Stranded, Stalked, and Finally Sated by Amelia Rose

Stranded, Stalked, and Finally Sated

by Amelia Rose

Stalked, Stranded, and Finally Sated
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance
Publisher: Psion Publishers
Release Date: January 30, 2013
Amazon

Book Description:

Clara Roberts has found herself forced to flee across country, pursued by a madman who seems to have access to every aspect of her life. Consequently, she is off the grid and under the radar when her truck breaks down in a small corner of South western, Oklahoma, and she finds herself at the mercy of a local cowboy. While she knows that she will eventually have to keep running to stay one step ahead of her stalker, she begins to find herself drawn to this man. With his support she decides that her life is something worth fighting for.

Shad Brandt wasn’t sure what to expect when he pulled over to help out the girl on the side of the road, but it isn’t long before he realizes that she was a lot more than he bargained for. He knows that she is running from something, but he can’t quite place his finger on what it is. However, he cannot turn his back on this woman in need and when he opens his home and his heart to her he finds something else entirely. So when danger comes to lay claim to Clara, he finds that he is willing to sacrifice everything to make sure she stays safe.

---

About The Author:

Amelia Rose is a shameless romance addict with no intentions of ever kicking the habit. Growing up she dreamed of entertaining people and taking them on fantastical journeys with her acting abilities, until she came to the realization as a college sophomore that she had none to speak of. Another ten years would pass before she discovered a different means to accomplishing the same dream: writing stories of love and passion. Amelia has always loved romance stories and she tries to tie all the elements she likes about them into her writing.

Website

Excerpt:

Running was tiring and she so badly wanted somewhere to call home. She had been on her way to stay with a childhood friend in Wichita Falls when her truck broke down, and even though it had only been two days ago, it felt like another lifetime.

“I guess that happens sometimes with older vehicles. The parts aren’t as easy to find as they used to be,” she finally said when she got the coffee swallowed. “Isn’t your friend in Wichita Falls going to be worried about you?” Shad asked, walking around the now clean desk and inspecting the files she had neatly stacked on one side.

“Oh,” she said, setting down her cup next to his on the desk and picking up an envelope from the top of one of the filing cabinets. “Could you mail this for me? It’s a letter telling her what happened.”

Shad smiled at her. “A letter? You have heard of phones, right? We may be out in the country, but we’ve got fancy things like phones and electricity.”

“Old school is just how I roll.” She winked and turned away from him, hoping he wouldn’t catch the fear in her eyes. If her experience with the stalker had taught her nothing else, it had made her very aware of the influence technology had over everyone’s life, even technology as basic as a telephone.

“I’m going to start getting lunch ready. I’ll be sure to come and get you whenever it’s done.”

“What are you making?” she asked, licking her lips mockingly.

“It’s a special recipe. You’ll just have to wait to find out,” he told her, winking a little as he headed to the door.

“You know, as good as you cook, I’m surprised you live in this house alone.” she joked, putting her hands on her hips and smiling broadly. He had cooked all of the meals for the two of them since her arrival. “You’ve put five pounds on me already.”

He looked her up and down, appraising her, and suddenly Clara felt almost naked in the shorts and button-up shirt she was wearing, as if his eyes were searing into her flesh. “You were too skinny. The five pounds filled you out in all the right places.”

He reached out and ran the palm of his hand down her arm. She shivered under his touch, but she didn’t take her eyes from his. They had darkened again, and she could see the desire there and knew it was reflected in hers as well. Before she could think about what she was doing, she put her arms around his neck, drew his face to hers, and kissed him.

His lips were hard at first, but after a moment, they softened, and he returned her embrace. When his tongue slipped into her mouth she groaned low and leaned into him as a fire uncoiled in her abdomen. It had been so long since a man had made her feel this way, and she felt herself slipping into unknown territory.

For once, she let herself go.

Follow The Tour Here

---

Read More

Solving Crime Southern Style! Chatting with Alyssa Lyons

Alyssa Lyons, like her character Jordan Davis, lives in Lynchburg, Virginia. The South is her playground. Its eccentricities fuel her stories. She specializes in “Solving Crimes Southern Style.” However unlike Jordan, she is a cat person—rather, she is staff to two cats she rescued. Like most cats, they believe they were the ones doing the saving and therefore she owes them. She taught high school American history and government, worked for the CIA as an Intelligence Analyst, and is a retired attorney. She declines to include a photo, preferring to remain a woman of mystery riding a motorcycle like Jordan, and hopes not be ridden out of town on a rail.

