Category Archives: MacQuire Women

So it turns out, I didn’t need a wingman afterall!

Whew! Yesterday is a bit of a blur. If you’ve read the blog post before this one, you know I was an emotional wreck about my appearance at the 2016 Monadnock Women’s Expo. I was going to solo and terrified. Turns out, I didn’t need to be.

Way over 600 + women showed up of all ages, backgrounds, cultures and socio-economic status. A lot of them I had a passing acquaintance with, either as teachers of my daughter, or parents of her friends; patients of my husband – and I’ll admit, of mine -, and women ,who knew women, that I knew, personally. What’s that old saying? “Everyone you meet is a real or potential friend?” Yeah, that’s the way it felt.

I’ll be honest – I was afraid I wouldn’t sell one book, have one person stop at my table, and would have wasted over 5 hours of a weekend day. Turns out, I didn’t need to be afraid at all. I sold a lot of books ( A LOT!!!!), and hundreds of women stopped to chat. Of course the fact I was giving away free M&M’s if  someone stopped at my table might have helped, but…whatever. WItht hose M&Ms I was also giving the flat/postcards of my books, so they were getting candy and I was introducing them to my work. We both scored!

My take away from this event, because if I don’t learn something when I conquer my fears, what’s the point? That it’s good to challenge yourself, do something that initially makes you uncomfortable, and face your fears. I wasn’t walking around naked for all the world to see my body; I wasn’t facing a firing squad for crimes against humanity; I wasn’t being judged. I was simply sitting at a table trying to sell some books and get my name “out” in the universe of my target audience: women.

So, wingman not needed.  Now, let’s see what comes next…..

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

Blurb:

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The last thing Carly Lennox is looking for as she sets out on her new book tour is love. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine show based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is an ambitious man-and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else, and as he tells her, he’s a patient guy. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. No. Carly is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him- may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

 

Amazon /// TWRP /// Kobo /// Nook

Tweet Me// Read Me// Visit Me// Picture Me //Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me//

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Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, Life challenges, MacQuire Women, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, The Voices of Angels, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Why I need a wingman…

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Today I am attending an event where I will be selling ( hopefully!) and signing my books. The 2016 Monadnock Women’s Expo is being held at the Zorn Dining Commons at Keene State College from 10 am until 2 pm and there are over 40 vendors hawking their wares, one of which will be me. By myself.  Alone. Solo.

This is the first time I have attended such a huge event for a signing and I will be at my table all by lonesome. The thought is absolutely terrifying. Why, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you….

First of all, I have to get dressed up and by dressed up I mean I have to wear my hair fixed in a  style other than my typical messy bun or ponytail. Then I have to wear makeup, which as I am getting older, I find cakes more into those lovely little wisdom lines around my eyes and mouth like nobody’s business. Then I have to find something in my wardrobe that actually fits and looks good. Two almost impossible tasks at this point because menopause has put twenty pounds on my already chubby frame, and I haven’t shopped for any kind of clothing in over three, almost 4 years. Purses and shoes don’t count because you can be a size zero or 22 and they always look good. My dressing room looked like a tornado and hurricane Hazel both blew through it last night as I pulled almost every article of clothing from my closet and tried it on desperately hoping to find something, ANYTHING, that would fit.

SO, hair, makeup and clothes that fit aside, I’m also terrified of being alone at my table because: a – I am afraid no one will stop and see me, buy a book, or have me autograph one and I will look like a total loser, and b – I am terrified someone will stop at my booth and ask me questions and want to purchase a book which I will have to autograph and then charge them for. And see, this is the biggest thing terrifying me: I have to ask people for money to pay for something I wrote and then take it, hoping they will like what they have purchased and not rant on Goodreads about what a waste of money the book really was.

Whew! I wrote that last paragraph without drawing a breath!

So, now you know my nasty little secret: despite giving an air of confidence and self-assurance to one and all sundry, I am really just a mass of nervous, anxious, neurotic jello ( can a food be neurotic??) wanting to please, hoping I will, and horrified I won’t.

And this is why I need a wingman: someone who will take the money and usher the next person on. Say a prayer for me – or several, maybe even a novena – that I don’t totally f**k this day up, and that I survive unscathed to write about the experience in the next several days.

Pathetic, thy name is Margaret-Mary.

