Monday, December 28, 2020

Rescuing Samantha

 Wild Women Authors features indie author Heidi Thomas as she celebrates her latest release: Rescuing Samantha. With Heidi is an independent woman and animal rescuer, Samantha Moser who will go first.

 Good morning, Sam. Tell us a bit about Rescuing Samantha. When I found out the ranch that once belonged to my trailblazing, rodeo cowgirl great-grandmother was for lease, I jumped at the chance to return to Montana and pursue my dream of raising Thoroughbreds. I had a rescued mare I wanted to breed and start a herd. After my fiancĂ© and I spent most of a back-breaking year fixing up the abandoned, dilapidated ranch, winter descended with a vengeance. Experiencing white-out conditions feeding animals, getting stuck, and the fear of freezing to death, Kenny left me to return to Arizona.

My dreams were shattered, the weather and financial conditions too difficult to raise the delicate racing breed. Then an eastern U.S. development group tries to take over a large portion of Montana land, including my ranch, for an exotic animal refuge. I was forced to take a job on a dude ranch just to survive. In the midst of uncertainty, I rediscovered the healing power of horses for children. I was thrust forward with a possible new purpose in life. But is it enough to succeed?

Can I help a young teen overcome her insecurities, battle the investment group threatening the land, and trust the man who has a stake in the takeover while he professes his help?

What made you choose ranching and working with horses for a career? Riding and being around horses have been in my blood since I was a child. I was never happier than I was when working with them. I grew up on a ranch in eastern Montana, and that’s where I want to be.

Knowing what you know now, if you had it to do over again, would you stick with rescuing horses or do something different? No, I think this may be my purpose, along with working with kids. I fell into this by accident, certainly a surprise twist in my life plans.

What is your biggest fear? Failure. I’ve failed at just about everything I’ve tried. I want to feel like my great-grandma Nettie would be proud of me. I don’t want to fail at this.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Follow your dream. My great-grandmother and my grandmother both were strong, independent women, and encouraged their descendants to persevere.

Thanks for spending time with us, Samantha. We wish you well in your rescuing efforts. Now, we’d like to chat with Heidi.

Which writer or character[s], from either books or movies, [or both] have had a major impact on your writing? Author Jane Kirkpatrick tells stories based on real women characters who are strong, able to step up in the face of adversity, and to persevere to accomplish their dreams.

With regard to research, where did you start for this novel? This is the 6th novel in the Moser family saga. The first five were based on family history. Three on my grandmother who rode bucking stock in 1920s rodeos, and two on my mother who emigrated from Germany after WWII. This one is totally fiction. I followed the “what if” questions in looking at the next, more contemporary generation. I researched horse rescue, horses and healing.

Did that lead you down different paths, thereby changing the original concept? No, I think I’ve stuck to the original idea pretty closely, although I am a “pantser” in my writing style, meaning no outline, write by “the seat of my pants”.

Tell us a bit about your publisher. How did you hear about them; what influenced you to submit to them; how is the submission process; what is the turn-around time from date of query to date of release? My first four books are with a traditional publisher, Two-Dot, a division of Rowman-Littlefield. . . but with the last four I have branched out on my own. The turn-around time is shorter, my per-book costs are less, and I have more say in the design and direction of the books. And, I don’t believe any more books have been sold through the publisher than through my own efforts.

What advice do you have for authors who want to go the “indie” route? My advice to authors seeking to publish their own is to learn your craft very well, rewrite and polish to the best of your ability, and have your work professionally edited.

What are you reading right now? Wildwood Creek. I love all of Lisa Wingate’s novels and aspire to write as well as she does.

What's next for you? I’m almost finished writing the second in this new series about Samantha and I plan to begin a third soon.

To learn more about Heidi M. Thomas and the stories she creates, go to:

http://www.heidimthomas.com

Facebook: Heidi M. Thomas, Author

Twitter: heidiwriter

Instagram: Heidi.writer


To purchase Rescuing Samantha, go to:

http://www.heidimthomas.com

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3m5PwgV

Saturday, December 19, 2020

Three Sisters by Susan Payne

Three very different sisters find the loves of their lives if only they accept fate’s interference in their quest. Bea and her younger twin sisters search for the family denied them and find three men willing to make them a home.

Wild Women Authors features Susan Payne’s Three Sisters, a western historical romance set in 1870s Southeast Texas. First up is oldest sister, Beatrice O’Malley.  

