The Inn on Gooseneck Lane

Nat Thomas calls Mistletoe Falls, Vermont home where summers were magical, her aunt became the parent she needed, and high school love bloomed. Sixteen years later, that love lost, Nat returns home for a much-needed break. She’s recruited to revitalize her aunt’s picturesque inn. Will the boy who broke her heart be the man who rallies to save her home and capture her heart…for good?

Brad Matthews returns home to buy Green Mountain Sports, after years as an outdoor adventure guide. He’s thrown into partnering an event to revive the town’s inn and boost his business. Can he work with the woman who demolished his heart and ran with no explanation?

In a small town where everyone knows your business and interfering relatives revive snicker-doodling, the lost art of matchmaking, Nat and Brad may not stand a chance. Can the two find enough heart to forgive and accept love again?

 Wild Women Authors is delighted to welcome author Delsora Lowe as she celebrates the current release out of the Wild Rose Press: The Inn on Gooseneck Lane. With Delsora is paralegal Natalie Thomas who will go first.

 Good morning, Nat. Thanks for speaking with us. Let’s start with where you’re from. I’m from Boston. But since I was a kid (seven,) I spent summers at my aunt and uncle’s inn in Vermont. That’s when I met Brad Matthews. The summer prior to my senior year, I had had it with my parents, and finally fell in love with my best friend, Brad. So, I lived with my aunt and uncle at the inn. To say my parents were not happy is an understatement. After college in Boston, I’ve spent the last eleven years living in Washington, D.C. I’m a city girl with a small-town heart.

Tell us a bit about The Inn on Gooseneck Lane. The family-owned inn is my home for the next two months. My aunt owns and runs the inn. Sadly, my uncle passed away a few years ago. With lack of help, my aunt has struggled to keep the inn in the black. My plan was to come home on a sabbatical to study for a paralegal exam and secure a promotion. But my aunt volunteers me to organize a Christmas week event for the over-fifty crowd to help promote and save the inn. Only problem is, I’m blindsided when my co-organizer is the boy from my past—the love of my life who betrayed me.

What did you think the first time you saw Brad Matthews? I was horrified. Okay, that wasn’t the first time I saw him. The first time I met him was when I was seven and he became my best friend, although he was a bit annoying. But this time around—he was the last person I expected to walk through the inn door. I wanted to hide. But my aunt was counting on me to work with the one guy who tore my heart to shreds, to save the family inn. I was pissed, confused, and yes, horrified that I—okay, we— were set up and now stuck together for the next two months.

What was your second thought? Geez, he looked good! Filled out, buff, a bit outdoorsy, scraggly looking, tanned. Did I mention buff? And those eyes. The eyes that had haunted my dreams for the last sixteen years.

Do you feel it was love at first sight? As a seven-year-old, it was friends at first sight. This time around, it was hate-at-first-site, and for quite a while after until we agreed to set aside the past FOR NOW and work together to save the inn and help his new business—Green Mountain Sports. Eventual love—NOT on my radar.

What do you like most about Brad? Nothing. Okay, that was until I got over the fact we were stuck together, but I still wasn’t willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. But he’s proved himself over and over. So, to answer your question… Easy—he loves him mom. Seriously, any guy who drops everything to help his widowed mom through a cancer scare, and then extends that help to his surrogate aunt (Aunt Mary and his mom are besties since childhood,) to assist her in saving the inn, despite having to partner with me…well turns out he’s a pretty great guy, after all.

How would you describe him? Thoughtful. Caring. A good friend. Persistent, in that he knows how to wear down a person. Way too focused sometimes. I guess we have that in common. Still, he also knows how to have fun. But points off for driving me crazy in more ways than one. And that includes his utter lack of knowledge or willingness to learn anything related to the computer and social media, which makes organizing a huge event with him a nightmare. But we’re working on that aversion.

How would Brad describe you? Uptight, focused when on a mission, standoffish, stubborn. Used to be a time when we were kids and teens, that he would have called me fun-loving. Carrying around his betrayal all these years has made me a by-the-book, get-the-job-done-and-don’t-look-back kind of gal.

What made you choose to become a paralegal? I didn’t choose this career. Both my parents are attorneys, and this career was chosen for me. I wanted to major in art and art history, but the folks threatened to not pay for college, so I knuckled under. Although I did sneak in a few art courses. But now… after spending time in Vermont and getting to know Brad again, I’m finally ready to do things my way.

What is your biggest fear? Right now, letting down my aunt and losing our family legacy. This inn has been in the family for several generations. I will do anything to make sure it thrives. Oh, and letting down my guard around Brad.

How do you relax? Ha! Not sure I remember what that word even means. At the law firm there is never downtime. And now, between running the inn, spearheading an event, and studying for my paralegal exam, there is no time for relaxation. And now, Aunt Mary and her mom Sylvie get in the act and throw Brad and me together, thinking we’ll both have fun. Not!

