Bits 'n Bobs Author Blog
7/7/2014 2 Comments My guest author today is Cynthia Owens with her Irish historical book, My Dark Rose, the third in her Wild Geese series. Welcome! Hi Cathy, and thanks so much for having me today! Good morning, Cynthia! It’s great to have you here. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself? I believe I was destined to be interested in history. One of my distant ancestors, Thomas Aubert, reportedly sailed up the St. Lawrence River to discover Canada some 26 years before Jacques Cartier’s 1534 voyage. Another relative was a 17thCentury “King’s Girl,” one of a group of young unmarried girls sent to New France (now the province of Quebec) as brides for the habitants (settlers) there. My passion for reading made me long to write books like the ones I enjoyed, and I tried penning sequels to my favorite Nancy Drew mysteries. Later, fancying myself a female version of Andrew Lloyd Weber, I drafted a musical set in Paris during WWII. A former journalist and lifelong Celtophile, I enjoyed a previous career as a reporter/editor for a small chain of community newspapers before returning to my first love, romantic fiction. My stories usually include an Irish setting, hero or heroine, and sometimes all three. I’m the author of The Claddagh Series, historical romances set in Ireland and beyond, and The Wild Geese Series, in which five Irish heroes return from the American Civil War to find love and adventure. I’m a member of the Romance Writers of America, Hearts Through History Romance Writers, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers. A lifelong resident of Montreal, Canada, I still live there with my own Celtic hero and our two teenaged children. CMR: Wow. You seem to have a destiny with history. How long have you been writing? CO: To be perfectly honest, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t write! In the first grade, we were told to write a few sentences about Dick, Jane and their dog Spot. I wrote about four paragraphs! But talk about stifling creativity: instead of being pleased and praising me, my teacher scolded for writing too much! I can’t help wondering what she’d say if she knew I’ve become a (dare I say it?) multi-published author! CMR: What do you enjoy most about writing? CO: Well, let’s see, there really isn’t much I don’t enjoy about writing. ;) But I think the best thing about writing is the creative rush I get when I first begin the story. I love creating my characters, deciding on the time frame, the setting, and of course, the plot. It’s a little bit like falling in love for the first time, with all the wonder and excitement that entails. It’s a great feeling! CMR: What is it that draws you to historical romance? CO: I love history! Irish history in particular. Despite the tragedy and hardship of the Irish people in the Victorian era (Queen Victoria was known in Ireland as the Famine Queen), there was so much political upheaval happening at the time, such determination to survive. The Irish are a great people, and I only hope I can do them justice. CMR: That sounds wonderful! So, tell us a bit about your newest book. CO: I’m so thrilled to announce the June release of My Dark Rose. It’s the third in the Wild Geese Series, and it’s Dary Greely’s story. …Like the Wild Geese of Old Ireland, five boys grew to manhood despite hunger, war, and the mean streets of New York… He was the lucky one… Dary Greely is the only one of his brothers and sisters to survive the hunger in Ireland and the coffin ship to America. He was the one whose parents made a bit of money, the one who emerged from the war virtually unscathed. He was the lucky one…but when the war ended, his luck ran out. She was burdened by too many responsibilities… Róisín Donavan is an Irish girl who lives in a Five Points tenement room. She dreams of a future as a great diva and sings Irish songs at Paddy Ryan's Pub. But her stubborn Irish pride won't allow her to abandon her family, even if it means sacrificing everything for them. Can Dary make Róisín see her true worth? Can Róisín heal the festering wounds that tear at Dary’s soul? And can love truly mend their grieving hearts? CMR: What was your inspiration for this story? CO: My hero, Dary Greely, inspired this story. The lucky one, the one who grew up with a few advantages, who’s everyone’s friend. The easy-going one with the sense of humor. But what happens when his luck runs out? That’s what I wanted to find out! CMR: That's a great premise! What kind of research did you do? CO: A lot, and since I love my research, I had a great time! J I’d already