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me today at Starbucks.

BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...

AL: Thank you for inviting me here today, BK. Like my character Jordan Davis, I live in Lynchburg, Virginia. The South’s eccentricities fuel my stories. Unlike Jordan, I am staff to an unherdable herd of rescue cats. Like most cats, they believe they were the ones doing the saving and therefore I owe them. I’ve taught high school, worked for the CIA, and practiced law.

BK: Please tell us a little about your book....

AL: The Jordan Davis Mysteries started as a traditional romantic suspense with a cozy (amateur sleuth) flavor. I wanted a strong heroine who was also out of the ordinary. What could be more unusual than a Jewish, motorcycle-riding free spirit? What stranger business than a funeral boutique that grants its clients’ last wishes, however bizarre they might be?

In book 1, LAST WISHES, Jordan crosses paths, and then hearts, with a gorgeous, uptight judge who got out of Lynchburg—until it pulled him back in—and then found himself involved in Jordan’s murder investigations led me to the idea of a series. The series is sexier and less alcohol-laden than Nick & Nora Charles, while solving murders set against the background of Lynchburg, Virginia, a small southern city. I also wanted the town to be a character, giving the flavor of the New South, still strongly religious, a mite rebellious, but kicking and screaming its way into the Twenty-first Century.

BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?

AL: I realized I had a knack for writing mysteries with a strong dose of romance. I dug under the bed for an unfinished mystery I had started several years ago with a former co-writer. After substantial reworking, I molded it into a faster paced, darker, and sexier story, but still with romance and humor elements. Also, the nice part about writing a series is your main characters don’t have to be created from scratch each time, although you get to explore new dimensions of them.

BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?

AL: When I started rewriting the endings to unsatisfying movies, TV shows, and books, I realized I had the makings of a writer. When I outlined an idea, plopped myself down with a pad and pen (and later a computer) and began to write a story like the kind I wanted to read but couldn’t find enough of, and got through to “they lived happily ever after,” I knew I had what it took to be a novelist.

BK: How do you keep your story flowing?

AL: Mysteries take more careful pre-planning than other genres. You have to keep the reader guessing, the timeline straight, the red herrings convincing, and the resolution logical. It would be very difficult for a true “pantser” to write a mystery improvisationally. Writing mysteries made changes in my style, voice, and planning method to conform with the unique quality of mysteries. I also needed to hone my romance writing skills. During my five-year hiatus from writing, sex in books has grown hotter, more erotic. So be warned. You may need a fan beside you in places.

BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?

AL: No so much writer’s block as a general malaise that promotes procrastination. I seldom lose the story itself because the plot is outlined, but I just find reasons not to write. Ironically, deadlines are the best cure for the malaise because it forces me to sit at the computer and write.

BK: What is your writing process like? Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write?

AL: My favorite place to write is sitting on the couch in my living room. What I need more than anything is my best friend sitting on the other end of the couch batting ideas back and forth. I will admit that a Starbucks nine-pump, venti, soy chai latte, extra hot, no water or foam, helps.

BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?

AL: I’d like to continue the Jordan Davis series. I’ve also done some work on a medical thriller series centered in the CDC that I’d like to pursue at some time.

BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?

AL: An interest in reading more of them. I want them to be entertained, to lose themselves in the story, and see that HEA but it requires working through the problems that arise. That’s what’s great about a series with continuing characters. I can show life in all its glory.

BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?

AL: Write. Nora Roberts says you can always fix a manuscript, but you can’t fix a blank page. Also, never let fear of reject keep you from entering contests or submitting to editors. If you let your fear stop you, then you’ve rejected your own work.

BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?

AL: Finish the frakking book!

BK: Are you currently working on any new projects? What can we expect from you in the future?

AL: I am laying out the plot for book number four of the Jordan Davis series. No title yet, but a skeleton found in the wall of a Main Street renovation uncovers skeletons buried deep in the closet for several characters in the series, most notably Grayson Trent’s mother, Libby. It should be released by late Summer 2012.

BK: Where can readers find you?

You can read about Jordan’s adventures in solving crime “Southern Style” in LAST WISHES, CLUBBED TO DEATH, and STABBED AND SLABBED.

