Friday - Guy Ogan Talking About Heroes, Heroines and Villains #MFRWauthor #vampires

1. Do you write a single genre or do your fingers flow over the keys creating tales in many forms? Does your reading choices reflect your writing choices? Are there genres you wouldn’t attempt? 

Answer: All three of my currently available series are of what I call the Paranormal-Action genre'. I will turn the second part of the question around in that my favorite genre' for reading is also in the paranormal (specifically about vampires who have redeeming social value vs. the wanton killer types - paranormal doesn't mean the same as horror...I don't like horror!) 

 

2. Heroes, Heroines, Villains. Which are your favorite to write? Does one of these come easy and why?

Answer: He roes and Heroines are the main characters in my books...it is their job to defeat the evil in this world (of which there is far too much). My military background makes writing about heroes and heroines more worthwhile than writing about the evil characters. Having worked as an Associate Clinical Psychologist in the prison system I prefer describing good rather than evil.

 

3. Heroes. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or plain imagination create the man you want every reader to love? Do they come before the plot or after you have the idea for the story? 

Answer: My characters as well as their stories come to me in various ways, in my dreams, day-dreams, or while I am writing. Regardless of how my characters come to me I feel that I serve a a scribe to record their stories. And yes, I get a visual image of who they are, what they look like as well a the actions they are describing to me. My initial male hero, if that is what you wish to call him, Gary has my own military training and knowledge so he is my alter-ego and performs they way I would hope I would if circumstances worked out as in the stories.

 

4. Heroines. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or imagination create the woman you want the reader to root for? Do they appear before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?

Answer: As previously stated for heroes my characters come to me in vivid dreams, daydreams and as they recount their stories, call it imagination if you wish. Magdalena and Eviana came to me as part of Gary's story and what happened to Gary's family is actually what happened in the case of my own father (see page one and two  of the first book, "Immortal Relations" the picture is on page two, http://amzn.com/B006ZCBT6G and can be seen by all in those first pages when visiting the book's amazon address.  

 

5. Villains or villainesses or an antagonist, since they don’t always have to be the bad guy or girl. They can be a person opposed to the hero’s or heroine’s obtaining their goal. How do you 

choose one? How do you make them human? 

Answer: All of my heroes and heroines as well as the villains either are or were at one time, human. Some of the most interesting parts of their stories (in my opinion) is when we find out what caused them to become vampires. Those who become evil vampires had a predisposition toward aggression, if not outright evil. Their lack of morality when it comes to caring for others seems to be their hallmark. Others, specifically Vlad Dracula, had no one to train him on proper vampire behavior. Locked away in prison, he had no way of dealing with the "thirst" other than the way he did. It took the guidance of his second wife to turn him away from evil (as discussed in the third book). The greatest evil in the books is not found in vampires but in human governments that have no regard for those whose freedom they seek to trample on!

 

6. What is your latest release? Who is the hero, heroine and or the villain?

Answer: My third book in the series, "Immortal Relations Coming Out" http://amzn.com/B00G5BQS18 is my latest release. In my latest release, the heroes are not only my good vampires but the good citizens of a small town in Southern Canada who lovingly accept and support them. Conversely, the villains are found in totalitarian world governments. Some of them are members of the current regime in Washington D.C. who prove to neither respect their Constitution or the lives of others (some who wear rose-colored-glasses won't appreciate this story). 

7. What are you working on now? 

Answer: A switch from the paranormal, but still in the fiction category. I'm writing a story about an eight-year-old, her grandfather and a friend who travel back through time to see the dinosaurs. It's not a "See Spot run, see Dick chase Spot, see Jane chase after both" type children's story. There is scientific theory, action (running from dinosaurs) and shooting, it's for more mature children.    

 

8. How can people find you?

            Website: http://immortalrelations.blogspot.com/

           

            Blog: same as above website

            Twitter: Guy Ogan on Twitter

            Facebook: Guy Ogan on Facebook

  

Thursday's Villains - 2 Step-brothers from Escape - Affinities Book 1 #MFRWauthor #fantasy

Lodar leaned forward. “On Summer Day, come with us and we’ll show you how a fete should be enjoyed.”

“Summer Day is a long time off.”

Mandir chuckled. “If you can ditch your shadow, you can come with us tomorrow night. We’ll introduce you to some of our friends.”

“Maybe we’ll chance on those scavengers and the urchin with the magic sword,” Lodar said.

The prince turned. “What do you mean by a magic sword?”

Mandir laughed. “’Twas some kind of trick. Fire spouted from the sword. ‘Twould be fun to have a weapon like that.”

Zedron grasped Mandir’s arm. “Where and when did you see this sword?”

Alizand glanced at Dom Senet. The man’s smile was one of self-satisfaction. He leaned forward.
Alizand wondered if the Dom read the winds. Alizand swallowed. Could Lodar and Mandir have seen Ky or was there a third flame sword in Cedris?

Mandir giggled. A trace of fear lay beneath his merriment. “When? Before Winter Day when scavengers are out in force. ‘Twas near the House Wesren compound.”

“Why didn’t you report this?” The prince’s voice was clipped and harsh.

Lodar laughed. “Do you want the toy, too?”

“’Tis not a toy.” Dom Senet rose and stalked toward the pair.

Mandir and Lodar pushed away from the table. Dom Senet reached them at the foot of the stairs. He placed one hand on each of their heads. Their bodies shook. Lodar screamed. “Don’t hurt me. Mother.”

Melena rose. “Who gave you leave to touch my sons?”
Dom Senet removed his hands. The pair collapsed on the steps. “I’ve learned what I need and they’ve not been harmed.”

Melena faced him. “Don’t touch them again. They’re not meat for your meddling.”

The Dom ignored her. “Zedron, what I’ve learned might help in my search for the missing ones.”

“Our search,” the prince said.

Alizand tried to make himself small. He wondered if there was a way to find his friends
and send a message. Maybe Dragen would know.

Lodar and Mandir paused partway up the steps. “Alizand, beware. Don’t be sorry.”

What did they mean? Were their words a threat or a warning? Why were they angry with him and not the Dom? Alizand reached for his goblet. He had to do something.

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Looking at Description #MFRWauthor #amwriting

Description is the best way to involve your reader and make them feel they are part of the story. This is done by using the senses. Sight, hearing, touching, smelling and tasting. For some of us who write fantasy this involves other senses like those included in ESP.

