It's not nearly enough, but I can't find a larger bed than a king."

"Do you have any strange handwriting habits?"

"I'm a lefty, what they like to call a 'pusher' (as opposed to a 'hooker'), so my handwriting is basically a mess and I just aim for legibility," she explained. "I tend to mix cursive and print from word to word or even letter to letter, which is strange and probably means I'm repressing some horrific childhood memories. On the bright side, had I been born ten years earlier the nuns would've tied my left hand behind a chair and I'd be a damaged righty right now."

She wouldn't want to erase any horrible experience from her past because, as she told me, " In the writing biz every bad experience is more material."

Laura's heritage is Danish and Black Irish—"The two reasons I've never had a drink of alcohol," she told me. In fact, she only drinks water.

Sayings that she uses a lot include "See you on the ice" (she's from Buffalo) and "Stir your stumps" (when she tells the kids she teaches when they need to get up and get moving).

"Also, we Irish like to say, 'Give us the tune you sang at your mother's wedding,'" she told me, and her dad's favorite saying when asked "How are you?" was to respond, "I got up this morning."

"If you could wish for anything, what would it be?" I asked.

"Don't we all wish for the same --- world peace and a TV channel devoted to rhythmic gymnastics?"

Finally, I asked Laura, "What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?"

"Many people ask for writing info and since I really do want to offer the best advice I have to offer I've collected the info on my web site at http://www.laurapedersenbooks.com/author/interview6.asp."

About the Author: Laura Pedersen grew up Buffalo, New York; she now lives in New York City. Laura's first novel, Going Away Party, won the Three Oaks Prize for Fiction and her second novel, Beginner's Luck, was selected for Barnes & Noble's "Discover Great New Writers" program. Best-known for her award-winning series featuring Hallie Palmer (Beginner's Luck, et. al.) and nonfiction books about Buffalo from Fulcrum Publishing (Buffalo Gal and Buffalo Unbound), Pedersen’s trademark wit and colorful characters are front and center in her latest novel, Fool's Mate. To read more about the author, visit www.LauraPedersenBooks.com.

INTERVIEW: Megs Burd

2012-01-04T04:00:00.001-05:00

Long and Short Reviews is pleased to welcome Megs Burd, whose debut novel On the Piazza was released from Uncial Press in May. I asked her to tell us a little bit about the book.

In On the Piazza, Maggie is a young woman recently relocated to Milan for work. Feeling out-of-place and a little lonely in the foreign country, she finds enjoyment sitting on her favorite bench in a nearby Piazza. One day, a handsome stranger named Alessandro joins her on the bench, and a friendship blossoms. Soon, however, the budding friendship is threatened by a jealous acquaintance from Alessandro’s past, leaving Maggie to wonder if the friendship could ever possibly be something more…

Megs has always loved to write in a variety of genre, but discovering romance writing really sparked her interest to get out there and pursue writing with dedication. She wrote for some local papers during her grad school years, as well as doing PR writing for some of the local companies and fashion folks in Denver.

However, she never thought her first book would be a romance. In fact, she'd never even imagined reading or writing romance at all. Luckily, she stumbled on a great blog that inspired her to look into the world of romance books, and after a co-worker lent her some, Megs decided this was a romance she could really write in. She did some research into romance structure and character types, then learned about the romance publishing world some.

Then, for her first published novel, Megs literally dreamed up the plot and characters.

"I had been watching the World Cup games, and one night dreamed of sitting on a plaza with the Argentinean soccer coach. When I woke up, I knew I had an idea for a story, and got to writing it almost immediately on lunch at work that day! My brain must like to think while it’s sleeping- I have the hardest time thinking of characters and plots while I’m awake, but I seem to get the best ideas for them in my dreams!"

The actual writing of the story was the easy part. Megs was able to get the story on paper in a remarkably short time. However, as a first time author, she then had the difficulty of figuring out what to do with it.

"I was pretty nervous about that part!" she confessed. "I did a lot of research on romance publishers, and tried to find the best fit for my book. Thankfully, I found Uncial Press, and they’ve been a dream to work with!"

"What is your work schedule like when you are writing?" I asked her.

"Sometimes, I feel like my days fly by, so finding time to sit down and focus on writing can be a challenge. I tend to wait until I have an inspiration, then do a little outline (if it’s a longer piece) and fire away on it whenever I have a free moment. I like to write when I’m sitting in Fashion Denver (a boutique I work at on the weekends) since it provides a stylish, pretty atmosphere full of amazing clothes I can describe in my writing. A portable laptop or ipad is so handy for such things!"

"What do you like to do when you’re not writing?" I asked.

"I have some sort of twitchy nervousness that makes me want to keep busy all the time. If I’m not writing, I’m usually going to a fashion show or running the showroom shop at Fashion Denver (a local fashion collective), or performing in the band Itchy-O (we’re an electronic marching band- I am the back end of the dancing lion costume!) ,hosting bar bingo, playing kickball, or racing around. My boyfriend calls me a party animal- I prefer 'Social Gad-about.'"

She's also not very good at sitting at home and writing, because she tends to turn on the TV or play with the cat if she's sitting still. Having a laptop allows her to pick up and move around a lot. She's done a lot of writing in coffee shops—although she admits to sometimes overdoing it on the coffee.

On a personal note, I asked her if she wanted a dog.

"I’m a cat person myself- We never had dogs growing up, and I’ve worked with and lived with cats pretty much all my life. However, my boyfriend is pretty intent on getting a dog when we move to an actual house or bigger place, and I’m more than happy to learn how to love a dog!"

Megs also said she doesn't like how she looks in pictures, but there may be a reason most of us hate how we look.

"I once read that people tend to dislike the way they look in pictures because we’re so used to seeing ourselves in the mirror, and all the things we’re used to are flipped and reversed, leaving us with a sense of disassociation," she explained. "I get that when I look at pictures of me- it looks familiar, it just seems slightly 'off' from what I see in the mirror. The human brain is funny like that!"

"What stereotype would you label yourself as?" I wondered.

"I guess, in some ways, you could call me a hipster- but maybe hipsters would disagree with that. I drink a lot of PBR, have an angled haircut, wear vintage stuff from thrift stores and local designers, play kickball, listen to indie bands, enjoy irony, hang out at divey bars, and attend a bunch of indie art shows. Yeah, I’m pretty much your hipster stereotype. Oh man. I’m not quite sure how to feel about that. "

She's also recently started writing her name all lower-case.

"You can see it on my book cover and author’s page! I started doing it for fun after reading bell hooks, but now I really like the look of it," she told me.

Megs is very much a night person and getting up in the morning is the toughest thing in the world for her. She'll usually let the snooze alarm go off at least three times and even then, she's usually running late to work.

"There’s so much more to do at night, and I love the nightlife!" she explained.

Finally, I asked, "What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?"

"Since I’m a fairly new writer just on my first book, I understand the feelings writers can go through when sending out their work for the first time! My advice would be to research your market and find some great publishers willing to work with first time authors. Don’t be afraid of rejection- just because your work didn’t fit one place doesn’t mean it won’t work for another publisher! I’m still learning myself, so I’m sure I’ll have more advice when I hopefully get more works out there!"

About the Author: On the Piazza is Denver-based writer megs burd’s first romance published with Uncial Press.

With green and purple hair, megs is a recognizable sight in the Denver scene. megs can often be found out and about, be it hosting Bingo at a local bar, performing with the experimental marching band Itchy-O, attending a fashion market at Fashion Denver, or playing kickball.

megs discovered romance novels not long ago, and is thrilled to read and write in the genre. Recently, megs started living her own romance story as a handsome gentleman moved into the apartment downstairs and she fell head-over-heels for her very own romantic hero.

INTERVIEW: Rachael Johns

2012-01-02T04:00:00.001-05:00

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Rachael Johns, whose debut novel, One Perfect Night, debuted last month with Carina Press. I asked her to tell us a little bit about her book.

"One Perfect Night is about voice talent Peppa Grant and her aloof but extremely sexy and infamous boss, Cameron McCormac. There’s a mix up of identity and a very steamy one night stand, but at the heart of this story is their issues. Peppa has been hurt almost irreparably before and Cameron has suffered a great loss that now affects his ability to get a good night’s sleep. Until he meets Peppa, he hasn’t stayed the night with a woman in a very long time. I have night terrors myself and I wanted to explore how these episodes could affect a sexy, successful hero!"

This book actually went through revisions with Mills and Boon before being contracted by Carina, Rachael told me. M&B liked her voice and parts of the story, but wanted her to take out the Christmas element, the family elements, and the boss/employee storyline.

"Basically, rewrite the story," Rachael said, "which I happily did, but I don’t think the passion stayed between the pages. My heart wasn’t in that story and the editors could tell. In the end, I followed my gut, went back to the original version and sent it off to Carina. I’m so pleased they loved it."
She's currently working on a book with the working title of Hollywood Heartbreak, according to Rachael, "because it’s set in Hollywood and the characters get heartbroken! Simple, right?"

The titles used to be really easy for Rachael. In fact, they used to just pop into her head and the story would often come after. Since she's started planning her plot, conflict, and characters more, she finds the titles a lot harder. In fact, One Perfect Night, changed its name numerous times as it went through submissions and revisions.

Hollywood Heartbreak is about an Aussie cultural anthropologist who goes to LA to collect her dead and estranged sister’s Oscar Award. There she meets her sister’s lover who immediately suspects the worst of her and makes it his business to tell her!

"I’m having fun writing about a place I’ve never been before," Rachael said, "and am hoping like hell there won’t be too many mistakes in terms of culture and setting."

Rachael told me that the reason she started writing was actually a funny, sad story.

"I liked this boy for four years in high school, before he finally felt sorry for me and asked me to the ball. After that we dated (well as much as you do in high school) for five months and then we broke up," she explained. "I dumped him in some weird hormonal swing and regretted it ten seconds later. I spent the next five years pining after him until I finally met my now hubby. I read Brigit Jones Diary by Helen Fielding just after I broke up with the boy and thought, hey, I can do that! So, instead of therapy, I wrote our story – rewriting the ending, so we did get together but then he died. I was eighteen!! Hopefully my stories have improved since then and are a little less morbid."

Even though it's been around fourteen years since she broke up with her high school sweetheart, she didn't get serious about writing commercial fiction until 2006, when a challenge with one of her friends from university resulted in both of them trying to write an M&B. Her friend never made it past the first chapter, but Rachael fell totally in love with romance."

She doesn't suffer from traditional writer's block, she told me. Her block is time. She has three sons under seven and a supermarket business, so she struggles to fit her writing in.

"I swear if there were more hours in the day, I’d be a very busy writer," she said.

"Who is your favorite author and why?" I wondered.

"That question is unfair! There are SO many. I’m a big Jenny Crusie fan, I LOVE British writer’s Lisa Jewell and Dorothy Koomson, but my author of the moment would have to be Susan Wiggs. I heard her at the 2011 Romance Writers of Australia conference and started reading her books just before this. She packs such emotional punch in a gripping plot that keeps you turning the pages until the early hours of the morning. I want to write a story that makes people stay up longer than they should," she said with a smile.

She told me that she thinks her family takes her writing more seriously that she does; that she continually has to remind herself that she's a writer, that it's not just a hobby.

"Like I couldn’t work out what occupation to put on our recent census form," she told me. "Duh! In the end I went with ‘Washerwoman’ – it was only the other day I realised I should have put ‘Writer’. I think maybe this is because I have always written, so it’s just part of who I am!"

I asked her to describe her writing space.

"Besides a mess, you mean? It’s a tiny, corner desk stuck in the corner (surprise surprise) of our dining room. It’s littered with papers, toys, books, more books, trolls (I used to collect them) and of course my computer. It also has the Doubt Demon and the Minxy Meercats – my faithful writing mascots. You can usually find a couple of empty glasses with Diet Coke stain in the bottom." She added with a smile, "And there’s a lot of pink."

"What is your work schedule like when you are writing?" I asked.

"You’re supposed to have a schedule? Oh dear! Well, I guess I kinda have one. It often gets interrupted but my writing generally happens like this. After getting the school-aged kids off to school, I do a few household chores and then put on Playschool for the littlies. They watch an hour of TV where I write (and check emails, blogs, etc). The idea is that I have a head start on the evening when the majority of my writing gets done. Throughout the day, my story is always on my mind, so in that way I’m always writing!"

She has dreams of when her kids are over, she'll have time to pamper other hobbies, but right now she doesn't have time to do anything else. Some of the hobbies she's interested in is scrapping, reading, baking cakes, and she has a deep desire to learn to quilt one day.

On a personal note, I asked Rachael if she wanted a dog.

"I did and then I got one. An Old English Sheepdog GIANT of a dog. I blame my mum who let me have every animal under the sun when I was a child but not a dog. Hubby couldn’t say no and so I got the dog I’d always dreamed of having. But let me tell you a BIG, SHAGGY, HIGH-MAINTENENCE dog is probably not the best-dog for a first timer and someone who isn’t really sure if they’re a dog person or not. Still, we love him lots, despite how often he lets off at my feet when I’m trying to write."

Even though she always wanted a dog, she admitted that her favorite animals are cats. Growing up she had pictures of kittens plastered all over her bedroom wall. And, even though she has a massive dog now, she still thinks that cats make so much more sense.

"They CLEAN themselves for a start!!" she said. "At this point I must share a quote from a key ring that I think sums cats up perfectly. 'Women and cats will do as they please, and men and dogs should just sit back and get used to the idea.'

Rachael hates how she looks in pictures, she told me, saying. "Doesn't everyone? I remember telling my wedding photographer that he MUST make me look good and I mustn’t have the double chin that always seemed to miraculously appear from NOWHERE when I was in a photo. He told me to point my shoulders back and stick my chin out. I try but I just feel awkward. Recently a friend took a photo of us both with her arm stretched out holding the camera. It was probably the best photo I’ve ever seen of me but she hated her image. Thank God for Photoshop. It’s actually the image with this interview."

Finally, I asked Rachael, "What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?"

"It’s not very original but READ!! And then read some more. A lot of the genre you want to write in but also other stuff to study the craft. If you really love a book, pick it to pieces to try and work out why and do the same for books you want to throw at the wall! Then have faith in yourself and your dream!!"

About the Author: Rachael Johns is an English teacher by trade, a mum 24/7, a supermarket owner by day, a chronic arachnophobic, and a writer by night. She rarely sleeps. Rachael received The Call from Angela James telling her Carina wanted to publish her book on April Fools Day and, when she told her friends, half of them wondered if it was a big joke. Luckily it wasn’t. As an active member of Romance Writers of Australia, Rachael has finaled and placed in a number of romance writing contests. Each success is uplifting and publication is her dream but even if none of this happened, she’d still write. It’s a much better option than ironing, which she refuses to partake in. Ever. Keep up with Rachael on her blog.

Holiday Mocha by Jennifer Anne F. Messing

2011-12-17T04:00:00.003-05:00

It’s December again. And here I am, sipping a delicious fruit punch, enjoying our church’s annual Christmas Party potluck which is always held at Patty Richards’ home. I’ve often thought someday when my children are grown I’d love to open my home for Bible study and other events.

Of course, before I can ever be a sweet and hospitable middle-aged woman with grown children I first have to get married! I must admit that, being 25, the thought of meeting Mr. Right, being courted and getting married has seemed more appealing than ever this past year. I think I’ve got an idea who Mr. Right is, but God hasn’t confirmed it to me yet—what I mean is, this man hasn’t ever asked me out. But I wish he would!

Another thing I don’t want to do is step ahead of God’s timing in my love life. Every time I’ve attempted to orchestrate things or tried to force a relationship to work, I’ve been hurt or my heart’s been broken. This time, I want to allow God to bring me His choice of a mate for me.

From across the room I catch my friend’s eye and smile at her. Janice has been my best friend since high school. She walks over and says, "You’ve got to try Patty’s Turkey Pot Pie. It’s mouth-watering."

I’m starving. Janice and I head for the buffet table. It’s beautifully spread with many of my favorite holiday dishes.

After filling our plates, Janice and I sit down at one of the tables. It feels so nice to chat and visit with her, just like old times. Ever since she got married two years ago, we haven’t had as much one-on-one girl time like we used to. I miss her!

"Can I get you pretty ladies something to drink?" asks a familiar male voice. I turn and see David Barnett setting his plate down next to mine. My heart quickens. David is looking quite handsome. His deep-set eyes are as blue as his crisp shirt.

"I’d like some punch, David," says Janice, smiling.

"And a 7UP for me," I add.

"I’ll be right back," David replies. Then he turns to go.

"David’s looking sharp today, isn’t he? Janice whispers.

"Uh-huh."

"Why don’t you ask him to go with you to your office party next Saturday? That wouldn’t come across as too forward, would it? Besides, it seems to me like David’s been paying you more attention lately."

