What book (or type of book) are you currently working on? Do you have ideas for future books?

I’m presently working on two books and hoping to have them both finished by the end of the year. The first book is the second in the series of The Foundation. It’s a book about a trio of wealthy women dedicated to helping women in jeopardy. It’s a romantic suspense with a touch of woman’s fiction.

Carly made it happen. She is the CEO.

Nadia is the supermodel and makes the contacts and finds volunteers.

Julie manages the finances and organizes the support system inkling transportation, vehicles, planes, and disguises and arranges fund raisers.

From working with abused women in shelters they progress to moving women to safer shelters away from home and then into forming an organization that protects women. As the organization grows, they train volunteers to go out in teams to assist women in jeopardy.

Their next team will be a paranormal team. to add another dimension to the organization. This is The Fourth Victim, Sara’s Story about a serial killer.

Liability Wife, the one I’m presently working on is the second in the series and Lydia’s story. Her husband, who she is divorcing, has hired a serial killer. And Carly is in South America trying to rescue someone she cares about, who is on the list.

I’m also working on The Hawkins’ Ranch series, book four, Escape – Gabe’s story. It’s a romantic Suspense.

This one is about an abused wife. Amy has suffered abuse for years. Finally, she decided it was escape or die. Now she’s running for her life and she doesn’t trust any man.

Gabe Hawkins, the oldest brother in the Hawkins family, has never found the right woman.  His brothers are all happily married and he’s the only who is still single. Riding around the ranch he finds a skinny, terrified, poorly dressed woman in her late twenties.  He’s not attracted to her, but he wants to protect her. That turns out to be harder than he thought. Even with the help of his family, can he keep her alive?

As for future books, I’m hoping to write the next two books in The Foundation, Maggie’s story and Diane’s story, romantic suspense with a touch of women’s fiction. After that, well we’ll see have to see.

Now I’m off to check out what the rest of the writing group are working on. Please check out their posts.

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Marci Baun  http://www.marcibaun.com/blog/

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1EW

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Helena Fairfax http://www.helenafairfax.com/blog

A.J. Maguire  http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/

Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/

Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com

Dee S. Knight hasn’t led a dull life, she’s led a lucky one. For instance, she was lucky enough to grow up in a military household where she got used to seeing lots of handsome men in uniform. Thus, at thirteen she was prepared when she met her future husband. He also grew up in a military family and then attended a military high school and college. Another handsome man in uniform—Yes! Lucky Dee!

For the past forty+ years, as long-distance truckers, teachers, computer trainers and consultants, Dee and her hubby have experienced many of their dreams and happily lived the adventure they call their life. Wanderlust strikes often, but fortunately they consider anywhere they’re together, home.

For excerpts, reviews and the newest on what’s happening in Dee’s world, please visit https://nomadauthors.com . And drop her a note at dsknight@deesknight.com . She’d love to hear from you.

Only a Good Man Will Do : Seriously ambitious man seeks woman to encourage his goals, support his (hopeful) position as Headmaster of Westover Academy, and be purer than Caesar’s wife. Good luck with that!

Coming Home to finally being able to write about Vietnam

Are you a member of my generation? No, not Generation-X. I mean Generation-OTD (Older Than Dirt). If so, the Vietnam War was a definitive event in your life. The news bombarded you with it each night, you heard it debated in classrooms and saw anti-war protests—or maybe participated in them. I grew up in a military family, so I had a perspective of the war and politics that many of my friends in school didn’t, but the war infected my life, just the same. You couldn’t have lived in the US during the 1960s and 70s without that being the case.

Because Vietnam was such a huge part—though a hard, painful part—of my teen years, I wanted both to put them behind me and to write about them in equal parts. After long delays, I finally wrote two stories with Vietnam as the backdrop. One is a novel, Burning Bridges (under the name Anne Krist because it’s non-erotic, and in the process of being republished) and the other is a paranormal novella, Coming Home . Neither are statements on the war itself, just on how it affected families, careers and lives.

Coming Home is a fictional account of a young man’s Christmas leave during his tour of duty in Vietnam. Tom Stabler goes back to his home, a Nebraska farm, and the world has shifted. His soul is troubled; he’s seen things and done things he doesn’t know how to process. His parents seem older, the house smaller. Then he is reunited with the girl he left behind, and with her he finds peace. I think the cover says it all!

I grounded Coming Home in Vietnam, but Tom Stabler’s story is not unique, though it is more intense. On a smaller scale, remember the first time you went back to your childhood home after being away at college? Didn’t everything seem different? Lives changed, neighbors came or went, and you weren’t there to experience it. You felt out of place, slightly disoriented. Now you understand a bit about Tom and the idea behind Coming Home .

What do you think? Have you ever had this feeling?

Unfortunately, Coming Home was published by Whispers and went out of print with their closing. But very soon I am providing a place on the Nomad Authors website for short stories and novellas that will be available to subscribers to my newsletter, Aussie to Yank . Please sign up (on NomadAUthors.co or by sending me an email) and then please enjoy Coming Home .

 

Excerpt:

In this excerpt, Private Tom Stabler is home from Vietnam for Christmas leave. His childhood sweetheart is Susan Swenson, the girl who has arrived unexpectedly in the middle of the night. Tom has just come outside to see her.

She was leaning against the big elm tree in the front yard, hands tucked in her coat pockets, her face toward the horizon where the North Star perched low in the sky. Straightening and turning to face him as he approached, she smiled again, so dazzlingly the heavens dimmed in comparison. Tom swore he wouldn’t care if they didn’t speak or touch or anything, if she would just keep smiling.

“Hi, Susan.”

“Hey, Tom. Welcome home.”

Had her voice always been this deep, this smooth? His insides melted just listening to her. At the same, God! Instant hard-on. He shifted his stance and hoped Susan couldn’t tell. “Thanks.”

Suddenly, she seemed shy, ducking her head to examine her shoes, scuffing the frost covered grass. He’d grown another couple of inches in the Army, and his lean body was strong and quick. He liked the contrast in their height and size, enjoyed the confidence he could protect her like a warrior, or tuck her gently against his chest where her ear would be over his heart. His heart which threatened to burst through his chest, being this close to the object of his dreams.

“I’m surprised to see you. It’s early, you know?” It’s early, you know? Hadn’t he learned anything about how to talk to a woman after nearly two years in the Army? Granted, for the last few months he hadn’t had much opportunity to practice romantic lines, but Christ. Fortunately, Susan didn’t seem to notice his lapse in seductive conversation.