You can reach me at my website and blog: http://www.alyssalyons.com

My books are available at http://www.blackopalbooks.com and all major e-book retailers.

Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.

Read More

Black Opal Books: Torn by Christine Hughes

Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm so happy you could join me today the beach. I was so ready for the beach and some warm weather. Thanks for choosing the perfect place to chat :).

I'm so excited to chat about your new release Torn. I absolutely love the cover (see below) and it sounds amazing Christine.


BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...


Hello! Thank you for having me. First and foremost I am the mother to two beautiful little boys and the wife of an amazing husband! (Hi!) We live in central New Jersey (no, I don't know Snooki) and hope to one day live closer to the ocean.


As a kid, I moved all over the place. My dad was in the Army so traveled all over the United States. By the time I hit college, I'd attended 13 different schools! Because of this, I often lost myself in books and writing. My favorite books as a kid were the Christopher Pike and RL Stine novels. As a teen I would write angsty poetry of true love and broken hearts - you, know - the real WOO HOO! stuff of teenage minds. In college I majored in English and continued writing and reading. It wasn't until a couple of years ago that my husband made me realize I could do something with writing. 


My first novel TORN, a paranormal YA published by Black Opal Books, will be released in early June.


BK: Please tell us a little about your book....


When Samantha's father dies and she he was an angel because of what he was protecting,  she must join the fight between two groups of fallen angels, the Faithful and the Exiled, in a race to save humanity. In spite of the unforgivable betrayal of her best friend, the newly acknowledged love for her guardian angel, the face to face confrontation of the dark angel who killed her father and the growing need to allow darkness to take over her being, Samantha has been charged making the choice between fighting alongside the Faithful or succumbing to the darkness of the Exiled.


BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?


The song "All I Need" by Within Temptation. I was watching The Vampire Diaries (The Founder's Day episode form 2010) and Elena had to dance with Damon…that song came on and the whole story flashed into my head. It was crazy! I youtubed the song, downloaded it and played it over and over again until things began to solidify. Then I started writing.


BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?


I didn't consider myself a writer until I was offered a contract with Black Opal Books. I don't know why but I didn't want to tell people I was a writer then have them ask where to find my books… I don't know. Just the insecurities of beginning, I guess. Now, I would tell anyone to sing it from the rooftops if you believe it. 


BK: How do you keep your story flowing?


I put together a playlist of music, usually a hundred songs or so, that I feel "gets" the emotion of the story. I hit shuffle and write. Sometimes I add songs, sometimes I delete them but it's always music that keeps me going.


BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?


Writer's block and I know each other well though I can't say we are friends. To get past it, to push through, I listen to music. I shuffle, shuffle, shuffle until I get to that song or lyric that breaks me free. With TORN, the weather would shut me down. Rain, snow, dreary days…I wouldn't write. Couldn't write. It all has to be mental….Weird, but I remember a really bad case of black with a manuscript that took me days to get passed. It was Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" of all things. And it had nothing to do with what I was writing. I guess you never know what's gonna break it.


BK: What is your writing process like? Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write?


My writing process apparently changes. With TORN, I pretty much sat outside on the deck, drank my coffee and wrote. Something about being outside in great weather made the darkness of the novel feel balanced. When I was writing the manuscript I recently finished, I would go to Barnes & Noble 2 or 3 times a week for hours at a time and just people watch, drink my grande earl grey and write. 


BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?


I would love to have a long career. I'm not necessarily looking for Rowling, Meyers, or Collins fame (though, that would be nice). I just want to be able to do something I love, have it well received and life comfortably. My dream is that books will lead me to that.


BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?


I want them to be able to fall into the book, to escape reality - even if just for a little while. I hope they enjoy the stories as much as I enjoyed writing them. And, in relation to TORN, I want them to wonder if there is really a yin and yang relationship between good and evil, despair and hope. Hopefully they'll visit my FB page or my blog and open up a few (polite) philosophical discussions.


BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?


Cyn Balog told me once, after I'd told her I finished TORN and had registered for the SCBWI conference, that I had" just set myself apart from the "want to's" and became an 'I did'." Now, no matter what happens in the future with this book or with others, I will always be an "I did". 


BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?