done some research into the Famine, the coffin ships that brought the five “Wild Geese” to America, and the Five Points, where they grew up. But My Dark Rose took the characters to such places as Delmonico’s Restaurant, a well-to-do family’s home, and a Central Park roller-skating rink. So I had to find out just what Dary and Róisín would have experienced. And since Róisín’s a singer in an Irish pub, I had to research the lyrics to several Irish songs. No hardship there, as I listen to Irish music whether I’m writing or not! CMR: How did you decide on the setting? Have you ever been there? CO: My Dark Rose is set in New York City, and deciding on the setting was easy. Most Irish immigrants arrived in New York, and many of them stayed on and became a close-knit community. I have been to New York City, but only for brief visits. I hope to go back one day soon and explore the city more thoroughly. CMR: Which character was the easiest to write? Why? CO: Róisín was very easy to write because we shared a lot of the same character traits. She’s very insecure about her relationship with Dary because of the differences in their economic stations. And she worries about disappointing her music teacher. Having been painfully shy my entire life, I could relate to those insecurities. CMR: What surprises did you uncover as these characters and story developed? CO: Probably the biggest surprise was how endearing Róisín’s family was. From her spoiled, selfish sister, Nuala, to her wastrel brother, Joe, I fell in love with all of them. I hope my readers grow as fond of them as I have, because they’ve been tugging at my sleeves and asking for their own stories! CMR: I’ve learned a lot today, Cynthia, and I’ve certainly enjoyed getting to know you better. Is there anything you’d like to add? I love to hear from my readers! I love to connect with them on Facebook or Twitter, and I love receiving e-mails through my website. I usually answer right away too. Readers can contact me or connect with me at the following links: Website: http://www.cynthiaowensromancewriter.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaOwens?ref=hl Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cynwrites1 Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Cynthia-Owens/e/B003DQ1V2E/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1 CMR: Thanks so much for joining me today, Cynthia! Best of luck with your books! Thanks so much for having me! I really enjoyed answering your questions, and I look forward to meeting your readers!
2 Comments
6/30/2014 9 Comments Meet Guest Author, Larynn Ford Hi! I'm adding the buy link for Larynn's book, Rescued, that just released. If you haven't checked out her blog interview, now is the time! http://www.amazon.com/Rescued-Larynn-Ford-ebook/dp/B00LU6YFVI Today's guest author is Larynn Ford. Author of In My Wildest Dreams and Christmas Blessing in All I Want for Christmas is a Soul Mate, her third book, Rescued, is due to be released July 18. Thanks for visiting with me today, Larynn! Larynn Ford began reading romance in her early teens and became interested in writing in high school. She’s a daydreamer and a romantic who is intrigued by the paranormal and loves to let her mind wander, always searching for a happily ever after ending to her dreams. She began reading with a renewed passion in 2006, fell in love with romance all over again, and began thinking how much fun it would be to create a fantasy world all her own. In 2009, she began writing down some ideas that actually blossomed to book length and in 2010, joined Romance Writers of America. She is a member of the Southern Magic Chapter in Birmingham, Alabama. To her delight and constant amazement, her first book, IN MY WILDEST DREAMS was released April 16, 2013. Her desire for more grows constantly. She’s going to keep on writing, dreaming, and searching for those happy ending’s.. Here's the blurb from her latest book, Rescued, due to be released July 16. Be on the lookout for it! Rescued Fiercely independent and determined to be taken seriously in a man’s world, PI Rose Baxter will do whatever it takes to find the kids who are disappearing from the streets and bring them home safe, even teaming up with PI Marty Brown, a man hot enough to burn whatever part of her gets too close – her fingers, her sheets, her life, and her other nature’s whiskers. But her other nature knows whiskers grow back and will accept nothing less than this man as her mate for life, a plan Marty’s all in on. Sparks fly when she refuses to be the little woman. Besides, those kids need her and their time’s