Janice is well-meaning and a sweetheart. "I don’t think I want to do that," I reply. "Don’t misunderstand me—you know I think he’s cute . . . gorgeous, actually!" I chuckle softly. "He’s kindhearted and spiritually mature, and he’s doing a great job leading our young adults group. But I don’t think it’s too old-fashioned to want a man to make the first move. Besides, I’d also feel more confident that he’s the man God is bringing into my life if I don’t have to initiate things."

"You have a point," Janice replies. "But you can’t stop me from praying! I really do think the two of you would make a great pair."
I see David arriving with our drinks and I gently nudge Janice in a discreet way so she’s aware he’s back.

"You sounded beautiful singing your O Holy Night solo," David says, handing me the glass of 7UP.

I blush. His attention makes me wonderfully uncomfortable. "Thanks," I reply. "It’s one of my Christmas favorites."

"I think the whole church service flowed very well today," Janice says. "Say, Patty’s asking me to come and help set out some other desserts. Will you two excuse me?"

I know Janice is doing this on purpose! "How’s it going, David?" I ask, looking at him. "Anything new at work?"

He sits beside me and takes a bite of pumpkin pie. "We’re going to have a week-long advanced management training at West Coast Wireless in mid-January. I’m looking forward to it."

"That sounds exciting," I answer. "Our manager has mentioned we’ll be having further training some time next year. Right now, though, I’m just busy trying to get everything done in time for Christmas."

"Me, too." He nods.

"I’ve gotten most of my shopping done. This next week, I’m going to bake. That’s one thing I enjoy at Christmastime—baking cookies and treats and sharing them with friends and family."

"What do you like to bake?" he asks.

"I have a couple of favorites: cocoa fudge cookies and cheesecake brownies."

"Yummy!" David says, grinning. "Save some for me, will you?"

"I might be able to save you a piece or two," I tease. "I have a lot of friends who look forward to eating my cookies."

"Then I’ll just have to stop by and try them, won’t I?"

"Works for me."

"Christina," David says, looking into my eyes, "I’d love to get to know you better. A friend of mine helped direct and is playing a part in a local production of A Christmas Carol this upcoming Friday. Play starts at 8. Can I pick you up for dinner at 6, and then the play?"

Is this really happening?!?

"Sure, count me in."

"Oh, and afterwards, I’d like to take you out for a peppermint mocha and dessert at this awesome new café. It’s a cozy place. Sound good?"

"I’ll be looking forward to it all week," I answer, knowing this may be the best holiday mocha I’ve ever had. I think God can orchestrate a romance better than I can!

About the Author: Author, poet, speaker, and singer Jennifer Anne Messing of Portland, Oregon, is a wife, and mother of three children. She has a bachelor's degree in Religious Education and a diploma in Journalism and Short Story Writing. Jennifer Anne has had over 180 articles, short stories, and poems published in 55 different magazines and books including The Storyteller, Christian Fiction Online, Romancing the Soul, The Gem, Bible Advocate, Evangel, LIVE, and Seek. She also reviews classic and family-friendly movies as the Portland Classic Movies Examiner for Examiner.com. Jennifer Anne has authored two poetry gift books. Her second one, Morning's Promise: Poetic Moments in His Presence, will be published in 2012. Her website is:www.JenniferAnneMessing.com.

Author Interview with Rachel Brimble

2011-12-17T04:00:00.001-05:00

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to welcome Rachel Brimble, whose latest book Paying the Piper was released from Lyrical Press in September. I asked her to tell us a little bit about Paying the Piper.

"Paying The Piper is my longest and grittiest contemporary romance so far. It is set in the UK against the backdrop of city life and nightclubs. There is tension and suspense, heated attraction and tears. I loved writing this book and pray my readers enjoy it too."

Nightclub manager, Grace Butler is on a mission to buy the pub where her mother’s ashes are scattered – except the vendor wants to sell to anyone but her. And the vendor happens to be her father…with a secret Grace will do anything to uncover.

Social worker and all-round good guy, Jimmy Betts needs cash to buy a house for three special kids before their care home closes. In a desperate bid for cash, he agrees to a one-time ‘job’ for bad-man Karl Butler. But in a sudden turn of events, Jimmy finds himself employed by Karl’s beautiful, funny and incredibly sexy daughter, Grace.

Their lives couldn’t be more different – except for one binding thread. They’re both trying to escape the bonds of their fathers. But is it possible the only way they will ever be free, is to be together rather than alone?
Rachel told me she always wanted to be a writer.

"I am so happy to be living my dream and having a husband who is one hundred percent behind me. When I was young I wanted to be a journalist but got sidetracked and ended up working ten years in a bank," she said with a laugh. "So once I became pregnant with my second daughter I sat down and got on with it seriously before my writing was put on the back burner again."

Her first book, Searching For Sophie, was accepted and published in 2007.

Currently, Rachel's written six published novels, a seventh (her first romantic suspense in over three years) is under consideration at a publisher, and her eighth is with her agent.

I asked her which was her favorite and she said, "My favorite…is probably The Arrival of Lily Curtis which I loved writing and my readers and reviewers seem to have enjoyed the most. Next favorite is my latest release, Paying The Piper!."

She shared the working blurb of the romantic suspense with us.

Detective Sergeant Cat Forrester’s life revolves around her alcoholic mother and her career in the UK police force. When Jay Garrett, an old friend and “one off” lover calls asks for her help investigating the murder of their mutual friend at Templeton Cove on the English Riviera, Cat is torn. The case is out of her jurisdiction and her mother’s drinking is out of control – she shouldn’t leave her. But when Jay confides he feels it’s his fault their friend is dead and he could have prevented it, Cat has no choice but to go.

Jay is handsome, wealthy and successful but needs to make amends for the massive mistakes he’s made. Once a drug addict, Jay’s conscience is riddled with the wrongs he committed and he is desperate to prove to the people he hurt, and himself that he has turned his life around. Reunited with the girl he let go seven years before, Jay’s determination to avenge their friend’s death and make Cat his is all the motivation he needs to put things right.

Both struggling with their demons and anger, Cat and Jay seek solace in each other and join together to find a killer – and everlasting love. As their relationship deepens so does the danger – but will their love versus a killer’s hate triumph in the end?
All of Rachel's books have started with a character talking to her, she told me.

"Once I hear that voice and it won’t leave me alone, it takes me a while to figure out where their story fits. Because I write across the sub-genres of romance, the voice is in my head for quite a while before I know if their story is suspense, comedy, contemporary or Victorian. Once I have that figured out, I can move onto the plotting!"

Rachel's very lucky to have, as her writing space, a log cabin-type office in her back garden (backyard).

"I love working in there because it takes me away from the house and ‘normal life’," she told me. "I have two young children who are growing up fast and taking over the house with more and more stuff and more and more friends coming over so my office is my haven. One wall is completely covered with books and then I have a L-shaped desk with two walls covered in cork so I can pin up pictures and notes at will. The final wall is entirely windowed and gives me a view out onto the garden. Bliss!"

Rachel writes every day without fail, even if it's just starting a blog post or completing an interview. Her goal is for a thousand words a day, but with a part-time and have a young family, it's sometimes a challenge. She did receive one piece of advice that has helped her a lot, however.

"The best bit of advice I ever received was to allow myself to write a ‘dirty draft’," she explained. "If I would have known that it was okay to work all the way through a book from beginning to end and worry about fixing it later, I would have enjoyed the whole process a lot more."

The one thing she does do, on her way to meeting her goal, is "keep to my ‘dirty draft’ so any serious writing I do is at least moving my story forward. On my non-day job days, I aim for at least two thousand five hundred words so my average weekly output is around eight thousand."

On a more personal note, I told Rachel, "You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?"

"Being trapped on a roof for twelve hours after been caught up in the middle of the French floods last year. We were finally rescued by helicopter."

"What do you want to know about the future?" I asked.

"Whether I’ll hit the big time and earn enough money from my writing that my husband can give up work and we can cruise around the world while I write page-turning novels on my laptop."

Finally, I asked Rachel what's the one piece of advice she would give to a new writer.

"Just write – a full page can be polished, a blank page can’t."
You can keep up with Rachel on her blog, http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.com.

A Christmas Reunion by Elinor Carson

2011-12-10T04:00:00.003-05:00

“Mom, I’m going out,” Jared called up the stairs, pulling on a wool hat and taking his scarf off the hook.

His mother’s head poked out from the second floor. “Where are you going?”

“Just out, Mom,” he said, and immediately winced. He might be turning thirty this year, but something about being home made a man revert to being a kid again. The truth was he still didn’t have a Christmas present for his mom, and he wanted to get to the mall early before it got too crowded.

Undeterred, his mom started down the stairs. “Well if you’re headed out, do you mind running an errand? I thought I had plenty of yarn for your uncle’s sweater, but I want it to have more give in the waistline, if you know what I mean.”

“Mom, I should really--”

“Here’s what I need,” his mom barreled on, jotting something down on a piece of paper. “And from the store over on Carlston, please, not that other place. Just show it to the girls, they’ll know.”

So somehow, almost inexplicably, Jared found himself outside of Needles and Pearls, mentally groaning as he pushed open the door.

He could see why women liked this store, actually. It smelled good, like cinnamon or something, and everything was neatly tucked into baskets and pretty little displays. But he still felt like an idiot as he approached the counter.

“Hi, uh, can I ask you something?”

When the woman turned around with a bright smile, Jared did a double take. “Lainey?”

“Jared!” Lainey exclaimed, her face turning the lightest shade of pink as she registered his presence. “It’s been ages!”

It had been two years, actually, since they’d broken up and Jared left her sitting alone on a park bench just four blocks away. He could still remember the hauntingly beautiful sight of her, snow gently drifting down on her figure, which looked so small against the drift-covered lake. Jared had been leaving for a job in Barcelona, and Lainey hadn’t been ready to move away from everything she knew. Jared still thought of her as the one that got away.

“What are you doing here?” they asked simultaneously, and both echoed it with a slightly nervous laugh.

“My mom roped me in to doing some hours here, because we get so busy around Christmas,” Lainey said lightly.

“I had no idea this was your mom’s place!” But Jared had a feeling his own mother knew that fact very well. “I’m back in town for the holidays, and my mom asked me to pick something up for her.”

“Oh, well, let me help you with that.” Lainey smiled shyly at him, and Jared thought he felt his heart skip a beat.

“She wrote it down for me.” Jared handed her the slip of paper and couldn’t help but add, “You look really good, Lainey.”

She did look good. Just like he remembered, with those gentle curls of light brown hair and laughing, happy blue eyes. She was wearing a gray sweater dress that clung gently to her curves, and knee-high boots that caught his attention. And, when she noticed him eyeing her, that pretty pink on her cheeks intensified. He’d always loved to tease her and watch the blush stain her cheeks, to see her eyes grow glassy while he ran a hand along those curves and told her how beautiful she was.

“Um, we’ve got that yarn right here,” Lainey said a little too loudly as she pulled out a thick skein of dark green.

“Thanks,” Jared said, barely glancing at it. After dating Lainey for four years, he knew her every move, and he knew she could feel his eyes on her. And for some reason, he wanted her to know it. Suddenly he ached with the longing to touch her again, to hold her in his arms. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed her until just now.

“Listen, I’m looking for a present for my mom, too,” he said quickly, wanting to prolong their interaction in any way possible. “Do you have anything nice, or maybe know something she’s been eyeing?”

“Hm,” Lainey said, biting her lip as she thought. “We do have this gorgeous cashmere blend I remember she looked at last week. It’s in the back—let me get it so you can take a look.”

Perfect, Jared thought. “I’ll come with you.”

“What—no, that’s okay, really,” Lainey said with a breathless laugh and a toss of her hair. She wants me too, Jared realized with a thrill.

“Oh, come on. You can trust me,” he said quietly, meeting her eyes.

Something in them made her pause, and then she smiled. “All right, come on back,” she said, and held out a hand to him.

He was startled by the gesture, but when he took her hand, it felt warm and comfortable and right.

Lainey led him through a small hallway and into a dimly lit room with towering stacks of boxes, neatly arranged onto industrial shelving. Jared took a closer look and said wonderingly, “Every single thing in here has a label.”

“How else would we find anything?” Lainey said drolly before turning to a shelf.

Jared stepped closer to her, a little uncertain, but knowing he couldn’t leave without at least giving it a shot. He reached out a hand and caught some of her hair, tugging gently so that she turned to him.

“Lainey,” he said, and watched those precious blue eyes looking up at him, watched her lips part wordlessly for just one second before conscious thought left him and he leaned down to capture her mouth with his.

He’d always loved the taste of her mouth. And the feeling of her lips, a little hesitant at first, then pressing against him with more intensity, more need, fueling his own desire. His hands circled her waist, and her hands found his shoulders, until they held each other close enough that he could feel her heartbeat. So he felt it speed up when he slid a hand up her back to cradle her neck, arching her closer into him.

“God, Lainey,” Jared groaned as he pulled his mouth away from hers to nip at her ear. “You feel so good.”

She breathed his name in a shuddery sigh as he shifted, wrapping one arm around her while his other hand slid up her dress to firmly cup her behind. Their lower bodies molded together gently, then more securely when she lifted a leg to wrap around him. Even as he moved to kiss her neck, he took advantage of the easier access afforded by her dress hiking up even further, his fingers gently brushing against her, teasing her.

“Jesus,” he heard her gasp as he tilted his head back to look at her face. Her eyes were fluttering between open and closed, and though she was panting, her lips were somehow forming a rapturous smile.

Then a bell jangled, and Lainey’s eyes flew open, anxiety dulling the stars in her eyes. “That’s the front door! Jared, I have to—” She moaned when he pressed his fingers against her, and he bent to kiss her collarbone. Her body involuntarily jerked towards him before she caught her breath. “Oh, God, Jared, I really need to go …”

“I’ll let you go on one condition,” Jared murmured into her neck.

Lainey’s head was tilting back now, and he thought he might be able to keep her back here if he tried, but he didn’t want her to get in trouble either. He let his lips skim the tops of her breasts before he spoke again. “Come to dinner with me tonight.”

“What?” he heard her manage faintly.

“I’ve missed you, Lainey,” Jared said softly before letting his tongue dance along the valley between her breasts. “I need to see you again. Tonight.” He eased his fingers away and used the arm around her waist to help her stand, wanting their gazes to meet again.

“I—okay,” Lainey said, her breath starting to return to normal. “Yes. Tonight. Just lay low here for a while and I’ll come get you when the shop’s empty again, okay?” She smiled at him again, looking a little flushed, but happy.

He watched her leave, the smile on his own face becoming irrepressible. Now that he’d seen Lainey, he realized she was the best thing that had ever happened to him, and he wasn’t planning to let her go again. Whatever it took—even if he had to move back from Barcelona, he was going to find a way to make it work this time.

Jared knelt to pick up a ball of yarn that Lainey had dropped on the floor. He’d even found the perfect Christmas present for his mom, without having to brave the mall crowds. So far, it really had been a fantastic day.

About the Author: Elinor Carson is passionate about writing romantic fiction, including fantasy, paranormal, and contemporary stories. Her other interests include bad reality television, baking, and running. She lives with her husband and their cat. Her first published novella, Lone Wolf, is available at Cobblestone Press. www.ElinorCarson.com

Author Interview with Karen Rose Smith

2011-12-10T04:00:00.001-05:00

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to welcome Karen Rose Smith, whose latest book, Once Upon a Groom, the second book in her Reunion Bride series from Harlequin, was released in October. She also has a never-before published ebook novella available, Always Devoted, which is a blend of mystery and romance and is the third book in her Search for Love series.

Karen's interest in writing began when she was in high school; she had a superb English teacher who made poetry come alive. By reading poetry, Karen learned that poets could express their feelings about any and all subjects, and she liked that. As an only child in a traditional Italian Catholic family, she had learned that feelings weren't communicated with words—food maybe, but not words. So she started writing poetry to express her emotions. Her first taste of seeing her words in print came when she submitted one of her poems to the high school literary magazine.

When she went to college, she began her first novel that was loosely based on the Beatles (Paul was the hero in her head), and she and a cousin wrote a script for the Monkees TV show.

"We sent it to all their concert venues that summer by registered mail!" she remembered. "That was my first collaboration project and it was a ton of fun and exciting, too!"

She became serious about writing a book in the late eighties. She'd had back surgery and for four years was flat on her back.

"I needed something more than crocheting to keep me occupied," she told me. "I began with short stories that grew too long to be published. So I decided--why not a book? Since I’d read relationship novels beginning with YA romances and graduated to Harlequins, I thought a romance would be perfect. I wrote for six years and finished thirteen manuscripts before I sold. And then I sold two books in one week to two different publishers—Meteor/Kismet and Silhouette. "

The third and fourth books in the Reunion Bride stories are scheduled to be released next year. I asked her to tell us a bit about the series, which is set in the fictional town of Miners Bluff near Flagstaff, Arizona.

