Talking about a new seasonal read today.

Today I'm chatting with an author that has become one of my idols in the short time I've had the pleasure of working with her, donna Hatch. I was recently invited to read A Timeless Winter Anthology, Winter Collection. Do I need to say that seeing Donna's name on the book is why I said "YES!" So Donna, tell us about what you contributed to this book.


My story is called A Winter's Knight. It's basically a gothic romance. It's about a young lady whose fascination with a murdering earl and his dark castle lands her in the heart of an ancient and terrible secret. It will take more than a Christmas kiss to break the curse.

Just let me say that this was my favorite of the six stories. So my first question when invited to read this was: What is an Anthology?

An anthology is a collection of short stories. In the case of the anthology I'm involved in, it's a total of 6 stories by 6 different authors.

And six very different writing styles. I seem to recall a review that said something about a bit of something for every reader. (Me rummaging through InD Tales E-magazine for the review. Found it!) I'm going to quote here. "Each short takes the reader on a mini Christmas vacation to the past, its mystical beauty and imaginative romance. Whether it is a mystery, court or rough life of survival in the snowy cold that the reader craves served up with their romance…" Oh yes and the book got 4 ½ stars from Erin Murdock Good job ! I haven't seen her give out a lot of stars. How did this project come about and why did you decide to be involved?

I was invited to be a contributing author by Sarah M. Eden. The authors who decided to create this anthology were looking for sweet historical authors to join them, and some of them had read my books. Since they are all bigger name authors than I am, I was honored to be invited.

I know several of these ladies are involved in ANWA and that ANWA is having a Conference in February. It would be great to attend and somehow get to meet a few of you! (For more information, click on Writer's conference 2013  to the left.
So if you are one of my idols then I read stories written by the ladies you look up to. Cool! Tell me what you are working on now.

I am working on book three of my "Rogue Hearts series" which will be Christian's story. I hope to have it finished and submitted to my editor by the end of January. The working title is A Perfect Secret.

Is your writing Regency Romance or is it Victorian? Because I know I didn't think I liked these kinds of books until I read yours!

My books take place during the Regency era, a small time period between 1811 and 1820 when King George II was officially declared mad and Prince George III was named Regent. The Victorian Era begins in the 1830s when Queen Victoria ascended the throne.

On the side...I would like to let you know that I was honored to have you refer to my writing you critiqued on a recent on-line workshop. It made me think that maybe I'll take it out of the back files and see what I can do with it.

Did you hear that? That's funny. I didn't realize you were there. I hope you found it encouraging and not discouraging. Your changes really were wonderful and I hope you do finish the story--it has so much promise.

Thank you, that means a lot coming from you. You were so generous at the workshop, even when openly critiquing Treasure (the abbreviated working title) and using it as a teaching tool. I just sat there listening and silently beaming "She liked it enough that she still remembers it!" Definitely encouraging or I wouldn't have mentioned it! I find that story sneaking into my thoughts as I unwind just before sleep finds me. I think I've mentally fixed the things you suggested. But with my Talisman series, Book 1 on the open files each working day, I will have to let it sit on the sidelines until I have more energy to poor into it.

 Donna, thank you so much for making this fans day and taking the time to chat.

A Timeless Winter Anthology, Winter Collection is available on Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes & Noble, and many other digital bookstores.

Talking w/ Anna del C. Dye

http://www.amazon.com/Princess-Silent-Warrior-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B001KVZOV8/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354147241&sr=1-1&keywords=anna+del+c.+dye

What inspired you to start writing?
More than anything it was my husband who got me started, after many promptings... this time he said, "DO IT!" when I finished telling him the story of "The Elf and the Princess."

Where do you draw your inspiration from?
Tolkien characters... they are awesome. There are so many and so much to tell about them that the master didn't... I just have to help him. :) That is why my series is called The Elf Series. I love elfs.

Do you have a favorite character? If so, why is he/she your favorite?
I do, too many in some of my books. Mostly because they are in many ways living my life experiences. This makes them very close to my heart.

For example:

Adren lost everything when her kingdom was destroyed and her only hope was the young elf and his race.

I left my country and everything there to start a new life by the side of a wonderful young man. I know what is to be with strangers, their culture and to have not only to trust them, but become one of them. This has taught me to trust and depend on this handsome young man, which in turn has made my love for him, as deep as Adren's.

That is awesome. I know I draw on my personal experiences in my writting as well. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
--Never give up!!! I echo that.
--Join a writer's chapter close to you right now, and learn from them. Ditto.
--Start sending small stories and articles to magazines, both on line and traditional. Also to newspapers, even if they are from a University or whatever.
(Keep all the copies of any publication in a file/folder.) I didn't do this but I can see how it could prove invaluable. My next guest has done just that and her new release is proof of the value of this advice.
--Join critic groups and let them help you with ideas to make your work better. Don't let anyone change your work... I said to MAKE it better. This can be a tough one. Listen to the suggestions, take what works for you and thank the critiquers that took the time to voice their opinion even if you don't agree. This will also help you develop a thick skin when it comes to the loud individual telling you your work is crap. It isn't crap, it may need a little fine tuning, but remember that you can't satisfy all the readers all the time.
--Start blogging with the name you will use as an author so people get familiar with it. This will help you sell more books when your book is published. (Two blogs a week, but not too long--up to 15 lines.) Okay, I could have used this advice last year...
--Start promoting your book at least nine months before is published. Wise counsel, that means once the contract is signed with a publisher, or when you schedule your e-book self pub, begin. Don't wait.

You once told me that English is your second language. What sort of challenges did you meet in trying to write your books, if any?
Not many really. I write and my editor has to figure what I am trying to say. (If I can't figure how a word goes in English, I put it in Spanish...he speaks Spanish very well.) We have a lot of fun when we edit the books which we always do together.
So I just write and he adds the "ed" or takes them out when I put them in and so on. It works beautifully because he is awesome and knows me so well.

