Mine to Tell by Colleen L. Donnelly

 

Annabelle Crouse is determined to reopen her great-grandmother's boarded-up house--and her shunned life. Many years earlier, after an unexplained absence, Julianne was relegated to a separate home by a rigidly unforgiving husband, and the Crouse women have suffered the disgrace of her assumed guilt ever since.
Despite her family's strong disapproval, Annabelle is driven to pursue her mission through cobwebs and dust, finding the clues and the coded story left behind by her great-grandmother -- Why did she go? And why did she return? Annabelle has to know.
Only one person, a man she grew up with but never noticed, stands with Annabelle as she discovers the parallels between her story and her great-grandmother's--two women, generations apart, experiencing what love truly is.

Available at Online Retailers including Amazon

Excerpt

  “Mine to tell,” Kyle said suddenly. It was a jolt. I was yanked from my mental tumble into a pit of unredemption. Alex looked up too, a quizzical expression on his face. “Julianne left a story behind,” Kyle continued. “Some of it speculation and rumors by people who don’t know, and the rest of it by her own hand. It was a love story. One that was countered with suffering.”

We were all quiet. I looked at him, my heart melting as I heard his masculine voice speak of love and suffering. I wanted to lean across the table and hug him, but I was too afraid.

Alex leaned back in his chair. “What my father went through didn’t feel like love when we were little.”

“But maybe it was,” Kyle persisted, his tone smooth and even. “Does love always turn out the way we want it to?” Then he looked at me. “Julianne Crouse was a fine woman. We haven’t finished her story, but she suffered, and she was fine indeed.”

Tears came to my eyes. “Thank you,” I squeaked. Kyle stood and walked around the table to me. He helped me stand as he thanked them for their time. He retrieved Julianne’s picture, took my hand, and together we went to the door, Alex and his wife following us.


“I hope you’re right,” Alex said, running his hand through his thin, brittle hair as we stepped outside. “My father had some things to come to terms with, but he was a good man. A better man later in life, when he told us he was sorry. I never knew for what.”

Writing in Paris with Simone de Beauvoir by Gina Rossi

Paris in the spring – is there a more beautiful cliché? A few days before I receive the final edits for my brand new release 'The Sea Horse Door', my Real Life Hero gets sent to Paris on a three month contract. Eagerly, I gather writing paraphernalia and pack.

We arrive on the chilly tail of winter, in the heart-breaking aftermath of the January terrorist attacks on the Charlie Hebdo offices. We go to the rally, the Sunday after, in the Place de la Republique, alongside one million others, thousands of whom are armed with pens, pencils and paintbrushes, rising as one to defend the principle of freedom of speech. I shall never forget that.

I must work. It’s Monday, and Paris remains eerily empty and subdued. Head down I tackle edits. When the final galley goes off, I lift my head to see a mist of green in the treetop outside our fifth storey window. Outside, I don’t dash about for basic groceries like I’ve been doing, but rather take a deep breath of early spring air and marvel at the feeling of rebirth and restoration. Never mind air pollution – there’s only freshly baked baguette, excellent coffee, and chocolate, mingling their way to my nostrils from the market stalls on nearby Rue de Buci, beckoning. I follow, passing a spectacular greengrocer, and a shellfish counter, laden with jewels of the sea nestling in crushed ice not yet melted by the early spring sun.

Tables are set on the sidewalk, where tables haven’t been: wineglasses, yellow roses in pink vases, cutlery and crisp white napkins. Umbrellas and awnings appear, tentative, not tempting meteorological fate. I find the Rue de Seine, and walk a few blocks, coming out of the narrow street alongside the gilt tipped dome of L’Académie Français onto the Quai de Conti. Standing on the lovelock-burdened Pont des Arts, I gaze at the sparkling river − pink, gold and green, like a Renoir.
Walking along the river, going with the flow for a while, I turn south, through different narrow streets lined with interesting doorways, tiny antique shops, compact art galleries, a vintage chandelier store dripping with crystals, a handmade soap boutique, bespoke perfume shop (is there not enough ready-made perfume in France?) and many small, charming hotels. I emerge on the Boulevard Saint Germaine and go into the church, alone but for one elderly gentleman, praying in the chapel devoted to military veterans 'mort pour la France'. In the glow of ancient stained glass and candlelight, I visit the wooden statue of the saint himself, lighting a candle, to keep everything safe, for now, everyone, everywhere, please.

Coffee time, and where better than Les Deux Magots, a few steps across the road, since I’m a writer? I sit inside with the ghosts of the literary great; besides, it’s a little chilly, this first spring day to sit outside, overhung by the great grey shadow of the abbey.

If you come in through the door on Rue Bonaparte, you’ll see me in the far left corner, next to the window. Here, the best (and possibly the most expensive) coffee in Paris is served, but it arrives in a silver pot, with a jug of hot milk, sugar and a 'petit biscuit', and special little paper sleeves on the hot handles, so you don’t burn yourself.

