New Releases from the Wild Rose Press

Cadence McShane, free-spirited nonconformist, yearns to escape the rigid code, clothes, and sidesaddles of 1880s military society in Fort Davis, Texas. She finds the daring new lieutenant exhilarating, but as the daughter of the commanding officer, she is expected to keep with family tradition and marry West Point graduate James West. Orphaned, Comanche-raised, and always the outsider looking in, Ben Williams yearns to belong. Cadence embodies everything he craves, but as a battlefield-commissioned officer with the Buffalo Soldiers instead of a West Point graduate, he is neither accepted into military society nor considered marriageable. Can two people of different worlds, drawn together by conflicting needs, flout society and forge a life together on the frontier?

Financier Alyn Templeman has two choices. She must bail out her stepbrother's business or shut it down for good. She's used to dealing with high-class clients, but the sexy and former Navy fighter pilot Matt Barrett, is a class of his own. He thinks she's there to give him a loan, but his sweet-talking has her mind on other matters. Accidents at his company evolve into attempted murder and treachery. Matt, who is falling fast for Alyn, needs to keep her safe. Yet, neither one knows who to trust. When it comes down to business or love will they get a chance to make it work, or will betrayal bankrupt their relationship?

Aden House, successful but driven chef and TV personality, refuses to slow down. His life implodes one night, damaging him both physically and emotionally. He's rescued by a woman he thinks of as his angel. Shay McDowell has rebuilt her life after her divorce. She juggles volunteer EMT duties and her job, while dreaming of becoming a chef. She finds her way to Rock House Grill and back into the life of the man she helped save. Can love be the ingredient needed to survive the many obstacles they face?

Tycho, a cleric in the Order of the White Sun, is a scientist, not a spy, yet he agrees to go undercover in a secret lab owned by criminal mastermind Webster Griffin. His only contact with the outside world is Nadya, a cleric from the Blue Order, an experienced operative—and a sensual temptation. Nadya is delightfully drawn to her new partner, but she can't afford distractions. She has to support him and pass his findings along to her superiors…without getting them both killed. Will they uncover Griffin's secrets or become more victims in his bloody rise to domination?

Welcome CJ Zahner to the garden interviews

Hello CJ

I'm so glad you could join us today. tell us about you and your books.

Are your characters based on real people?

Yes! Many of my minor characters are. Sometimes, with their permission, I use actual names. I’ve used people whom I’ve worked with, good friends, and neighbors for minor characters. It helps me remember them.

In The Suicide Gene, I created a character, Giff Johnson, completely after my son, Zak. I intended him to be a minor character. As the book was written, of course, I began to like Giff more and more. He morphed into a main character, and I will never pattern another main character after a loved one. There were things I could not do, like give him idiosyncrasies or include him in love scenes. Yikes! Never again.

Do you have set times during the day that you write?

Honestly, when I am in the middle of writing a book, I spend half of the night tapping my cell phone to see if it is time to get up and write. I try not to rise before five, but sometimes I’m so excited to get back to my characters I can’t help myself. So, obviously, I’m a morning person.

Who is the biggest influence on your writing?

I watched my mother read book after book for years. She sparked my interest in reading. Additionally, I had one sibling who was eleven years older than me, and both my mom and dad were hard workers, so I spent much time alone in my teenage years. I began writing stories at age thirteen. Then, in high school, an English teacher, Mrs. Patsy Root, influenced my desire to write. With both her and my mom’s encouragement, my journey toward writing a novel began.

How did you do in English as a kid?

Terrible. I had a horrid memory and couldn’t answer any questions about what I had read. I remembered concepts about the story’s tales of life, love, or a character’s journey, but I couldn’t, for the life of me, remember anything about eye color, what characters wore, or where they lived. Hence, at the beginning of each school year during elementary school, my reading was tested and I failed most of those initial exams and was placed in the lowest reading group. Orange! They graded by colors. Orange was the lowest level, and I began each year in the dreaded orange.

This infuriated me but also inspired me to read and write more. My hard work helped my writing so much that by the time I received my first assignment as a freshman in a college writing class, the professor told over one hundred and twenty students that only three students had writing essays worth reviewing. Mine was one of the three. After years of struggling with reading, to say I was shocked is an understatement.   