She nodded. “I filled in for a friend at the hospital, so she could get an early start on the holiday. We only have off until the day after Christmas, and she lives in Oklahoma. I’d planned to sleep in, do a little work, and drive up early this afternoon, but I was in a hurry.” She gave a funny, kind of half smile. Like she had a secret and would split at the seams if she couldn’t tell someone.

Tom laughed softly, his breath freezing in the morning air. He waved his hands toward the pasture land, over the fence, and beyond the tree where they stood. “Missed the damned old cows so much you just couldn’t wait until later, huh? Or was it the empty corn fields of your dad’s you were in a hurry for?”

Cocking her head, she said, “Neither, smart aleck.”

He jammed his hands in his pocket. Shit! It was colder than a witch’s tit out here. Susan must be freezing. “Well, then, why did you rush back to the middle of nowhere before daylight?”

Stepping forward, she rose on tiptoes and crooked her finger. Smiling, he bent to her. She whispered in his ear, “To see you , silly. I couldn’t wait to see you.” She pecked his cheek then stood back. Her cheeks blushed as pink as a prairie dawn.

Sucking in his breath nearly froze his tonsils. He gazed down into eyes he knew to be the bluest blue. … His fists clenched in his pockets, lest he pull her to him and take her on the hood of her car—the only warm place not inside his parents’ house.

“Oh, look!” She’d turned back toward the north, and he followed her direction just in time to see the death of a star. She looked up at him. The quick smile on her face sounded in her voice, too. “Did you make a wish?”

“Nah, that’s kid stuff. Or girl stuff,” he teased. Yeah, girl stuff. Susan stuff he wanted so badly he could taste it. He needed her goodness and sweetness and the passion he was certain she held just for him. And he wanted something else, too, something he couldn’t quite name but which he knew she could give him.

He kicked the thought aside. The last thing he wanted was to psychoanalyze this moment.

Suddenly, her smile faded, and she reached up to hold his cheek in her palm. “It’s not silly, Tommy. You’re here because I wished for you, you know. I wished for you to come home so hard I knew it would happen, and here you are.”

The intensity of her words struck his heart at the same time a shiver ran up his spine. He covered her hand with his own. “Yes, here I am.”

Time stopped. The wind died away. Not a blade of grass moved, nor a cow nor a car on the road a quarter mile away. The stars twinkled, but that was okay—just then they owned the stars.

“And here I am,” she whispered.

Author links:

Website: https:// nomadauthors.com

Blog: http ://nomadauthors.com/blog

Twitter: http://twitter. com/DeeSKnight

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

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

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

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Barbara White Daille lives with her husband in the sunny Southwest. Though they love the warm winters and the lizards in their front yard, they haven’t gotten used to the scorpions in the bathroom. Barbara also loves writing, reading, and chocolate. Come to think of it, she enjoys writing about those subjects, too!

Barbara wrote her first short story at the age of nine, then typed “The End” to her first novel many years later…in the eighth grade. Now she’s writing contemporary romance on a daily basis. Sign up for her newsletter to keep up with the latest in her writing life :  https://barbarawhitedaille.com/newsletter .

Hello, again! I’m glad to be back here for a visit. This time, I’m sharing a peek at The Cowboy’s Little Surprise , book one in the Hitching Post Hotel series. Book seven, The Rancher’s Family , debuts in September. The series features a matchmaking grandpa who wants to see his three granddaughters married and settled down—preferably within driving distance of his New Mexico ranch! The interview below is with the hero:

Beverley: What’s your name?

Cole: Cole Slater

Beverley: Where did you grow up?

Cole: Here in Cowboy Creek. Not on a ranch, unfortunately, but in a too-small house in town, one I couldn’t wait to leave.

Beverley: During what time period does your story take place ?

Cole: Current day, after a long absence from Cowboy Creek.

Beverley: What’s your story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about you?

Cole: Haven’t a clue. I wasn’t a great student, didn’t go in for many sports, and spent more time flirting with girls than studying. About the only thing I took seriously growing up was watching out for my younger sister and protecting her from our dad.

Beverley: What’s your goal in this story?

Cole: To put the past behind me and focus on the future I never expected to have—one that includes a child.

Beverley: What conflicts are you facing?

Cole: Mainly, my son’s mother. I didn’t know till recently that I’d even had a son, and I want to get to know Robbie. Tina doesn’t want me anywhere near the boy.

Beverley: Do you have a plan for resolving this?

Cole: I’d like to see Robbie whenever I come back to Cowboy Creek. The plan is to prove to Tina I’m worthy of being a daddy.

Beverley: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

Cole: I’m not the boy who left Tina behind when I left our hometown. The years away have changed me. That’s another thing I plan to prove.

Book Blurb for The Cowboy’s Little Surprise

A guy like Cole Slater is hard to forget. Tina Sanchez should know—for years since high school she’s tried to bury the pain of Cole’s cruel betrayal. But it’s impossible to ignore the man she sees reflected in her young son’s eyes now that Cole is back in her life—and about to meet the child he never knew he had. 

Returning home to New Mexico, Cole is determined to put his playboy reputation to rest. Especially now that he knows there’s a little boy looking up to him. And seeing Tina again reignites all the feelings Cole ran from as a teen. Despite his fear that he can’t be the man Tina deserves, he’s determined to try. For his son’s sake—and his own.

Excerpt from The Cowboy’s Little Surprise

T he following excerpt is from the point of view of the heroine, Tina , who’s about to get a surprise of her own:

Tina glanced up at the Hitching Post, all three stories of it, all the way up to the windows of her attic hideaway. She loved the hotel, the only home she and Robbie had ever known. Her grandfather had also lived here his entire life. Jed couldn’t like the idea of all those empty guest rooms, either.

Sighing, she reached for one of the grocery sacks in the back of the truck. Footsteps on gravel made her pause. Maybe this was someone who wanted to book a room. She turned with a welcoming smile.

That smile died on her lips when she saw the cowboy standing in front of her. The cowboy who’d left Cowboy Creek—and her—in his rearview mirror five years ago.

Cole Slater.

In one startled, reflexive sweep, she took in almost everything about him. The light brown hair showing beneath the brim of his battered hat. The firm mouth and jaw. Broad shoulders. Narrow hips. The well-worn jeans, silver belt buckle, and scuffed boots. In the next reluctant second, she turned her gaze to the one feature she had deliberately skipped over the first time.

A pair of blue eyes that made her think instantly of her son.

Clutching the grocery sack, she demanded, “What are you doing here?”

His face looked flushed. But he didn’t appear angry, the way he would have if he’d seen Robbie and put two and two together. She breathed a sigh of relief at the reprieve, no matter how brief, giving her a chance to come to grips with his return to town. If she ever could.