There’s a photo behind me, on the wall, of Simone de Beauvoir. I’m sitting at her table when I have an idea. Out comes my notebook. I scribble a few lines, with her looking over my shoulder; it seems the very best thing for a writer to do at this moment.

Later, I wander home. What’s the next project? Something set – or partially set − in eternally beautiful Paris? Definitely. Did Simone steer me in this direction? I love that thought.

There’s a raindrop. I look up between the graceful, grey stone buildings adorned with curving black balustrades. Black clouds cover the sun, having their last moment. Nearly home I glance at the tree in the small square outside our front door. It’s greener than this morning, I’m absolutely sure of it.

LES DEUX MAGOTS: http://www.lesdeuxmagots.fr/en/ambiances.php#/ambiances.php

THE SEA HORSE DOOR: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_175_133&products_id=6165

This blog first appeared as part of the Long and Short Reviews Spring Blogfest on 3 April 2015

Interview with Christian Aguillard, Hero of Love for Sale

Hello everyone!

I am talking with Christian Aguillard, the hero in my upcoming fantasy romance, Love for Sale.

1. Christian, how did you meet our heroine, March Morgan, since she lives in Houston and you hail from England?
March saw Mayfair Electronic’s small classified ad in a women’s journal and booked an appointment to meet the others and me.

2. Tell us about your interesting secret.
I am a sentient android created by Mayfair Electronics, Ltd., Dover Street, London and called the Special Editions. My siblings and I are indistinguishable from human and are sold as companions. We’re programmed to love, honor and obey, more or less. With me, no programming was necessary. The first time I saw March, I was immediately in love. I’m very fortunate indeed that she chose me and signed on the dotted line to make her man payment, as she says. I could have been programmed for another but never with the simple feeling that struck my heart when I walked into that room, and March faced me. We both froze, gazing into each other’s eyes.

3. I take it then that you have emotions—feelings like the human being you replicate.
Yes, very much so. And those feelings can be hurt, just as your feelings can be hurt. For all intents and purposes, we are human.

4. Why isn’t Mayfair doing a high profile advertising campaign to promote and sell the Special Editions? I’m sure there are many—I for one—who’d love the opportunity to have such a companion.
We’re being placed in a process rather like adoption because the populace at large isn’t ready to accept another life form, as it were . If we were public knowledge, there’d be the usual hue and cry, doubtless to say more than the protests against cloning. Companions custom-programmed for love and devotion would threaten the tenuous relationships between men and women everywhere, don’t you think?

5. Yes, I do agree, but it’s such a crime that those who’d love that special someone are missing the opportunity because they don’t know that such a companion exists.
Sad for both our kind and yours. At birth, a distinct personality is instilled in each of us. When we go with our companion, intricate data from a personal questionnaire completed by the applicant is fed into our memory banks, then being incorporated into that personality.

6. You are fascinating and simply perfect. I’ll sign on the dotted line.
There are five female and five male models. One of us would probably suit you. The males are Trevor, Stuart, Marcus, Daniel and Christian. The females are Monica, Dawn, Georgia, Marguerite and Samantha. We range in height, coloring and other physical features—women’s breasts, etc. and the male’s equipment—which are customized for each purchaser.

7. Tell us a little about the story of March and Christian.
I expected Utopia. I was in love, and it was obvious the feeling was mutual. I wasn’t prepared for the real world, and far too soon internal and external forces threatened our happiness…indeed our lives.

8. Like Mayfair Electronics, The Wild Rose Press is offering Love for Sale. Watch for this story’s release soon. We don’t have a cover yet, but here’s a tantalizing picture of Christian.

Thanks to Christian! Looking forward to meeting you soon in Love for Sale!
Available June 10th!
www.thewildrosepress.com
Linda Nightingale
http://www.lindanightingale.com

Write. Dream. Dance. By Tammy L. Bailey

When I was in high school, I wanted to be a:

F-16 fighter pilot
Dancer on Fame (television show)
George Clooney’s girlfriend (when he was on The Facts of Life)

I didn’t think of becoming a published author until 2004, after watching the 1995 Jane Austen adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. I was inspired. So, I bought a laptop and began writing. A few books and over one hundred queries later, I received the awaited email from The Wild Rose Press regarding my contemporary romance, LORD BACHELOR. I was sitting in my happy writing space, working on my next round of queries when I read the good news. Strike that...unbelievable, wonderful, life-changing news! Of course, I made my husband read the message, just in case I was hallucinating.

He confirmed what I read, and I broke into the happy dance next to my chair. The ‘happy dance’ is what happens when a writer receives word their book is about to be published. I’m not sure if the moves are universal, however, I do believe all of them involve slipping into The Running Man at some point.