Why would a writer want to involve the senses? Using them in not pedestrian ways brings the word pictures into vivid images. Let's see what could happen using each of the senses to give depth to a character, a setting, a world or an object the character sees or uses.

You could say. She heard his voice. That is rather ordinary. You could say the tone of his voice made her afraid. A bit better. Or His rasping voice rolled along her nerves sending chills along her spine. Now this gives you a really vivid picture. You haven't seen the threatening character but you have a picture of him in your mind.

She saw the car he drove. Ordinary. She studied the blue convertible. A bit better. One look at the sleek blue convertible and she thought money. Tells you something about her and him.

The white house sat on a hill. Or atop the steep road up the hill stood a white house. A curving driveway lined with hedges of roses climbed the hill to the white house.

So when you're describing one of your characters, or the setting, think of making these word pictures descriptive and the reader will see these places and people as real.

Tuesday's Inspiration - Where Is Your Muse #MFRWauthor #amwriting

Found this quote by Sidney Sheldon in an essay by him and it made me think. "If you only write when the muse sits on your shoulder, it is unlikely your project will ever get completed." Wondered for a long time why this appealed to me and I discovered the reason. I don't have a muse. If I waited for one to appear I would never have written.

Do you have a muse? I wonder if when people remark their muse is on vacation or some other reason for not writing is an excuse. I try to write every day. Don't always make this happen. There are times when life intrudes.

I am really curious about this. What do writers do when the muse is absent? I can't imagine waiting for someone to tell me I should write this or that. Sitting down with a pen and paper nearly every day  is how the words get made. Sometimes they all get thrown away and sometimes they don't.

If I had a muse she or he would be the characters in the story or the plot that needs to be solved or the background which includes setting. Sometimes this is inventing a world that doesn't exist or the every day world where I live. The trick to completing a book is to tell the muse, if you have one, to wake up or not. You are going to write whether they're present or not.

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #amwriting

Meander 1 - I'm celebrating my years as a writer. This is around the time of the year when I sold my first short story. The year was 1968 and I'd been writing stories for about two years. I remember the day. Hard to believe 47 years have passed but the memory remains clear. The mail came and I saw the SASE envelope and really didn't want to open it but this time the envelope was thinner than when I'd sent it out. So I sat in my study and opened the envelope and saw an acceptance letter and a check. Suddenly I was an author and I wanted to share the news. My boys were three and two so they couldn't appreciate the news. My husband was at the hospital doing his residency. I had a number for him there so I called. Unfortunately he was in a session so the secretary took the message. "Tell him I sold one of my children." We had laughed and talked about the boys as our children and my stories as my children. An hour later I got a frantic call from my husband. The secretary told him I'd sold one of his children. After I explained what had happened we both laughed over the error. That was the beginning of my career. Not that it was smooth sailing. There were more rejections and I turned to novels. I also took a break or two to return to school and work as a nurse.

Meander 2 - Something has been happening with my blog and I'm not sure what but it's kind of exciting. In the past few weeks I've had 600 to 1200 visits a day. Is it because I've been doing this for a long time or is it the subjects I write about. A lot of them are concerned with writing in general, my books and also the books of others. It's fun while it lasts.

Meander 3 - My writing. The past week I've been doing the final edits before I send the manuscript for Divided Dreams to the publisher. This is in some ways tedious but there are important things to consider like why doesn't this sentence make any sense? Often it's because when typing I leave out a word or two. Another is can I make this crisper. How many passive sentences are there. My spell check usually tells me how passive the story it. I try to hit less than 3% and this time I've been successful with this. There are three chapters to go and then some other stuff to accomplish before I send it out. Then I'm going to concentrate on Wizards of Fyre which has been rough drafted. The version only a writer can love.

Sunday's Book - Havens - Book Two Of Affinities #MFRWauthor #fantasy #YA

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 Havens (Affinities Book 2 - Young Adult fantasy, Books We Love) 

Havens Book 2 in the Affinities Series

The four teens, led by the mysterious birds they believe are their parents seek a place of safety where they can learn to control their affinities. They find a place of refuge with Doma Jandia, grandmother of their friend Zand. The doma plans to take them to the highlands but news of the capture of two of their friends by Dom Senet, sends them on a rescue mission. Their powers are not strong enough to defeat the evil dom. They must find a way to succeed or their friends will be corrupted forever.

Take me away...

By Kat Taylor on March 8, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase

Do not miss this exciting and dynamic series. An escape for young adults as well as adults with a passion for fantasy. Janet Lane Walters creates world like no other writer I know. 

Saturday's Blurbs - Books by Shauna Knight #MFRWauthor #paranormalromance

You can get info on all my currently available fiction books here:

http://www.shaunaauraknight.com/books/fiction-books/

And you can get updates on new books, sales, (and freebies!) by joining my email newsletter here: http://shaunaauraknight.us3.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=c61f27e7c61d6a19fac295d7e&id=66a1779455

The Truth Upon Her Lips

Sonya has always seen glimpses of the future, but when she nearly dies in a car accident, she wonders why she didn’t foresee it. Sexy EMT Kade Sinclaire drives her home, and as their attraction heats up he’s barely able to hide that he’s a shapeshifter. Yet, he holds out hope that Sonya might accept a wereleopard as a mate.

Sonya finds herself wrapped up in shifter conflicts and Faerie curse magic as she uncovers a plot within the company she’s working for. Will she give into her feelings for Kade? Can Kade and his clan fight off a powerful Faerie Lord before Sonya gets killed? And can Sonya unravel her Truthspeaking magic before it drives her mad?

Sexy Teaser Excerpt: http://www.shaunaauraknight.com/books/fiction-books/excerpt-the-truth-upon-her-lips/

A Fading Amaranth

Nathaniel’s been a vampire long enough to grow weary of glamoured seduction, and he’s lost his poetic muse. He meets reclusive artist Alexandra—her telepathy has overwhelmed her for years, and she can bear no one’s touch. However, she can’t hear Nathaniel’s thoughts, and she’s immune to his vampire glamour. During scorching nights together, they rediscover their passion for life.

When a Faerie creature stalks Alexandra, the lovers find themselves snared in a paranormal battle alongside Chicago’s mage guardians. Worse, Nathan’s rising bloodlust places Alexandra in danger. Will she master her abilities before going insane? What will they risk to be together?