Where are you from? That is a very good question and for which I do not have an answer.  I remember a city in Ohio is where I started school. That was the first time I remember the family being all together. My father was happy and home most evenings.  No worries or cares.  I guess that is where I’m from.  I am searching for that again [along with] my sisters, Trudy and Andy.

Tell us a bit about Three Sisters. My mother passed when I was still young and the twins little more than toddlers.  My father began drinking heavily and for a gambler, that didn’t bode well.  He began cheating to keep from losing, but word got out and he had to keep moving to stay out jail or being tarred and feathered.  I don’t want you to think he didn’t take care of us or anything like that.  He missed my mother terribly and was doing the best he could at the time.  When I first met Marshall Devlin, I knew he was trouble for me and my family. But you can’t change fate. Just as I had to admit my sisters were old enough to know their own minds as well.

What did you think the first time you saw Marshall Devlin? That he was extremely attractive – and knew it.  I didn’t dare let him get close or he’d know I was hiding something.  The one thing I didn’t want a lawman knowing.  My sisters weren’t much better with each of them practically tying themselves to lawmen as well.

What was your second thought? That he was more dangerous than I had anticipated. He seemed to have a personal need to know my business--everything about me. 

Was it love at first sight? Certainly not. Lust certainly, but not love.  I don’t think he knew the meaning of the word or believed in its existence.

What do you like best about the Marshal? He is extremely loyal.  To his job, to the men he works with and to the people he loves. Not that he’d let anyone get away with a criminal activity, but he’d go the distance to make sure you were treated fairly.  That you paid your dues and then returned to him.

How would you describe him? Bossy, single minded, dedicated.  Once he’s made his mind up, it’s difficult for him to change it.  Has one way of looking at things which usually means he gets his man.  For us, it meant he often was on the wrong trail.

How would he describe you? Bossy, single minded, dedicated.  I had spent years on my plan and I intended to finish it no matter how long it took. He thought I was foolish for wasting my time.

What made you choose dealing cards for a career? My father would entertain us children with various card tricks.  Some included slight-of-hand like finding a coin behind a child’s ear or retrieving a card from thin air.  He taught us the tricks as we got older and it went from there.  I can spot a card shark by watching how he handles his cards. I have saved my employers and others at my tables by pointing them out.  My sisters are as talented even if they don’t like the life.  It allows us to travel when we get a new lead.

What is your biggest fear? That I will lose track of my siblings. I know they are adults and some are married, but I struggled my whole life to keep us together. I don’t want to give that up now.  Especially since the family seems to be growing.

How do you relax? I don’t think I do.  I used to knit to keep my fingers nimble though there isn’t any reason to any longer.  Now I knit little hats and booties for the new arrivals which will keep me busy for the next few months.  I’d rather be busy then relaxed, I guess.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Hmm, I never thought about it before. Perhaps, Emma.  I knew my mind and didn’t let anything stop me.

Thank you, Beatrice, for taking time to speak with us. We’d now like to chat with Susan.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Pearl S. Buck was especially memorable. She wrote gritty, down to earth stories which often included the darker side of life. I focus on the lighter, better side of people, but I understand more due to her writings.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? My growing up with sisters.  There was a wider gap between me and my youngest sister so she was considered the baby.  I always tried to fit in and follow my two older sisters. We had a Three Musketeer sort of feel going between us. What mother didn’t know – no one told her.  We felt invincible together.

Tell us a bit about your publisher. I had self-published my Sweetwater Series of eight stories through Wild Rose Press and then offered stories for their consideration.  They put those stories under contract and we’ve been doing so ever since.  A great group to work with and a strong support group for the writers. I have eleven books published since December, 2019.”

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? The pile is growing although I finally broke down and got a free Kindle. I have been reading several books a month although I still do edits and am writing several works at the same time.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? Blind Faith, a Regency was released December 9, 2020. Then I have two eBook releases in January, 2021. A Regency, Woman of His Dreams and western, How to Return a Mail Order Bride. They are shorter stories meant to be read when a person doesn’t have a lot of time.  Next is another historical western novel, The Texas Ranger and the Veterinarian.  

 

To learn more about Susan Payne and the stories she creates, go to:

Website: http://www.authorsusanpayne.com

 Tweet:  @SUSANREID640

 https://www.amazon.com/Susan-Payne

 Email: AUTHORSPAYNE@GMAIL.COM

 To purchase Three Sisters, go to:

 https://www.amazon.com/Three-Sisters-Susan-Payne/dp/1509234110

 An Excerpt:

          Devlin walked into the casino as usual and as usual it was quiet, the patrons behaving in a civilized manner, taking their losses quietly and their wins with much more enthusiasm.  His gaze moved around the room, searching for anyone who may be cheating the unsuspecting townspeople, someone used to dealing from the bottom of the deck. 