running out. But, thrown together 24/7 can she fight it? * * * Links: Website/Blog: http://www.larynnford.com/ Twitter: @LarynnFord Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/larynnfordauthor Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Larynn-Ford/e/B00CELS1V8/ Book Buy Links: In My Wildest Dreams http://www.amazon.com/My-Wildest-Dreams-Larynn-Ford-ebook/dp/B00CE3B11I/ Christmas Blessings in All I Want For Christmas Is A Soul Mate http://www.amazon.com/All-Want-For-Christmas-Soulmate-ebook/dp/B00GH2I458/ Rescued Available on Amazon.com July 16, 2014 Good morning, Samantha! I'm so glad you stopped by today. I'm looking forward to hearing about you and your debut novel, The Right One. Available from Amazon: www.amzn.com/B00L2MQJX2 Hello Cathy. Thank you for inviting me on your blog today. I’m excited to be here. Tell us a little about your writing journey. Ever since I can remember, I have loved curling up with a book. When I was young I wrote poems and short stories. I signed everything UNKNOWN AUTHOR. I guess even then I feared rejection. When I graduated, my life changed. I married a military man, traveled across the US and abroad, then settled in the Shenandoah Valley and had a family. My children were in high school before I started writing again. About fifteen years ago, I wrote to Catherine Coulter and was amazed that she wrote back. I couldn’t believe it. She was very encouraging and told me to join RWA. She said to write everyday even if it was only one sentence. Many years later, I’m in a book store looking at the covers wanting to try a new author. I see the face of a hunk on a book cover and immediately bought that book. Yep, ladies. A book cover can make a difference. I’m reading Anna Campbell and – I was hooked! I went back and bought her other two books (which was all she’d written at that time). I contacted her. She’s so nice, and again I was advised to join RWA. I did it via Internet and now I am a RWA member, joined several chapters including Hearts Through History Chapter, and I’m a member of Savvy Authors. I started writing again. I entered a lot of contests, workshops, and made some good friends via e-mails. I finally finished my historical romance, The Right One, the first of a trilogy. I contacted more publishers, sent my MS to editors, and continued to hope. A pitch opportunity with Savvy Authors resulted in my book being published. I’m over the moon. Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever written any other genre? Do you plan on doing so in the future? My main love is historical. I would have liked to live in the Regency time period. Dashing Lords and pirates seem so romantic. So historical genre is the one I chose. One day I was playing around to get my mind off edits and I wrote a scene with two women bantering back and forth. The words seemed to flow. So I ended up writing my first contemporary Something More. Which is due for release June 25, 2014. Even though historical romance is my first love, the regency requires a lot of research and effort with language of the time period. I worry about making a mistake with British slang. Where do you get the ideas for your stories? Would you believe I get most of them lying in bed at night? The only chance I have to unwind and the day’s activities race through my mind. Then ideas pop into my head. The problem is, when I wake up the next morning, I don’t remember half of them. I read once, an author keeps pen and paper by her bed. So sometimes I turn on the light, grab my pen and jot down a thought. My hubby thinks I’m nuts, so I only do it when he works night shift. LOL What inspired you to write this book? Do you research before you write? I love history. Research is the pits, as far as the internet. I google everything – but when you click on websites, they usually give you something other than what you’re looking for. It takes a lot of hours to find things. But I learn a lot of history while I’m looking. So many amazing details which makes a good foundation for any MS. I also read, lots of historical romance books. I’ve taken workshops and Eliza Knight is one of the best for historical facts and castles. I find the more I research, the more I write down, the deeper my thoughts and the more my characters come alive. Tell us about your process. Do you plot/make outlines for your WIPS, or are you a total pantser? I find that I get a lot more accomplished if I just sit at the computer and write. But if I want my story to go somewhere and be a good MS, there has to be GMC. I learned this from many workshops. I learned how to do character