What tips would you give a new writer?

Read, read, and read more. I’ve learned more from reading than I have from classes. That being said, immerse yourself in any free class you can. If you have the advantage of going to college, take as many writing classes as possible. And research free online classes, there are a myriad of good courses literally at your fingertips.

Most importantly, hang on to your dream of writing. You may fill a room with rejection slips, but let each one re-spark that love you have. Work harder. You’ll find your place. Never give up.

Who do you see as a hero/heroine in your life?

My father. Though he dropped out of school in ninth grade to help support his family, he impressed upon me the importance of education. A World War II veteran, he often said, “People can strip you of your money, material goods, hope, dreams, and dignity, but they can never take away your education.”

He was the smartest, kindest, most giving person I have ever known. He loved me unconditionally.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a mother and a writer. I never wanted anything more. I worked many years before retiring early and fulfilling my dream of writing novels. I also have been blessed with a wonderful husband, three children here and one child, a little girl who only lived one day, in heaven. And now? I have something I never even knew how much I wanted: a granddaughter.

What is your favorite drink?

I LOVE this question because I am addicted to coffee. I try to limit myself to five cups a day because I sometimes have trouble sleeping. I can drink any coffee drinkers under the table if I have to, though.

Secondly? I love the wine my husband makes. Red or white, he concocts a sweet wine better than any other!

Are you fun to go on vacation with?

I have excess energy so I may tire some of my vacation partners out, but I do think I’m fun. I travel with a group of five or six couples, annually. Sometimes more than once a year. They can count on me for a run in the morning and a long day of hiking. I’ve also been known, at the end of the day, to beg, “How about one more hike?” But most of the people I vacation with welcome a challenge. They are hard-core runners/hikers/vacationers.

And when we are done for the day? It’s into the hot tub with a glass of wine!

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?

I’m sorry. I could only survive if I was allowed five items. Coffee, chocolate, wine, cheese, and my Kindle, filled with novels. Then I’m good—for a long, long time.

find out more on ...

website: www.cjzahner.com or I www.cyndiezahner.com

Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBcjzahner

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TweetyZ

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/cjzahner/

Download  The Suicide Gene on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07G6XVMZG

See all of CJ's books at http://bit.ly/CJ_Zahner

Welcome Laura M. Baird to our garden interviews

Hello Laura

thank you for visiting with us today

When did you decide to become an author?

I started writing a novel in 1995 while working as a dental assistant, wanting to emulate Nora Roberts. Between family life and returning to school to become a dental hygienist, I wrote off and on, thinking one day I’d do more. It wasn’t until 2016 after attending my first writers conference that I said, “This is what I’m going to do!” I dedicated time to writing, polished several stories, and started submitting. When my first acceptance came, then another, and another, I was ecstatic, and knew this was my dream coming true.

Do you have set times during the day that you write?

I try to dedicate my afternoons/evenings to writing. Some days I may only get an hour of writing completed, depending on my inspiration. Other days I may sit for hours when on a roll, and I have to force myself to take a break. If an idea comes to mind anytime throughout the day, I’m prepared with pen and paper to make sure I don’t forget.

How do you deal with writer's block?

If I want to progress on the story but I’m stuck, I’ll begin to reread the manuscript to get me back in the flow. I imagine it’s a movie playing out and I try to visualize what’s going to happen or be said next. If I’m truly blocked and cannot make any progress, I’ll walk away and come back in a day or more (again, depending on inspiration) and look at it with a fresh perspective. In that down time, I’m reading more.

Are your books or characters based on anyone you know, or events in your own life?

I don’t base a character on any one specific person from my life, but I’ll definitely take certain characteristics from many and blend them together. Even my own traits or habits. As for events, I’ll take an incident and change it up a bit, or embellish something that may have happened to myself, a friend, or family member. I’m slowly naming characters after family and co-workers, simply because I’ve told them they’d have a spot in a book. That character could be the complete opposite of the person they were named for, but it’s been fun to let my imagination go wild.

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?