          Feeling like he got kicked in the gut, he watched her come out of the back room. She was tantalizingly beautiful emerging from the office where they counted the winnings for the night, the office where the owner entertained his most profitable customers with Brandy, Cognac and willing women.

    The woman walked to her station by the roulette table and pasted on the come-hither smile of her trade.  He went to her, like iron to a magnet.  Once beside her she glanced at him, her brows rose in a question then returned her focus on the players and their bets, ignoring the man with the federal marshals’ badge.

    “Place your bets, gentlemen, last call to place your bets,” she said in a husky voice, like a woman just waking up after a night of lovemaking. . .

          “Tell me, what’s your name?” His deep timbered voice rumbled.

    “What’s yours?”

    “Devlin, Marshal Devlin.”

    “Ah-h-h, the Devil.  Well, I have heard of you, Marshal Devil.  Aren’t you out of your usual territory?  I mean, I was told you only show up where there’s trouble or is it that trouble shows up where you are?” she asked, sipping the cup of coffee she poured for herself without offering him one. After all, he wasn’t an invited guest.  At least she hadn’t invited him.  She would be better off without his attentions, able to do what she was really there to do without the Devil getting in the way.

    “Come on, give me a name at least,” he coaxed.

    Hoping he would go away if she appeased him, she replied, “Call me, Ginger, everybody else does.  Ginger Taylor.”

    “Hmmm, with those eyes and that hair, I’d think an ‘O’ should go in front of your last name, like O’Riley, or O’Brian.,” he said twirling a ginger colored curl around his finger at her left temple.

         Ginger smiled and replied, “Anything you say, Marshal, but I have to get back to the floor or Maurice will be yelling for me.”

          “Tell Maurice you have a private game upstairs.  I can make it well worth your while,” Devlin offered watching her reaction.

         He didn’t need to wait long.  She was up and pushing the door open into the casino before realizing she was going to move. Calling back, she said, “I don’t work above the main floor. If you want a game upstairs, Marshal, it will have to be solitaire.”  

          She left him standing in a room of laughing men.

 

 

 

 

Thursday, December 17, 2020

Releasing the Catch

                          Women. Crab fishing. The Bering Sea. Some men don’t think they                         belong together. One woman wants to prove them wrong.

 Wild Women Authors feature Releasing the Catch, a contemporary women’s fiction novel by Jeny Heckman, released by Celtic Butterfly Publishing. First up is Faith Pearson.  

Where are you from? I was born in Seattle, Washington but I live most of the year on the Bering Sea in Alaska.

Tell us a bit about Releasing the Catch. It is essentially told in two parts. The first part is more Mack’s story… that’s Mack Carter, my surrogate father. It’s about his life and how he met my real dad, Nels. Then I came along, and well, you’ll have to read the story but let’s just say I haven’t led a very conventional life. Growing up on a crab boat and fishing, I was definitely in a man’s world back then. This of course, didn’t bode well for a lot of them since most have superstitions about females onboard boats. They think we’re going to somehow doom their boat or some such. . .stuff.

          Part two is about me after I grew up and went to work on other boats. I have some rules about men, fishing and relationships. Fact of the matter is I don’t have them when I’m working, but the trip Jeny tells about is the one I met Jake on and things kind of changed for me. My entire life shifted course, and I learned a few million things about myself.

What did you think the first time you saw Jake Rasmussen? That he’s really good looking. If Brad Pitt and Rob Lowe had a kid, you’d have Jake, if you can imagine that combo! But, back then I was a little more jaded and knew pretty men usually meant a pretty f#$%^d up… oh, can I curse on here? Sorry, I’m around fisherman all the time. Pretty meant you usually marked high on the arrogant and conceited scale.

What was your second thought? Hmmm, well, I can’t lie thought I did think about what it would be like to be with him. He has that effect on women. 

Was it love at first sight? Oh, hell, no. We went through a lot to get there. I fought it every step of the way. I’ve had a lot of loss in my life, and I don’t love easily. Jake had to drag me there kicking and screaming.

What do you like most about him? He’s not anything like I thought he’d be. He knows he’s good looking but he doesn’t use it to hurt people, if that makes sense. He’s very loyal to his family, but the thing I love about him most is his friendship. I never knew the two… friendship and lovers could go hand in hand like that.