"These books revolve around the characters’ fifteenth year high school reunion. That night, many plot elements are set in motion. In the third book, Dawson asks Mikala, a music therapist, if she’ll consider taking on his son and helping him remember what happen the night his mother died. Eight-year-old Luke was in the car with his mom but can’t remember anything that happened the day of the accident or the accident itself. Now ten, he’s getting into fights at school and generally having a tough time. The book opens with Dawson moving back to Miners Bluff from Phoenix to start a new life for him and his son. This book has been a challenge. I’ve struggled with Luke taking up too much space in this romance. But I think I’ve found the balance that fits perfectly with the romance to make this a highly emotional story."

"How do you develop your plots and characters?" I asked.

"My plot and characters develop from universal emotions. I watch the news, talk shows, read human interest stories. Some element will trigger a desire to see my hero or heroine work out that situation. So a situation can be the trigger point. Or a hero or heroine’s profession can propel a plot. My books are definitely character and emotion driven. But there must be a situation that will spin those emotions into a healing story about love and commitment. I always say my characters can be anywhere doing anything if the conflict between them is strong enough. Conflict, plot and characters are all woven together."

Sometimes Karen with get the I-don't-want-to-write blues (she denies that it is writer's block, saying, "If I deny it, maybe it doesn't exist?"). She gets those blues when she realizes she is forcing writing.

"Sometimes I don’t know my hero or heroine well enough. Or maybe a scene isn’t quite right. Or maybe I need to switch points of view or go deeper into the character I’m focusing on," she explained. "When any of this happens and I get stuck, I have several different strategies. I take a long shower and relax and just think about what I’m doing with the book. I might listen to music—passionate songs that are my favorites, country songs if they better suit the book I’m writing. Music has always inspired me. Or… In the summer I go outside to write on the patio. Gardening is a hobby and I love the flowers, birds, and butterflies all around me. Or… I sit on the patio under the moon and stars and think about my hero and heroine doing the same. Usually one of these methods will move the scene again and I’m on my way."

She has an office where she does much of her writing.

"Years ago my husband decided he needed a garage. So when we added on to our house, I insisted if he got a garage then I needed an office over it! I love working there. I write many ranch books and the western mystique intrigued me from my first 'cowboy' book. I’m also interested in Native American culture. So, although I live in Pennsylvania, my office has a Southwestern flavor. When we were planning it, my son bought me a beautiful turquoise vase painted with wolves. I decorated the room around it using sunset colors, turquoise and off-white. I have an L-shaped desk and buttered-plastered walls with French doors leading onto a small deck. The room is filled with light."

Karen rarely writes at the computer. Other skeletal problems came along with her back surgery. She has fibromyalgia that also affects her eyes, so she's adapted the way she writes so she can keep on writing. She records her first draft on a tape recorder and has a typist that transcribes it. She then edits the hard copy over and over until she's satisfied with it. Even before the tape recorder, though, she would write everything in long-hand on a legal pad and then type it up.

When she's not writing, she listens to books on CD, gardens, or cooks.

"Listening to CD’s or books stimulates the creative flow," she explained. "Each year I look forward to winter ending. Usually in March I begin planting seeds for tomatoes and flowers. I love watching them grow. I love the colors and scents and textures they produce. Playing in the dirt is soothing and relaxing and takes me back to another time when I helped my grandmother plant in her backyard, when my mom would spill zinnia seeds into our garden for color, when my son was a small child and my husband and I showed him a rose in our apartment’s small garden. Cooking also takes me back to my roots. My grandmother and mom were wonderful cooks. Both made their own cannoli and ravioli and desserts galore. I like recreating their recipes and coming up with my own. When our garden begins producing tomatoes, zucchini, onions and herbs, I toss them together to make healthy dinners. But every once in a while I bring out those old recipes that are too good not to make."

"What did you want to be when you grew up?" I wondered.

"While I was growing up, women’s roles were beginning to change. But not a lot. My mother was a teacher. I went to Catholic school and she taught in public school. So when I would have days off, I would go with her. As I got older, I would help her, even taking a reading group now and then. Teaching seemed natural to me. Yet I thought I might want more than that. I took four years of French in high school and two years of Spanish. I decided to major in French and English in college keeping my options open to become an interpreter. But then I met my college sweetheart and after graduation, we married. I became an English teacher, then a home decorator, then a writer."

Finally I asked, "What do you want to know about the future?"

"Turning sixty gave me a new perspective on life. I try to enjoy every precious moment and love as much as I can. Friends and family mean more to me now than they ever did. So if I could see into a crystal ball, I’d want to know how long my husband and I have together."
You can keep up with Karen on her blog, http://karenrosesmith.blogspot.com.

Friday Spotlight: A Clockwork Christmas Authors

2011-12-09T04:00:00.001-05:00

All a Steampunk Author Wants for Christmas
by
A Clockwork Christmas authors

So, now it's time for the A Clockwork Christmas authors to confess what their dream steampunk devices would be. Remember, comment on any post this week to go in the draw to win a set of A Clockwork Christmas romance trading cards.

***

J K Coi

My ideal steampunk device? Well, I asked my son this question because he’s also fascinated by steampunk, and he said … a steampunk Transformer! Wouldn’t that be cool?

***

P G Forte

I think my ideal steampunk device already exists, at least in some fashion: a steampowered coffee maker. Really, what more could an author want?

In the fantasy realm, however, I would love a telectroscope. http://gothamist.com/2008/05/22/telectroscope_t.php#photo-1

***

Stacy Gail

Oh, this one is EASY. I love writing on my laptop, really. Sometimes, though, a story will hit a brick wall, and that’s when I throw my brain a change-up and reach for a pen. What I wouldn’t give to reach for a pen like this one:

http://mental-design.blogspot.com/

But I would like to add a few things to it:

A Taser device

A blowgun equipped with tranquilizer darts

A perfume atomizer (filled with Pleasures, from Estee Lauder =D)

Lip balm

Maybe a Geiger counter or zombie detector built into the handle. You know… just in case.

***

Jenny Schwartz

I wish I owned a Cabinet of Curiosities House, one that unfolded like a pop-up book, shooting out new rooms as and when they were needed. It would be so convenient. Guest bedrooms that only needed cleaning when someone visited. A dining room that only emerged at Christmas or big formal gatherings. More spectacularly, imagine having a fold-out ballroom or a dirigible landing platform? Yup, I definitely want a Cabine of Curiosities House.

However, in the real world, I'm happy to settle for my beloved copy of "The Steampunk Bible" (http://steampunkbible.com/). It's full of inspiration and provides a strong sense of the vibrant Steampunk community -- one which welcomes everyone! I love the fantastic Steampunk ethos Bruce Sterling shares in the book, "The past is a kind of future that has already happened." p.13.

***

How about you? Any steampunk devices you wish you had? Or are lucky enough to own? Or make us truly envious and tell us about anything steampunkish that you've created.

***

A Clockwork Christmas

We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Anthology includes:

"Crime Wave in a Corset" by Stacy Gail

"This Winter Heart" by PG Forte

"Wanted: One Scoundrel" by Jenny Schwartz

"Far From Broken" by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase separately.

Thursday Spotlight: A Clockwork Christmas Authors

2011-12-08T04:00:00.001-05:00

Jed Reeve, an Inventive Scoundrel
by
Jenny Schwartz

I'm delighted to introduce the hero of Wanted: One Scoundrel, Jed
Reeve, to LSR.

Jed is a Californian inventor, newly
arrived in the Swan River Colony, Australia. Patents on a range of devices, from
an auto-valet that knots the perfect tie to a transportable, extendable bridge,
have made him independently wealthy. His dream is to build a bounding-vehicle
based on the motion of jumping kangaroos, using pedal power and a kinetic
energy capture system. Although adding an artificial 'roo tail to the design is
proving a problem.

Jed's determination to design a
bounding-vehicle comes from his fascination with Dayenne's mechanical models of
animals. Jed owns a Dayenne horse in which steel replaces bone, cogs and gears
replace muscle and the whole is driven by clockwork. The metal horse is a
tribute to the elegant efficiency of the natural world.

If Jed were to walk out of the pages of Wanted: One Scoundrel I know his first action would be to book a ticket
to France. The steampunk creatures of Nantes are triumphs of
imagination and engineering skill.

***

For your chance to go into the draw to
win a set of A Clockwork Christmas Romance Trading Cards, remember
to leave a comment below.

***

Wanted: One Scoundrel

All suffragette Esme Smith wants is a
man. A scoundrel to be precise. Someone who can be persuaded to represent her
political views at men-only clubs. As the daughter of the richest man in
Australia, Esme can afford to make it worth the right man’s while.

Fresh off the boat, American inventor
Jed Reeve is intrigued by Esme’s proposal, but even more interested in the
beauty herself. Amused that she takes him for a man who lives by his wits, he
accepts the job—made easier by the fact that he already shares her ideals.
Soon, he finds himself caught up in political intrigue, kidnapping and
blackmail, and trying to convince his employer he’s more than just a scoundrel…

***

A Clockwork Christmas

We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman
must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always
what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an
American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a
clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Anthology includes:

"Crime Wave in a Corset" by
Stacy Gail

"This Winter Heart" by PG
Forte

"Wanted: One Scoundrel" by
Jenny Schwartz

"Far From Broken" by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase
separately.

***

Jenny Schwartz is a West Australian
author, born and bred. She studied Australian social history at university,
never dreaming she'd end up re-writing it with a Steampunk twist.

Wednesday Spotlight: A Clockwork Christmas Authors

2011-12-07T04:00:00.001-05:00

Roderick Coddington, Professor of Vengeance
by
Stacy Gail

I’d like to introduce CRIME WAVE IN A CORSET's hero, Roderick Coddington, by answering a few questions about him and
his favorite (albeit deadly) invention.

WHO: Roderick Coddington is an
Engineering Professor at Cambridge University.  He is a mechanical
genius, especially when it comes to inventing his own never-before-seen
devices.  His favorite device: a perpetual-motion timepiece that
masquerades as a wristlet, but in fact is a timer counting down to midnight,
Christmas morning.  Once zero-hour is struck, it won’t be just
peace on earth.  It’ll be death for the wearer.

WHY: There’s only one reason Roderick
would create such a deadly device—revenge.  Six months earlier, a
Faberge egg was stolen from his dying sister.  The only thought he
has is to get that egg back, and the key to making that happen is getting to
the thief who stole it in the first place—the ever-elusive Cornelia
Peabody.  Getting Cornelia to steal back the egg would be a virtual
impossibility unless she had proper motivation.  And that leads to…

WHEN: Midnight, Christmas morning is
zero-hour for the timepiece. Once Roderick manages to lock his
diabolical device onto Cornelia’s wrist, he believes he is in complete control
of the situation. Little does he know that the heart is the one
thing that can’t be mechanically manipulated to do his bidding.

****

For your chance to go into the draw to
win a set of A Clockwork Christmas Romance Trading Cards, remember
to leave a comment below.

****

Crime Wave In A Corset

Boston, Massachusetts—December, 1899

Roderick Coddington is on a mission to
make Cornelia Peabody pay. After identifying her as the thief who stole a
priceless Faberge egg from his dying sister, he finds her and shackles a deadly
timepiece to her arm. If she doesn’t return the egg by Christmas morning, she
will die.

Normally seven days is more than enough
time for Cornelia to carry out the perfect crime, but Roderick’s intrusion into
her life is beyond distracting. He challenges her mind, and ignites her body
with desire she’s never felt before. But worst of all, he threatens the
independence she values above all else…

As Roderick spends time with Cornelia,
he realizes there’s a lonely soul hidden beneath her beautiful but criminal
veneer. Falling for a thief wasn’t part of Roderick’s plan, but
plans can change and he has no intention of letting another priceless treasure
get away from him.

*****

A Clockwork Christmas

We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Anthology includes:

"Crime Wave in a Corset" by
Stacy Gail

"This Winter Heart" by PG
Forte

"Wanted: One Scoundrel" by
Jenny Schwartz

"Far From Broken" by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase
separately.

*****

A competitive figure skater from the age
of eight, Stacy Gail began writing stories in between events to pass the time.
By the age of fourteen, she told her parents she was either going to be a
figure skating coach who was also a published romance writer, or a romance
writer who was also a skating pro. Now with a day job of playing on the ice
with her students, and writing everything from steampunk to cyberpunk, contemporary
to paranormal at night, both dreams have come true.

You can find Stacy Gail at:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Stacy_Gail_

FB: http://www.facebook.com/people/Stacy-Gail-Author/100002015699203

Blog: http://stacygail.blogspot.com/

Tuesday Spotlight: A Clockwork Christmas Authors

2011-12-06T04:00:00.000-05:00

Dario Leonides
by
PG Forte

Today I’d like to introduce you to Dario
Leonides, the hero of This Winter Heart.

When we first meet Dario, he’s a bitter
man who feels himself betrayed. Worse yet, he believes he’s let his family down
and doomed himself to a life of loneliness by giving his heart to the wrong
woman.

The last surviving member of a once rich
and powerful family, Dario had gone against his parents’ wishes to wed the
daughter of a brilliant but eccentric scientist/inventor. He knew he and
Ophelia were not born into the same social strata, but he believed love would
conquer all. It never occurred to him to wonder whether his bride might be a
machine!

I think Dario’s favorite steampunk
device is the “mechanical greenhouse” (complete with robotic bees) that he
commissioned his father-in-law to design for him as a present for his wife.

Super-heated water flowing in pipes
beneath the garden’s surface kept the soil warm, even in
winter. Hidden valves allowed steam to vent above ground while
elaborate engines kept the temperature constant, balmy and warm, and created an
artificial breeze to help circulate the air.

Overhead, an electrified wire-mesh dome
allowed sunlight to enter and could be set to either keep the heat in or, in
during the summer months, keep the excess heat out. The shiny, reflective wire
was almost impossible to make out, but if you stared hard enough, you could
just discern the faint metallic sheen behind the shimmering illusion of a
cloudless, blue sky.

***

For your chance to go into the draw to
win a set of A Clockwork Christmas Romance Trading Cards, remember
to leave a comment below.

***

This Winter Heart

Santa Fe, The Republic of New
Texacali, 1870

Eight years ago, Ophelia Leonides's
husband cast her off when he discovered she was not the woman he thought she
was. Now destitute after the death of her father, Ophelia is forced to turn to
Dario for help raising the child she never told him about.

Dario is furious that Ophelia has
returned, and refuses to believe Arthur is his son—after all, he thought his
wife was barren. But to avoid gossip, he agrees to let them spend the holidays
at his villa. While he cannot resist the desire he still feels for Ophelia, Dario
despises himself for being hopelessly in love with a woman who can never love
him back.

But Dario is wrong: Ophelia's emotions
are all too human, and she was brokenhearted when he rejected her. Unsure if
she can trust the man she desperately loves, she fears for her life, her
freedom and her son if anyone else learns of her true nature...

***

A Clockwork Christmas

We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Anthology includes:

"Crime Wave in a Corset" by
Stacy Gail

"This Winter Heart" by PG
Forte

"Wanted: One Scoundrel" by
Jenny Schwartz

"Far From Broken" by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase
separately.

***

PG Forte wrote her first
serialized story when she was still in her teens. The sexy, adventure
tales were very popular at her oh-so-proper, all girls, Catholic High School,
where they helped to liven up otherwise dull classes. Even if her teachers
didn’t always think so.

Monday Spotlight: A Clockwork Christmas Authors

2011-12-05T04:00:00.001-05:00

Colonel Jasper Carlisle
by
JK Coi

Please let me introduce the hero from my novella, Far From Broken, Colonel Jasper Carlisle.

When I wrote this book for Carina Press’s Steampunk themed holiday anthology, A Clockwork Christmas, I knew immediately what it was going to be about. Jasper had already been talking to me for months, you see (even though I’d been trying hard not to listen because I was so busy with other projects).

But it got to the point where I could no longer ignore the story that Jasper was trying to tell me. It was one of heartache, loss, guilt, pain, betrayal and danger…but also acceptance, forgiveness, strength, and love.

I couldn’t resist.

Lord Jasper Carlisle is a Colonel turned spy for Britain’s War Office. He’s always been a soldier and wouldn’t know what to do with himself if he didn’t have that anymore. He’s also desperately in love with his wife, a beautiful ballerina who wants him to give up his dangerous job.

One last mission destroyed everything.

Now while Callie is broken in body and Jasper is broken in spirit, he can’t help but hope that a spark of the love they shared can be rekindled. He’ll move heaven and earth to give his wife what she needs to heal, and to help her find some joy in being alive. But it’s a long, dark road for them, and it doesn’t help that every time he looks at her he sees how badly she was hurt…because of him.

What would Jasper’s favourite steampunk technology be?

I think he thanks God for the technology that saved Callie’s life, even though she hates the iron posts, balls and gears that make up her new legs, hand and eye. He is also fascinated by the nano-organisms in her bloodstream that make her strong and carry messages through her body so she can control the limbs.

***

For your chance to go into the draw to win a set of A Clockwork Christmas Romance Trading Cards, remember to leave a comment below.

***

Far From Broken

Soldier. Spymaster. Husband.

