Read this and you will want more! The Up Side of Down

Excerpt: 
The heat from the midday Texas sun seeped through my dark gray sweats, my standard uniform of late, bringing my body temperature to the boiling point. 

After trying the door of the Lexus, I realized I'd locked the keys inside. The alarm system was armed, the cats had returned to their roosting place, and something strange was wrong with my eyes. They'd begun to sting and water leaked from them. 

Tears? Oh no, no, no, no, no. 

It had been almost two days since I'd shed a tear over my pitiful situation, and I was not about to start that up again now. 

I began walking as fast as I could down the gravel road leading to the water tower, where the local high school kids used graffiti to proclaim their date with freedom. I'd reached the half-way mark, when I heard the noise of a vehicle quickly approaching behind me. From the sound of its engine, I guessed it was at least the three-quarter-ton variety. 

Too late, I realized I was standing in the middle of the road close to a sharp, ninety-degree corner fittingly dubbed 'Dead Man's Curve'. I managed to vault for the ditch just as the truck's driver spotted me. To his credit, he gave it all he had in an effort to avoid hitting me. Unfortunately, this landed his vehicle in the opposite ditch. 

It took us both a minute to come to terms with our situation. We'd both been lucky that there wasn't a crash and no one was hurt. My pride was a little bruised, but I'd survive that. 

I watched as the man in the truck got out and looked around in a daze. "Are you all right?" he asked, as he crossed the road to my ditch. 

"I'm fine. Sorry about the near miss. It doesn't look as if anything's hurt, though. You should be able to drive right out of that ditch." I glanced at the huge black four-by-four truck he drove. Not that uncommon for this part of Texas where everything was larger, including the vehicles we drove. 

He ignored my observation. "Did you have car trouble down the road?" I could feel him looking me over. By this point, I was perspiring like crazy. My face was shiny with sweat, and he was staring at my hair. My hand went up to it automatically. For the life of me, I couldn't remember if I'd brushed it today or not. Or for that matter, this week. 

"I'm fine. Thank you for stopping." I turned to continue going wherever I was going before the run-in, when he stopped me. 

"Wait. Can I take you somewhere?" He looked around the deserted area in confusion. "Do you live around here?" Now there was the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question I'd been avoiding since I'd arrived in Down two weeks earlier. 

"Um, sort of." I could tell my answer only served to pique his curiosity. Maybe he was imagining me as the neighborhood burglar, or the town's only homeless woman. 

He reached for his wallet before awkwardly asking, "Do you need some money?" 

Shocked by his assumption, I was unable to do more than stare back at him with my mouth agape. Do I look that desperate? I thought about how embarrassed poor Thelma, the champion of the less fortunate, would be if she could see the pity in this man's eyes. 

"Here." He shoved some money into my hand and headed back toward the Black Beast. "Get yourself something to eat and maybe a change of clothes." 

He easily maneuvered his truck out of the ditch and waved politely as he drove away. I glanced down at the money in my hand in shock. He'd shoved a hundred dollar bill into it. 

Learn more about Mary at www.maryeason.com, check in with Mary on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mary.eason.338  and buy today at 

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-310/The-Up-Side-of/Detail.bok

Review: Mary Eason's The Up Side of Down

Blurb: Laney Winters is living the life she thought she’d always wanted—perfect home, wealthy husband and a successful, if somewhat mediocre, romance writing career. At forty-one, Laney discovers she’s expecting her first child and can’t wait to rush home and surprise her husband with the great news. Her husband, Tom, has a surprise of his own waiting for her. She walks in on him with his much younger secretary. He wants a divorce and wants Laney out of his house. Having signed a prenuptial agreement, she has little choice other than her oft-imagined revenge scenarios.

My review: Mary Eason turned the light of humor, warmth and values onto the subject of divorce through her heroine, who returns to her small hometown and eccentric aunts pregnant and on her way to single. The characters are well-drawn and interesting, and I couldn't put the book down. The Up Side of Down will take you through the tears, frustration, anger and craziness of the life of Laney, an author whose success is put on hold while her life falls apart and then, with the love and support of her wacky family and the caring warmth of more than one friend, begins to come back together again. You will love this book! 