How would you describe him? He’s got Rob Lowe eyes and that square jaw and Brad Pitt’s adorable nose and fun personality. He’s tall, and in our line of work you can’t help but be a little leaner and stronger.

How would he describe you? He’d tell you about my hair and freckles. I’ve got a million freckles, all over. So, my mom was a full-blown Scot, and my hair is that red-curly monstrosity you can only find on a Disney cartoon character. My eyes  are green and I’m tall like my dad. Jake would also say I’m a stubborn pain in the rear, a trait I also got from my full-Swedish father.

What made you choose crab fishing for a career? Let’s just say it’s in the blood.

What is your biggest fear? Losing the people I love. I don’t let many people in but when I do… yeah… I have to say, fear of losing them is way up there.

How do you relax? I didn’t do a lot of that after I grew up. I guess I’d say the outdoors on the water. Maybe fishing or camping. I love hanging out with my family.

Who is your favorite fictional character? She’s not fictional but it’s the stories my grandparents told me about my mom when she was my age.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? How about the best piece of advice I ever learned, was don’t accept the narrative. Ultimately, everything is up to me. My career. My relationships. The way I am with other people. I’ve been told almost my whole life that I don’t belong in the world I’ve chosen, but if I want it, work hard, and develop my skill, I truly am capable of anything.

 Thanks for spending time with us, Faith. Now it’s time to chat with Jeny.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I started reading those books when Diana first started writing them, a very long time ago. I love the way she flawlessly colored the scenes, created an adventure for a fully-grown woman, and made that woman flawed. Made her hero flawed too. I love things that don’t happen or end the way you expect them to. Not everything has a wholly happy ending and that’s life but it’s how we bounce with those obstacles that make us who we are.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? This story isn’t just a love story. It’s also about fathers and daughters. I wrote it as my father-in-law was dying and he is everywhere in the story.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I actually have two publishers. The first is Celtic Butterfly Publishing and I use them for my non-series publishing. They’re new but I love the personal touches they make and the way they promote me. My other publisher is The Wild Rose Press, who publishes my award-winning paranormal romance series, Heaven & Earth. They picked up the first book of the series, The Sea Archer, which was only the second book I’d ever written, the third book of the six-book series will be out next year. I LOVE my editor Dianne, who keeps me on my toes!

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile?  Right now, I’m reading Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, who is my favorite rom-com author! I’ve got several fellow Wild Rose authors I want to read and of course eagerly awaiting Darynda Jones and Diana Gabaldon’s next books.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? Next year, in the first part of 2021 I’m releasing a novella on a favorite character from my series, that the fans asked for entitled, Dee’s Cornucopia. Toward the end of the year I hope to have out book three of the series. However, I’m also working on an off-genre political thriller, that I’ve actually been working on for a very long time, and a YA dystopian series.

 A bit more about our feature author:  Jeny Heckman is the award-winning author of the paranormal-romance series, Heaven & Earth. When she isn’t writing, you will find her boating with her husband, enjoying game night with her kids, cocktails with her friends, getting frustrated with photography or dreaming and plotting her next adventure. Jeny lives in Washington state with her husband of over twenty-eight years.

To learn more about Jeny Heckman and the stories she creates, go to:

          Website: https://jenyheckman.com/

          Amazon Author Central: https://amzn.to/3hfq6fh

          Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heckman.jeny

          Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenyheckman

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

          Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jenyheckman17

GoodReads: https://bit.ly/3fd8RJA

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jeny-heckman

         Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dDTPI9

 

To Purchase Releasing the Catch, go to:

Amazon: e-Book: https://amzn.to/3qwf9uC

              Print: https://amzn.to/37xziYp

iBooks  Print Only

Nook:  Print Only

KoBo:  Print Only

Goodreads:

          https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55965445-releasing-the-catch

Bookbub:

          https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55965445-releasing-the-catch

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Broken Toys

 . . . Texas Ranger Noah Morgan has his life together—with a great job and the girl of his dreams. Too bad it’s all based on a lie. After a routine investigation into local scam artists uncovers a human trafficking ring, Noah fights to avoid being sucked back into the sights of the murderous family he escaped at seventeen . . .

 Wild Women Authors is delighted to feature Texas author Glenda Thompson who is celebrating the release of her debut crime novel, Broken Toys. Helping Glenda celebrate today is Texas Ranger Noah Morgan. He’ll go first.

Tell us a bit about Broken Toys. It is a wild ride down a twisted country road. You never know what’s going to pop up at you. You know, I thought I had my shit together but damn, one telephone call and the world goes to hell in a handbasket. I thought I had escaped my past. Guess that’s what I get for ‘thoughting’ as my Grandda would say.”

