Bringing Characters to Life

I was a first hand witness to something strange today. I literally saw characters come to life. And I'm not using the word literally as hyperbole. Here's the scoop:

Recently my author friend, Jay Mims, guest posted on this blog for his book, Five Santas. His main character is a private investigator named Dan Landis. Well, today I got one of those emails that tells me I have a new comment on my blog post. Here's what it said:

Jay, 

My name is Dan Landis , I am a private investigator here in the state of Idaho and have owned an agency for 8 years. I thought it was so cool to see you wrote a book about me. I would love to meet you. Look me up sometime at D.L. Investigating llc. here in Idaho. 
Thanks 
Dan Landis PI.

I thought it was Jay joking with me. Come to find out, there's a real PI in Idaho named Dan Landis. I think Jay Mims has some sort of magic mojo to bring his characters literally to life. I wish I could do that! 

The idea got me thinking. What is it that makes our characters real, so real that teenage girls fall in love with them or so real that readers feel contempt for the antagonist and go around talking about him or her wherever they go? I know I've done it. I've read characters that became so real to me that I treated them like real people. 

1. Dialogue. I think one thing that makes characters real, at least for me, is dialogue. Can I tell a character's personality from the way they speak? Can I identify them by only reading their speech? So when I'm writing, I try to make sure that each person has a particular way of speaking.  

2. Actions. I'm talking the little actions. Those tiny idiocyncrasies that make a person real. Like the way my dad twists his moustache between thumb and forefinger when he's reading. Or how my mom will wipe her hands on a dish towel and carelessly toss the wet rag over her shoulder. These little details, interspersed throughout a book make the characters more realistic.

3. Flaws. Let's face it, nobody's perfect and if our character comes across to the reader as the perfect little kid or the stereotypical whatever, it's fake. The reader will see right through that. So no matter how 'goody two shoes' girl X is, she must have something that will bring out a devilish side of her. Or maybe that mild mannered guy who seems to have everything together is really impulsive and it's that impulsivity that gets him into the conflict. 

So readers, what is it for you? What makes characters so real they jump right off the page? For me, I'm going to start talking to Jay Mims to see what his secret is. After all, I've never had my characters contact me online!


Check out Jay's book. 

The Five Santas

Dan Landis is slumming it as a security guard at a department store. The money’s nice, but he also made sure Abbey has a job in the gift wrapping department. Dan chases a thief into the alleyway, only to discover the body of Santa Claus stuffed behind a dumpster. One body leads to another, and pretty soon Dan’s up to his ears in Yule Tide murder. He’s hired to protect the department store Santa, who appears to be more then meets the eye, but as the bodies keep piling up, Dan begins to smell something rotten in Denmark. Abbey being arrested might have something to do with that.

Open Book Society says “The author, Jay Mims, offers the reader a charming protagonist, whose wittiness defends against the violence surrounding him.”

Author Elizabeth Seckman says, “If you miss Moonlighting with Bruce Willis, you'll want to meet Dan Landis.”

And Jean The Book Nerd says, “Mims has provided us a great holiday/murder mystery story that is surely appreciated.”

Cover Reveal-- Switched-- Cassie Mae

I'm very excited to have Cassie Mae on RBTL for the first time. Cassie and I met in an online group for authors. Let's celebrate with her as she reveals her new cover for SWITCHED, coming out in December of 2013 from Random House FLIRT.

Blurb:

Cassie Mae redefines the New Adult genre with a novel that answers the eternal question: What do you do when you’re head-over-heels for your best friend’s guy?

Ever since high school, Kayla has been crazy for gorgeous football player Talon. But before she could muster the courage to tell him, he became a hot item with her beautiful BFF, Reagan. The only person who knows Kayla’s secret is Wesley, Talon’s best bud—and he’s got it bad for Reagan. Now they’re all in college together, hanging out 24/7. For Kayla, seeing the two lovebirds together is absolutely unbearable. So Kayla and Wesley hatch a plot to drive them apart. But time is ticking and they must act now, before Talon gives Reagan the Christmas gift she’s been waiting for.

Sure enough, the once-happy couple is fighting, Reagan suddenly can’t get enough of Wesley’s goofy sense of humor, and Talon seems to be paying more attention to Kayla than a guy who’s “just a friend” ever should. But something just isn’t right. Then Kayla and Wesley accidentally spend a night together, and discover a hitch they never considered: that switching partners may not lead to a perfect ending after all.