I do! That’s why I like series so much! I imagine, like many writers, I hold my characters very near and dear, and like a good friend or family member, I don’t want to say good bye. If I can continue stories in a series that’ll be unique, fun, and romantic, while bringing back characters that’ll blend seamlessly, I will. As a reader, I know it’s comforting to read a series, and I really want to know what happens to the next couple, and the next. So as an author I offer that to my readers.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

Oh, the list is long! I wanted to be a teacher, a photographer traveling the world, the next ‘Jacques Cousteau’ exploring the ocean, a helicopter pilot flying search and rescue, the operator of an animal sanctuary, a surgeon, and the best mother to a dozen kids. (I became a wife, a mother of two sons, an Army veteran, a dental hygienist, and an author.)

Do you ever wish that you had an entirely uncreative job, like data entry or working in a factory?

At times, yes, I think I’d like to be working in a research laboratory running experiments and collecting data; and having little interaction with others. (My introvert personality at its finest.)

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Short fuse with a tendency to care too much. There are times when I make a rash judgement, only to regret it and wish I’d taken another moment to really consider the situation. I’m also a very giving person who tends to make others happy even at my own expense. Hubby has taught me that caring is fine, but not if I have to sacrifice myself.

What is your favorite comfort food?

Sourdough toast with gobs of butter!

What makes you laugh?

My husband, my grandson, funny dog videos

Where can we find out more

Website: https://www.laurambairdauthor.com

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

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LauraMBaird

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/laura-m-baird

Download Fantasies Abound (Awakened Desires 2) on Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/Fantasies-Abound-Awakened-Desires-Book-ebook/dp/B07PJDBJQ2

and other online retailers

Welcome D. V. Stone to our garden interviews

Welcome D. V. , Donna :)

thank you for joining us today

Have you ever cried while writing a book? 

I have a work in progress called Tuilelaith, The Breaking of a Bond. There’s a scene that makes me bawl like a baby every time it read it. Her pain touches me in a very personal way.  

When did you decide to become an author? 

Reading has always been my passion. My mom says I never wanted toys or dolls. Only books. I’ve written press releases and training manuals for jobs. Over the years, I tried to write, but it wasn’t until I was laid-off from a job I cared about that writing took. Further down, you ask about a phrase from my book. We all have choices about whether to take the bad, and make the best of a situation, or let the situation steer our life. I wallowed in self-pity for a bit but then decided not to let it control my life.

What was the hardest chapter/book to finish and why? 

I usually start out with a bang. Also, I know where I want my stories to end. Often it’s the middle chapters where I often find myself mired down.

Does working to deadline inspire or annoy you? 

Lol, I’m task-oriented. As Sheldon Cooper would say, “I’ve been tested.” Tell me what you want done and by when, and BAM, you’ve got it.

Which phrase in the book are you most proud of? 

“Circumstances change us. We can either curse them, and let them control us, or allow whatever happens to make us better.”

Do you write under a pen name? 

Yes. My real name is Donna Van Stone. I’ve always signed my name D. V. Stone. I figured it was easy when I do book signings. Many of my past co-workers also call me DVS. Sound it out devious. I’m not, though, really—wink.

and with that lets have some fun

Do you have a favorite quote?

Your thoughts of God are too human~ Martin Luther

Has the dog ever eaten your manuscript?

My girl Hali didn’t eat my manuscript, but I worked for many hours creating gift bags for a book signing. She got into ALL of them and trashed the entire lot, even chewing the magnets up.

Have you ever found true love?

 I’m married for the second time. Peter is the love of my life. We became engaged within two months of knowing each other, and twenty-six years later, we are still lovers and best friends.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Lack of kindness to people and animals may cause an explosion.

Do you have any hobbies?

 I love the outdoors. Traveling in my 5^th Wheel camper is my happy place. Cooking over the open fire and enjoying a glass of wine and a good book next to that same fire. I love to garden and this year planted herbs in pots so I can take them with me on my adventures.

where can wee find out more

website:  https://www.dvstoneauthor.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/D-V-Stone-Author-375747643036438/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/donnavstone

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/D.-V.-tone/e/B01N154Y9U

Find Rock House Grill on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Rock-House-Grill-Impact-Book-ebook/dp/B084VCWRXR/ and other online retailers

Welcome Beverly Torres to our garden interviews

Hello Beverly

Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?