Oh my goodness….Never give up. Really. I had at least forty rejections for TORN before it was picked up by Lauri at Black Opal Books. Those rejections are awful - especially the short "Dear Author/Writer" responses. Enter contests, network, go to conferences (virtual and physical), learn everything you can from everyone you can. Just don't stop. Not all dreams are easy.


BK: Are you currently working on any new projects? What can we expect from you in the future?


The manuscript I am currently shopping out is called Three Days of Rain. It's a contemporary novel written with a male protagonist. This story was hard to write - there are just so many emotions I wanted to convey and I hope I did. Time will tell...


BK: Where can readers find you?


Well, lately, I feel like I am all over social media - www.facebook.com/ChristineHughesAuthor; twitter - @HughesWriter; my neglected blog (I promise to fix that) http://christine-hughes.com; the Black Opal Books Author Blog www.somestoriestold.com; the YA Fest in Easton, PA August 4 and the Collingswood Book Festival on October 6. I will update more appearances on my blog shortly.


Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.

When Samantha’s father dies and she finds out he was an angel because of what he was protecting, she must join the fight between two groups of fallen angels, the Faithful and the Exiled, in a race to save humanity. In spite of the unforgivable betrayal of her best friend, the newly acknowledged love for her guardian angel, the face to face confrontation of the dark angel who killed her father and the growing need to allow darkness to take over her being, Samantha has been charged making the choice between fighting alongside the Faithful or succumbing to the darkness of the Exiled.

Excerpt:

James English stepped out onto the sidewalk as a chilly fall wind stung his lungs and rattled his tired bones. Pulling his coat tighter and tucking the box under his arm, he kept to the shadows of the poorly lit street but he knew that wouldn’t be enough to hide from those he could feel were still watching him. Those who wanted what he had. Those who would kill to get it. Those who had killed trying to get it.

He devoted his life to protecting it, guarding it, and just as those who had tried in the past, the newcomer would test his limits. Without someone to keep it from falling into their hands, everything would end. The balance would shift and everything would tumble into chaos. Walking the blurred the lines between good and evil wasn’t an easy task. The thought shook him to his core and he hiked the box deeper into his grip and quickened his pace. A little farther and he would have time to think. He needed to think. And he couldn’t do it out here. Exposed.

Suddenly, he stopped walking and cocked his ear to the night. He heard nothing but the whistling breeze rustling the leaves that still clung to the trees overhead. But he could have sworn he’d heard something else. Something indistinguishable. Something ominous.

He found me.

He began to run. It drew louder, closer. The harsh flap of wings. But his feet couldn’t carry him fast enough. Not fast enough to get away from the one who had betrayed him.

This time he wouldn’t make it. He knew that, had come to terms with it the moment he discovered he’d been betrayed. His was a mission that could only end in death. His death. That decision was made long ago. But now it was all happening too soon.

There were so many things he had yet to do. He needed more time. More time to prepare, to train, to lay out the truth. He’d never taken the time to explain any of it to her. He feared without his guidance, she would not understand. She would not choose the path he had wanted to groom her for. It was a hard choice for him to make and knew his headstrong daughter wouldn’t embrace such a concept so easily.

But there was nothing he could do about it now. He just hoped the plan that he had laid in place would be enough. That they would be strong enough, good enough to protect her, to help her. He knew she was special the moment he laid eyes on her seventeen years ago. And now he would never get to watch her grow and develop the strength that lay dormant inside her. He would never be able to help her escape her demons, the demons he knew would come for her, as they came for him and those that came before.

Breathless, he veered into an alley and dropping to his knees, slipped the box behind the nearest dumpster. He quickly muttered words that only he was privy to, words that had been passed down the line from the ones who came before him, words he had hoped to pass on to her.

But he wasn’t quick enough.

He felt another presence disturb the darkness behind him as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Despite his overcoat, a disguise meant to harbor his identity as well as block the chill, goose bumps now covered his body as he heard the intruder’s footfalls echo around him and a small chuckle float towards him.

He needed to protect the box, to try to hide it away from the one who was after it.

Unintelligible words frantically spewed from his lips and his whole being shook with the power he was invoking. With a flash of light, he threw his arms to the sky. Chanting the last words of his prayer, he was struck from behind with a force that no mortal could survive. He reeled forward, barely catching himself before slamming into the frozen pavement, his wings fallen bloody beside to him.

Gasping, on his hands and knees, he slowly turned his head to look behind him. A glittering black sword protruded from his back. He could feel the blade pressing painfully against his heart . Out of the corner of his eye, his assailant finally came into view.