sketches, GMC charts, plots—everything one needs to bring a story together. As I write, I make notations on names, color of hair, anything I may need for reference later in my story. It pays off. Are you a full time writer or do you have a “day job”? I have a full time J O B. But I’m retiring this year and can not wait. I don’t have to tell any writer how difficult it is to find time to put words to paper, let alone create them in your mind. I’m so proud I finally managed to finish a novel and now it is being published. Looking forward to the day I may spend more time on my writing. I have so many ideas for books and this historical is the first of three in the “One and Only Series”. What is your favorite part of writing? Coming up with the characters and their traits. Everyone wants a strong – tall dark and handsome – hero. The trick is not making them all look the same. I do character sheets on my hero and heroines. Then I have to refer back to those sheets throughout the MS so I don’t goof. What is your least favorite part of writing? Getting started. Seems like I procrastinate a bit. Takes me forever to get settled in. What advice would you give an aspiring writer? No# 1. Join RWA. From there you learn to do a number of things. You can join chapter groups, critique groups, you’ll find friends and receive a lot of help. Take every workshop offered—GMC, POV, character interviews, etc. Believe me, you’ll be glad you did. Enter contests and keep your mind open. Take criticism as constructive. Make your writing better. Don’t expect success overnight. It is a long, hard process. If you are determined, keep trying. Don’t give up. Tell us a little about your current or upcoming release: your inspiration, main characters, setting, etc. Dark lords are sexy. Every girl dreams of a strong hero and every man wants a sexy woman. The idea of mistaken identity intrigued me and I needed a hook. As I put my story to paper I created conflicts. This is the result. Morgan Bartholomew Langston, Earl of Whetherford, has finally decided to accept his fate. Tired of dangerous assignments and putting his neck on the line, he has returned to his ancestral home to accept the title of his birthright and produce the required heir. But, when he arrives, he finds his home has been invaded and a female has taken off with his mother’s jewels. Morgan decides the traitorous jade will not get away, so he sets into motion a plan to bring her back. When he abducts the wrong woman, his reaction to her brings him dangerously close to breaking his vow of forbidden emotions. Katherine Elizabeth Radbourn is a strong, independent woman, and at the age of twenty three is still unwed. In a desperate attempt to find her brother, she is abducted which leads her on a journey to love and mistaken identity. Once she meets her captor, fear and indignation dissipates to an overwhelming awareness. Even though he tells her she is the wrong one, Kat realizes she has finally met a man that—not only she is attracted to—but has awakened her woman’s body. Does he really care for her or does he secretly yearn for the woman she is supposed to be? Uncertainty makes her risk the very man she has given her soul. * * * If you stepped into your hero/heroine’s shoes, would you react the same way they did to adversity? Oh yes. Don’t we always try to warn the hero/heroine, say we would do things differently? I’d love to live in the Regency or Southern Bell time period. In my stories I try to do the unexpected, make my heroine stronger. And I think to myself—how would I react? So I play the scene out and that’s what my character does. Any final thoughts you’d like your readers to know about you or your books? I enjoy penning a story with strong characters, a bit of humor, and active scenes. I invite you to lay the worries of the world off your shoulders and get lost in the pages of a romance, where you embark on a journey with the hero and heroine, become involved in a dream, plunge into a world of fantasy, live an adventure your heart can share. Please visit my webpage: samanthyawyatt.com You can also find me on facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, and SMP Authors. Thank you for your interest. Tell your friends. The Right One He abducts the wrong woman . . . she proves she is the right one. Enjoy an excerpt:
Kat had been summoned. He had requested her presence, not demanded. Beckoned, as if she were an invited guest. The irony of it all. Her stomach was tied in knots—had been ever since she received his invitation. She tried to slow her breathing. She swallowed, but the lump that lodged from her throat to the center of her chest never moved. Her head throbbed. The pulse in her temples pounded with every beat of her heart. So loud in volume, she feared surely someone could hear it. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw the blond man’s smirk, which was becoming all too familiar. He waited for her to enter the lion’s den. She faced the huge solid oak door, the only thing between her and her impending fate. The vein in her neck throbbed. If she didn’t calm down, she would be at his mercy. And that would never do. She could not allow him to know how defenseless she believed herself to be. Lord Whetherford should have absolved her by now. If he was any kind of a gentleman, he would have set her free. She hesitated another moment outside the door. He was at fault—not her. She would demand to be released at once. Her body as taut as a tightly-drawn corset, she knocked on the wooden door. Hearing his utterance, Kat smoothed her hands down the sides of her gown and squared her shoulders. Knowing Hathridge studied her, she summoned the courage to enter with a confident determination she did not feel. She opened the study door. He stood by the window, facing the sunlight, his back to her. A large, dark, muscular man, in all his finery, with broad shoulders and a commanding stance. Inky black waves hung thick and unruly. Tresses just long enough to curl over the neck of a white shirt peaking from the collar of his black suit coat. This man stood as tall as her brother, and Stephen loomed well over six feet. Even from the back, his broadness showed plenty of muscle. Remembering his fight with the ruffians made her sigh, marveling at the instant craving that pierced her torso. The latch of the closing door generated a spike in her already rapid pulse. No chance to flee since Hathridge, quite possibly, barred the door. She lifted her chin and forced her arms by her side. Not knowing what to say, or if he expected her to say anything at all, she waited. He remained motionless, taking his darn sweet time to acknowledge her presence. Why didn’t he turn around? Why did he ignore her? The silence drew out so long she thought her unsteady legs would not hold her much longer. Finally, he spoke. “Would you like a drink, my dear? She had forgotten the low deep timbre of his voice. The rich baritone sent surges of awareness down her spine. An unexpected, distinct wakefulness. She resisted the urge to clasp her hands and entwine her worrisome fingers. Kat answered in a voice she hoped would not crack. “No, thank you.” She nearly jumped out of her skin when he whirled around like the lash of a whip. He didn’t speak. He stood like stone, the same as she. Smoldering dark eyes seized hers in a heated, locked gaze, drowning her in their penetrating force. She had not been prepared for the dark threatening expression—threatening in the way that she felt something move within her. Time stood still. Nothing else in the room existed but the two of them. His hypnotic pull seared her, sending a tingling sensation beginning in her stomach, then flowing down the back of her knees and extending through her limbs making it impossible to move. Her throat tightened. If those eyes could shoot fire, they would sear holes right through her. But the expression on his face . . . he looked like he’d just had a good kick in the teeth. Morgan felt as though someone had just punched him in the gut—hard. His breath caught at the sight of the stunning creature before him. Lost in amazing green eyes—adrift in their sparkling jade and mystique sensuality. He scanned her high cheekbones with soft creamy skin, and let his gaze slide down to fasten on luscious lips. Suddenly his mouth was dry A cloud of vibrant red hair floated around her shoulders—like the brightest sunset at the end of a day, resting on the shimmering ocean. Luxuriant masses of thick curls inviting a man’s hands. He flexed his to keep from reaching for her. The movement reminded him of the snifter in his palm, which brought him some sense of stability. He took in her exquisite form, stared at the more-than-generous swell of bosom, letting his heated gaze linger there. A notion popped in the back of his mind telling him to breathe. He tightened his jaw to make sure his mouth did not hang open. His hungry eyes moved lower, perceiving a slim waist before the folds of her gown hid the rest. He swore under his breath. She is exquisite. She stood straight and tall with her chin at an angle in challenge. Even with that rod in her backbone, he sensed her vulnerability. A pang of concern struck his