Crush by Christina Strigas

 Wild Women Authors focus on Crush, a contemporary romance written by Christina Strigas, released October 13, 2021 by The Wild Rose Press from their Fast Track line.

A bit aboutCrush:

It was love at first sight when Maria met Jack on a beach all those years ago. But when Jack suddenly disappears, Maria is thrust closer to Hunter, their long-time friend, taking them on a journey that changes all three of their lives forever.

Maria is a lonely young woman who finds love and acceptance with Jack, a free-spirited musician. In Maria, Jack finally has the girl of his dreams by his side. When Jack introduces Maria to his best friend, Hunter, he feels an instant connection to Maria, but he buries his feelings—along with his secret that he's a vampire—for the love of his friend.

Set in Saint-Tropez, Crush is a vampire tale with a twist. Spanning decades and delving into the past of each character in this thorny love triangle, it is about a woman who must choose between the man she's in love with and the man who is her soul mate. Adventure, love, romance, and vampires all collide in this unique novel filled with powerful emotion, heartbreak, and the question of undying love.

A bit about our focus author:

Christina Strigas is an author and poet, raised by Greek immigrants, and has written four poetry books. Her popular poetry book, LOVE & VODKA, has been featured by CBC Books in, “Your Ultimate Canadian Poetry List: 68 Poetry Collections Recommended by you.”Her fourth poetry book, LOVE & METAXA, has just been released to rave reviews from Pank Magazine.

Strigas’s poems have appeared in Montreal Writes, Feminine Collective; Neon Mariposa Magazine; Pink Plastic House Journal; BlazeVOX; Thimble Lit Magazine; Twist in Time Literary Magazine; The Temz Review, and Coffin Bell Journal, to name a few. Her poem, “Dead Wife” was nominated for best of the net 2020.

She has also self-published a self-help/poetry book based on her popular quotes that went viral on Twitter. She writes romantic love poetry in a stream of consciousness narrative prose. Her influences are Sylvia Plath, Anne Sexton, Mary Oliver, the Romantics, and Pablo Neruda.

Christina Strigas holds a BA in English Literature from Concordia University and a Teaching Certificate from Universite de Montreal. She teaches English and French in an elementary school and is a Course Lecturer at McGill University.

She created the popular @ArielPoets on Twitter along with poetry editor and poet, Alexandra Meehan, where they inspire writers and poets to believe in the power of poetry.

In her spare time, Christina enjoys foreign cinema, reading the classics, and cooking traditional Greek recipes that have been handed down from her grandmother.

To learn more about Christina Strigas and the stories she creates, to to: 

chrissystriga@gmail.com

Website: https://christinastrigas.com/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/christinastriga

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/c.strigas_sexyasspoet/?hl=en

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

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/christina-strigas

Tumblr: https://christina-strigas-author.tumblr.com/

Pinterst: https://www.pinterest.ca/christinastriga/_created/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3215812.Christina_Strigas

 

 

Meet Julie Howard and The Three Widows of Wylder

 Three women on the run.

After the death of her husband, Clara flees a hanging judge and seeks refuge with her brother in Wylder, Wyoming.

With secrets of her own and good reasons to flee, spoiled and vain Mary Rose joins Clara on the trek to Wyoming. Surely a suitable man exists somewhere.

Emma is a mystery. A crack shot and expert horsewoman, her harrowing past seeps out in a steady drip. She’s on the run from something, but what?

After the three women descend on Wylder, a budding romance leads to exposure of their pasts. As disaster looms, will any of them escape?

 Wild Women Authors is delighted to feature Julie Howard as she celebrates the latest in the line of many fascinating stories published by the Wild Rose Press. This one, The Three Widows of Wylder, is part of the wildly [get it?] popular Wylder West series, and it’s a wonder. In a break from the usual character interview, we asked Julie to tell us how she came up with this unique story line. And here she is. . .

 Thank you, Kat, for having me on your blog today! It’s a pleasure to be here on release day for The Three Widows of Wylder.

I can’t say I understand where inspiration for stories comes from. Sometimes it’s a theme I’d like to pursue, such as women overcoming the odds. Sometimes the kernel of the idea arises from a person I’ve caught a glimpse of or a news story I’ve read. I start to imagine, what if…?

In Three Widows, there are three main characters and I already had these characters in mind for a story. I didn’t have their story yet and so buried these characters in my mind while I tackled other projects. When I heard my publisher had launched a series centered on the American West, the plot arrived almost immediately. My three widows would be perfect for a historical fiction, and the Old West would heighten their danger.

Women in the 19^th century were constrained in their options. They could work in menial positions, get married, or remain at home. Most women strove for marriage – either for love or to create a family or to avoid the other two options. But I wondered, what would happen if a marriage went wrong? What options did women have then?

The Three Widows takes this idea to the extreme and places my three main characters in peril. They are on the run with their lives at stake.

Julie brought us an excerpt.