Excerpt and Buy Links: http://www.shaunaauraknight.com/books/fiction-books/excerpt-a-fading-amaranth/

Werewolves in the Kitchen

When Ellie moved to the SpiralStone retreat center to figure out her life, she expected peace, quiet, and spiritual practice. She had no idea that the two sexy men running the kitchen would seduce her…much less at the same time. Kyle and Jake turn out to be wilder than they seem and Ellie finds herself wrapped up in devastating magic. She must choose: stay with Jake and Kyle and risk who she has been, accepting the dangerous world of shapeshifters? Or leave them and risk madness, or worse?

Excerpt and Buy Links: http://www.shaunaauraknight.com/books/fiction-books/werewolves-in-the-kitchen-excerpt/

Werewolves with Chocolate

Jake and Kyle have big plans for Ellie. The three of them will be celebrating their first Valentine’s Day together, and the two werewolves have prepared a feast of chocolates, fruits, and desserts to seduce her. After several busy weeks Ellie’s looking forward to a relaxing weekend with her mates; their pent up lust boils within her blood. However, when an injured werewolf shows up on their doorstep, the three have to deal with pack politics on the most romantic weekend of the year. Sex and chocolate had been in the plans, but now the mix includes a pissed off werewolf pack and the threat of war with enemy wolves. Will the dangers of the shifter underworld force them apart?

Excerpt: (This one’s free for anyone who subscribes to my email list!) http://www.shaunaauraknight.com/books/fiction-books/excerpt-werewolves-with-chocolate/

A Winter Knight’s Vigil

Sexy, kilt-wearing Tristan has captured Amber’s attention on many occasions. But as members of the KingSword coven, which has strict rules about intimate relationships inside the circle, dating him is out of the question. When the coven heads to a secluded woodland cabin to celebrate the Winter Solstice, Amber finds herself closer than ever to Tristan. As the Longest Night approaches and their group’s ritual workings intensify, the pair realizes that they can no longer hide from their feelings. Just as King Arthur held vigil before being knighted, Tristan and Amber face their shadows—and the realization that one or both of them might have to leave the coven. Or can they be together without breaking their honor?

Excerpt: http://www.shaunaauraknight.com/books/fiction-books/excerpt-a-winter-knights-vigil-spicy/

Friday - Shauna Knight is Talking About Heroes, Heroines and Villains #MFRWauthor

1. Do you write a single genre or do your fingers flow over the keys creating tales in many forms? Do your reading choices reflect your writing choices? Are there genres you wouldn’t attempt?

I read a lot of speculative fiction genres, and I also write in a bunch of them. I write primarily paranormal romance and urban fantasy at the moment, but I have more epic fantasy, space opera, and dystopian books in the works. I’m not really interested in reading regular contemporary fiction, or for that matter, watching many movies without a magical or sci-fi element to them.  I probably wouldn’t attempt writing horror; I can’t stand reading it, and I couldn’t stand writing it.

2. Heroes, Heroines, Villains. Which are your favorite to write? Does one of these come easy and why?

I tend to use “hero” as a gender-neutral term, and heroes are definitely my favorite to write. Since a lot of my stories come from dreams I’ve had--and I’m usually in the role of the hero in the dreams--it’s pretty easy to write those characters because I’ve been them and lived them, even if just for a little while in the dreamscape.

Villains…well, that one is harder for me. And I’ve been trying to nail down why for years, because my difficulty writing villains has kept me from finishing a lot of half-done books! I think part of it is that I am a pretty compassionate person; I don’t like seeing people in pain, and I genuinely don’t understand how people can intentionally hurt others. It’s hard for me to get into that villain headspace because it makes me angry or sad to think of people who don’t care about hurting others, or worse, who enjoy it.

3. Heroes. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or plain imagination create the man you want every reader to love? Do they come before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?

Most of my stories come from dreams I’ve had. I’ve been writing down my dreams since I was about twelve, and I have had some huge, massive, epic dreams. By the time I have written down one of these dreams after waking, I have a pretty good idea of the main protagonists for the story, and for me, the characters and the plot are thoroughly woven together. Sometimes I’ll go online and look for pictures of them, or I’ll paint them myself. I’ve just started dipping my toes into Pinterest and creating boards for specific stories and characters. Finding outfits for characters seems to obsess me at about 3am on some nights.

4. Heroines. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or imagination create the woman you want the reader to root for? Do they appear before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?

Same answer as above. I’m not really thinking about hero vs. heroine; heroes can be all genders.

5. Villains or villainesses or an antagonist, since they don’t always have to be the bad guy or girl. They can be a person opposed to the hero’s or heroine’s obtaining their goal. How do you choose one? How do you make them human?

I wrote a bit above about how it’s sometimes difficult for me to write a villain. And also, sometimes the antagonist is just the situation, but almost always there’s going to be a villain in the form of a character. Sometimes for villains I pull from the headlines of horrible things people do; stuff I couldn’t make up if I tried.

And as for making my villains human…I suppose I can offer a deeper reason why they’re hard for me to write and spill a few secrets. Once upon a time I attended a panel discussion at a sci-fi/fantasy convention. One of the authors said something about how writing a great villain requires you to get in touch with your own shadows, your own dark side. To ask the question, “If I didn’t care about what society thought, what would I do to attain XYZ goal?”

That one has sat like a lump of lead in my stomach, because it’s true.

 The best villains I read in books are the ones that are real. The ones who are very much the heroes of their own stories, the ones who are making choices just as the heroes are, it’s just that those choices may be a little more likely to hurt others. So to write a really good villain, I have to be willing to dive deep into my dark side, and that isn’t always a pleasant place to be. But when I do that, and when I figure out the villain’s own tragic story, that is what makes a villain come alive.

6. What is your latest release? Who is the hero, heroine and or the villain?

In the next few weeks I’ll be releasing my paranormal romance The Truth Upon Her Lips, book one of the Roses Rising series, where Kade and Sonya end up fighting a banished Faerie lord. Kade meets Sonya when she’s in a car accident; he’s an EMT, and he’s also a wereleopard. Sonya isn’t injured in the wreck, but she’s surprised that her psychic precognition never kicked in. She’s had this strange ability all her life which she has mostly resented because it made her weird, but now, she’s wondering why she didn’t foresee the accident. Kade is struggling to keep his wereleopard nature under wraps as things get hot and heavy between the two of them.

Life begins to get pretty strange for Sonya and the “convenient accidents” start piling up. I won’t spoil all the surprises here, but there’s a Faerie curse, werecreatures, Fae monsters, some corporate intrigue, and Sonya begins to discover her own magical powers she didn’t know she had.