Since retiring out of the Ohio Air National Guard, I try to visit my chair several times a day. My typical writing week looks a little like this:

Monday-Friday
5:00 A.M. Wake up and hit snooze
5:15 A.M. Wake up, stumble, and zigzag to my writing chair
6:00 A.M. Save project and get ready for work
7:00 A.M. Commute 40 minutes to my job, hoping no one is filming me singing...and dancing to, “It’s Raining Men”
4:30 P.M. Drive home, make dinner, and Google school work because I have no idea how to do this new math
7:30 P.M. Escape to my writing chair
8:30 P.M. Spend time with boys and tuck them into bed
9:30 P.M. Stumble and zigzag to my own bed and try to fall asleep as my characters carry on a fascinating conversation in my head

Sat-Sun
A big blur

To say the least, I’m very excited about sharing LORD BACHELOR, and I’m so fortunate to have found a wonderful editor who was willing to take a chance on me and the book. She also did a great job of reminding me when to breathe.

Although I don’t have a release date, I’m learning the art of marketing and continuing to write in my writing space where there are plenty of ‘happy’ plants to keep me company. I’m also perfecting my dance moves for my next unbelievable, wonderful, life-changing email.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog post. I look forward to hearing from you.

Tammy L. Bailey
http://www.tammylbailey.com

How Do YOU read? - an inquiry from author Cj Fosdick

Fifteen Minutes a day? An hour before bedtime? Weekends or Vacations? Print or eBook? Mystery, Romance, multi genre? Favorite authors? With music or silence?

Check out this ten question multiple choice survey! You may even learn something about your reading habits and how others select books!  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9VR7373

Many thanks from Cj Fosdick, author of
the multi-genre new Wild Rose Press novel,  "The Accidental Wife"

View From My Window By Fran Mcnabb

You’re probably asking, “Who is this person? I’ve never seen her name on this blog.” Let me introduce myself. I’m Fran McNabb and I’m new to TWRP. I met Rhonda Penders at Moonlight and Magnolias last year. I had not planned to pitch, but after meeting her, I got an appointment, and enjoyed talking with her. On April 29 of this year SAVING THE CHILDREN came out. It's a romantic suspense in the Crimson Line. Lori Graham is my editor.

Instead of giving you a typical bio, I simply want to show you where I write. I think my writing space says a lot about me. I live on a quiet bayou harbor on the Gulf Coast, and I do most of my writing from a chase lounge in a sunroom that overlooks the harbor. From here I can watch the activity on the water as I find inspiration for my writing.

Except for the first three years of my married life, I’ve lived along this coastline. During those years my new husband and I lived in the Eifel region of Germany and then on the outskirts of the Mojave Desert. Did I feel landlocked? You bet I did. When we left the service, I was thrilled my husband wanted to move to my area of the world. Now, after living here for nearly all of the forty-five years of our marriage, we still love the water and spend a great deal of time boating and fishing.

It was only natural for me find inspiration with my writing where I can see the water, the wildlife living in the marshes, and the boating activity on the harbor. We all have our favorite spots where we put our thoughts onto paper (or should I say the computer screen). I do have a really nice office, but from those windows I can’t see the water. I prefer to sit on my chase where the calm harbor waters take away my life’s worries, and I can lose myself in my stories.

Visit me at http://www.FranMcNabb.com to see a few other pictures of my area.

Fran McNabb
http://www.FranMcNabb.com
To Read More Click Here

WHAT INSPIRED ME TO BE A WRITER

Roberta C.M. DeCaprio
http://www.robertadecaprio.com

In 1950 I was born with a birth injury, left to navigate through life using canes (and in recent years occasionally a wheelchair). Not being able to run and play as the other children could, I turned to books for fun and adventure. The words on each page swept me away, cultivating an imagination I would come to call upon in the years that followed. Reading begets writing, and even at a young age I was composing poems, writing short stories, and even plays . . . using paper dolls and sock puppets as characters to act out the story's scenes. Reading was the first factor that inspired me to be a writer.

My most favorite television show during the 50's was THE LONE RANGER. I loved watching westerns with my father, but many of the other shows portrayed Indians as ruthless heathens....except for THE LONE RANGER. Clayton Moore played the part of the masked hero, and Jay Silverheels was his trusted friend, Tonto. A different side of the Native Americans was brought into view, and it made a huge impression on me. I actually met Clayton Moore in 1958, and he gave me a silver bullet shell as a memento of our meeting. Thirty years later, in 1988 I had the opportunity to meet him again, showed him the silver bullet shell (which I still have), and he remembered me immediately. I also explained to him how his show inspired me to write my first novel, THE GOLDEN LADY (released in 2009 by The Wild Rose Press), which told the story of a white woman falling in love with and marrying an Apache Warrior in 1864. THE LONE RANGER & TONTO were the second factor that inspired me to be a writer.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH YOUR ENEMY? the tag line for THE GOLDEN LADY read. And indeed, during 1864 the white man and red man were at war with each other. Using factual accounts, my fictional characters struggled through all odds, true love prevailing. And here lies the third factor that inspired me to be a writer . . . the late, great, romance author, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. After reading her novel, A ROSE IN WINTER, I knew exactly how to write the story of my heart's desire. But it would take 25 years for THE GOLDEN LADY to be available to the public. It just goes to show you what can happen when you never give up on something you believe in.