Colonel Jasper Carlisle was defined by his work until he met his wife. When the prima ballerina swept into his life with her affection, bright laughter and graceful movements, he knew that she was the reason for his existence, and that their love would be forever.

But their world is shattered when Callie is kidnapped and brutally tortured by the foes Jasper has been hunting. Mechanical parts have replaced her legs, her hand, her eye...and possibly her heart. Though she survived, her anger at Jasper consumes her, while Jasper's guilt drives him from the woman he loves. He longs for the chance to show her their love can withstand anything...including her new clockwork parts.

As the holiday season approaches, Jasper realizes he must fight not just for his wife's love and forgiveness...but also her life, as his enemy once again attempts to tear them apart.

***

A Clockwork Christmas

We Wish You a Steampunk Christmas

Changed forever after tragedy, a woman must draw strength from her husband's love. A man learns that love isn't always what you expect. A thief steals the heart of a vengeful professor. And an American inventor finds love Down Under. Enjoy Victorian Christmas with a clockwork twist in these four steampunk novellas.

Anthology includes:

Crime Wave in a Corset by Stacy Gail

This Winter Heart by PG Forte

Wanted: One Scoundrel by Jenny Schwartz

Far From Broken by JK Coi

Stories also available for purchase separately.

***

J.K. Coi is a multi-published, award winning author of contemporary, paranormal, steampunk romance and urban fantasy. She makes her home in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and son and a feisty black cat who is the uncontested head of the household. While she spends her days immersed in the litigious world of insurance law, she is very happy to spend her nights writing dark and sexy characters who leap off the page and into readers’ hearts.

You can find her online

Website: www.jkcoi.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/jkcoi

Facebook: www.facebook.com/JKCoiAuthor

She also writes Upper YA as Chloe Jacobs (www.chloejacobs.com)

Author Interview with Delia Latham

2011-12-03T04:00:00.001-05:00

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to welcome Delia Latham, whose third book in the Solomon's Gate series will be coming out soon (release date to be announced).

Delia often says she was born with a pen in her hand—and it's not that far from the truth. She can't remember a time when she didn't keep a pencil and paper in hand—writing little poems and songs and then graduating to what she calls "very bad short stories." She won an essay contest when she was in the third grade and was determined to be a bona fide author one day.

"I continued to write all my life, and became a newspaper journalist for a while, but I always promised myself a novel…someday," she said. "One day a few years ago, I just kind of woke up to the fact that I’m not getting any younger, and if I really wanted to write a novel and see it published, I needed to get crackin’! And the rest, as they say, is history."

Not only did she write from an early age, Delia shared with me she's also been a voracious reader.

"I was reading far ahead of my age group from my very first reader - always LOVED to read. I devoured all the Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, and Sherry Ames books I could get my hands on. (There were others, too, but I can't remember all of them now. That's been (ahem!) a few years ago...)," she told me. "As a teenager, I started reading Grace Livingston Hill, and she was probably the strongest influence on my own writing. Even though I've worked hard to develop my own voice and style, I occasionally notice 'shades of Grace' in my writing. And that's okay - I'd be honored if readers recognized her influence in my work."

"How do you develop your plots and characters?" I asked her.

"Okay, I admit it…I’m not a plotter. In writing, as in the rest of my life, I pretty much fly by the seat of my pants. (I feel like I should stand up in front of a roomful of writers and confess: My name is Delia Latham, and I’m a seat-of-the-pants writer.) What usually happens is that I get the seed of an idea, and if I like it, it won’t go away. I mull it over in my head while I’m washing dishes and making beds, chew on it while I vacuum the floor and dust the furniture, and dream up plot elements as I drive down the road. By the time I actually plant myself in front of my keyboard and start writing, I have a fairly good idea who my characters are and where I want the story to go. Which is not to say that when I start putting the words together, things don’t change. Most often, the characters take over and tell me what’s going to happen!" she said with a laugh.

Titles are always a lot of fun for Delia, and she'll often have the title before she even starts writing the book. Sometimes she'll sit down and start making lists of titles that sound like a great story could be built around them.

"For instance, I overheard a conversation in which someone sarcastically stated, 'In your dreams!' It's nothing new, right? Still, at that moment, it triggered something in my mind and I jotted it down," she explained.

She's currently working on a story titled "In Her Dreams."

"When did you first consider yourself a writer?" I wondered.

"When I sat down and seriously started working on my first real manuscript. Until then, I considered myself a 'wannabe' writer, even though I had been writing for many years, and had seen my byline in print over and over again in newspapers and magazines. In hindsight, I know that I was a writer all along," she said, with a smile. "But getting to the point where I could comfortably answer, 'I’m a writer,' when asked what I do…that was a huge step for me—and an important one. Because once I learned to think of myself as a writer, and to declare myself a writer, I began to perform that role with more believability and success."

Delia does her best writing at night, when the rest of the world is asleep.

"Nobody’s knocking on the door, the phone isn’t ringing, no one’s sticking their head in my office to ask questions or trying to drag me out of the house to go shopping or yard sale-ing or any of a hundred other things that can get in the way," she told me. "During the day, I use my computer time to market and network."

She was surprised to learn that writing the book was only the beginning—and that the creating of the book was the fun part.

"There’s still the long process of submitting and being rejected—sometimes over and over again; marketing, which is not really my cup of tea, is also a necessary part of things; networking never ends," she said. "Most writers would love to just write and leave all the other pieces and parts to others. While I guess it’s possible that authors who are household names, like maybe Stephen King and Nora Roberts, can get by with that…but most of us can’t. So it’s important to be willing to jump through all the hoops."

I asked her which of her books was her favorite.

"That’s like asking a mother to choose her favorite child!" she said with a smile. "The closest I can come to an answer is that each new novel is my favorite for a little while. But every book means something special to me, and I love them all. I will say that the Solomon’s Gate books are near and dear to my heart because God did such a profound work in me as I wrote them. It was an amazing experience, and I will always treasure these book for that reason—and I think they’re seriously good stories, if I may say so myself!" she added with a laugh.
You can keep up with Delia on her blog, http://delialatham.blogspot.com

Author Interview with Stacy Juba

2011-11-26T04:00:00.001-05:00

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to welcome Stacy Juba. Stacy has two new YA books that were released this fall: Dark Before Dawn, a paranormal thriller, and Face Off, a young adult novel.

Stacy told me she was painfully shy growing up, and writing was a way she could express herself. She wrote her first short story, "The Curse of the White Witch," in the third grade. By fifth grade, she was writing her own mystery series about a teenager amateur detective named Cathy Summers and her sidekick Katie.

"They always managed to get themselves kidnapped or held up at gunpoint, or solve the crime by wandering by and overhearing the bad guys confessing. I used to think they were brilliant detectives," Stacy remembered, "but now I can see that the police arrested the criminals in spite of Cathy and Katy's interference!"

I asked Stacy how she came up with the titles to her books.

"Usually, the title comes to me first. Naming my first two mystery/romantic suspense novels was easy. I chose the title Twenty-Five Years Ago Today because it's about a newspaper editorial assistant who stumbles across a cold case on the microfilm while researching her 25 years ago today column. Sink or Swim is about a young woman who goes on a reality show set aboard a Tall Ship, and the name of the TV show is Sink or Swim as losers are required to walk the plank. The book starts when the show has ended and she is returning to her normal life as the target of a stalker, so the Sink or Swim also has a double meaning - will she rise above this adversity or will she let the stalker control her life? So far, my books have been pretty easy to name."

Twenty-Five Years Ago Today was Stacy's first adult novel. She once worked as a newspaper obit writer and editorial assistant, and later was promoted to reporter. One of her editorial assistant responsibilities was researching the 25 and 50 years ago today column on the microfilm.

"It was a tough job finding eight facts for each issue (four from 25 years ago and four from 50 years ago.) Sometimes scrolling through the microfilm gave me eyestrain and I'd fudge the dates a bit!" she confessed. "One day, I got an idea: what if an editorial assistant came across a 25-year-old murder and was driven to solve it as a way of redeeming herself from a tragedy in her own past? What if she got involved with the victim's family and fell in love with the nephew?"

Stacy's latest adult book is Sink or Swim, a cross between a cozy mystery and a romantic suspense novel.

After starring on a hit game show set aboard a Tall Ship, personal trainer Cassidy Novak discovers that she has attracted a stalker. Can she trust Zach Gallagher, the gorgeous newspaper photographer assigned to follow her for a local series? As things heat up with the stalker and with Zach, soon Cassidy will need to call SOS for real.
"It was a fun book to write and has been endorsed by former contestants from Survivor, The Amazing Race, and Big Brother, though you don't need to be a reality show fan to enjoy the novel," she said. "Most of the book takes place in Cassidy's hometown after the show has ended, as she tries to resume her normal life after her time in the spotlight."

" How do you develop your plots and characters?" I wondered.

"First, I make a list of my main characters and fill out character charts listing all their traits, quirks, strengths and weaknesses. I also do some free-writing from the perspective of my main characters. Basically, my characters and I have a little chat! Then I jot down some plot ideas. Once I have a handle on the characters and the overall plot, I sit down over a few days and type an in-depth chapter-by-chapter outline which could grow as long as 20-25 pages. I make sure there are points of rising action and conflict, sections with comic relief, and I also track subplots and character development to make sure I don't drop any threads of the story. Then I'll start writing the book."

Stacy has an office with a big desk, a treadmill, and two bookcases.

"I love my desk as it's my own personal space," she said. "I have a folder with my plot outline and printed out manuscript pages from my work-in-progress. I do most of my writing on the computer in my office, though I also write on the go sometimes on my AlphaSmart word processor, which has no Internet or email to distract me. I also write in longhand if I'm waiting somewhere for an appointment. My desk also has two monthly planners - one that tracks my appointments and family schedule, and the other tracks my blog schedule and interviews so I know where I need to check in online on a given day."

For Stacy, the hardest part of writing is in the first few chapters, because it takes a while for her to get into the head of a new lead character.

"After a few chapters, it gets much easier, but it's a little nerve-wracking moving past that fear of the blank page and the knowledge that you have a few hundred pages to write," she told me. "Editing the finished manuscript is the easiest part."

Stacy balances her writing career around her family's schedule. She mostly writes in the early morning, the evening, or when her husband is home to hold down the fort. She also does a lot of book promotion, i.e., blogging, interviews such as this one, chats, contacting reviewers, social networking, participating on various message board forums, emailing bookstores, or chatting with book clubs.

"I do at least 2-3 marketing tasks per day, most of it online," she said. "I just love crossing tasks off my to-do list!"

On a personal note, Stacy told me she didn't want a dog—for two reasons. One, her cat would be very upset! Two, she's recently found out from allergy skin testing that she's allergic to dogs. In fact, the only animals she's not allergic to are cats and cockroaches. Of course, she loves cats, "and not just because they're the only animal that doesn’t make me sneeze," she assured me. "They are good companions and fun to be around."

"Do you have any strange handwriting habits?" I wondered.

"I apparently write in my own personal shorthand. It looks perfectly normal to me, but in my reporting days, my sources and interview subjects would crane their necks to peer at my notebook and ask, 'Do you write in shorthand? You can really read that?' It wasn't just a few people who made that comment; it was dozens."

Finally, I asked Stacy, "What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?"

"I would recommend taking some writing classes, either locally or online; either joining a critique group or finding a few regular critique partners; and learning how to edit your work because writing is just the first part...you also need to be able to take that rough draft and make it polished and publishable. I'd also recommend reading lots of books on marketing and book promotion, and learning about the different options available to authors nowadays including the whole e-book phenomenon. This is an exciting time to be a writer, but there is a lot to learn."
You can keep up with Stacy on her blog, http://stacyjuba.com/blog .

Author Interview with Monique O'Connor

2011-11-19T04:00:00.001-05:00

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to welcome Monique O'Connor James, whose latest book from Astraea Press, Jamais Vu was released last month. I asked Monique to tell us a little bit about it.

"Jamais Vu was inspired by my mother, who accidentally shot herself, playing with a loaded gun, when I was two. Jamais Vu addresses all the questions you have about yourself, and the questions others pose, when you go through something like that. It is also paranormal, as are most of my works, in that Darby Lambert has a near death experience and suffers from psychic dreams after."

Her debut novel, The Keepers, was not only her first book published, but the first book she ever wrote. It, too, was inspired by her mother.

"Although I have several other manuscripts which are waiting to be edited, The Keepers was the first time I completed a story. The novel's heroine is stricken by grief, when her mother dies of breast cancer. The plot came from the grief I was dealing with over the death of my own mother, who died of breast cancer in 1998. A lot of what Jess feels and says in the story, came from my own feelings, and more than any other book I've written, this story was cathartic."

She's currently working on the sequel to The Keepers, but it's a sequel with a twist.

"It is actually a sequel which has none of the original characters in it, however, you will love these new characters too," Monique explained. "This particular book has taught me a lot, because in general, sequels pick up with the prior characters and have the same 'feel'. But, The Keepers is a very emotionally charged book, and the sequel has those emotions, but it's a bit spookier!"

Her mom played an important part in Monique's writing career, not only in inspiring these first two novels, but actually inspiring her to write in the first place.

"When I was about 9, my mom bought me a journal for my birthday," Monique remembered. "I was a little perplexed, as to what she wanted me to do with it. However, I started writing my thoughts down every day. From that point on, I realized the joy that came from putting pen to paper, and I quickly became addicted."

If Monique had any wish, it would be that she could have one day, again, with her mom to tell her about all that's transpired in her life and to let her read the books.

"But I try not to dwell on what I've lost," she said, "and be grateful for all I've been given."

I asked her to describe her writing space, and she laughed.

"I call my writing space the dungeon. My husband and I have our laptops and work area set up in our garage. There are no windows and other than a very dim overhead light, and the lamp above my computer, it's dark. I spend the majority of my time writing in this area, and am in the process of getting my darling husband to spruce it up a bit. When I need a change of scenery, I carry my laptop outside, on my deck, and write while the kids swim and the birds chirp. I do carry a notebook, though, and I will write anywhere and everywhere."

She stays busy, because she has a full-time job selling insurance.

"When I get home in the evenings I am mother and wife. If the kids are off doing their own thing, I will sit down and write; if they aren't I wait, until about nine p.m., and then start to write. Sometimes, I'm up, until two or three in the morning. There is never a dull moment. I try not to give up special times with my family, but there have been moments when I've had to stay home, instead of joining in the fun. I do believe you have to experience life to be an apt writer, so I make those decisions carefully."

When she is writing, she always has to have a cold Coke on hand, preferably over ice, and she's addicted to the long strands of Laffy Taffy. She also has to have music playing.

"I always say music can change the world, and it can surely change my plot!" she declared.

On a personal note, she loves taking pictures of herself, but normally only from her left side. She had Bell's Palsy when she was nine and the right side of her face was paralyzed to varying degrees for a couple of years, so ever since then, she makes sure to snap from the left side.

"What's the strangest thing you’ve ever eaten?" I wondered.

"Well depends, I'm from Louisiana so we eat crazy things," she admitted. "I've had fried and blackened alligator; I've tried nutria; we eat anything fried, but for me the weirdest thing was escargot. I thought it tasted like steak, with a different consistency. It was good though...I also think oysters are strange, but char-broiled, they are delicious, and of course, we Louisianans eat boiled crawfish."

As you can tell from her name, there's a lot of Irish in her background, but she also has French and Cherokee Indian.

"I think the ones I most identify with are Irish and my Cajun French heritage, as my dad spoke French before he spoke English and I'm very proud of those parts of my blood line," she said.

" Have you ever cried during a movie?" I wondered.

"I cry in every movie! My kids like to stare at me during movies, so they can let their dad know the precise moment, when the waterfall starts! I'm in touch with my emotions, what can I say?"

"Have you ever made a crank phone call?"

"I shouldn't admit this, but if my kids are making crank calls I have no problem joining, and I've also been known to play ding dong ditch. If that's the worst thing they do, I feel blessed."

Finally, I asked Monique, "What advice would you give a new writer just starting out?"

"Well, there are a couple of things I think are very important, for any new author to know. The first is, never give up. You will be rejected; you will have friends and family members laugh at you; the road is not always easy. However, if you refuse to take no for an answer and keep plugging away, you will eventually fulfill the dream. Write down what you want to achieve and then don't let anyone stop you from getting there. The second is develop a network of authors who are more and less experienced than you. The authors who have more experience, will give you the tough love you need to learn what you are good at, and what you could work on. The authors who are newer than you, you can offer to help critique and through critiquing you will learn a wealth of information about your own writing."
You can keep up with Monique on her blog, http://moniquejames.wordpress.com/.

Destiny Sealed by a Kiss by Lynne King

2011-11-12T04:00:00.003-05:00

The small Catholic Church was almost full. Maggie O’Donnell was much loved within the English village she had made her home thirty years ago.

“Such a lovely sermon.” A small sniff followed.

Placing her hand over her mother's, she gave it a small squeeze.