This is the book I’ll be selling:

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

Blurb:

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The last thing Carly Lennox is looking for as she sets out on her new book tour is love. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine show based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is an ambitious man-and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else, and as he tells her, he’s a patient guy. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. No. Carly is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him- may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

 

Amazon /// TWRP /// Kobo /// Nook

Tweet Me// Read Me// Visit Me// Picture Me //Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me//

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Filed under Author, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, Life challenges, love, MacQuire Women, Romance, Romance Books, The Voices of Angels, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Meta- what??!!

So at a recent NHRWA chapter meeting, this really cute guy named Mike came and talked to the group about Social Media and Internet marketing. Did I mention he was cute? He was also a treasure trove of technical info that, for a total tech-NO savvy writer such as me – opened my eyes to how valuable social media and the internet can be to someone in my profession.

The very first and most important thing we need as writers in today’s cut-throat market is a website that has key words and phrases congruent with “searches” that will bring people to our site. One piece of key info I didn’t know was that Google is responsible for 67% of all searches on the internet. That’s 2/3 of all – ALL – searches being conducted. As a romance writer I need to know which words or phrases are the most beneficial to get my site, my books, my name, the first thing to pop-up on a search.

This is invaluable information, folks, for any writer who wants to sell a book.

Another point he made was telling our group the power of Google Analytics. You can glean so much knowledge about your readers and your website visitors from this, and also who will be more likely to buy your type of book than another.

Informational gold, people. Gold!

I will admit this freely – I am a facebook junkie. Mike ( did I mention he was cute?) is a big proponent of using FB as a marketing tool. This, at least, I had some idea about! You can reach so many people  through FB, it’s crazy. But crazy-good. One of the points I learned about FB that I had no clue of before this little lecture? You should always LIKE and SHARE your own posts. Right away, and then several hours later. So for instance, suppose I post this blog at 7 am. I should like and share it then and again at noon because the FB news line will roll with it, thereby getting people to see that “Oh, PJ liked this, let me take a look!.” That person may not have been awake at 7 am when I did the original post, so I missed out on a potential “looker” at that time.

Again, gold, people. Informational gold.

There were a whole bunch of other goodies Mike gave us, too many for me to list in a quick blog. But he has published books of his own on this stuff, so you click here and see what he’s published:  Mike Dolpies. p.s. Did I mention he was cute?

Stuff like this is the reason I never miss an NHRWA meeting.

Now, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t hawk my own stuff?
Here’s the newest release:

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

Blurb:

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The last thing Carly Lennox is looking for as she sets out on her new book tour is love. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine show based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is an ambitious man-and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else, and as he tells her, he’s a patient guy. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. No. Carly is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him- may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

 

Amazon /// TWRP /// Kobo /// Nook

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Location, location, location…

A few days ago I wrote a blog piece about the use of reality and real situations in fiction writing.  I’ve taken events that have occurred in my life and added them to the lives of my characters at times when I needed something to propel the story forward. I realized this morning I do the same thing when I set the locales for my books.

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I’ve lived in 3 places long term in my life: New York ( and 3 of the 5 boroughs), Wisconsin and now New Hampshire. Three very diverse places in so far as culture, weather, and language go. Language, you say? Well, yes. There is a world of difference between the way a New Yorker “tawks” and a Wisconsonite speaks. But that’s a blog for another day…

Today I am talking about setting and local. Every book I have written ( all of them!!) have been in either NYC, or New England. Why? Because those are the places I know best. Why not Wisconsin you ask? Well, I’ll tell you….I just don’t know why I’ve never penned a book set there. Maybe in the future…maybe.

I lovelovelove New York. I am at heart a “city girl” and if you know what that term really means, you are from NY, too! Setting books there is fun, scary, and fast-paced because NYC is fun, scary and fast-paced! The books set in NYC have all given the readers a little glimpse of the exciting city.

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I adore New Hampshire and New England – especially in the autumn. Four of my MacQuire women books are set in New England and all of them, as well, highlight the terrain. The weather may be unpredictable on the best of days, but there is nothing NOTHING as beautiful as a New England Autumn.

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So, here’s the question of the day ( you had to see this coming!) In your writing, do you have go-to locales, or do you find places to it switch up, places you’ve been, or only dreamed about? Let’s discuss….

And while we discuss, here’s a shameful plug for my book that releases tomorrow THE VOICE OF ANGELS, set in ( surprise!) NYC AND New England!!

 

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

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Blurb:

Can she trust her heart to love again?