Click here For More On Roberta's Books

The Sheik’s Ruby by Jennifer Moore

I love the Middle East and the Romance of Lawrence of Arabia, women with dark eyes and hidden faces, Dark, handsome, crazy-rich men. I am fascinated with the culture and all of its secrets, and wanted to write a book that showed the beauty as well of the danger that is part of life in this corner of the world.

On a trip to Dubai, I was fascinated with the Sheiks and their extravagant lifestyle. They are devoutly religious, extremely private and their family is central to their lives. It’s such an interesting dynamic, as we so often, in America, associate wealth with scandals in the gossip columns.

In Dubai, one of my favorite places is the Gold Souqs. These winding streets with windows full of shining gold are beautiful and amazing, and I was fascinated to see men and women buying thick golden strands that cost thousands of dollars. They’d swipe a card, then just sticking them in a shopping bag and continue on with their day like they’d grabbed a coke at the gas station
Can you imagine a life where money is just not an issue? Private jets, palaces, even islands reclaimed from the sea to have a pristine beach are just part of life. I particularly loved the indoor ski-slopes. It was 125 degrees, and they’d somehow managed to keep it refrigerated enough to make snow.
 

The handsome princes who hunt with falcons and race horses at the Kentucky Derby seem like such interesting people, with their blend of old world and new. Plus, those dark eyes and thick black hair is seriously handsome.

I love Grace Kelly and Prince Ranier, and what girl wouldn’t love to be a princess?

So, that was the inspiration for The Sheik’s Ruby.  A Cinderella story where a small town cowgirl meets a Middle-Eastern prince.

Jennifer Moore
www.authorjmoore.com
I have some great pictures on my Pinterest board, too.
https://www.pinterest.com/jenniferlmoore9/the-sheiks-ruby/

Lightning Only Strikes Twice On Sale .99 cents!

I’m excited to be here to post a bit about my time-travel on sale for 0.99 – Lightning Only Strikes Twice.

Why Time-travel?

I typically write romantic suspense/thrillers, but this time-travel story came to me in a dream. Just a germ of an idea about two strangers who travel back in time and fall in love in an era that isn’t their own. It swirled in my head for a couple of years until I had the time-travel mechanism figured out, and a first line. From there, the book just took off. Many who don’t typically read time-travel have indicated they’ve enjoyed this particular story. I hope you will too. For only a few more days, Lightning Only Strikes Twice is available for 0.99.

Lightning Only Strikes Twice:

After her grandfather's death, mounting debts force Annie Crawford to sell her inheritance to uphold her family's honor and avoid bankruptcy. Financial stability comes with an even higher price: her heritage. She must rebuild her legacy from nothing.

Purchasing Annie's property means three things to Luke Maxwell: financial burden on Maxwell Development, opportunity to propel his career to the top by developing the old ghost town, and, ultimately, approval to take over his father's company. All of which take precedence over his attraction to the pretty seller.

While touring the property, Annie and Luke are whisked back in time to the 1891 mining community. Together, they endure antiquated hardships and turn to each other for familiarity. Comfort soon becomes passion. As they face a lifetime in the wrong century, Annie and Luke discover a predestined responsibility to the future. Can the love they've propagated in the past take root in the present?

Thank you for spending a few minutes of your valuable time with me today. For more information about any of my upcoming stories, you can check out the book’s website page here. Or sign up for my newsletter here.

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Stanalei Fletcher’s love of writing romance stems from reading favorites such as Grimm’s Fairy Tales, Barbara Cartland, and Alistair MacLean. She has over twenty years of training in the martial arts and holds the rank of Sandan, a third-degree black belt, in Aikido.

After a taste of life on both U.S. coasts, she now resides in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her hero, who is also her best friend and husband. Together they enjoy the open road astride a Harley, visiting museums and exploring ghost towns.

I’d love to hear from you. You can find me at any of the following locations:

Website

Twitter –  @StanaleiFletch

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My Writing Nest by Peggy Chambers

Like a lot of authors I use a laptop for my writing. Confined to a desk for years, I don’t want that when I am at home creating. A laptop can go anywhere. When I am alone – mostly on Sundays – I began to write on the love seat where I sit in the evenings and watch TV. It seemed the place to be because for some reason I gravitated to it as my husband gravitated to his chair. We are creatures of habit.