I do both. I usually get the plot to start with, but as I write, the characters take on a life of their own, so my original plot changes as the characters develop.

Have you ever cried while writing a book?

Yes, I did. When one of my characters went through so much pain from humans that he became a nemesis to Quentin.

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?

Always. They become so much a part of me, an extension, that I become so involved in their lives. When their story ends, it’s a letdown as I enjoyed their journey!

Who is the biggest influence on your writing?

My mother. Although I always have to block out the sex scenes in the draft because she just can’t read those parts!

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Yes, there is. In “The Moon’s Pull,” I wanted what we’re doing to the environment to be the message and how it affects the animals, who have no say in this world.

And a little fun

Who do you see as a hero/heroine in your life?

My mother. She always encouraged me to try things, like writing. She supports me in everything, and for me, she’s the best mom I could’ve wished for.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A doctor, but I was always terrible in math and chemistry, so that was definitely the wrong choice.

What is your favorite drink?

Margarita on the rocks. There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer day, drinking with the girls!

Do you laugh at your own jokes?

Always! I love humor, so laughing is a big part of who I am.

Find The Moon's Pull on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Moons-Pull-Beverly-Torres-ebook/dp/B003TO5G7G
and other online retailers

Welcome Helen C. Johannes

Today we have Helen C. Johannes in the garden

Helen, tell us a little about you

Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?

I’m an ‘into the mist’ writer. I begin with main characters and an idea of conflict, let that mull around for a while until I think I have enough material to sustain a story, and then I write. What I’m working with is a reasonable handle on points A to maybe F, with a sense of a few random other points and an end concept. How the story takes off from point F depends on the characters, and that end concept is a moving target. My method would drive a plotter crazy, but my subconscious is very good at creating a cohesive story and every so often dropping in a significant object or eye-opening discovery that, if I go back and tweak a few things, blows my mind and takes the story to another level. I’m therefore a firm believer in right brain/left brain integration.

What was the hardest chapter/book to finish and why?

By the time I get to the last third of a book, and the pace picks up, the pace of my writing picks up too. The scenes are shorter, more intense, so each scene can be written in a shorter amount of time. Unless I have a chapter-length scene with a large cast of characters, such as in Lord of Druemarwin.  That chapter took a week to write because, while the scene is delivered via one character’s point of view, each of the other cast members must behave true to whatever his/her motivation might be. I had to go through the chapter multiple times to make sure I’d represented each character appropriately and hadn’t forgotten anyone, even the wolfhound.

What tips would you give a new writer?

Write the best story you can, don’t be afraid to put emotion on the page, be specific in your word choices, employ significant detail rather than cluttering the page, and be sure your reader knows what’s at stake for your characters and why it matters to them. Then get someone to read it who’s not your best friend, family member, or significant other but someone who knows writing, especially in your chosen genre. You need a critique from someone who will tell you when your prose is not delivering the message or effect you are aiming for, when you’re leaving out important information, or when you’re simply confusing the reader. Sometimes our ‘darlings’ aren’t perfect as ‘birthed’ and need multiple polishing passes if we hope to see them published.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

My books share a common theme expressed in my author tag line: Brave men, bold women—hearts in search of home. My characters all feel a sense of disconnectedness that fuels their journeys. They may have a physical home at the beginning of the story, but they don’t feel they belong there or feel they don’t fit in their community. Or they’ve been uprooted as children and raised among strangers who treat them with prejudice. They’re searching for love, friendship, a sense of belonging, often in a world torn by war. This theme comes from my own sense of rootlessness caused by growing up as a military brat. My message is to not dismiss people based on stereotypes but to get to know them personally because friends bond best over shared experiences.

When did you decide to become an author?