About The Author:

Cassie Mae is a nerd to the core from Utah, who likes to write about other nerds who find love. She’s the author of the Amazon Bestseller REASONS I FELL FOR THE FUNNY FAT FRIEND, and is the debut author for the Random House FLIRT line with her New Adult novels FRIDAY NIGHT ALIBI and SWITCHED. She also has a three book deal with Swoon Romance Publishing, including her book HOW TO DATE A NERD. She spends time with her angel children and perfect husband who fan her and feed her grapes while she clacks away on the keyboard. Then she wakes up from that dream world and manages to get a few words on the computer while the house explodes around her. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with the youth in her community as a volleyball and basketball coach, or searching the house desperately for chocolate.

Purchase Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/book/231684/switched-by-cassie-mae

The Enchanted-- By Elaine Cantrell

The Enchanted

By Elaine Cantrell

Blurb:

Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected. Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either. When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all their people.

Excerpt:

Morgane advanced on her enemy with deadly purpose.

"No!" Alan roared. "She has a knife."

Morgane tried to retreat, but it was too late. Aili's knife caught her in her thigh. Blood spurted as if from a fountain. Renweard was closer to her than Alan. His sword rose. Aili breathed her last as Morgane swayed and slipped to the floor.

Alan ran across the room and cradled her in his arms. In seconds he was coated with blood. "ʺWe must stop the bleeding!" he cried. "Where are the healers?"

ʺI will find one." Renweard left the room at a run with King Bowdyn right behind him.

Morgane's eyes fluttered open. "Your arms around me. No heaven can compare.ʺ

Alan pressed a kiss to her hair. "I love you, my brave Morgane."

Morgane sighed. "I could not let you face this battle alone.ʺ

Author’s Note:

After spending most of the last ten years writing contemporary romance, I decided it was time for a change. So in the spring of 2012 I wrote my first romantic fantasy, The Enchanted. Several challenges immediately presented themselves. First, I knew that I didn't want the fantasy to overpower the romance which meant I'd have to balance my world building details with the romantic elements.

Challenge two was finding characters who'd fit into my newly created world. I didn't want plastic, stereotypical characters. I wanted real people with warts and human imperfections, people whose lives and problems would draw you in and make you care about them.

My third challenge was to craft a plot that included fantasy elements, yet at the same time allowed my characters to be in charge of their own destiny and in the process grow and change.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I enjoyed the experience so much I have another fantasy/sci fi romance in the wings waiting for December and its turn at publication. Given my new love affair with fantasy romance, will I write contemporary romance again? I sure will. I'm working on one right now, and I just love it. It will be my first full length romantic comedy.

Author Links:

http://www.elainecantrell.com

http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com

http://www.twitter.com/elainecantrell

http://www.facebook.com/elainepcantrell

The Enchanted is sold at most online retail outlets.

Reviews:

A sweet story, easy read, fairytale/fantasy/romance 5 stars. 
                                                   Teresa Cypher on Amazon

A wonderful story that has swept into my heart. I will be remembering this one for a long time and reading it again.
                                                   Tifferz Book Reviews on Goodreads

The Deception of Devin Miller-- By Kelly Martin

Please welcome Author, Kelly Martin with her newest release, The Deception of Devin Miller.

Back Cover Blurb:

One month ago, seventeen year old Devin Miller wrecked while intoxicated—or so she’s told by the very aggravated blue-eyed boy when she wakes up from a coma. The only thing Devin remembers is the darkness holding her down and the voices-- some happy, some upset, and one very agitated. She can't remember her name, her age, where she lives, or who in the world the blue-eyed boy is. But he knows who she is, and against her better judgment, she offers to pay him for his memories so she can trick the ones closest to her into thinking she's fine. That is her first mistake.

When Devin gets home, things start to spin out of control. People she doesn't know keep talking to her. Trey--the blue -eyed boy-- doesn't show up like he's supposed too. And the police want to talk to her about her involvement in car accident. Plus she keeps seeing flashes of the crash, but none of them make sense. What would a red plastic cup have to do with anything? And why doesn't she have any feelings for her 'boyfriend', Cooper?

Facing DUI charges for a wreck she can't recall, Devin struggles to remember exactly what happened the night of the crash: something the real driver wants her to keep buried.