Mary Eason grew up in a small Texas town famous for, well not much of anything, really.Being the baby of the family and quite a bit younger than her brothers and sisters, mary had plenty of time to entertain herself. Making up stories seem to come natural to her.

As a pre-teen, Mary discovered romance novels and knew instinctively that was what she wanted to do with her over-active imagination. She wrote her first novel as a teen, (it's tucked away somewhere never to see the light of day), but never really pursued her writing career seriously until a few years later, when she wrote her first romantic comedy and was hooked.

Today, Mary still lives in Texas, and still writes about romance. In fact, she can't think of anything else she'd rather do.

Download and enjoy this great book today at http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-310/The-Up-Side-of/Detail.bok

Check out all Mary's books: http://www.maryeason.com/

Follow her on twitter https://twitter.com/maryeason

and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mary.eason.338

How Jordan Bollinger's characters Run the Show

Where do you write? Describe your writing space. Anything that helps in the background?

When I lived in Connecticut, I wrote at a computer desk in the dining room with the Hartford Oldies station on.  Then I got a laptop, and could write wherever I wanted to - living room, patio-anywhere. Now I'm writing in the living room for the most part. I'm still pretty mobile, but with the bright Arizona sun and temperatures that have already been in the triple digits, the living room is the place for me. And, yes - there's usually caffeine involved as well as pet ruckus going on. I also need television on in the background, but sometimes it's turned down low so I can hear a book.

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

I actually blogged about this a few weeks ago. Our muses are fickle things, that appear on their own schedule; so I guess I 'go with the flow'.

What is your writing routine once you start a book?

I spend a lot of time thinking about things--just before I fall asleep and lying in bed when I first wake up. I also spend time sitting at the deep end of the pool, staring into the water and contemplating things. So, my routine is to plan out plotlines or dialogue and then write them down after email. 

Where do you start when writing? Research, plotting, outline, or...?

Characters-without a doubt, because they're going to provide a story.

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?

I live alone.  Well, I live with two wire haired fox terriers and a chiwinnie.  And, no--they don't know they should leave me alone.  Luckily, they're pretty much slugs-unless I make the mistake of saying something like 'car', 'leash' or 'outside'. My gentleman friend might pout if I tell him I have to work, but I try and get him to research things - mainly weapons and/or history.  Sometimes, he's even produced something informative and useful.

What do family members think of your writing? Do you ever ask him/her/them for advice? Editing? My family (which is my mom and her 'live-in' (and she turned eighty-four last week--so see, we're never too old for romance) are very supportive.  What surprised, and greatly disappointed me, was how my really close, friends (of thirty years or more) kind of ignored it. OR, which was even worse, they gave me a kind of 'that's nice, honey' look.

What kind of research do you do?

Oh, all kinds. When I first got the computer and started taking classes - back in the olden days, when a 1GB hard-drive would last you forever - they were a lot less people on the internet; and you could get to some surprising places (CIA, FBI, and MI-5 & MI-6--but just for job applications, no sensitive stuff!)  Now, technology has left me in the dust, and I'm lucky if I can find my own Facebook page.  Still, googling is a lot easier than searching library shelves.  I have started an antebellum romance, and I've researched Creole style houses to the point of making precise sketches of the front exterior and floor plans.  I have, however, promised myself I will not do sketches of the furniture arrangements. Although, I have assigned paper dolls to characters and am contemplating their wardrobes.

Are you a member of any author group and how does that help your writing?

I have been in some author groups, and I can't deny I learned at lot from the other members. I just am finding time to participate difficult now.

What do you think of critique groups in general?

They can be very helpful.  Often, someone will have a way of explaining something that makes it just 'click' for you.  And you can learn more from reviewing they you might expect.  Also, sometimes you see things that are wrong in other writing, and forced to acknowledge that you are guilty of that too.  That said, they can also be a hindrance.  You can't please everyone and having a dozen people evaluate your first chapter can get you in this endless loop of revising Chapter One and never make it to Chapter Two.

Which comes first, the story, the characters or the setting?

Characters! Characters! Characters! They will tell their own story, and the settings will come with the story.