You are lucky to have an editor like this and luck he is a he. My prefered editor had to bow out just recently do to the arrival of a precious little one. I can't blame her. Who would you say is your targeted audience?
Teens and the young at heart.

What would you say is the most challenging part about being an author?
Spending hours promoting my book when I would like to be writing another.

Promoting can take hours out of any day. If you could give your book to only one person, who would it be and why?
A teenager in trouble...
In the hope that he/she could discover the power they have deep inside to change and become better. I want them to see that nothing is impossible if we put our minds to it.

A note from me: Don't give your book or e-book to everyone that wants one. If you do, you won't see any royalties...

You can find all Anna's books at her website, http://www.annadelc.com
and at Amazon http://ning.it/TtStY5

Thanks so much for the chance to visit your blog,

Talking with Author DeAnn Huff

Personal with DeAnn Huff:


If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I’m a sun addict. I love being warm. I even love that feeling in the middle of the summer when you come from a frigid air conditioned building and get into that solar oven on wheels. The warmth unthaws you and toasts you, and I love it—until I start to sweat. So if I could live anywhere, it would have to be warm. Hawaii. Caribbean. Arizona.
So, you're saying you don't dream of moving to Dracula's castle but just visit as in the pic?
Why move?

What hidden talent do you possess outside of writing ... something you do for fun, but are good at?
My husband and I are Carpenters … No, silly, not a singing duo. We build custom, hardwood doors. But we can’t build on “Rainy Days and Mondays” because the humidity’s too high. We love working together. I tell him, “I Can’t Smile Without You,” and I “Long To Be Close To You.” We’ve build over 50 doors together, but “We’ve Only Just Begun.”

Questions about your writing:
Why did you begin writing?
My oldest daughter came home from a weeknight Relief Society class determined to start on her “Bucket List.” She’d decided that she wanted to write a book someday. So she called me for ideas. I laughed because I loved to write, but I thought I had no imagination; I’d never been able to come up with story ideas. Well, after a half hour on the phone brainstorming plots, she had ideas for a book she wanted to write … and so did I. But she had a baby, and I didn’t—so I won. Five months later, my first novel, Master of Emotion, was finished.

When is your next book due out, and what’s it about?
My next book, Dictator of Disaster, is still a few months away from completion. Dictator of Disaster is Book 3 in the Master of Emotion series (following Supreme Chancellor of Stupidity—Book 2.) Each book in the series tells the story of a group of sensory enhanced teenagers from a different male character’s point of view. Here’s the two sentence summary of Dictator of Disaster: Touch can be a sensitive tool or a lethal weapon. JONAS, a sensory enhanced kid with anger issues, tries to save his kidnapped sister by himself, rather than relying on the twins and the others like them.

About Your latest book:
How did you come up with your premise for Once Upon a Tour?
What do kind of thank you gift do you give a mother who takes you on an all-expense-paid tour of Eastern Europe? You write a novel for her, of course. My LDS Romance, Once Upon a Tour, mirrors the locations in Eastern Europe that I toured in May, 2010 with my mom. Romania … Hungary … Austria … Czech Republic … Germany … Lichtenstein … Switzerland. So I finally have some stamps in my passport. Maybe now she’ll take me with her to Spain.

For those who are not familiar with this story, would you please give us the blurb?
Creepy castles, exotic sights, and flirty foreign men—it’s no wonder ALINA, a starry-eyed Mormon girl, is in love for the third time in three weeks. When a guided tour of Eastern Europe repeatedly reveals her naïve choices, she must decide whether her love is real or only imagined.

Alina knows that she sees the world through fairy tale-colored glasses—after all, she writes sappy romances and collects old fairy tales. But why stifle her overactive imagination when there’s romance all around? With every new castle, Alina envisions herself in historical romances where she’s chased by delicious vampires, roguish robbers, and conspiring counts—right into the arms of intrepid heroes. But in her short stories, as well as her real life, her romances don’t end well.

Once Upon a Tour follows Alina as she first meets DANIEL, a cute Swiss frequent-flyer, and then ALEX, an amorous Romanian tour guide, who pursues her around his country, romancing her at every step. Trying to watch out for her, the young, over-protective tour company owner, ERIC, keeps getting in the way – irritating her, annoying her, but finally rescuing her.

Luckily, God has a plan for her; only He knows which romance that began Once Upon a Tour will finally survive.

I wasn't sure which one of these guys I wanted her to end up with, but you made the right choice in the end. Are there any fun tid-bits about this story you can share with us?
Margie, the minor character in the novel who loves romance novels, is patterned after my mom. She always wants the kissing scenes to be good.

I liked Margie. those ladies remeinded me of myself around my older children. Do you have a link where we can access the book discussion questions?
Not yet, but here’s a question for you: In the novel, Alina justifies her poor choices by saying, “Alex will be gone tomorrow. I’ll never see him again.” What excuses have you made to justify a bad decision?

The easy answer is one that I made as an adult more than once -- We'll be moving soon so it won't matter. Problem is, the children picked up on that sort of answer a little too well. It's tough to correct your mistake in the second generation. Let's change the subject. How did you decide on the setting?
Traveling through Europe, every castle was straight out of a romance novel. I couldn’t help but make up stories about the places and people I saw.

Is there a message in Once Upon a Tour you want readers to grasp... I mean other than the awesome castles?
I love teenagers, but too often I see them walking the line between safe and sorry, thinking that they’ll never get pushed over and fall. In reality, the only safe place is far away from the line.

