The Monsters in this Book

Stephenia, I am fascinated by your book cover. It is gripping - the eyes over the scene that dominate the sky are frightening. What is the story?

The forboading eyes hidden in the clouds on the cover of my book represents the dark visions the hero, Jim, has throughout the story. His has waking nighmares of horrific monsters coming after him in the dead of night. In the shaddows and mist, a lone voice calls to him, telling him he must help before it is too late...

Here is an excerpt to flesh out the scene:
    It was cold.
    Too cold.
    The eerie silence of a moonless, starless night engulfed him.
    Jim shivered. It had been high noon only a few minutes ago. Had he fallen asleep? He
didn't remember being tired. He shook his head and tried to focus his groggy mind. He peered
around cautiously. Where was his horse?
    A rustling sound in the bushes startled him. His eyes darted to investigate.
    Nothing.
    No, wait. There it was again. Off to the left. His eyes strained, searching for the slightest
movement or shape. Something. Anything.
    Silence.
    He felt like a kid afraid of the dark.
    Get a hold of yourself, man.
    Fingers of fear teased along the back of his neck. The hairs stood on end. He shivered.
Where was that horse?
    "Ciervo!" His voice sounded weak even to his own ears. He tried again. Now he was
completely hoarse.
    Swallowing the panic rising from the pit of his stomach, he took a cautious step forward.
    He heard stirring in the woods behind him. Squirrels? He listened intently.
    The noise came again. No. Definitely not a squirrel. Something was pacing in the woods.
    Deliberate. Stalking. Jim's mouth went dry.
    Mountain lion.
    His heart raced and he looked desperately around, scanning the darkness. Blackness
blanketed the meadow. Jim hoped Ciervo hadn't wandered too far. He started to walk. Slowly.
Calculating. He couldn't tell in what direction he moved.
    His cell! He could use it as a light source. Jim's hand brushed at his hip. It wasn't there.
He frowned. It always stayed on his belt. He never left the ranch without it.
    Jim's eyes strained, but he could barely make out his surroundings. The farther he
walked, the darker it got. His breathing came in quick, rapid intakes.
    A shrill sound broke the silence. His heart leaped.
    "Ciervo?"
    Where was he? Was the mountain lion after him?
    Hoof beats. Thank goodness.
    They were pounding quicker than his rapidly drumming heart. A shadow appeared about
thirty feet in front of him.
    It wasn't his beloved horse. It looked like something galloping up from Hell.
The horrid creature ran wildly toward him. The cold air caused the hot breath to billow
from its nostrils like a smoking dragon.
    The monster's eyes looked like no earthly thing he had ever seen. The bulging orbs had a
luminescent shine that came from deep behind the pupils. In the pitch black they glowed like a
ghostly beacon.
    The horse-shaped beast lowered his head. The creature was preparing to slam into him.
Jim threw himself out of its path and landed sharply on his hip. His right thigh slammed into a
large, extruded boulder. Fire shot down his leg. Ignoring the pain, he jumped to his feet, eyes
probing the darkness for the crazed brute. The ghostly version of Ciervo had vanished.
    Despite the cold, he began to sweat. Jim felt eyes boring into him. Someone or
something watched him. He was exposed. Unprepared. His heart hammered in his chest. His body refused to move.
    Another sound. Different. It wasn't rustling limbs or bushes, and it certainly wasn't the
horse's wild hoof beats. It was quiet, like a soft whisper. Crying? No, calling out for something.
    He strained to catch the garbled words. The voice grew louder. More urgent. Still he
couldn't make out the woeful tone. Then, as if his brain finished translating some cryptic code,
the word became clear.
    "James!"
    Again. Louder this time. "James... James..." The voice rose and fell in the darkness. Its
eerie sound slithered into his ears.
    "Hello?" His voice echoed hoarsely. He held onto a feeble hope the voice came from
someone nearby lost in the dark along with him. No one here knew him by that name. He stood
holding his breath, listening.
    Suddenly, a freight train of frigid air knocked him backward. Terrified, he dared not to
move. The voice came again.
    "You must help. Soon it will be too late--"
     An insidious roar erupted around him. Hot, musty breath bathed Jim's face. He struggled
backward. He couldn't quite make out the figure standing over him. The silhouette was
enormous. Its shoulders spanned at least four feet. An odd-shaped head swayed from side-to-side.
    It growled.
    Paralyzed with fear, Jim lay helpless. The creature rose to stand upright. Seven. Eight feet
tall. Jim gasped for air. His feet tore into the soft ground, trying to gain footing. Desperately
trying to get away. The creature came crashing toward him.