The villain of the story was kicked out of Faerie by his own father and grandmother for being part human—for not being a powerful enough Fae. He’s determined to win back his place at court by any means necessary, and killing Sonya, or the wereleopards protecting her, doesn’t bother him in the slightest if it helps him to attain his goals.

7. What are you working on now?

I’m in the finishing phases of A Golden Heart of Glass and A Winter Knight’s Silence, but I’m also working on the next in the Roses Rising Series, Until She Wakes From Sleep. I also have a longer urban fantasy series that explores the psychic mage characters introduced in my book A Fading Amaranth.

A Golden Heart of Glass takes place at the SpiralStone retreat center (where Werewolves in the Kitchen is set). Angel and Ben find themselves connecting to the gods Aphrodite and Hephaestus, and as their magic grows, they become the target for vampires and other creatures that want their power. A Winter Knight’s Silence follows Lily on a pilgrimage to Glastonbury Tor where she has a wild night with the Horned God. Until She Wakes From Sleep follows one of the descendants of Sleeping Beauty; there’s a sorceress after her who wants her powers, and it might be the sexy dragon shifter who ends up being the prince charming of the story.

8. How can people find you?

I’m all over the place. Signing up for my email newsletter is a great way to keep in touch, and I offer the occasional freebies and giveaway. Facebook’s my social media of choice, but I also have really been having fun on Pinterest lately.

Web Site: http://www.shaunaauraknight.com
Fiction Blog: https://shaunaknightauthorartist.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaunaKnightAuthorArtist

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Shauna_A_Knight
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/shaunaaura/

Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/author/shaunaaknight

Goodreads Page: http://www.goodreads.com/ShaunaAuraKnight

Thursday's Villain - Simon from Sanctuary's Ending by Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #fantasyromance

Sanctuary's Ending (The Goddess of Solunda Book 1)

"Paul. I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” Simon called.

David’s spine stiffened. “Glad to see you. Tomorrow morning we’re meeting to gather supplies.”

Simon glared. “I’ll do my own.”

“Your choice. Anyone who isn’t ready will be left behind.”

“Won’t be me.” Simon faced David. “I go with my father’s blessing. We don’t need you unless you’re going as a servant. You’re nothing.”

Simon’s words were like blows pounding David’s chest. “I will be with you and I will watch you.” He stepped closer until his boots touched Simon’s. “No one will stop me.”

“My father could. The Chief Elder can do anything.”

Paul pulled David away. “Father will stop no one. If you’re afraid, stay here.”

Simon scowled. “I’m going to protect Father’s interests. You tricked him. Why didn’t you give the talk I helped him write? Once again, there was no call. The time to be fruitful and multiply is not now. There will be no weddings for ten years. Father has decreed that a new rule.”

“Lies," David said. "Does he plan to neuter all the herds and flocks?”

“Shut up.” Simon raised his fists. “When we return I will be tested again. I will be an Elder.”

David laughed. “And I will become a Teacher.”

“You failed.” Simon turned toward his brother.

“So you say,” David said.

Paul grasped David’s arm. “Your friends know your worth. Don’t fight him.”

“I won’t.” David walked away. “Tomorrow at the storehouse.”

“I’ll pack for myself,” Simon shouted.

1. 

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Finding Faulty Narrative in Your Story #MFRWauthor #amediting

You've reached the end of your manuscript and you've re-written and revised all those scenes. Before you sent the story off there are several questions to ask yourself.

Is all the information imparted really necessary? Maybe your character has gone on and on about his aunt's cat. Something that has no real part in the story. You might be showing this to let people know a character hates cats but this can be done with a few words. You might have found wonderful historical facts you included but these facts have taken over the story. Instead of a writer you've become a teacher. I've done both these things and while it really hurts to cut all those wonderful words -- Do it.

Does the character who is relating the information know what they're talking about? You may have the character talk about something they haven't observed in a way that makes it seem they were there. Not a good idea. The reader will pick this up and wonder about all else you've put in the book. You might find them going back to see when the character observed something. Just a read through will help discover your focs character is telling things he or she can't possibly know. Take them out and if the info is really important give the scene or the telling to some character who was there.

Tuesday's Inspiration - What Was Your Road into Writing novels #MFRWauthor #amwriting

Was reading an essay by Sidney Sheldon and one thing struck me as interesting. He began writing scripts for movies and drama for the stage. Then he had an idea that wouldn't translate in these mediums. There was too much introspection, something that suits the suited word better than the spoken. This led me to think about the convoluted path I took. I'm sure many writers never sat down and said I'm going to be a novelist.

My path began in nurses' training and what they called the care study. On everyone of parts of our experiences at the hospital, we had to write a study of a patient and their experience with the disease. I began with the technical aspects and definitions, talking about the tests and their meaning. Then something in my head said this story isn't complete so I added a part about the person as a character in my study. I even visited patient's homes and talked to their family. The papers were always longer than my instructors wanted. They also told me I didn't have to turn every case study into a story. But they were true stories, I told them. They shook their heads and gave me a grade.

Next I began writing short stories and had a few purchased and published. Poetry took over and I had some of these published and was paid. One of my short stories came back with a comment from the editor. "This sounds like the synopsis for a novel." That's when my life took a turn I'll never regret.

How about you? Did you sit down and say I'm going to be a novelist or did you take a path different and learn and practice other skills before you became a story-teller?

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #amwriting

Meander 1 - Nicknames are interesting and I often wonder how people recieve them. I do know about mine and most people don't realize what it is. For most of my childhood I went by Jay. Being one of two girls on a street with a lot of boys the name fit. My friend was Louie, another girl. Not sure I remember the names or nicknames of the boys. Then came the one. I go by ShadyL for my email stuff. People often think it should be Shady Lady. Not true, I am anything but shady. Remember the song "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane." That's where the name came to be. With Lane as my last name what could be more fun. I once while in nurses' training and on a blind date with another crazy nurse told my date and hers my name was Shadella Marie. They bought the name though they thought it was odd. Thus my nickname. Does anyone else have a crazy story about what they were called.

Meander 2 - Aging furniture. Now my bones are aging and sometimes creak but lately my recliner has joined in on the fun. Really hurts since this is a very comfortable plush recliner that has served me well and has been there for many of my books. This recliner has a back that can be removed for easy transport from one floor in the house to another. Here's hoping I don't have to bury it. I think I've used it for at least fifteen years.