“Have any of her family from Ireland come over?” Lisa whispered, her gaze having tried in vain to search for the mop of unruly black hair. Of course he was hardly going to resemble anything like the eighteen-year old with the threadbare jeans and leather jacket. In the same way she wasn’t seventeen anymore.

“If you’re meaning Shaun…” She gave a small shrug of her shoulders and dabbed her nose with her handkerchief. “He should be here. Of course Maggie never mentioned him to me. I suppose she thought your father was still mad at him.”

Lisa caught her mother’s knowing glance and lowered her eyes.

The service was over; everyone was standing and beginning to make their way outside, where they congregated into small groups. Lisa had her memories but unlike the others, they were linked to another loss and a regret that never faded.

Was it disappointment or relief that he wasn’t here? Lisa wasn’t sure. She was about to suggest they return to her car when she felt the pressure of a hand on her shoulder. Turning, she was staring back into a face that despite six years hadn’t altered. At twenty-four, he still looked wild and sexy--too good, in fact, came to mind-- with his tousled raven hair and a face that spoke of warmth and laughter even here at such a solemn occasion.

“Hello, Lisa. You’ve grown up some.”

His blue gaze knocked her back and she was that lovestruck teenager again – lightheaded and tongue-tied. She felt stupid now for coming and putting herself through this. There had been several boyfriends since and yet none of them had had this affect on her.

“We’re all a little older, Shaun,” She met his gaze and added, “and a little wiser.”

She was waiting for the rebuff, the shutters to come down but still the warm intensity of his gaze remained on her.

“It’s good to see you. I just wish it could have been on a happier occasion. I’m staying in my aunt’s home so perhaps we could get together.”

What and make me feel worse than I already do? Lisa felt like saying. She was after all, the reason for him fleeing England and the life he had with his aunt.

“I’m pretty busy with work. I’m sorry for your loss, Shaun. Your aunt was a wonderful lady.”

“Yes, she was. Though she could upset a few people with her openness and, dare I admit, her stubborn nature.”

His Irish accent sent a tingling down her spine and that smile. She could almost taste his lips upon hers and those words she spoke of loving him and hearing him tell her he felt the same way. Remembering the comforting arms wrapped around her that night and his promise that he would take the blame. Why hadn’t she argued with him, told him, "no"?

The following day he ignored her – a week later he left for Ireland.

It started raining heavily, Lisa’s excuse to flee this time. “Mum, let’s get you to the car quick. Bye, Shaun.” Taking hold of her mother’s arm, she was nearly carrying her across the car-park such was her hurry.

Her mother leant back heavily into the passenger seat and let out a sigh. “You’re still in love with him.”

“Was I that obvious?” A sad smile formed on Lisa’s lips.

“Your father never told you this and I think at the time he thought he had your best interests at heart but…” she paused.

Lisa turned to her mother. “What didn’t he tell me?”

“He made Shaun promise to break off all contact with you. He said the police wanted to know if he had given permission for Shaun to drive his car and he was going to tell them, no.”

“I took father’s car and crashed it the night you were away. Shaun arrived after I called him and before the police showed up. I only had a provisional license and no insurance.” Lisa shook her head in disbelief. “I told Father Shaun lied to protect me.”

“Your father thought you were lying for him.”

“No wonder he fled to Ireland; his aunt would have crucified him.” Putting the key into the ignition, she started up the engine.

“He did write to you once, a couple of years ago when you were away at college. Your father posted it back unopened. I’m sorry, Lisa.”

Pulling the car out of the car-park, Lisa gave her mother a quick reassuring smile. “It’s all in the past.”

***
Lisa sat at her desk chewing the end of her pencil, her thoughts far removed from selling houses. When the door opened and footsteps approached her desk, she glanced up; the customary smile already displayed. The smile fell away as her mouth parted.

“I’ve come to put my aunt’s house on the market and for an excuse to see you again. Can you come now and give an evaluation?”

She glanced over at her colleague who was listening. They weren’t busy so she had no excuse. “Shall we go in my car?”

“Good idea, unless we use shank’s pony.”

She gave one of her polite smiles and led the way out to the back of the office and into the small private car park.

“Wow!” He gave an exaggerated rise of his eyebrows on seeing the red sports convertible.

Lisa held back the response that nothing in her life was fully paid for; it was there to create an impression, like her flat in a sought after area where they were all too busy leading their independent lives. The car, the clothes she wore, none of it was her really; she had fallen into it with a need to belong.

They entered the Victorian farm cottage in silence. Everything was how she remembered including the imposing oak sideboard. In the middle was a framed photograph of a man in a British army uniform standing next to a smiling woman dressed in a plain white dress. Another framed photograph stood next to it of a girl holding a baby. Lisa knew it was of Shaun in his mother’s arms, Maggie’s younger sister. She couldn’t help it; tears were beginning to fall unless she got some fresh air.

“Let’s go outside,” she blurted out.

“Sure.” He led the way through to the kitchen. Taking the key from his pocket he unlocked the door and motioned for Lisa to go first.

The first stages of spring were in evidence, crocuses formed colourful groups and daffodil shoots were beginning to break the surface. She heard him come up behind her.

“I felt the same way when I entered the cottage.”

There was such sadness in his voice that it caused Lisa to turn around. Her hand unconsciously touched his arm as he continued speaking.

“She was a lovely lady who taught me not to be angry with life. She had suffered more than most, but still wasn't bitter. You know she once told me that just one kiss and she knew where her destiny lay. She was a brave woman - I on the other hand was the coward.”

Withdrawing her hand, she carried on walking down the pathway, stopping short - she looked over at the thick solid trunk of an oak tree. Her eyes travelled up to rest on worn planks of wood nailed together to take on the guise of a tree house. The two of them would often sit up there for hours.

“I never realised my talent was so good when it came to building. Perhaps I should have turned my talents to that as well as horses.”

“Horses!” Lisa tilted her head.

“Yes, I help run a stud farm in Ireland. My father started it but sort of gave up when my mother left and I was sent to live with Aunt Maggie. Going back home helped us both and last year one of our earlier foals came second in the Irish National, good for business.”

“I’m glad everything worked out for you.” Her bottom lip quivered making her turn away, only his hand came forward and gently turned her face back to him.

“My aunt sacrificed everything for love; her family disowned her and she ended up living in a country that wasn’t her home, but she never regretted falling in love. I now understand why. Some feelings never die." His hand tilted her chin, the blue intensity of his gaze reaching out to her.

“What about you, Shaun. Do you have any regrets?”

“Just one, but I hope you’ll remedy it.” His mouth came down upon hers and in that moment of their lips touching, they knew where their destiny lay.

About the Author: Lynne King - Based in the UK. My short stories cover different genres and have been published in popular UK magazines and on-line. As for my novels, I love writing romantic suspense. Run To You, published by Eternal Press is my latest. Find more about my writing by visiting: www.lynnekingauthor.co.uk

Author Interview with Barbara Edwards

2011-11-12T04:00:00.001-05:00

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to welcome Barbara Edwards, whose second book in the Rhodes End Series, Ancient Blood, is out. I asked Barbara to tell us a little bit about the fictional town of Rhodes End.

Rhodes End is located on a confluence of ley lines that draws magic and paranormal activity. Dog-legging the corners of Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, it fails to appear on many maps due to various boundary and settlement disputes. This isn’t far from Hartford. Major highways to both Boston and New York City cut through the hills less than a mile away," Barbara said. "On the surface, nothing distinguishes Rhodes End from a thousand other small towns. More than half the population works at regular jobs, have normal families and lives. Farmers, shopkeepers, teachers and other townspeople are unaware of the ‘different’ ones. The dark undercurrents never touch them.

"An ordinary tourist tooling up the scenic road may tell friends of the charming village, but only the harmless or the expected find it easily. The basic rules of space and time seem the same, but magic can occur along with paranormal activity. In fact, those with paranormal senses find them stronger, more reliable."

Barbara was telling me about her dog, Dixie, and told me she would love to keep Dixie forever.

"Dixie is the greatest animal in the world," she explained. "She is affectionate when I really need a hug. She barks at weird guys and chases squirrels. When necessary she is so scary looking people step out of our path. She is so good with children it makes you laugh. Dixie thinks kids should be herded like sheep and will spend the entire day at a family gathering being frustrated because they escape from her protective circle."

She learned to write cursive in the third grade, and her teacher, Mrs. Fisher, insisted they learn the proper way to hold the pen.

"The second knuckle was the chimney and had to be at the top of the house," she told me. "Hold the pen firmly between thumb and forefinger. Get rapped on the hand with a ruler if the chimney leaned sideways. Round those o’s, don’t slant the stalks on the t’s, d’s, b’s or drag a g or p. She was tough, but you can read my writing across the room. I can still use an ink pen, too. "

"When you looked in the mirror this morning," I asked, "what was the first thing you thought?"

"Besides how the pillow left grooves in my cheek? I thought I needed to color my hair. This is a big decision. I love to change the color. I’ve tried several shades of red, from strawberry blonde to fire engine red. (That was a Christmas event) The browns from ash to mahogany make me feel dull. I never did black although I did end up with a purple shade of eggplant that I loved but my DH hated. I even let it all grow out to see what I actually was underneath. To my surprise, it was striped with white and grey in this blonde base. The kind of combo that women pay lots of money to achieve. I hate it. So today I’m going color shopping."

Barbara found her favorite saying several years ago, printed it out and taped it to the wall near her computer: MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES, An Ancient Chinese Curse.

"Have you ever eaten a crayon?" I wondered.

"I don’t remember eating a crayon, but I did talk my cousin into trying several colors when we were seven or eight. I told him the different colors had different flavors, like orange or red vegetables. Hah. He tried the green and complained it had no taste. I told him grass was tasteless and he believed me. What a goof. He went to orange, then purple before he caught on to me. I was laughing too hard. He threw the rest of the box at me."

Barbara also made a crank phone call which, unfortunately, cost her her best friend.

"We were twelve years old and messing around," she remembered. "She was at my house and she said lets play a joke on her mom. So dumb me, I called and said I was from the hospital and her daughter had a broken leg. Her mom went ballistic. She never even asked who I was. When her daughter got on the phone, she was grounded. And told never to talk to me again. I went there the next day and apologized but the friendship was over. My former friend blamed me and I learned a valuable lesson."

When she orders pizza, Barbara always wants to order the Kardiac Killer. I asked her what it was like.

"It has so much stuff on it that the pieces fall out of your hand. Sausage, hamburger, pepperoni, ham for meat. Five kinds of cheeses are melted over the top. Olives, peppers, onions, anchovies, sometimes broccoli, plus a sprinkle of olive oil crowd the regular sauce to the edges. Yum. I need to get to the phone."

She thinks scientists should invent a longer day—something like thirty hours—so she has time to do all the things she wants.

"There isn’t enough time to write my next book, blog regularly, see my family, talk to my friends, and have sex with my husband within twenty-four hours," she explained. "Another hour would be devoted to foreplay. The next would be for my family. Wow, I could get to all the games and school events. I could use one hour for promo daily. And maybe slip in a nap to rejuvenate the creative process."

Barbara thinks of herself as an earth mother from the sixties. She loves gauzy skirts and tie-dyed tops, and she thinks sandals are the most comfortable footwear in the world.

"I want to comfort and care for everyone. Don’t cry or I melt into a puddle of sympathy. I want to grow my own vegetables and can them for the winter. See me knit a sweater? And hand-make gifts for Christmas," she said, adding, "I’m not sure if that’s what the world sees."

Thunderstorms are her favorite events, and when the thunderclouds start to build, Barbara will go out on the porch to watch. She has a wrap-around porch facing out over a valley. The storms move up the valley, and the thunder echoes off the surrounding hills.

"Lightning dances over the trees," she said, "crashing behind us on the highest point in the area. It's scary, exciting and just plain fun."
You can keep up with Barbara on her blog, http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com/.

Friday Spotlight: Karen Cote

2011-11-11T04:00:00.000-05:00

TRUE HEROES OF THE WORLD

Considering I am a Romantic Suspense writer, it is safe to say I write about many heroes. Strong, courageous, fearless...you know; the stuff fairytales are made of. The heroes I want to discuss today, however, are not fiction at all. On the contrary, they are all too real, as is the nightmare they live each day. The children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

These little soldiers live in a world different from most. They don’t wake to help Mom shop or sail off to daycare with tiny peers. They wake to fear, pain, and chemotherapy. Such troopers and that’s why the children who undergo what they do and still deliver such love and laughter are what a true hero is made of. The true heroes of the world. Strong, courageous and fearless. My heroes.

Their names deserve to be mentioned in prayer and encouragement. I’ve listed a few below.

Hayden – 6 years (Medulloblastoma)

Zowie – 7 years (Acute Myeloid Leukemia)

JaLise – 4 years (Medulloblastoma)

Brayden – 2 years (Retinoblastoma)

Emma - 7 years (Glioblastoma)

Katelyn – 7 years (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia)

Brady – 3 years (Neuroblastoma)

Seth – 6 years (Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia)

You can learn more about these adorable little people and maybe even become a partner by visiting St Jude.

St. Jude is a place of miracles where families don’t have to choose between the care of one child’s illness and food on their tables for others at home.

Thursday Spotlight: Karen Cote

2011-11-10T04:00:00.002-05:00

Misbehaven Muse

Seriously, I perceived raising teenage girls as challenging. I mean, how did I go from being a hero when they were children to having my once-loved-advice usurped by thirteen-year-olds in training bras and braces?

Then there’s my dog. An intellect. An attitude. A black pug. Cute and adorable with tons of social skills but not an obedient bone in her body. At times, I wish she couldn’t understand ‘human speak’ so at least part of the time I could get her to do what I want.

Now my life has been taken over by an even bigger challenge..my Muse. He’s male, he’s rowdy, and he’s unruly.

For instance, some days twiddling my thumbs seem more productive than writing. It’s as if writer’s block has taken my ideas hostage and put them in a line-up without anyone to identify who’s-who or what’s-what.

But ooooh, when my Muse comes out to play, my-oh-my am I mesmerized. Some of the things he comes up with ramps up my excitement so much I can’t sleep…which brings me to another beef I have with him. On the brink of sleep is when he usually decides to make his appearance. I mean, really? Can’t he select a decent hour to create? But no. His terms. His time.

So, here’s advice I received and feel passionate passing along to others. Always, always schedule a time to write. Eventually your Muse will learn to come out at that time. Unlike mine who now needs obedience classes.

Wednesday Spotlight: Karen Cote

2011-11-09T04:00:00.001-05:00

Lily Delaney from Erotic Deception bursts into the interview room and shoves Karen Cote’ aside.

“I heard you’d invited Karen Cote’ to a launch party. This is my day! She gets to go out-and-about all the time while I’ve been stuck inside a publishing house.

I waited months and months for a manicure. Do you know the challenges of trying to style hair that’s unruly and needs a trim? I hadn’t been shopping in like…forever and I wasn’t about to show-up in something that was so last year. Now I’ve done all that…I want to plaaay!

So what are these questions. I’m sure you’ll find my answers much more interesting than hers. Let’s see…”

Leather or lace?

*snicker* “Hellooo. That‘s like choosing between red or pink lipstick right? Love, love love lace, but some occasions just scream leather, don’t you think?”

Black or red?

“Oh! You just described my favorite Jimmy Choos.”

Satin sheets or Egyptian cotton?

“Hmmm…now that’s a toughie. Satin can certainly bring a sigh to my lips but 1200 thread count Egyptian? That’s worthy of a groan.”

Ocean or mountains?

*chuckle* “You know those times when Karen gets writers block? Yeah, I’m sure you do. Well, sometimes my friend, Mr. Muse won’t come out until Karen walks to the beach and yes, Karen’s Muse is a male. It’s great for me as I can flirt outrageously with him to get my way with that pesky sheriff. So definitely ocean.”

City life or country life?

“City life is fabulous but dipping my toes in a cool lake can send a tingle up my spine. Hmm, moonlight caressing my skin, water lapping against the shore, leaning against those big broad shoulders…Huh? I’m sorry. What was the question?”

Hunky heroes or average Joe?

“Yes.”

Party life or quiet dinner for two?

“Is this another lipstick color question?”

Dogs or cats?

“Pugs…the chubby ones. Sometimes they act like cats.” *snort* “Of course, sometimes they act like pigs. Then there’s the bullfrog look. Yep. They’re just like people.”

I love pizza with (fill in the blank).

“No one…coz when that doorbell rings and that pizza guy delivers that pie, I want nobody encroaching on my pepperoni.”

I'm always ready for (fill in the blank).

“Criminal Minds. I swear, if the Chippendales stopped by while I was watching Aaron Hotchner, I’d send them off with their bow ties and cuff links tucked between their nether regions.”

When I'm alone, I (fill in the blank).

“Really? We’re gonna do this here?”

You'd never be able to tell, but (fill in the blank).

“Oh no. Nice try but I star in a Romantic Suspense novel and I’m not gonna... like…just hand you the answers.”