chest. “You,” he whispered. What the hell is she doing here? An explosion went off in his brain. Holy Mother of God! Those fools. They must have brought her here thinking she was Juliana. Blood and the devil! Morgan’s heart kicked and landed somewhere in the bottom of his gut. Choking on the words for this unsettling circumstance, he compelled himself to speak hoping his voice would not betray him. “I owe you my profound apology. There has been a horrendous mistake, madam. And I fear that I have made it.” Those beautiful eyes blinked. She stared at him as though someone had taken over her senses. Was this woman a simpleton? He hurried to the sideboard. Even though she could quite possibly be in shock, he ignored the stronger spirits and poured a generous amount of sherry. He didn’t want to knock her on her bum, just bring some color back in her face. He strode back to the unknown beauty and placed the flute in her hand. Changes came over her face. Stupor—awe—surprise—and . . . anger. Although Morgan was not a patient man, he waited. Her eyes flamed with fire. “Did I hear you correctly? Mistake?” Morgan stopped the oath before it left his mouth. “Yes. I believe your being here is a mistake.” “A mistake.” She echoed with a stupefied look, unseeing the crystal she held in her hand. “That’s what I thought you said.” She raised the glass and downed the liquid in one swift movement. Tears came to her eyes as she tried not to cough. She marched to the side table and he feared she planned to get more. Instead she set the glass on the table top. When she faced him, her hands were fisted and the fire in her eyes burned brighter than the flames in the hearth. “Mistake?” she snapped. “I was kidnapped! I have been a prisoner in your home. Forced to come here and forced to remain. I’ve been scared out of my mind. Every day I worried if you still lived. I agonized over what would become of me if you died. Then I walk in here and you have the audacious daring to tell me it was a mistake?” Buy links: http://www.amzn.com/B00L2MQJX2 Thank you so much for joining us today, Samantha! I wish you great success with this book! I hope you will visit with us again soon! 6/18/2014 6 Comments Guest author Rachel Sharpe! With me today is author Rachel Sharpe, giving us a bit about her new contemporary romantic suspense, Cold Ambition, that released from Amazon today! http://www.amnz.com/B00L2OLQPG Congratulations, Rachel! Let’s hear about your book! “COLD AMBITION” Blurb “It was my life-long dream to become a private eye. Little did I know that with my very first case, that dream would become a life-threatening nightmare...” When Jordan James decided to embark on a career as a private investigator, she never could have imagined that a chance encounter would lead to her staring down the barrel of a gun on the roof’s edge of a high-rise building. As she begins to investigate her first case, the puzzling murder of a prominent businessman that has left Boston’s finest mystified for more than two decades, she finds herself suddenly immersed in a treacherous underworld brimming with betrayal, raw greed, and political subterfuge of international proportions. In the midst of this, she discovers she is falling for her mysterious client despite the hints of his dark past. Can this feisty Southern girl with a penchant for trouble solve this baffling case or is she doomed to become another tragic chapter in an international conspiracy? "COLD AMBITION" available now from Soul Mate Publishing! Excerpt Perilously perched on the edge of a high-rise that offered a spectacular view of Faneuil Hall is most certainly not how I pictured my untimely demise. Call me old-fashioned, but I was kind of hoping to go out in a more peaceful manner. Unfortunately, things don’t happen exactly how you plan them, especially when your chosen profession has the uncanny ability to thrust you into the icy hands of Death. I stood there, inching toward the edge, wondering how it came to this point. But forgive me; I have a tendency to digress. Let me start at the beginning. * * * Wow! What a cliffhanger! I believe I’ll mosey on over to Amazon and check this out J Thanks for being on the blog today, Rachel! And best wishes for your book! RACHEL SHARPE BIO Rachel Sharpe is the author of Cold Ambition, the first novel in the Jordan James, PI series. Although born and raised in the South, “Yankee” relatives first led Rachel to historic New England, which she has come to consider her second home and is the setting for the series. After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in English, Rachel began dedicating her free time to her childhood passion, writing, and in the fall of 2013, she signed her first book deal with Soul Mate Publishing. An active member of Sisters in Crime, Rachel currently resides with her husband in the Greater New Orleans area. LINKS: Website: www.rachelsharpe.