          Emma stood, legs apart, one hand on the pistol at her hip. The covered wagon was the type used years ago by pioneers, before trains tamed the prairie, and they still lumbered across areas where tracks hadn’t been laid. Two women sat side-by-side, too focused on their argument to yet notice the camp they entered. Their one horse, overmatched by the heavy wagon, was damp with sweat, its mouth flecked with froth.

“We should have stayed on the main road.” The peevish one appeared much younger, curly gold hair topped by a large straw hat. She wore a light-yellow dress with lace at her wrists and throat, a perfectly inadequate outfit for travel. “Someone could have provided directions.”

The older woman had finely-drawn features, a few strands of gray threaded through her dark, uncovered hair. Dressed in sensible blue calico, she gripped the reins too tight and the poor horse gave a pathetic shake of its head. “The whole point was to avoid people,” she sniped.

Emma strode forward and seized the reins. “For God’s sake, you’re killing him.”

The two women gaped as though at an apparition. The horse, released from harsh hands, lowered its head and halted. Its sides heaved as flies drank at its sweaty flanks.

“Whomever let you two fools handle a horse should be whipped.” Tempted to dispatch the women to hell for their cruelty, Emma rested her hand on the pistol’s handle.

They two travelers spoke in tandem. “Who are you?” and “How dare you call me a fool.”

As Emma crooned into in the horse’s ear, her expert fingers undid the buckles at its shoulders and haunches. By the time the older of the two women climbed to the ground, the horse was unhitched and Emma led it to the creek.

“That’s our horse,” cried the one in yellow. “Clara, what is that insane girl doing? She’s stealing him.”

Emma halted, shoulders stiff. She turned and pointed the pistol at the one with lace at her throat. “I’m no horse thief.” She cocked the hammer. “Apologize.”

 About the author:

Julie Howard is the author of the Wild Crime mystery series and Spirited Quest paranormal mystery series. She is a former journalist and editor who has covered topics ranging from crime to cowboy poetry. She is a member of the Idaho Writers Guild and editor of the Potato Soup Journal.

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

Website: http://juliemhoward.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/juliemhowardauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18116047.Julie_Howard

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Julie-Howard/e/B07D6CS4NQ/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/julie-howard?list=author_books

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JulieMHoward

Instagram: @authorjuliehoward

 

To purchase The Three Widows of Wylder, go to:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Three-Widows-Wylder-West-ebook/

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-three-widows-of-wylder/id1585169665

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-three-widows-of-wylder-julie-howard/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-three-widows-of-wylder-the-wylder-west-by-julie-howard

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58903448-the-three-widows-of-wylder

Arborview

 Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature author Karen Guzman as she celebrates the release of Arborview, a contemporary women’s fiction novel, published by the Wild Rose Press. First up is Ellen Cahill, recent divorcee and about to become pastry shoppe owner.

Good morning, Ellen. Tell us a bit about Arborview. It’s the story of my life up till now. It’s the ending of one chapter—a big chapter—and the beginning of a new one—one that feels more right, and more true, than I could have imagined. It’s about me, at the age of forty-eight, finally becoming myself.

What made you choose to become a pastry chef? It’s what I should have done when I younger, but I let the expectations of other people lead me astray. Creating pastry is an act of beauty and comfort in all too hostile world.

Knowing what you know now, if you had it to do over again, would you stick with being a pastry chef, or do something different? If I could do it again, I’d have become a chef in the first place. I’m finally at the right party now. I’ve just shown up a little late.

What is your biggest fear? Harm befalling my children, who are the love of my life.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? Alice from Alice in Wonderland, because we all fall down rabbit holes occasionally.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Be Yourself. Everyone else is taken.

Good advice. Thank you Ellen for taking time away from We Rise. Now we like to speak with Karen.

With regard to research, where did you start for this novel? Did that lead you down different paths, thereby changing the original concept? The concept evolved quite a bit in terms of executive and narrative structure, but the core message of the book stayed the same.

Tell us a bit about your publisher. How did you hear about them; what influenced you to submit to them. What is the turn-around time from date of query to date of release? The Wild Rose Press is just a terrific publishing house. Everyone, from my editor to the cover design artist to the marketing team, was so inclusive and professional. They respected my vision for the story and helped me produce a book that I’m really proud of. And the community of authors is outstanding. We all support each other with promotions and posting reviews. It’s a very special group. Turnaround time from query to acceptance to publication was just a little more than one year.

What are you reading right now? Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

What's next for you? I’m working on a collection of short stories.