Excerpt from A Legacy of Lies by Stephenia H. McGee

EXCERPT

Jim settled into the brushed leather of his ranching saddle. The saddle had a deep seat and the fenders turned the stirrups out perfectly. He was as comfortable here as most men were in a recliner in front of the television. He tried to keep his mind off Sarah's emerald eyes. No luck.

Focus on something else.

The deep indigos and golden streaks had faded from the sky, the sun now sat high enough over the white mountain peaks to start warming the air. A clear sky promised a peaceful day. It would be nice to spend the day--

What the...

A streak of color blurred past him. Ciervo lurched underneath him. Jim cursed under his breath, trying to steady his spooked mount. Up ahead he saw clods of soft earth flying up from behind galloping hooves. Panic set in.

Runaway horse.

Sarah.

Jim squeezed his legs as he leaned into the saddle and lowered his head. Ciervo dipped his haunches and rocketed forward. Within a stride his horse extended to a full gallop, his hooves barely hitting the ground. In mere seconds, they were gaining on the other horse. A sorrel.

Jim flung the reins around his body. The leather ends popped into Ciervo's thick hindquarters. The horse lowered his head and surged. Amazingly, the powerful buckskin found another gear. Jim's hat flew off, the leather strap catching hard against his neck. The wind buffeted his face. He squinted his eyes, leaned forward in the saddle, and gripped the reins with both hands. His body was now moving in rhythm with the horsepower beneath him.

Ciervo heaved in massive amounts of air. Pounding hooves and the horse's deep snorting breaths drowned the startled cries behind them. Ciervo's tail whipped through the air. Jim urged him on. Ten more feet. Five. He came even with the sorrel and reached for the reins, his fingers barely grazing the leather. He leaned further and Ciervo followed Jim's lead, nearly brushing against the other horse as the two animals raced across the valley. He reached out again and finally grabbed the runaway horse's rein.

"Hang on." Jim shouted above the deafening thunder of pounding hooves.

In one fluid motion, he planted his feet in the stirrups, rocked back in the saddle, and jerked Sarah's left rein down to his thigh. Sassy's head jerked, her neck curving until her muzzle met her shoulder. The mare's front feet planted into the soft earth, her massive weight tearing loose the grass underneath. As Sarah crashed into the saddle horn, a whoosh of air escaped her lips. Ciervo lowered his haunches and buried down to his hocks in the dirt. They came jerking to a halt. For a second no one moved. Jim let out his breath.

He looked at Sarah. She bent over the saddle horn, gasping for air. Her face splotchy red. When she caught her breath, she glared at him, her eyes nearly shooting daggers.

"What do you think you're doing? Are you crazy?" Sarah yelled at him and snatched her rein from his hand. Jim's jaw dropped. He could only stare at her. He'd just risked his life to save hers and she yelled at him? His fingers tightened on his reins, clenching into tight fists.

He knew it. Nothing but trouble.

June Bryan Belfie on Writing and Encouragement to Budding Authors

Where do you write? Describe your writing space.

Right now I’m in my living room, but most of the time I work on my dining room table. Using a laptop makes it easy to change my setting. Since my husband works on his computer in the dining room also, if I need to really concentrate without interruption, I move to another area. In the summer I like to work on my covered patio. I do start with orange juice and around ten my hubby and I break for coffee and/or tea.

Do you have a schedule (daily or book-long) for writing or do you just go with the flow?

I write something nearly everyday, though I've been formatting and editing for the past month. My favorite writing is the first draft of a book.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?

Since I have a lousy memory, once I commit to writing a book, I write consistently and several hours a day until it's complete. I become totally absorbed and housework is put on hold. I do manage to feed my family, but nothing very elaborate, I'm afraid. One book, 72,000 + words, I wrote in three weeks.

How about the people and/or animals you share space with. Do they know not to bother you when you are writing, or are there constant interruptions?

My single daughter was injured in July last year and has been living here with my husband and me since. Her future is unknown, but she still maintains an apartment an hour away. We take life a day at a time.

What do family members think of your writing? Do you ever ask for advice? Editing?

My husband is my main reader and critic. He's good and keeps me from making my males wimpy! He actually likes to re-read my books on the Kindle. One daughter, Jill, reads every word I write and is an excellent critic. (In return I critique her art - she's a professional watercolorist) My granddaughters read my books and encourage me. We have five adult children, but they are so busy raising kids and working that my sons have only read sections of my books. My eldest, who travels in his work, likes the book series that hasn't seen the light of day yet.