Author Bio: 

Kelly Martin is a southern mama who writes... a lot. She has two books out through Astraea Press: SAINT SLOAN and Grace Award winning, CROSSING THE DEEP. Her fourth book, B.I.G. IS BEAUTIFUL will be out Sept. 3rd, 2013. By day, she is a special education preschool teacher. By night, you can find her with her hair in a bun and her fingers on a keyboard. She loves God, is addicted to chocolate, and would rather write than sleep. She loves a good mystery and believes in Sherlock Holmes.

Kelly's links:

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads 

Amazon Author Page

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Release by first time author, Celeste Holloway.-- Sebastian Falls

Please join me in welcoming my good friend, Celeste Holloway. I'm giddy about having her here to promote her new release SEBASTIAN FALLS. 

You see, Celeste and I started out in the publishing/writing arena around the same time. That's how we met. We've encouraged one another over the years and through our publication processes. I'm overjoyed that her book, SEBASTIAN FALLS is out! I read it in beta form and let me tell you, it's awesome!!!

Sebastian Falls Blurb

A year after her parents’ death, seventeen-year-old, Meadow Parker is close to having a grave of her own.

Beyond her shrink’s false diagnosis of PTSD, there’s no medical reason for her failing health. Only she knows the cause. But if Meadow told the truth—told them what comes for her at night—they’d lock her in a padded cell.

Grasping to help her find closure, Meadow’s best friend, Casey Somner, drags her to the place her parents were obsessed with—the historical landmark that fuels Meadow’s fears and nightmares.

Once Meadow steps foot on the hallowed ground, she has a supernatural encounter that leaves her stricken with terror, but charged with power, fulfilling the legendary prophesy about the coming of The Keeper.

Both the holy and the unholy have waited over a hundred years for a new Keeper to resurface. Like it or not, Meadow’s destiny as Keeper is sealed, and the battle for her soul begins. A sharp double-edged sword, she will either save the world from Armageddon or fast track its annihilation.

Let's take a little bit of time to get to know the lady behind the book.

1.      What do you do when you aren’t writing?

I have a nine-year-old daughter, so if she isn’t in school, we’re hanging out. We love to watch movies, shop, and spend time at the library. Recently, she decided to be an Olympic runner, so I guess my new hangout will be the track.

2.      Do you make your bed every morning?

Yes!!!!! I’ve tried not to, but it haunts me until I do it. (I hate making the bed.)

3.      Tell us about your driving skills. Ever get road rage?

Ha! I guess I’m the passive aggressive type, so if another driver is on my nerves, I usually call them a stupid jerk without rolling down the window. As for my driving skills, I rarely break the speed limit. (My grandfather was one of the original NASCAR drivers in the 40s, so speed is in the blood. I have a lead foot.)

4.      What’s your favorite drink? Tea? Coffee? Wine? Other? All?

I’m  a Diet Pepsi-aholic, but I’m trying hard to kick the habit.

5.      Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate, all the way!

6.      What’s one thing that makes you proud? (Besides writing your book. We all know that will make you proud. :) )

My daughter, Letty, she’s a determined kid with a beautiful heart and giving hands. (We need to hook her up with my son!)

7.      How are you going to celebrate the release of your book?

I wish I had an exciting answer for this one, but so far, smelling the pages is all I have planned. (When we finally meet in person, we'll do a celebratory dinner.)

8.      Describe yourself using only words that start with “B” or “M”.

Bold (Beautiful, Brave, Magnificient, Mother.)

9.      Describe your everyday style. What would we see if we ran into you in Walmart?

Go ahead and call the fashion police! Usually, it’s jeans and t-shirts for me.

10.  What’s your biggest pet peeve?

People broadcasting their good deeds. (Oh, good one...Did I ever tell you about the time...Just kidding.) 

11.  Tell us something about yourself that few people know. For instance, I am trying to be an extreme couponer, and I occasionally drink chocolate syrup from the bottle. J

Awesome!!! I always wanted to try couponing, but I called Honey Boo-Boo’s mom for help, and she turned me away. Maybe you can show me how to be a super saver! Okay, sorry I got sidetracked. Something few people know about me. . . . I’m sort of creeped out by the dark, but not being outdoors in the dark. Also, cows freak me out. (You did NOT just say, "Honey Boo-Boo" on my blog.)

12.  What was your favorite chapter to write and why?

The first because it held a ton of possibilities and hope.