“Sebastian,” he whispered.

“James,” Sebastian smirked.

He should have known. Once they knew the exact location of James and the box, retrieving it was a task that only Sebastian would handle himself. He should have been more careful.

“You had to know I would find you, James,” Sebastian’s said softly.

James quickly uttered a prayer for his daughter. A petition, asking, begging, that she would be the balance promised so many years before. He hoped it would be enough. As the sword slowly pierced James’ heart, and the last glimmer of life dimmed from his eyes, he sadly realized that his incantation to send the box away may not have been successful.

Pulling his sword from James’ chest, Sebastian walked over to the dumpster, shoving it across the alley with a mere wave of his hand. As he retrieved the box, a sadistic  smile played on his face , victory sparked in his pale green eyes and he knew that the first half of his mission was complete.

Thank you so much for chatting with me today. I had a blast at the beach and that was just the break I needed today :). Wishing you much success in the future.

A former Army brat, Christine Hughes moved quite often. She spent much of her time losing herself in books and creating stories about many of the people she’d met. Falling in love with literature was easy for her and she majored in English while attending college in New Jersey.

Not sure where her love of reading and writing fit, she became a middle school English teacher. After nine years of teaching others to appreciate literature, she decided to take the plunge and write her first novel. Now at home focusing on making writing her new career, she spends her time creating characters and plot points instead of grading papers.

Music has become an integral part of her writing process and without the proper play list, Hughes finds the words don’t flow. At least a few times a week she can be found at the local Barnes & Noble with her Mac and headphones working on her next novel. Her YA novel Torn will be released by Black Opal Books in June 2012.

Read More

Black Opal Books: Throw Away Teen by Shannon Kennedy

Ten Things You Don’t Know about Throw Away Teen my first book for Black Opal Books

10. Throw Away Teen is the first book in my “Cheerleader” series. Set in and around a private school, Stewart Falls Academy, twelve girls deal with timely issues while they learn to interact and build a winning cheer squad. The life lesson their coach wants them to learn is that, “Sometimes you have to be your own cheerleader!”

9. Characters grow and change in a variety of ways which may surprise the writer as much as it does the reader. When B.J. Larson, a street-smart foster kid moves to small town Stewart Falls, she’s the Princess of Passing Though, but has she found a “forever” home, somewhere it will be safe to unpack and stay a while?

8. World-building in a contemporary teen novel can be as challenging as creating the setting of any other story. Stewart Falls may be a fictional town set around three small mountain lakes in the Cascade foothills of Washington State. It still required all the amenities from the local pizzeria to a down-home riding stable to make the book come alive.

7. Teen dialogue isn’t easy. It’s like learning a foreign language and at 50+ years of age, my brain synapses have been closed a long time. Good thing I had kids at the schools where I substitute teach and at the barn to keep my language real. B.J. refers to herself as “street trash” but nobody else better put that label on her. And calling her, Blow-Job will immediately get your butt kicked, as plenty of other girls have learned the hard way. And no, she doesn’t fight like a girl!

6. Just because the writer loves a phrase doesn’t mean the editor will and that the phrase stays through the revision process. B.J.’s mantra that she repeats whenever she’s scared made her “sound childish” so it went away. Okay, that was for the most part, but I snuck in a couple of reps when things got particularly stressful for her. Then saying, “I’m B.J. Larson and I’m tough,” made it possible for her to survive one more time.

5. The supporting cast doesn’t have to be human, but don’t forget the character arcs. B.J.’s new roomie is an eight-week-old, purple heeler-border collie puppy. He loves her unconditionally, but has a tough time staying on task in doggie class. B.J. wonders if he’s like her and has A.D.D. She learns that it’s normal for puppies to be easily distracted and she can teach him to stay focused. With the help of her tutor, she can learn it too. Okay, and a mocha helps!

4. Conflict needs to start at the beginning of the book with the introduction of the antagonist. B.J. doesn’t expect everyone to welcome her with open arms, but she also didn’t intend to have a “face-off” with her new foster parents’ adult daughter. B.J. may be 15 going on 40, but Jocelyn is 35 going on 12 at times.

3. B.J. discovers that the guy of her dreams isn’t just a pretty face ~ he comes with baggage even if he lives in what should be a picture-perfect small town. Nobody is a “pod” person even if he or she seems that way at first. Accepting yourself for who and what you are leads to being able to accept others.