What kind of research do you do?

Most is on the internet. If I have someone living in Paris, I go into the neighborhoods, (plus I've been there) and check out apartment rentals, parks in the area - anything that will help fill in the dots in my mind about the setting.

In one book, I needed information on orphanages in India. I spent nearly a whole day researching that. It brought tears to my eyes, to read how many children were living without their families.

Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers.

Just keep plugging away. My first published book was about the fifth book I'd written. You do get better as you read and write. I have several books I read for educating me in the process of writing.

My readers can find me at http://www.junesecondcup.blogspot.com

http://www.freshview.weebly.com or on Facebook. I love to add writer and reader friends!

Download A Speciall Blessing for Sara at http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-282/A-Special-Blessing-for/Detail.bok

June Bryan Belfie on Writing and which book to read first...

How long did it take you to write this book? Edit it?

My first draft of a novel usually takes about two months. Then I begin the edits, which can take another two to three months. I'm never totally satisfied, but when I hit a deadline for submission, I say a prayer and hit "send."

How many books have your written? How many have been published?

I think I've completed twelve or thirteen novels. Some are on my hard drive to work on when I have a chance. The first novel, my favorite, became three books. They are set in the US, Italy, France, and England. I love my protagonist and my readers agree the plot is good, but I haven't submitted them since they need revision and I've been too busy preparing the three books that have been published, plus one scheduled for September. Besides, I do have a life beyond writing!

If I was a first-time reader of your books, which one would you recommend I start with and why?

It depends. If the reader just wants a fun, quick read? Start with "The Landlord."

"Moving On" is a more serious book, dealing with divorce. The new book, "A Special Blessing for Sara" is also a quick read, humorous in part, and yet has serious moments. I guess it depends upon the reader's interest.

Which book was the easiest for you to write? The hardest? The most fun?

They have all been easy to write. The book coming out in September took the most time, because it is set in a historical setting, which required considerable research. "A Long Way to Go" is about a young widow with three children who emigrates to Oregon with the first major wagon train in 1843. Her inner struggle is greater than facing the dangers of the trek across the country.

What are the elements of a great romance for you?

First, I have to identify in some way with the protagonist. She must be someone I could respect and like as a friend. Of course, my hero should be strong and honorable. Since I'm a Christian, I prefer my hero to be one also. Sometimes, I'm willing to wait awhile, but I want someone I can admire. Keep the sex in the bedroom, out of my sight, but give me enough romance so I can fill in the blanks.

My readers can find me at http://www.junesecondcup.blogspot.com

http://www.freshview.weebly.com or on facebook. I love to add writer and reader friends!

June Bryan Belfie

Tell us a little about your newest book. What is the genre? What is it about?

"A Special Blessing for Sara" will be available on April 15^th. It is a Christian romance novel about a young woman, adopted at birth, who is a Christian counselor in central PA. Her own life is complicated by a broken engagement. A young youth pastor, a fellow counselor who teaches at the high school and then her ex-fiance, who suddenly reappears, keep her in a state of confusion. Then a surprising element turns into a blessing for Sara.

Is this completely out of imagination, or are there elements of your real life experience in the plot/characters?

It's difficult to determine what I grab from my own life experiences and what I 'create' in my mind, since everything and everyone has some influence on my thinking and my characters. My first published book, "Moving On" was about a young divorcee. Since I went through a difficult divorce in my early thirties, I guess that book is probably the closest to my own life.

How much of your personality and life experience is in your writing?

My protagonist always has some of my traits, I'm sure, whether I want it to happen or not. I've written one book, so far unseen by publishers, which is about a woman, very different from me and it was fun to put myself into her "head."

Where do your ideas come from?

I have no idea. I do spend a lot of time, usually when I first awake, thinking about plot and characterization. While I'm more character-driven, I usually start with a theme, move on to a beginning - crisis - resolution in my mind, and then begin developing my main characters.

Why did you decide to write sweet or warm Christian Romance?

I started writing for my two teen-age grand-daughters to give them 'clean' books to read from my perspective. Both girls write themselves and the oldest majored in English in college. I found it fun to write and some of my books are humorous as well as romantic.

Both Moving On and The Landlord are available NOW, and you can get A Special Blessing for Sarah TOMORROW. Order any or ALL THREE at http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/JuneBryanBelfie/Page.bok and check out her blog at http://www.junesecondcup.blogspot.com/