Love is the last thing Carly Lennox is looking for when she sets out on her new book tour. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine profile based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is ambitious, and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else. As he tells her, he’s a patient man. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. Carly Lennox is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him-may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

Available at:  Amazon /// The Wild Rose Press///  Kobo ///  Nook

Find me here:

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Filed under Alpha Hero, Author, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, Life challenges, love, MacQuire Women, New Hampshire, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, The Voices of Angels, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Let’s talk whirlwinds….

Not the meteorological ones, but the whole writing/publishing/marketing ones. The kind I’m in right now.

First, a disclaimer: I AM NOT COMPLAINING! This is not a blog rant. It is merely a message, a little insight perhaps, into the mind ( and world) of a trying-to-be-famous-middle-aged-romance-novelist-who-is-learning-the-ropes-one-step-at-a-time.

So. I had a book released on February 8, titled 3 WISHES (  A Candy Hearts Romance). There were 40 of us who had CHS titles released from January 3 until February 12. Because of that large number, there were endless blog visits, promos, cross-promo and other avenues for advertising,  we all took part in. And  because of all that, I didn’t get a great deal of my own writing done, especially when I booked my own intense 2 week blog/publicity tour that required me to write a separate essay and visit 10 of those blogs, daily. I know. Add that to the rest of the promo stuff and it is safe and true to tell you I was mentally exhausted. Thrilled with the promo and sales, but dog-tired.

That brings us to the present. I have a new release, THE VOICES OF ANGELS coming out this Friday, 3.11.16, and am in the throes of another promotion frenzy.  Truly – A FRENZY!!! I know I’ve mentioned this before, but I like to repeat things when I am stressed: I want to be the kind of writer who, one day, will have people who will do my marketing for me. And by people, I mean REAL PEOPLE, EXPERTS, and those who KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING (!) so I can just sit happily in my attic and ….write the days away without having to worry about tweeting hourly, putting up facebook posts, connecting on Goodreads ( although I like this!) or tracking novel rank. I want to write, not market. I know I sound like  a whining brat and I apologize for that ( hey, that rhymed!).

Le sigh.…someday. Again – just as a reminder – I am not complaining about any of this!!!!

well…maybe just a touch.

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

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Blurb:

Can she trust her heart to love again?

Love is the last thing Carly Lennox is looking for when she sets out on her new book tour. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine profile based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is ambitious, and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else. As he tells her, he’s a patient man. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. Carly Lennox is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him-may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

Available at:  Amazon /// The Wild Rose Press///  Kobo ///  Nook

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My Sexy Saturday # 131

Welcome to the 131st week of My Sexy Saturday.

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This week’s theme: Our Night of Sexy

Readers, please visit us at our new Author Central where we’ll be sharing even more from our authors besides Saturday’s snippets. We’d love to have each and every one of you there as we’re starting new things this month with fun and prizes along the way.

This week’s theme is Our Night of Sexy and this is all about those special nights that only lovers can do. It can be a special date, that unplanned getaway or any number of things a couple will do to keep their relationship alive.

Share your story’s  most fabulous moments with some very sexy, hot characters in a love that’s destined to last forever, please share them with us…share all those sexy moments that you have between your characters even if your story doesn’t exactly fit the theme this week…remember every relationship is important!

Sexy can be anything, such as romantic moments like walks on the beach, a home cooked meal or even in another galaxy. It could be two lovers here on Earth dreaming about the day where they go on a magical vacation to another planet. Or staying right here at one of those wonderful places we can find in our own world.

Readers want to see those characters, the ones who can’t get enough of each other as well as ones who are fighting their way back to being part of the world once again. These are the types of characters they can’t forget, the one they want to take home and keep forever. Readers love the kisses, the looks or touch of each and every one of our characters.

Sexy has nothing to do with looks or status or even wealth. It doesn’t demand perfection and it isn’t pretentious but it does make us want to read those books.

We know that everyone has their own idea of sexy and we all love sexy!

Here’s my idea of a sexy, relaxing, take-out dinner at home: from THE VOICES OF ANGELS available for pre-order now at:  Amazon   The Wild Rose Press   Nook    Kobo

Carly gasped when he reached across the table and swiped his finger across her cheek. He put it in his mouth and said, “Duck sauce. With a little moisturizer mixed in.”

He put it in his mouth and said, “Duck sauce. With a little moisturizer mixed in.”

Her laugh was immediate.

“I love the sound of your laugh,” he told her. “The day we met at the studio I heard it right before I met you. I remember thinking how distinctive it sounded.”

She tossed a cynical pout at him. “Addie used to tell me I sounded like a fog horn. ‘You’ll be roundin’ up the hounds with that noisy bray, missy,’” she said, mimicking Addie’s brogue.