I think you read a few chapters from my old journal. I walked that line and fell into the fire getting burned in the process. Not good.
What is the purchase link?
It’s easy to find through my website www.dogdenhuff.com , or go straight to
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=d+ogden+huff, or
Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/164325

Can you tell us what review of your story meant the most to you and why.
Penny Freeman, editor-in-chief of Xchyler Publishing, said this:

“All of the above illustrates why I truly enjoy reading Ms. Huff. Her only overtly LDS work, Once Upon A Tour is, hands down, my favorite of the three I have read. The premise is a simple one—Mormon girl strikes out on her own in search of romance and finds herself in way above her head in a secular, instant-gratification world—but Ms. Huff manages to employ her fresh approach and insightful characters to flesh out the tale and make it her own.
“She peppers her story with what feels like firsthand experience in touring Eastern Europe—Romania, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland—and manages to make her locales integral to the plot. She also intersperses Alina's fanciful prose in the story, which serves well when the character's little stories and overactive imagination get her into plenty of trouble. When life begins to reflect art, Alina struggles to differentiate the two.”

Penny’s insights meant the most to me because she didn’t just pat my back. In other parts of her review she also made me think about whether or not I’d crossed some lines of my own. I made a few changes to my manuscript after her review.

The Archer's Hollow with Peggy Urry

I grew up with books. Lots of books. My favorite summer day was Tuesday because that meant the bookmobile was coming to the town park for the day. I scrambled through my chores every morning so I could spend a large part of my day draped over an overstuffed pink chair, wrapping gum around my finger and pulling it like taffy, reading. Mostly it was mysteries, Nancy Drew, The Three Investigators, maybe a little Hardy Boys, then as I got older and realized boys actually did not have cooties, I added romance with my mysteries, anything by Victoria Holt, lots of Mary Stewart, that kind of stuff. But I explored other genres, too. Madeleine L'Engle became a favorite, and quite possibly my reason for loving fantasy. So when it came to writing, I combined my favorite genres and wrote a fantasy romance. I hope there is an element of suspense, as well.


The Archer's Hollow, a fantasy romance, is my debut novel. It's funny (not in a haha sort of way, mind you) that our stories are often referred to as our 'babies' and it's true, I love this story. It is set around 100 AD and involves two people who are thrown into unexpected circumstances and learn that against the odds, true love does exist.

From the 'back of the book': Nineteen-year-old Siri must keep a deathbed vow made to her mother. Escaping a village that's never been home and finding an unknown place are only the start. She naively triggers an ancient elven curse that will soon destroy what she loves most. Helped by a handsome master archer she faces a pivotal decision: forsake true love by continuing her quest or pursue true love dooming those around her.

Available on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/241945

and at Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-archers-hollow-peggy-urry/1113575566?ean=2940044976221

You can also find Peggy at http://peggyurry.blogspot.com/.  http://peggyurry.blogspot.com/2012/11/words.html

Talking with Ranee Clark, author of A Contemptible Affection

What do you find most rewarding about writing? I love to go back and read something I wrote and fall in love with it again. I love it when someone finds something I've written enjoyable. It makes me flutter.

I know the feeling or its close sibling, "Wow, I wrote that?" I notice your answers are in pink so um…What’s your favorite color? Pink! I love pink!

Yeah, I have a few too many dresses, scarves and tops in pink. I prefer absolute silence when I write, but what music groups/artists blast from your CD player while you write? It depends on the writing mood I'm in. Sometimes, if I'm really into one of my YA manuscripts, I'll pick a teen station on Pandora or Spotify and just let it ride. If I just need more background noise, I turn to my soundtracks station on Pandora. I don't think I've owned a CD or a CD player for several years. ;)

What or who inspires you to write? Pretty much everyone and everything. I can be sitting somewhere and see something and I say to myself -- what would happen if ...? And it takes off from there.  Once, while sitting and watching my kids play at a kiddie pool (and also mulling over some local events) the inspiration for a short story just hit me.

Proof of an active mind on vacation! What was your favorite book growing up that inspired you to try your hand at writing? I'm not sure if they exactly inspired me, but I loved the Nancy Drew books and also the Babysitters Club Books. My first stories that I wrote in late elementary school and middle school were all little series sets, mysteries or whatnot, three to five pages long.

Have you experienced writer’s block? And if so, how did you cure it? Of course! I think that probably the best advice is to make yourself write or write through it, but I don't think that's a hard and fast rule. I think sometimes writers need to step away and do something else -- maybe that's go for a walk, listen to music, watch a movie, go shopping, eat ice cream, or maybe go to a different project. I tend to hop to different projects if I'm really blocked, but I do try to write through everything, then I'll go back and fix those scenes that I know needed help.

Good advice! I'll have to try that the next time I hit the wall. Is that when you turn to your other interests and talents? What hidden talent do you possess outside of writing... something you do for fun, but are good at? I love to scrapbook -- digitally. I've spent the last year or so learning what I can about PhotoShop and using it to create. I love the sort of mindlessness that goes into it. Whenever I need something to distract my fingers, but when my brain needs to be on something else, I scrapbook!

How did you come up with your premise for A CONTEMPTIBLE AFFECTION? I was inspired by a line in a Georgette Heyer novel. One of the heroes (the heroine didn't end up with him) said that he'd always intended to marry her. That line spun off into A CONTEMPTIBLE AFFECTION and inspired most of Lord Dersingham's character, but both he and Iris evolved over and over to create a different story than what I originally imagined.

For those who are not familiar with this story, would you please give us the blurb?
After being spurned by Lord Dersingham last season, Iris Colburne swears she'll never let him in again. But that is a lot harder than she imagined.

Are there any fun tid-bits about this story you can share with us? None of my beta readers ever liked Iris, and only through some editing could I make her likable in the end. But she's still one of my favorite characters.

How did you decide on the setting? When you're writing a regency, and you want to write a good one, London is sort of the default. 

What is the purchase link (and cost)? A CONTEMPTIBLE AFFECTION is available both at Amazon and on Smashwords for $0.99.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009UGKEQU
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/245847

It's also available in paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Contemptible-Affection-Regency-Novella/dp/148007411X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0

Can you tell us what review of your story meant the most to you and why? The very first "actual" review I got has meant a lot. The reader loved it and really connected with Iris as a character and got Iris' motivations. I loved it. It made my tummy flutter and I had to read it to my husband. I think that review could sustain me through any bad reviews!