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorrachelsharpe Twitter: www.twitter.com/RachelCSharpe Buy Link: http://www.amzn.com/B00L2OLQPG 5/30/2014 17 Comments Guest author, Lauren LinwoodPlease help me welcome Lauren Linwood as we take a peek at her newest Western romance novel, Written in the Cards. Blurb: Maggie Rutherford jilts her too-perfect society groom at the altar and flees New York for the American West, where she turns her travels into dime novels that she writes and illustrates under the pen name Lud Madison. After the Civil War, veteran Ben Morgan marries his childhood sweetheart and takes her to homestead on the Great Plains. Losing her and their unborn child in an Indian attack, Ben detaches from emotion and becomes a roaming gambler. When he kills a cheating opponent in self-defense, the man’s gunslinger brother swears revenge upon Ben. Ben hides on a cattle drive and brings in a herd to Abilene, where a waiting Maggie wants to find a rough and tumble cowboy to interview for her next story idea. Sparks fly as the dangerous drover and popular novelist wind up living in the same household, running a general store east of Abilene. But with Black Tex Lonnegan hot on his trail, will Ben run from his growing attraction to Maggie and the gunfighter’s promise of death–or will he make a stand for his life–and love? Excerpt: Maggie squealed with delight. “I saw this contraption demonstrated when I was in Denver this past spring. The man’s fingers flew over . . . oh, what is it called? A keyboard, I think. He punched keys marked with letters of the alphabet, and they struck a piece of paper. The words formed along a line almost by magic. It was amazing!” “Then let’s open the parcel and see it for ourselves.” Ben used his pocketknife to open the box. He extracted the typewriter, a small pamphlet that accompanied it, some black ribbons in cases, and a ream of paper. “It’s heavy,” he told her. “It would be bulky for a woman to carry, much less travel with.” She struck a pose with her good left arm, flexing a muscle. “I am stronger than I look, Mr. Morgan. I’ve had actual boxing lessons from an Irish brawler. I could probably take you on and knock you down before you knew what hit you.” Ben’s lazy smile warmed her inside, all the way down to her toes. “You are a constant surprise to me, Maggie Rutherford.” They unfolded the instructions, and she read them aloud while he affixed the ribbon in the prescribed manner. He then loaded the typewriter with a piece of white paper that sat upon a roll. They took turns striking the keys, marveling at the words that appeared upon the page. The pamphlet illustrated how certain fingers were designated to strike individual keys. “Once the pattern is learned, this will be a remarkable way for me to write my novels. I’ll have to come up with stories at a faster rate, but that won’t be a problem at all. I have so many ideas that run through my brain now, I sometimes have trouble getting them all down on paper.” “You can type out your ideas, Maggie, as well as your novels. That way you won’t lose any of them.” She beamed at him, elated at the idea he proposed. She wished her wrist would be healed immediately. She couldn’t wait to teach her fingers to dance across the keyboard. Nothing would make her happier than quickly setting down all the storylines that skittered through her head. Nothing. Until Ben leaned over and kissed her. Then her idea of happiness took a seismic shift. * * * Author Bio: Lauren Linwood became a teacher who wrote on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones. Her romances use history as a backdrop to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire and yearning for one another grow into the deep, tender, treasured gift of love. Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family. An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for Pinterest and House Hunters addicts. Social Media Links: Website Facebook Twitter Blog Amazon Author Page Goodreads Author Page About Me Book Buy Links: Written in the Cards Music For My Soul Outlaw Muse A Game of Chance |
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June 2021
