Introducing...

 

This little gem has been sitting on my computer for the last two years while I trudged through nursing school. When "Haley's Song" came out last December it reminded me about "Guardian of the Fountain" waiting to be finished. I wanted to use this book as an experiment to gauge the route of publishing I liked best. "Haley's Song" was traditional publishing. "Guardian of the Fountain" is self published. There are pros and cons to both, but the jury is still out on which one I like best. It might just come down to monetary reasons. Cross your fingers it does well because I'm currently in the red with this book...the joys of self publishing!

This plot idea came to mind just as I was turning 30, and I was wishing I could stay 25 forever. I'm having a hard time with the idea of aging and I wished there really was a Fountain of Youth and not just some expensive trips to the med spa to bandaid the bursting pipe of aging. Not all of us are aging gracefully... How come the guys get better looking with age? Not fair at all, I'm going to have to speak to someone about this.

Anyway, I'm introducing my fluffy novel because that's what I enjoy writing...fluffy romance. I don't even think that is a genre, but I may create it.

Some secrets are better kept…

When a mysterious stranger crawls through her window in the dark of night and claims to have a cure for her disease that claimed 6 months of her memory and is slowly killing her, Chrissie is given a second chance at life. She only has to travel to the jungle of Venezuela to get it.

Then Chrissie meets the gorgeous, Brant Winston the attraction is instant; although she has the strange feeling that she’s met him before. When she stumbles upon secrets tying him to the drug cartel and ancient tribal magic it puts them both in eminent danger. But Brant isn’t the only one with secrets; Chrissie has one very big secret that could destroy their love forever. Some will live and some will die. Who will it be? Only the pure will live.

  

Starstruck

This old cowboy in the picture was the guy I based Mr. Sherwood in my book. He was my dad's police chief back when my dad was a newbie. His famous one liners that are still floating around the police station today like... "Never kick a turd, he may be your boss one day." I had to sneak a pic of my favorite old time cowboy because they are a rare and dying breed. I was a little starstruck that day.

 Hi Mom!

Exciting News!

Haley's Song made Vinspire's best selling list for the month of December! This is fantastic news for me because it was released halfway through the month. I'm excited to see how far it goes...

You can find it on Amazon, ARe, Audible, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, and kobo.

Writing Romance With Donna Hatch

There are people crossed my path and at the time I didn’t realize the significance of them until much later. Donna Hatch is one of those people for me. I met her about 8 years ago when I started coloring her hair in my home. She’d just moved to a neighboring town with her family. Of course spending a few hours together you learn interesting things about a person. I learned she liked to write regency romance and she was a part of a group called ANWA. I didn’t think much of it other than she had a weird little hobby. She moved away and I went on with my life. Well, now I have a weird little hobby called writing and our paths crossed again at an ANWA conference two years. Now she is one of my mentors with several amazing published books under her belt. She has some serious skills when it comes to writing romance and has helped me grow by leaps and bounds as a romance writer. Its funny how life works sometimes and keeps introducing people to you until you understand their influence in your life.

Author of Historical Romance and Fantasy, award-winning author Donna Hatch is a sought-after speaker and workshop presenter. Her writing awards include the Golden Rose and the prestigious Golden Quill. Her passion for writing began at age 8 she wrote her first short story, and she wrote her first full-length novel during her sophomore year in high school, a fantasy which was later published. In between caring for six children, (7 counting her husband), her day job, her work as a freelance editor and copywriter, and her many volunteer positions, she still makes time to write. After all, writing IS an obsession.  All of her heroes are patterned after her husband of over 20 years, who continues to prove that there really is a happily ever after.

1. Why do you write historical romance?

I write it because that's what I love. And I love many things about it, but it all boils down to two basic reasons: 1. I love romance. I love it because of the emotional journey that brings two people together. They have to find common ground, make an emotional connection, and learn to place the other person's needs and happiness ahead of their own. It often includes swallowing one’s pride, and making personal sacrifices. I also romance because of the ending. I have an intense need for a happily ever after, and romance guarantees that; other genres don’t make any such promises.