Spinster's Folly Released today!

Tell us a little about your book, Spinster’s Folly.

It's the fourth book in my novel series, The Owen Family Saga. It’s Marie Owen's story. Believing she's getting too old to attract a husband in a location with few choices, she takes a desperate gamble that goes very badly wrong.

Here's the description:

Marie Owen yearns for a loving husband, but Colorado Territory is long on rough characters and short on fitting suitors, so a future of spinsterhood seems more likely than wedded bliss. Her best friend says cowboy Bill Henry is a likely candidate, but Marie knows her class-conscious father would not allow such a pairing. When she challenges her father to find her a suitable husband before she becomes a spinster, he arranges a match with a neighbor's son. Then Marie discovers Tom Morgan would be an unloving, abusive mate and his mother holds a grudge against the Owen family. Marie's mounting despair at the prospect of being trapped in such a dismal marriage drives her into the arms of a sweet-talking predator, landing her in unimaginable dangers.

Sounds like an interesting read, doesn't it?

Marsha Ward was born in the sleepy little town of Phoenix, Arizona, in the southwestern United States; and grew up with chickens, citrus trees, and lots of room to roam. She became a storyteller at an early age, regaling her neighborhood friends with her fanciful tales during after-school snacks. Her love of the 19th Century Western era was reinforced by visits to her cousins on their ranch and listening to her father's stories of homesteading in Old Mexico and in the southern part of Arizona.

Over the years, Marsha became an award-winning poet, writer and editor, with over 900 pieces of published work, including her acclaimed post-American Civil War novel series featuring the Owen family, “The Owen Family Saga.” She is the founder of American Night Writers Association, and a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, Rim Country Writers, and LDStorymakers. She makes her home in a tiny forest hamlet in Arizona. When she is not writing, she loves to spoil her grandchildren, travel, give talks, meet readers, and sign books. Visit her website at http://marshaward.com
and her blogs, "Writer in the Pines" (http://marshaward.blogspot.com) and "The Characters in Marsha's Head" (http://charactersinmarshashead.blogspot.com). Find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/authormarshaward.

Getting toknow Author Marsha Ward (her latest: Spinsters's Folly is coming out Nov. 10th!)

Q: Marsha, who are you as a person, versus as an author?

A: I am a hermit. I love solitude. I am very quiet, very shy. I'm quite uncomfortable in crowds because I usually end up a wall flower without anyone to hang out with. However, I'm also a ham, and have enjoyed being in musical productions through the years. I was raised in a musical family, and studied in college for a career in opera. That plan took a sidetrack, though, and never came into being. Instead, I've taught many subjects in many venues.

Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
A: According to my older sister, I wrote from the time I could hold a pencil, and constantly talked about writing “my novel”. Although I believe her, I have no idea how a child so young as I was even knew about novels. Be that as it may, there's never been a time that I didn't have some kind of story to tell. I was editor of the 4th Grade class newsletter. About that time, I wrote a play dealing with the Acadian people’s migration. I wrote a couple of screenplays for a film club I was involved in during my high school years. And of course, my "Great American Novel" began its life in 1965. I didn't get the commercial I-think-I'll-actually-let-other-people-read-my-work bug until the 1980s, though.

Q: What was the pathway like for you to get your first book published?
A: I began my "Great American Novel" in 1965, when my train to opera stardom took a detour and I had to give up my full-ride music scholarship and come home to help out financially. I created a huge Southern family, wrote what was, essentially, a twenty-chapter narrative outline, and lugged it around with me for the next 35 years or so. Then my interest in writing commercially got very keen when I read a truly badly-written book. "I can do better than that!" I exclaimed, and hauled out "The Book." I eliminated some children, found some juicy conflict, read 150 books for background, and worked on the novel for a while. I took classes in fiction writing, and started sending the novel out to editors as I wrote the sequel. I even had an agent for a year. I was getting some good rejection comments, but no offers. I decided a re-write was in order. Then life happened.

My daughter was killed in an auto accident. My creativity dried up. It didn't come back, oddly enough, until my husband died. He was my biggest supporter, and I'm eternally grateful to him for that.

Then life happened again, and during a health crisis, I determined to leave published works behind, even if I had to publish them myself. I polished up The Man from Shenandoah and Ride to Raton. Because I didn't want to start a publishing company, I chose to use the cheapest services available from iUniverse, and get feedback from writers and readers I knew. When The Man from Shenandoah appeared, I hand-sold a bunch of copies, and lo and behold, other readers liked it! Several months later, I brought out Ride to Raton. Trail of Storms took a while to write, but was published in 2009. I'm working on the fourth novel about members of the Owen family, Spinster's Folly.

Fortunately, I survived the health crisis.

You are an inspiration to me personally. Thank you. Q: Were you ever discouraged along the way? If so, how did you deal with it?
A: I'm often discouraged. It's part of the writer's makeup. I have to muddle through, with a lot of prayer and communicating with other writers to get my balance back.

Q: What is your writing schedule like?
A: I'm supposed to have a schedule?
I fall into the category of “Writers who wish they had a more structured writing schedule.”

I hate that category (it includes me). Terribly hard to realize one is in a writing slump. Q: What do you hope readers will get from your books?
A: Actually, hope itself. I had an epiphany several years ago when I realized that I write to let people know there is always hope, and to show them through the experiences of fictional characters that they can get through hard times, even really, really terrible times, and find happiness at the end of it all.

One of the hallmarks of my fiction is fast-paced adventure, peopled with believable characters. Readers tell me when they're forced to put a book down they worry about my characters until they can read about them again. If I can take people out of their own worrisome lives enough to be concerned about fictional folks and see them through to a satisfying ending, then I've done the job of relieving some of their day-to-day stress. Isn't that what books are for?