2. Liz and Ted Driscoll, her foster parents aren’t perfect, but neither is B.J. While it’s fun to write a flawed character, it’s also a challenge to keep her true to herself. When she sets a time-frame for her visit, B.J. feels much safer knowing this home is just temporary. She also comes to know her new foster parents in ways she never expected.

1. Can the “Princess of Passing Through” learn to put down roots? Bounced from foster home to foster home since she was two, B.J. Larson knows life doesn’t have guarantees. Learning to trust others may be the largest risk she’s ever taken.

I’m delighted the Stewart Falls Cheerleaders found a home with Black OpalPublishing. I have a terrific cover and my own real puppy is on it. I still don’t know how we got him to hold still for the picture – he’s a whirling, horse-chasing, sister-puppy –attacking, cat-romping fellow at the best of times. But I have to admit that when he’s sleeping, he’s downright adorable. He loved our snow in January, but he does think that the cones I use to teach the kids to steer their horses are actually made for puppies.

I spend a lot of time with teens both at the family riding stable and as a substitute middle/high school teacher. I love hearing what they think and say – the books seemed to come about naturally out of both those venues. And of course, it’s always easy to find “beta” readers at the barn or the schools who are happy to tell me when I make a mistake and need to rewrite, sort of a “turnabout is fair play,” time.

In addition to writing young adult novels, I also write mainstream western romance as Josie Malone. Last week, BookStrand released my third mainstream western romance, A Woman’s Place and so my personal adventure continues. In other words, Yippee! I always dreamed of someday being a writer. Then I wanted to be a published writer and this is when I quote the cliché, “You’re never given a dream without being given the power to make it come true.” You may have to work for it however.

A Woman’s Place follows my first historical for BookStrand, A Man’s World. In that book, a woman masqueraded as a gunfighter in 1887 Washington (state) Territory – actually, Trace was a pretty good gunfighter – everybody just thought she was a man except the hero who figured it out and helped save her from the outlaw who stalked her. When A Woman’s Place begins, Trace and Zeb have been married for just over six months. Then renegades rob the bank she owns in the town of Junction City.

So, our hero, Rad Morgan, the marshal of Junction City sets off to capture the miscreants. Along the way, he meets his match, and Iraqi War veteran/homicide detective Beth Chambers takes no prisoners. She’ll fit right into 1888 Washington Territory. Of course, I had to figure out how to get a woman from 2012 to the Old West and why she was even there, but that was part of the adventure and the paranormal elements kept escalating. Much to Rad’s initial dismay, Beth and Trace become fast friends.

SHANNON KENNEDY/JOSIE MALONE BIOGRAPHY: 

As a child, I loved to dream away the days in an old cherry tree on my family’s pony farm. In my imagination, the tree became a beautiful Arabian stallion, a medieval castle and even a pirate ship. I got in trouble for making my little sisters walk the plank, but hey, they never broke any bones. On rainy days, I headed for my fort in the hayloft. While the rain thudded on the cedar shingled roof, I read books, eventually trading Carolyn Keene for Georgette Heyer. I used the setting of the pony farm for my second romance from BookStrand. The Daddy Spell is a finalist in the Colorado RWA Award of Excellence contest.

Today I live on the family ranch in the Cascade foothills of Washington State in what was once a summer vacation cabin. It’s been modernized and even has indoor plumbing – woo-hoo! I share the cabin with my two cats or maybe, they share it with me. I usually write at night after a long day on the ranch. Some days are longer and harder than others, but I still write from 8PM to 2AM, seven days a week. As a substitute school teacher, I love the school breaks but I’m just as busy, since there are 36 horses to look after, along with other assorted animals.

With all the critters on the ranch, I don’t have time for a husband. As for kids, I have to give back the ones who come to learn how to ride at the end of each day. Now, I’m teaching the kids and grandkids of the ones I taught way back when we started. I’ve had a lot of adventures over the years – and in my next 50 years, I plan to write all about them. I hope you enjoy reading about them! 

http://shannonkennedybooks.com/books.html

Read More

Pharmaceuticals to Writer - Interview with Jennifer Shirk Touring with Sunny Days for Sam

BK: Please tell us a little about yourself...
Well, I have a pharmacy degree, but once I had my first child, I decided to become a stay-at-home mom. I would read a lot during naptimes and slowly but surely that developed into writing my own books. Now I write sweet lighthearted romances for Samhain and Avalon Books.


