Sweet Cravings, #7, the Laurel Ridge seres

 Can a blind date gone wrong with multiple do-overs gone wrong ever become a relationship gone right?

 Wild Women Authors welcomes you back to Laurel Ridge, a small Town in south Georgia where a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle is fished out of Lake Whippoorwill, creating a storyline thread that involves 7 couples, former classmates, best friends, town residents, or strangers who walk in and out of all seven stories at any given time. Today we look at Sweet Cravings, the last in this inventive series of short novellas written by Diana Stout.  

About Sweet Cravings: Even though acclaimed mechanic JoJo Wheeler thrives on the toughest of challenges when restoring engines, she’s given up on personal relationships and all the challenges. Attorney Joe Benton doesn’t believe dating is worth the effort anymore either.

When both are coerced into a blind date by their best friends, JoJo—who has perfected the art of giving herself a quick out—insists on no dinner. With Joe prepared for the usual first-date disappointment, he chooses a simple event—a sunset viewing on the lake's shore. How could anything go wrong? Without giving away the gory deets, it’s a hoot.

They agree on a do-over—and another and another—each one equally as disastrous. Despite that sad series of events, their connection is sizzling. JoJo knows her time in Laurel Ridge is limited and returning home to Atlanta is inevitable. She’s not open to long-distance love affairs, nor putting her business second to a love interest. She's convinced the fairy tale ending wasn't meant for her. But, is it?

Can this meant-to-be couple conquer their cynical natures when happiness is within desire's reach?

To purchase Sweet Cravings, go to: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CGBLNR46

Reserved Yearnings, Laurel Ridge #6

 Will the discovery of a life-long secret be the end of love before it ever begins?

 Wild Women Authors focus on Reserved Yearnings, book 6 in the Laurel Ridge novellas written by Diana Stout.

About the book: 12 years ago, William Stuart and his best friend made a decision to keep the secret behind how William's ’69 VW Beetle ended up at the bottom of the local watering hole. 12 years later, after that same car is pulled out of the depths of Whippoorwill Lake, William worries that once his friends hear the whole truth, they will never trust him ever again. Then a stranger arrives in town to photograph local sites and he realizes life will never be the same. 

     Motorcycle riding photojournalist Charli Davidson has harbored her own secret her entire life. Though she’s instantly attracted to William, she fears he'll feel only disdain once her truth is revealed. Her head tells her to run, but her heart tells her to stay. For the first time in her life, she's willing to risk her heart.

     Can they rise above these long-held lies, or will this new love be ruined forever?

To purchase Reserved Yearnings, go to: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C7FL1ZC6

Laurel Ridge--Day 3

 Laurel Ridge, a small-town southern community where, after a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle is fished out of the local lake, a storyline thread involving 7 romances, 7 couples, and 7 conflicts all within the span of 15 days comes to life. Classmates, best friends, residents, and strangers walk in and out of all seven stories.

About Buried Hearts, Book 4 of the series:

          When archeologist Clint Anderson meets balloonist Gabby King, he is immediately smitten and unexpected emotions flare when this straight-laced, hyper-organized academic finds Gabby’s footloose and fancy-free lifestyle . . . interesting.

          By circumstance, Gabby becomes involved with Clint’s current restoration project—a VW Beetle that's been underwater for a decade and was recently fished out of a local lake. After she finds an expensive bracelet hidden under the floor mat, the two uncover another part of a mystery surrounding the Bug which sparks a host of questions around this tight-knit community.

As Clint and Gabby get better acquainted, emotional walls crumble and buried hearts are exposed. Can two eccentrics handle a discovery of unexpected love and allow those walls to finally fall?

 

About Tangled Passions, Book #5 –When Georgia State Senator Jefferson Jackson first meets Madison Butler, he's immediately smitten. But getting involved with a lobbyist could be trouble, and the last thing he wants is a scandal while in office. Besides, after being betrayed by his last serious relationship, he's sworn off all but casual dating.

Madison isn't about to let Jeff deter her from meeting with him to pitch her company’s product. At stake is her job, one she can ill afford to lose. Heading her off at the pass, he tells her she's been lied to by her employer, then almost dares her to ‘check it out’.

When they meet again, can he trust that she isn't involved with anyone else, despite what he's seen and heard? Can he finally put a past filled with lies behind him so he can find love once again?

 

Welcome to Laurel Ridge, Day 2

      Welcome back to Laurel Ridge, a small-town southern community, where a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle is fished out of Lake Whippoorwill and sets off a storyline thread involving 7 romances, 7 couples, and 7 conflicts all within the span of 15 days. Classmates, best friends, residents, and strangers walk in and out of all seven stories.

Book 2: Burning Desire features the once a bubbly teenager, Eddie (Edwina) Taylor who, in her senior year withdrew from everyone, spurning all attempts to reach out in order to keep a secret that she feared would destroy her. Now a decade later, when firefighter Aaron Rhett Sinclair Renoux—a man who hates liars—launches an investigation into a fire in her grandmother's farmhouse, Eddie becomes guarded—fearing Aaron has the potential to blow up her world.

Book 3: Arrested Pleasures tells the story of Cutter Logan, the bad boy womanizer of Laurel Ridge, has been in love with Annie Martin since they were kids. But after one disastrous date in high school, she relegated him to the friends-only zone.

He has a reputation for taking little in this life seriously. As the area game warden, she has worked hard to build a career. The last thing she needs is a jokester like Cutter tarnishing that career.

Both of these books are available on Amazon.

 

 

Introducing Laurel Ridge, Day 1

Wild Women Authors is trying something new. . .

Throughout the remainder of 2023, we will periodically welcome multi-published authors, some from the traditional route, others who elected to go independent, who are known for long long-standing series. As we were invited to review these stories, with the release of the latest in the series, we became intrigued enough to want to feature the entire series over the course of a week.

This week we are delighted to focus on multi-published author Diana Stout, PhD as she celebrates the release of the last two books in her charming Laurel Ridge series. We wanted to go back in time and take a second look at this small-town southern community which is the baseline for a set of stories offering a diverse number of tropes from former classmates, best friends to lovers, love at first sight, and second chance romances. Underlying all of the stories is a mystery involving a 1969 Volkswagen Beetle. Seven couples, seven conflicts, and seven different romances.

Today, we offer #1 in the series: Shattered Dreams. Former high give school sweethearts, Mason Baylock and Shelley Willis, meet after 12 years apart. The sparks still fly for the now local judge Mason, but Shelley won't cooperate. He persists; she resists. The judge however isn’t about to give up and slowly wears her down—aided and abetted by any number of local, colorful denizens of Laurel Ridge, including the ’69 yellow VW bug dragged from the bottom of Whippoorwill Lake.  

Soon, both Shelley and Mason are shocked to learn the truth behind their breakup just before he left for college—as well as who was responsible. Problem is: it might be too late to rekindle the love they once shared—or see their dreams shattered forever?

Tune in for tomorrow’s post on Burning Desire, #2 in the series.

 

A Sour Note by Jill Piscitello

 When murder provides a welcome distraction . . . 

Wild Women Authors welcomes author Jill Piscitello as she celebrates the release of A Sour Note, a contemporary cozy mystery, part of the Crimson Rose line for the Wild Rose Press. With Jill is event planner Maeve Cleary who will go first.

Good morning, Maeve. Thanks for spending time with us.

Let’s begin with where you are from. Hampton, a small beach town in southern New Hampshire.

Tell us a bit about A Sour Note. After ten years of living out of state, I am now residing in my childhood home while rebuilding my financial situation and recovering from the demise of my engagement. The discovery of a corpse outside my mother’s music school provides something else to focus on.

What made you choose event planning for a career? I’ve always loved a good party and found I actually have talent when it comes to planning functions.

Knowing what you know now, if you had it to do over again, would you stick with being an event planner or do something different? I am sticking with the job title but moving in an entirely new direction with the role. Instead of planning lavish events for wealthy adults, I now set up at local, small-town venues for music students. Ask me in six months how it’s going because this is a new venture.

What is your biggest fear? Failure. I’ve already had my share of low moments and am aiming for more success in life. But this time around, I know that success doesn’t have to equate to glitz, glamour, and big city living.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? Beth Dutton from Yellowstone is a force to be reckoned with. I love that she is unapologetically herself. Kelly Reilly is a phenomenal actress. Beth wouldn’t be Beth without her in that role.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? When you look better, you feel better. Although these words are true, I tend to favor more casual attire. But my mother is always insisting I step up my fashion sense. She has a point, but I loathe shopping and can’t say I’ve fully absorbed and adhered to her advice.

Good point—about mothers. Thanks for this, Maeve. Now, we’d like to chat with Jill.

Which writer or character[s], from either books or movies, [or both] have had a major impact on your writing? I find it difficult to narrow influential authors down to just one. But I’ve always found it fascinating how some authors such as Nora Roberts and Stephen King, to name a few, can churn out such a large number of unputdownable books. Where does that constant state of creativity come from?

With regard to research, where did you start for this novel? Did that lead you down different paths, thereby changing the original concept? After decades spent visiting Hampton Beach, NH, I am very familiar with the location. However, I conducted quite a bit of research regarding police procedures and the healing properties of plants and scents. I was not led down new paths but definitely could get lost in all of the interesting information.

Tell us a bit about your publisher. How did you hear about them; what influenced you to submit to them. When researching publishers for my first manuscript, I noticed many positive statements online shared by authors from The Wild Rose Press. My first book was rejected by them, but the editor was generous enough to offer invaluable feedback. I used every bit of advice when drafting a novella for their Christmas Cookies anthology and was thrilled that they accepted the story. A Sour Note is the second book they’ve published, and I can’t say enough about how lucky I am to work with such an incredible editor and publisher.

What's next for you? I’m currently working on the sequel to A Sour Note.

 To learn more about Jill Piscitello and the stories she creates go to: https://jillpiscitello.com/

Website ~ Twitter  ~ Facebook ~  Instagram  ~ Amazon ~ GoodReads ~ BookBub

 To purchase A Sour Note, go to:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ ITunes ~ Google Books ~ Walmart ~ BooksAMillion ~ Indie Bound  ~ Kobo

 

 

Choices Meant For Gods by Sandy Lender

 When their god needed a protector, she chose yes.

         Not even the gods noticed when Amanda Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian hide from a mad sorcerer in a household full of false hope and whispered secrets. The same god who watches over the family school sheltering Chariss will soon reveal her role in an impending war.

When a wizard’s ward sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies they uncover? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty?

 Wild Women Authors features author Sandy Lender who is celebrating the recent release of Choices Meant for Gods, book 1 in The Choices Trilogy. With Sandy is Henry Bakerson who will go first.

Good morning, Henry. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to chat with us. Let’s start with you telling us about Choices Meant for Gods. The short and sweet answer is Choices Meant for Gods is an epic fantasy tale set in a world burdened by a curse [which] The Dragon set in place about three thousand winters ago. I didn’t pay too much attention to the gods in our world until Nigel—he’s my best friend from childhood—snagged himself this lovely young lady who happens to be tasked with watching over one of them.

          Now we have Miss Chariss, and her wizard guardian, [who is] working to protect us all from the machinations of a powerful sorcerer and a jealous goddess, [as well as] war mongering humans who’ve set deals with demons. It’s turning everything inside out and no one knows how the latest prophecy is gonna mess up Chariss’s chances at saving us.

What made you choose to ship goods for a profession? Nigel and I signed up for Arcana’s navy when we were lads. His ogre of a father put a stop to that for him—couldn’t stand to see Nigel making a name for himself, you know. That ol’ Godric Taiman was content to see Nigel drinking his way through the taverns in Arcana City and getting into fights and all manner of trouble, but the minute he signed up for the navy with me, Godric put his lies in the middle of it and Nigel was expelled. So, I went through training without my best friend to help me get into trouble. That meant I had to buckle down and learn and do a good job of it. I actually learned a trade, if you can believe that. When my two winters were up, I went out on the Meredore on a merchant ship as a deck hand and moved up to captain in short order. Short order, I tell you. I took over and worked directly with the merchant’s man to ship goods from Onweald to Bellan and vice versa. Back and forth all spring, growing, and harvest seasons. During the rough winter seasons, I’d ship goods around the Southlands.

Knowing what you know now, if you had it to do over again, would you stick with being a sailor or do something different? If it wasn’t for moving goods for that blasted sorcerer Drake, I’d not be of any use to Chariss. She wouldn’t have pulled me into her confidence and let me be part of this adventure. This is the best job I could’ve picked. And that training for two winters with the Navy? It was perfect.

What is your biggest fear? I don’t think I should say. Because it happened.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? Folks out there in the [real] world won’t know who Moyra Dane is, but I’m real fond of her as a fictional character. She’s the sweet young gal in the play the actors put on for folks on Arcana City’s stage. Moyra Dane and the Last Waltz. It’s kind of a sad story but the character of Moyra Dane is as sweet as she can be. She’s one of those young ladies who honors her father and works to help her village. Just a good role model for the folks watching the play. She’s real sweet.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? I’d have to say the best advice given directly to me came from my father. He once told me that a successful family like ours, one with a shop that can pull in a decent living, can attract a wife for a man. I’m fairly certain he was telling me I could find a wife in our world where women are scarce and building a family is difficult to do, but I took his words to heart and when I got the chance, I joined Arcana’s navy and got myself out of town away from any would-be wives. You’re not pinning me down as a married man. I can’t get myself tied down to one family in one port while there’s a whole ocean to navigate.

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

Which writer or character[s], from either books or movies, [or both] have had a major impact on your writing? Charlotte Bronte, Chaucer, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Terry Goodkind are probably the biggest author influences on my writing. I especially blame Charlotte for my liberal use of em dashes and ellipses. My great grandmother and Aunt B weren’t writers, but they influenced me greatly as well.

With regard to research, where did you start for this novel? Did that lead you down different paths, thereby changing the original concept? Different novels of mine have required different research over the years, but Choices Meant for Gods began with Amanda Chariss, the MC, appearing to me when I was in junior high. I was daydreaming during chemistry class, sitting at one of those black laboratory tables that your fingerprints smear on, and she came to me. She stood like a queen with her arms holding back thick, luxurious curtains to greet a pair of morning suns in a fantasy world of medieval sounds. I didn’t know why such a beautiful woman on the balcony of a fortress would be crying. I didn’t know how a human could have an amethyst embedded on her cheek, near her eye. But I knew one thing for certain: I would write her story.

          That was in the early 1980s, so you can imagine how much changed about the original concept. I took a few Old English-related courses in college that assisted with research. I read like a fiend about fantasy worlds, dragons, different magic systems of different authors so I could make up my own, and so on. I wanted my world of Onweald, which is an OE word meaning “power,” to be something comfortably familiar, yet brand new to readers. And I wanted it to support this epic story of good versus evil and “a chosen one” versus freewill. The concept morphed as I grew over the years until one fateful day in 2005 when I sat down with the person who turned into my first publisher.

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? This answer is complex so let me break it down in two parts. Choices Meant for Gods was originally published in 2007 by ArcheBooks Publishing, which I heard of when I was a member of the Naples Press Club (NPC) in Southwest Florida. I was attending the NPC annual writer’s conference and I signed up for a pitch session with Bob Gelinas, the publisher at ArcheBooks. He liked what I had to say about the story and characters—and how I kept it together even when a friend walked up during the pitch and interrupted us with a question—and he requested the manuscript. A few weeks later, he sent me a contract. That was autumn-going-into-winter 2005. The book was released in 2007 in time for my first book signing at Barnes & Noble June 9. That’s a bit over a year for turn-around.

ArcheBooks Publishing had some corporate changes and a move to a new state and closed their doors in 2019. My books went out of print and my rights returned to me. The current publisher is someone I met because of Choices Meant for Gods.

Back in 2009, I spoke at a convention in Ohio where I served on a panel with spec fic author, Stephen Zimmer. We exchanged books to read and review—and I remember us joking that books should be currency. Years later, I “ran into” Stephen online again to discover he had a publishing company and had started an annual convention for creatives. His energy and drive to help creative people network spoke to my soul. When I asked if he’d help me re-issue the Choices series, his answer was a resounding “yes.” He was game to put new covers on the trilogy while I revised, added new scenes, fixed some problems, and beefed up the storytelling with beta readers assisting. It turned into a project! I had everything submitted to him by autumn 2022. Here we are with the release in summer 2023 in time for the 10-year anniversary of the Imaginarium Convention. That’s about ten months.

What are you reading right now? I’m currently re-reading Sword of Shannara and reading The Word & The Void by Terry Brooks in preparation for an interview with him. I can’t believe I haven’t read his Word & Void and I’ve got to fix that before I get on a stage and look like a fool in front of his fans.

What's next for you? [Upcoming release, current project] The next release is a novella from the Choices world of Onweald titled Della and the Dragon’s Sword, which is in the Enchanted Realms boxed set from Jumpmaster Press. An anthology with an Onweald short story titled Bitter Fruit is in editing somewhere. The Canadian publisher Feybreak Books is releasing a YA fantasy in the Choices world soon. That manuscript, Eden and the Most Precious Stone, won second place in the Write Fighters 3-Day Novella Contest in 2022, so it’s due to happen anytime. It’ll be a happy surprise when it’s ready! Then I have a full-length satirical paranormal romance titled Have Yourself a Faerie Little Christmas being released in time for the holidays. It’s book four in my Faerie Holidays series, which has nothing to do with dragons. Does my day job stuff count? Because I edit a construction magazine that publishes every month. It also has nothing to do with dragons.

 To purchase Choices Meant for Gods, go to:

Amazon/print: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C91DKFWC/

Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C92P26YY/

Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/choices-meant-for-gods-sandy-lender/1008500550?ean=2940160838670

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/choices-meant-for-gods

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6450601537

 

To learn more about Fantasy Author Sandy Lender and the stories she creates go to: www.SandyLenderInk.com.

https://twitter.com/SandyLender

https://www.pinterest.com/SandyLender

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoJu4DdGhh7OFofRYl8R1Zg (@SandySaysRead)