The reason I love historical eras, and the Regency in particular, is because of the people who lived at that time. This may be a skewed and romanticized vision, but people who lived so long ago were more honorable than they are today. In Regency England, duty and honor were everything. If a man said he’d do something--especially if he gave his word--he meant it, and others could count him to follow through, even at great personal cost.

I also love British humor. Their understated wit and the carefully protected emotions create wonderful possibilities for subtle clues to a person's emotions.

By the Georgian and Regency Eras, men and women alike were educated and could read, compute complex mathematics, speak multiple languages—French and Latin in particular—and loved philosophical debates. They were also very cultured. From a young age they learned to dance and play music, and to appreciate many art forms.

Their manners were charming. Gentlemen stood when a lady entered the room, doffed their hats, curtailed their language, offered an arm, bowed, and performed hundred other little courtesies to show respect. They also enjoyed athletic pursuits; they hunted, raced, fenced, boxed, rode horses. They were manly. Strong. Noble. Resolute. Honorable. I love that about them! And that makes them perfect heroes for both historical fiction and historical romance novels.

2. Where did you learn about the historical details?

Research is an on-going pursuit. I read extensively from works in the era--particularly Jane Austen because she lived in that time period so details which were ordinary to her are a clue to us as to the culture and customs of the time. I also watch BBC movies set during the Georgian and Regency and Victorian Era to help me with historical British syntax. And I follow historical blogs where experts in the era post their findings. Over time, I have found many many writer friends who are fellow history geeks, and we share information. 


7. If you could time travel, where would you go?

I’d go to London 1816. It was a turbulent time smack in the middle of the Regency so the things I would learn in a few hours wandering around would provide more information than years of research would provide.


8. When you first started writing, did you think you would get this far in your career as a writer?


Actually, by now, with 11 published titles, I’d hoped to have made New York Times Best Sellers’ list. But hey, that could still happen. If all my fans told a 100 of their closest friends, who did the same, and so on….well, you know.




9. Best advice to newly published authors?

1.  Don’t give up. Be persistent. Finish the novel, and then write the next one no matter what.

2.  Be teachable. Most new authors think his/her own novel is the best work ever written. But it might not be, not at first. Like any craft, it takes 1/10 raw talent and 9/10 hard work to become truly skilled. Learn from the experts and work to improve yourself as a writer. Always try to make your most current work your best yet.

3.  Listen to your heart. If everyone tells you the genre you love will never sell but you have a feverish drive to write it anyway, then do it. If you write what you love, you will write with passion--and that cannot be faked or duplicated.

I’m getting ready to read The Stranger She Married.  I love a good romance! Go check out Donna's page. donnahatch.com

Meet My Character Blog Tour

Author Laura Walker, a new author to the scene of YA LDS romance wrote, Pierced By Love, has tagged me as part of a character blog tour. She has been an unexpected gift in my writing life. When I found out she liked to write I invited her to be a part of American Night Writers Association (ANWA). Well, in a few months (not even being to a meeting yet) she literally wrote a whole manuscript, had it submitted, and accepted. All it took was to put a little bug in her ear that she should write and she took off…like a rocket. Now she has several other manuscripts in various stages of development. I’m grateful to have her to experience the writing world with.

Where does your story take place?

Haley’s Song is a YA historical western romance that takes place in my neck of the woods of Southeast Arizona in the cotton fields and eventually to the pines of the mountains in a place called Eagle Creek. They say write about what you know… I know cotton and cattle thanks to my awesome hubster.

What is the name of your character? Is he/she historical or fictional?

Haley is a fictional character but her problems of abuse and feeling like an outcast are very real for some individuals. I think many people can relate to her on some level. Although she is purely fictional some of the other characters may or may not be modeled after people I know. Word of advice…Don’t ever tick off a writer because they may kill you off in their next book. ;)

What should we know about her?