I started writing in early grade school, and I’ve always made up stories to entertain myself, so I can’t pinpoint a specific time. I didn’t decide to pursue publication, however, until I was a stay-at-home mother and I was reading Harlequin novels bought at rummage sales and decided I could write something at least as good as those. I filled spiral notebooks with romantic suspense novels, and shopped them to agents with some interest, before I decided to dust off a fantasy romance I’d started in high school. That, after many years of writing, critiques, and polishing became my first published novel, The Prince of Val-Feyridge, #1 in the Crown of Tolem series.

and now for some fun

Who do you see as a hero/heroine in your life?

I think it would be my mother. Like my heroine in Lord of Druemarwin, she left her home, family, community, country, and culture to marry my father, move halfway across the world and learn a new language.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

At one point I wanted to live on my grandmother’s farm and have a horse (I still love horses; that’s why I write medieval-type settings), but I always played ‘school’ with my toys, so it’s no wonder I decided early in life to become a  teacher.

Have you ever found true love?

Yes! But it takes work and shared self-sacrifice.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

Beware of a tendency toward cynicism, skepticism, and sarcasm; possesses eyes in the back of her head.

If you were a tool what would you be?


One of those multi-tools: I’m a Rube-Goldberg-type, using creative methods to solve problems and fix things, both around the house and in fiction. I love to brainstorm solutions to others’ issues.

where can we find more about you and your books

Website: https://helencjohannes.blogspot.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031965.Helen_C_Johannes

Learn more about  Lord of Druemarwin, Crown of Tolem #2 on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Lord-Druemarwin-Crown-Tolem-Book-ebook/dp/B07YNWLPQ2/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=04D72CQNZKKTGG0RX209

and other online retailers

An interview with Michael B. Coyle

Welcome Michael B. Coyle to the garden

Lets chat about Michael, the author

Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?

My mystery stories unfold as I go along. Sometimes I don’t know who the killer is until I am well along in the story. Then one morning I wake up and it becomes obvious “who done it.”

Are your characters based on real people?

My characters are based on people in other books. I have abducted my main detectives, Blathers and Duff, from “Oliver Twist.”

How did you do in English as a kid?

English, both lit and comp, were my favorite and best subjects. My only problem was that I was a very poor speller. Now that there is Spell Check, I am much better.

When did you decide to become an author?

I decided to become an author when I was in grade school. Oops I decided I couldn’t be an author when I got married and had kids. Forty-five years later, I retired from business and I then, I could afford to have a profession that doesn’t pay all that well.

Who is the biggest influence on your writing?

The greatest influences on my writing have been Charles Dickens and Rex Stout. My work is an effort to combine the two.

and for a bit for fun

Do you have a favorite quote?

My favorite quote is:  A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization” Samuel Johnson 1770

What song would best describe your life?

If we are talking about my whole life, any song that Willy Nelson sings on “Stardust” would fit the bill. If we are talking about my life as it is today, the “September Song” is it.  

What is your favorite drink?

My favorite beverage is a CC Manhattan on the rocks, with an extra splash of sweet vermouth. Every bartender is our little town Knows how to make it the way I like it. 

Do you enjoy giving interviews?

I like talking to folks. When I was in business, I put on seminars, and taught professional coursed for local Colleges. Interviews are easy in comparison.

Are you fun to go on vacation with?

My wife and I have been vacationing in Barbados for the last 25 years. We must be having fun, because we have established good friendships with folks from far and wide.

Author of The Sons of the Fathers

Available on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Sons-Fathers-Michael-B-Coyle-ebook/dp/B07JKNBVP6

and other online retailers

New Releases from the Wild Rose Press

Eternally cursed, the Demon of Temptation's last hope of Divine forgiveness slips through his fingers. But, for the sake of his brethren, he takes one last mission to guard a very special Halfling. The feisty woman sets fire to his blackened soul. Curse or no curse, he will stay by her side—even though he is more of a threat to her than the demon prince plotting to take over the world. Despite her birthright, Maggie is happy with a career she loves and a place of her own. But Gideon seduces her out of her comfort zone and plunges her into a world of angels and demons. Entangled in the blurred lines between good and evil, desire and destruction, her only chance for survival is to trust her life to the one man who doesn't even trust himself.