“As much as I like Addie, I have to disagree with her. Your laugh is one of the sexiest things about you.”

He reached across the table and took her free hand in his. Slowly, tantalizingly, he brought it to his lips. Opening the palm flat, he buried his mouth in it, dragging soft, openmouthed, wet kisses across the fleshy part. When his tongue flicked across her skin,

Carly dropped her chopsticks again and sucked in her breath as his tongue swiped across her palm.

Mike smiled. “Am I making you nervous?” His eyes never left hers.

“A little.”

“Good.”

THE VOICE OF ANGELS 

Blurb:

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Love is the last thing Carly Lennox is looking for when she sets out on her new book tour. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine profile based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is ambitious, and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else. As he tells her, he’s a patient man. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. Carly Lennox is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him-may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

 

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Filed under Alpha Hero, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, Life challenges, love, MacQuire Women, My Sexy Saturday, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, The Voices of Angels, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Blank, blocked, and bored….

Can you guess what today’s blog is about? Here’s a hint: it’s not Cookie Monster’s version of a dictionary filled with the letter B!

For the past three weeks, I have been in the throes of a  blockage the likes of which I have never experienced before in my adult – or even childhood- life. NOOOOOO – get your minds out of the gutter and the bathroom! I have a severe case of writer’s BLOCK and it is driving me batty.

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I would think this is funny – and by funny I mean hahaha funny, not “oh-shit-I’m-terrified-I’ll-never-wrte-again-funny”  if I had nothing going on for the next few months; if I had time on my hands to just wait for inspiration to flow through my fingers, piped directly from my brain again.

But NO.  I don’t have the luxury of time. What I do have are deadlines. 4 big ones,  in fact!!! And no ideas…no inspiration…no insights. Nothing. Nada. Niente.

writersblock2Even my dreams have been boring and uninspired of late. I have listened to many writers’ treatments to cure writer’s block. I’ve walked away from the laptop for a time; I’ve forced myself to sit down at it and write something, ANYTHING, just to keep my hands and fingers busy. I’ve taken a walk – too many, in fact. I’ve got shin splints. I’ve taken a nap; I’ve made enough soothing cups of tea until my teeth need to be whitened professionally, they are so stained.

I’ve read, watched tv, painted, cooked. I’ve had a manicure, pedicure, gotten my blonde hair dyed. I’ve gone grocery shopping, therapy shopping ( women will get this!) and cleaned my house until it glows like a binary nuclear assault has come. Oh, and I’ve procrastinated myself into a stupor and still – STILL – nothing.

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So here’s what I’m going to do…….

Sorry, I fell asleep because I’m boring myself…. For the sake of discussion,( because, really? What else do I have to do?) how do you get through writer’s blockage if you suffer from it? And if you don’t – I hate you. Just saying.

While I wait for inspiration, at least I have a new release coming out on 3/11/16 that I can talk and write about. Here’s a little sumthin’ sumthin’ from THE VOICE OF ANGELS and the buy links if you are so inclined….please be inclined!THE VOICE OF ANGELS and the buy links if you are so inclined….please be inclined!

Blurb

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Love is the last thing Carly Lennox is looking for when she sets out on her new book tour. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine profile based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is ambitious, and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else. As he tells her, he’s a patient man. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. Carly Lennox is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him-may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

Excerpt

“Now for a check on the weather. Carl?”
When the monitor light changed colors, Mike turned back to her. “Well done.”
“Thanks for being so patient. I almost lost it for a second there.”
Her beautiful mouth quirked at the corners, and his own went drought-desert dry. He swallowed and ran his suddenly sandpapered tongue across his lips.

“You know, I read parts of your book last night as prep,” he said as she stood, noticing how long and shapely her legs were under her short green skirt. “I was taken with the stories and the details in it.”

“Thanks.” She glanced down at her wristwatch and then offered her hand. The shockwave electrifying through his body at her touch staggered him. A bolt of lightning, hot, fast, and bright surged straight to his core.

What seemed like confusion clouded her eyes as she looked at him. “I-I have to go. I’ve got to be across town by nine. God only knows what the traffic’s like. Thanks again for plugging my book. Tell Sharon I’ll call her soon. Bye. And thanks, again.”

Mike watched her bolt through the studio doors and was only brought out of his musings by the director calling him back to the news desk.