Q: Do you ever experience a snag in a story, a form of writer's block? If so, how do you deal with it?
A: That terrible sound you hear is me groaning in agony. Yes, I encounter snags. My favorite way of dealing is to avoid and procrastinate, but that doesn't get the book written. The best way is for me to set very low expectations for myself so I don't self-sabotage. A lot of highly creative people have oppositional defiance, and I find that tendency is well-developed in me. To counteract it, my goal is often to write 25 words a day. I could do that on a sheet of toilet paper, right? Surprisingly, the tactic works.

Twenty-five words…one word or two? Yeah, I can do that…Q: Do you need absolute quiet to write? Do you listen to music when you are writing?
A: Right now, I'm listening to the music of my dryer drum turning. I don't need absolute quiet, but since I'm very easily distracted, music with lyrics is a no-no. I use instrumental music to get me in the proper mood for certain scenes that could be hard to write. Exceptions to the no-lyrics rule? Neil Diamond and "Sweet Caroline." That will put me in the mood.

(Me in the other room rummaging through old records)…Neil Diamond…Yes…Oh pooh! It doesn't have "Sweet Caroline" hey, but I can sing it! (Is this another one of my self- sabotage thing-ys?) Q: What kinds of inspiration do you use during your story creation periods?
A: Mindless activities are great for letting the mind wander while I accomplish a task. Taking a walk, taking a shower (water seems to inspire, or relax or something), getting enough sleep so the characters come to talk to me.

I'm all for the walk and even the water (okay, I go for a drink of water) but sleep? That sounds like one of my self-sabotage tools. Q: What’s your secret to making the characters in your books come to life?
A: I get to know them very well. I have a sheet of questions I fill in about them, and I also interview them. Then I don't overwrite them with too much description. I let their actions define them, instead. That way, the reader invests the characters with their own unique qualities and peculiarities, and they come alive in the reader's mind.

Okay, so I'm going to have to wheedle a copy of those questions…a worksheet perhaps…Q: What words of advice do you have for other writers who desire to publish their manuscripts?
A: Two words: Indie publishing. There's nothing stopping a writer from making the connection directly to the reader anymore. Get started by reading the blogs/websites of JA Konrath and Dean Wesley Smith. Google will find them for you.

Q: What are you working on now?
A: I'm doing research for the fifth novel in the Owen Family Saga, entitled Gone for a Soldier. This is Rulon Owen’s story of his experiences as an infantryman during the Civil War. We’re going to see what made Rulon the caring big brother you see depicted in Spinster's Folly. I’m very excited about the project. The American Civil War has had a deep pull on me since I was in high school. Let’s see how many errors I can avoid. Civil War enthusiasts are very picky.

I listened to a couple of enthusiasts at the library critique their costumes. Whew! were they picky! Q: Where can our readers go to find your books and order them?
A: All the online booksellers, such as amazon.com and bn.com, have the trade paperback books. The easiest way to find all my online eBooks is to go to my author pages at Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/marshaward and at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Marsha-Ward/e/B003RB9P9Q/
The eBooks are also on Kobo Books, and Diesel Books, in Canada.

Q: Any final words you would like to share?
A: I'll address this to writers: Believe in yourself, but learn all you can about writing, too. No first drafts are set in stone. Don't hang around negative people. Write at least 25 words a day. Listen to people to learn the flow of language. Find a good, encouraging group of writers who will show you the ropes. Read, read, read! When you start writing in earnest, find a good critique group. Reach down and help another writer along the way. Is that enough?

Blog: http://marshaward/blogspot.com

Website: http://marshaward.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/marshaward

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

Books on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Marsha-Ward/e/B003RB9P9Q

Ebooks on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/marshaward

Talking with Donna Hatch

Donna, I have to give you credit for turning me on to historical romance and I believe you call it Regency Romance. If it wears your name, I pick it up! So tell me, what is your typical day like?
It’s not really very glamorous. I get up at an obscene hour of the morning and start getting my children out the door. They all leave at different times so it’s a steady stream. Then I walk, exercise, shower and write or edit. Then after lunch, I go to my day job. After work, it’s all about family, homework, dinner. Occasionally I get another hour or two to write, but not usually. After the kids are in bed, I sometimes practice the harp (but not nearly as much as I should), spend a little time with my husband, and go to sleep. Like I said, not glamorous.

Maybe not glamorous but busy, wow. What inspired you to write romance?
I love it when the story focuses on the development of the relationship, and a happily ever after is a must.

I'm with you and the happily ever after, well most of the time, but I've gotten quite the taste for writing (not reading) the cliffhanger. (Evil laugh - guess it keeps me coming back to figure out what more I can do to the hero.) You mentioned the harp, do you write with music playing?
Yes, sometimes, but usually only to drown out other background noise. I has to be instrumental with no drum beat or it pulls me out.

I love Yanni for that very reason! What motivated you to write your current book?  
A critique partner and friend, Sarah M. Eden, who is also the author of some of my absolute favorite books, emailed me and said she and four other authors were putting together an anthology of short, romance historical stories centered around a winter or Christmas them. She invited me to join them. I accepted, then started brainstorming what I could write.
A Winter’s Knight is about a young woman whose fascination with a murdering earl and his dark castle lands her right in the heart of danger amid a terrible curse, and the man who steals her heart.
Though it takes place during Christmas, it has a very gothic feel. All six of the stories in the anthology are sweet, historical short stories by published authors.

Yum! sounds like my kind of intrigue! I love the danger that cost someone something. What will be your next project?
I’m working on book 3 of my Rogue Hearts series, a series of Regency romances. The working title of the new story is A Perfect Secret.

I guess I'll have to invite you back for that one. Where can we buy a copy of this anthology?
For now, it’s only in digital form and you can buy it at any online store like Amazon. We have plans to make it a paperback in the future—provided the sales are high enough.

Mysterious Monday is asking a question.