BK: Please tell us a little about your book...
I think of it as Mary Poppins meets Mr. Rochester. J I have a really sweet (almost too sweet) heroine who is a down-on-her-luck ex theme park princess who lands a job as a nanny to a handsome yet brooding Internet guru’s two children. There’s definitely a bit of a Cinderella theme woven in there too.


BK: What inspired you to pen this particular novel?
I was vacationing in Disney World and had princesses on the mind. So I gave Sunny a job as a theme park princess which is where she meets Sam and his two children. The story kind of took off from there.


BK: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
Probably when my daughter was 18 months old. (2004) That’s when I started writing a book and even began taking some writing classes at the library. I really had caught the writing bug then and knew that was what I wanted to do.


BK: How do you keep your story flowing?
I outline before I write and give my characters definite Goals, Motivations, and Conflicts. It helps keep it flowing because you always know where you need to end up.


BK: Do you ever run into writer's block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?
No writer’s block. More like writer’s procrastination. I give myself a few days, but after that I just make myself work. Once a few words are written, the rest will start flow.


BK: What is your writing process like? Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write?
I like to write mid morning. I give myself short goals as I go along. Like once I write 500 words, I reward myself by checking Facebook or reading a few blogs. Then I go back to writing again until I meet my daily goal.


BK: Where do you hope your books/writing will be in the future?
Well, I hope to write some more mainstream romances in the future. I’ve even kicked around the idea of self-publishing too. I like to keep all my options open.


BK: What do you hope readers will take away from your books?
I hope that they just get one of those feel-good feelings when they close my book—and maybe even a chuckle or two.


BK: What is one piece of advice you received that you carry with you in your writing?
Write what you like to read. 


BK: What is one piece of advice you would give to new and aspiring writers?
Keep writing and keep reading. That’s the only way you’ll get better. It’s something I still do for myself as well.


BK: Are you currently working on any new projects? What can we expect from you in the future?
I just submitted a new story to my editor called Kissing Kendall. It’s sort of a sequel to my prior release Georgie on His Mind. And right now, I’m working on a new romance where my hero is—of all things—a romance writer!


BK: Where can readers find you?
Lot’s of places! (I get around)


Blog: http://jennifershirk.blogspot.com/


Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennifershirk


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Jennifer-Shirk/100000745044647


Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/jennifershirk




Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you much success in the future.


Thanks so much for having me today!

Giveaways: 

Jennifer will be giving away a print copy of "Sunny Days for Sam" (US/Canada only) -- an eBook copy of "Role of a Lifetime" will be substituted as prizes for any international winners) to TWO randomly drawn commenters, and you can follow her tour HERE for more chances to win.

Sunnyva “Sunny” Fletcher is a firm believer in fairy tales. With the recent debt she’s acquired, the hope of something magical happening in her life is the only thing keeping her going. She needs a job fast. So when Sunny learns the sexy new vacationer in town is looking for a nanny, she starts to believe she just may have a fairy godmother after all! 

Internet guru Sam Calloway is only in town for the summer and needs a nanny for his two small children. However, the beautiful and inexperienced Sunny is not exactly the kind of caregiver Sam has in mind. It doesn’t take long for Sunny’s tenderhearted and bubble-blowing ways to soon have the children—and Sam—enamored with her. She’s a dream come true. But after what Sam’s been through, he’s stopped believing in fairy tales long ago.

Sunny manages to work her way into Sam’s closed-off heart, but at the end of the summer, will the workaholic dad go back to his life in New York City, or will he decide his days are much sunnier here with Sunny?

 EXCERPT:

Kim kicked her under the table, signaling her to say something about the nanny position before he disappeared.

“Ow!” Sunny scowled at Kim. Rubbing her shin, she turned to Sam. “Uh, look, I was wondering since I need a job now, and you’re, well…”

A dawning of realization sparked in Sam’s eyes, and his expression grew several degrees colder. “Ah, I see what this is all about. Now I know why you were so eager to help me. I’m sorry but my company isn’t hiring at the moment. Of course, you’re welcome to send in your resume for us to have on file.”

Resume? Company? She didn’t even know he had a company to send a resume to. “Um, no, actually, I was more interested in the, uh, nanny position.”