Then I inherited the old recliner that belonged to my father-in-law. It is well-worn burgundy leather that still smells like him when it warms up. It is cozy and comfy and it sits in the spare bedroom with my grandmother’s antique bedroom set. Recently I received a rare gift from an immensely talented artist, Pauline Jones. Pauline and I worked together at Atwoods. She is in charge of the pet department and knows all things pet related. She is the chick lady, the horse lady, and anything else that you need to know. I worked in the corporate office until my recent retirement. She loved my books and one day we traded our art. Her beautiful picture now hangs above my father-in-law’s recliner as a muse over my shoulder as I write.

I find this mostly unused bedroom suits me well. Here I am surrounded by my past, my family, and my friends. My mother-in-law’s roll top desk holds the computer when it is charging, the small table that my father loved to eat ice cream on as a child is in the corner. I have a bench and quilt rack that I created when I took some woodworking classes, and of course there is a bookcase for my grandson when he was young. It holds children’s books so Grandma could read him a story when he spent the weekend. These days he towers above me and is busy on the weekends so he seldom comes to visit. I go to his band concerts instead.

I love this room. My grandson claimed it when he was young and my sister thinks it is hers when she visits. But, it is my writing room. Stacked in the corner are three boxes representing the three published novels I have given birth to and they hold my precious cargo. Things I take to book signings.

I think the recliner and I are well fitted to each other and we have plans for many more books. All we need is time.

Peggy Chambers

click here for more from Peggy

Road Trip Inspiration by DeeDee Lane

When my mother and I took a road trip from Tomah, Wisconsin to Sioux Falls, South Dakota I knew it was going to be an adventure but had no idea it would be the inspiration for a series of novellas. We set out on Interstate 90 to go to the National IFYE conference. IFYE is the International 4-H Youth Exchange and both of us had participated in the travel exchange program. My mom to India in the 1950’s and approximately 30 years later I went to Italy. The conference was a chance for both of us to connect with other IFYE’s and road trip to South Dakota, with the vow to stop where ever we wanted!

To give us a theme Mom brought along the book American Pie: Slices of Life (and Pie) from America’s Back Roads. Author, Pascale Le Draoulec, drove through the US looking for great pie to eat, pie makers to interview and recipes to collect. We knew we needed to pare it down a bit so we focused on the by-ways near I-90 and apple pie. We hoped, and it turned out to be true, that looking for pie would give us the encouragement to look out for other hidden road trip gems.

By the time we reached Mitchell, South Dakota, home of the Corn Palace we were in full adventure mode, apple pie connoisseurs and frankly looking for a stop that had NOTHING to do with pie! After we visited the Corn Palace and marveled at all the creative uses of the corn plant we asked a local for recommendations. She gave us directions and a brochure to the Dakota Discovery Museum another cultural highlight of the area. The brochure described the museum: “Our engaging environment invites you to explore the traditions of Native American culture and early American settlers through artifacts dating from the 1600′s through 1940.” And with that we decided to by-pass the café advertising pie and take in the museum instead.

When we arrived I was immediately drawn to the Blacksmith’s exhibit area which was set up with many of the artifacts used by early Dakota settlers. It was so realistic I could almost hear the neigh of the horse and the clang of steel horseshoes. I remember thinking, “What would it be like if this exhibit came alive and I could just walk into it?” Outside we visited the Historic Village Complex, walking from school house to settler’s home through grassy fields, kept to look like a prairie. Again, I was struck by how amazing it would be to learn history by slipping back in time. From there my imagination took off, adding conflict of course. What if you didn’t want to go back in time? And it just happened? And what if you slipped into another time and found your greatest desire?

Several years later when I was imagining the story of MY MOUNTAIN MAN I was able to create a story that tried to answer these questions.

So my Mom and I never ate pie in Mitchell but we discovered a road trip gem and eventually made it to our conference in Sioux Falls. And on the closing banquet night when we could choose between a slice of delicious looking apple pie or a raspberry sorbet… both of us chose the sorbet.

DeeDee Lane
http://www.deedeelane.com

Coming Soon To The Wild Rose Press

My Writing Abode by Linda Nightingale

My Writing Abode

I recently moved to the Burbs—a suburb of Houston—from a condo in the Medical Center to a house. With four books out, one soon to be released by The Wild Rose Press and another under contract with TWRP, I feel like my office is now an author’s den. I have a bookcase and filing cabinet, a desk with a laptop and an additional filing cabinet on top of which is the printer. Totally out of character is an old cedar chest which belonged to my mother, housing some quilts that she handmade. Truth is, I had no other place in the house for it, but it is too dear to part with.

On the walls are colored prints of three angels done by Ruth Thompson: Michael, Gabriel, and Uriel. Long ago, I bought these at a sci-fi con. See why they can be inspiring?!