What do Dark Days have to do with Promise? They don't go together. Better yet, what Promise might Dark Days hold? Now you're asking the right question.


When thinking of Dark Days we all have our own lists. Some lists include dark, stormy days in the literal sense. Others would think of days of depression and gloom or the death of a loved one, still others would consider the days of unemployment and family turmoil. Maybe one would think of days of life changing illness or the betrayal of a spouse or friend.

I encourage you to take a moment to consider what you would consider a dark day.

Would any of the above be correct in relation to my upcoming release Dark Days of Promise? Most certainly, yes. Which one? Ah hah, one must read to find out. You've now been supplied with at least one clue to the mystery.

But what do any of these have to do with Promise? That depends entirely on the promise one is referring to. What Promise would you prefer? I like the idea that tomorrow will be better than today. For some, that may be promise enough. But for at least one of my characters there is just that promise. Wouldn't we all love to have a friends promise that tomorrow will be better than today fulfilled?

In Dark Days of Promise, Vicki, the main character is given such a promise by her closest friend in this opening scene.

Janine, my best friend and elderly neighbor, glanced at the house and back at me. "Vicki, it's going to be okay. Even the darkest of days hold a promise of good things. I'll be right here beside you."

But can an elderly friend deliver on such a promise? Read, then you decide.

Dark Days of Promise will be released for sale through Desert Breeze Publishing in September 2012. (Check counter at the right for how many days you have left to wait.)

Link to buy: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-345/Dark-Days-of-Promise/Detail.bok

Historical Romance Kiss

Excerpt from Daughters of Jared by H.B. Moore, published by Covenant Communications, 2012



Levi moved closer until I could look nowhere else but into his eyes. “I told you how I feel about you.”

“You asked me to marry you.” I tried to keep my voice steady, despite his nearness and despite my erratic pulse. “Then you asked me to give up my gods.” My voice dropped to a whisper. “You never told me how you felt.”

Both his hands cradled my face.

He closed the distance before I could take a breath. His lips pressed against mine lightly, hesitantly. My hands went to his chest; warmth radiated from his skin through his shirt. My touch encouraged him, and his kiss became more possessive as he pulled me into his arms, wrapping me in his security. For a moment, I believed that nothing could touch us, nothing could harm either of us. He slowly kissed my cheek, my eyelids, my neck. A torture of a new kind.

Then he pulled away, his hands resting on my shoulders. He stared at me with an intensity I’d not seen before. “I love you, Naiva. You must know you’re in my every thought, my every breath.”

It took everything I had to not fall into his arms and be swept away into our own world. I tentatively ran my hands along his chest, down his arms, absorbing his words.

I wanted to tell him the same thing—to confess my heart—but I was afraid I wasn’t who he thought I was. Nor could I ever be.

“If your brother finds out, he’ll kill both of us.”

*************

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Jared-H-B-Moore/dp/160861395X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1336483382&sr=8-2

Author Website: http://www.hbmoore.com/

Let's get Personal with Kelly Nelson

Where were you born? St. Paul, Minnesota

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? I would stay right where I am. I may not have the fanciest house or the biggest barn, but I have a covered arena, a roof over my head, and the location is beautiful. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

What are you most passionate about, other than writing? I love my two horses—Texas and Fancy. From the time I was three I wished for a horse on every birthday candle blowing, every first star I saw and every wishbone I broke. When I was 16 my dad finally gave in and bought me Misty, a thoroughbred mare and ultimately the mother of Texas. She had come off the race track and loved to run. More than once she took the bit in her mouth and ran full-speed down the canal frontage road while I hung on for dear life. She was a lot of horse and I learned through trial and error how to be a horseperson. I’ve now owned her foal, Texas, longer than I’ve known my husband and can hardly bear the thought of someday losing her.

My sister had a horse named Fancy but my horse's name was Silky Susie. See we have a bit in common! Name some of your most favorite things. I love looking at the moon, walking on the beach, exploring a new trail on horseback, going on a date with my husband and chocolate.

Let's find out a bit about Kelly's writing.

What or who inspires you to write? I believe in divine assistance and the power of prayer. Although the motivation to write came from within me, the inspiration regarding what to write came in direct answer to prayer. I knew before I started my first novel that I didn’t have the natural ability to do it on my own and knelt in prayer to ask for help.

Very nicely said. Why did you begin writing? I simply wanted to see if I could—you know, actually put together 80,000 words and have them make sense and be interesting to read. I had wanted to write a book since I was 15 years old. Over the years I had started and abandoned two different novels. With my 39th birthday looming on the horizon, I figured I’d better get going on writing that novel if I wanted any hope of making it a reality.

Are you looking at my notes for an interview in August? No cheating! What do you find most rewarding about writing? The most rewarding thing is the feeling of excitement and exhilaration I get from knowing I created something. The year I spent writing The Keeper’s Saga was the happiest year of my life—I was healthier and had more energy than at any other time. I love completing a novel and then reading it through from start to finish for the first time.

I like your reason. You truly seem to write for the love of writing. When is your next book due out, and what’s it about? The sequel to The Keeper’s Calling is scheduled to be released in September 2012 and follows Chase Harper’s life and adventures as a Keeper through the second semester of his senior year.

How did you come up with your premise for the Keeper's Calling? I always knew I wanted to incorporate time travel in my story. I started out working on a middle-grade novel idea, but I quickly realized that with the amount of time I would be spending thinking about it, I wanted to be daydreaming about someone a little more attractive than a 13 yr old kid. The answer to my dilemma came in the form of Chase Harper—my studly high school senior. Additionally, in my experience the most enjoyable thing in life is falling in love, so of course I had to give Chase a love interest—Ellie Williams the girl he rescues in 1863.

Tell us more.
The first chapter to The Keeper’s Calling is posted on my publisher’s blog:

http://www.walnutspringspress.blogspot.com/2012/03/keepers-calling-first-chapter.html

This week we're meeting Kelly Nelson.