If I could (fill in the blank) I'd (fill in the blank).

“Get those handcuffs away from the sheriff, I’d hook him up in my room and teach him some investigative skills.”

I can never (fill in the blank) because (fill in the blank).

“Be anything I’m not because I am what I am.”

Books Coming Soon

Writers on the Wrong Side of the Road…An Anthology (November 2011)

Contacts

Website: www.karencote.tv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarensRomance

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/karensromance

Tuesday Spotlight: Karen Cote

2011-11-08T04:00:00.002-05:00

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

I love Christmas-time, don’t you? The generosity and love. The kindness in the air. How each year hubby sneaks downstairs on Christmas morning to remove that bag of coal he knows I’m gonna get? Such a darling for trying to hide it, don’t you think?

It doesn’t mean I don’t love Christmas. In fact, you won’t find me complaining to see Christmas displays up before Halloween. Can’t you just hear the melody of that magical time? Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens…

*sigh* And what about those classics beginning around Thanksgiving? Doris Day and Gordon MacRae in By the Light of the Silvery Moon? George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life? Miracle on 34^th Street. With popcorn popping and hot cider simmering there is no time more marvelous. And let’s not forget The Bishops Wife. Although I fear all too often that one particular stocking hanging over our own mantle has been neglected far too much.

What I love most, however, is the season of giving. Not just in material gifts but how writers break out their quill and ink and put the magic of ideas on paper. Short holiday stories abound and you know, this is a particularly great time for new writers to break into their own. Write that book. Get published. Many publishers are always looking for new talent and what better time of the year to start than the one hope is named for?

Monday Spotlight: Karen Cote

2011-11-07T04:00:00.001-05:00

A Talking What?

“No!”

“Come on Jet. You’re a character in my book, not the author. I call the shots.”

“What is it about women and talking? First Lily, when all I want is sleep and now you. I mean, I appreciate a good conversation and all but you’re not getting me in front of no camera.”

“It’s not a camera, Jet. It’s a website. Your avatar is already built now just say a few words to your fans.”

“Exactly. My fans. Not yours. I should get to decide if I want to talk to them or not.”

“Jet, you have to talk to them. It’s called promoting.”

“That’s crap. I don’t need to promote anything. I’m a sheriff and I have a gun. Don’t make me shoot you.”

“Mark recorded his message. Maybe I should make him the hero. In fact, he might just be what Lily needs.” *chuckle* “Is that a glare I see, Jet?”

“My deputy can’t handle Lily so it’d be best if you keep things just as they are.”

“Only if you record your message.”

“Why create this talking website anyway? Just so you could torture your characters?”

“Well, everyone else was happy to tell people about themselves. Besides, I also do reader reviews and author interviews. Believe me, fans are thrilled to hear author’s speak in actual voices about their book. I also do charity events on it.”

“Charity? Fine! But no flowery speeches Where do I go for this weird website?”

www.KarenCote.tv

Author Interview with Leah Marie Brown

2011-11-05T04:00:00.002-04:00

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to welcome Leah Marie Brown, whose latest book Silence in the Mist was released in July.

Leah Marie said she's always known she wanted to be a writer.

"When I graduated from high school, I was full of bravado and wistful dreams. I imagined traveling the world, working for the Associated Press, and one day writing a blockbuster novel. College did not figure in those plans," she told me. "The funny thing about youthful dreams, they usually get smacked around by the mature hand of reality before they’re actualized. While my friends were writing term papers and going to frat parties, I was working as a preschool teacher, a receptionist at a brokerage firm, and a salesgirl at a shockingly unfashionable clothing store. At night, I wrote poems, articles, and short stories. A year after graduation, I sold my first piece to Seventeen Magazine and got hired as an editorial assistant at The Arizona Republic. I wrote my first article for The Arizona Republic two months after being hired. Hard-hitting articles followed. If you lived in Arizona in the 80s, perhaps you read my articles about pet safety belts or the Stressball (an irritating gadget that sounded like shattering glass when thrown).

"I sailed from The Arizona Republic in search of new journalistic worlds to conquer and landed at a very small newspaper in North Carolina, where I wrote investigative pieces about the local piano teacher who was a closet poet and the dangers of cow tipping (joking).

"Realizing I would not achieve my dreams without a college degree, I enlisted in the Air Force as a Radio and Television Broadcaster and was stationed in Zaragoza, Spain. I was a drive-time radio jock, spinning records at the un-godly hour of 6AM while most of Espana still slept. I then anchored the nightly news, covering stories related to Desert Storm.

"After separating from the Air Force, I worked as a freelance reporter and stringer for CBS news. I started writing novels ten years ago."

The most difficult part of writing Silence in the Mist for Leah Marie came after she completed the first draft. She entered it in Seattle RWA's Emerald City Opener and won. She was still fairly new at the novel writing game, was passionate about the story, and very excited about the contest win, so she sent the manuscript to editors and agents from revising or editing it.

However, reality crashed into her dreams.

"Most of the editors who read it said they loved the story but didn’t think a romance novel set in the French Revolution would appeal to readers. Some also said it needed polishing," she explained. "Unfortunately, I practiced selective listening – hearing only that they did not like my setting. It took me years to realize that if I wanted editors to make the big leap over the French Revolution hurdle, I needed to remove all of the other hurdles in the manuscript. In other words, I needed to edit and revise it."

I asked her to tell us a little bit about Silence in the Mist.

After bloodthirsty revolutionaries murder her family, Françoise Despres vows to avenge their deaths and fight the violent mob destroying her beloved France. Becoming a spy for the counter-revolutionary cause, she knows great success, silently slipping between the shadows to carry secret messages that thwart her foes. But she never expected to come up against Sebastien de Brézé, a daring, clever cavalry officer in the revolutionary army and master spy hunter.

When Sebastien discovers the spy he has captured is actually a wily young woman cloaked in men’'s garb, he finds himself intrigued and titillated. But the elusive woman slips through his grasp, leading him on a chase through France. Undaunted, he makes it his mission to recapture Françoise Despres, body and soul.
Leah Marie shared that she's had many serendipitous moments in her life and wonders sometimes whether they were ordained by some higher power or merely coincidental.

"I’ve made so many fortunate discoveries by accident – while plotting my novels – that I can’t believe life is completely random. For instance, after writing Silence in the Mist, which is based on the real counter-revolutionary spy, Françoise Després, I took a trip to France with one of my best friends. While driving through the Loire, we got lost and ended up on some back road. We saw a sign for an old castle and decided to take a look. As we were coming down the stairs of the castle, I stumbled and reached for the wall to steady myself. I looked at my hand and there, carved into the stone wall, was the name Françoise Després. I made a few inquiries and discovered the castle had been used as a prison during the French Revolution and that the names on the walls had been carved by prisoners! None of the books I had read about Françoise Després mentioned her being imprisoned in that particular castle. Furthermore, I had never heard of that castle. I don’t know if the name on the wall was the same Francoise Després I wrote about in Silence in the Mist, but I believe it is certainly possible. The real Françoise was captured and imprisoned several times."

To read about more of the other strange and serendipitous happenings in Leah Marie's life, check out her blog On Life, Love and Accidental Adventures.

Leah Marie's maternal grandmother was born in France and met Leah's grandfather several months after he'd stormed the beach at Normandy.

"For years, my grandpa, an American of Irish descent, liked to tease my grandmother by saying her French ancestry made her inferior," she told me. "Recently, I discovered my grandfather had ancestors from the Dordogne region in France. So, I am proud to say I have a lot of French blood running through my veins."

Her French background comes out in several phrases that have become a part of her everyday speech:

Quel tragique! (As in, “Someone ate the last pain au chocolat! Quel tragique!”)

J’adore (As in, “J’adore Prince Harry!”).

"I also use the words covet and fabulous a lot. I pronounce the latter, fob-oo-liss because that’s the way my French-born grandmother pronounced it when she spoke English, which always made me giggle."

When Leah Marie is working on a novel, or an article for a magazine, she becomes hyper-focused and obsessive.

"I stop going to the gym, answering the phone, practicing good hygiene – I literally pad around the house in my sweats with my lucky pink pencil sticking out of the hair piled atop my head," she said. "When I get this way, my friends jokingly refer to me as 'Bubble Girl' (A pun on the movie Bubble Boy, a comedy about a man who is born without an immune system and has to live in a plastic bubble, away from people). I usually get up at 4 in the morning, write a few hours, get my kids out the door for school and then go back to writing until they come home. After they’ve gone to bed, I will often go back to writing until my eyes droop and my forehead hits the desktop."
You can keep up with Leah Marie on her blog, On Life, Love and Accidental Adventures.

Friday Spotlight: Ginger Hanson

2011-11-04T04:00:00.000-04:00

The Evolution of Miss Mabel
by
Ginger Hanson
©2011

Miss Mabel Tuckingham first appears as a peripheral character in Ellie’s Song. Although Ellie sees Miss Mabel as a busybody, the more I thought about her, the more I liked her. I decided she is not so much a busybody as someone who knows something about everyone in town. To remove the onus of busybody, I fleshed out her backstory to include 30 years as a reporter with the Tassanoxie Sentinel. This job led to her personal knowledge about anything and everyone in Tassanoxie.

Once I had decided she would be a permanent fixture in Tassanoxie, I decided to give her a blog and created “Miss Mabel Talks Tassanoxie.” For some reason, no one else had used that title.

I confess. Miss Mabel has become my alter ego. She’s a little older than I am, but we share some of the same opinions about life. And she’s fun to write.

My original plan was for Miss Mabel to talk about the characters and stories. Then I realized how difficult it would be to discuss the stories without giving away information that might ruin a story for readers. After some thought, I decided she would do better telling readers about what’s happening in Tassanoxie and how she feels about it. She also talks about some of the characters and sometimes shares insider information about the stories.

In Ellie’s Song, the woman whose picture I used for Miss Mabel was wearing a hat. In Susannah’s Promise Miss Mabel appears in order to share valuable information with Susannah. In that scene, she is also wearing a hat. Suddenly, Miss Mabel has a vintage hat collection.

Miss Mabel evolved into the “go to gal” in Tassanoxie. Look for her or a reference to her in upcoming stories. She’s been a challenge, (she has her own spreadsheet, too!) but she’s a lot of fun. Drop by her blog at
http://missmabeltalkstassanoxie.blogspot.com/.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Noted by RT Book Reviews for her “fast-paced, rich in detail” writing, Ginger Hanson writes contemporary and historical romance novels. Her contemporary series, set in the fictional small town of Tassanoxie, Alabama, is published by The Wild Rose Press. Feather’s Last Dance (2010) and Ellie’s Song (2011) established the series. The third story in the series, A Christmas Diamond for Merry (short story, ebook only) will be released in December 2011 and a novella ebook is pending.

Lady Runaway, Ginger’s historical Regency adventure romance, was published in 2009 by Twilight Times Press. Her two earlier Civil War adventure romances were published in 2004. Visit Ginger at http://www.gingerhanson.com/

Thursday Spotlight: Ginger Hanson

2011-11-03T04:00:00.000-04:00

Let’s Visit Tassanoxie, Alabama
by
Ginger Hanson
©2011

Tassanoxie, Alabama, exists in my mind but resembles my hometown circa 1980. I made up the name because Alabama has a lot of Indian names attached to rivers and cities and it made me feel comfortable using this type of name for my fictional town. With a population of about 20,000 people, it’s a conglomerate of several small towns I like.

My hometown doesn’t have a courthouse located in a town square, but I love them so I plopped one into the center of Tassanoxie. Squares are a good place to populate with businesses and thus far Tassanoxie’s square is home to: a drugstore owned by Mike McDonnell’s father, the popular Corner Café where characters go to eat, the Randolph Hotel which houses a restaurant and Mike’s law office, the Tassanoxie Sentinel, Letty’s Fabrics, and Susannah’s dress shop, The Style Shoppe.

After writing two books, one short story and a novella, Tassanoxie has over 100 characters and locations. Juggling so many people and places led me to create spreadsheets to keep everything straight. Fortunately, the Apple iWork suite has an easy to use spreadsheet program because I’m not a spreadsheet person.

Prior to writing the Tassanoxie series, my expertise in writing a series was slim. I’d written two Civil War romances (published in 2004) that were connected because the heroines were former Confederate spies and they worked for the same spymaster. My greatest problem was to make sure the spymaster could physically be where I needed him to be when I needed him there. Since the heroines didn’t interact, he was the only overlapping character.

While the Tassanoxie storiesdon’t feature one hero or heroine who appears in each story, they feature many of the same characters. For example, the deputy sheriff remains the same person whenever I need him in a story. In essence, this is a series about the people who live in a small town whose lives continuously interconnect. A character may be the main character in one story, a supporting character in another, and a peripheral character in another.

Writing a series is a challenge because I have to keep up with so many characters and locations from story to story. I’ve learned to be careful what I write because I never know what will come back to haunt me. Once a story is published, it can’t be changed and the stories that follow have to adhere to existing information. There were times I wasn’t sure if Susannah’s Promise would reach completion. The heroine did and said things in Feather’s Last Dance as a supporting character that had to match what she did and said in her story. Since the two stories occur simultaneously, the timeline, dialog, scenes and actions also had to mesh.

But I like Susannah and wanted readers to know what drove her to be the person she was in Feather. The only way to do that was to write her story. It allows readers to share in her search for self-fulfillment, happiness, and a second chance for love.
Small town, second chances. The theme I explore in each of the Tassanoxie stories. I hope you’ll come along for the ride.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Noted by RT Book Reviews for her “fast-paced, rich in detail” writing, Ginger Hanson writes contemporary and historical romance novels. Her contemporary series, set in the fictional small town of Tassanoxie, Alabama, is published by The Wild Rose Press. Feather’s Last Dance (2010) and Ellie’s Song (2011) established the series. The third story in the series, A Christmas Diamond for Merry (short story, ebook only) will be released in December 2011 and a novella ebook is pending.

Lady Runaway, Ginger’s historical Regency adventure romance, was published in 2009 by Twilight Times Press. Her two earlier Civil War adventure romances were published in 2004. Visit Ginger at www.gingerhanson.com

Wednesday Spotlight: Ginger Hanson

2011-11-02T04:00:00.000-04:00

Ellie’s Cinnamon Swirl Bread
by
Ginger Hanson
©2011

Yet another confession. I used to make bread all the time and loved the smell and feel of working the dough. That love of baking became an important component of Ellie’s Song. The heroine, Ellie Kellson, deals with stress by making cinnamon bread. I loved a recent review in which the reviewer mentions how you’ll be hungry for cinnamon bread after reading the story.

As I mentioned earlier this week, the bread also had an impact on one of my early readers. She said she remembered feeling as if she could smell the bread when she read the scenes. I really appreciated her compliment. I had attained what every writer strives for and put the reader into the scene.

The original cinnamon bread recipe came from a long-ago woman’s magazine. While I doubted if anyone would know the source of the recipe, it truly wasn’t mine. When my editor suggested we put the recipe in the back of the book, I decided to tweak the recipe into belonging to Ellie. Imagine my delight to discover my editor had a background in the culinary arts. Plus, my Tai Chi instructor loves to cook.

Their suggestions were implemented in various loaves of bread. When I asked my Tai Chi class to serve as taste testers, they gamely stepped forward. Ellie’s bread went through several versions before we settled on the recipe. Since fewer people (including myself) make bread from scratch, I made bread the old-fashioned way as well as with a bread maker. I hope you enjoy Ellie’s Cinnamon Swirl Bread, I know we did.

Ellie’s Cinnamon Swirl Bread

3 - 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon cardamom
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
1 tablespoon gluten
1 cup milk
1/8 cup sugar
3 tablespoons softened butter
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs

Cinnamon spread:
1/2 cup sugar mixed with 1 TBL cinnamon and 1 tsp cardamom
2 TBL softened butter

In a large bowl combine 1 cup of flour, cinnamon, cardamom, yeast and gluten. Heat the milk, sugar, butter and salt until warm (115 to 125°). Add warm milk mixture to dry ingredients, whisk smooth. Scrape the bowl. Add the eggs and 1 cup of flour; beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add remaining flour to make a stiff dough. Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic. Add flour as needed to prevent dough from sticking.

Shape dough into a ball and placed in a greased bowl. Turn once to bring greased side up. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Punch the dough down, turn out onto a lightly floured surface and divide in half. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Grease two loaf pans. Combine 1/2 cup sugar, 1 TBL cinnamon and 1 tsp cardamom.

On the lightly floured surface, roll out one portion of the dough to a 14 x 7-inch rectangle. Brush the entire surface with softened butter and sprinkle half of the cinnamon and sugar mixture over the rectangle. Roll up the dough, tucking ends under to seal. Place in a greased loaf pan.

Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size, about 35 to 45 minutes. With a sharp knife, make several slashes across each loaf. Brush with 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter. Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until done. Brush with remaining melted butter, cool five minutes in pan and then remove and cool on rack. Makes two loaves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Noted by RT Book Reviews for her “fast-paced, rich in detail” writing, Ginger Hanson writes contemporary and historical romance novels. Her contemporary series, set in the fictional small town of Tassanoxie, Alabama, is published by The Wild Rose Press. Feather’s Last Dance (2010) and Ellie’s Song (2011) established the series. The third story in the series, A Christmas Diamond for Merry (short story, ebook only) will be released in December 2011 and a novella ebook is pending.

Lady Runaway, Ginger’s historical Regency adventure romance, was published in 2009 by Twilight Times Press. Her two earlier Civil War adventure romances were published in 2004. Visit Ginger at www.gingerhanson.com

Tuesday Spotlight: Ginger Hanson

2011-11-01T04:00:00.000-04:00

What To Call A Story?
by
Ginger Hanson
©2011

Titles are not my strong point and the Tassanoxie series may prove my undoing. It all started with the first book, Feather’s Last Dance. When the title popped into my head several years ago, I had no idea it would become the lead title in a series of stories. As I mentioned yesterday, Ellie’s Song, while the second book in the series, was written long ago. It had gone through several titles with the most recent one being Ellie’s Song. It was a happy accident that both books contained the heroine’s name.

Two published titles containing the heroine’s name gave me the (crazy?) idea to include the heroine’s name in all my Tassanoxie stories. For someone who lacks the coming-up-with-a-great-title gene, this probably wasn’t a good idea.

Last year I decided to write a short story for the 2011 holiday season. I cleverly set about choosing a heroine’s name, Merry, that would go with Christmas. Then I wrote what ended up being called A Christmas Diamond for Merry (available December 9, 2011). It’s a mouthful, but my first and catchier choice (sorry, I don’t want to confuse you when you go looking for it!) had a lot of competition. It seems we writers share some of the same ideas for titles, especially ones for Christmas stories.

I recently submitted a novella about Tassanoxie titled Susannah’s Promise which gives readers a chance to revisit Susannah Warden, a character from Feather’s Last Dance. It took three tries to arrive at a title my unofficial committee of title choosers liked. Right now, I’m working on another short story and I have the suspicion choosing a title will take longer than writing the story.

Why do writers spend so much time trying to choose the right title? Because readers are often drawn to a book because of the title. And we write with the hope you’ll be drawn to our stories.

It broke my heart when the editor, without any input from me, retitled my first book Tennessee Waltz. I felt like Tom Hanks’s character in a League of Their Own and wanted to say “There’s no waltzing in this book!” And the title seemed downright cruel because the heroine is a cripple. There was no dancing in her life. To add insult to injury, the company had given this title to another Civil War romance they published several years previously.

A book that was still available for sale in their online catalog! Then I felt bad when they removed that author’s book to add mine.

Hitting upon a perfect title for a story isn’t always easy and sometimes it isn’t an aspect of the publishing process that an author can control. Then again, having a story someone wants to publish even when you don’t get to choose the title is better than having a story no one wants to publish.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Noted by RT Book Reviews for her “fast-paced, rich in detail” writing, Ginger Hanson writes contemporary and historical romance novels. Her contemporary series, set in the fictional small town of Tassanoxie, Alabama, is published by The Wild Rose Press. Feather’s Last Dance (2010) and Ellie’s Song (2011) established the series. The third story in the series, A Christmas Diamond for Merry (short story, ebook only) will be released in December 2011 and a novella ebook is pending.

Lady Runaway, Ginger’s historical Regency adventure romance, was published in 2009 by Twilight Times Press. Her two earlier Civil War adventure romances were published in 2004. Visit Ginger at www.gingerhanson.com

Monday Spotlight: Ginger Hanson

2011-10-31T04:00:00.001-04:00

Believing in Ellie
by
Ginger Hanson
©2011

Ellie’s Song had a long and checkered career before it was picked up for publication by The Wild Rose Press. It won first place in a romance chapter contest and finaled in a publishers’ contest, but it was also requested and rejected by several editors and agents. While it’s the third manuscript I wrote, it’s the first to earn me a personal call from an editor.

I doubt if I’ll ever forget that phone call and the joy of talking with an editor who had fallen in love with my characters and wanted to publish their story. Thankfully, I asked her to put her revision requests in writing and she did. Although I didn’t tell her, I knew I’d never remember everything we discussed because my brain kept singing “she loves it!”

I made the revisions we discussed and resubmited the manuscript, but as I was to learn in the upcoming years, editors don’t remain in houses long and their replacements aren’t always enchanted by the same stories as their predecessor. By the time my revisions reached the publishing company, the editor who called me was gone. The new editor rejected my manuscript.

Instead of burning the manuscript–easy to do in the days of paper submissions–I never lost faith in Ellie’s Song. Sometimes my faith lagged, but it would be renewed when Ellie’s Song placed in a contest or earned me a nice letter from an editor.

“What’s best about Ellie’s Song is your ability to put your reader into the situation in a way that comes across naturally. We have no trouble envisioning Ellie’s home, the characters surrounding her, particularly her mother, and the activities, such as Ellie making bread, without distracting us from the events playing out in the plot.”

And how can I forget the friend who read the manuscript and left the area for several years? One of the first questions she asked me upon her return was whether or not I’d ever sold the book about the heroine who made cinnamon bread.

One reason I had trouble finding a home for Ellie’s Song was the hero, Lane Walker. For many years, publishing myth held that celebrity heroes are not popular among romance readers. As one contest judge said, “Although your synopsis is well-written, with a feasible story, editors have steered away from stories involving movie stars, singers, models and writers. So in spite of my liking your tale and (my) interest in the story and how you tell it–I don’t think for a first novel you’re going to get a thumbs up.”

This judge went on to suggest I consider changing Lane’s occupation. The problem with changing Lane’s occupation meant I’d have to change the essence of the story. It would no longer be the story I wanted to tell. Don’t get me wrong, I’m open to suggestions that improve my stories, but at some point the writer has to say this is the way I want to tell this story.

Ellie’s Song deals with the difficulty a shy person has in handling the celebrity status of a significant other. If the hero was, say, a car mechanic, the heroine wouldn’t have a problem visualizing their future. I wanted this story to explore the issues of how an everyday person deals with being romantically involved with a celebrity.

Lane remained a singer and Ellie a shy folk artist and they found a home at The Wild Rose Press. I hope they’ll also find a home in your heart as they did in mine.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Noted by RT Book Reviews for her “fast-paced, rich in detail” writing, Ginger Hanson writes contemporary and historical romance novels. Her contemporary series, set in the fictional small town of Tassanoxie, Alabama, is published by The Wild Rose Press. Feather’s Last Dance (2010) and Ellie’s Song (2011) established the series. The third story in the series, A Christmas Diamond for Merry (short story, ebook only) will be released in December 2011 and a novella ebook is pending.

Lady Runaway, Ginger’s historical Regency adventure romance, was published in 2009 by Twilight Times Press. Her two earlier Civil War adventure romances were published in 2004. Visit Ginger at www.gingerhanson.com

Author Interview with Chrissie Loveday

2011-10-29T04:00:00.001-04:00

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to welcome Chrissie Loveday. Chrissie has had a wide range of careers. She ran a soft-toy making business, did outside catering, created wedding cakes, was an interior decorating, and became a chef.

"I made a number of attempts at getting published, but finally made it fifteen years ago," she said. "I love writing novellas which give lots of variety and I don’t get bored with them!"

Chrissie learned to read well before she started school and loved composition days, especially if they could choose their own subject—and her interest in being published began very early.

"I sent a play in to the BBC when I was about thirteen," she remembered. "It was rejected by one of my then favourite authors (Pamela Brown) who told me to keep writing. The fact that Pamela had read it made up for the rejection. It was many years later that I began writing seriously and was finally published."

She has now written about 36 books, her favorite being the most personal one--Rough Clay is loosely based on the life of her father.

"Dad manufactured fine bone china ... figurines and all sorts of decorative ware," she told me. I was inspired to write about him and his work when I started to discover the china being sold on Internet auction sites. I had lost the family china collection following a family feud so it became very emotional as I collected long lost pieces."

Chrissie first considered herself a writer after her first short stories were published in a national magazine, but didn't dare call herself a writer to anyone else until after her first novel was published. She has written several books for People’s Friend Pocket Novels, put out by D.C. Thomson Publishing, many of which have been turned into large-print books.

People's Friend Pocket Novels will be publishing the third book in the Potteries series next month called Where Love Belongs. It's the first multiple story Chrissie's ever written and I asked her to tell us about the series.

"It is set in the Potteries around the 1920/30 era. It’s something of a family saga, telling the story of different members of a family. The first part was a rags to riches story. The second part was looking at the difficulties of a girl moving into a different social class and a romance for her brother. The third part is approaching the second world war with the youngest family member starting her career and of course, her own romance. It has been an interesting experience."

She has recently been asked to continue the series with a fourth book.

The characters always come first for Chrissie.

"I gradually get to know the person I am creating, even having conversations with them before I ever begin to write anything down. I find out where they live, what they do," she explained. "Yes, I do get odd looks at times but my husband assumes I’m speaking on the telephone to someone. Once I know my characters, I start to discover what they are doing and why. The plot follows and then changes as the characters take matters into their own hands."

Sometimes ideas won't flow as smoothly as she likes, though, and then she takes a break—maybe do something away from the computer and come back later with new ideas. She's also been known to start something different altogether and will have two or three works going on at the same time. She insists, though, that it's not writer's block.

"As a friend said, if I admitted to writer's block," she said, "I may start suffering from it."

Chrissie's writing space is a part of her bedroom. She has a corner desk, with windows on each side.

"It's a bit of a distraction as we have a marvelous view over the sea and dramatic cliffs on the Cornish coast in the South West of England," she admitted. "I love watching thunderstorms when it's dark and I can see lightning over the sea. My Jack Russell terriers have a bed nearby and settle happily while I work. I have lots of bookshelves around the room with cupboards and drawers stuffed full of writing paraphernalia. Not exactly a girlie bedroom but I love it!"

She has three Jack Russells and told me, "I don’t want another at present but I shall always have to have at least two dogs. When I’m too old and enfeebled to walk them, I can always throw a ball for them to chase."

Dogs are her favorite animal, but she also loves frogs and horses, along with meerkats, lemurs, and marmosets.

I asked Chrissie what she would like to know about the future, and she shared with me that she's a cryonicist—she's going to be frozen when she's done with this life.

"Hopefully, I shall be thawed out in the distant future with a new body and a whole new life ahead," she explained. "I hope it will be a long time before it happens but I look forward to a life with amazing technology, good health and no famine or wars. Wouldn’t that be just great?"

She definitely cries during movies—as well as dramas, books and even when someone achieves a long-held ambition.

"I live every emotion with anyone, obviously! I need a small tear jerk at the end of each of my own books," she told me.

Some things you might not know about Chrissie:

~she's definitely a morning person, waking up early and will often, she said, "get up to write at some ridiculous hour. Usually fall asleep with the radio on fairly quickly. Strange dreams result!"

~she can definitely multitask. She told me, "I always have loads going on at the same time but hey, I call that efficiency."

~if she could wish for anything at all she would wish for a massively successful book deal. The reason? "So I can put all my grandchildren through university without them incurring these dreadful debts. Not too much money to make a huge difference to life but enough to give them a bit of a start."

Finally, I asked Chrissie, "What advice would you give to a new writer just starting out?"

"For a new writer starting out, I would say that it is essential to keep practicing the craft. Make sure the words flow naturally, especially dialogue. Perhaps try reading it aloud to see how it sounds. Grow a very thick skin, ready for the inevitable rejections and always start something new, so if you are rejected, you have a new ‘baby’ to think about. Reading your work at a later date may give you a good idea of why something was rejected."
You can keep up with Chrissie on her website, http://www.ChrissieLoveday.com

Friday Spotlight: Denyse Bridger

2011-10-28T04:00:00.001-04:00

To wrap up the week, I thought I’d introduce you to a new novel–the first full-length novel I’ve had published in over a year. This one is a complex story, set partly in the past, Victorian London circa Jack the Ripper’s reign of terror–and partly in modern day Toronto. It’s as much a mystery/thriller as it is romance, and the reviews so far have been amazing! We’ll be giving away a copy of this one, too!! So, have a peek…. You can read more over at my gorgeous new website, as well.

OUT OF THE PAST is a paranormal thriller that is part historical and part modern day. The first reviewer stated: "Out of the Past is a crime-mystery, a thriller, a romance—intensely sensual, interweaving 1880's London with present day Toronto in a heady blend of carefully constructed scenes and a cast of characters that bring the story to life with an undeniable authenticity. This is a tale that will satisfy on many levels. I heartily recommend it for your 'must read' list. Well done, Denysé Bridger."

OUT OF THE PAST

A new paranormal romance/mystery novel

Cover by: Kayden McLeod

Buy it from AMAZON

From the Publisher

eBook Page count: 260

A series of killings has the Toronto Police Department in turmoil. The press has labelled the killer a “werewolf” and hysteria is on the rise in the heat of the summer… Detective Damien Knightley is the lead investigator, but he’s got secrets of his own that need guarding in this very public investigation. Knightley is a vampire, and as the case gets more complex, what he discovers has him both baffled and worried.

In the Northern Ontario town of Brighton, a visionary woman finds a stranger outside her door, and because he’s near death she brings him into her home. In the wake of her kindness, dreams and visions expose things that terrify her. The stranger is a wolf, and history is about to repeat itself and explode in violent death if they can’t reach Toronto and capture a renegade on a blood-hunt.

As Damien recalls a love from a century ago, the threads of time are being pulled together, joining the past and the present. The beautiful woman he is falling in love with is bringing back memories he’d rather forget, and when the killer is finally revealed, there are more questions than answers in the identity…

THANKS so much for dropping by this week, it’s been great chatting with you!!

Denyse

WEBSITE: http://www.denysebridger.com

BLOG: http://fantasy-pages.blogspot.com

Sensual Treats Magazine: http://www.sensualtreats.webs.com

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

MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/denysebridger

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/denyse.bridger

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Romance.and.Fantasy

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003LUHE96

Thursday Spotlight: Denyse Bridger

2011-10-27T04:00:00.001-04:00

Set in the Eternal City of Rome, Italy - the night just got a little bit steamier when two people finally give in to their attraction for each other and take a leap that might change their lives forever.... A best-seller for six months when it was released a few years ago, this expanded and revised version is a little sexier, a little hotter, and whole lot more sensual -- take a look and fall in love..... And if you're curious, listen to the song here:

Bella Signorina
Revised and expanded
Genre: Sweetly sensual contemporary romance

Set in Rome, Bella Signorina is a sweet, romantic story of two people who meet in a trendy caffè, and through the magic of dance and music discover they have many things in common. Bianca comes to Caffè Rosati every week, and for many weeks she's been watching a special man, a handsome, charming stranger who dances, flirts, and leaves alone each week. Bianca is a woman who enjoys her freedom, and has been hurt before, so she's not anxious to fall in love again. Something about the enigmatic Stefano has captivated her heart, though, and she is drawn to him in spite of herself. When she finally gathers her courage to approach him, and ask him to dance, little does she know that her entire world is about to change.

Stefano Esposito is a man who's past relationships have not left him much in the way of ideals about women. Many have claimed to love him, none have understood him. Stefano is a rare breed in today's world of fast-paced life and love. He is a gentleman, a man who many consider a little out of step with the times. For Stefano, falling in love is the completion of a soul, not the consummation of a sexual itch. He wants the woman in his life to respect, understand, and adore him, as he will her. When he meets Bianca, he wonders if he's finally found the one he's waited a lifetime for? She understands his internal conflicts, his desires, and his dreams, after only hours together.

When their attraction to each other flares too quickly and too intently, Stefano pulls back. Confused and uncertain, Bianca flees his beautiful home and business, and goes back to her busy life. But, once the dance has begun, is there a way to go back to what you knew before, or is it just a matter of time before the music lures you back to your dreams and, perhaps, makes them reality?

Read an excerpt:

I simply smiled and raised a glass when she walked over
Then love began, she took my hand, and said let’s dance…

Bianca allowed the music to surge into her being, until the only thing real was the easy rhythm of motion that had her spinning into the pulsing sounds of the catchy song. She’d danced with Gianni many times, and no thought was involved, only the perfect movement and the music. He was an excellent partner, and as always, the song ended too soon. Tonight, as often happened, there was a small burst of applause for the performance they’d given.

She smiled and turned to go back to her table when the handsome stranger at the bar lifted his glass and saluted her. For just an instant, the cafe and its patrons vanished, and there was only his sparkling eyes and the humor that emanated from him. Excitement surged into her veins, making her reckless and determined. Bianca murmured an excuse to Gianni, then changed direction and headed directly for the beautiful man she’d been wanting to meet.

When she stood in front of him, she offered her hand.

He took it, kissed it, and waited, faint challenge in his eyes.

She ignored the tremor working its way into her knees and making them wobbly.