So, in this room overlooking my backyard, I write books and copy for an advertising agency. I even have a title with the agency, Content Strategist, but I have the luxury of working from home in my robe and slippers!



















The book soon to be released is Love For Sale—sentient androids, completely humanlike, programmed for love. We are in edits on my book about the horsy set called Gambler’s Choice, a gothic romantic suspense. Gambler’s Choice is the name of the horse in the book, but the name comes from a class in horse shows. The class is a timed event and at the end of all the riders’ rounds, the fences are raised for those riding a clean round (didn’t knock down any fences). I’m very excited about both books and am happy to be a Rose.

Please visit my new and improved website for a continuing free read called Vampyre Interlude. http://www.lindanightingale.com. You can find me on Twitter at @LNightingale. Visit my blog at https://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/ . I have some interesting guests who usually give away great prizes, including gift cards.


Linda Nightingale
@LNightingale - Twitter
http://www.lindanightingale.com

Interviewing a Princess by Susan Sheehey

Interviewing a Princess
Susan Sheehey
www.SusanSheehey.com
*Originally posted on Smart Girls Read Romance on April 10th, 2015. http://smartgirlsreadromance.blogspot.com/2015/04/interviewing-princess.html 

In researching for PRINCE OF SOLANA, I had the rare privilege of interviewing a princess of Namibia, Ms. Nene Nwoko. I stumbled across her name from another writer in our critique group who took an acting class with her and was kind enough to share her information with me.

Who gets to speak with real royalty? Research gold for my series!

Right before our call started, I was suddenly nervous, getting to speak to a real princess. I had a list of questions written out, by topic, hoping not to take up too much of her time or ask the wrong question. I didn’t want to blow my only chance at this incredible research opportunity.

First of all, Nene was a joy to speak with, extremely personable and seemed down to earth. She had a slight accent, but was fluent in English and sounded like she grew up in the States. Nene briefly explained her family, and while drastically different than the scenario I’ve depicted in my series, I couldn’t pull the phone away from my ear.

Her father is the brother of the current king in Namibia. The king (her uncle) has more than twenty wives, and over fifty children. The family tree and dynamic she explained were fascinating.
They aren’t ultra-wealthy, like the royals of the UK or Denmark, and many of her family members live in the United States (herself included). They lead normal lives with families, jobs, and careers. Amazingly enough, she lives right in my homestate of Texas.

Though she is married, she explained an interesting custom that the eldest daughter of the king traditionally never marries. Her cousin is a representative of the royal line, and the eldest son inherits the throne. Nene is an actress, model, and entrepreneur. She formed and runs a commercial advertising and marketing firm.

When she asked about the books I’m writing, she was genuinely intrigued, especially since it was an international setting (though far from Africa).

Overall, the interview lasted about an hour, and several of my questions had her laughing. Such as were they restricted by what clothes they had to wear, or what places they could go to (much like my interpretation of the British Royal family). I felt like such a newbie, but she was more than gracious enough to answer my questions.

After the interview, I had some valuable research for my series, and I laughed at how nervous I was before the phone call. One of the biggest things I learned was that you never know who will cross your path in the simple conversations you have every day. Just put yourself out there—put your work out there—and see who’s reading.

Susan Sheehey
www.facebook.com/SusanSheehey

150th anniversary of Lee’s surrender to Grant

April 9, 2015 marks the 150^th anniversary of Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the American Civil War.   What not many people realize is that it was not in fact the complete end of the war, and several skirmishes and battles followed because Lee surrendered only the Army of Northern Virginia, not all Confederate forces.  General Joseph Johnson, with whom Lee’s forces had been trying to link up, presided over a very large force in North Carolina.  For a while, Johnson agonized over whether to surrender or fight on.  Many of his starving troops were eating the bark off trees and picking through horse manure for bits of oats and corn but still wanted to continue the fight.  With no hope of reaching supplies, and with soaring desertion rates, a couple of weeks after Appomattox, Johnson too surrendered. 

The passions that drove the Civil War were epic—as was the cost in lives.

If you add up the number of American men killed in the Revolutionary War, along with The War of 1812, The Mexican War, World War I, World War II, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, The Iraq War, and the War in Afghanistan, more American men died in the Civil War than in all the other wars in which America fought combined. 

The passions of that tragic war, the determination, rage, treachery, and deceit, are captured in Point Blank:  A Novel of the Civil War by Carmine Sarracino, which will be released in the future by The Wild Rose Press.  Follow Louisa March, modeled after Louisa May Alcott, as she serves as a volunteer nurse in a hospital in Washington just after the horrific battle of Fredericksburg. Idealistic and naïve, she struggles to overcome challenges of espionage, drug trafficking, war profiteering, and murder that tempt her to run away from it all and return to her comfortable home in Massachusetts. 