For the rest of the broadcast he was distracted by thoughts of her, resulting in him flubbing some of his lines and intro’s, something he rarely-if ever-did. How compassionate and warm her face had been as she’d told her touching story; the subtle fragrance of roses surrounding her; the deep coppery sheen of her hair as the hot, bright studio lights intensified its color.

By the end of the program he vowed he’d find a way to see her again.

Buy Links  Amazon //  The WIld Rose Press  // Nook  // Kobo

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Reality check….

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Sometimes I get inspiration for  a writing blog from the universe and sometimes I go in search of a topic. I found today’s little meme when I was Googling Reality in your writing.  And it’s perfect.

As a fiction writer my brain is continually turned to the “on” position as far as making stuff up goes. Fiction writer, remember? But there are times when something has either happened in my life, or I’ve seen a report on the news, or someone tells me a story and I just think “Wow. I can use that in a book.” The pitfalls of knowing a writer, being their friend or spouse,  is that this may happen more times than you think.

Truth.

So, here’s why today’s cartoon is so perfect for what I wanted to say. In my new book releasing on March 11 from the Wild Rose Press, THE VOICES OF ANGELS, my heroine – a writer –  pens a book about the experiences people have had with what they say are Angels. Her addition to the book is the birth of her daughter. I’m including a little bit of it here so you can reference what I’m talking about: Just for a starting point, Carly is being interviewed on a morning chat show and has been telling the host ( my wonderful hero, Mike !) about a car accident she had that propelled her into labor with her daughter. The baby is in distress and Carly is given the option of two anesthesias because she needs an emergency C-section -a spinal injection where the baby will be  out in 30 minutes, or general, where they can take her from her body in less than five. She bases her decision on something she hears and tells Mike about it this way:

       The spinal, the doctor said, was the safer choice for the baby. I was beyond exhausted from the labor and the stress of the accident and I didn’t know which way to go. My husband left the room to speak in private with the doctor, when out of nowhere a small voice whispered in my ear to take the general. I turned my head, but I was alone. The doctor came back a second later and I told him I’d made a decision. After I woke from the surgery, he assured me I’d made the correct one.”

Mike uncrossed his legs and leaned in closer. Even though he’d read the excerpt from the book the night before in preparation for the interview, hearing her tell the story in her gentle, melodic voice had a hypnotic effect. He wanted to hear more. “What did he mean?”

Carly’s smile turned sad. “Well, my baby had been lying on her umbilical cord. The accident must have shifted her position. At birth, she had no pulse or reflexes. The doctor couldn’t get any kind of response from her. After five minutes of resuscitation efforts, though, she started to perk-up. If I’d opted for the spinal and waited for it to work, he wouldn’t have been able to save her, because too much time would have elapsed between the injection and the operation. With the general anesthesia, she was born in less than five minutes. So the little voice in my ear helped me make the right choice.”

Now, to tie this little excerpt together with today’s theme: that story is true. I know because it happened to me. I had an accident the day my daughter was born – my 120 pound dog knocked me down while I was out walking her and, because I had her leash wound around my hand, she dragged me on my belly for a good twenty feet before help arrived. My body instantly went into labor, the baby was in distress, and the choice of anesthesia was given to me. The story about the voice in my ear is true as well.  I did hear someone whisper into my ear to take the general when my husband slipped into the hallway for a second – and I was left alone.

I wrote about that experience in several magazine articles for years after my daughter was born. When I wrote Carly’s biography I knew I needed an inciting event for her new book, so…

I bet you can guess today’s question without even thinking, but I’ll ask it anyway: have you ever used a real life event  that happened to you, a loved one, or a that you heard on the news, etc, in one of your stories? Let’s discuss….

THE VOICES OF ANGELS, available 3/11/16, pre-order now at THE WILD ROSE PRESS or AMAZON

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The things I learn just to use them in my books…

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I came across this little meme today and -surprise! – thought it was perfect for a writing post! Yeah, I know, it always amazes me where inspiration comes from too!

Anyway.

If you know me personally you know I lovelovelove to cook. My mother is not exactly what could be termed “a good cook.” Working 2 jobs during most of my childhood made for many dinners that were thrown together at the last minute with no preparation or thought put into them. Dried, baked chicken with no seasonings served with bland boiled carrots became a staple as did peanut butter and Fluff sandwiches. Is it any wonder when I grew to maturity the desire to learn how to actually cook a meal that tasted good was a necessity?