Meander 3 - My writing. Next week will see me doing the final edits and making wonderful Divided Dreams so I can send it off to my publisher. What was going to be a 30,000 word novella has grown to over 40,000 words or a short novel. There are some scenes that need improvement so in a couple of weeks I can send it off. Have almost finished the rough draft of Wizards of Fyre. Will spend the next few months working to make this book as perfect as I can. Nothing is perfect. One can always find things they want to change after the book is published. But here's the thing. The next one will be perfect or almost.

Sunday's Book - Escape by J L Walters #MFRWauthor #YAfantasy #Fantasy

In Affinities, Escape, a Books We
















In Escape book 1 of Affinities for Books We Love  Young Adult Fantasy, two sets of halfling twins, Ashlea, Brandien, Jaydren and Kylandra sent away from their home by their parents to protect them from trouble, search for mentors to teach them how to use their affinities. Each of these young teens has an affinity for one of the elements. Ash for Air, Bran for Water, Jay for Earth and Ky for Fire. During the escape, they face many problems forcing them to use their affinities by trial and error. They also meet Alizand, the son of the ruling prince of Wesren. Zand has an affinity for Fire and this will keep him from gaining the rule. Dom Senet, an advisor to his father, and once a friend of the quartet’s parents suspects Zand’s affinity. He wishes to corrupt the teen and use him to gain control of the four princedoms of the land and of the highlands. The evil dom has all four affinities. The four must reach a secret place and find teachers before the evil man discovers them

Escape (Affinities Book 1 - Young Adult Fantasy) 

Saturday's Blurbs featuring books by Laura Strickland #MFRWauthor

His Wicked Highland Ways

Blurb:

Widowed following a marriage of convenience, Jeannie MacWherter has fled lowland Dumfries, Scotland, for the highland cottage bequeathed to her late husband by his brother-in-arms, laird of the glen. Though she’s never met the laird, local rumor labels him both murderer and seducer—a wicked, dangerous man who Jeannie learns is determined to chase her from his land.

Finnan MacAllister has come home to Glen Mhor in order to right past wrongs. He doesn’t care that Rowan Cottage is the beautiful Widow MacWherter’s only refuge. He’s convinced she’s a wanton who deliberately broke the heart of his best friend, Geordie, and he’s vowed to get even with her: seduction is his weapon of choice. But will his own heart betray him?

Buy Link Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Highland-Ways-Laura-Strickland-ebook/dp/B00V7CT52O/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1429877108&sr=1-2

Dead Handsome: a Buffalo Steampunk Adventure

Blurb:

Clara Allen needs a husband in order to keep a roof over the heads of her assorted dependents, a roof her nasty grandfather will re-appropriate unless she is married by her 21st birthday, only a few days away.  Strong-minded, unwilling to take orders from any man, she decides to solve her problem by raising a murdered prisoner from the dead and marrying him.  She expects an empty-headed puppet; she certainly never dreams he’ll be so devastatingly handsome.

Liam McMahon doesn’t recall much about his life before his hanging in the prison yard, other than being Irish.  He does remember the kiss Clara bestowed as she brought him back to life.  Every time he looks at her, his desire gets out of hand.  But his former life is chasing him down like a steam engine, and when a couple of mad geniuses decide he’d make a fine experiment, he wonders if he’ll live long enough to claim Clara’s heart or if he’ll die all over again. 

  Buy link Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Handsome-Buffalo-Steampunk-Adventure-ebook/dp/B00SVWWUUM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=1-1&qid=1425227549

Daughter of Sherwood: the Guardians of Sherwood Trilogy Book One

Blurb:

Raised in the kitchens of Nottingham Castle, Wren has no idea she is the daughter of the legendary Robin Hood until she is summoned to Sherwood Forest.  Since Robin’s death many years before, the resistance against Norman tyranny has been upheld by a magical triad, but now one of the guardians has died.  With two young men, Sparrow and Martin, Wren must form a new triad with a bond strong enough to defend Sherwood’s magic.  To one of them, she will also give her heart.

From the moment Wren bursts into his life, Sparrow loves her.  But he knows she may choose his lifelong rival, Martin, as her mate.  Martin wants Wren also, but Sparrow fears Martin is driven not by love but ambition.  When Martin is captured and held at Nottingham Castle, will the conflict between love and duty destroy the triad? 

http://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Sherwood-Guardians-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B00E4USIGA/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Mrs. Claus and the Viking Ship

Blurb:

 Scottish chief’s daughter, Tinnie MacAieth, can think of only one way to ransom her clan’s folk, defeated by the fierce Viking, Claus – agree to his demand that she become his bride.  She hopes her faith and love for her people will allow her to endure a lonely, loveless future in the cold north.

Claus has claimed Tinnie for his wife, but the prize he truly wants is her heart.  Determined to win it, he offers her many gifts, but not until he undertakes a dangerous winter voyage for her sake does he dare hope she sees what’s in his heart.  And on one magical Christmas Eve, while delivering toys to her clan’s children by sleigh, he begins to believe she may grant him the one gift he desires …

http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Claus-Viking-Laura-Strickland-ebook/dp/B00OQEYEGM/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

UPCOMING

Off Kilter: a Buffalo Steampunk Adventure

Blurb:

James Kilter has few illusions about himself. Maimed in a boiler accident when young and routinely reviled by those he encounters, he’s no prize for any woman. He’s content working security for a good friend until he sees Catherine Delaney disembark from an airship one May afternoon. Her fragile beauty calls up all his protective instincts. But will she accept a monster as her defender?

Having traded her own safety to save her young sister, Cat Delaney has landed in the hands of a ruthless, wealthy man who intends to use her as a pawn to his avarice. Alone in a strange city, she has nowhere to turn except to the very man hired to keep her from running. Can she trust James, with his ruined face and crusader’s spirit? Dare she give him her heart?  

No buy links yet.                           

Friday Laura Strickland is Talking About Heroes, Heroines and Villains #MFRWauthor #Steampunkromance

1. Do you write a single genre or do your fingers flow over the keys creating tales in many forms? Does your reading choices reflect your writing choices? Are there genres you wouldn’t attempt?