Who is your favorite fictional character? I hate to admit this at the age of thirty-four, but probably Cinderella. She’s a dreamer with optimism. Totally opposite of me. My dreams for great love and living my life as an artist of some kind were quashed. And no one has ever presented me with a glass slipper that fits. At least I thought that, until Brad came back into my life and taught me that maybe dreams can come true—if, and I mean IF, I am willing enough to forget about the shoulds and dream about the what-ifs.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? My aunt, always the optimist, introduced me to the book The Little Engine That Could when I was a kid. Her message was always to be optimistic and know you can do anything. As an adult, when things seem impossible, I channel Aunt Mary’s voice in my head that says, “I think I can, I know I can.”

 Thanks for spending time with us, Nat. Now we’d like to chat with Delsora.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Too many to name. Each romance I read inspires me, even when I read out of my normal genre of contemporary romance. I have so many favorite authors who teach me something every time I read their books. Plus, I love to try new authors and varied genres. And then don’t get me started on all the writing skills books… I love all romance movies, and am especially drawn to Rom Com.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? There are quite a few areas of my life represented in this story. As I drove a quintessential back road from southwestern Vermont home to Maine, climbing over the mountains and running alongside a rushing creek (the setting for my inn,) I saw a country lane sign—Gooseneck Lane. That, I said to myself, will make a great story title. I plotted pieces of this book in my head as I drove. The Inn is based on an inn and a bed and breakfast, both of which I stayed in, in the town of Brandon, VT. So, bits and pieces of the story are based on that stay and town, and others are based on an old mansion by a river in Maine, converted to a restaurant and wedding venue that I managed years ago. The owners lived on the 3^rd floor. We hosted winetasting dinners and paired them with local-sourced food. We also planned small weddings and business conferences. I also worked in non-profits and independent schools and colleges. A big part of my job was planning multi-layered events. I grew up in Washington, D.C. and my best friend was the senior assistant to one of the partners, so that was another element of inspiration for the development of my heroine. My hero was based on students I worked with at Unity College who majored in the area of adventure therapy and outdoor recreation.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I have long known about The Wild Rose Press and submitted to them several times over the years. When I wrote this story, I had a Hallmark type story in mind. I sent it out to several publishing houses and was excited when my editor at TWRP expressed interest. Truthfully, I know and admire a TON of authors who work with TWRP, so it was a thrill to be accepted into the garden. And those authors, ones I have known for years and others who are new friends, are very special to me—a giving group ready to share advice and help one another.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? All I can say, there is not a house big enough to store all the books on my TBR pile. Luckily, I have a Kindle. Currently I’m reading Donna Alward’s newest book. I recently finished books by Cindy Kirk, Vicki Lewis Thompson, Jill Shalvis, and Nancy Fraser. Waiting in the wings are books by Madeline Hunter, Peggy Jaeger, Terri Brisbin, Laura Trentham, Lori Wilde, Kari Lemor, and the list goes on and on.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I have a Christmas novella, Holiday Hitchhiker, ready to be released later this fall. It is a stand-alone, but part of a trilogy with Sue Ward Drake and Luanna Stewart, that takes place in the Sierras, near the border of Nevada. Each couple first meet when they are stuck together in a days-long blizzard the week before Christmas. The book ends on Christmas Eve in the sweet town of Angels Glen, CA, a small mountainous town, based on gold-mining towns.

Delsora brought along an excerpt from The Inn on Gooseneck Lane:

As she replaced the receiver, the double-wide, etched glass-and-oak door opened with a squeak. Natalie jumped. She gathered her composure and donned her best hospitality smile.

The doorway filled with a set of wide shoulders covered in plaid flannel and long legs encased in worn blue jeans atop scuffed hiking boots.

“Nat?”

She squinted, wondering who belonged to the 1disembodied voice of the tall man stepping from the porch’s shadows into the lobby.

          “Nat,” he repeated. “Sorry I’m late.”

          His voice was guttural and familiar. Her heart plummeted to the pit of her stomach, like a thundering rockslide. Only one person called her Nat. That same person spewed constant apologies for being late. She locked her gaze on the recognizable aqua eyes. “Brad?”

Sixteen years.

He’d gone from a slender, clean-cut captain of the football team to a buff guy sporting a days’ scruff of chestnut-brown beard.

In a flash, her thoughts transported to the senior girls’ jealousy stemming from the big man on campus asking the big-city, new girl to the prom. Her reflection reverted to summers growing up in Vermont, and the instant bond she developed with her aunt. Earlier to a time when climbing trees was cool, boys and girls could be best friends, and true friendship went unimpeded by those things the genders let get in the way. And before she decided to remain in Mistletoe Falls her senior year, when her heart filled with love, and long before her heart smashed to smithereens.

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

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/delsoraloweauthor/

Instagram  @delsoralowe

Website   www.delsoralowe.com

Goodreads Page   https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe

 

To purchase The Inn on Gooseneck Lane, go to:

The Inn on Gooseneck Lane - Kindle edition by Lowe, Delsora. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

 

Books2Read: The Inn on Gooseneck Lane by Delsora Lowe | NOOK Book (eBook) | Barnes & Noble® (barnesandnoble.com)

 

Apple Books: The Inn on Gooseneck Lane on Apple Books

  

Shattered Promises by Linda Trout

      While investigating a plane crash in rural Arkansas, FBI Agent Wade Malone is stunned to find the only woman he ever loved living close by. As a hardened criminal closes in, putting Miranda in the crosshairs, he’s conflicted on how to protect her, yet keep his well-guarded emotions from resurfacing.

Miranda Johnson loves the life she has carved out as an artist, but she never expected to see her former lover again. Can they reconnect and move past the hurts each inflicted on the other, or will the secret she has kept from him all these years cost them everything?

 Wild Women Authors welcomes back author Linda Trout with the next edition of her Rock Ledge series: Shattered Promises, a contemporary romantic suspense, recently released by the Wild Rose Press. With Linda is artist Randi Johnson who will go first.

Good morning, Randi, thanks for taking time out to speak with us. Let’s start with where you’re from. I moved to Rock Ledge, Arkansas, a charming little town in the middle of nowhere, in my late teens and have gladly called it home ever since.

Tell us a bit about Shattered Promises. What do you say when you see someone from your past—who you never thought you’d see again—walks back into your life? Yeah, left both of us speechless…for a while anyway. Boy, the misunderstandings we both had…the promises neither of us kept. It has been a lot to deal with.

What did you think the first time you saw Wade Malone? Oh, the first time I  saw him was in high school when we were in an art class together. He was tall, skinny, kinda nerdy and he totally sucked at art, but he was smart as a whip.

Yup, sounds familiar. What was your second thought? That he was really sweet and made me feel special...something I didn’t get at home.

Do you feel it was love at first sight? Not really. But it wasn’t long before we were head over heels for each other. We were so young and naïve.

What do you like most about him? He made me feel safe. If I’m honest with myself, he still does. It’s surprising considering his current dislike of me.

How would you describe Wade? Then? He was really nice. Now? I don’t know the man he became. Despite the fact he grew up to have a rock-hard body, emotionally he’s cold, hard and totally unreasonable. I’m not sure what happened during those ears we were apart, but it sure did a number on him.

How would he describe you? He’s the one who left me and never returned, until the horrible plane crash, but I’m sure he’d say that I was the one who left him. He’d be so wrong. I waited as long as I could, then finally had to move on. Now he thinks he can shove his way back into my life. Not happening.

What made you choose painting for a career? When I first moved here to take care of my ailing grandmother, she encouraged me to pursue my love of painting as a creative outlet. I was good at it and my hobby quickly turned into a career. I’m not sure I would’ve done that without her pushing me forward.

What is your biggest fear? I used to think it was being alone the rest of my life, but now my biggest fear is Wade finding out about the child we had. He could disrupt her life and take her away from her adoptive parents if he learns of her existence. I cannot let that happen.

How do you relax? Painting is my go-to activity for relaxation, even if it is my source of revenue. But I also love to ride my Harley. Sometimes I hit the winding roads of the Ozark Mountains by myself, but more often than not I go with my riding buddies. One is a deputy sheriff and the other is a former army ranger, so I feel totally safe.

Who is your favorite fictional character? As odd as this may sound, Evelyn Couch in the movie, Fried Green Tomatoes. After meeting elderly Ninny Threadgoode, Evelyn transformed from a shy, always trying to please others person, to a self-assured woman who took charge of her life. I feel as if that’s what I’ve done. Tawanda!

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Wherever you are, start from there. Doesn’t matter if you’re just beginning to learn something or highly accomplished, you can always be better. My grandmother told me that.

Thanks for spending time with us, Randi. Now we’d like to chat with Linda.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer?  Sleepless in Seattle makes me tear up every time I see it. If I can end my books with that same sense of everlasting love, then I know I’ve done my job well.

Given Linda’s response to that last question, now would be a good time to show off the excerpt from Shattered Promises:

Randi fought for breath as all coherent thought evaporated into thin air. Black dots danced before her eyes and, for a moment, she thought she might pass out. Her eyes hadn’t deceived her earlier. Wade Malone was actually here.

But this wasn’t the skinny young man who had gone on that mission trip. Now, his body was fuller, broader. He was the same height, all six-foot-two of him, and his hair was the same sable color she remembered. Memories of his touch, his kisses, the love radiating from his deep blue eyes, assaulted her.

The Wade Malone she’d known had been kind, caring, loved life and always had a smile on his face. He loved people and would do anything to help them. That wasn’t the man who stood in her yard. This man looked at her with a surprised recognition, then just as quickly, disgust, if not outright hate.

A whimper welled up in her throat.

How could he be the same man who’d left her? The man she’d known had professed his undying love yet had never returned. Had he found another woman and made his home in Colombia? Did he have children? Other children, her heart whispered.

The urge to run to him was tempered by his hard expression, the thin set of his lips. He had no idea of what she’d been forced to live through. Did he even care?

Whoa boy. So many intersecting emotions, such turmoil. Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? I wanted my heroine to ride a motorcycle and used my experiences to demonstrate how a woman can handle herself on a Harley. Also, what it feels like to have not just the freedom of riding, but the challenges and danger involved while on a two-wheeler. If anyone has ever ridden a motorcycle down a rutted, dirt road, they know exactly what I’m talking about.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I publish through The Wild Rose Press, and I couldn’t be happier. A couple of friends had previously published through them and highly recommended them. They didn’t steer me wrong.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I’m currently reading The Sweetest Thing by Sasha Summers, and I’m anxious to dive into The Wishing Quilt by Jodi Thomas, Lori Wilde and Patience Griffin. I recently picked up a non-romance, Down Range by Taylor Moore that holds lots of promise of an action-packed CIA type novel.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I’m working on the next book in the series, Crushed Promises, but there isn’t a release date yet. I’ll let you know as soon as it’s available, though.

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

Website:   http://LindaTrout.com

Blog:  https://ltrout.wordpress.com/blog/

Facebook:   http://facebook.com/LindaTroutAuthor

Twitter:   http://twitter.com/LindaTrout2 

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/author/Linda_Trout

BookBub:   https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-trout

 

To purchase Shattered Promises, go to:

Amazon Digital: https://tinyurl.com/2btet9y6

Barnes & Nobel Digital: https://tinyurl.com/yc74atzd

iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/shattered-promises/id6443230676

 

 

Diana Stout and Buried Hearts

                  

 He's an academic archeologist who digs up the past. She's an on-the-road psychic balloonist who lives in the clouds. Can they meet in the middle and shed their walled-up exteriors to expose hidden longings and buried hearts?

When Clint Anderson throws a 50^th wedding anniversary party for his parents, he hires balloonist Gabriella (Gabby) King and is immediately smitten with her husky voice just minutes before he's given the ride of his life. Unexpected emotions flare when he finds his feet off the ground, his head in the clouds, and her footloose, fancy-free lifestyle interesting.

Stuck overnight when her truck won't start and with the part to be delivered late tomorrow, she stays in his guest house. The next day she becomes involved with his restoration project—a VW beetle that's been underwater for a decade and was fished out of a lake. When she finds an expensive bracelet hidden under the floor mat, they uncover part of a mystery that leads to even more questions.

Throughout the day, they become acquainted with each other. Knowing her lifestyle is a relationship handicap, Gabby struggles as long-ago buried emotions rise to the surface. As their emotional walls crumble and their buried hearts are exposed, can these two eccentrics handle their findings of unexpected love and allow the walls to finally fall?

Wild Women Authors is pleased to welcome back author Diana Stout who is celebrating the release of Buried Hearts, book 4 in the Laurel Ridge novellas. With Diana is archeologist Clint Anderson who will go first.

Welcome, Clint. Thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with where you are from. Born and raised, right here in Laurel Ridge, Georgia

Tell us a bit about Buried Hearts. It's the fourth installment [of the Laurel Ridge series] where classmates and I are sharing our stories of how we're finding love. What's interesting is how the nine of us who were classmates a decade ago are finally finding love matches almost as a group. Gabby, the girl I meet in Buried Hearts, would say it was all synchronization and matching energies. As an archeologist, well, I don't know what to think.

What did you think the first time you saw Gabby King? I was smitten. Her voice was smooth, yet low. Husky would be an apt description.

Works for us. What was your second thought? How tiny (short) she was.

Do you feel it was love at first sight? For me, most definitely, even if I wasn't admitting it at the time.

What do you like most about Gabby? Her energy, her spirit, the bright colors she wears, and how interesting she is. She's deep. An academic in a lot of ways but a lot more fun than my academic peers.

How would you describe her? As someone who knows what she wants, is determined.

How would she describe you? Originally, as a fuddy-duddy professor. The quintessential absent-minded, stuffy academic. Apparently, she was surprised that I wasn't anything like that.

What made you choose archeology for a career? According to my mother, it's because I always liked to play in the dirt. I enjoy learning about older cultures and making new discoveries.

What is your biggest fear? Hmm, I can't say I have one. Never gave it much thought really. I never gave much thought about whether I'd be married or not, at least not until recently watching all my friends pairing up. It never bothered me being single like it did some of the other guys.

How do you relax? With work, watching baseball, spending time with my friends that I grew up with. We're a close group.

Who is your favorite fictional character? Indiana Jones. Only because my field is never that exciting.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Allow others to have the last word...even if they're wrong, that it doesn't matter who has the last word. I got that advice from Dad. Once I started using it with Mom, I found she didn't harp on me as much. Obviously, she enjoys having the last word.

Thanks, Clint. Good luck with the restorations on the bug. Now we’d like to spend some time with Diana.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? The one book that clued me into the secrets of writing great stories was Christopher Vogler's, The Writers' Journey. Followed by attending several of Michael Hauge's weekend workshops decades ago where he deconstructed a current movie, showing how a character's inner motivation connected to their outer goal, all of which propelled the plot forward. I've been using screenwriting techniques for fiction writing ever since.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? Any one event? Not really. In high school, I used to watch different groups and how they interacted with each other. How I wished I could have been more like them, at times. In writing these seven novellas, I've discovered some new friends and feel like I'm one of this group, even if I'm not interacting with them in their stories.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I'm the publisher. I decided to become an indie publisher simply because I didn't want to waste time looking for an agent or publisher. I'd gone down that route back in the 90s and just wasn't willing to do again once I had returned to writing full time. My thinking now is that someone will see my work as a good match for their agency or company and that they'll contact me.

          I'm fortunate that throughout my life's crazy-quilt careers that I've picked up lots of skills and then later, received the education necessary to be a publisher. I'm good at editing and plotting and have been asked by other writers if I'd become their editor. While I'd be good at it, I know if I pursue that path, my own writing would suffer. And, right now, I have more projects than I have time.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? I'm currently reading Emma Cartwright's 33 book box set, Amish Love Divine; A Split in Time by Melanie Dobson & Morgan Tarpley Smith; Embrace Your Empathy by Kristy Robinett; Our House is on Fire: Scenes of a Family and a Planet in Crisis by Greta Thunberg, Svante Thunberg, Malena Ernman, and Beata Ernman; and, Crazy Little Thing by Tracy Brogan. Yes, I read several books at the same time.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? I'm devoting myself to these last three novellas in the series and have first drafts written for all of them. I've been getting reacquainted with Tangled Passions #5 this past week, getting it ready. My goal is to have the entire series published as eBooks by the end of year.

Diana brought along an excerpt for us:

An hour later, Gabby walked down the backyard terraces to the guest house, knowing that Clint watched her.

        He'd been amused when the reading confirmed he'd be married soon. When he had asked who, she couldn't tell him. She wondered who it would be, too. The cards had said a new acquaintance. His gaze had changed for a few seconds, just long enough that she could tell when the curtain came down to cover up whatever it was he was feeling.

        She frowned remembering that moment again. His eyes had a warm look of interest as if trying to look within her heart. She felt goosebumps again just as she had then. Even she had wondered in that moment if she was the new acquaintance, but that wasn't possible. Not with her schedule, not where she lived, not with their careers poles apart.

        Reaching the cottage door, she grabbed the knob and paused. She looked back at the house. He still stood there, a dark silhouette against the kitchen lights at the slider door. She lifted an arm and waved. He waved back. She smiled and crossed the threshold.

        She really liked him. For the first time in a long time, she was reluctant to leave. But, leave she would because that's what she knew to do. It's what she did and always had done.

        Was still doing it well.

        Too well.

        Blame the schedule, she thought. It demanded and dictated her time.

        Liar.

 Currently, Buried Hearts is available only an eBook through Amazon at:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BGJXZM4S

Once the series is finish, the stories will be compiled into one print book and be available through your favorite bookstore.

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

Website: https://sharpenedpencilsproductions.com/

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

Twitter: ScreenWryter13 or https://twitter.com/ScreenWryter13

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

Goodreads:  http://goodreads.com/user/show/43124185-diana-stout

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

 

Forging Forgiveness

 Wild Women Authors’ focus today is on Forging Forgiveness, a contemporary romantic suspense, recently released by the Wild Rose Press, written by C. B. Clark.

 Blurb: When small-town college instructor Candace Cooper discovers bloody, bare footprints in the snow while running in a state park deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, it brings back the horrific nightmare of her past.

Detective Aiden Farrell is determined to redeem himself in his new position in Colorado, even if that means ignoring his growing feelings for the beautiful professor he meets during an investigation. His fear that the footprints she saw are connected to a recent spate of missing teens intensifies when Candace is assaulted on campus.

Aiden and Candace join forces, but as they start unraveling the truth, they get closer to each other—and to a killer who'll stop at nothing to achieve his nefarious goal. 

Caught between duty and love, Aiden fights in a race against time to save the woman he loves.

 Author’s Note:

There’s nothing more important than protecting our wilderness areas. That’s why in my most recent romantic suspense novel, Forging Forgiveness, I set the story in a state park. We are so fortunate in Canada and the United States to have access to countless beautiful wilderness areas that have been set aside as state, provincial, and national parks.

Studies show the importance to our mental health of getting out and interacting with nature. A walk in the forest, surrounded by the buzz of insects, birds chirping, and smelling the sweet scent of vegetation inspires my creativity and calms my anxiety. Escaping into the wild is even more important now with all the stress we face each day.

I’ve visited many parks, both in Canada and the US, and each time I leave filled with wonder at the natural beauty that surrounds us. Whether you camp, hike, bike, paddle, or cross-country ski, get out and enjoy our parks.

 About the Author: 

Forging Forgiveness is award-winning author, C.B. Clark’s eighth novel published by The Wild Rose Press. When she’s not busy traveling around the globe or hiking and camping in the wilderness near her home in northern British Columbia, she can be found in front of her laptop plotting her next story.

 To purchase Forging Forgiveness, go to:

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

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3Rc1Vje

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3U8zVzh

Apple/iTunes: https://apple.co/3BeiN3E

Google: https://bit.ly/3PSWbd3

 

To learn more about C.B. Clark, go to:  

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

Blog: https://cbclarkauthor.wordpress.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cbclarkauthor

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

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15029617.C_B_Clark

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/C.-B.-Clark/e/B01BK61TQG/

Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/c-b-clark

 

Wrong Line, Right Connection

 Wild Women Authors welcomes author Karina Bartow as she celebrates the release of Wrong Line, Right Connection, a Vintage Rose romance, recently released by the Wild Rose Press. With Karina is phone operator Mabel Banks who will go first.

Good morning, Mabel. Thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with where you are from. Louisville, Kentucky.

Tell us a bit about Wrong Line, Right Connection. It’s the story of what started as one of my most humiliating experiences and ended as one of my best. I was working as a switchboard operator back in 1964, where an out-of-towner, Roy Stentz, rang up my station. He came to Louisville for business and needed me to connect him with the steel factory. His deep voice frazzled me so much that I connected him with the wrong place, not once but twice! I succeeded on my third attempt, and to my amazement, the fella asked me on a date to see if I was better at that than my job. 

What did you think the first time you saw Roy? He was tall and as handsome as I imagined.

What was your second thought? What if he’s married? In our three conversations, he never mentioned a wife, but how could I know he didn’t have one?

Do you feel it was love at first sight? I wouldn’t go that far, but I had a hunch I’d enjoy seeing him again if circumstances allowed.

What do you like most about Roy? His genuineness. He never hid anything from me, even though the way we met would’ve allowed him to. He’d probably say I’m the one who holds things close to the chest.

How would you describe him? He’s tall and handsome, as I said, but his inner qualities outshine his charm—which says a lot, believe me. He’s so accepting of people, and he’s made me a better person. 

How would Roy describe you? It depends on the day! He’ll be the first to tell you what a ditz I am, but I make him smile. I’m sure he’d call me stubborn, and he wouldn’t be wrong. I put him through his paces!

What made you choose to work as a switchboard operator? It was my first job out of high school, and I went back later in life when I fell on hard times. I enjoy interacting with people, especially in short spurts like that.

What is your biggest fear? Compromising who I am to please somebody else.

How do you relax? I love playing with my dog and spending time with my friends and family. 

Who is your favorite fictional character? Lucy Ricardo. She’s a spunky redhead like me, who doesn’t allow the man in her life to put her in a box.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Create your own happiness.

We thank you for spending time with us. Now we’d like to chat with Karina.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer?  The Wizard of Oz. Besides it being a classic movie and book, my mom heard years ago how long it took for L. Frank Baum to get it published, and she always used that to instill perseverance in me, even before I started shopping my books. I also love how imaginative it is and the message that we’re all lacking in something but have to find it for ourselves.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel? Wrong Line, Right Connection in its entirety was inspired by dear friends from my childhood, so of course, my memories of them influenced the story. I even used some of their old love letters to add authenticity, even though the premise is fictional. At the same time, I drew off of some of my personal feelings and reservations to sculpt Mabel’s inner struggles and make it my own.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them? I’d heard of The Wild Rose Press before and submitted to them in the past. Though nothing had materialized up to the point when I queried them about Wrong Line, Right Connection, I didn’t want to count them out because I thought we’d be a good fit someday. I’m so glad I didn’t, considering two of my submissions ended up being accepted within months of each other.

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict and The Art of Betrayal by Connie Berry.  

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves?While I’ve dipped my toes into love stories a bit, I primarily write mysteries. Earlier this year, my second installment of The Unde(a)feted Detective Series, Brother of Interest, came out, so I’ve been working on the follow-up to that. In the meantime, I’m writing a short story that’s a bridge between the two, which will be featured in a podcast sometime in 2023.     

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

Website | Blog | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads

 

To purchase Wrong Line, Right Connection, go to:

The Wild Rose Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |Books-a-Million 

 

 

A Very Modern Marriage by Rachel Brimble

 He needs a wife...

Manchester industrialist William Rose was a poor lad from the slums who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, but in order to achieve his greatest ambitions he must become the epitome of Victorian respectability: a family man.

She has a plan...
But the only woman who's caught his eye is sophisticated beauty Octavia Marshall, one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street. Though she was once born to great wealth and privilege, she's hardly respectable, but she's determined to invest her hard-earned fortune in Mr. Rose's mills and forge a new life as an entirely proper businesswoman.

They strike a deal that promises them both what they desire the most, but William's a fool if he thinks Octavia will be a conventional married woman, and she's very much mistaken if she thinks the lives they once led won't follow them wherever they go.

In the third installment of Rachel Brimble's exciting Victorian saga series, The Ladies of Carson Street will open the doors on a thoroughly modern marriage – and William is about to get a lot more than he bargained for...

 Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature A Very Modern Marriage, a historical romance by Rachel Brimble, released by Aria Fiction. First up is Octavia Marshall.

Good morning, Octavia. Thanks for spending time with us. Let’s begin with where you are from. Oxfordshire, England.

Please tell us a bit about A Very Modern Marriage. The book opens at the wedding of one of my best friends, Nancy – a woman I once thought would never marry. Ever. Then she met theatre manager Francis Carlyle and everything changed. Her marriage put me in a place where I had to look at my own future and what I want to happen.

A Very Modern Marriage follows my struggle and how I meet Manchester cotton mill owner, William Rose. William and I are soon in the messy process of negotiating a deal – one that could go very wrong for one of us…

What did you think the first time you saw William Rose?  I first saw William when he came to the Carson Street house – a house where I live and work as a prostitute. A high end prostitute. It was quite clear from the beginning that he was reluctant to be there but had been dragged along by a couple of his associates. We were sparring partners to begin with but soon a growing respect emerged, and I came to look at him in a different way…a very different way.

What was your second thought?  This is not the direction I wanted things between us to unfold.

Do you feel it was love at first sight? No, most definitely not – although I did notice his eyes and the way he had a certain way of looking at me…as though I was the most interesting person in the world.

What do you like most about William? His intelligence and passion – especially for his business and family. Both are equally as important to him.

How would you describe him? Hardworking, intelligent, canny, caring

How would he describe you? Surprising, strong, ambitious, loyal

What made you choose prostitution for a career? Hah! I wouldn’t say anyone chooses prostitution – it was a case of doing what I must to survive. I came from a privileged background and probably one of the most unlikely women to end up working in the sex trade – that’s why I will never take anyone or anything for granted ever again.

What is your biggest fear? Losing my best friends Louisa and Nancy – they mean everything to me.

How do you relax? I read – I am completely, entirely, proudly book obsessed!

Who is your favorite fictional character? Jane Eyre – such a wonderful character and story.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? I can’t quote her exactly, but Nancy is forever telling me to relax more, take a leap of faith more often and believe in myself – such beautiful advice that I am battling to follow, but know I will get there in the end.

Thank you for spending time with us, Octavia. Now we’d like to chat with Rachel.

What movies or books have had an impact on your career as a writer? Rather than books, I’d say authors Nora Roberts and Jean Fullerton have influenced me the most as a writer – and rather than movies, I’d say British TV period dramas have impacted my love of writing historical novels rather than contemporary.

Is there an event in your private life that you were able to bring to this story and how do you feel it impacted the novel?  It wasn’t so much a private life event that I was able to write this story but more of how deeply I was affected by The Five by Hallie Rubenhold. It is a non-fiction about the five victims of Jack The Ripper. I found it truly moving and wanted to go back and talk to these women – tell them how I wish their lives had never led them to living in Whitechapel.

It was that which inspired me to write a trilogy about three prostitutes who I could give a happy ever after.

Tell us a bit about your publisher: how did you hear about them and what influenced your decision to submit to them?  I am published with Aria Fiction and was told about them by some fellow members of the Romantic Novelists Association. I now have seven books published with them and have worked with four different editors – I’ve loved them all!

What book[s] currently rest on your TBR pile? Far too many to name! My list is monstrous – the next two I will be reading are the third Bridgerton book An Offer From A Gentleman and self-development book The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks.

Lastly, what's up next and when can we expect to see it on the shelves? My next book, Victoria & Violet, published by the Wild Rose Press, and will be released on October 17 2022 – it is an historical romance set in the court of Queen Victoria. I am excited and nervous as it is the first book I have written where I have included real people and events. A long-held ambition of mine!

The best places to keep up with me and my books are:

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/home?lang=en-gb

Website: https://rachelbrimble.com/

Buy link: https://geni.us/xa9ln5

 

 

From Brick & Darkness

 The most powerful wishes aren’t said with words.

        Bax always fantasized something remarkable would happen in his life. So when a decrepit man with glowing purple eyes offers him a ring intended for his estranged father, Bax accepts.

The ring speaks to Bax in a dream, tempting him with a vision of a powerful djinn. Desperate to make his fantasies a reality, Bax unleashes a creature called Ifrit, but soon learns this djinn isn't what the ring led him to believe. Feeding off the depths of his subconscious, the sinister demon fulfills what he thinks Bax wants by manipulating, threatening, and murdering.

With everyone he loves in danger and a trail of crimes pointing back at him, Bax must scramble to solve the puzzle that will banish Ifrit forever.

 Wild Women Authors is pleased to feature debut author J. L. Sullivan and From Brick & Darkness, a YA paranormal/fantasy, recently released by the Wild Rose Press. First up is Baxter (Bax) Allen.

Tell us a bit about From Brick & Darkness. Well, a creepy old dude shows up outside of my building one night wanting to give this ugly ring to my dad. Oh, and by the way, my dad left Mom and me when I was two. Haven’t seen him since. So like an idiot, I take the ring out of curiosity. Then, when I’m showing it to my best friend, we discover that if you rub it, a genie is unleashed. That’s when my life started spiraling out of control.

What are your plans for a future profession or career? I’m not sure. Mrs. Bronson--my school counselor--says I need to start thinking about colleges even though I’m only a sophomore. I think maybe I’ll get into video game design. Make a totally kick-ass game like Archer Annihilation.

What is your biggest fear? Speaking in front of people. I hate it. I have this thing where I pass out when I get too nervous. My mom calls it an episode. Doctors say that it may go away any day or it may never go away. Isn’t that a great diagnosis to get from your doctor?

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? Superman. Who’s cooler? He has the best superpowers because he can pretty much do anything. But he still does the right thing with his powers, and people love and respect him for it.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? “Always have a plan.” My best friend Jason always says that, and he always has one. I try, but sometimes I remember to have a plan after I’ve already jumped into the middle of something.

Thanks for taking time to speak with us, Bax. Now, we’d like to chat with your creator, J. L. Sullivan.

Which writer or character[s], from either books or movies, [or both] have had an impact on your writing? While I’m drawn mostly to fantasy and horror young adult books, I always try to channel a bit of John Green when I’m writing. His books are straightforward contemporary YA, but his characters are so deep and compellingly flawed, that they make you keep reading when the plot of the book may not be something you’d typically read. So I always try to create that depth when developing characters to keep my magical storylines grounded in reality as much as possible.

With regard to research, where did you start for this novel? Did that lead you down different paths, thereby changing the original concept? I began this journey wanting to write a fairy tale retelling. I researched Grimm tales and eventually started reading One Thousand and One Nights, which is the source of the original Aladdin story. However, when I started writing From Brick & Darkness as an Aladdin retelling set in a modern American city, the work evolved further and further from the source material. It still has djinn at its core, but eventually, my novel grew into something vastly different from Aladdin’s Lamp. So when people ask if this is a retelling, I usually say it’s a very very loose retelling.

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? The Wild Rose Press attended a writers' conference in St. Louis in early 2021 where they were accepting pitches. I went to sign up, but their spots had already been filled, so I decided to submit to them through their website. I explained I wanted to pitch at the conference but had missed my opportunity. They liked my query and eventually, I signed with them in May of 2021. From signing until the release date, it was right at one year.

What are you reading right now? I just started the Witches of Vegas by Mark Rosendorf, another Wild Rose Press author. I think he’s on the third book now, but I’m just starting his series.

What's next for you? I am hard at work on a sequel to From Brick & Darkness that goes further into the djinn-verse that Bax and his friends opened. I’m excited to bring back characters from the first book, introduce some new ones, and more importantly, feature lots more magic gone wrong.

J. L. brought an excerpt for us: 

Neck bones popped as his head rotated toward me, his face eclipsing the rays of the streetlight. His irises were dull purple, glazed over with a foggy film, and deep-set wrinkles radiated from the corners of his eyes like arrows drawing attention to them.

A shudder caused the keys to slip from my hand and clank on the ground. My face burned with shame that the poor man’s appearance had startled me. My rudeness would have disappointed Mom.

“I’m sorry, but really—” I snagged my keys.

His hand slithered out of the brick-colored sleeve as his arm rose, trembling as he strained to hold the weight of his own limb. Gloved in loose, veiny skin, his skeleton hand had yellowed fingernails so overgrown they grew in on themselves like curly birthday ribbons. As his fingers unfurled, he revealed a ring nestled in his palm.

It was large. Too large. The ring resembled the toy jewelry Jason’s sister played with or something from a Halloween costume. Grimy gold with a single dull purplish jewel that matched his eyes.

His hand trembled under the heaviness of the ring. “Take it.”

Shifting my backpack to my other shoulder, I took it. “What is this?”

The corners of his thin lips curled into a grin as a gust of warm, dry wind cut through the chilly October night and swirled around me.

 To learn more about J. L. Sullivan and the stories he creates go to: https://jlsullivan.net/

Twitter: @jls_author

Instagram: @JLS_author

Facebook: @jlsullivanauthor

 To purchase From Brick & Darkness, go to:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/Brick-Darkness-J-L-Sullivan-ebook/dp/B09THQ24TC 

 BN.com: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/from-brick-darkness-j-l-sullivan/1141068076?ean=9781509240081

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60508978

Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/books/from-brick-darkness-by-j-l-sullivan