Her love for a war-weary, badly wounded Union soldier, however, keeps her in the hospital—and in the midst of the high drama of this most deadly conflict.  Her limits are tested every day:  first by the gruesome wounds she must tend but then by the collapsed social barriers that put her into situations of sexual temptation she could never have imagined back home in Boston.  Fiercely determined to be strong and succeed, she is challenged at every step of the way.  Only her love for Cole Morgan, a Union soldier who was nearly dead when she began caring for him, inspires her to find strength deep within herself that she did not know she possessed.  The enemies the two confront are as darkly powerful as their love for each other, especially Dr. Stephen Valentine, a drunkard, spy, and war profiteer,  and Eustace Light, an albino Confederate sniper with preternatural vision, almost superhuman marksmanship, and an unquenchable hatred for Yankees.

Colby Wolford

Historical Editor

The Wild Rose Press

Finding humor everywhere

I'm a fan of humor. With my writing I try to put in as much of it as I can. I believe you can find something funny about everything (okay, I'm including hysterical laughter in that belief). Believing in humor can take you from crisis to comedy. It's hard to fight laughter. You can do it, but you only end up looking ridiculous. I found a perfect example of this truth when I was fortunate enough to be able to spend two weeks in Poland.

Poland wasn't somewhere I'd ever thought of going. At the time I worked for a museum and the trip was an exchange program between my museum and a sister one in Lodz. My gracious hosts took me all over the country in those two weeks. I saw castles, historical sailing ships and some of the most beautiful chapels in existence. I also saw the gnomes of Wroclaw.

Much of Poland's history is laced with sadness and oppression. The people of Wroclaw, however, found a way to lighten that burden through humor. The original gnomes were the work of the Orange Alternative Movement of the 1980s. Its members painted bright orange gnomes on buildings as a way of protesting the absurdity of the communist edicts they were forced to live under. The silliness of the paintings were a way to help the people of the city cope with their oppressors.

In 2003, the Wroclaw city council commissioned local artist Tomasz Moczek to create a memorial to the original gnomes. Moczek sculpted a series of gnomes which were then placed all over the city. They are quite popular and tourists are given a map of their locations so they can enjoy them as they stroll through the city. To me they are also a testament to the strength and endurance of the Polish people. In spite of all the tragedy they have endured as a country, they have the gnomes to put a smile on their faces.

Debra Doggett

To check out Debra's Books, click here

A Taste of Hope by Doreen Alsen

Where do you get your ideas?

I get this question all the time. Most of the time I have no clue. But with my latest book, A Taste of Hope, out on April 8, 2015, I can draw a map about this book beginning inkling of an idea to the words “The End” on the last page on the manuscript.

My heroine, Hope Monahan, initially showed up in Mike’s Best Bet, the first book in my At The End Zone series, set in my fictional town of Addington, Massachusetts, on the north shore of Boston. We don’t actually see Hope. She’s a caterer who works out of her kitchen and is famous for her version of shrimp in puff pastry. She also stays low key in the second End Zone book, What Ian Wants, but the shrimp puffs show up on the buffet table at a couple of gala events.

Finally, in Charming Dave, the third End Zone book, we meet Hope. Her business has grown to the point where she’s opened her own Earth to Table restaurant called Hope’s.

Even though her life progressed in the course of the books, I didn’t plan to write a book for Hope. Just wasn’t there on my radar screen.

Then I went to RWA National in 2011 and went to listen to an editor/agent panel. It came to the part of the panel when the panel talked about what they were looking for, what they’d like to see. One of the agents said that she was crazy about reality shows and competitions. That’s when Lucien Durand, the hero of A Taste of Hope tapped me on the shoulder.

He let me know that he was the Gordon Ramsey of Cajun cooking and would love to show Hope how to cook. Lucien owns several restaurants world wide, all called L’Enfer, a.k.a. Hell.

International playboy chef versus small town locovore chef? Absolutely.

Thus No Hope in Hell was born.

Hope and Lucien led me on a merry chase. I couldn’t trust a word Lucien said for like the first six chapters of the book. Then two secondary characters, Shane Baker, Hope’s sous-chef, and Angelique Durand, Lucien’s baby sister started acting up.

Since we couldn’t use Hell on the cover of the book, No Hope in Hell became A Taste of Hope.

Here is one of Hope’s favorite dessert recipes:

Rose and Champagne Sorbet

Ingredients: 2 cups of gently packed rose petals from culinary grade (pesticide free) roses – Hope grows her own.
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of caster sugar (superfine sugar)
3 cups of cold water
3 tablespoons of freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup brut or extra dry champagne
1 tablespoon of Nielson-Massey rose water
orange zest, or thin strings of orange peel

Directions: Process the rose petals with the sugar in a food processor until the mixture turns into a smooth paste. Stop the scrape down the sides if you need to. Add ½ cup of the water and process again, about 10 seconds. Add in the remaining 2 ½ cups of water, the orange juice, champagne and rose water.