What made you choose law enforcement for a profession?  “Can you keep a secret? Sure. “I always knew it took a crook to catch a crook. Let’s just say I’m very good at me job.”

Hey, we read the book—several times—so we know how good you are. But knowing what you know now, if you had it to do over again, would you stick with being a Ranger or do something different? Are you kidding? I love my career. It’s more of a calling. I’m giving back, helping others, making up for… never mind. Besides, where else could I get paid to drive like a maniac and carry a gun?

Okay, Noah, what is your biggest fear? Being abandoned. I know what that dark loneliness feels like. If you let it, it will consume you—mind, body and soul.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? That’s an easy one. Gotta be that Virgil F’ing Flowers. I’m trying to be polite here. I’m sure you can figure out what they really call him. He’s my hero. Solves crimes, has a woman that loves him, and gets to go fishing whenever he feels like it.

We weren’t quite expecting that response as Virgie is one of our faves too. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Good question. I’m not sure. Maybe you learn more listening than you do running your mouth. Must be a reason we were given two ears and one mouth, right?

Just like in the book, you made us laugh out loud today. Thanks. Go back to driving like a maniac while we chat with Glenda. You be careful out there [from another fave you’re too young to remember].

 Good morning, Glenda. Which writer or character[s], from either books or movies, [or both] have had a major impact on your writing? I think a lot of writers have influenced me, but the major influences would have to be Dean Koontz, James Patterson, JD Robb, and John Sandford with a dash of Louis L’Amour.

With regard to research, where did you start for this novel? Did that lead you down different paths, thereby changing the original concept? I started this novel two last names ago, so yes, it has changed a ton from the original concept. The original is sitting in a drawer covered in cobwebs. I may pull it out some day, and I may not. I lucked out when it comes to research. Being married to a Texas Lawman, I have a built-in technical adviser plus additional resources. If he doesn’t know the answer, one of his colleagues will. It also helps that he understands he married a nut. He didn’t even bat an eyelash when I asked him to help me get into the pickup’s toolbox and then drive around while I was in it. How else would I know if my victim would fit and what she would experience?

Tell us a bit about your publisher. How did you hear about them; what influenced you to submit to them? This is my first novel and I was antsy about sending it out. I’d never done anything like this before, and I really wasn’t sure the story was good enough. I found them while researching other publishers. Thanks to my amazing editor, I’ve since learned it is a strong story with real characters in it.

How is the submission process? The process was simple and surprisingly quick. Once I began corresponding with my editor, I knew it was the right place for me. It just felt like home. I probably shouldn’t point out I live in a world of quick wit and unique individuals.

What was the turn-around time from date of query to date of release?  I submitted Broken Toys to The Wild Rose Press in late April. Broken Toys is available for pre-order now and will release on December 16th. Not a bad turn around considering I had to remove several POV characters.

What are you reading right now? Tons! I am an insomniac, so I read to fall asleep. I average a novel every two to three days. I will finish Infernal by Linsey Hall, a great indie author, tonight and tomorrow, I plan to start a new release, Tears of the Wolf, by another TWRP author, Sharon Buchbinder.

What's next for you? Broken Toys launches on December 16th. I’m really excited about that and am learning as much about marketing as I can. In addition, I’m working on three more stories that I hope The Wild Rose Press will fall in love with. Two are in my Broken world, and one is set in Wylder, Wyoming in the late 1870s. I’m excited about all of them. I plan to finish the Wylder story during NaNo.

 To learn more about Glenda Thompson and the stories she creates go to:

 GlendaThompson.com

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram 

Amazon

 

To purchase Broken Toys, go to:

Amazon

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Tangled in Tinsel

                                  Sugar plum fairies eat your heart out…

Madison Reynolds had visions of a different kind dancing in her head. Home for the holidays in Cedar Bend, Colorado, Madison must focus on helping her bedridden pregnant sister, not fantasize about the one who got away. But how is she supposed to forget about her high school crush when she bumps into him at every turn?

From the moment Ryder Sanders untangled the reindeer antlers from Madison’s hair his Christmas season appeared brighter. The time spent in her company leaves him more smitten. So, why does she still treat him as if he has cooties? They’re not in high school anymore.

Can the two find a forever love? Or will their wishes melt away like icing on a Christmas treat?

Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature Tangled in Tinsel, a current holiday release out of the Wild Rose Press, written by N. Jade Gray. With our guest author is loan officer Madison Reynolds who will go first.