This is a great question for me as I love to read and, as a child, began writing because I wanted to create stories similar to those I read. My reading choices are omnivorous and depend very much on the mood I’m in at the time—everything from Westerns to Sci Fi.  Fortunately for me, in my “day job” I work for a library system and have access to a wide variety of books. I tend to read the first few lines of a story and if they grab me, that book is going home with me. That’s probably why I also write a wide variety of genres though most of my published work revolves around some form of Romance. I don’t think there’s any genre I wouldn’t attempt with the possible exception of hard core erotica. In fact I love to challenge myself by taking on a genre I’ve never before attempted to write.

 

2. Heroes, Heroines, Villains. Which are your favorite to write? Does one of these come easy and why?

Most of my work is character driven, so the people I create become very real to me. I tend to go deep into my characters’ points of view. Once a story is “launched” in my head, my people pretty much take over, acting out and speaking their own lines. I just sit back and write it all down. So it’s hard to say which of them comes most easily.  But I do love getting into the head of a hero, especially if he has a few flaws, and discovering what makes him tick.

 

3. Heroes. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or plain imagination create the man you want every reader to love? Do they come before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?

It’s very difficult to say what part of a story comes first for me. Many times the ideas for my plots and tales come to me full-blown (often while I’m doing something utterly boring like housework). Usually there’s a “what if” involved in inception: what if a Celtic hero, foremost warrior of his clan, was injured in battle and could no longer fight?  The rest of it drops into my head from there. Yes, often the first thing to appear in my mind is a character and more often than not a hero. I’d say it’s forty percent imagination and sixty percent inspiration. The imagination fleshes out what inspiration has provided.

 

4. Heroines. How do you find them? Do pictures, real life or imagination create the woman you want the reader to root for? Do they appear before the plot or after you have the idea for the story?

As with my heroes, my heroines pretty much just come to me. There’s always a hint of an idea when the concept for the story is dropped into my head. Often the creation of the heroine depends on the hero: she must both oppose and compliment his personality for there to be an enjoyable level of attraction and conflict. All my characters come with flaws and that includes my heroines. I feel characters, like real people, are boring if they don’t have a few quirks and weaknesses. My heroines also often have plenty of courage and a deep ability to love. But pictures/people in real life never really factor in to the characters I create.

 

5. Villains or villainesses or an antagonist, since they don’t always have to be the bad guy or girl. They can be a person opposed to the hero’s or heroine’s obtaining their goal. How do you choose one? How do you make them human?

I love writing villains—they’re so enjoyable and it’s fun to pull out all the stops and unleash a little evil. When writing a villain, villainess or antagonist, I think it’s fatal to make him or her one-dimensional. Just like the other characters in a story, the bad guy/girl has to be fully-fleshed with believable motivations and vulnerabilities.  My villains tend to be a little twisted and I feel that does make them believable, because most of us, no matter how well-disciplined, have a button or two that, when pushed, tends to unleash the inner Cracken.

 

6. What is your latest release? Who is the hero, heroine and or the villain?

My latest release is a Highlander Romance called “His Wicked Highland Ways”. Set in 1750 Scotland, it features a hero, Finnan MacAllister, who’s as flawed as he is irresistible. His goal is to reclaim his ancestral glen, from which he’s been dispossessed—oh, and to break the heroine’s heart in return for the way he believes she treated his now-deceased brother-in-arms, one Geordie MacWherter. In order to accomplish that task, he chooses the weapon of seduction, which gives you just a hint about how twisted the man is.

The heroine, Jeannie Robertson MacWherter, is a woman with her back to the wall. Hailing from lowland Dumfries, she’s been driven to take refuge in the highland cottage meant for her deceased husband, Geordie. Ever since childhood she struggled to keep her world and that of her father together, but she now finds both her security and peace of mind threatened by Finnan to whom she knows she should say “no”. But can she?

The villains, here, are multiple: both the members of Clan Avrie, former ghillies to the MacAllisters, who have seized Finnan’s land and the wicked streak that lurks within the hero himself, which he must choose to either indulge or overcome.

 

 7. What are you working on now?

My next book, my second Steampunk Romance called “Off Kilter: a Buffalo Steampunk Adventure”, will release on August 28, 2015 from The Wild Rose Press. Right now, though, I’m working on another Scottish Romance called “Honor Bound” which I hope to submit to my editor by September. “Honor Bound” takes place directly following the Battle of Culloden and is a romp through danger and passion that takes readers all around the Highlands on the trail of Bonny Prince Charlie.

 

8. How can people find you?

            Website  

www.laurastricklandbooks.com       

            Blog

 http://www.laurastricklandbooks.com/author-blog.html

            Twitter

            Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000002632317

 

Thursday's Villain -- Lagon from Dragons of Fyre - Island of Fyre #MFRWauthor #fantasyromance

1. 

 Dragons of Fyre (Island of Fyre Book 2)

As she crossed the landing field and walked toward the still room, a prickling moved along her spine. Her hands formed fists. She steeled herself to face Lagon.

“Arana.” His hand clamped on her arm.

The basket thudded on the ground. “My lord.”

“How fare the beasts?” He turned her to face him.

“The wounds will heal. Two will need several weeks of rest before they can fly.”

“The High Peaks blue was a mighty fighter. Does the red of that lineage grieve?”

Arana nodded. “In the confusion after the flight she would have flown away but I calmed her.”

“Don’t dampen her spirits too greatly. I want her to rise to mate.” His gaze drilled her. “When she does my blue will follow. With eggs of her get my dragon stock will improve.” He shoved Arana against the wall. “On that day you will drink the tea and fly with her.”

Arana bit her lower lip. She couldn’t let him see how her fear verged on the edge of terror. “What if she won’t rise?” She couldn’t let Lagon know the red was with egg.

His thin lips curved into a smile that held no hint of humor. “When you speak to her she will have no choice.” He scraped a fingernail along her cheek. “You are as ripe as the dragon. You will bear my son.” He clamped his teeth on her lower lip.

She winced. A sullen anger built inside. She sought to hide her repugnance toward him. He liked his women to cower and obey his commands. In the ten years and one of her captivity here, she’d seen ten women ordered to his bed. She’d seen the bruises and witnessed the lashings as each one failed to produce the son he desperately wanted.

He caught a lock of her hair and wound it around his finger. “Hair the color of flames. Fire is what I demand from you.” He pressed his mouth over hers. His body touched hers and his phala remained flaccid. Once again she was spared a mauling.

Lagon laughed. “Soon.” He held one hand against her throat. “Let your fears grow so I can feast on them when the dragons rise.” He released her.