Pour the liquid through a fine sieve. Freeze the mixture in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s directions.

While the sorbet freezes, candy the orange zest or orange peel strings and some rose petals. Garnish the finished sorbet with the orange peel and rose petals.

Doreen Alsen
Books by Doreen Alsen

Felicity’s Power: Coming face-to-face with a lover forty years later…

Felicity’s Power: Coming face-to-face with a lover forty years later…

Sure, meeting an old lover is a dramatic situation, all right — but Felicity Powers never shies away from drama. Sure, she’s forty years older. Sure, she’s not the auburn-haired rebel Marek Sumner once loved. Sure, their long-ago romance came to a disastrous end. But she’s never stopped loving Marek, and she wants to know if they can make their wonderful love story work again. And, for that, all she has to do is jump on a plane, cross half the world, and go to his book signing in San Francisco. Of course, it’s a mad plan, but Felicity has always believed that, if you want something, go out and fight for it. Yes…sometimes you don’t win. Nobody wins all the time.

Marek Sumner has never forgotten Felicity — how could he? She came searing into his life like a burning comet, they lived together, loved. Then, one day, the romance was over. Felicity was gone again, off to discover the world, to push life to its limits. And Marek had stayed in San Francisco to finish his degree, become a professor. How could their romance have lasted? They were so different.

Then, on this sunny evening forty years later, the door opens, and Felicity and Marek are face-to-face once again.

J. Arlene Culiner
www.j-arleneculiner.com
To Purchase

Diane Burton: Fiction Fanatics Feud

Diane Burton: Fiction Fanatics Feud: Welcome to Fiction Fanatics Feud! Have fun by answering Feud questions, getting to know new authors, AND winning prizes!!! For det...

Life Changes and Following My Dream by Linda Nightingale

Last year, I retired from a career as a Legal Assistant to pursue writing full-time. I am happy with a capital H. I had 4 novels published, but The Wild Rose Press contracted my sci-fi romance, Love For Sale--sentient androids indistinguishable from human sold as loving, devoted companions and lovers.

Then, too, I got my dream job. A friend introduced me to the head of the advertising agency her company uses. I am now writing copy for Digital Impact Agency as a Content Strategist. So, I have my love for writing mingled in two different directions. I'm reading the galley for Love For Sale and am already working on the sequel, Love For a Song. I hope I've found a home in the Garden.

My cover for Love For Sale, created by the very talented Debbie Taylor, is splendid and really captures the essence of the story. I created a book video myself!! Amazing!! Here's the YouTube


Visit with me on my website: http://www.lindanightingale.com. I welcome emails!

Character Interview - Storm Rising by Rachael Richey

Interview with Judy, best friend of Abigail Thomson, heroine of Storm Rising
Rachael Richey
http://rachaelricheybooks.weebly.com/

So Judy, you’ve been friends with Abi for many years. What can you tell us about her?

Abi and I have been best friends since our first day at school when we were four. We hit it off straight away and very soon became inseparable. Abi’s always been the more…. adventurous… of us. I seem to have spent most of my life either keeping her out of trouble, or extricating her from trouble! She seems to have a knack for getting herself into a tight spot. I like to think I’ve been a good influence on her, managing to steer her away from some very tricky situations on occasion! I haven’t always managed to stop her doing the things, but I usually manage to rescue her. As a teenager she was pretty high maintenance, and very volatile – I think she’d be the first to agree with me – but these days she’s not so bad. Not quite anyway.

Were you with her when she first met Gideon?

Yes, in fact I think it was my suggestion that she might like him. I have to say I did regret that a bit for a while, but she would always have done what she wanted anyway. He and his band, NightHawk, were playing at our school Christmas dance, and he came and talked to her afterwards. All the boys in the band had gone to the local boys school, so we knew them a bit already, but they were a few years older than us.

I gather Abi didn’t really get on with her parents. What can you tell me about that?

Well, she and her mother had always fought a bit. Her parents were quite old when she was born, and I don’t think they were really in touch with teenagers. She got on better with her father, but I don’t think they were ever really close. Then later, when…. when it all happened…. then she really fell out with them. Both of them.

When what happened?

I don’t think it’s my place to tell you that. Suffice to say she left home as soon as she could and didn’t go back until her mother died.

And has your friendship survived all that’s happened over the years?

Yes. We had a couple of years when we didn’t see each other so much. I had just got married and had a baby, and I think Abi felt she was intruding – but we sorted it out and now we’re as close as ever. Closer even.

What happened when Abi went to her mother’s funeral?

Again, I don’t think it’s my place to tell you that. Her father asked her to go and help him sort out her mother’s things, and she reluctantly agreed. What happened after that…… well that’s where Storm Rising comes in.


Rachael Richey
http://rachaelricheybooks.weebly.com/
Storm Rising