“Let’s dance,” she invited.

Laughter accompanied the shake of his head.

Bianca eyed him with amusement.

“Why?”

“I don’t dance, bella.”

His voice was soft, richly modulated, and layered with too many subtleties to readily define them all.

“Of course you do,” she countered, her head tilting to one side. “I’ve seen you dance here.”

“Not like you do,” he replied.

He reached for his wine, and she caught his hand and tugged, gently but insistently drawing him with her as she walked back to the dance floor, her gaze locked with his startled look. The four piece band was just beginning a lively number when Bianca struck a pose and waited for him to take the lead. He did, and she was totally unprepared for the shock of awareness that went through her when he pulled her to him and they started to move like one person…

Wednesday Spotlight: Denyse Bridger

2011-10-26T04:00:00.001-04:00

Do you ever wonder the ideas come from for some of the most interesting concepts and stories you encounter? One of my latest releases, a non-erotic–all three of them are non-erotic which is a nice change–happened to come about when I was with an actor friend at a convention appearance and he was asked about the origins of a vampire character he was playing in his television series. They hadn’t really made a point of telling the audience much about who he was or how he was “created” and he had very intriguing ideas about it. We talked later in his room and I told him I loved one of the ideas he’d proposed, then asked if he’d mind me writing it. He was totally cool with the idea, so Prelude to Eternity was written. Because it’s about vampires, I considered several things, among them the roots of the whole mythos. If we go back to Dracula, there is a legendary link between Christianity and vampires, so in this short story I ask the question why, and propose an answer that makes some readers shudder, and others angry. So, what do you all think is the connection, and why do ALL early vampire stories present Christian symbolism as the very bane of vampire existence?

Prelude to Eternity is available here: XOXO Publishing.

Ever wonder why a vampire cannot walk in the light of the sun... why he was cursed to nocturnal existence.... reviled by all... a symbol of evil? I have a theory... the Prelude to Eternity....

Excerpt:

The man was dying. Alexander had a keen sense of encroaching death. He was often the cause of it. Angelo della morte – Angel of Death.

He wasn’t sure if the words inside his head were his own, or a whisper from the man who was near death before him. It was an appropriate name to give him, the most honest of the many he’d taken over the past several centuries.

A chill touched his spine.

The shadows were growing longer, yet the sun blazed infinitely brighter behind the figure who commanded the former priest’s enraptured attention.

‘You have damned your kind to a darkness greater than any you have known before.’

Again the words whispered softly, sadly, into his barren consciousness.

As Alexander watched, the sun passed behind the prisoner. He stood, immobile, and felt the shadow of the cross settle over him. Pain, a searing, fiery force that drove him to his knees burned into his dead flesh. He was being torn apart from within, and was helpless to move. Ice flooded through him in the fire’s wake. Again, he was paralyzed by the onslaught of terror and anguish.

For endless, eternal minutes, Alexander writhed before the cross. His mind screamed in a steady litany of agonized horror and emerging understanding. The darkness grew absolute around him and his pain eclipsed all other awarenesses…

Tuesday Spotlight: Denyse Bridger

2011-10-25T04:00:00.000-04:00

I thought today we’d take the opposite side to yesterday’s discussion. How about those hot and sexy heroes! In spite of my reluctance to become a paranormal author, I have discovered that I have an affinity for vampires in particular, and they are endlessly fascinating. But, what does make a truly remarkable hero? Does he have to be drop-dead gorgeous, braver than the bravest soldier, or just an average guy who loves the heroine with so much passion that he rises well above his own fears to be the man she needs?

I’ve been accused of writing bitches and bastards from time to time. I don’t really agree with either tag, because frankly, I can’t imagine anything more boring than a “nice” vampire. And bitch has become synonymous with strong in some of my stories. I think a smart woman who has her own ideas is the kind of woman most of us know and want to have as a friend. Thing about that. If you actually had to know some of these heroines, would you want to?

I love the diversity of voices in today’s writing, the multitude of combinations we see in the types of lead characters. Think about it, ten years ago how many paranormals would have thought to take angels and humanize them into romantic heroes? Tomorrow, we can talk about traditional romance and today’s more unconventional approaches.

Monday Spotlight: Denyse Bridger

2011-10-24T04:00:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone. Since most of you know me already, I’ll forego the introductions this time. I’ve had a busy month, three new releases in under ten days again, so going a bit crazy. Also, just finished writing my first ménage story in ages, so it’s been insane. Two vampires and a mortal woman, and one wild relationship.

That got me to thinking about the perception we have of our heroines. We spend so much time focusing on our heroes that we often overlook the kind of woman we expect these wondering men to fall in love with and cherish. So, the question would be, what makes a good heroine, in your opinion? We tend to be very, very critical of heroines, much more so than the heroes. My theory is that we want to identify with the heroine so we can love the hero through her. She tends to be the focus of our dissatisfaction when we read a book that we don’t like very much.

So, in my opinion, a good heroine is not someone who is remotely perfect. I don’t often describe my heroines in more than passing terms, that keeps them accessible to everyone. Large, small, smarter than average, poor, rich–there has to be something that makes us want to be her–something more than the fact that the hero would do anything for her, that is. :)

If you could tell an author what you like, or hate, about the heroines she/he creates, what would you suggest?

Author Interview with Abby Morris

2011-10-22T04:00:00.002-04:00

The Long and the Short of It is pleased to welcome Abby Morris, whose debut novel Disturb the Universe was released in March by Secret Cravings Publishing.

Even though Disturb the Universe is her first published work, Abby has been writing for fifty-five years. English Literature was her passion as far back as elementary school and she wrote short pieces for writing competitions as often as she could. She also used her writing skills throughout her business career, writing policy statements, speeches, and training manuals. Once she retired, she had the time to devote to writing fiction.

Disturb the Universe is very important to Abby, for more than being her debut.

"It's very special to me because it addresses a situation almost all women have dealt with—what if the man you want is your best friend? Or what if he is gay?" she explained. "It is fascinating to me that once a woman paints a man as unavailable for any reason (gay, married, a priest, absent, indifferent), she will construct a shield of tolerance around him that is impervious to fault or blame. Like an imaginary playmate, he becomes a touchstone, a symbol of perfection, a goal to be reached, a place to which she returns no matter how far afield her interest may stray. This book is about a couple, Lauren and Charlie, who grow up together—constant companions, best friends—with no romantic attachment. When Lauren finally acknowledges she is in love with Charlie despite his obvious lack of sexual interest, the conflict begins. The ultimate question is – when given the chance to have him, issues and all, what will she choose to do?"

The title was taken from the T.S. Eliot poem, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," which deals with the issue of whether one should dare to seize the moment, take the risk, live the life. She viewed the concept of "daring to do" as perfect for the story.

Abby often turns to favorite poems for title ideas, because poets have a facility to compress reams of meaning into a short phrase.

"Pick the right phrase," she told me, "and you capture a whole spectrum of feeling within a short title. I plan to use an Emily Dickenson phrase for a title—think of the meaning behind 'entertaining plated wares upon my silver shelf' or 'because I could not stop for death he kindly stopped for me.' Of course, Mr. Eliot has many other good ones to offer – The Waste Land alone could be the inspiration for titles of hundreds of books. Or Richard Shelton, ‘the forms of love are myriad as the stars …’."

When discussing which came first, characters or plot, Abby assured me, " My characters always come first because they are the story. The plot may take several forms before it is finished, but it always reflects behavior that is true to the nature of the characters."

Abby also told me that she doesn't believe in writer's block.

"I either have something I want to say or I don’t, and I never force it," she said. "When characters and a story press themselves upon me, I write; other times, I read, which often inspires me to write. Many of my stories are based on real-life family and friends, so the raw material is always there – sometimes it just needs a jolt of energy."

One of her favorite authors is Ayn Rand.

"Ayn Rand was the most gifted storyteller and had the most skillful, compelling manner of presenting her extraordinary message," Abby told me. "However, for the sheer pleasure of enjoying silky, lyrical prose, I return again and again to Tennessee Williams, Pat Conroy, and F. Scott Fitzgerald."

Tennessee Williams and F. Scott Fitzgerald, along with Arona McHugh and John O'Hara, have had the most impact on Abby's own style of writing, however she said, "The beauty of the lyrical language of Anne Rivers Siddons’ best book, Peachtree Road, has inspired me in many ways."

Abby has a built-in desk in her kitchen/sunroom which is the center of her home world, complete with pc, printer, phone, files, and a comfortable chair. She also has a more formal study, though, with a nice lady's desk, period furniture, and a lot of books.

"I like to use it sometimes, just for a change of environment."

When Abby's not writing, she likes to read, play bridge, lunch or shop with friends, watch TV (especially old movies), and indulge her passion for gourmet cooking.

"I love to try new dishes and seldom follow any recipe exactly," she admitted. "My husband and I are both retired and both of us write, so we are never without something to do."

Abby had a Samoyed for twelve years who was a wonderful pet.

"I loved him immensely and was crushed when he died from cancer," she told me, explaining why she doesn't want a dog right now. "It wasn’t until he was gone that I realized how much time and work is involved in properly caring for a dog—especially one that large."

"You can erase any horrible experience from your past," I told her. "What will it be?"

"Whatever caused me to be claustrophobic. I don’t remember the incident, but something made me afraid of closed–in spaces, particularly if there is not an obvious exit, or I can’t effectively use my hands and arms. I can’t even watch TV scenes where someone is crawling through a tunnel, and it’s downright embarrassing to have a panic attack in a stalled elevator."

Abby's heritage is Irish, Scot, and English on her mother's side and English, German, and American Indian on her father's side.

"My ancestors were part of the American Revolution and the Confederacy," she said. "We are southern to the core, having migrated down from Virginia to settle in Georgia."

The strangest thing she's ever eaten was considered a delicacy in the south…"still are, I expect," she said, "by those who aren't grossed out by the thought. Calf brains. When I was a child, my grandmother would prepare brains and eggs for supper when she had them."

"Have you ever cried during a movie?" I asked.

"Good Lord, yes. I also cry during commercials, TV series, music, and at funerals of people I don’t even know. The first really sad movie I remember was A Place in the Sun, with Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Cliff. I recall going to the drive-in theatre with my girlfriends, watching it twice and sobbing from beginning to end."

Abby is a self-admitted night person.

"All those years I had to get up early for school or work, I yearned for the day when I could stay up late and sleep late," she told me. "In college, I never understood the people who got up at five a.m. to prepare for class because I don’t really ‘get in gear’ until around ten a.m."

Finally, I asked her, "If you could wish for anything, what would you wish for?"

"Enough money to avoid anything I don’t want to endure. I don’t believe that wealth ensures happiness, but it does remove obstacles and provide the freedom to get away from whatever makes us unhappy. Whether it’s a miserable marriage, an unpleasant neighborhood, health issues, a bad job, bad climate, boring family or friends—enough money enables one to choose rather than accept. Think about it—what’s in your life that you could improve with more money than you have? Even if you have enough money to be very comfortable, wouldn’t more of it give you a chance to change something for the better?"
You can keep up with Abby on her website, http://www.wix.com/abbymorris1/abby-morris#!.

Friday Spotlight: Jane Toombs

2011-10-21T04:00:00.000-04:00

What Makes A Trilogy Different From A Series

What does a trilogy need that a series doesn’t? A trilogy must have a real and viable connection within the three books. Either the same main characters throughout the three or secondary characters from the first book taking on major roles in the second and third books.

Or a single goal throughout the three books, such as a problem needing to be solved, which finally is taken care of in the third. Or a specific setting that’s the core of the trilogy. Or a family connection, where various members may encounter different settings, but the people in the trilogy are all related.

In my Darkness of Dragons Trilogy, the books are connected by the same house and area (setting). And by the goal, which is essentially the same in all three--to control the Black Dragon.

On the other hand, In my Dagon House Ghosts Trilogy, the connection is simply the house (setting) and what happens to the people who are staying there. That and the ghosts.

On the other hand, a series needs only to be loosely connected in some way. That to me is the difference.

Again, the connection can be a family, such as in my Golden Chances Series. Or a setting, which that series has as well.

In my Temple Of Time Series, the series title is the connecting factor, because once you enter this place, anything can happen.

Also in a series, years can pass between the books.

Thursday Spotlight: Jane Toombs

2011-10-20T04:00:00.002-04:00

5 W’s And An H

I’m often asked how I write. So I finally dreamed up a short answer. I use the who, what. when, why, where and how method of creating.

Who are the two main characters. Three if there’s a villain.
What do each of them want? Plus the way this will impact the story.
When is the time period of the story.
Why is the reason for what the main characters want.
Where is the physical location of what’s happening.
How is the resulting story.

I’m a plotter, so I do an overall synopsis for the entire book or series. I may deviate from this synopsis as I go along, but usually not radically. This gives me an overall plan, so I don’t wander off into the woods and get lost.

And, yes I might. I pantstered my first two sales back in 1943, and 1944, but got so far off track with the third that my agent couldn’t peddle it anywhere.

He was the one who, though inadvertently, rescued me by asking me to do a synopsis and three chapters for a publisher doing a gothic Zodiac series. After he explained what a synopsis was (I had no clue) I did it and got the contract. I found it amazingly easy to write the book more or less following the synopsis. I never wrote another without one. Even did a synopsis for that third book, revised it drastically and it sold. I’ve never looked back.

Wednesday Spotlight: Jane Toombs

2011-10-19T04:00:00.000-04:00

THE DISEASE OF WRITING

Abelard to Heloise: “Against the disease of writing one must take special precautions, since it is a dangerous and contagious disease.”

This tragic couple wrote numerous letters to each other, one containing the above remark. Not going further into their ill-fated love affair, I’m using the quotation as applies to all writers. In the narrow sense of being contagious, I’m not sure it applies, since we can’t “catch” writing from being exposed to a writer. But in another sense most of us have been readers from an early age, so maybe we did “catch” it from the books we read and enjoyed which were written by already infected authors. Not a highly contagious because not all readers get infected.

A dangerous disease? Absolutely, since after catching it most writers remain infected for the rest of their lives. Those lucky enough to be published find that intensifies the disease severely. Many may even go to a heavenly reward with their cold, dead fingers still on the keyboard.

What‘s the reward for suffering most of our lives from this disease? Sometimes monetary rewards, but often merely walking-around money. We all do have the joy (and pain) of reviews. Plus the wonderful satisfaction of hearing from readers who tell us how much they enjoy reading what we write. A few of us may even become famous.

Famous or not, we cling to our disease and keep writing. We say we can’t help it, and of course we can’t-- we’re suffering from the disease of writing.

Tuesday Spotlight: Jane Toombs

2011-10-18T04:00:00.002-04:00

Are Gothics Spooky?

Do you think of gothics as spooky stories? I do. Of course they’re also more than that. A gothic may come close to horror, but never really is because there‘s always a happy ending. Nor is it just a romantic suspense story because darker elements are always present. And almost all gothics are paranormal in some way. Modern gothics also differ from the earlier ones as far as sex goes--they can be sensual. Earlier ones were filled with sexual yearning, but consummation was missing. Though that’s not true of Rebecca because the hero and heroine are married even if we don’t see any consummated sex between them.

Modern gothics differ in other ways from earlier ones, in that the heroine is rarely if ever a shy virgin. Neither, as a rule, is she too stupid to live. No more midnight ventures down a dark hall with a wavering candle the only illumination. In her nightgown, no less. And the hero does not have to be the stereotypical tortured and brooding loner, who is usually a widower. Usually with some question as to why his wife died, making him seem implicated.

Neither does the setting have to be a castle, though a mansion is still popular. An isolated setting is a plus. Usually nothing is exactly as it appears on the surface.

The RWA Chapter of the Gothic Writers has a great gothic series running at Red Rose Publishing, called Shadowed Hearts. Six books are out now, with more to come.

Monday Spotlight: Jane Toombs

2011-10-17T04:00:00.002-04:00

Review Behavior For Authors

If you’re like me. You hope all the reviews your book gets are good ones. But what if some aren’t? What do you do? Regardless of how you feel, here’s what you should do for a really bad one.

1. Always thank the reviewer Yes, even if you hate their review and feel she or he didn’t understand what you were trying to do. The only other words you might use is that you were sorry she or he didn’t seem to like your writing. Even if you or your publisher didn’t ask for a book review, you need to remember the reviewer took the time to read it.

2. Never, ever respond to a reviewer with an angry email. Why? Not everyone can or will like your story. That’s a fact you need to remember every time you ask someone to review a book of yours. It’s never wise to alienate a reviewer, which an angry email will surely do. Secondly--after all, this person gave you their honest opinion. Remind yourself not everyone will like your book. Repeat it like a mantra.

3. If you must share your scathing remarks do so with folks you know are your friends. Preferably per phone call rather than email. Do not share your opinion online.

4. Tell your publisher you’d prefer this reviewer didn’t read any more of your books since she or he doesn’t seem to like them.

Have I ever gotten poor reviews? You bet. Most authors have.