Though relief threatened to bring her to her knees, she pressed against the wall for support. She thought of her fellow slaves. Most feared him, but one or two lusted to be in his bed. She didn’t understand their fascination. Though handsome, his icy blue eyes and thin lips spoke of his cruel nature.

The blue gem in his ear was said to be a payment for the youth he’d sold to the slavers. The boy had been from High Peaks Tower. Had he been the youngest son of the lord, the boy who had been her friend? Lagon had announced Drakon’s death when the women from High Peaks had reached Sea Cliff.

Her eyes closed. Though she tried to form a picture of her friend, she failed. For several years after her captivity had begun, she had dreamed of the young man and of being rescued.

The sound of boots against the stone floor announced Lagon’s departure. 

Wednesday's Writer's Tip - Exposition #MFRWauthor #amwriting

Just what is exposition? Exposition equals information the reader needs to know to identify with the characters, the setting and the plot. Now one could disgorge this in large lumps but there are other ways to do this. If the reader doesn't know certain things he's in limbo and unable to move through the story with ease. But if large lumps are there for the reader to gulp down, he or she might miss some important factor and scratch his head.

How do we do this? The focus character or characters can't see or know everything. So the writer needs to fins ways to make this happen.

Let the information come about during a conversation between the focus character or characters and the character in possession of the information. During the change we can learn a lot about the characters, the setting and the plot.

Have the information come through a memory of someone telling one of the focus characters the needed information.

Have two characters argue about a third will bring all kinds of knowledge not only about the character or situation being discussed but also the characters who are speaking.

Let two characters talk about the past to give needed information.

Use inner thoughts of one of the focus characters.

Tuesday's Inspiration - When Is Enough Enough? #MFRWauthor #amwriting

Was looking at a book that I read years ago and skimming through thinking I might want to read it again. Suddenly I stopped and stared. There were four pages describing a single room in a house. Partway through the description I became bored. A pencil found it's way into my hand and I began chopping out words and sentences. There were too many words about this room. Did I form an impression of the room, I did but the room was more like a picture on the wall. I did't see the characters acting and reacting to the room.

Mow I've been sometimes accused of being too sparse in my descriptions of people. I am trying to over come this. I really like the reader to create a picture in their head of the character but often I do fail in this aspect. I'm working on this. I now have learned to find something more than she had red hair and green eyes. I've tried to use words that can give a hint of the true color of a character's hair. Once I used this bit. Brown hair but streaks of the colors found in a fire, yellow, orange, red and a hint of white. Those aren't the exact words in the story since I've moved ahead and left that story and that character behind.

But to answer the question, When Is Enough Enough. read over your own work and pay attention to the descriptive passage. When you start to yawn sit back and see what part of the descriptive passage needs to stay and which to be saved for another book. When the description flashes by you at warp speed, slow down and find more ways and a few telling words to make the reader see the character.

Meandering On Monday with Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #amwriting

Meander 1 - Blog Stuff. This week I had a guest show late and did a little promotion. What I know is this jacked up my daily counts and that makes me feel glad. I do wish people would comment. I try to make it easy for them by not complicating the issue but I guess most people have nothing to say. Now I'm planning on giving away some print books to people who have commented on my blog. I have a lot of print books that are no longer for books I'm pushing these days and they are cluttering the shelves. I just have to figure out when and how to do this. Probably before the end of the year.
Another thing that puzzles me is I wonder how much the guests promote when they are visiting. I know I promote them to at least 5 places on Facebook and also on Twitter. But I seldom see anyone shouting, hey I'm visiting Eclectic Writer.

Meander 2 - My Kindle died and was doing all kind of things I didn't understand. I called on a Sunday and the woman I talked to said they would send me a new one and I could send that one back. The new one arrived on Monday not long after I received an email saying the replacement had been sent. Now I have to gather everything together and send the old one back. problem is finding the time when I can leave the invalid alone. This week for sure.

Meander 3 - My writing. Going well. Still typing Divided Dreams into the computer so I can do the final draft. Will probably get the last three chapters done this week. Then comes the fine tooth comb and making sure the mss makes sense puls putting all the stuff needed into the picture, including all the books I've done. Am rough drafting a new story Wizards of Fyre and this is going great guns. Have about 30,000 words so far and some of the scenes had me running out of steam or just plain avoiding. Writing love scenes always takes more time than I care to do in a rough draft. Seven out of 12 done. This is pretty good when my writing time has been cut in half.

Sunday - J C Conway - Talking About Heroes, Heroines and Villains Plus Blurbs #MFRWauthor #shortstories #sciencefiction

1. I write everything from flash fiction to novels in a variety of genres. Most of my short stories are science fiction or speculative fiction. Some are romance, western, fantasy and mystery. My full-length novel work is primarily science fiction, romance, and (naturally) science-fiction romance. I would not say that my reading choices reflect my writing choices—at least not on the largest scale. But I definitely pick up moods and details from the works I read. I’ve found every genre to have merit, and I don’t think there’s anything I would rule out as worth trying.

 

2. That’s a tough choice. But I think I like writing Heroines best. As a male romance writer in particular I find I learn the most by jumping into the head of my Heroines and working the world from their point of view. That isn’t to say I don’t also enjoy Heroes and Villains. Both are fun to write. But the Heroines come out on top for me.

 

3. The Hero in my stories come from the Heroine. The Heroes have to challenge the Heroine, be a match for the Heroine, and bring something to the equation that the Heroine does not have naturally. Depending on my Heroine’s personality, the Hero can be alpha or beta, strong and brave or smart and studious. Some of the characteristics will be similar to the heroines, but most will be polar opposite.

 

4. Heroines come from the story point. There is something in the world to be done, and there is a person to whom it will matter the most, and be the most difficult. That person is the Heroine of my stories. She must be interesting, strong in her way, and determined. But the challenge should be such that, for this person in particular, it’s not clear she can overcome.

 

5. Villains and antagonists have their own agenda. They are determined and they have, one way or another, the upper hand. I find them by considering the problem and the obstacles and searching for the personality that would embody those obstacles, a single person to be the focus of the adversity faced by the protagonists. These usually aren’t particularly against the Hero and Heroine in specifically, so much as interested in their own goal and opposed to those that interfere.

 

6. My latest novel release was Hearts in Ruin, last year. It’s a contemporary romance involving two archaeologists, Andrea and Daniel, who are working together although they do not see eye to eye on how or why things should be done. There is a nemesis and an antagonist. The nemesis, Professor Lassiter, is opposed to the dig the protagonists are on because it challenges some of the work upon which he has built his career. But the antagonist is the president of the university, and he is plotting to destroy the dig in order to develop the land for profit.