13.  Describe your writing environment.

I’ve heard of writers who write in a room filled with people and noise, but I’m not that kind of a writer. I need silence and privacy. Usually, I write in the living room on my recliner, but when I’m rich and famous, (I can dream) I’ll have a fancy office with a deadbolt on the door. J

14.  Name 4 things that make you want to go “EEEEEEK!”

 1. Spiders

 2. Running out of hair conditioner

 3. Stepping in poo-poo

 4. Large men in speedos (HA!)

15.   If you owned and ice cream company and sold your signature version of Neapolitan, what three stripes of flavor would be in the box?

Crud, that’s a hard one. Give me a sec. . . . Peanut butter, cheesecake, and blueberry, yep those are my final picks. (I like all those flavors, but I can't say I'd try them together.)

           

16.  You’re throwing a dinner party.  The guests are Mark Harmon, Agatha Christie, Jay Asher, James Roday, Pope Francis and me.  What do you serve?  WHAT DO YOU SERVE?

Mark Harmon, really? (Hey, my mother would love to have Mark Harmon to dinner. She's a NCIS fan. DO NOT call her while it's on. She won't answer.) Welp, since I believe in putting on the glitz, I’m calling the chefs from Mt. Fuji, so they can squirt fake ketchup in the Pope’s face while saying, “Yummi, yummi!” After the poor guy falls out of his chair, Agatha Christie might steal a bite of steak off his plate and secretly hope he dies. That way, she can cook up a new novel, called, Death and Sushi. Of course, Jay Asher will feel his creative vibes and turn competitive. He’ll snatch up her fried rice and toss it at the chef to create a diversion. This enables him to chat up James Roday about directing his next hit, Six Reasons to Pick Different Dinner Guests. You don’t mean to do it, but you can’t help but listen to the two of them whispering, and you slap Jay for suggesting you guys are crappy dinner guests. The unsuspecting Jay stands, holding his cheek, and Mark Harmon opens his fortune cookie, then dances around the chef. Of course, the chef has no idea why Mark’s hopping around on one foot, so he slams his spatula on the table and cracks an egg over your head. (What? Why do I get the egg?) The excitement is too much for him. His brain is overloading. He meant to crack the egg in the skillet, but he’s losing control. Seeing the flames in your eyes, (it’s a reflection of the fire) I usher Chef Yummi out of my house and as a peace offering, I hand you a cranberry orange scone. (As long as my dad made them, I accept.) J  

Be sure to check out Celeste's AWESOME book, Sebastian Falls on Amazon.

Author Bio: I'm a dreamer who doesn't know how to quit, Mother to the best kid on the planet, and a non-recovering perfume addict. Writing is my passion, and I'm obsessed with all things old. Look me up on Facebook. I love making new friends.

Check out Celeste on:

http://celholloway.blogspot.com/ 

https://www.facebook.com/celeste.holloway1?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/AuthorCelesteH

Author Felicia Rogers-- Beyond a Doubt

Welcome author Felicia Rogers and her new book, Beyond A Doubt. If you like clean historical fiction, be sure to take a peek! 

Beyond A Doubt, The Renaissance Hearts Series, Book Four
The end is finally here…

The final chapter has been written for The Renaissance Hearts Series. What began with Sarra and Cedric in There Your Heart Will Be Also concludes with Bryce and Lucy in Beyond A Doubt. Set in the turbulent times of Mary I of England, or Bloody Mary, and Henry II of France, the fight for religious freedom abounds. Intrigue, loss of property, and loss of life rule the day. Follow the epic ending of a family’s struggle.

Buy it Now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/c285w6u
Buy it Now on B&N: http://tinyurl.com/d429lom

SUMMARY

Bryce Cameron is finally going home. Years spent away have him longing for the craggy landscapes from his childhood.

Lucy Lombard is on a mission. The mantel she carries was never meant for her possession yet it has been passed to her anyway. Alone and in danger, Lucy stumbles onto her greatest find.

Rescuing Bryce is either a blessing or a curse but regardless time is running out. With Bryce's help can Lucy fulfill her mission or will she be too late?

****

See what others have said about the Renaissance Hearts Series.

“I really enjoyed this book. I do not typically favor historical romance, but the romance was not too mushy, and the historical was not too heavy! This was an enjoyable, delightful read!!!.” Taken from Rachel’s Amazon review on There Your Heart Will Be Also, Book One.

“If you are in for a good mystery with plenty of adventure, suspense & romance, you have come to the right place for this recommended novel because "By God's Grace" will give it all to you.” Taken from Arlena’s Amazon review of By God’s Grace, Book Two.