I scrounged garage sales, discount stores, and the sale racks at books stores for any kind of cooking tome from How-To’s, to 50 ways to make chicken books. Currently, I have over 100 well loved, dog-eared and, frequently used cookbooks in my house. A new cookbook as a present will send me into spasms of pleasure that equal…well, I let you fill that in with your own imagination!

In every book or story I write, someone cooks. Well. The MacQuire women are all superb cooks who can whip up five-course meals for a house full of company in less than an hour. The San Valentino women cook old-school recipes using things we’ve been told are bad for us like real butter, cheese and red meat. No one in the family has any kind of weight problem from eating this way. Interesting, don’t you think?

I use my cooking skill in my books, and I’m still learning new recipes and ways to cook and serve food everyday and I will until I can’t hold a ladle any longer. So…have you ever learned something new just to use it in a book? Or do you incorporate any hobbies or things you love to do into your own stories?  Let’s discuss….

And since we’re talking about cooking, here’s a little sumthin’ sumthin’ from my 3/11/16 release of THE VOICES OF ANGELS.

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“T’isn’t the most nutritious meal I’ve ever prepared in this house,” Addie said, “but at least it’ll fill your bellies.”

“Personally, Addie,” Mike said, “I love sandwiches for dinner and cold turkey is my absolute favorite.”

Addie beamed. “Sure now, you’re just saying that to make an old woman feel better.”

Mike made an elaborate gesture of crossing his hand over his heart. Through unblinking eyes that zeroed in on the older woman’s face, he said, in a voice filled with sincerity, “I swear on my life, these are the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten.”

Addie and Carly burst into laughter.

“Well now, there’s a sweet man you are. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” she removed her apron, “I’m off. It’s plum worn out, I am. I’ll see you both in th’morning.”

Carly rose and kissed the woman’s cheek. “Thank you for everything, Addie.”

“Oh, darlin’, t’is more than welcome you are.”

When they were alone, Carly sat back in her chair. “That was sweet of you. Addie may look and sound as tough as nails sometimes, but she’s always pleased with a compliment.”

“I meant what I said. I do love these kinds of easy dinners. I’ve made them enough for myself and Cole over the years to appreciate them.”

Buy Links: The WIld Rose Press /// Amazon

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One down and now gearing up for another…

So I guess this isn’t really something to complain about, but….lol

I just finished my book/release tour of 3 WISHES and now, on March 11, my 4th book in the MacQuire Women THE VOICES OF ANGELS is being released into the book reading world. Two books in two months! Yeah, I’m a little full of myself at the moment (hahahah).

To get you as excited as I am about this, here’s a little sumthin’ sumthin from VOICES. For those of you in the know, this is the story of Carly Lennox and Mike Woodard, Tiffany and Cole’s parents from SKATER’s WALTZ, my debut novel. I went prequel with this one because I loved the story of how Mike and Carly got together and wanted to share it.

And, of course, I’ve enclosed the pre-order buy link, just in case, you know, you want to…buy it!

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

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Love is the last thing Carly Lennox is looking for when she sets out on her new book tour. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine profile based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is ambitious, and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else. As he tells her, he’s a patient man. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. Carly Lennox is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him-may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

Excerpt:

“I…” Carly began, then stopped.

“Oh, hell. I’m not good with words in situations like this.”

His laugh came quick, charmed by her nerves. “Pretty pathetic declaration for a writer.”

Carly stuck out her bottom lip in a very alluring pout. He was tempted to stop and take her mouth with his again.

“Don’t mock me. When it’s on paper I can get it right. Real life has no re-writes, no editing.”

“Granted.” The sunlight played with the alternating auburn and fire-red highlights in her hair as they began to walk again. He was convinced no color had ever been so alive.

Carly squared her shoulders. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression about me. Concerning men.”

When he didn’t comment, she continued. “It’s only, well…I haven’t been involved with anyone since my husband died. I’ve been busy with my daughter and my writing. I haven’t met anyone I’ve been interested in, I guess.”

“Until now.”

Carly turned to look at him. Irritation crossed in her narrowed eyes. “You’re pretty sure of yourself.”

“No,” he replied. “I’m more sure of you, though.”

“Excuse me?”
Mike laughed again. He stopped and cupped her cheeks. “You’re even more beautiful when you’re angry. Your left eyebrow arches ever so slightly and your eyes turn the most incredible forest green.” He kissed her and felt her pulse trip again under his fingers.

Buy Links: The WIld Rose Press /// Amazon

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Filed under Alpha Hero, Alpha Male, Author, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, Life challenges, love, MacQuire Women, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, The Voices of Angels, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor