Colorado Medicaid stuck it to a whole bunch of people, so I'm no one special in my status of being one of those who got the shaft. They now cover my mostly useless Medicare B premiums, but no medical services. I can buy back in at $25 per month if I can show proof of self-employment. However, I can't make too much money, or SSDI will discontinue my benefits. Hard place, meet rock.
Thus, I offer my services as a line editor/proofreader on a pay-what-you-can-afford basis. The cost is a minimum of $5, but I greatly appreciate it if you can afford to pay more.
Please email me at chartley65 at Gmail or carahartley at protonmail to request assistance. I can generally thoroughly proofread a 10,000-word story in 2 or 3 days. I have many years of experience editing what may be the worst writing in existence (mine). Surely, I can help you with yours!
I'm not a dev editor, but I will point out areas that could benefit from rephrasing or clarifying. I keep my eyes open for the sort of thing where the writer knows exactly what's going on but doesn't quite explain it to the reader. Of course, I never do things like that. My writing is always perfectly clear and never includes too much backstory or anything of that nature because I am literary perfection personified!
My dumb sense of humor is an additional service I offer free of charge.
Seriously, if you'd like me to give your manuscript the once-over, you can pay me as little as five bucks. There's pretty much no limit on length, but if you're submitting a five-hundred-page manuscript, maybe you could up the ante. You'll have another set of eyes on your manuscript, and you'll be helping me a lot.
Regarding book reviews, I still do these free of charge, but I would appreciate a tip if you liked the review. I will not guarantee a five-star review. It is rare for me to give less than three stars. You can do a search for reviews on this site to see samples of my style. I prefer to receive ARCs as a PDF, but if you only have an epub, I can convert it to a PDF.
For promotion, I strongly suggest that you compare the book tour services featured at the bottom of the blog and choose one of them to work with. Their rates are reasonable, and they will get your book in front of a lot more eyes than I can as a solo blogger. Feel free to leave a comment on any recent post telling me the name of the book and who you're working with and I will sign up to help if I have availability.
I am also willing to swap a post for a post. In other words, I feature your book on this blog, and you feature one of my books on your blog.
If you would like to do a guest post, I will need a Blogger-friendly HTML file or a media kit plus a picture of your book cover, blurb, purchase links, and an excerpt from the book. You can also include an author bio if you wish.
Pride and Prejudice at The Cat Café:
a Furrever Friends Sweet Romance
It is a
truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a
fortune should donate to a cat rescue.
Overworked PhD
student Liz takes a brief break at the local cat café with her
friend Jade, who wants to start a special needs cat rescue. Jade
pitches her idea to Carl, who is in charge of corporate giving for a
rich local family, and sparks fly between the two.
Liz is happy about
her friend's potential romance but less impressed with Carl's best
friend, William. He seems stuffy and rude, and worst of all, he
doesn’t like cats. Meanwhile, William is intrigued by Liz
even though every one of their interactions seems to go awry, in part
due to his terrible cat allergy.
For the sake of
their friends and the animals, the two figure out how to get along –
until Liz learns some horrible facts about William. But is she
trusting the right person? Then the feisty kitten Lydia disappears –
perhaps stolen – and they have to overcome their differences in
order to rescue her.
The Furrever
Friends Cat Café helps people find furry forever friends – and
just might lead to romantic love too. This Pride
and Prejudice modern
adaptation features fresh twists to delight both fans and new
readers.
“I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The
story is fun and I had several laugh-out-loud moments – really out
loud! It also passed the ‘I'm awake in the middle of the night so
I'll read test’ because then I stayed up for 4 - 5 hours reading
and didn't actually sleep.” – reader review
On
Sunday morning, Liz closed her computer and rubbed her throbbing
forehead. Jade had been singing for the last hour. It was like living
with freaking Cinderella, the Disney version where she had all the
animal friends and was unfailingly cheerful when she should have been
enraged by her mistreatment.
But Liz
would not go into a rant in her own mind. What was the point of
arguing with someone who agreed with you?
Anyway,
apparently Jade had a reason for singing. Carl had liked her business
proposal. Carl understood that while the local cat rescue was on
sound footing, it didn’t have the resources to handle special needs
cats. Carl loved cats. Carl, Carl, Carl.
Liz had
to smile, seeing her friend so giddy. She just hoped Carl was the
sincere and not merely showing enthusiasm because he wanted to
impress Jade long enough to get her into bed. If he was playing
games, Liz would have to destroy him, and she didn’t have time for
that. But he’d seemed nice enough.
Once
she’d shaken off her annoyance at the cat-hater and the squealing
girl desperately trying to attract him, Liz had watched Jade and Carl
with great interest. The chemistry between them had been off the
charts. Liz might have envied Jade for that too.
Not
that she envied her best friend for anything. She wanted wonderful
things for Jade, and Liz didn’t have time for a relationship
anyway, or know anyone interesting, so …
Wait,
what had she been thinking about?
Jade
hit a particularly high note.
Oh,
right. Good chemistry.
Liz
chuckled and headed to the kitchen to refill her coffee. She was
pretty sure she’d already taken the last cup, but if she was lucky,
Jade would have started a second pot. She found Jade scrubbing the
counters as she sang. Liz scowled at the coffee maker, or more
specifically the empty space where the glass pot should be. The
dishwasher was running; apparently Jade had decided to wash the
coffee pot as part of her enthusiastic cleaning binge. Freaking
Cinderella.
Author bio
Kris
Bock writes romance, mystery,
and suspense.Her Furrever
Friends Sweet Romance series
features the employees and customers at a cat café. Watch as they
fall in love with each other and shelter cats. In
the
Accidental Billionaire Cowboys series,
a Texas ranching family wins a billion-dollar lottery. Can they build
new dreams and find love amidst the chaos?In
the
Accidental Detective humorous mystery series,
a witty journalist solves mysteries in Arizona and tackles the
challenges of turning fifty. Learn more at KrisBock.com.
Get a free 30-page story set in the world of the Furrever Friends cat
café when you sign up for Kris
Bock’s Romance and Mystery newsletter.
You’ll
also get a printable copy of "22 recipes from the cat café”
and a
free Accidental Detective mystery short story with bonus material.
Kris also writes a series with her
brother, scriptwriter Douglas J Eboch, who wrote the original
screenplay for the movie Sweet
Home Alabama. The Felony
Melanie series follows the crazy antics of Melanie, Jake, and their
friends a decade before the events of the movie. The series starts
with Felony Melanie in Pageant
Pandemonium. Sign
up for their romantic comedy newsletter
and get Felony Melanie
Destroys the Moonshiner’s Cabin.
Or find the books on Amazon
US or All
E-book retailers.
Free use image from Open Clipart Vectors
FREE BOOK ALERT!
Kris is also
offering the second book in her Accidental Detective series free
until April 2.
This short story is about a mother wanting her children to enjoy the
outdoors. The story takes Nathan, Iris, and Mommy on another trip to the
national park. Nathan and Iris are extremely excited to visit with their new
friend, Gob the Gnome again. Gob takes Nathan, Iris, and Mommy on a short
tour of park and Nathan sees a large empty area of the park. Gob explains to
Nathan, Iris, and their mom the unfortunate realities of what happens in
some parks due to human interference and natural occurrences. Gob also
introduces the family to some of the animals and explains how they suffer
through deforestation, tornados, and storms. In this story Iris comes to age
by using what she learns from Gob to defend the forest.
Since the 1400s, folklore has described gnomes as guardians of treasure and
the protectors of Earth. Gnomes represent stability, growth, and good luck.
This is the second book of the six-book series about Gob the Gnome. The six
books in this series all revolve around Gob, the protector of a local
forest, who becomes friends with Nathan and Iris and helps to educate them
on the importance of caring for the environment.
About the Author
Marilyn Slaughter is an educator with experience teaching second through
fifth grades, middle school science, and social studies. She now spends time
authoring books for children and adults for engagement, learning, and
entertainment. Marilyn’s first six books are a set with the theme of
children, with their families enjoying the outdoors; and with teachers and
classmates learning about the environment. The children are introduced to a
magical and mythical being in the forest and they work to save the local
forest. Her goal is to provide a fun read with an entertaining way for
children to learn about science.
The mysterious world of witchcraft, murder, and mystery thrusts Raven
Sagestone into an adventure whose main goal is to unlock the secrets of her
powers. To do this, she teams up with Brandon Cass, an outsider with
knowledge of the supernatural world. Raven is introduced to Eve, a psychic
who reads destinies. Despite this, Raven is protected by a strong magic
barrier, preventing Eve from seeing her. Brandon and Raven search for the
truth at Bloodthirst, a vampire club. Visiting The Council's haven with
Margarete and Caleb is Raven's chance to find answers to the questions that
have plagued her.
About the Author
LAURA DALEO is a multi-genre author, specializing in Dark Fantasy, Urban
Fantasy, Supernatural/Paranormal fiction, Science Fiction, and Young Adult
Fiction. Immortal Kiss, her best-known vampire series, explores the Egyptian
pantheon that gave rise to vampires. Currently, she is working on her eighth
book, I am Wolf, an urban fantasy.
A native of San Diego, California, Laura now lives in Tucson, Arizona with
her two dogs, Rose and Cooper.
Embracing Life's Final Colors: A Heartfelt Journey through Loss,
Redemption, and the Unknown
Drama
Date Published: February 20, 2024
Publisher:Palmetto Publishing
In the tender pages of The Rainbow Diary, embark on an extraordinary
odyssey that transcends the boundaries of life and death. This poignant tale
weaves a tapestry of love, loss, and redemption, resonating deeply with
anyone who has felt the sharp ache of losing a loved one or grappled with
the haunting anxiety of mortality.
Meet Kenneth Talbot, a man on the precipice of his final journey. Diagnosed
with pancreatic cancer, he confronts the fragility of his existence. As the
sands of time slip away, Kenneth's reflections paint a vivid portrait of
human emotion. His story becomes a mirror, reflecting the joys and regrets,
the triumphs and heartaches that define us all. Amidst the pain, Kenneth
finds unexpected solace in the most unlikely places. His bond with his
teenage son, Brian, becomes a source of profound reconciliation, a testament
to the enduring power of familial love. The gentle presence of MaryAnn, his
devoted nurse, becomes a beacon of hope, guiding him toward
acceptance.
The Rainbow Diary is more than a novel; it is a sanctuary for the soul. It
delicately explores the complex nuances of life's final moments, offering a
glimpse into the afterlife that is both imaginative and comforting. Through
Kenneth's introspection, readers are invited to confront their own fears and
anxieties, finding solace in the shared human experience. This book is a
testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a celebration of the
enduring power of love that transcends the boundaries of time and
space.
Immerse yourself in this extraordinary narrative, and let The Rainbow Diary
be your guiding light through the labyrinth of life, death, and everything
in between.
About the Author
Dr. Mitchell Maiman became a physician at age twenty-four and is now
retired. As a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology and sub-specialist in
Gynecologic Oncology, he has had a distinguished academic, clinical, and
research career in medicine and served as both a Director of Gynecologic
Oncology and Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology at major New York
City-based university hospitals. He has been recognized for his numerous
educational contributions in the field and his devotion and commitment to
the teaching of residents and fellows.
Mitch lives with his wife, Dr. Judy Levy, in Long Island, New York, and is
an avid tennis player and practitioner of yoga. They first met during their
residency training. This is his first novel.
This is a thought-provoking and enlightening exploration of spirituality
and perception. The text functions as a guide to self-improvement, with a
mixture of autobiographical elements and snippets of universal wisdom. The
speaker provides accessible solutions to life's difficulties, and an outlook
of optimism applicable to any circumstance. The illustrations and graphics
are thoughtfully chosen, and the interactive textual elements give this work
an originality that sets it apart. The speaker's own experiences and
conclusions are at the heart of this fiction, and the first-person narrative
voice creates a sense of proximity between author and reader. The text
describes itself as 'a journey to the heart', and this truthful discovery of
the self is reflected in the speaker's revelation of his whole self through
the text. The narrative often presents a dichotomy between positive and
negative outlooks or voices.
For example, the speaker includes sections in which his self-doubt speaks,
'you've got no proper education, you can't spell properly, you're dyslexic
and your grammar is crap. You're not really a writer'. This negative voice
directly opposes the sense of self-belief the speaker builds within the
narrative. He uses examples such as this to remind readers that the journey
to happiness is complex and that flaws or setbacks are natural. The negative
separation or fragmentation of the self is prevalent in the lines, 'I do not
love the grumpy me, the sad me, the hostile me, the parts of me that act as
if I do not care'. The act of writing represents a unification of the self
and an attempt to reframe the speaker's life into coherence. The frequent
use of direct address and rhetorical questions promotes an active reading
experience, in which the author opens up a dialogue with the reader. The
text includes prompts and activities for the reader to engage with and learn
from. Encouraging readers to take part in the text is emblematic of their
journey to self-fulfillment and love, in which they must take responsibility
for actively creating their own happiness.
The speaker depicts his process of enlightenment as a framework for others
to emulate, and the format of the text demonstrates the transfer of agency
to those who take part in the speaker's challenges at the end of each
chapter. This work ultimately teaches us that 'we are the cause of what is'
and thus sheds light on the crucial idea that every individual has the power
to create themselves and their world positively.
About the Author
Toby Negus is an artist, both with paints and of the spirit. His work
reflects a deep commitment to meeting life on its terms and an equally deep
understanding of human nature.
Toby has studied and taught spiritual and personal development in the UK
and around the world for over two decades. He is qualified in advanced
counselling, as a life coach and as a Cognitive Behaviour therapist. He is
an Amazon best-selling author of a collaborative Conscious Creators book and
has illustrated and self published two books on the subject of
self-awareness and the spiritual journey. He has articles published in
national magazine and has given talks and run workshops in support of his
published work within the UK.
In the last few years, he has created many pieces of artwork that are a
reflection of his spiritual journey. These have appeared in magazines and
have been exhibited in the UK.
When Montgomery Clarke saves Deputy Sam Roswell’s life during an armed robbery, both men go home thinking they’ll never cross paths again. Instead, a friendship blossoms between them as they work together to track down a wanted man: the surviving robber who escaped the scene of the crime with a sack of cash.
Drawn to each other despite their starkly different personalities, Montgomery and Sam quickly bond in a way neither man has with anyone else in years. Their friendship awakens Sam’s long-buried and unexplored romantic feelings for men, while reviving Montgomery’s deepest longing: for a platonic life partner. Sparked by violence, Sam and Montgomery’s connection becomes cemented in yet another dangerous confrontation when they finally catch up to Joel Troutman, the robber on the run.
A year later, Montgomery and Sam are best friends with an exceptionally intimate relationship. What should be their first happy Christmas season together, however, suddenly turns sour when Montgomery gives Sam the cold shoulder without explanation. Brought together once again by crime—this time, one involving a teenage girl—Sam and Montgomery reckon with their feelings for each other. Will they remain friends or become partners?
Sam Roswell stops for dinner at the Dog Bowl Diner in his civvies, his department-issued sidearm locked in his desk drawer at the sheriff’s office. He chats up his waitress just to feel better about eating alone, then watches the other people in the diner, half cop on the lookout for mischief and half wishing he could meet a new friend. There’s a young couple with a pair of restless kids who can’t stay seated longer than a minute, an old husband and wife tucked into a two-person booth, three men and a woman side by side at the chrome-rimmed counter, and some teenagers hanging out on the other side of the place. None of them pay him any attention.
Two men wearing black knit masks over their faces dart into the diner, each of them leading with a gun. Sam freezes in his seat, watching in disbelief as they split up to cover the room.
The man in a long-sleeved navy blue T-shirt moves into the more heavily populated section of the diner and shouts, “Everybody take out your wallets. Now!”
The second man, wearing a dark red T-shirt under his jacket, goes up to the counter and points his gun at the first employee he sees. “Open the register! Open it!”
The blonde waitress with big hair hurries to the cash register positioned at the right end of the counter and tries to obey, hands twitching and eyes panicked. She fails at her first attempt.
“Hurry up!” Red Tee yells, steel revolver gleaming in the white light of the ceiling bulbs.
The register drawer clicks and slides open, and the waitress yanks stacks of bills out of their compartments and drops them on the countertop.
“Put the money in the bag! Put it in the fucking bag!”
She scrambles for the cash with one hand, then shoves it into the cloth bag Red Tee slid onto the countertop. He snatches the bag away from her and passes it to his accomplice, who holds it in front of the family with kids.
“Put your wallets in the fucking bag and pass it on,” Blue Tee says to them. “Now!”
One of the children starts to cry, pink-faced and whimpering.
A boy sitting at the table of teenagers bolts for the door, but Red Tee gets hold of the hood on his sweatshirt and yanks him back.
“Where the fuck are you going?” Red Tee yells, wrapping his free arm around the boy’s neck and pressing his gun into the boy’s head. “Huh?”
One of the teen girls yelps.
Sam stands up and makes for Red Tee, plucking his badge off his belt as he goes. His pulse races, waves of adrenaline washing through him. He’s not thinking, his body drawn to the trouble like a piece of metal to a magnet.
“Hey, hey,” he says, too soft-spoken for the circumstance. He holds the badge in his hand, so everyone can see it. “Just calm down. The kid’s not going anywhere. Send him back to his seat, and you and your pal can get out of here.”
“A cop, huh?” Red Tee says, arm still wrapped around the teenager’s neck, the gun unrelenting against his skull. “We got us a fucking cop in here.”
Blue Tee glances over at Sam, still following the bag of money around his section of the diner as it changes hands.
“Where’s your gun, asshole?” Red Tee says to Sam.
“Let the boy go,” Sam replies. “You got your money. You don’t have to hurt anyone.”
Red Tee stares at him through the eyeholes in his mask, silent for a long beat, then pushes the teenager away from him. He points his gun at Sam’s chest.
“He don’t even have a fuckin’ gun,” says Blue Tee, the bag of money in his hand. “Don’t be stupid. Let’s fuckin’ go.”
Sam’s standing with his hands up in front of him, badge in the left.
Red Tee doesn’t budge, staring him down with the revolver.
“I said, let’s go,” Blue Tee barks.
“Fuck this cop,” says Red Tee as he cocks back the hammer on his revolver.
Marie S. Crosswell writes long fiction, short fiction, and poetry. Her novellas Texas, Hold Your Queens; Alchemy; Cold, Cold Water; and The Silence of Lightning are available online wherever digital books are sold. Her short fiction has appeared in Thuglit, Betty Fedora, Plots with Guns, Tough, and other indie crime fiction publications. She’s a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College where she studied creative writing and friendship. She lives in the American West. Visit her Website for more!
Giveaway
One lucky winner will receive a $50.00 NineStar Press Gift Code!
When workaholic Pierce Simms’s sister passes, he suddenly finds himself unemployed, back in the hometown he fled, and raising his niece and nephew. Despite that, he’s confident he has things under control—at least until his sister’s high-school sweetheart shows up.
With his teaching grant ended, Dalton O’Dell is at loose ends and tight purse strings. Just as the world crashes down on him, he learns his ex-girlfriend has passed and named him guardian of her two young children. Chaos ensues when he and her brother, Pierce, are forced together to raise the toddlers in Pierce’s family farmhouse.
Nestled in the enchanting beauty of the farm, Pierce and Dalton bond over the challenges of co-parenting and their shared grief as unexpected love blossoms. Love might not be enough, however, if they can’t learn to bridge the gap between their different worlds and overcome the trauma of their pasts.
Excerpt
“Let’s discuss how to proceed,” Pierce’s attorney, a short, businesslike woman, said. For thirty minutes, Pierce kept the baby occupied while his attorney and Uncle Tim discussed the details of the will. I sat watching Pierce.
The little girl kept bringing her uncle toys that had been left in the office for kids to play with, and each time, he’d smile or ask her questions. Eventually, the baby boy settled and snuggled sleepily in his arms. That’s when my heart melted. This wasn’t an absentee uncle. Clearly, he was important to them and vice versa. It made me question whether a custody fight was prudent.
“Why did Lizzie want me to raise her kids instead of you?” I blurted, interrupting our attorneys and surprising myself.
A pained expression crossed Pierce’s face as he spoke to me for the first time. “When she made her will, she probably figured I’d never come back. We were… estranged,” he said, voice gruff.
“But you’re back now, and these two seem to trust you. How long have you been taking care of them?”
His pained look morphed into one so grief-stricken I felt tempted to hug him. “About six months,” he whispered.
I nodded in thought. “Do you have a job? Are you married? What’s your wife like? Is she on board with helping raise them?”
My uncle cleared his throat, signaling to me to let the lawyers handle the questioning, but I couldn’t help myself. For a moment, Pierce looked a little stunned by the sudden barrage, but he answered. “I’m recently unemployed, but I received a good severance package. I’m set for at least a few months before I need to work full-time again. I’m not married.” He hesitated then, his face resolute, before spinning the question back around. “You?”
I shrugged. “Unmarried and recently unemployed as well.” Ignoring his challenging stare, I continued honestly. “I see these two love you, depend on you. I don’t understand all this, but I trust Lizzie had her reasons for naming me their guardian. I won’t relinquish that responsibility. Not without knowing for certain they’re in good hands.”
Pierce nodded, and his expression softened a little. “I’m not stepping out of their lives without knowing the same thing. Frankie and Max have already been through too much for two little kids. I’ll be here until they don’t need me.”
“So we’re at an impasse,” I said.
Uncle Tim cleared his throat again. “Or maybe it’s an opportunity. Mr. Simms, may I call you Pierce? I understand you inherited your father’s farm?” Pierce glanced at him and nodded. “And Dalton, you’re looking for a place to stay. Why don’t you boys combine forces? Dalton, your farming experience might be of great help to Pierce, and you’ll both have time to get to know one another and observe the other’s parenting style.”
I looked at my uncle, aghast. “Uncle Tim, that’s probably not a good idea. Mr. Simms, surely you have a girlfriend or something? I couldn’t impose—”
Pierce barked out a laugh, nearly waking baby Max, who’d fallen asleep in his arms. “I’m gay and single.” He glanced down at his nephew, then over to his niece, Frankie, before refocusing on me. “I understand you work with kids, but do you feel comfortable caring for kids this young?”
I couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t have much experience being around kids this age. In my previous job, they already knew their ABCs when they came to me.”
Pierce appeared lost in thought before he sighed and his shoulders dropped, as if he were giving up the fight. “Honestly, I could use the help. When Lizzie got sick, friends and neighbors helped, but that tapered off. Now it’s just us. I could use another pair of adult hands, especially at night.”
“And there’s room at your house?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I’m staying in my sister’s room, which has an adjoining area where the kids sleep. You could take the main bedroom right across the hall. But fair warning,” he said, a mischievous smile forming on his lips, “if you move in, you’ll have night duty too. Max only sleeps four or five hours, which means 1:00 a.m. diaper-changing time. You up for that?”
I could tell he was testing me, and screw him. I slept like the dead, but I could set an alarm.
I nodded. “I’m up for it if you are.”
We both looked at our attorneys, who wore matching grins. “Well, then,” Uncle Tim said, “sounds like we’ve got a plan.”
About the Author
Greyson McCoy loves to travel. After years of being tied down to a life of kids, work, running a small farm, and all things domestic, he and his husband have taken full advantage of their empty nest to travel the world.
The joy of writing came to Greyson late in life. While completing his master’s degree, he found himself fighting between desperately wanting to write fiction and finishing the homework and papers he’d been assigned.
After his master’s was finished, Greyson decided to shirk his life of responsibility and pursue his dream of writing full time. His stories reflect many of the locations he and his husband have visited over the years.
After years of being tied
down to a life of kids, work, running a small farm, and all things
domestic, my husband and I have taken full advantage of our empty
nest to travel the world.
The joy of writing came
to me late in life. While completing my master’s degree, I found
myself fighting between desperately wanting to write fiction and
finishing the homework and papers I’d been assigned.
When my master’s was
finally done, I decided to shirk my life of responsibility and pursue
my dream of writing full time. My stories reflect many of the
locations my husband and I have visited over the years.
What/who
inspired you to start writing?
My
great aunt was born in the early nineteen twenties. She and my
grandmother were raised so poor, there were times they simply didn’t
have enough food to eat.
My
great grandmother, love her as I did, was not a big advocate of
higher education. Despite that, my aunt managed to get through high
school and began writing poetry when she was around my age.
I
never had a conversation with her about her writing. I just secretly
admired that she had the umph to do so, and when the world seemed to
be against her success at it.
I
think that’s where I first began to think about being a writer.
Even when I never would’ve dreamed I could do it professionally, I
would write poetry (bad poetry, that will never see the light of
day,) stories about my experiences, advice I wanted to give my kids,
and so forth and so on.
I’m
not quite sure I’d have had the nerve to take this on if it hadn’t
been for my great aunt.
Tell
us about your new release. What inspired you to write it?
Bridging
Hope
was a labor of love. I was lying in bed one night when the plot bunny
hit me and refused to let me go. I ended up getting up and started
writing the story.
Of
course, the story ended up way too long for the submission
requirement for DreamSpinner press, so I had to pare it down, but
that’s only because I was enjoying writing the story so much.
How
did you decide on the title?
Okay,
confession time. I hate titling my books. I had come up with Bridging
Hearts, when I broached the subject of maybe making this a series
with my editor. With her help we decided Bridging Hearts should be
the series title, and Bridging
Hope
the title for book 1.
I
was in central Oregon and fell head over heels in love with their
covered bridges. Of course, I went to college in Iowa where they had
their own covered bridges scattered about. Heck, Bridges
of Madison County
was a book that came out when I was in college there.
It
only made sense, as my husband and I rode around the idyllic scenery
that I would eventually set a book in a town similar to the one where
the real covered bridges reside.
Bridging
Hearts, just made sense as a series title. Bridging
Hope
is an accurate description of the process the guys in my book took to
find love, and family.
What
are you working on at present? Would you like to share a snippet?
Well,
yes, yes I would! LOL
I
have completed book 2 of the Bridging Hearts Series. The story starts
out with a young California farmer fighting to save his beloved farm
from a voracious wildfire.
Unfortunately,
he doesn’t succeed, but he’s thrust into a world of hope, when he
moves to live with his aunt and uncle on their dairy farm in Central
Oregon.
Now,
here’s that snippet:
I
followed them in and immediately washed my hands in the lower
bathroom. No need to get Sue after me again. She’d all but flogged
me last week when I sat down at the table without washing proper, as
she called it.
I
took a seat in the dining room when Sue yelled up the stairs. “Cliff,
we’re sitting down to supper. Come on down.”
I
looked at Levi with my eyebrow raised in question. “My cousin,”
he said quietly. “His farm was swept up in the California
wildfires. Only just arrived in the wee hours.”
I
cringed. I’d been watching the news about the horrendous wildfire
currently scorching through California. It seemed fires were eating
up the forested parts of California and Oregon more and more every
year. “That’s awful,” I whispered. “He must be devastated.”
Levi
nodded and a somber mood fell over the table. As talk shifted to
fences still needing repair, I popped into the kitchen to help Sue. I
was bringing out a bowl of mashed potatoes when I came around the
corner and looked right into the eyes of one of the most handsome men
I’d ever seen.
Chiseled
jawline, lean build, and kind but sad eyes. When they locked on mine,
I stumbled. In one swift move, he caught me, put me right, and then
took the bowl from my hands and placed it on the table.
I
was still feeling flustered when he shook my hand and introduced
himself as Cliff Anderson.
“I’m
Brandon Forest, a friend of Levi’s. Nice to meet you.”
Although
his face was weary, the smile he gave me made my heart flutter.
Sue
brushed past us carrying a platter of pork chops, and took her
customary seat opposite Chris at the end of the table. Only then did
I notice Levi had switched seats so instead of sitting across from
Keya like usual, he was seated next to her. That left two empty
chairs side by side, which meant I’d be sitting beside the handsome
stranger all through supper.
“Let’s
say grace,” Sue began, and as was the custom, Chris said his
blessedly short prayer over the meal.
The
conversation took its normal turns. Which fields had to be mowed,
which cows were calving, and whatever else needed doing around the
farm. Then Sue shared a little gossip about the neighbors. Mrs.
Horace needed a knee transplant. Mr. Frost had gone into hospice.
Chatter
buzzed around the table, but Cliff sat silently. I glanced his way a
few times, asking him to pass me the potatoes and to fork me up a
pork chop, which he did without a word.
I
could smell a whiff of smoke wafting off him, which must’ve
permeated his clothes, and it reminded me of all he must’ve just
gone through. My heart went out to the poor guy. I couldn’t imagine
what he was feeling.
I’d
seen videos of the fires that had consumed California and Oregon in
years past, and pictures of destroyed homes and burnt-out vehicles.
The devastation was overwhelming. Experiencing that firsthand would
be a real-life nightmare. I suspected Cliff was relieved no one asked
him any questions about it.
“When
is your next book gonna be out?” Levi asked me. I knew he already
knew the answer. I’d told him a couple of days ago that my agent
had asked me to send her copy of the first novel in my new series.
When I looked at him questioningly, he had a mischievous smile on his
face. So, I thought to myself, this was for his cousin’s benefit.
I
played along. “I should get my manuscript back for revisions any
day now,” I said. I couldn’t even say that without feeling a bit
of dread knowing I’d soon be faced with a document that my editor
had completely ripped apart.
“You’re
an author?” Cliff asked, and I smiled.
“Well,
I’m trying to be. I have two books out, and now I’m working on my
first series.”
“What
do you write?” he asked, looking around the table shyly.
“Mostly
science fiction and fantasy. My new series will be young adult
fiction, though. I wrote it in honor of my buddy Levi, the middle
school English teacher.”
Everyone
chuckled except Cliff, who must not have gotten the joke.
“Your
cousin over there challenged me to write a book he could use to
motivate his students to read more. So, I bragged about that being
easy. Just so you know, writing a book for pre-teens is not easy.”
Cliff
smiled warmly at me, and my heartbeat did the same pitter-patter
flutter in my chest as when I first saw him.
“I
remember being that age, I hated everything.”
“Yes,
you did. You were a pill back then,” Sue said.
Cliff’s
smile brightened. “Levi was always a bigger pill, so I felt like I
could get away with being a little surly.”
“Hey,
don’t pull me into this,” Levi complained.
Cliff
winked at his cousin, and with just that bit of humor, it’s like he
came out of his protective shell.
“Do
you write under a pseudonym?” he asked me.
“I
use my own name. Brandon Forest.”
“Oh,
shoot, I should’ve realized that. I’ve read your books. I got
them last year for my birthday.”
Just
like that, the shutters went down again. Something bad must’ve
happened on or around his birthday. I didn’t pry but said, “I’d
be happy to sign your books.”
He
shook his head. “I doubt they survived,” he replied quietly.
A
sadness permeated the room, and he must’ve noticed because he
quickly forced a smile and said, “But I loved them. I can’t wait
to read your young adult fiction.”
I
smiled at him but wasn’t quite sure what else to say. So, I went
back to harassing Levi, which seemed to put everyone in a better
mood.
After
supper, Cliff helped Sue take things into the kitchen. When
everything was put away, he excused himself, saying he wanted to call
a friend to find out if there was any news. Sue waved him off after
he shook my hand and told me it was a pleasure meeting me.
A
thrill, almost like an electric jolt, zapped my heart when he took my
hand in his, and something sparked in his eyes as well. Whatever this
was, and despite the awful timing in Cliff’s life, I wanted to
explore it. I’d never had such an immediate, visceral reaction to
someone before, and there’d been plenty of opportunity. I wouldn’t
consider myself a man-slut, but I wasn’t far off. I decided to pull
Levi and Keya aside and get to the bottom of the story with Levi’s
ridiculously handsome cousin.
What
is the hardest part of writing any book?
The
blurb, hands down the most difficult thing I’ve done in a long time
was to take a story 20,000 words long and put it into 2 or 3
paragraphs. Honestly, I think I’d rather eat chalk.
Are
there any genres you prefer to write, and if so, why?
I
love romance. Have most of my life. I like other stuff too, but my
passion is and probably always will be romance.
Why
M/M?
Oh,
that’s easy. I’m gay. How fun is it to have loved romance books
most of my life, only now to have an audience who are willing to read
my work, and it all be about two (or more) men finding their best and
most romantic life?
What
book/s are you reading at the moment?
I
just finished J.P. Jackson’s Skin Session. Oh boy, that man can
write in such a naughty delightful way.
What
novels do you adore/re-read?
I
fell in love with Nora Roberts years ago and read her Three Sister
Island series. One day I want to write a series like those, because
DANG, they are still some of my favorite books!
Which
other writers do you follow?
Follow?
I’m not sure I follow them, but I adore Glenn Quigley, Andrew Grey,
Kim Fielding, Lily Morton, and so many others. You might say I’m a
bit of a MM romance slut. Ain’t no shame in that though, right?
Are
you a pantser or a plotter?
I’m
told the word for what I do is pantsing. I do outline, sort of, but
mostly just to get my ideas down. Then I let my characters run with
it. I’ve drafted five books now, and not one of them has followed
the outline I initially created for them.
How
often do you write? Do you have a schedule?
I
either write, edit, or market my books every day. I don’t have a
schedule, but I work well over fifty hours a week on my book
business. Which honestly feels like my book passion.
Are
you a cat person or a dog person? Tell us about your pets.
Aah,
I love kitties. The only problem is I’m totally allergic. I also
love the puppies.
My
old terrier passed away last year and broke my heart. We have an old
Husky mix now, and he occupies a lot of our time.
I’m
all about the cuddles, and where the terrier had no interest the
Husky is almost always willing.
Someday
ask me about the other puppies I’ve loved in my life. Each of them
have their own stories!
If
you had access to a time machine just once, is there anything you'd
go back and change? Either on a personal level or an historical
event?
This
is something I’ve pondered a lot lately. Would I change my life if
I could?
Ultimately,
I’m surprised that I’ve decided no, no I wouldn’t change much
in my life. I mean, yeah, I’d buy Amazon stock, so I could be
richer than I am now, thus giving me more time to write and play and
well, all the stuff that I can’t afford to do now.
No,
in reality, I’m proud of who I’ve become.
In
the south, at funerals especially, people like to say, “Well, he
had a hard life.” Imagine that being said in a very prolonged
accented way.
I
haven’t had a hard life, yeah, there’s been a lot of hard stuff.
A heck of a lot of hard stuff in fact, but I don’t like to think of
my life in that way. Now, if I have a funeral, and people are
standing around talking about me, I’d want them to say, “he lived
an authentic life.”
I’ve
taken a heck of a lot of lemons and turned them into lemonade, lemon
meringue, lemon ice box pie, lemoncello, and so many more yummy
things. My writing is just one of those delightful delicacies that’ve
developed out of those authentic, albeit ass-kicking, life
experiences.