Good morning, Madison. Tell us a bit about yourself, starting with where you’re from: Cedar Bend, Colorado.

What did you think the first time you saw Ryder Sanders? The crush I had on Ryder in high school hadn’t diminished. Butterflies still erupted in my stomach.

What was your second thought? I’m older and more mature and making conversation with Ryder shouldn’t be all that difficult. Right?

Was it love at first sight? No. I just believed it was the same old stupid crush I had from high school.

What do you like most about Ryder? He makes me tingle. In a good way.

How would you describe him? He’s kind, fun, and ruggedly handsome.

Sounds good but how would Ryder describe you? Shy. Too Quiet.

What made you choose becoming a loan officer for a career? I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers and I enjoy helping people with life goals, whether that is a loan for a business or for personal reasons.

What is your biggest fear? I miss finding love because I’m so hung up on Ryder Sanders.

How do you relax? A soak in the bathtub with bubbles or fragrant bath salts help me deal with stress or just to unwind.

Who is your favorite fictional character? I’m not sure I have just one.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? My dad always tells me nothing in life is guaranteed. You will kick yourself harder if you don’t try.

Madison, thank you for taking time out of your schedule to speak with us. Now we’d like to chat with Jade.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? I gravitate towards romantic comedies in movies and in books I enjoy a variety of different kinds, but they have to have the happily ever after.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? This year has been difficult on us all and I wanted to write something fun and lighthearted. Because I myself needed something fun and lighthearted. I hope to get a chuckle or two from the reader.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? Wild Rose Press has been a good fit. Several years ago when I was researching publishers, I made a list of publishers that were excepting time travel romance because at the time that was the story I had just finished, and I was ready to find someone for publication. I queried and received a request for full submission.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I love to read Christmas stories. So, I have quite a few of those stacked up just waiting for me to show them some love.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I’m actually working on another Christmas story for the 2021 Wild Rose Press Christmas Cookie series. The working title is Kisses and Lemon Snowflakes, which is a follow up story for one of my characters from Tangled in Tinsel. I also have a story approved for the Wylder West series that begins this December with Wild Rose Press. Both of these stories will be novella’s and will be e-book format.

 To learn more about our feature author go to:

          www.njadegray.com and/or njadegray@gmail.com

 

To purchase Tangled in Tinsel, go to:

https://www.amazon.com/Tangled-Tinsel-N-Jade-Gray-ebook/dp/B08M99MCN6/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=n.+jade+gray&qid=1604799897&s=books&sr=1-9

 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tangled-in-tinsel-n-jade-gray/1137963195?ean=2940163082438

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

A Wylder Christmas

 Wild Women Authors focus on Sarita Leone’s A Wylder Christmas.

 Blurb:

Can a Christmas miracle bring a southern belle into the arms of a Union soldier?

Violet Bloom leaves Charleston to come west as a mail-order bride.  But when she steps off the stagecoach, she's greeted by tragic news.  She vows to begin anew in Wylder, to lay haunting memories to rest, and find peace. Former Union soldier Thomas Harvey's dreams of homesteading are crushed, along with his heart, at the passing of his wife.  He moves to town and struggles to survive—not for himself, but for his spirited young daughter. 

After Thomas rescues Violet during a snowstorm, neither has any thought of romance. But Christmas magic is in the air. It's a time of forgiveness and new beginnings—even for lost souls.  

Excerpt:

 Dear Lord, the man was in a snowbank.

She bent her knees until she crouched, pulled in a huge breath, held her arms above her head, and jumped as hard as she ever had.

Strong hands grabbed hers. He lifted her body out of the hole, rolling over onto his back as she cleared the tunnel of snow he'd dug to reach the trap door, and pulled her onto his body.

They were both breathless from the exertion and lay panting for several moments.

Violet's back and feet were instantly cold. She began to shiver, which caught the man's attention.

He sat up, holding her in his lap, and unbuttoned his shirt. Beneath the flannel he wore a red woolen undershirt, which he pulled her against as he wrapped the ends of his outer shirt around her.

"Let's get inside before we both freeze to death. I'll come back to cover the cellar later."

Thomas stood, taking Violet in his arms and carrying her.

When she felt his large, warm hand on her skin, she learned that the nightdress that had been so lovingly created for a wedding night was torn on the back side.

And the man's hand? It was on her bare backside.

 Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MDKHYVQ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=A+Wylder+Christmas&qid=1604276519&sr=8-1

Monday, December 7, 2020

Wylder Hearts

 Wild Women Authors is pleased to focus on Kim Turner’s Wylder Hearts, the latest release in the Wylder West series out of the Wild Rose Press . . .