 

7. Right now I’m working on a science-fiction romance, Flight of the Minuend. It involves a woman, Sera, in the distant future who is fascinated with and learns everything about a man, Frances, in a relativistic trap who’s time passes so slowly that the universe will end before his life ends. But during her future time an imbalance is created that requires the destruction of Frances and his ship. She wants to find a way to save him, but that leads to meeting him in person, and things are never the same again.

 

8. I have a website, http://jcconway.com, and am on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/J.C.Conway.Writer, Google+,  Facebook ,  Google+ , https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/115404176161414180246/115404176161414180246/posts, Twitter, https://twitter.com/jcconwaywriter, Amazon Author Pages, http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B009HM7GS6, Goodreads, https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8188641, and Blogger, http://john-part-two.blogspot.com/.

 

 

 

DAY TWO

 

HEARTS IN RUIN

Contemporary Romance Suspense

 

Andrea had one goal in life, a quiet career as a mainstream archaeologist—nothing more nothing less—and she's one ancient secret away. When she is teamed with maverick prodigy Daniel Fuchs at his controversial pre-Clovis dig on tribal land, she soon realizes his wild theories may sidetrack her career. Her smartest move is to expose him and that is exactly what she plans to do. Except…he’s hot, sexy, and there is a chance his theories may be right. 

As the dig deepens and outside forces mount, Andrea and Daniel find their careers and their shaky relationship on the brink of ruin. Who can she trust? To survive professionally and emotionally, Andrea must decide between what is expected and what she believes, because time is running out and the developers' bulldozers are poised to level the site. 

Delve into the mystery and excitement of an archaeological dig in the New Mexico desert and experience the drive, determination, and passion surrounding the quest to unlock the Paleolithic past in this contemporary, romantic suspense. Hearts In Ruin…no shovel required to join this adventure to discover an ancient truth! 

 

http://amzn.com/B00K4K6TME

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hearts-in-ruin-j-c-conway/1119448532

http://www.lsbooks.com/hearts-in-ruin-p904.php

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/hearts-in-ruin/id875042747?mt=11&uo=4

http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/hearts-in-ruin

 

 

ANOTHER WRONG WORLD

Short Story Anthology

 

A collection of short stories by J. C. Conway. From asteroid bars to a child's front yard, from the eyes of a veteran star pilot to the paranoia of a city elf, nothing can be taken for granted. The only thing that can be relied upon is that J. C. Conway's worlds are far from certain. They are at times uplifting, puzzling, depressing or funny. But each offers a glimpse into some aspect of humanity, be it pleasant or otherwise. Most of the stories in this anthology are flash fiction--less than one-thousand words and good for a quick read. Several are a little longer, but worth the extra few minutes. Enjoy the spin around the universe.

 

http://amzn.com/B00NJAC308

 

 

GENTLE PUSH

Science Fiction Short Story

 

An alien scout from an ancient and advanced species encounters a human for the first time as Earth's colonies retreat from an advancing horde. It finds the human unusual, in its own way, and the encounter is not what it expects. But its first observation are only the beginning of its surprises. 

 

First published in Mindflights Magazine, this quirky and uplifting short story by J. C. Conway explores human love, sacrifice, loyalty and perseverance in the face of crushing adversity.

 

http://amzn.com/B00NHCPUEY

More On My Series The Opposites in Love - Janet Lane Walters #MFRWauthor #medicalromance

1. 

I began writing this series a number of years ago and intended to write six books in the series. I got side-tracked and I now am beginning to plan the fourth of the series. Cancer - Capricorn. I know who the heroine will be for the final book in the series. She plays a part in the other stories. They are fellow classmates in the nursing program and have remained friends. In book four, once again they will both be nurses. They will all end up working at the same hospital. Though I wanted to put up all three covers this time I've been frustrated.

Jenessa is Aries, a nurse, union advocate and likes a good fight.

Eric is Libra, Director of Nursing, and believes in compromise.

Can these two find a way to uncover the underhanded events at the hospital? They’re on opposite sides but the attraction between them is strong. She’s a widow who fought to save her husband’s life during a code. She feels guilty because the love she and her husband shared had died before his death. He assisted at the code but he feels guilty since he was the one who was responsible for the short staffing the night her husband died.

Now they face falling in love and trying to solve the problems between the nurse’s union and the president of the hospital’s Board who wants a take over of the hospital by his hospital group. Is their connection strong enough to survive?




The Taurus - Scorpio Connection
Her mother was a hired nanny and her father the Mellwood Bank. This is the way Taurus Laurel Richmond describes her family. After burning out as a nurse with an international health agency, she returns to Eastlake, the one place she where she felt connected. She studied nursing here and made a number of friends. Her one problem is her wealth. Soon she will receive a fortune. But money hasn’t given her the things she wants, a home, a family and love. Since a chance visit after summer camp with a friend made there, her idea of a man to love has been Alex Carter.

Alex Carter is a Scorpio, a single dad with a five year old son. He’s a general practitioner at Eastlake Community Hospital. While attracted to Laurel, he has one problem. His ex and now dead wife had a lot of money and little sense. Drugs and her fast friends were her life. She abandoned their son who cried for hours until his father returned. Alex has no love for women with money. Attraction or not he refuses to admit he’s falling for Laurel.

With the help of Alex’s son, Laurel sets out to prove to Alex she’s in town for the long haul and she will make the perfect wife and mother.

The Gemini - Sagittarius Connection

Gemini Liz seems to be following her sign. She's the mother of twin boys, she'd returned to Eastlake for the second time and she's taking her second position as a nurse manager. She feels moving from the city will be good for her sons who sometimes choose the wrong friends. What Liz doesn't want is a second husband. The death of her fireman husband made him a hero but devastated her life. She had to return to work and become a single mother. Fortunately her father-in-law has stepped in to care for the boys but he wants to retire to Florida. Though she's attracted to Jeff she wants to deny the attraction.

Jeff is a Sagittarian who often suffers from the foot in mouth disease. His wife died years ago but she was the perfect wife and he has no desire to fall in love or marry again. As a neurosurgeon he sees Liz a lot since she is the nurse manager of the ortho/neuro unit at the hospital. He also wants to deny the attraction and finds it harder and harder.

Can a pair of mischievous boys find a way to help their mother and the doctor find love again?