Kelly Nelson was raised in Orem, Utah, and now resides in Cornelius, Oregon, in the heart of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She enjoys life on a ten-acre horse property with her husband, four children, and, of course, lots of horses. Kelly has a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. She worked as a certified public accountant for several years before opting to stay home and raise a family. As a young girl, she was an avid reader and had a passion for creative writing. Her travels to England, France, Egypt, Israel, West Indies, Mexico, and across the United States sparked a love of history, adventure, and exotic places. This led to the inspiration behind her debut novel, The Keeper’s Calling, the first book in The Keeper’s Saga. Learn more about Kelly and her upcoming books at kellynelsonauthor.com

The Keeper’s Calling is Kelly's debut novel and the first book in The Keeper’s Saga. It is young adult speculative fiction—in essence a romantic adventure story that defies the bounds of time.

The book is published by a small LDS Publisher and its content is appropriate for all ages. People who are 8 to 85 have enjoyed The Keeper’s Calling.-

Sizzling Saturday

First order of business --- drum roll please --- and the winner of a hard copy of Earthbound by this weeks guest, Theresa Sneed, is: Peggy Urry! Congratulations!

And from ... Earthbound.
No one asked Sophie to stand up against the dissenters. It just seemed like the right thing to do. She smiled as Saunders kissed the woman lightly on her lips, and wondered if she could ever be so lucky. That’s when she saw him again—Mr. Piercing Blue Eyes. It happened so fast, she had no time to react. He grabbed her and threw her to the ground covering her with his strong body. Even as she fell, she looked into his eyes, still filled with anger, but now mingled with concern. He cradled her head as it hit the hard ground and then rolled off her and jumped back up. What? It confused and embarrassed her. Why had he done that? The answer came quick as she saw the tiny energy emissions explode against his shoulders. She scooted back and fumbled with her guard-screen as Spencer pulled more energy emissions out of his pocket and tossed them into the air. Sophie gasped—her body shook all over. If those energy emissions had hit my face—she pushed the unpleasant thought aside and scurried to her feet, but the dissenters had launched their final attack for the day and had scattered.

Thirsty 4 Thursday

I am a writer—yes! I love what I do, but I am equally, a marketer too. My hope is that one day, I’ll be able to say, I’m a 90% writer and 10% marketer, but realistically, I do not see that happening for a few years while I build up my author platform. That in mind, I have been working as a 90% marketer for the past two months as I learn the ropes about marketing my books. However, I can say that I’m close to getting back to what I love best. In the meantime, I read, and research, and improve. My latest venture is my two week old website, which because of my efforts receives about 200 visitors a day. The secret is using the tools made available like permalinks and backlinks, but mostly by keeping fresh content up on my site. I’m doing an experiment right now and recording the hits I get within a 24-hour period. What I’ve discovered is that when I post fresh content—I get visitors, but it drops off slightly between posts. My new author website is at http://www.theresasneed.com/

Theresa, I am hoping you will return and share your marketing skills.

Wednesday Blurb

Walnut Spring Press has not yet officially released the book blurb.

Earthbound takes place in heaven—a perfect place, beautiful and serene in every way, except one. As the time draws near for the first of the spirits to leave their home in heaven, a group of dissenters called the No Choicers begins to appear at every Blue Planet Planning Meeting, hotly asserting that compulsory choice is safer than freedom to choose.


Sophie and Daniel are members of the Freedom Fighters, a group who oppose the No Choice movement. It is during one of the No Choicers’ tirades outside a planning meeting that Sophie first encounters Daniel, a leader of the Freedom Fighters. But the handsome and ostentatious Coe, a leader of the No Choice movement, also has his sights on Sophie and will stop at nothing to claim her as his.

Tickle Tease Tuesday

Sophie dangled her leg over the side of the hammock and pressed her head back against the pillow. A copy of Mystery on the Blue Planet lay open beside her and she mused on its captivating and profound words. It was indeed her favorite of all the fictional books written about the blue planet—and she hoped that at least half of it would turn out to be true. Imagine a new world—different from heaven, but still kind of the same, she thought. She glanced at the rich foliage on either side of the hammock then ran her fingers down the edge of its finely-threaded strands of crystal—woven soft as air and clear as the sky above. A blue light flashed on the event indicator strapped to her upper arm, and she glanced down at it as a message appeared.


ATTN all Freedom Fighters:
Your presence is requested in front of the
Blue Planet Planning Meeting, STAT

Sophie threw her other leg over the side of the hammock and stood up. She closed the book and grabbed her purse. She unsnapped it and peered inside. Ah, there it is. She touched the shimmery material of her guard-screen folded neatly inside a pocket. Hopefully, I won’t need this, she thought as she snapped her purse shut. She slung it over her shoulder then transwilled to the front lawn outside the planning meeting.

Fickle Friday

Betsy and I are comparing stories today. Hope you'll feel free to share one of your own too. Betsy, where were you born?


In a hospital that no longer exists in St. Johns, Arizona. This little town was hardly even heard of before Salt River Project took an interest in parking their power plant there. Not that it’s a thriving metropolis now—I think the cows still outnumber the people 100 to 1.

That just might beat my being born in a resthome for the aged! (for those of you unfamilar with my story, see my profile on the left sidebar.)
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

That’s an easy question. There are two places that have always intrigued me. I love the look, the weather, the people, the scenery of New Zealand. But I hear it’s pretty expensive. My other choice would be Australia because of its political climate.

I too would like to try Autralia, but not for the same reasons. I think my draw is an awesome series that my family has recently gotten hooked on. Can I live on a station and just ride horses? No chores for me, I know how hard that can be and shearing sheep? Ugh.
What is the funniest thing that ever happened to you or you witnessed that made you laugh so hard you couldn’t catch your breath?