“Okay have to say this is my fav book so far in The Renaissance Heart Series! Felicia Rogers just gets better!” Taken from Danielle William’s Amazon review of Labor of Love, Book Three.

Buy Beyond A Doubt on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/c285w6u
Buy Beyond A Doubt on B&N: http://tinyurl.com/d429lom

Don’t forget the other books in the series. Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Astraea Press.

~There Your Heart Will Be Also, Book One

~By God’s Grace, Book Two

~Labor of Love, Book Three

ROMANCE AUTHOR

Felicia Rogers

Felicia Rogers is an author of six novels and three novellas. When she's not writing, Felicia volunteers with the Girl Scouts of America, teaches at a local homeschooling group, hikes, and spends time with her family.

To find out more information about Felicia Rogers visit the sites below. She loves hearing from readers.

Website: http://www.feliciarogersauthor.weebly.com

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

Email: feliciarogersauthor@yahoo.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4412925.Felicia_Rogers

Author Rachel VanDyken Got the Deal!

Congratulations to best selling author, Rachel VanDyken, on her Big NY contract for her first two self-pub books The Bet, and Elite. We're here to help her celebrate.

I'm privileged to have 'met' Rachel through a shared publisher, Astraea Press. She's been an inspiration and an encouragement on my own writing journey. So, I'd love to share her success with all of you. Be sure to check out her website: http://www.rachelvandyken.com/


Be sure to check out her books:
The Bet:

"I have a proposition for you..." Kacey should have run the minute those words left Seattle millionaire Jake Titus's mouth. Instead, she made a deal with the devil in hopes of putting her past behind her once and for all. Four days. She could do four days! But she wasn't counting Jake’s older brother Travis being there to witness their farce of an engagement. One thing is for certain. One brother is right for her. One wants a lifetime. And one is in league with the devil. She should have gotten Jake’s signature in blood. * This is a New Adult novel. There is mild profanity and some sexual content.


Elite:
*This is a New Adult Book, blood, violence, cursing, sexual references, and drug use. Not recommended for those under 17*

When I won the annual Eagle Elite College Scholarship lottery, I was thrilled. After all, my grandma had just died, and I wanted to take care of my aging grandpa -- he couldn't be a farmer in Wyoming forever. And graduating from Eagle Elite meant opportunity.
But I wasn't counting on meeting Nixon.

Nor was I counting on the rules of the Elect.

1. Do not touch The Elect.

2. Do not look at The Elect.

3. Do not speak to The Elect.

And worst of all? Don't discover the secret they hide, because in the end, you may just realize... it's about you.


Because Rachel is awesome and wants to help all author-y type people like me, she insisted we put our own links to our own books here too, so here's mine: 

At What Cost:

During her junior year, sixteen-year-old Maggie Reynolds expected to shop for prom dresses not maternity clothes. Now, instead of studying for the SATs, she’s reading, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Maggie’s ‘Mother Dearest’ lives in fear that Maggie will somehow taint the family name, so Maggie can’t turn to her for help. Meanwhile, her father is oblivious to anything but his 9-9 job. And her boyfriend, Justin? She’s pretty sure he’ll stay by her side. 

While Maggie wrestles with her options, Justin offers a solution: abortion. It would solve all her problems quickly, easily, and effectively. And her parents would never know, which means they won’t throw her out and cut her off like they’d always threatened if she got herself knocked up. But an easy decision becomes difficult when Maggie’s aunt discovers her secret and sets out on a mission to stop the abortion, putting a kink in Maggie’s plan. Now Maggie must decide which choice she can live with: abortion or teenage motherhood. Either way, it’ll be a tough road to travel.

At What Cost is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Astraea Press. 

Be sur to check out http://the1940mysterywriter.weebly.com/1/post/2013/05/blog-hop-its-a-party-rachel-got-the-contract.html  for the rest of the celebratory blog tour. 

The Rafflecopter giveaway starts Tuesday, May 14. Be sure to come back to enter! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Meg Mims

Please welcome back, Meg Mims and her newest release, DOUBLE OR NOTHING. Be sure to check out the books on Amazon by clicking on the images. 


BOOK BLURB:  A mysterious explosion. A man framed for murder. A strong woman determined to prove his innocence. 