CategoriesAll 4th Of July 99 Cents Abbotsford Adam Adam-a-highlander-romance Aidi Breed American-civil-war Anastasia Abboud Andrea-r-cooper Angela-scavone Anne-b-cole Anthology April-holthaus Ashley York Australia Author Interview Bambi Lynn Barbara Bettis Barnes & Noble Berengaria-brown Best-seller Betrayal Black Watch Museum Blair-castle Blog Hop Book Deal Book Dogs Book Giveaway Book Release Day Book Release Party Book Sale Book Series Books To Read After Outlander Booksweeps Border-collies Boxed-set Braemar-highland-games Brenda-stinnett Burke-and-hare Capercallie Carly-jordynn Carmen-stefanescu Carol-ann-moleti Carole-ann-moleti Caroline-warfield Castle-menzies Catherine-castle Cathy & DD MacRae Cathy Dd Macrae Cathy-macrae Cd-hersh Ceci-giltenan Celebrations Celeste Barclay Celtic Cerian-herbert Character-interview Char-chaffin Chocolate Christmas Christmas-box-set Claire-gem Clava-cairns Collette-cameron Colley Collie Compuiter-woes Contemporary-mystery Contemporary-paranormal Contemporary-romance Contest Cover-reveal Creme-de-la-cover-contest Ct-green Culloden-battlefield Cynthia-owens Daryl Devore Dawn-ireland Dawn-marie-hamilton Dd-macrae Debut Debut-author Dewars-distillery Direct-deposit Edinburgh Eilean-donan-castle Elisabeth-hobbes Elizabeth-preston Elizabeth-rose Eliza Knight Elle-hill Evil-villain Excerpts Fantasy-historical Farleyer-lodge First First-kiss Flowers Food Forth-bridges France Free-book Free-books Freki Georgian-romance German-shepherd Get-lost-in-a-story-blog-interview Ghost-tour Gilda Gildas-story Giveaway Glen-ord-whisky Graveyards Guest-author Guest-blogger Halloween Hardy-heroines Highland-chocolatier Highlander-romance Highland-escape Highland-romance Historical-irish Historical-post Historical Romance Hm-queen-elizabeth-ii Holiday Holiday-read Hot-historicals Hurricane-harvey Iain-burnett Indtale Jenna Jaxon Jenni-fletcher Jessica-jefferson Jill-hughey Judith Sterling Karen-lopp Kate-hill Katherine-bone Kathryn-le-veque Kelley Heckart Kindle-world Kobo Lane Mcfarland Larynn-ford Laura-strickland Laurel Odonnell Lauren-linwood Leault-farm Legends-of-scotland Life-with-freki Limited-time-offer Linda-bennett-pennell Lochleven-castle Loch-ness Luxury-cruises Macleod Madeline-martin Madelyn-hill Maggie-mundy Mairi-norris Marilyn-baxter Mary-gillgannon Mary Morgan Meda-white Medieval-blog-hop Medieval-hop Medieval-monday-2015 Medieval-monday-2016 Medieval-monday-2017 Medievalmonday2018 Medieval-monday-2018 Medieval Monday 2019 Medieval Monday 2020 Medieval Monday 2021 Medieval Monday Fall 2020 Medieval Mondays Medieval Monday Spring 2020 Medieval-mystery Medieval Romance Meet-the-characters Meggan-connor Meggan-connors Mhairis-yuletide-wish Military-romance Miriam-newman Neva-brown New Book Nicole-locke Night-owl-reviews Norman-conquest Nostalgia-romance Novella Paranormal Paranormal Romance Patricia-hudson Patrick Paty-jager Pirate-romance Pirates Post-civil-war Postcivil-war-western-romance Preorder Pre-order Prizes Puppy Rachel-sharpe R-b-austin Rb-austin Recipe Recipes Red-l-jameson Regency-romance Release-date Research Review Rl-syme Romance Romance-novels Romance-on-the-high-seas Romantic-mystery Romantic-suspense Rone-award Rue-allyn Ruth A Casie Ruth-a-casie Ruth-kaufman Sale Samantha-wyatt Samhain Sandra-harris Sandra-jones Sarah-hegger Sarah-hoss Sarah-woodbury Saranna-dewylde Scavenger-hunt Sci-fi-romance Scifi-romance Sc-mitchell Scotland Scotland-with-grace-2016 Scottish-crannog-centre Scottish-historical Scottish-regency Scottish Romance Sheep Sherrie-hansen Sherry Ewing Sherry-ewing Short-dog-press Sir-walter-scott Sophia Nye Soul-mate-publishing Southern-romance Special-price Spermbanks Spring Steamships Stella-marie-alden St-patricks-day Sweet-romance Tam Tea-party-and-books Teaser-tuesday Thankful The-ghosts-of-culloden-moor-series The-hardy-heroines-series The-hghlanders-accidental-bride The-highlanders-accidental-bride The-highlanders-bride-series The Highlander's Crusader Bride The-highlanders-french-bride The-highlanders-norse-bride The-highlanders-outlaw-bride The Highlander's Pirate Bride The-highlanders-reluctant-bride The-highlanders-tempestuous-bride The-highlanders-viking-bride The-highlanders-welsh-bride The Prince's Highland Bride The-reading-cafe The-saint The-seventh-son The-twalve-days-o-yuletide Thursdays-teaser Thursdays-threads Time-travel Time Travel Romance Tina-susedik Top-ten-list Travel Twelve-days-of-christmas Uisge-beatha Urban-fantasy Urquart-castle Valentine Valentines Day Victorian-romance Victoria-zak Vijaya-schartz Viking-romance Vikings Villains Viola-russell Wales Wareeze-woodson Water-kelpie Weeping-window-of-poppies Western-romance Whisky Winner Winners Womens-fiction World-of-de-wolfe Ya-fantasy |