         Caleb Holt is the man to see for a good horse. Abuse an animal and he'll teach the lesson that goes with it. When he lands on top of a woman in the midst of a brawl and snags a passionate kiss, he sparks a fire he never expected. But it doesn't take the cowboy long to learn a lesson of his own… sometimes love comes with a price.

Seamstress Laurel Adams is embarrassed by Caleb's stolen kiss. Though she is determined to raise her son alone, she wonders at the ease of falling for the handsome horseman. But when the husband who abandoned her returns, there is only one choice to make—the one that breaks her heart into tiny pieces.

 Excerpt:

The businessman bolted forward and swung a fist that made contact with his chin, leaving him off balance and staggering backward. Trying to avoid the crowd that had collected he bobbled and went down, expecting to hit of the ground. But the impact never came. Instead he landed softly to a shrill feminine scream, and the greenest eyes he’d ever beheld.

Time simply froze, the world around him a haze as he found himself mesmerized by the beauty of the woman beneath him. It had been a damn long time since he was in such a position as this.

Unable to move with the crowd about them, he apologized allowing a slight smile to curl his lips, though he knew he should get back to the fight. He reached to tip his hat and realized he’d lost it. The feel of her bosom pressed between them stirred up a thing or two. “Beggin’ your pardon, Ma’am.”

“I’m quite all right.” She pushed to rise, but the crowd surrounding them was thick.

“Actually, I was apologizing for this.” Caleb bent to kiss her, slow and searing, her lips plump and tender, holding him there a moment longer than needed. He held her surprised green-eyed gaze a moment more and then he was back to the fight.

 Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Wylder-Hearts-West-Kim-Turner-ebook/dp/B08M23VGNV/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Wylder+Hearts&qid=1604163044&sr=8-1

Thursday, December 3, 2020

A Walk on the Wylder Side

 “. . . Take warning, Mr. Saunders. I’m a woman who’s been labeled difficult.”

“That so? I’ve been known to wear that label myself. . .”

 

With that, Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature A Walk on the Wylder Side, part of The Wylder West Series out of the Wild Rose Press, written by Laura Strickland. Up first is former gunslinger Buck Standish.  

 Good morning, Mr. Standish. Tell us a little about yourself. Hello, ladies. I have to say, it’s a pleasure being here with a couple of wild women. I don’t often find myself in such company, even here in the wild west. My name’s Buckminster Delham Standish. I go by Buck Standish, a moniker you may have heard. I’m a well-known gun-for-hire, but I’ve come here to Wylder, Wyoming under the alias Burt Saunders.

Where are you from? Originally, I’m from England. My father brought the family over when I was still in short pants. We lived in a lot of different places, after arriving in America. He—my father, I mean—couldn’t seem to settle in one city or town. Maybe I inherited a little of that restlessness. I hope it’s all I inherited from that old sod.

Tell us a bit about A Walk on the Wylder Side. Well, it’s interesting. I came to Wylder on the advice of my old friend and mentor, Pete Beckinstall. Pete more or less took me under his wing after I had my fill of being on the receiving end of my father’s fist, and left home. Pete’s the one who taught me to shoot. He knew I wanted to leave the life of a gun-for-hire behind and go straight, so he put me on to the chance of a job working security at the Mountroy Bank here in Wylder. I expected some gunslinger to come after me, trying to prove something—one always does. But I didn’t expect any of the other things that happened in Wylder, and I sure didn’t expect to fall for a woman like Cissy Arkwright.

What did you think the first time you saw Cissy? I thought she was crazy. You see, the first time I laid eyes on that woman, she’d just chucked a bucket of dirty water in my face. Yup, hauled open the kitchen door, she did, and threw that water all over me. So you might say it got my dander up.

What was your second thought? I thought I’d better stay cautious around her. You never know what a woman like that will do. But you could say her appearance made an impression on me. She wasn’t what I’d call beautiful, but hers isn’t a face a man could ever forget.

Was it love at first sight? No, ma’am. I’m not sure I believe in that. I was struck with her, yes. But I believe feelings take a bit of time to grow.

What do you like most about Cissy? That’s easy. It’s her sense of humor. Never knew I could sit at a kitchen table with a woman and laugh like that. She’s got a sharp wit and an even sharper tongue. And she understands my dark side, which is purely unusual in my estimation.