Haley comes from a home of an abusive father so she has trust issues when it comes to men. She is a scrapper of sorts. You can throw her into horrible situations (liked locked inside a burning barn) and she seems to come out of them a little beaten up but still swinging for all she’s worth. She has fire in her. She can kill a rattlesnake one moment and sing a lullaby the next. Her trust issue and past scars are eventually healed by the kind men she works for on a cattle ranch—it sort of turned into a western version of Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs. In the end her prince charming in cowboy boots wins her trust and love.

What is the main conflict? What messes up her life?

Escaping an arranged marriage to an old drunk, letting go of past hurts, and putting your trust into complete strangers who happen to be all men can be quite conflicting. When the main villan finds Haley she has to decide whether or not to face her fears or run. She decides end her problems once and for all. Everything is on the line; her budding romance with a particular cowboy, the safety of her new family, and ultimately her life.

What is the personal goal of the character?

In the beginning Haley’s main and only goal was survival. Lets face it, she has it rough—living on a barely surviving cotton farm and being abused almost daily is no walk in the park. Things get even scarier when she almost is burned alive in a barn fire. But she evolves as the story does. She works on learning that not all men are bad and letting go of the past opens up her heart to accept love.

When can we expect the book to be published?

Haley’s Song will be released in December 2014.  It will be available in trade paperback, e-books, and audio.  You can also view Haley’s Song in e-books at Amazon, Nook, All Romance, Kobo, and Overdrive.  The audio will be available at Audible. The paperback version is available through major online outlets and independent bookstores.

The author I highly suggest checking out is Debra Efert, author of Relative Evil.  It is a romantic suspense released July 25, 2014. http://debraerfert.blogspot.com

Confident in Weird

Up until my late twenties, I was very worried about what others thought about me. Heck, I didn’t even tell my immediate family I was writing until I had a short story published. I was so worried that everyone would think I was weird.

Now… well not so much.

I’m pretty confident about my weirdness. I like to say, “Zig when everyone else is zaggin’.” First of all, I don’t run with the popular crowd. I find it too exhausting to keep up. Second, I don’t have the same interests as the majority of people. Third, I don’t want to be like everyone else. I would like to aspire and evolve into something spectacular, and that means taking a route completely different than the everyday mediocre.

So I came to the conclusion that I needed to have a master list of things I want to do different than the mainstream. Some call it the “Bucket List.”

I believe that bucket lists say a lot about an individual. My bucket list probably says to others, “She is a little off and leans toward creativity,” and it may also say, “She won’t be jumping out of planes anytime soon.” So here is my bucket list in no particular order.

•       Be a published author, maybe even best selling. Shoot for the stars!
•       Build a sweet off-the-grid retreat.
•       Compete in a bikini diva fitness competition. I would settle for getting my body to that kind of shape… I have a long way to go.
•       Tour castles in Europe.
•       Learn Spanish.
•       Learn to play the guitar.
•       Do a spa weekend with my girlfriends at a fancy schmancy resort. Maybe try a little Botox…
•      Vacation in Bora Bora.
•     Build my dream home and have it paid off.
•   Hand out hundred dollar bills to unsuspecting individuals.
•   Eat lobster in Maine
•   Be a Georgia Peach.
•   Hang out with Jeffery R. Holland for a day.
•   Take my husband to the “motherland”…i.e. Scotland.
•  Eat molten lava cakes in Italy.
•   Tour Area 51.
•   Help with casting in a movie made from one of my books.
•   Complete nursing school with some semblance of sanity left.
•   Successfully nap.
•   Learn Ju-jitsu

The thing about my list is that it’s not set in stone. It will probably change several times. My point is what does your list say about you?  Are you confident in your individuality? That is the key to being extraordinary, being confident in you.