Sam blinked, then threw his head back and laughed. “You want me to hire you as a nanny?”

Emma stopped blowing bubbles in her milk and looked up with wide excited eyes. “Sunny’s going to be our new nanny?”

“Oh, cool!” Cole exclaimed. “You’re not mean like Natasha was and you’re not old like that Mrs. Ferguson. Mrs. Ferguson was always putting things where they didn’t belong and she couldn’t see so good.”

Sam gave him a stern look. “Hey, that’s not nice to say, Cole.”

“Sorry. But if she was a knight, she would be Mrs. Forgets-a-lot.”

Sunny banked down a bubble of laughter.

“Well, it doesn’t matter how Mrs. Ferguson was, because Sunny is not going to be your new nanny,” Sam firmly told them.

Any lingering laughter Sunny might have had died on the spot. “Oh, but I do have references!” she cried. “I’ve done a little babysitting on the side for years. I can be at your house at whatever time you want, except Friday and Saturday nights. And… and… I—I can even cook. Sometimes.”

“Sometimes?” he asked.

She shrugged guiltily. “Well, it’s usually hit-or-miss with me. I do make very good peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and last year at the County Fall Festival I took first place for my double chocolate chip brownies.”

Sam let out an audible sigh. If Sunny was a betting woman, she’d wager he didn’t seem too impressed with those credentials. “Look, Miss, I prefer using an agency and going through all the proper channels. No offense. And I need someone willing to put in at least fifty hours a week.”

Sunny almost pinched herself when she heard fifty hours a week. That would pull in a lot of money. She obviously wasn’t doing a great job selling herself, though. Sam was already back to calling her Miss instead of Sunny. She needed this job. But what else could she say? She finally looked to Kim for help.

Kim took the cue and stood, taking Sam by the arm and leading him out of earshot of the children. “Well, just so you know,” she said in a hushed tone, “this is a small town. There’s no agency here, and from what your children said, I’m not so sure you’ve had the greatest luck with that. So you should at least consider Sunny. It’s really simple when you think about it. You need a nanny and she needs a job. Anyone in town will vouch for her. Heck, if you’d use your eyes, you can see for yourself that she’s great with kids.”

Sam rolled his eyes then his gaze fell to his children. Emma had already climbed up onto Sunny’s lap, running her little fingers through her straight blond hair. Cole had his hands in prayer position next to her. Sunny said a silent prayer, too. If Sam didn’t fall for this kind of corny Norman Rockwell pose, then she had no absolutely chance in securing the position. She held her breath and waited.

Sam walked back toward them with a resigned look. His cell phone went off again, but he ignored it this time. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he finally muttered, “Fine.”

“Yay!” the kids shouted, giggling and dancing around the table.

The breath Sunny had been holding rushed out of her lungs. She almost thought she’d misheard him. “You mean it? You’ll really hire me?”

“Yeah, but let’s not get carried away. It’ll just be temporary. Let’s see how the week goes first.”

Sunny high-fived Kim then jumped out of her chair. She was so happy, she almost threw her arms around Sam and kissed him. Fortunately, Sam’s disapproving scowl kept her firmly rooted to the two foot distance between them. He didn’t have much confidence in her, but that was okay. She had more than enough for both of them.

“Oh, you won’t be sorry,” she assured him. “I’ll be the best nanny slash brownie maker slash ex-princess you’ve ever had. I guarantee, after this week, you’ll be so pleased, you won’t ever want to let me go.”

Sam folded his arms and smirked. “Yeah well, we’ll see about that.”

Jennifer Shirk has a bachelor degree in pharmacy-which has in NO WAY at all helped her with her writing career. But she likes to point it out, since it shows romantic-at-hearts come in all shapes, sizes, and mind-numbing educations.

She writes sweet romantic comedies and won third place in the RWA 2006 NYC's Kathryn Hayes Love and Laughter Contest with her book, The Role of a Lifetime.

She's also a board member for Straight Ahead Ministries, an organization involved in helping spread the gospel and aiding medical and pharmacy students in Russia. She resides in a beach resort in NJ, and when she's not involved in all the above, she's taking care of her most treasured possessions: her husband, daughter, and four hermit crabs.

Website: http://www.jennifershirk.com

Blog: http://www.jennifershirk.blogspot.com

Read More