How would you describe her? Cissy’s smart and well-educated, far more so than I’ll ever be. She’s talented in the kitchen, and makes the best pie I’ve ever tasted, hands down. As for the look of the woman—well, those blue eyes aren’t as innocent as you’d suppose at first glance, and the thought of all that white-blonde hair loose down her back could make a man lose his mind.

How would she describe you? Damned if I know. Don’t know what Cissy sees in me, to tell you the truth, besides a load of trouble. But when she looks at me…well, I can just feel she sees something she likes. And when a gift like that lands in your hands, you don’t ask questions.

What made you choose the life of a gun-for-hire? An empty belly. When you leave home as a young buck with no way to feed yourself, and your reflexes are quick, and you’ve got a good eye, well it’s better than starving to death.

What is your biggest fear? Used to be that I’d turn around some day and see a kid drawing his gun on me—just a boy like I used to be back when I left home—and I’d have to shoot him down. Now I live in fear that I’ll hurt Cissy. Not something I’d ever want to do.

How do you relax? Well, this will sound funny, no doubt, but spending time with my horse, Midnight, relaxes me. Used to be, I preferred the company of animals to people. That was before Cissy, though.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Don’t do a lot of reading. But back in the schoolhouse, we read about that fellow in England—Robin Hood. Seemed to me he had his priorities right.

A smile worthy answer, sir. What is the best piece of advice you ever received? When Pete was teaching me to handle my guns, he said, “Always shoot first, boy, because you might not get a second chance.” I never enjoyed killing men. But it’s better than lying dead in the street. I guess that advice stuck with me, because I did jump at the chance for a relationship with Cissy, even when I knew it would be better if I didn’t.

Before Buck leaves us, he offers an excerpt from A Walk on the Wylder Side:

The protestation had a soggy sound, probably because it came from the man who, standing in the gloom just outside the back door, had received the brunt of the water. Cissy, the bucket still raised between her hands, blinked at him in astonishment. Nobody should be in the yard, not at this time of night. And anyway, she didn’t know this fellow, did she?

Hard to tell, seeing as how the water had hit him in the upper chest and splashed up into his face. And hair. He sputtered and did a little dance, before reaching for his gun belt.

He wore a gun. No, two of them, one on either hip.

Cissy still hadn’t got used to that. People in Chicago owned guns, sure. And unsavory elements there went about performing even more unsavory deeds, with the help of those firearms. But they didn’t strut around with pistols strapped to their sides the way men—and some women—did in Wylder, Wyoming.

This man wore his weapons low, like some sort of gunslinger, and looked more than prepared to use them. Or maybe he just sought to shield them from the deluge of water.

Apart from that, he wasn’t one of Mrs. Culpepper’s roomers, all of whom Cissy recognized. He looked about thirty, a tall man and lean with it—those hips certainly were lean—with a well-sculpted face now expressing extreme shock. He wore black—black trousers with a black shirt and leather vest. His hair was also black, longish in the back, and at the moment sodden.

For an instant frozen in time, Cissy stared at him and he stared back at her as if nothing—no one—else existed.

Now, a few questions for Laura Strickland: What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? I think every movie we’ve ever seen and every word we’ve ever read shapes us on some level. But I’d have to say the two writers who have influenced me the most are Louisa May Alcott and Sir Terry Pratchett. Oh, and I can’t forget Henry David Thoreau.

What event in your private life were you able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? I infused my hero and heroine with my own penchant for black humor. I hope that helped flesh them out into real and believable characters.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I learned about The Wild Rose Press online. They sounded like a “kinder, gentler” publisher, and since I’d spent a number of years being kicked around by the manuscript submission process, I wanted very much to submit to them. But I decided, if this was my one, best chance, I wanted to do it right. So I wrote my Scottish Historical Romance, Devil Black, to their specifications. And they snatched it up! It was a fortunate day for me, indeed.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I don’t have any books actually in my To Be Read  pile. I’m an impulsive reader, and tend to grab up books that catch my interest, as I see them. I would love to be able to read and review someday, when I have more time.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? Thanks for asking! There’s actually another Wylder West story in the offing. It’s A Wylder Undertaking, and the hero is—you guessed it—a long, tall undertaker with a soft heart. The heroine’s on the run with a load of stolen jewels on her tail. Not sure when that one will be out, but stay tuned to my web site!

 To learn more about Laura Strickland and the stories she creates, go to:

Web site: www.laurastricklandbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000002632317

Amazon page:  http://www.amazon.com/Laura-Strickland/e/B001KHSACW/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Goodreads page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/760146.Laura_Strickland

Twitter: Laura Strickland Author @LauraSt05038951