What is the hardest/easiest part of writing for you?

I find writing dialogue pretty easy. Then, because I find settings often not important, sometimes hitting that happy balance of enough setting - without getting insane about it more difficult.

Are you in control of your characters or do they control you?

First time around, the characters.  I let them do whatever they want.  The thing is, if I've allowed them to 'form' correctly, they'll only do things that are 'right' for them.

Have you experienced writer's block? If so, how did you work through it?

Absolutely, but luckily not very often.  The best way I've found to get through it is to ask someone to request a bit of research for them, or write an article for a newsletter or something--anything!  Once you have something else you need to finish before you can return to your writing, you can't wait to get back to it.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

I would have to say 'living' in my own little fantasy world(s).  It's good to be crazy!

What is the single most important part of writing to you?

Crafting a well-written, satisfying story - for me. 

Any words of encouragement for unpublished writers.

To paraphrase Dora from 'Finding Nemo', "just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming".  File the rejection letters or emails (And really, isn't it better to often get almost instant disappointment because of the internet?), have yourself a good old-fashioned cry (or whatever) and send out another query.

Suspense is in Jordan Bollinger's Blood

Jordan, I am so excited to have you visiting today. Your new book just released. You must be on top of the world. Tell us about yourself.

I grew up reading classic mysteries and watching 'film noir'. All I wanted was to grab a hat and go on adventures with Phillip Marlow or Sam Spade. Mom and Dad were all right with my insistence on switching from French to Russian in high school, even if the counselor wasn't amused with my reason - I needed Russian, if I was going to be an international spy. They were even okay with teaching me to shoot. However, they frowned on me spending time in smoky bars with fast guys or shady characters.           

 I would guess, then, that suspense and mystery are in your blood - and in your book series.

By dreaming up my own adventures, I could live vicariously without the worry of being grounded. Those fantasy worlds led me to writing down all those stories swirling around in my head. So get ready world. Bollinger, Jordan Bollinger is here to sweep you off your heartstrings one bullet at a time. 

Buy Leap of Faith today at http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-309/Duty-with-Honor-Book/Detail.bokVisit her at her website at http://www.jordanbollinger.com/ and her blog Drawing on the Write Side of My Brain, at http://jordanbollinger.blogspot.com/

Future Releases by Jordan Bollinger at Desert Breeze Publishing

Duty With Honor Book Two: Second Chances - February 2013
Duty With Honor Book Three: Haunted Honeymoon - October 2013
Duty With Honor Book Four: Finessing the Wolf - June 2014
Duty With Honor Book Five: An Unexpected Pause - February 2015

New Release - Leap of Faith

Just before her thirteenth birthday, Beth Bennett discovered she was not only adopted, but had a father and a brother. Always the people-pleaser, she decided to split her time between her two families. After thirty years of juggling her life, the breakup of a disastrous twenty-year marriage and caring for her sister-in-law during her final bout with cancer, she retreats to her home in the Connecticut hills to regroup. Then she attends a charity banquet in NYC and meets a man who can't possibly be as perfect as he seems. he wants to pursue a relationship with her, but past experiences have made her swear off men and romance. Andrew Oliver doesn't give up easily, and when Beth finally admits to her feelings, she finds herself on an emotional roller-coaster ride -- remembering her past, living her present and facing her future with a self-reliance she'd forgotten she possessed.

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-309/Duty-with-Honor-Book/Detail.bok

Review (sorta): More Than a Job

by Patty Froese Ntihemuka

Posted on April 20, 2012 by patty

I’ve been taking more time to read, which is blissful. I don’t have to tell you how much less work it is to read a book than to write it. So after finishing up my manuscript, I decided to read for a while. It’s a luxury.
I picked up More Than a Job because I’ve worked with disabled people, as well. It’s a very rewarding occupation, and you definitely know that you’re making a difference in someone’s life. I volunteered with a disabled woman for years and we became good friends. I moved away when I got married, and then she passed away. She’s still in my heart, though, and my photo albums. So this book was one I wanted to read.
This is the book blurb:
Paige Hamilton is a survivor, forced into seeking a new life when her job and ten-year career end at the hands of a new company owner. When the handsome stranger is the first to help her through that transition, she falls fast and hard for Joshua Robinson.
Then she discovers that he is the cruel owner, and that the company she’d loved — the company that cared so much about the adults with disabilities she’d worked with — is in a downward spiral that puts the life of one of her friends at risk.
Lynette Endicott is a good writer. She draws you right into the setting, part of which is a personal fantasy of mine–a gorgeous old house filled with family antiques. The plot is a good one, revolving around the heroine’s job loss, her attempt to put her life back together and a story rooted in her family’s past about an uncle no one will speak of, a shadow of a boy in the background of old family pictures.
Now, to the romance. This is the part I wanted to talk about. This is a Christian romance, but Ms. Endicott ups the heat in this one! Now, the books I write are a sweet rating which means that there is no hanky-panky and I focus on the romance and tenderness and don’t mention the physical desire. This book, while there is no love making until after marriage (or that is at least implied in the book), the author does look at relationships a lot more realistically when it comes to physical yearning for each other. Paige and Joshua are drawn to each other and it’s a very physical attraction. They can’t keep their hands off each other, but that passion is part of their growing love, and you can’t help but feel that without a passion like that, why get married? There are some sensual scenes that had me catching my breath and thinking, “Oh my my… where is that husband of mine?”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I have to warn you NOT to give it to young ladies you are trying to shelter, but it’s great for those of us mature enough to appreciate a sensual love story rooted in faith.

Author Linda McMaken

We talked yesterday about your latest book, Granite Rose. I hope everyone had a chance to go to the trailer. It is so intriguing. That was  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaA8p65oOeo

But Granite Rose isn't your first book. I have a lot of family that have lived in or near Wyoming who love a good cowboy romance. Tell us a little about Baer Truth.

Abby Clark, a vegetarian, punk rock back-up singer and city-slicker gets kicked off the band tour bus in the middle of nowhere, also known as Sentinel, Wyoming.

Stuck with nothing but a talent for cooking and the singing voice of an angel, she manages to disturb a very cranky, cold-hearted bear, um, Baer.

Joe Baer, a sexy Wyoming beef rancher. He has a nasty ex-girlfriend, killer blue eyes, a ranch mortgage that’s due, and a past that even he never suspected. Just when it looks like beef might be what’s for dinner, the “Earl of Country Music” steps into the picture. He’s a sexy vegetarian with a killer smile and connections that could launch a stellar-career for Abby.

Snow, tractors, country superstars, an unforgettable rodeo, and a tornado named Abby, will bring these "baers" out of hibernation.

Would you be willing to close out with contact information and an exerpt from Baer Truth?

Website: Blog: www.makenwords.blogspot.com

Facebook and Twitter:
FB / TW: http://www.facebook.com/lindamcmaken  http://twitter.com/makenwords

The Granite Rose:  At Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-256/Granite-Rose/Detail.bok

Baer Truth:  At Desert Breeze Publishing

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-198/Linda-McMaken-Baer-Truth/Detail.bok

My books are also available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Thanks for coming by this week, Linda. Here is that promised exerpt:
Two steps toward Joe and her foot slipped. Her left knee crunched against the running board of truck and her right knee crunched into his groin. Her flailing hand caught his coat pocket, ripping it off in one quick motion. Joe's head snapped backward from the sudden impact to his groin. His head slammed into the steering wheel, smacking the truck horn. The horn didn't stop when Joe's head came back up.

Abby pulled herself off his chest and out of the truck. Her knee hurt like hell. She leaned against the fender.

The horn was loud, very loud, like a hoarse goose -- and it didn't stop.

Joe limped to the front of the truck, and raised the hood. The horn was still blaring, the snow was falling heavier, and George and Margaret were staring out the café window.

With an angry yank, Joe pulled a wire that stopped the horn. Peering at her from under the safety of the hood, he shook his head. "My barn, my nuts, my truck -- are you planning on wrecking anything else in my life?" He slammed the hood down. Globs of snow plopped onto the parking lot. He pulled the earring from his pants pocket and let it fall onto the snow-crusted truck hood. Abby yanked it off the hood and stomped into the restaurant. His truck started and he drove away.