Seeing him again had brought back years of memories she didn’t want to think about.

She should have known better than to fall for Cole Slater. At the tender age of seven, she had already heard about his reputation as a sweet-talker. By junior high, he had progressed to a real player. And by senior high, he had turned love-’em-and-leave-’em into an art form, changing girlfriends as often as she replaced guest towels here at the Hitching Post.

Too bad she hadn’t remembered all that when he had finally turned his attention her way.

He shoved his hands into his back pockets, which pulled his shirt taut against his chest. Now, she felt herself flushing as she recalled the one and only time—

No, she wasn’t going there.

And he wasn’t staying here. “You must have made a wrong turn somewhere. I suggest you find your vehicle, wherever you might have left it—”

“I parked near the barn—”

“—and be on your way.”

“—and to answer your question, I came to see Jed.”

“What for?”

“He invited me.”

“Then I assume you’ve seen him already and, as I said, you can be on your way.”

“You and I need to have something out first.”

Please, no. Had he caught a glimpse of Robbie, after all?

Buy Links for The Cowboy’s Little Surprise

http://www.amazon.com/Cowboys-Little-Surprise-Hitching-Hotel-ebook/dp/B00OY9Z9AE B

Barnes & Noble

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-cowboys-little-surprise-barbara-white-daille/1120323490

Books-a-Million

http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Cowboys-Little-Surprise/Barbara-White-Daille/Q897140487?id=6188230701440

Harlequin

https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781460379844_the-cowboys-little-surprise.html

Kobo

http://store.kobobooks.com/ en-US/ebook/the-cowboy-s-little- surprise

IndieBound

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780373755646

Find Barbara and her books: Website  https://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Newsletter  https://www.barbarawhitedaille.com/newsletter

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

Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/ author/show/529361.Barbara_White_Daille

Amazon   http://www.amazon.com/Barbara-White-Daille/e/B002J6B0QQ

Harlequin  https://www.harlequin.com/shop/authors/23759_barbara-white-daille.html

Entangled   http://entangledpublishing.com/category/barbara-white-daille/

Twitter   https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/barbara-white-daille

/category/barbara-white-daille/

Looking for some good summer reads?

I posted my list a a week or so ago but here are some more books you might want to check out. The Kiss of Death Chapter of RWA holds the DAPHNE DU MAURIER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN MYSTERY/SUSPENSE every year. The Published Division Finalists for 2019 are:

CATEGORY (SERIES) ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE

Ra ncher’s Covert Christmas by Beth Cornelison

Colton and the Single Mom by Jane Godman

Federal Agent Under Fire by Julie Anne Lindsey

The Sheriff’s Secret by Julie Anne Lindsey

Secret Past by Sharee Stover

HISTORICAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE

Killer Debt: A Michael Stoddard American Revolution Mystery by Suzanne Adair

The Duke Identity by Grace Callaway

The Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper

A Brush with Shadows by Anna Lee Huber  

The Good, the Bad, and the Duke by Janna MacGregor

INSPIRATIONAL ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE  

Darkwater Secrets by Robin Caroll

Holiday Amnesia by Lynette Eason

Deadl Melody by Connie Mann y

Cowboy Bodyguard by Dana Mentink

Fatal Recall by Carol J. Post  

PARANORMAL (PTTF) ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE

Hunt the Moon by Kari Cole

Touch the Sky by Kari Cole

Web of Truth by Cecilia Dominic

Sinister Sanctuary: A Wicks Hollow Book by Colleen Gleason

Demons Will Be Demons by AE Jones

  

SINGLE TITLE ROMANTIC MYSTERY/SUSPENSE

Too Far Gone by Allison Brennan

Do or Die Cowboy by June Faver

Perfect Mistake by Sophia Karlson

Silent Threat by Dana Marton

Threat of Danger by Dana Marton

Undone by JB Schroeder

MAINSTREAM MYSTERY/SUSPENSE

Abandoned by Allison Brennan

For Sale by Killer by Catherine Bruns  

All the Pretty Brides by Marian Lanouette

Formula of Deception by Carrie Stuart Parks

Pushback by John E. Stith

Check them out, there’s some great books and authors in there.

Gabbi Grey has written a lot of words and is now focusing on sharing them with the rest of the world. She writes contemporary, gay, and dark erotic BDSM romances. She believes in happy endings.

2018 Character Interview

Beverley: What’s your name?

Dodge: Dodge Vasilius

Beverley: Where did you grow up?

Dodge: I was born and have grown up in Vancouver Canada.

Beverley: During what time period does your story take place?

Dodge: This story happens in the humid heat of summer.

Beverley: What’s your story/back story? Why would someone come up with a story about you?

Dodge: I always thought I was kind of boring.  Just an average guy.  I’m an ironworker who works on the top of skyscrapers every day.  I started the job right out of high school and I love it.

Beverley: What’s your goal in this story?

Dodge: To win Maxine Reeves’ love.

Beverley: What conflicts are you facing?

Dodge: Wel l, Max just recently broke up with my co-worker Garth. He ‘tapped’ her and she turfed him.  I know Garth and I could never figure out why a classy lady like Maxine was doing with a jerk like him.  Now I have to convince her that I’m not like him.

Beverley: Do you have a plan for resolving them?

Dodge: Well, showing up is a start.  I’m going to check up on her to make sure she’s going to press charges against her abuser.  Am I hoping she might let me in?  A guy can hope.

Beverley: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you?

Dodge: I’m a determined man.  I’ve been in love with Maxine for a long time now and I’m going to convince her that I’m her forever guy.

 

Blurb for For the Love of Max

Ironworker Dodge Vasilius has been in love with LGBTQ social worker Maxine Reeves since he first met her at a party when her date abandoned her. She’s way out of his league. Except she’s finally left the abusive jerk. Dodge is just checking to make certain she’s safe. Because making a move on the newly single Maxine would be classless…right?

Excerpt for For the Love of Max

Procrastinating was getting him nowhere. She was either home or she wasn’t. She was either going to kick him off her property or she wasn’t. She was either going to let him in or she wasn’t.

Wiping his damp palms against his jeans, he sauntered up the steps and knocked.

The door cracked, but the safety chain prevented it from opening fully. He glimpsed a veil of long, black hair.

“Maxine?” She squinted. Damn. The sun behind him was bright in her eyes, casting him in deep shadows.

“It’s Dodge. Remember me? I brought you home after the company Christmas party?” After Garth got wasted and abandoned you? Happy to step in, Dodge had driven her home, trying not to look at her gorgeous legs encased by her tight silver skirt and sheer pantyhose. Red-blooded man he was, he’d adjusted himself when she looked away and had done his best to hide his erection when escorting her to the door.

“Wait.” Say something that’ll keep her talking.

“I—”

The door closed, opening a moment later.

Dodge was a sucker for sun-kissed light-brown skin, wavy long black hair, almond-shaped dark-brown eyes, soft cheekbones, and a pert nose. The bangs were new as was the yellowing bruise on her cheek.

Damn.

Ducking her head, Maxine’s hand shot to the bruise.

He gently touched her chin, and when she didn’t recoil, he tipped it, forcing her gaze to his. “The man is an animal. I’m not like him.”

The smile was tentative. “I know.” Soft words, replete with meaning.

Not going to send him away. Yet. But he needed more.

Maxine extended her hand, which he gratefully took. The electric shock shot through him, so strong he expected a blue arc between them.

Her cheeks flushed, her gaze flying to his before lowering. She tried to pull away, but he held tight.

Buy Lin ks for For the Love of Max:

Amazon US- https://amzn.to/2VH9Nfg

A maz on CA – https://amzn.to/2EXVrli

B&N – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/for-the-love-of-max-gabbi-grey/1131043671

Kobo – For the Love of Max ebook by Gabbi Grey – Rakuten Kobo

♥♥ GiveAway ♥♥

Gabbi is giving away a $10 Amazon GC and 2 ebooks of For the Love of Max during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember there is a chance to enter everyday so be sure to follow the Blog Tour. You may find the tour schedule and locations here http://bit.ly/FTLOMGG

Gabbi’s Social Links:

Website – gabbigrey.com

Facebook – facebook.com/Gabbi-Grey-238950849840145

Fa cebook – facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009821772591

Twitter – twitter.com/GabbiGrey

Instagram – instagram.com/authorgabbigrey/

Amazon – https://www. amazon.com /-/e/B07SJVFX1M?ref_=pe_1724030_132998540

BookBub – https://www.bookbub.com/authors/gabbi-grey

GoodReads-  https:// www.goodreads. com/author/show/15456297.Gabbi_Grey

P interest – https://www. pinterest.ca/gabbigreyauthor/

The fourth of July also known as Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence of the United States on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were no longer subject (and subordinate) to the monarch of Britain and were now united, free and independent states. After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the Declaration, finally approving it two days later on July 4.    

A day earlier, John Adams had written to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

Adams’s prediction was off by two days. From the outset, Americans celebrated independence on July 4, the date shown on the much-publicized Declaration of Independence, rather than on July 2, the date the resolution of independence was approved in a closed session of Congress.

Historians have long disputed whether members of Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, even though Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin all later wrote that they had signed it on that day. Most historians have concluded that the Declaration was signed nearly a month after its adoption, on August 2, 1776, and not on July 4 as is commonly believed.

Coincidentally, both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the only signers of the Declaration of Independence later to serve as Presidents of the United States, died on the same day: July 4, 1826, which was the 50th anniversary of the Declaration. Although not a signer of the Declaration of Independence, James Monroe, another Founding Father who was elected as President, also died on July 4, 1831. He was the third President who died on the anniversary of independence. Calvin Coolidge, the 30th President, was born on July 4, 1872; so far he is the only U.S. President to have been born on Independence Day.

Independence Day is commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbeques, carnivals, fairs, picnics, concerts, baseball games, and family reunions. 

                                             Happy July 4th !

My name is Mary Schmidt, and I write under the pen names S. Jackson and A. Raymond. A. Raymond is a pen name for my husband, who has a lot of input into our books. I am a retired registered nurse, a member of the Catholic Church, and I have taught Catechism. I have worked in various capacities for The American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Cub and Boy Scouts, (son, Noah, is an Eagle Scout), and sponsored trips for high school music children. I love all forms of art but mostly I focus on the visual arts; as amateur photography, traditional, and graphic art as my health allows. I have an online art gallery, and I am currently finishing up a screenplay from my first memoir (there will be a sequel someday). More recently, we both love to devote precious time with our first grandson, Austin.

Beverley: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

Mary: I have written bits and pieces since grade school. I hung up my registered nurse hat in January of 2013, and I found myself with time on my hands. My youngest son, Sam, had a cancer battle and passed at age five in 1990. Since I had journal notes that detailed this part of my life, and my boy’s lives, I decided to put my journals into electronic form for my living son, Gene. A multi award-winning memoir came from that, When Angels Fly , written using pen names of S. Jackson & A. Raymond, and changing of all names and places. That was a huge project and is an epic length book, on sale right now for $0.99. Then I thought ‘now what to do next’ and illustrated children’s books came to mind.  From that another multi award-winning book, The Big Cheese Festival , a book about bullies was written and a book dealing with good touch/bad touch, Suzy Has A Secret , was written. From that point, we went to books involving squirrels and a small dog. We have wild squirrels come into our backyard, and my husband started to leave them walnuts and bell seeds. One squirrel, Stubby – aptly named as he had just a stub of a tail and he became brave when the nuts were all taken. Stubby took to standing up on his hind legs on a ledge outside a picture window. He let us know he wanted more nuts! The squirrels are still wild, as we would never dream of taming one, but they did become fodder for an illustrated children’s book series, Shadow and Friends, and each book is fine as a stand-a-lone. Shadow was chosen as our daughter has a small dog so we decided that dog and the squirrels would have many adventures .

Beverley: What is your typical work schedule when you’re writing?

Mary: Once I’ve had my first cup of coffee, I turn on my computer, check my email and respond accordingly. I then spend about one to two hours on social media, mainly Twitter and Facebook, and work on my author brand, tweet book sales and new releases, and I reply to all my messages. Then I settle in to my work in progress. I designed my own cover yesterday, and now I’m touching up each paragraph for each page of the fully illustrated book. I will start individual page graphics and design today and these take some time as I want the illustrations to be the best they can be, so I allow time for that to happen. I’m editing a book for a relatively new author with great potential so I can go back and forth as needed when I need to take a break or do something different. I love being able to teach this new author what I have learned in during my writing career thus far. I check my email again around noon and respond back to questions on my blog. If I just finished a book, I will post my review and all four- and five- star reviews are also posted on my blog. Early afternoon is time for my husband and me. We connect and relax before he heads for work and I show him my latest illustrations for his approval or necessary changes. I respond back to emails and such after he leaves and then I make some dinner, usually fresh fruit and veggies, and I read or watch a show. Evenings are reserved for my downtime and to relax with a book or a show or both. That is a typical day. Atypical days happen often so I go with the flow of what needs to be done first. Some days I don’t write or illustrate at all, but I read every day.

Beverley: What is your quirky thing you do?

Mary: I think I’m simply quirky all around. The biggest one is that I won’t even turn my computer on before I have one cup of coffee and breakfast as I function much better in this manner or it could be the fact that when I’m driving ideas come to me and I can’t write them down.

Beverley: What do you look ahead to when you’re not writing?

Mary : I’m always looking ahead, every day and throughout the day. I have self-imposed deadlines since I publish my own books through M. Schmidt Productions (except for two books) which is part of my brand. However, the only books published through M. Schmidt Productions are mine and that is how it will stay. I have zero interest in publishing others works. I do offer eBook cover design and promo graphics to the writing community. I’m always working in out of state trips for doctors and new adventures, family time get-togethers and holiday planning. As for future books, I have a nice list of book ideas that I keep adding to – most will never be written by me during my lifetime.

Beverley: Can you explain yourself in one sentence?

Mary: I’m a registered nurse, reader, writer, play-write, traditional artist, digital artist, blogger, photographer, traveler, wife, mother, grandmother, and daughter.

Beverley: What period of life fascinates you most to write about?

Mary: My memoirs are contemporary and my imaginative children’s adventure books are current so that is basically what I do. I’ve yet to try my hand in writing during a different time period but I do love to read a good Victorian romance. I’m from and in the USA but I can picture myself in London as a debutante with a family house in Mayfair or in Ireland along the coast. Does it seem strange to prefer reading fascinating historical romance books but not write in that era?

Beverley: What are some of the most surprising things you learned while writing your books?

Mary: You can pour your soul and heart into a memoir, such as my first one, When Angels Fly , and not everyone will like it. First book, first time authors find things out fast after publication. Not every reader will like you or your book. Just move on and try to develop a thick skin. For the children’s books, reading to a class and obtaining feedback from the kids is a boost. I know what they like and what they don’t like. That is a huge plus when writing and illustrating future books for kids.

Beverley: Which literary work is your favorite?

Mary: I truly don’t have a favorite literary work. Is this a legal question to ask an author? LOL I honestly don’t have one favorite piece unless the Bible counts. I love my Bible. I love many great historical romance authors and books as well as some contemporary works. I grew up with mysteries and suspense books and all the fairy tale books. It is easier for me to answer what I don’t like which is erotica and satanic. I see that I am rambling here so back to the question my favorite book is my Bible.

Beverley: What do you think is the hardest part of your writing process?

Mary: Editing is by far the hardest part for me. That isn’t a problem for my children’s literature, but it is for two-hour short reads and full-length books. Especially my first book, a memoir, and a hard book to write, as I lived each day of that nightmare, and I will never have ‘fresh eyes’ for edits regarding When Angels Fly . I lived and relive this memoir daily and the story behind it is such that it is all consuming – a living nightmare so to say. It is also my best selling, multi-award winning, real life, soul baring story and it’s not like a travel memoir or those types of memoirs. Mine is gut-wrenching, honest, and true – except for names, locations and such to prevent libel. I simply can’t edit this book. Recently, I read a wonderful novel from another author. She has tremendous potential and I let her know that. I also told her she needed a good editor. Money is tight for her just like it is for me, and so I’m editing her books for her . This is easy for me. I make sure her tense is the same, she ends no sentence with a preposition, great flow, grammar and punctuation basics, and I catch glitches here and there; I do this for free as she shows tremendous potential. I also explain to her why such and such is changed, or what she left out, other words to use in place of ‘said’ and things like that and she is happy to be learning. She is grateful and her writing has improved. All I asked her for in return is take her new knowledge and help another author in the future – a paying it forward kind of deal.

Beverley: What are your methods to emotionally connect with your characters?

Mary: I don’t think this question applies to me since I don’t write novels. I imagine the author needs to be able to put themselves into a character for that character to evolve and flow emotionally and all. This doesn’t apply to my picture books for kids. As for my memoir, and my new release, Sammy: Hero at Age Five, I still live those emotions day in and day out.

Beverley: Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Mary: That is an easy question. My memoir necessitated the use of a pseudonym, so I chose S. Jackson and A. Raymond. Those two names represent my husband and myself. I wrote my memoir alone, though. For the other books, I write the paragraph for each page and I design all the illustrations. My husband helps creatively with what we want to teach kids in each book and how to make the story pop out and grab kid’s attentions. Most recently, my new release, Sammy: Hero at Age Five is authored by me as M. Schmidt and my son as Gene D. Donley since nothing libelous was written in this short but powerful story.

Beverley: How many unpublished and partially completed books do you have?

Mary: I have five works in progress and one I am doing illustrations for now. It will publish this month, May 2019. I have a third addition of my memoir coming out this month as well.

Beve rley: If you didn’t write, what would you do for work?

Mary: If I couldn’t write, and since I’m disabled, I would focus myself on oil painting, photography and digital art.

Beverley: How do you flesh out your characters? By just writing them or do you outline who they are and what they want?

Mary: Shadow is one character, and we have named many backyard wild squirrels as each one is unique in their own way. Stubby due to his tail, Little Whitey as he is the baby squirrel of Big Whitey, who loves Foxy, a mama squirrel. We have Cutter, he has a cut in one ear, and Nibbler, who has one cut and two holes in one ear, the list goes on. Our characters literally come to us, to the patio for walnuts. Therefore, we have all the characters we need for this series.

Bev erley: Do you outline your plots?

Mary: Yes. Each story gets a basic outline using the focus we choose. For instance, we wanted the squirrels and Shadow to have a European adventure, so the outline listed the places to visit and how they would get there.  That was a fun one to write. We like to have kids laugh and be amused, while teaching them important things such as safety, travel safety, what to do when lost, and the like.

Beverley: What makes your stories unique? In other words, why should a reader choose your book over the thousands of others?

Mary: “When Angels Fly ” has impacted people worldwide. The book has three parts, and it needed three parts. Hope, love, and inspiration comes forth from the darkness of abuse as a child, a bad marriage and the devastation of cancer and child loss. I’ve been able to help other parents with child loss, being an advocate for their child in the hospital, picking their battles with hospital staff so to prevent alienating staff, and more.

The “Shadow and Friends ” series uses many of the same characters, and new ones added in during specific visits and adventures. One example is they spend Christmas in New York . Full title is “Shadow and Friends Spend Christmas in New York ” – Central Park actually. They meet up with Stubby’s twin, Shorty, who is married to a grey squirrel and kids learn the different squirrels in the area of each story. In this one, Stubby is the nutcracker king. Gingerbread men and decorations are abundant, and they have a Christmas Squirrel Parade through Central Park, they take carriage rides in the park, Foxy goes shopping at Saks, they have a grand time.

Beverley: Tell us about your other services—digital artist etc.

Mary: I love art. I love art in all forms since being a child. I would draw my own paper dolls, and anything that came to mind. I also love to paint in oil as oil paint is more forgiving than other media, and I’ve being doing digital media works since around 1996. I make my own illustrations, designs for book posters, and my own covers. I offer to make book posters as single and 3-D, animated and eBook covers on my blog at https://whenangelsfly.net and examples are provided. Thank you for asking.

Beverley: What about book promotion? What works best for you?

Mary: With my health, I can’t do it all. I have a team of two PA’s who handle the Facebook side of promos, and some Instagram. They are good at what they do and reasonable in price. I do my own Twitter, and some Instagram. I send out a monthly newsletter to those who have signed up, and they receive a free eBook when each new book is live. We are satisfied with the results.

Authors starting out must do this on their own. I suggest they start a foundation on at least Facebook and Twitter promoting their soon to be released book. They should also have a blog or website.

Beverley: What do you do towards branding yourself—making your name recognizable to readers?

Mary: I’m known worldwide due to the books that have won many awards, and the events attended to receive medals hung around our necks. Once you have a quality book, enter book competitions. The medals and badges will help you and your brand.

Beverley: Do you have any last words?

Mary: Glad you asked this! A new release just came out the end of March! $1.99 and written by M. Schmidt and Gene D. Donley.

Buy Links:

AMAZON UNIVERSAL

LINK:  smarturl.it/SammyHeroAtAgeFive

AMAZON UK LINK:  www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07PP95MSZ

AMAZON .COM

LINK:  www.amazon.com/dp/B07PP95MSZ

Blurb for Sammy Hero at Age Five.

“Kids can get hungry sometimes while on chemo,” says five-year-old Sammy, having a good day despite the malignant tumor invading his brain. Based on true events from the 1980s, Sammy’s story is imagined by his mother and brother as if the young boy might tell it himself. The result is gripping. Told in two parts, Sammy’s account first invites us into the everyday middle-American lives of a mom and her two boys. Sammy is a sweet, good-hearted kid, even as he faces the most difficult challenges in Part 2: “Cancer Arrived.” Here Sammy talks us through hospital trips and procedures, the hardest parts as well as moments of simple joy. It is not always possible to survive such a grim diagnosis, so Sammy and his family must embrace the smaller victories from one day to the next. Finally, our young hero is given one last opportunity to find his own unique path toward triumph. Listen closely as Sammy tells us all what matters most.

Mary’s Social Links:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MaryLSchmidt

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

Art Gallery: https://www.deviantart.com/mschmidtproductions?rnrd=207526

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/S.-Jackson/e/B013NRRKR2

You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC549RC6yxc3Xm_wzVH-_GMg

Pinterest: https://www. pinterest.com/marylschmidt/

Newsletter: https://us15.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e0ee1fac82f1a61eadffc9df1&id=3e4c8998c6

Summer has officially arrived – although it is dragging its heels in my locale.

But with all the extra things that have also arrived, like yard and garden, I’m finding myself also dragging behind.  I’m taking a couple of writing classes this month as well. One is Writing Round Up and I’m learning all sorts of new things about using programs and short cuts I didn’t know before. Do you take classes or workshops – online or in person?

Here are a few writing classes coming up if anyone is interested.

Thrilling Summer COFFIN Workshops

The College of Felony and Intrigue (COFFIN ) offers two tracks,  Murder One  and  Killer Instinct , of monthly online workshops at an incredibly low price. All classes are via an email thread and open to anyone.

To register go to:

https://rwakissofdeath.org/coffin

July 1-31

Killer Instincts: Marketing Tactics for Authors

Instructor : Monica Schroeder

Murder One: How Fire Departments and EMS Work in the Real World

Instructor: Joe Collins

August 1-30

Killer Instincts: Diversity in Fiction

Instructor: Eliana West

Murder One: Criminal Fun with E-Devices

Instructor: Ann Zeigler

Workshop Descriptions and Instructor Bios  

Marketing Tactics for Authors

An intensive on how to set up a long term marketing strategy which requires little daily effort, while offering an author’s work up to new readers every day.

Instructor Bio:  

Monica Corwin is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author. She is an outspoken writer attempting to make romance accessible to everyone, no matter their preferences. As a Northern Ohioian, Monica enjoys snow drifts, three seasons of weather, and a dislike of Michigan football. Monica owns more books about King Arthur than should be strictly necessary. Also typewriters…lots and lots of typewriters. You can find her on Facebook at:  http://www.facebook.com/monicacorwin , on Twitter at:  http://www.twitter.com/monica_corwin , on the web at:  http://www.monicacorwin.com . Monica Corwin is also on Instagram:  http://www .instagram.com/rosetyper9  and Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/monica-corwin

How Fire Departments and EMS Work in the Real World

We’ve all seen, in TV, movies, books and sometimes even in our own community’s fire apparatus and ambulances. But telling the difference between a “Fire Engine” and “Fire Truck” are often difficult for those who don’t understand the ever-expanding roles all of those in the fire service and EMS are now performing in their communities. This course will cover a multitude of subjects including: fire/EMS apparatus and what they are used for, what actually happens on a fire scene, how EMS, PD’s and the fire service work together, dealing with hazardous materials, arson investigation, auto extrication, technical rescue and anything else anyone has questions about.  

Instructor Bio:  

Joe Collins is a 20-year veteran on the busiest volunteer department in the county and a 20-year veteran paramedic. As an instructor for much of his life, he has taught a wide variety of subjects ranging from Aikido all the way through to EMS and Fire Department subjects. His most recently published books are in “The Black Hand” series including “The Black Hand: Arsonist” which touches on many of the subjects to be discussed. Currently, he’s working on a Military Science Fiction series.

Diversity in Fiction

Have you wanted to write more diverse characters but have been afraid? I’m going to give you the basic tools to write characters from different backgrounds without falling into many of the common pitfalls that create characters that are stereotypes instead of real people. Tap into this growing new market and potentially add new readers by adding diversity to your story. Writing Diversity in Popular Fiction is a workshop focused on how authors can create realistic multicultural characters. Topics in this workshop include:

o     How to describe skin tone, hair and physical traits without using stereotypes or using food.

o     Creating your character’s multicultural backstory.

o     The Legend of Bagger Vance Effect – how to avoid the stereotype of the “wise black friend

o     Terms to describe someone of mixed race – psst, it’s not Mulatto.  

o    Current terminology to describe different disabilities.

This will be a closed door session with honest thoughtful dialogue, all questions are welcome and there will be no censure for any questions asked, in other words you can’t offend me! This is a safe space where you can ask questions about race that you may have been afraid to ask.

Instructor Bio:  

Writing contemporary romance with diverse characters. Founder, Writers for Diversity  www.facebook.com/Eliana-West-196854767362776

 Criminal Fun with E-Devices

Electronic devices are our friends-except when they’re not. Laptops, cellphones, jump drives-every mystery/suspense writer knows that a former friend or unrecognized enemy is always a great character. In  Criminal Fun with E-Devices,  you’ll learn how to use both white-hat techniques and black-hat techniques with e-devices. Computer forensics is a wide-open field, including hackers (black hats) and computer forensics experts restoring “deleted” files and “crashed” hard drives (white hats). You’ll hear about people doing stupid things to cover up or destroy evidence, and what judges have to say about that-yes, it’s called obstruction. It’s called lots of other things, and you’ll hear about some other non-profane names for it. Then there are devices in the hands of the innocent (okay, ignorant) character who lets bad things happen (remember those hackers?) by inertia (you did freeze your credit report accounts, right?) or plain ignorance (credit report?). Theft of electronically-stored information is big business on the dark web (but your SS# is only worth $1 when black hats buy in bulk). You’ll explore the many ways individuals and companies make theft easier, along with the ways they try to cover up electronic evidence when things go wrong. “Hold” will have a new meaning for you after this class, and someday you’ll need it in your own life. Because, stuff happens while we’re busy writing about it, or worse, doing our e-banking on the sidewalk. To say nothing of who’s got your phone call log.  

Instructor Bio:  

ANN ZEIGLER’s book, Preserving Electronic Evidence for Trial, was named 2016 New Mexico / Arizona Book Awards Best Business Book. Zeigler also has three mystery books in progress, featuring a female archaeologist and a male international business consultant. The first in her Inadvertent Detectives mystery series, Hobby of Corpses , was a finalist for the 2017 David Morrell Prize in Fiction. Zeigler is a long-time member of SinC and MWA, and was program chair for MWA Southwest (Houston) from 2008 to 2013. She was 2017 President of SinC’s Croak & Dagger (NM) chapter, a co-perpetrator of the 2015 SinC/RMMWA Mystery Roundup, chief perpetrator of the ongoing Croak & Dagger Great Library Adventure (showcasing C&D authors at libraries around New Mexico, and a chief perpetrator of “Evidently,” the 2018 writers’ workshop on evidence, headlined by Jan Burke. In addition to an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Montana Writers Workshop, Zeigler is a graduate of the University of Houston Law School, and the Houston PD and FBI (Houston) Citizens’ Academies. She practiced federal law in Houston for thirty years, and was a citizen volunteer at HPD’s juvenile sex crimes unit for five years. She received the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 from Marquis Who’s Who, after being listed in its highly-competitive contemporary international biographies series annually for more than 25 years.  

Not only is COFFIN the educational wing of the RWA® Kiss of Death chapter one of the first of its kind in the country, it remains today, one of the most respected .

Understanding Pacing

Sponsor: Outreach International Romance Writers

Fee: OIRW Member $25 | Non-Member $35

Dates: July 9-August 1, 2019

Presenter: Laurie Sanders

FMI:   http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#JUL2

Course Description:

Whenever I teach about any topic, but especially showing versus telling, deep point of view, and writing emotion, one of the things that I often hear is the concern that showing versus telling, using deep point of view, or showing emotion will slow down the pace .

What people often don’t understand is that pacing isn’t a rush to the finish line.

Pacing is about managing the reader’s focus so that the reader is always concerned about the things that the writer wants them to be thinking about, wondering about, worried about, caring about. Good plotting ensure that there is always a focus…always something for the reader to be wondering about, worried about, or caring about.

In this class, we’ll work with this new definition of pacing and explore ways of planning our novels that ensure that we have a focus and that we are managing the reader’s focus. We’ll explore the ways that using techniques involved in showing versus telling and deep point of view to strengthen the reader’s focus and improve the pace rather than detracting from it so that the reader remains glued to the story, fully engaged, and turning pages.

Instructor Bio:

Until July 2014 Laurie Sanders was the founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief at Black Velvet Seductions. In 2014, after almost 10 years as CEO and editor-in-chief, Laurie was ready to take a step back to enjoy some time with family and to engage in her other long neglected hobbies. She sold Black Velvet Seductions to longtime Black Velvet Seductions cover artist Richard Savage who now heads the company.

Laurie now keeps busy teaching online writing workshops for a global community of writers who attend her classes online through various RWA chapters and through her own site at  http://www.lauriesplace.net  She maintains an active role at Black Velvet Seductions as a member of the company’s acquisitions team and continues to edit many of the manuscripts the company publishes through her popular Yellow Highlighter Classes.

Laurie teaches on a diverse range of topics covering subjects that caused the most rejections during her years as editor-in-chief at Black Velvet Seductions. 

Read more about Laurie and check out her writing tips at her website at  http://www.lauriesplace.net   Contact her through the contact button in the upper right corner of the site or by leaving a comment for her on the site.

All workshops are open to everyone. You can register for these on-line classes through July 8th .   Or, contact  Campus Coordinator .

To subscribe to OIRW Online Workshop Notifications,  Click Here .

If you know of any other workshops, please share.

Thanks to Rhobin this group has another interesting topic to discuss. Has an event in your life, or that of someone you know, or one covered in the news ever worked its way into one of your stories? I can’t wait to see what the other authors have to say.

As for me, yes, events have worked their way into my books. Usually they’re small events and sometimes it’s something I do specifically for research in a book. For example, when we were on a Caribbean cruise I decided to write “A Cruise to Remember.” I made notes about the ports we stopped at, the stores and taxis around the port, and some of the events on board. I also visited the ship’s infirmary and asked for a tour so I’d know what the medical resources were like. All of that was used in the book. Maybe that’s more like research, but I didn’t decide to write the book until we took that first cruise.

When I was writing Hunted, I stayed at The Empress hotel in Victoria, BC. for a writing workshop. It’s a very old hotel, beautiful inside and a major, expensive tourist attraction. Wandering through the hotel and I looked down into the lobby from the mezzanine and I suddenly visualized my h/h there and went back and wrote the hotel lobby and mezzanine in the first scene of the book.

Dog walkers were becoming more popular so I got an idea for a plot and made my heroine a dog walker who walked in on a murder in an early book. I’ve had people that I met or worked with that I have used in stories, usually as villains or unlikeable characters.  

And there are other incidents that I remember in my life that will be included in future books. Now to check out what other authors have to say on the topic. Please check out the following authors.

Victoria Chatham http://www.victoriachatham.com

Skye Taylor http://www.skye-writer.com/blogging_by_the_sea

Judith Copek http://lynx-sis.blogspot.com/

Dr. Bob Rich https://wp.me/p3Xihq-1Dm

Connie Vines http://mizging.blogspot.com/

Margaret Fieland http://margaretfieland.wordpress.com

Anne Stenhouse   http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/

A.J. Maguire   http://ajmaguire.wordpress.com/

Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/

Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/

Rhobin L Courtright http://www.rhobincourtright.com

Hi everyone, My name is Kelli Wilkins and I write romances. My books cover nearly every genre and vary in heat level from mild to super-spicy. People have different reactions when they learn what I write. (Sometimes they gasp and pretend to be horrified, and then ask me if I “act out” my love scenes at home. Uh, no. I write fiction—that means I make stuff up!)

But when people find out that I write gay romances—that really gets them going! “Why would you write one of those ? You’re not a man or gay.” (Here’s my turn to gasp and act surprised. Really? You’re kidding!) I generally respond with: “Why shouldn’t I write gay romances? I wrote a vampire romance, and I’ve never been a vampire.” (That usually quiets people down for a while.)

I get a lot of questions about “why” or “how” I write gay romances. Here are the top four, along with my answers.

#1: You’ve written lots of straight romances. Why write gay romances?

Why not? I’m a writer. And as a writer, I write whatever romance book comes to me, whether it’s a contemporary, historical, paranormal, or gay romance. My stories are about people who meet, fall in love, and overcome obstacles to be with each other.

This basic philosophy applies whether the characters are same-sex, different sex, or space alien and earth girl. Love is love and romance is romance. I’m not married to one specific genre or heat level. I go where the story and the characters take me.

When I wrote Four Days with Jack , A Secret Match , and Killer in Wolf’s Clothing I trusted my instincts and wrote the story that was in my head. Although all three books are contemporary gay romances, they’re very different.

In A Secret Match , a big part of the storyline centers around Everett dealing (or rather, not dealing) with his sexuality, and his (un)willingness to be open about who he really is. Ev has been in a committed relationship for years and is afraid that if he doesn’t come out, he’ll lose the love of his life. He’s also worried about his career. How will the world view a gay wrestler? Will there be backlash if he comes out?

Conversely, David, from Four Days with Jack , has never come to terms with his sexuality. He’s been lying to himself for years about his orientation and hiding his true desires. David has always loved his gay best friend (Jack) and has fantasized about being his lover, but he lacked the courage to admit his feelings—until now.  

The main characters in Killer in Wolf’s Clothing are comfortable with their sexuality, but have other issues to deal with (like shapeshifting and a serial killer). This super-hot paranormal is a fun look at the werewolf legend and blends romance, mystery, danger, humor, and sizzling love scenes.

#2: How do you write the gay love scenes?

I approach a same-sex love scene the same way I would if I was writing about a hetero couple. When I write a straight romance, about half of the scenes are written from a male point of view. So I have experience thinking about scenes from a male perspective anyway.

There’s not much difference in writing a story from two male points of view. Writing a love scene isn’t only about the gender or the anatomy of the characters—it’s about creating a believable, intimate scene where two people express their love for each other.

Each character in each book is unique, so the love scenes are always approached from different directions. In Four Days with Jack, David is introduced to a world of new experiences. Everett and Josh’s first kiss in A Secret Match was a tender and sweet moment; while the first time readers meet Deke from Killer in Wolf’s Clothing they realize he’s anything but shy.

#3: What’s the hardest part about writing a gay romance?

The answer to this is quite surprising, and no, it has nothing to do with bedroom activities. The hardest part about writing a same-sex romance or love scene is pronouns.

As I’m writing, I’ll dash off something like: “He ran his hand down his chest and…” Wait, what? He ran his own hand down his own chest? No… I have to pay extra close attention when revising or editing a same-sex scene. Too many “his” references and the reader doesn’t know who is doing what. Better to say: “He ran his hand down Kevin’s chest and…”

#4: Are you concerned about what people will think about you writing gay romances?

Not in the least. People will think whatever they want. I realize that not everyone wants to read the same type of romance. Some readers love historicals, others only read contemporaries or paranormals, and that’s fine. But if readers are turned off to me as an author just because I write gay romances… well, that’s too bad, see ya.

When I wrote my first gay romance, I considered “what people would think” about the book and me writing it—for about three seconds. Then I reminded myself that I’m a writer, and I create the characters and scenes that make up the book.

I don’t worry about what people might think of me writing about two male characters kissing, going to bed, or making dinner. Basically, the story needs to be told, and I’m the one telling it. As a writer, I’ve made up all sorts of things: an erotic Bigfoot story, a historical Viking tale, detailed ménage scenes (in all combinations), and a first-person vampire love story.

Writers need to turn off their internal editors and forge ahead with the story as it should be (and needs to be) told. If we constantly worried about what grandma would think about our writing, or if we were afraid to open up and let the characters (and the story) take us into the bedroom, we’d never write anything except G-rated fables.

I once read a blog where a woman was “confessing” to writing an erotic romance, even though she couldn’t tell anyone about it and wouldn’t “dare” put her real name on the story. I got to wondering…why? Why hide your writing? And if you’re “ashamed” to be writing in a particular genre, why invest the time and energy into something you’re not going to stand behind?

Now more than ever, I’m just as proud/PRIDEful of my gay romances as I am of my straight romances. Why? Because I’m a romance writer—and in my books, everyone deserves to be in love and live happily-ever-after with whatever partner they choose.

And that’s the way it should be… in fiction and in real life. Here’s the book summary to my first gay romance, Four Days with Jack . I hope you’ll check it out. I fell in love with the characters, and I hope readers will too. It’s got a good blend of humor, drama, and plenty of sizzling love scenes!

Enjoy & Happy Reading!

  FOUR DAYS WITH JACK

When David invited his best friend on vacation, he never expected them to fall in love…

Spending four days in a tropical paradise with Jack is a dream come true. For years, David has lived a lie and denied his romantic feelings for Jack. Now that they’re together in an isolated Caribbean resort, he finally admits what he really wants—to be Jack’s lover.

Jack has been in love with David for years and is encouraged by his desire to explore a sexual relationship. He’s more than willing to introduce David to the life he has always fantasized about. Their sizzling nighttime encounters confirm David’s long-hidden cravings, but what will happen when they leave the resort?

Will David come out and start a new life with Jack? Or will he go back to his old ways and risk losing the best friend he ever had?

Order Four Days with Jack here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071FTMWHL

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/ bo6Rap