October, 1869: Lily Granville, heiress to a considerable fortune, rebels against her uncle's strict rules. Ace Diamond, determined to win Lily, invests in a dynamite factory, but his success fails to impress her guardian. An explosion in San Francisco, mere hours before Lily elopes with Ace to avoid a forced marriage, sets off a chain of consequences.

When Ace is framed for murder before their wedding night, Lily must find proof to save him from a hangman's noose. Will she become a widow before a true wife?

EXCERPT:

DOUBLE OR NOTHING

I jumped at a screeching whistle. Men swarmed over the distant slope like bees over a wax honeycomb in a mad scramble. “Good heavens. What is that about?”

Uncle Harrison pulled me out of harm’s way. “They’re almost ready to begin the process of hydraulic mining,” he said and pulled his hat down to avoid the hot sun. “You’ll see. This is far better than panning for gold in a creek bed.”

“I can already see how destructive it is, given the run-off,” I said, eyeing the rivulets of dried mud that marked each treeless incline. “I’ve read about how the farmers can’t irrigate their fields and orchards due to the gravel and silt filling the rivers—”

Water suddenly gushed from two hydraulic nozzles in a wide, powerful stream. The men’s bulging arm muscles strained their shirts, their faces purple with the effort to control the water. I turned my gaze to the ravaged earth. Mud washed down into the wooden sluices, where other men worked at various points to spray quicksilver along the wide stretch. Others worked at a frantic pace to keep the earthy silt moving.

An older man with a grizzled goatee and worn overalls held out a canteen. “Have a sip while you’re waiting, miss,” he said. “A body gets mighty thirsty out here.”

“Thank you.”

I sipped the cold, refreshing ginger-flavored liquid that eased my parched throat. Dirt from the canteen streaked my gloves. Not that it mattered. At least the spatters of fresh mud wouldn’t show on my black mourning costume and riding boots. Two days of rain earlier in the week had not helped.

The kind man offered the canteen to Uncle Harrison, who brushed it aside with a curt shake of his head. Steaming, I bit back an apology. The man had already headed back to his position near the sluices.

Bored of watching the ongoing work, I wandered over to several horses that stood patient in the sun and patted their noses. A tooled leather saddle sat atop one gelding’s glossy brown hide, and the silver-studded bridle looked as rich. The horse gave a low whicker in greeting. If only I’d pocketed a few carrots or sugar lumps from breakfast.

“You’re a beauty. I wish I could ride you for a bit.”

The gelding’s ears dipped forward. One of the men left the knot of others in a huff. His dusty open coat swung around him as he stalked, spurs jingling, and closed the distance. He passed by me with a mere tip of his wide-brimmed hat and untied the reins. The horse pawed the ground, jittery, as if sensing the man’s foul mood while he mounted…

 I trudged toward the shack. The foreman held a large piece of blueprint paper between his hands while my uncle pointed at various sections. Two other men argued with them, their heated words carrying over the whooshing of hoses and creaks and jolts of skeleton wagons over the rutted ground. Most of their argument was peppered with technical jargon that didn’t make any sense. Even Chinese sounded more familiar.

“We haven’t made enough headway,” said a man in a tailored suit, whose gold watch chain glinted in the sun. “I say we dig out the ridge all the way.”

“You take that ridge down any more than we have and we’ll never get equipment to the furthest point of the claim, over here,” my uncle said and prodded the map. “That was Alvarez’s advice. He knows this land better than you, Williamson.”

“I agree, it’s too dangerous,” the foreman said.

 “I’m the engineer! Are you implying I don’t know my business?”

“I’m saying it’s stupid to undermine that ridge. You’re being a stubborn coot.”

“You’re a fine one to call me stubborn—”

Good heavens. I reversed direction and headed back toward the sluice. They were sure to argue for another few hours. I wanted to ride that horse, even if it meant hiking my skirts to my knees and baring my ankles. The poor animal looked like it a good run, or at least a trot over the rough ground. I had to do something productive or I’d go mad. Steering around the same boggy patch of mud, I cut close to the sluice. A blood-curdling yell halted everyone. I whirled to see the entire bank of earth, a huge avalanche of mud, rocks and two large trees root-first, rushing straight for me.

BIO:

Clocks and time play a big part in any late bloomer’s life. And time plays a vital part in every mystery.

Meg Mims is an award-winning author and artist. She writes blended genres – historical, western, adventure, romance, suspense and mystery. Her first book, Double Crossing, won the 2012 Spur Award for Best First Novel from Western Writers of America and  was named a Finalist in the Best Books of 2012 from USA Book News for Fiction: Western.