I even wrote a short story about this. We had this pesky mouse that was terrorizing our home. We’d see him scamper across the floor when we’d least suspect him. He’d chew on everything, especially in the middle of the night keeping us awake. One afternoon, I saw him run behind a cookie sheet I had propped behind the kitchen sink to dry. I slipped a cup on either side and caught him. I took him directly into the bathroom and proceeded to flush him down. Who knew that mice were such good swimmers? That little bugger would NOT go down. All of the children had gathered round to watch its demise. After about the third flush my husband reached into the toilet and picked him up by the tail. “Any creature with that much will to live deserves to.” He took the mouse outside and let it go on the bank of the canal. In my mind I pictured some feral cat making a meal of that mouse. Shortly thereafter we procured a cat!

EEk! my sister once had a mouse try to build a nest in her hair while she was sleeping!

Wednesday's Trailor and Blurb(s)

Here's the link to Identity, betsy's first novel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i19kPDeJ8U 

Identity is a romantic mystery or is it a mystery romance?

 Here is the back cover blurb for Identity.

Two young women, similar in looks, are on vacation when their companions cross paths. It starts a chain reaction of mistaken identities that throws Amelia, the wealthy heiress, and Savannah, the beautiful Mormon girl, together on the same flight. They come to understand why the bizarre events have placed them into turmoil. As soon as they land, they resolve to right the wrongs. Their flight is cut short when their plane crashes and plunges one of them into a world of intrigue and deceit where identity means everything.

And here is the back cover blurb for Soulfire:


It is 148 BC, and the city of Nephi is ruled by the wicked King Noah and his corrupt priests. Zephenia’s father has turned to his drink after the death of her mother, and her younger sister Sari dreams of living in the king’s palace. When the family’s hut is destroyed and the sisters are unjustly imprisoned, Zephenia wonders if God has forgotten her. If they survive their tribulations, whom will her father choose as her husband? The only unmarried believer she knows is Gideon, and he is smitten with Sari.

Zephenia's thoughts keep drifting to Alma, the handsome high priest she met while gathering herbs in the jungle. She senses a goodness about him, yet because he is a priest in Noah's court, she knows he couldn't possible be a righteous man. But when the prophet Abinadi is martyred and Zephenia must decide between her faith and her family.

Tickle Tease Tuesday

(Excerpt is unedited and used by permission.)

Zephenia’s throat constricted. He couldn’t be leaving

now—not again. The last time the Lamanites invaded their
lands, they had killed Esther’s father when he went out
to protect the borders, and the poor family had to leave
their home to live with other relatives. Now, the only time
Zephenia got to see Esther was on Sabbath mornings, and
then only in passing. Zephenia didn’t want to end up like
that.
She crossed the spacious room and wrapped her arms
as far as they would reach around her father’s thick waist.
Her heart pounded as she looked up at him. If he left, he
might never come back.
Her father planted a kiss on the top of her head. “What
are you doing up?” he asked.
“Don’t go.” Zephenia buried her face in his tunic. She
could smell his oiled chest-piece, along with the balche
he’d been drinking.
“I’ll be back shortly, and if you hurry and fall sleep, it
will be like I never left you.” The flickering lamp reflected
in Father’s golden brown eyes.
“Mother, tell him not to go.” Zephenia looked up into
her mother’s face.
“The Lord will protect him.” Mother’s fingers stroked
the top of Zephenia’s head.
She wished that just once her mother wouldn’t be
brave, wouldn’t rely on faith. Just once she could demand
that Father not go.

http://betsyloveldsauthor.blogspot.com/
Pre-order through Amazon! click this link!
http://www.amazon.com/dp/1599928523


Don't forgewt to leave a comment for a chance to win this weeks prize!
(See Contesting Monday for official rules.)

Contesting Monday

This week I'm spotlighting Betsy Love-Making a difference one inspirational story at a time.


I’ve always loved the story of Abinadi and Alma, the Elder’s conversion from the Book of Mormon and have often wondered what it would be like to live during that time. Many times I’ve questioned my own faith and wondered if I would have the strength to withstand the persecution which have always fallen upon the saints.

Soulfire-A Book of Mormon Novel was actually one of the first books I’ve ever written. The story takes place about 150 years before the birth of Christ and follows Zephenia’s struggles of trying to remain true to her faith in spite of the evil around her. When she meets Alma, a wicked high priest of King Noah, Zephenia is drawn to him, but she knows she could never truly consider him because of his visits to Rachael, the harlot.While Zephenia and her family are fictitious characters, many of the characters are real people from the Book of Mormon.

Identity, my first novel published in July 2011, is a suspense/romance. My mother began reading a story with a similar plot line when I was about 10 years old. She never finished the story. Years later I was telling my daughter, Sarah, about the story and how sad I was that she never finished it. My amazing 10 year old daughter said, “So write your own ending.” And that, my friends, is how Identity was born.

The most fun part of the whole story is that Sarah is now an adult and looks very much like the cover model of my book. It was fun to use her in my trailer. Then when the cover came out for Soulfire, I once again planned on using my daughter in my book trailer. That will probably come in a couple of weeks once we are able to coordinate our schedules.
So let me tell you what this week grand prize will be. But first a little bit about the history of Cacao (cocoa). In ancient America the cacao beans were harvested, fermented, ground and then made into a paste which was mixed with chili powder or cornmeal. The Mayans preferred it cold, while the Olmecs liked it hot. Either way it was unsweetened, and they liked it bitter. Sounds yummy, I know. Since I KNOW none of you want to win that as your prize, I’m going to offer the modern version! A bag of Ghirardeli’s dark chocolate assorted squares. Now that sounds more to my liking (and it’s my favorite.)

How to win:

1) Become a follower here if you haven't already. If you are already a follower, leave a comment reminding me.

2) Become a follower of Betsy's http://betsyloveldsauthor.blogspot.com/

3) If you would like an additional chance to win, leave a comment (maximum of one additional entry per day.)