Megan Carlysle will do anything to climb the ladder in the world of high-powered insurance companies. Including taking an assignment no one else wants: investigating a suspicious death at a remote Kansas monastery. There she meets enigmatic religious scholar Conrad Hampton who, if his intuition is correct, may have uncovered something more sinister than an accidental death: satanic rituals. The surviving monks aren't talking and it's clear some will go to any lengths to keep secrets. Conrad and Megan must decide how far into harm's way they'll go to uncover the truth.

Anne Jamieson is not immune to death—after all her boyfriend is a police detective. But when she finds a dead woman floating in a pool, suspicion falls on Anne's friend, Candace Warren. Not only was she recently released from jail, she's a convicted murderer. And the murder scene is Candace's former home. With her friend the only suspect, Anne takes matters into her own hands. She joins the country club where the deceased was a member—to track down the real killer. After a second body surfaces in the club's hot tub, Anne becomes the target. Can she and her Snoop Group cronies catch the killer before Anne ends up in her own watery grave?

CAMELLIA HOLIDAY wants it all – love, family, and a career in fashion design. At twenty she snagged a dream job with one of the top designers in New York. However, scandal in the fashion world unravels her life when her boss is accused of stealing a famous fashion ingénue's designs. Entangled in the sordid mess and with her fashion future in ruins, Camellia decides to return home to Serenity Island to start over and be with family. The downside? She must face her past, which include her ex-fiancé Noah and her longtime nemesis Trina who both seem determined to ruin any chance of reconstructing her life. Old rivals, new love, and a needed do-over challenge Camellia to design a new, stronger self. It will take home, family and caring for a young boy to help her find the right path and make the right choices.

Escaping for a few days is the perfect antidote to Greg Parker's hectic week. As he watches the city diminish in his rearview mirror, the stress lifts. But things get complicated when he finds his reserved room already occupied by a sexy, smoky-eyed woman who has no plans to vacate the premises. Leesa Clark needs a break from the real-life pressures at work that force her to be someone she isn't. Chez Luxxe sounds like the right place to rediscover herself until a handsome stranger crashes into her hotel room. Should she throw him out or share the double-booked getaway…and see what happens?

Welcome Jennifer Wilck to the garden

Today we have Jennifer Wilck in the garden

Jennifer, tell us about you, the writer.

Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?

I let the story unfold as I write, although I will often jot down notes of where I want the story to go. However, my characters don’t always get me there. Most of my stories start in my head with a conversation between two people. I write it down and then go from there. Of course, that conversation might occur at the middle or end of the story, so I often have to go backwards before I can go forwards. As you can tell, it’s a form of chaotic organization (or at least, that’s what I tell myself).

How did you do in English as a kid?

I always loved my English classes. I was the nerd who cheered when the teacher announced a pop vocabulary quiz, while everyone else groaned. And the reason I don’t use outlines to write a story is that when I was young, my English teachers taught us to write without one. Later, we moved to a different district and they were entirely focused on outlining. The first paper I did for that teacher got me a D. She pulled me aside and asked what happened. When I explained, she actually let me write out of order (first the rough draft, then the outline and finally the final copy) since it was obvious I knew what I was doing.

When did you decide to become an author?

When my kids were young, I was watching TV with my husband one night and this secondary character came on the screen. He fascinated me. So I raced to my computer and started writing his story. That eventually turned into my book, A Heart of Little Faith. I haven’t stopped since, although sometimes it’s hard to find the inspiration, especially when the world is going crazy.

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?

Yes! I still dream scenes for A Heart of Little Faith, as well as for Addicted to Love. I love my characters.

Do you have set times during the day that you write?

I try to start writing around lunchtime or early afternoon and go for as long as I can. That usually takes me to around dinnertime. The words don’t always flow, and sometimes I have to completely redo what I did the day before, but I work better on a schedule.

and for a bit of fun

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a marine biologist, but I have a problem with my ear that keeps me out of water, and I’m really not good with science.

Do you have a favorite quote?

You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. – A. A. Milne

You can erase one embarrassing experience from your past. What will it be?

Actually, I’d rather not. While I hated every embarrassing moment, each one has helped me grow as a person and develop a thick skin—essential for a writer—so they had value.

Do you enjoy giving interviews?

I do, actually. It’s fun to talk to people about what I do and I like finding out about them, too.

Have you ever found true love?

I’m pretty sure I have with my husband. He’s my best friend and the person I most want to be with

Where can we find our more about you and your books

Website: https://www.jenniferwilck.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/?eid=ARA_b6mKVa2Z8kbg-X_X4swYsBvWIWTTkLHgklsoNMHqS2ITcQMhbU-l0Pfxby_5ZgixyhVwOQCGKZPL

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/

Read Waiting for a Miracle

On Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Miracle-Jennifer-Wilck-ebook/dp/B07ZMQ2BWZ

and other online retailers

An Interview with B. Davis Kroon

Welcome B. Davis Kroon to the Garden this morning.

Lets find out a little about you as an author

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?

            Yes. I love the character Frank Leit in Trap Play. He’s only in two chapters but he’s such a lovely man. Necessary to have him as a victim though. I carry him with me. On the flip side, in spite of how evil she is, I adore the villain in the same book. Fun to write: physical, narcissistic, snappish, in-charge--you don’t want this character as a neighbor or a babysitter. And you definitely don’t want to wake up next to her in the morning. Sad to see her go but the world is definitely a better place without them.

Do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?

I have begun books as a pantser, but it isn’t long before I’m developing a step-sheet (pretty necessary when you write the kind of time-sensitive story that seems to be what I do). On the other hand, I’m not so wedded to my step-sheet that I can’t shift things around, or shake up the beginning of the story.

Do you research (choose one of the following item) your sex scenes?

Fun question given that I’m not writing romance. Do you call a class “research?” The whole idea of writing a sex scene scared the laylights out of me and yet it was a necessity in Trap Play. I found a section on writing sex scenes at the Willamette Writers annual conference. The teacher writes erotica. Her tips on balanced language was very helpful and the class was priceless.

Who is the biggest influence on your writing?

            Though it seems like I’m always learning from the books I read, probably the greatest influence on my work is my writing group—four women and one man who generously focus on one another’s work with a goal of making that writing as good as it can be.

Are your books or characters based anyone you know, or events in your own life?

            The beginning idea for Trap Play (and the sequel I’m working on) come from my own interest in football and the impact of game injuries on the players once they leave the field of play. As for other ideas, I worked in law for many years. That experience certainly left its thumbprint on Trap Play. I’m also working on a stand alone novel where the core issue is based on a case I worked on for five years.

and now for a bit of fun

If you were a tool what would you be?

            A Swiss Army knife- lots of parts, lots of applications, handy in a pinch.

If you came with a warning label, what would it say?

            Warning: Appears kindly. But inclined to be fizzy. Impatient to a fault.

Are you fun to go on vacation with?

            I suspect it depends. I’m good with maps and strangers. As for languages, I get along okay in Modern Greek and can fumble my way through enough French to generally be forgiven by the natives (and my pronunciation’s great if I do say so myself). I’m an adventurous eater (not bugs, please but I’ve eaten escargot) and I’m delighted with cities. But, if you can’t stand spending days at the museums, maybe you wouldn’t find me such a perfect companion. Other down sides? I’m less willing to dash from one metropolis to another. Let’s just live in the French countryside for a month and walk to town, do a little painting, eat local and relax. Or take a place at the beach, build a fire in the fireplace, plus read, do beach walks and dine in.

If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would be the most essential for you?

            A seaworthy boat, excellent navigation equipment, and seasick pills.

Have you ever found true love?

            Several times. I met Robert and Elizabeth when I was living in San Francisco. They moved into my Pacific Heights flat. We were together fourteen years. (West Highland White Terriers) Then Fergus (another Westie) and Phoebe (Cairn terrier) joined me when I moved to Portland. Then Biscuit and Tully (Cairns). All have traveled the Rainbow Bridge. I live now with Parker (another Cairn)…oh yes, and my husband and a Siamese cat named Karla.

And were can we find out more about you and your books

Website: http://bdaviskroon.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bdaviskroon

Twitter.com/daviskroon1

Discover Trap Pay on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B084FV49GG

and other online retailers