To learn more about Karen Guzman go to: www.karenguzman.com

To purchase Arborview, go to:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/arborview-karen-guzman/1140053868

 

https://www.thewildrosepress.com/book-post/arborview

https://www.amazon.com/Arborview-Karen-Guzman-ebook/dp/B09DNQH267/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&qid=1632415749&refinements=p_27%3AKaren+Guzman&s=books&sr=1-4

 

https://books.google.com/books?id=nOBDEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT172&lpg=PT172&dq=apple+books+karen+guzman+arborview&source=bl&ots=pgp5N-onJb&sig=ACfU3U2sP91yID2ykuadkBCEudy-765-GQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjAxceBx5XzAhXdF1kFHdKnAt8Q6AF6BAgOEAM#v=onepage&q=apple%20books%20karen%20guzman%20arborview&f=false

 

Murder Undetected

 . . . Two strong women, one driven by selfish desire, the other by selfless love. . .

             Viane Thibaudet, darling of a hilltop town in Provence, has been getting away with murder. Only Brittany Thornton, newly minted psychologist from Seattle, sees her for what she is, and when Viane attempts to poison her husband, only Britt can stop her.

 Wild Women Authors is delighted to feature author Roxanne Dunn as she celebrates the release of Murder Undetected, her second mystery/thriller with the Wild Rose Press. With Roxanne is psychologist Brittany Thornton who will go first.

 Good morning, Britt. What made you choose psychology for your career path? I decided to become a psychologist when I read To Kill a Mockingbird in the fifth grade. Boo Radley fascinated me. He never went outside and had no friends, but he left little gifts in a knothole in a tree for Scout and Jem. I wanted to understand why he behaved that way, and I wanted to help him be able to talk to the kids.

Knowing what you know now, if you had it to do over again, would you stick with being a psychologist or do something different? I’m fascinated by our brains and how devious they are. So, yes, I love my work, and from now on, I’m going to stick to research and stay away from criminals.

Right now, I’m researching how we hide our thoughts and feelings from others. I believe it begins with hiding the truth from ourselves. I’m an example. I can observe a married couple interacting about some trivial matter and predict whether they will get a divorce or not, but I didn’t know my own marriage was in trouble.

What is your biggest fear? That I won’t recognize true love when it comes to me.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? Frodo Baggins. When Frodo decided to take the One Ring to Mount Doom and destroy it, he persisted against terrible opposition, and with the help of his friend Sam, accomplished what he set out to do.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? When we were in Paris, Arielle said, “Trust your instincts. Believe in your own value. And stop worrying about what other people, including Oscar, think.” Oscar was my mentor.

This has been really interesting. Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to speak with us. Now we’d like to chat with Roxanne.

Which writer or character[s], from either books or movies, [or both] have had a major impact on your writing? Nora Ephron and her films. I love her humor and the way she portrays each character. I’ve watched Sleepless in Seattle and You’ve Got Mail dozens of times, looking at characterization, conflict, and dialogue.

With regard to research, where did you start for this novel? Did that lead you down different paths, thereby changing the original concept? The concept was in my head from the beginning. The Black Widow, a movie starring Debra Winger and Theresa Russell, came out in 1987, and the story stuck in my head. Theresa’s character, the black widow, became wealthy by marrying and killing rich men. Only Alex, Debra’s character, suspected her of murdering her husbands. When no one believed Alex, she tracked the black widow down and proved it.

In Murder Undetected, Britt is an expert in nonverbal communication. So, although no one else suspects Viane, when she poisons her husband, Britt sees the expression on her face and becomes suspicious. The setting comes from my trips to the south of France. I love the hilltop towns in Provence, the markets, the feeling of community, and the sense that people have lived in that same place generation after generation.

Tell us a bit about your publisher. How did you hear about them; what influenced you to submit to them? Both novels were published by The Wild Rose Press, a company owned by two women who believe that publishing is a joint effort between the author, editor, and publisher. In thirteen of the fifteen years they’ve been in business, they’ve won the title of “Best Publisher of the Year” from an independent poll of readers and writers. I met Dianne McCartney, one of their authors, at Killer Nashville. Dianne’s experience convinced me that they were a good company. So, a month later, I pitched Murder Unrehearsed to a Wild Rose Press editor at the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference.

How is the submission process; what is the turn-around time from date of query to date of release? I received an immediate response [from my query], with a promise for a decision on accepting my book within 45 days. Every time they set a date, they’re done early. From date of query to release of Murder Unrehearsed, my debut novel, was about eleven months. For Murder Undetected, it was approximately five months.

What are you reading right now? I’m reading Pity the Reader by Kurt Vonnegut and Suzanne McConnell, The Art of Character by David Corbett, Murder in the First Position by Lori Robbins, La Dernière Rue de Paris by Elaine Sciolino, and Sale Temps Pour les Sorcières by M. C. Beaton.

What's next for you? The working title of my next novel is Murder Richly Deserved. It started out as a heist or caper, but a body turned up, and now I have to deal with that.

To learn more about Roxanne Dunn and the stories she creates go to: www.roxannedunn.com

https://www.facebook.com/roxanne.dunn.127

https://twitter.com/roxanne_dunn

To purchase Murder Undetected, go to:

The Wild Rose Press Bookstore (aer.io)

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=roxanne+dunn&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss 

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/roxanne%20dunn

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=roxanne+dunn