Meg also wrote two contemporary romance novellas, Santa Paws and The Key to Love. Her short story ‘Seafire‘ is included in the charity anthology Hazard Yet Forward to benefit a fellow writer battling breast cancer. She earned an M.A. from Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction program in 2010 and is a member of RWA, WWA, Women Writing the West, Western Fictioneers and Sisters in Crime. Born and raised in Michigan, Meg lives with her husband, a “Make My Day” white Malti-poo and a rescue Lhasa Apso, plus a drooling black cat. Her artistic work is in watercolor, acrylic and pen/ink media.

1.  I loooove coffee with French Vanilla now, and Harney & Sons tea, although I prefer a Jamaican Me Happy at night.

2.  I "pants" my contemp romance novellas, no outline, only photos and a few searches for cars, etc., but I spend weeks plotting characters, backgrounds, historical maps, vintage street and city photos, character photos from all kinds of sources, PLUS a huge outline of 14-20 pp. LOL

3. I'm going to publish a mystery series this year, I hope. Along with another contemporary romance "beach read" for summer and a Christmas novella, Santa Claws, in early November. 

Check out Meg's other books:

                                    

Kelly Martin-- Saint Sloan

When You Write the ‘Hard’ Topics

I want to thank Jessie for having me on her blog today! I’m going a one day blog tour

(13 blogs!) to get the word out about my new book, SAINT SLOAN.

I’m a big fan of Jessie’s book, AT WHAT COST. If you haven’t read it, you so should! It deals with a very hard subject: abortion.

Writing ‘hard’ subjects is well… hard. You have to get into your character’s mind and sometimes that’s not a pleasant place to be. I had the topic of sexual assault in SAINT SLOAN (which is always a fun thing to write about). Come to think of it, in CROSSING THE DEEP, I had to write about child molestation from a guy’s point of view (not in detail, but I had to work it out in my mind so I had to *see* it even if it’s just implied in the novel).

Hard topics like abortion, sexual assault, and molestation aren’t fun or easy to write about, but they are important. If we all wrote about sunflowers and daisies, it wouldn’t be an accurate representation of the world around us.

And in these novels, we can still bring out the courage and fight in our characters. They may be flawed, but they are still human, still try to do their best in a very difficult world.

Here’s the back cover blurb from SAINT SLOAN:

When Sloan Bridges is seventeen years and three hundred, sixty-four days old, her dream of having a perfect birthday is shattered. Home alone after spending the afternoon working on a science project at the new boy’s house, Sloan is brutally attacked in her kitchen by a man she can’t recognize. The only clue she has to go on is what he whispers in her ear, “You deserve this.”

The police have one suspect—Aaron Hunter, older brother of ‘the new boy’, who picked Sloan up a few nights before as she ran from a party. Adamant that he didn’t do it, Aaron begs Sloan to believe him. For her part, Sloan doesn’t know who to trust. She never saw her attacker’s face, and when she does picture it, it’s Aaron’s face she sees standing over her.

Trying to move on is impossible with a former best friend who taunts her and gives her the moniker, “Saint Sloan”, an ex-boyfriend who doesn’t understand why she changed a few months before her attack, and Aaron’s brother, Ray, who makes Sloan smile but has a side she doesn’t understand.

With her attacker ready to strike again, Sloan has to figure out who would hurt her and stop him before he finishes what he started.

~*~*~

Want to read more? Buy the book from any of the links below:

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Saint-Sloan-ebook/dp/B00BMQ9E9O/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

BARNES AND NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/saint-sloan-kelly-martin/1114723748?ean=2940016377308

SMASHWORDS: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/290677

ASTRAEA PRESS: http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=20839143

KOBO: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Saint-Sloan/book-wNrqosRRB0i2jU9ym34izg/page1.html?s=4Xoj6XizzUOFvTfhOsZ87Q&r=1

Thank you so much for having me here today!

Author bio:

~Kelly Martin is a best selling author of young adult fiction. She has two books: Grace Award nominee CROSSING THE DEEP and Amazon Best selling in Teen/Religion SAINT SLOAN. She has several short stories published and loves to write ‘twitter fiction’ when she’s bored. Kelly loves God, is addicted to chocolate, and would rather write than sleep.

You can find her on twitter (she tweets a lot): @martieKay

You can find my author page (blog tour central): at www.kellymartinstories.com