Saturday's Blurbs featuring books by Sheila Claydon #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Romance #Contemporary #Family saga #time travel

 

I’ve written a number of different types of story from contemporary romance and retro/vintage romance through to family saga and finally time travel romance, so I’m going to pick three different genres.

 

 

KISSING MAGGIE SILVER is a contemporary romance:

https://books2read.com/u/3k0OwO

 

Maggie Silver intends to put as much space as possible between herself and her family just as soon as her parent’s Ruby Wedding celebrations are over. She is fed up with their constant advice and her never-ending babysitting duties. There’s a great big world out there and she wants to see it before she settles for suburbia. Then Ruairi O’Connor turns up at the same time her sister-in-law goes into labor, and suddenly everything becomes a lot more complicated.

As for Ruairi, in a few week’s time he will be on the other side of the world, so now is not the time to fall in love, especially with Maggie. Until now he’s thought of her as little more than a child so why has he suddenly discovered she is very grown up indeed and the only thing he wants to do is kiss her.

 

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MENDING JODIE’S HEART is Book 1 of my When Paths Meet family saga/romance trilogy: https://books2read.com/u/mvj2oX

 

When musician Marcus Lewis buys the derelict farmhouse next to Jodie’ Eriksson's riding school he doesn’t know whether to be amused or irritated by her angry reaction to his plans. Then her sister Izzie visits him and makes things a whole lot worse…or is it better…because now he has an excuse to see Jodie again. Although, when he sees her, it’s not exactly a meeting of minds, they do discover they have one thing in common; they both believe they know what’s best for Izzie, and for Marcus' son Luke.

It turns out they’re wrong. The children they thought they were protecting need to be set free. It’s Jodie and Marcus who have the problem; but can two broken hearts make one whole one? The battle lines that were set when they first met have long since been breached but the war won’t be over until Jodie learns how to trust again, and until Marcus allows himself to believe in his son.

 

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REMEMBERING ROSE is the only book so far of my Mapleby Memories trilogy involving time travel and psychic mystery:

https://books2read.com/u/3RoaJL

 

Rachel has a husband who adores her, a beautiful baby daughter, and an extended family she can rely on, so why isn’t she happy? She doesn’t know and nor do the people who love her. Only Rose understands but she is trapped in another century. To help Rachel she has to breach the boundaries of time itself as well as risk exposing the truth of her own past.

When echoes from that past begin to affect other people in the village of Mapleby, things suddenly become a lot more complicated. Can Rachel put things right without giving away Rose’s secret?

 

Friday Sheila Claydon is visiting and talking about being a plotter or panster #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Panster #Plotter

 

1.       Are you a panster or a plotter or perhaps a bit of both?

 

Definitely a panster! I don’t mean to be, I always start off with a vague outline of a plot and a hazy picture of both the hero and the heroine in my mind’s eye, but very early on they take over and then I have no choice but to follow them. Anyone who visits my website already knows that I’ve stolen my motto from that late and great writer Ray Bradbury, who said find out what your hero wants and then follow him.

 

2.       Which comes first - characters or plot for you?

 

Well I’ve sort of already answered this but I guess it has to be the characters, and one will always be more influential. Sometimes the heroine, sometimes the hero. It just depends on the direction of the story and how they are feeling on the day. Yes, you did read that right. My characters have personalities and feelings from day 1 and they make them known big time, especially when I try to ignore them.

 

3.       What are you working on now? Is this a book in a current series or something totally new?

 

I’m working on the second book of my Mapleby Memories trilogy. The first one, Remembering Rose, was a bit of an experiment for me in two different ways. Firstly, up until then I had written all my books in the third person. In Remembering Rose, the heroine, Rachel Ryan, tells the story herself, so readers are actually ‘listening’ to Rachel when they read the book. And secondly, it is a time travel book with some psychic and ghostly overtones which again was a first for me. I loved writing it because I not only had to flesh out a lot of characters living in different centuries, I also had to link them together. The idea came from two photos I saw that had been taken 50 years apart, and I even wove the life story of some of the people in those photos into Remembering Rose.

 

The book I am working on now is based on one of the characters in the first book. I’m not going to give her name away but I’d be thrilled if anyone who reads Remembering Rose wants to have a go at guessing who the next heroine is. They can tell me via my website and if they get it right I’ll send them a short extract from the draft I’m working on.

 

4.       Do you have some kind of object or place that figures in most of your books? I use gems a lot, hospitals and caves.

 

Not consciously or deliberately, but looking back at all the books I have written, they mostly feature children and animals as well as the main protagonists. They might be central to the story or just on the periphery but they are nearly always there. It’s probably because I’ve spent so much of my own life surrounded by them that to me including children and animals makes my stories more realistic.

 

5.       Do you write every day or just when the spirit hits?

 

I wish I could say every day but I’m afraid it’s not only when the spirit hits, it’s when I can actually find the time. Life for me, as for most people, is a question of juggling a lot of balls in the air and catching whichever one falls first. When it’s a writing day that lands, then it’s a real bonus.

 

6.       Where can we find you?

 

I’ve recently revamped my website at www.sheilaclaydonwriter.com. It gives info about me, my publisher, fellow writers and all my books. Each one has a short blurb so visitors can read what the book is about, and they all have direct buy links. I love it when people visit. And love it even more when they comment. Writers need fans and support, and they especially need reviews and when they get them they are always very grateful.

 

 

7.       Who are your favorite authors? What about a book you’ve enjoyed?

 

That’s a tricky one because I am what is known as an eclectic reader. I often have several books on the go at once, mixing fact, fiction, science fiction, biography and philosophy, so some days I will absolutely love Stephen King for example, but on other days it might be Jane Austen or Lucretius or Yuval Noah Harari, before I dip back into Joanne Harris or Joanna Trollope or go for a crime thriller by Lee Child or Ian Rankin, or something historical by the wonderful writer Hilary Mantel.  I guess it’s a mood thing. Sometimes I want to learn, sometimes I want something that will take my imagination on a trip, so there is no one book that is my all-time favourite, plus there are new books coming out every day, which is exciting. So much to still read and so much to still learn. But if I had to name one book that I’ve gone back to several times it would be White Witch by Elizabeth Goodge. I first read it many years ago I don’t even know if it is in print any more, but something about the heroine, Froniga Haslewood, who is half Puritan and half gypsy, has always appealed to me. Set in 17^th Century England in the time of the civil war, Froniga’s wisdom and her healing skills and her knowledge of herbs are central to the story and to all the characters in it. Somehow, despite the inevitable deaths and deceptions there is something soothing and inspiring about her story. If you can find a copy then I would definitely recommend it.

 

 

Thursday's Fifth Scene Moon Summoned #MFRWAuthor #BWLAuthor #Fantasy romance #epic fantasy

 

Sieper. Bits of the things she’d heard years ago in the marketplace were remembered. Rumors of his ability to read the weather surfaced. How could he possess such a talent? The Mistress touched women, never men. Did he serve the Lord of Shadows? He’d spoken of ownership and of her as being a reward from the Cabal. Had Sieper been one of the men who had lurked and awaited the arrival of the gray priests?

She sighed. Would she ever regain all the memories of the time before her capture?

She rolled the too long trouser legs and used a scrap of cloth torn from her gown as a belt. The sleeves of the shirt hung well below her hands and she pushed them up. How fortunate she’d been to find Sieper’s clothes on the line. As she’d fled through the alleys, she’d peered into the streets. The few women she’d seen had been escorted by one or even several men.

While she waited for true dark, she fingered the scar on her wrist. Her hand flew to her mouth and she stifled a scream.

An obese man, head shaved and scalp oiled, faced her. He held a metal rod with a serpent curled around the staff. A globe of swirling mist topped the rod. Her body trembled. The evil in the priest’s thoughts nauseated her. The serpent raised its head. The fangs bit into her wrist and sent molten fire through her veins. An endless scream echoed in her head and she sought darkness as she had before.

When Ashiera emerged from the place where night was eternal, a few stars shone in the sky. A pale sliver moon had risen. She struggled to her feet and exercised muscles stiffened by the cramped position.

Flee. Leave the city.

The urgency of the command made her lose all caution. “Who are you?”

The Place of Choosing. You must go there.

“Where is this place?

In the Shanara Mountains.

Wednesday Forgotten Dreams #MFRWHooks #BWLAuthor #Romance contemporary #childpsychology #attorney

 

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here   http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com For some great excerpts. Mine is from the sixth book in the series with two people who share a child and whose pasts tangle their love.

Blurb:

Two reasons bring Cancer heroine Janine Rhodes to Fern Lake. The first is the Masters and Doctors program at the nearby university. The second is a letter from a dying woman. Since the courses she takes are weekend ones, she finds a job for the Grantlans a writer and a nurse practitioner caring for their toddler niece they recently adopted. While here, she is able to observe the son she gave up for adoption eight years ago and his attorney father. She is content just to watch until tragedy strikes.

When Virgo Nate Quinn learns about his son’s medical condition, he can barely hold on. Just a year ago, he lost his wife to cancer. His adopted son has become his entire family. When the doctor asks him about the child’s birth parents, he has no idea. He agreed to the adoption but only signed papers and took no other part in the process. Now he needs to locate two people.

Then he learns the identity of his son’s birth mother and knows she has been in the periphery of life. He acts rashly and then must find a way to make amends, especially when he learns more about her.

Excerpt:

Janine lowered the little girl into her crib. She tucked the white bear into Tammy’s arms. Janine left the bedroom and hurried down the hall without pausing to listen.

She sank on one of the brown leather couches and wrapped her arms around her waist. What would she do now? The urge to cry nearly overwhelmed her. She had come to Fern Lake for two reasons. To enroll in the Master’s program in Child Psychology. And to fulfill a request made by a dying woman.

Footsteps muffled by the thick area rug caused her to turn her head. Nate Quinn lumbered past. His slumped shoulders concerned her. “Mr. Quinn, are you all right?”

“There’s nothing you can do. Just mind your own business.”

But… His scowl and sharp tone chilled her. Did he know who she was? A tear trickled over her cheek. Once again she was attracted to a man who had no use for her. Good thing she’d kept her identity hidden. More tears fell.

Once the crying bout ended, she wiped her eyes. She filled a mug with coffee and glanced at the clock. Soon, Andi would be home and she could leave. She walked to the child’s room. Tammy rolled over. Janine returned to the main room and to her coffee and the book.

As Janine finished reading a chapter, Andi arrived. “Hi. How was Tammy?”

“As good as usual. She has a new word. No.”

Andi rolled her eyes. “Blame Rob. The other evening, he griped about a scene and kept shouting ‘No!’”

“Another word for the college fund jar?”

“Wouldn’t work. We’d be broke in a week.”

“Guess so.” Janine released a sigh.

“Is something wrong?”

“Nate Quinn stormed in to see Rob. He was so loud I couldn’t help hearing what he said.”

“About his son?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know Davey?’

“I’ve seen him and Mr. Quinn around town but I’ve never met them. I knew his wife. Pam was my social worker during a bad time in my life. She wrote and told me about the Master’s program.” Janine stared at her hands. “I wondered, well, is there anything I can do?” She wasn’t ready to tell Andi or anyone more about the connection.

“Right now, nothing,” Andi said. “There will be tests to determine the type. Then Nate will make decisions about the treatment. I’m sure Davey will need transfusions.”

Janine nodded. “I understand.” She rose, donned her jacket and picked up her books. “See you Monday. It’s home and the books for me.”

“I remember those days. See you Monday.”

Janine opened the door of her blue-gray Prius. As she pulled onto the road, she made a decision. Instead of going to the apartment, she drove to the hospital. For a time she sat in the parking lot and stared at the large red brick building. Could she? Should she?

She considered adding Davy to her study of a children’s reaction to being hospitalized. That meant speaking to his father. She wasn’t ready to face the man.

My Places

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 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

http://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/

 

Tuesday's Writer's Tip - Revision - Cutting versus Compression #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Cutting #Compression #Revision

 Revision is important when a book is finished. Looking at scenes or paragraphs to determine their length and to see if they fit the purpose they were intended to do can be easy or hard. As I mentioned once, I read a story for a contest and the first chapter was a description of a trip along the coast line of a state. The entire chapter while descriptive really belonged in a travelogue rather than a novel since in reality the entire chapter had nothing to do with the characters. There are two ways to do the kind of revision needed for those over long scenes or paragraphs.

The first is cutting. This means going in and removing all the unnecessary words and phrases. By doing this you will shorted the bit you want to shorted. This will also make the information more concrete. I've done this frequently. Amazing how cutting out a word or two can make the passage stronger.

The second is compression - when doing this what you essentially need to do is to re-write the passage. Look at this and see what the point of the scene or paragraph is and then attack and make it clearer bu word choice. As a draft writer, I use this method frequently. When rewriting a section, thought is needed to pick out the important parts and to make then clearer. Sometimes this method seems to make the passage longer but it doesn't. You make need to put the scene into a dialogue between two people or by internal thought. While there may be more sentences, the information is clearer and more concise. You might even see there are really fewer words if you do a word count.

Meandering on Monday with Janet Lane Walters #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Reading #Writing #Thoughts

 Meander 1 - Reading - I've been reading Marilyn Meredith's Tempe mysteries and enjoying them. The native American heroine is great and determined. As a deputy she has an eye for justice and an ear for spirits. As the stories progress she learns more abotu her native American culture and beliefs.

Meander 2 - Thoughts - Election day is coming fast and I hope everyone will vote. Though I know who I'm voting for I hope others follow my example. There is so much need for change in this country from the selfish, snobbery we see every day. The current administration hasn't done anything about the pandemic that threatens all of us. They're looking for a magic wand and their fairy godmother to wave a wand and make it disappear. Not going to happen. It takes buckling down and doing sensible things like wearing masks, social distancing and caring for others. 

Meander 3 - Writing - Am in the last draft of my soon to be finished Nilos. Now is the painstaking task of adding in can correcting all the things left out or the typos and hopefully finding all the words that are words but not the right words. I plan to finish it this week.

Sunday's Book Moon Summoned - A New Cover #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #fantasy romance #three strong heroines #three great heros #three evil villains

 

I love the new cover. Thanks Michelle. Love your covers.

Three Moon Summoned women. Ashiera the Seer who controls the winds and sees into the thoughts of others. Dian the Warrior who controls fire and fights with the sword. Egeria the Healer who controls fluids and heals those who are injured. They are joined in their battle by Sieper a sailor who knows the winds, Kobe once sworn to the Lord of Shadows and Jetan a healer of animals. These three vow to help the three women against those sworn to Evil.
Lugal the Cabal reads the winds and thoughts. Sargon the Gladius controls fire and the armies of the Lord of Shadow. Lugal the Cabal has knowledge of herbs and uses them for evil. These three with their cohorts will face the three and three sworn to the Mistress of the Moons.

Previously published as Mistress of the Moons


Janet Lane Walters has written a story that will take you to another time and place. She gives vivid descriptions of her characters and their role in this story. Ms. Walters has constructed a civilization so real that you will feel its very existence. A place where men rule women as chattel for their sexual needs, and three evil rulers who drain their bodies of their very essence for spells and to gain power. There is betrayal and treachery inside of plots, as each priest plans to rule alone. Ashiera, Egeria, and Dian are bound to the spirits of the ones who came before them. They discover a truth that will astound them, and have them doubting their chosen path. They will experience a love that is forbidden and discover that two stand together better than one. I could feel the emotional struggle between love and destiny, described so passionately by the author. I hope Ms. Walters plans to continue this story. I could feel that this is just the beginning of this tale. Janet Walters book, Moon Bright, Moon Dark will go on my keeper shelf, beside such authors as Charlotte Boyett-Compo and Nancy Gideon. I give this story Five Hearts and recommend it highly. Enjoy!

Kat Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars who control the elements are joined on a fantastic journey as the battle the forces of evil

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2014

Walters is a phenomenal world builders. This is not my first fantasy by her and it will not be my last. Three woman, who control the elements are joined on a fantastic journey as the battle the forces of evil.

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Saturday's Blurbs feature Books by Dee s. Knight #MFRWAuthor #Jenna Stewart #Anna Krist

 

write under three pen names—erotic romance as Dee S. Knight, sweet(er) romance as Anne Krist, and menage romance as Jenna Stewart.

Regan by Jenna Stewart
Joining in the westward migration, Davey and Regan O'Ryan Stone bought an Oregon farm sight unseen, hungering for adventure. Davey regretted the impulse far past the point of no return, and then he died. Now, unskilled and alone on her farm, Regan fears going home a failure—as a daughter, a wife and a farmer. With money quickly running out, she gladly accepts the offer of help from Seth Pratt, an acquaintance from the wagon train, and his friend Haywood Lawrence.

One-armed Seth seeks work at the remote farm at the end of an Oregon trail with low expectations. When he finds Regan, alone and widowed, he tamps down desire. She deserves better than a man handicapped in war, searching for his soul. She's worthy of someone like his Shakespeare-spouting, best friend, Hay. Nothing could have prepared Seth for Regan's simple solution—that both men stay. On the farm and in her bed.

Amazon
B&N

 

Burning Bridges by Anne Krist
Not your typical “secret baby” book! This Southern romance packs in the emotion.

 

Letters delivered decades late send shock waves through Sara Richards’s world. Nothing is the same, especially her memories of Paul, a man to whom she'd given her heart years before. Now, sharing her secrets and mending her mistakes of the past means putting her life back together while crossing burning bridges. It will be the hardest thing Sara’s ever done.

 

Amazon Kindle Unlimited

 

One Woman Only by Dee S. Knight
As one of a set of triplets, Jonah Goodman has always stood out as the least academic—and the last one to take the world, or commitment, seriously. Thing is, that’s not really who he is. But who can he convince of that? Not his family, who see him as they always have. And maybe not his one love, the sweetheart he left behind in high school but with whom he is now sharing an erotic holiday. Will he get his second chance to prove to Kelly that he is a loving man who wants more than a sensual few days, but a real relationship with the woman he lost once and doesn’t want to lose again? With that chance and Kelly's love, Jonah knows that a "good man" can become a better man.

Amazon Kindle Unlimited

Dee S, Knight is visiting and talking about Plotter or Panster #MFRWAuthor #Panster #Plotter #Virginia, #the Carolinas

 

Thanks for hosting me today, Janet!

Are you a pantster, plotter, or perhaps a bit of both?
I’m pretty much a pantster. There was a time when I never kept notes at all. I just had everything about the characters and plot in my head (lots of empty space up there, evidently). But in the last few years I’ve started using character sheets—for physical characteristics, goals and background—and now I’ve found photos of the characters I am creating. Just a visual image to help keep me straight. So in that regard, I’ve become more of a plotter.

Which comes first—characters or plot for you?
Plot, I think. I’ve not really thought of the two as separate before. If I have an idea for a plot, I usually envision the character(s) at the same time. But I do lean toward plot as being the bones of the story and the characters as the muscle. They have to fit together in order for the book to work.

What are you working on now? Is this a book in a current series or something totally new?
I’m trying hard to get book 3 of the Good Man series out the door. At the same time, I’m in the middle of a brand new type of book—more erotica than erotic romance—and I’m also editing a book to get it ready for self-publishing. The owner of the first publishing house I worked with passed away last year and I received back rights for ten books. Getting them edited and updated is proving a chore.

Do you have some kind of object or place that figures in most of your books?
I tend to write books set in the south since that’s where I spent most of my life. Virginia or the Carolinas, specifically. It’s a part of the country I love, so it’s easy to go back to it in books. And I almost always put some form of my husband in books. He’s not always a hero, either! It depends on whether I’m aggravated with him at the time of writing. 😉

Do you write every day or just when the spirit moves you?
I should write every day. That I don’t is why I have two books in progress instead of finished, and still five books to republish. Sigh

Where can we find you?
Website: https://nomadauthors.com

Blog: http://nomadauthors.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/265222.Dee_S_Knight

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B079BGZNDN

Newsletter: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/h8t2y6

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/dee-s-knight-0500749

Sweet ‘n Sassy Divas: http://bit.ly/1ChWN3K

 

Thursday's Fifth Scene - Murder and Sweet Tea #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Cozy mystery #Katherine Miller #Hudson River

 

When I reached the house, I found a note from Lars. “Gone golfing. See you at dinner time.”

Being released from the need to socialize with my husband, I filled a large glass with iced peppermint tea and settled in the dark green plush recliner to begin the book. By the second page, the characters and developing plot pulled me into the story.

When I reached the halfway point of the book, Lars returned. He waved his hand in front of my face. “Earth to Kate. Must be an intriguing story.”

“A riveting one.” I placed the novel on the table between our chairs. “Though not my usual reading material, I can’t put it down. The author will be our new neighbor.”

He lifted the book. “So you’ve solved the mystery of the house buyer.” He read aloud the material on the back cover.

“Death follows Nanette Gordon as she fights for control of her father’s import-export company. One of her opponents has marked her for death. Who? Enter Andrew Miliken, Is he friend or foe?”

“Sabrina Gates has penned an exciting and tightly woven story. Touches of her Southern home are woven into the narrative with a deft hand.”

He opened the book. “This sounds good.”

I met his gaze. “You can read the book when I’m done.”

He laughed. “Keep reading. This is a better way to experience murder than finding corpses.”

My laughter echoed his. “Just think we’ll soon meet the author whose imagination created this story.”

“Let’s hope her imagination is all she brings to town.”

My sigh turned into a groan. Finding the dead wasn’t my idea of fun. I rose. “No more murders for me unless they’re in the pages of a book.”

“Good. I won’t have to play Watson to your Sherlock.”

I nodded. “Go take your shower. Then we’ll have dinner.”

“Here or should we go out?”

“I’ll make crab salad. There’s lettuce and tomatoes and there’s a loaf of that dark rye you like.”

“Sounds great.”

As Lars walked away, I went to the kitchen and took the ingredients for dinner from the fridge and placed them on the counter. Once I finished making the salad, I wiped the granite counter. I stared out the window and studied the house on the other side of the privet hedge. When would the new owner arrive? Would I like Sabrina Gates as much as I liked her book?

 My Places

https://twitter.com/JanetL717

 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

http://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/

 

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Forgotten Dreams #MFRWHooks @BWLAuthor #Romance contemporary #Medical #Action figure #Wednesday

 

Join the authors at #MFRWHooks here   http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com for some great excerpts. Mine is from Forgotten Dreams, a second chance for romance story.

BLURB:

Chad Morgan is tired of his Hollywood life and his role as action hero Storm. He's ignoring the contracts for two more movies in the franchise. He wants to take a different direction and make a movie of his friend's book. He has bought the rights. But his agent and the studio want more Storm. His personal life is also bouncing from one woman to another. His thoughts have turned to Emma Grassi, the woman he left behind in his quest for fame. He decides to return to Fern Lake and speak to his friend and renew his friendship with Emma.

Emma is now a nurse practitioner sharing an office with her doctor friend. She has waited for Chad to return and has decided this isn't going to happen. She's decided to confront him and put an end to the dream she has remembered and he has forgotten. Life takes a twist when Chad 's auto accident on the outskirts of Fern Lake bring them together. She wants out. He wants in.

EXCERPT:

Gregson’s hand landed on Chad’s shoulder. “Not your style. I’ve shopped the idea. Had some interest but not with you in the lead role. Two more Storms and you’ll be on your way to the bank with millions. In two years we’ll ask again.”

In one long swallow, Chad finished the drink. He slapped the glass into Gregson’s hand. “In two years I’ll be dead from boredom.” He stepped out into the dark night.

“Let me know when you’re ready to toe the line,” Gregson called. “You know you will.”

Chad strode to his car. He wasn’t toeing any line, not as Storm. Hollywood no longer held the glamour he’d embraced ten years ago when he’d arrived. He could have chosen a different road. His athletic abilities could have earned him a college scholarship but the acting virus had invaded his life. Four years of drama in high school and multiple roles in the local theater group had brought him here.

He’d followed that dream but there had been other dreams. Could he find them again? Smiling chocolate eyes in a lovely face surrounded by dark curls flashed in his thoughts. Had she found a dream different from the one they’d shared and he’d forgotten? He slid behind the wheel and drove to his large and lonely home behind stone walls. There were decisions to be made but not tonight. He would remember her…Emma.

In an unusual move, the moment he reached the house, he mixed a second rum and cola.

 

* * *

 

Emma Grassi Strolled along the walk beside her evening’s date. They reached the steps to the wide front porch of her large house. Light shone through the living room windows showing her sister remained downstairs.

At the door, Brady pulled her into his arms. His mouth covered hers. She felt nothing. Another nowhere evening. There’s been no man who had stirred her since…She pushed back all thoughts of the one who had sent her hormones racing.

She reached for the door. “Thanks for dinner and the movies.”

“Was fun. I’ll call.” He bounded down the steps and walked to his car.

Emma sighed. What was wrong with her? She entered the house and slumped against the door. Brady, a successful attorney, single, attractive and nice hadn’t stirred any feelings/ Just like the dozen of so men she’d dated in the past ten years.

My Places

https://twitter.com/JanetL717

 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

http://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/

Tuesday's Writer's Tip - Revision Organization #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Revision #Organization

 The final step in revision is in the organization. Do all the pieces fall into the right place? Do you let the readers know what's important for them to be aware of? How does one do this.

List all your important points in the story such as beginning, black moment, the middle, the end and major scenes. Are they complete and are they in the right sequence? I've been known in the rush of that rough draft to have things talked about happening before they happen in the story. These are things you need to be aware of .

Do the events happen in the right order? If they don't, you can confuse your readers. I remember when I was writing a story, it began with a short almost a prologue that happened a few years before the story began. I played it out in full and when I was revising the story, I realized part of the bits I told could come later. This was the first meeting with the hero and heroine but it had more impact when I put it in as a short bit of thought when they meet again after a few years. What happened was three or four thousand words ended up as around a hundred later in the story. Their meeting in the opening of the book wasn't' the information I needed to have there.

Once you've finished this bit of revision, go back and read for consistency and you're done with your revisions.

My Places

https://twitter.com/JanetL717

 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

http://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/

 

Meandering on Monday with Janet Lane Walters #Reading, Writing, Thoughts

Meander 1 - Reading - This week my reading has been with several writers. One Is Katherine Pym's Begotten - a historical fantasy that gave me a lot to think about. I've known very little about the land she featured and I find the amount of research she had to do overwhelming but the book was read with enjoyment. I also read F. M. Meredith's forst book in her series featuring a native American heroine and the town where she lives and works as a county sheriff's deputy. Both books were wonderful.

Meander 2 Thoughts - Voting - Seeing the number of early voters amazes me and heartens me. I'm hoping and praying there will be a change. As to my voting, I will vote on election day and be on the alert for hecklers and those who want to disrupt the process. Would they happen in such a small town or village. I'm not sure but I decided not to do mail in or vote early but to stand up and do iton election day.

Meander 3 - Writing - The final revision is going well. What I really wish is that I could finish typing the last two chapters so I can finish the final draft and send it off. Not sure who will get it as editor but Jude will let me know.

My Places

https://twitter.com/JanetL717

 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

http://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/

 

Sunday's Book Murder and Sweet Tea #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Cozy mystery #Hudson River #New York

 

Lars is her new husband. He loves Katherine but doesn’t understand why she’s always trying to protect her near and dear. Even though she saved his life while visiting him in Santa Fe, he often questions her involvement in other people’ lives.

Into their lives arrives a new neighbor, Sabrina Gates. Sabrina bought the house next door. She has had a phenomenal success as a new author but moes from her past and present threaten her peace and ability to write. There is the blogger who posts snide and not so nice posts about other authors. Sabrina’s former agent wants a share of the huge amount of money Sabrina has received for a trilogy. And there is her ex-husband, a needy greedy coward who wants money.

Above all there is Robespierre who makes his presence known.

My Places

https://twitter.com/JanetL717

 https://www.facebook.com/janet.l.walters.3?v=wall&story_f

bid=113639528680724

 http://bookswelove.net/

 http://wwweclecticwriter.blogspot.com

https://www.pinterest.com/shadyl717/

 

Buy Mark

http://bookswelove.net/walters-janet-lane/

 

Saturday's Blurbs featuring Books by Edward Yatscoff #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Firefighter #rumrunner

Fire Dream

 Vancouver Fire Captain Gerry Ormond is inadvertently thrust into the spotlight while rescuing a child which results in more complications than he ever imagined.

Honored with a Governor General’s Medal of Valor, Ormond accepts the award in Ottawa and while in Ontario returns to his hometown to visit his elderly father. His presence unleashes a series of events that bring old crimes and deeds back into the light of day. Old enemies, old friends and family dynamics spin Ormond into a maelstrom of memories and emotions, some better left buried.

Add into the mix a vengeful arsonist and a fire investigator whose inquiries are coming far too close to the truth for Ormond’s comfort and he finds his obsessive need for control is sliding through his fingers. Fire, death and mayhem span the decades, time and guilt coalesces into a vise closing irrevocably on the decorated fire captain

Man on Fire

Ex-fire captain Gerry Ormond figures his new position as Niagara Falls Fire Chief will be an easy gig. He not only discovers a dysfunctional department, but a corrupt one as well. Winning each battle will be difficult, but the administration has taken away his bullets--he’s only a figurehead.

Karen, his partner, is savagely beaten by Branko, her estranged husband while Gerry is scapegoated after a tragic car dealership fire. Add to all that a disaster waiting to happen, as the brutal Red Mafya sinks its talons into an iconic hotel casino project. The criminals may be somehow linked to his administration. When he attempts to find a connection he is warned to back off. The Mafya sends their new enforcer Branko, to change his mind.

The more Chief Ormond investigates, the more men die, as forces he barely understands push back--hard. Out of his league and alone amidst the carnage, he declares war. Winning the war means dealing with the devil--Branko and the Red Mafya.

The Rum Runners Boy

Canadians are only too happy to supply liquor to thirsty Americans during U.S. Prohibition. Jarrod Hooker, 17, steps in for his injured father on a rum running crew smuggling liquor across Lake Erie. It’s a lucrative job they cannot afford to lose.

Jarrod’s young age is resented by the rumrunners and they set out to sabotage him and confiscate his father’s boat. Carving out respect for himself among rough men will take a mighty effort. But Ill winds begin to blow across the lake when money from liquor shipments goes missing and the U.S. Coast Guard steps up smuggling patrols. Worse yet, an American gangster, a rogue from the notorious Purple Gang, tries to seize control of the operation.

Whatever happens on the next run will change everything for everyone. Amid sabotage and bullets flying, Jarrod must put his trust in a very dangerous man. Although Canada is only a few miles offshore, it may as well be a world away.

Editorial Review
‘A wild ride with Lake Erie’s rumrunners. Guns, gangsters, smuggling, and a teen who gets thrown into the maelstrom. ‘A wild ride with Lake Erie’s rumrunners. Guns, gangsters, smuggling, and a teen who gets thrown into the maelstrom. The era of rumrnning comes to life!’ Bookus

Friday Edward Yatscoff is visiting and talking about Panster or Plotter #BWLAuthor #MFRWAuthor #Panster #Plotter.

 Panster or Plotter

 

Day 1

 

1. Are you a panster or a plotter or perhaps a bit of both?

A panster for sure.  I have 20 chapters already written with probably 3 more and I still don’t know how it will end. Next year’s release is FINAL RESPONSE and it’s the only one where I knew the ending from the get go.

 

2. Which comes first - characters or plot for you?

A vague plot beginning first, then is driven almost immediately by characters. My MG and YA novels are mainly plot then slower to be filled in with characters. Random thoughts, descriptions, imaging--everything that pops up out of the blue--are placed in just past where I’m at. As I write they get shuttled down along with the story. When I reach the point where I need them I’ll cut and paste them in. Sometimes they’re a line or two or even a few pages and I don’t want to lose them because they will go in somewhere.

 

3. What are you working on now? Is this a book in a current series or something totally new?

SERVICES RENDERED is a new hard-boiled crime fiction and the only adult novel I have with a firefighter somehow involved. Not sure if my publisher BWL Publishing  has any hard-boiled crime yet, or if they’ll want it. The characters are mainly taken from the tough guys I knew, and knew of, throughout my life. I may self-publish as I have with my Mexican crime novel and my 6 MG/YA novels

 

4. Do you have some kind of object or place that figures in most of your books? I use gems a lot, hospitals and caves.

I like road flares as they burn hot and fast and are the best for setting vehicles on fire.  Also police batons and brass/plastic knuckles because they can inflict a lot of damage and are great equalizers

 

5. Do you write everyday or just when the spirit hits?

If I can’t get inspired to write some new pages every day I’ll go back to the early chapters and edit.  This usually gives me a jump start.  As for the road ahead, the next chapters are always in my head rolling around for some time first before seeing paper.

 

6. Where can we find you?

In the new little city of Beaumont, Alberta.

 

7. Who are your favorite authors? What about a book you’ve enjoyed?

I have several favorites in the crime/thriller genre including Linwood Barclay who won the Arthur Ellis Award last year – I was a Finalist and am in good company. James Lee Burke, Dan Fesperman, James Hall, are just a few favorites.  Female authors Barb Nickless and M.A. Lawson write about real tough females yet haven’t lost their feminine side. I do enjoy historical fiction as well -  Robert Harris, Stephen Pressfield, and Ronald Wright. I read 40 to 60 books a year and review them all.