Meet the author: Maggie Adams

At Penned Con, I  had the chance to interview in person a few of the authors. Seriously, I  had scheduled a LOT more than I was able to do – my bad!  I greatly overestimated my energy levels!

One of the authors I was able to catch up with was Maggie Adams, as she was right across the aisle from me. Last year, this wonderful lady helped me to set up.  I was in a panic, frazzled, didn’t know what to do and she stepped in and helped me get things arranged. Thank you for that, Maggie!!

 

Maggie Adams is an Amazon Best Selling romance author. Her first book in the Tempered Steel Series, Whistlin’ Dixie, debuted in Amazon’s Top 100 for Women’s Fiction, humor, in November 2014. Since then, she has consistently made the Amazon bestseller 5-star list with her Tempered Steel Series. Her series has launched the tiny town of Grafton, Illinois, into International recognition with sales in Mexico, Ireland, Scotland, Australia and the UK.

She also writes erotica (Lustful Trilogy), paranormal romance (The Leathers Series), young adult romance (Sweet Tea Sisters), and women’s fiction (Minx).

Maggie’s books can be found on eBook and paperback at these links:

https://goo.gl/M53YYo – Whistlin’ Dixie, Book One in the Tempered Steel Series

https://goo.gl/MJAtRg – Leather and Lace, book two

https://goo.gl/5cbIQ5 – Something’s Gotta Give, book three

https://goo.gl/2zAsQt – Getting Lucky, A Tempered Steel Novella

https://goo.gl/FDHvaF – Love, Marriage & Mayhem, book four

https://goo.gl/D39MfT – Forged in Fire, book five

https://goo.gl/Fa5YF3 – Cold as Ice, book six

https://goo.gl/8gh5Ms – The Tempered Steel Series, Books 1-3

https://goo.gl/ekWrgF – Lustful Letters

https://goo.gl/j7yUPc – The Tempered Steel Series, Books 4-6

https://goo.gl/RrHuRZ – Lustful Lies, book two of the Lustful Trilogy

http://www.maggieadamsbooks.com  – website

https://www.facebook.com/maggieadamsbooks – book page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/maggiesminxes -fan club page

https://www.amazon.com/author/maggieadams – author page
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9867300.Maggie_Adams – Goodreads

https://twitter.com/AuthrMaggieAdms – twitter

https://www.pinterest.com/maggiesminxes/- Pinterest

https://www.instagram.com/maggieadamsbooks/ – Instagram

https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-adams-006a8b142/ – LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/leather-bound-press-3a8809128 – LinkedIn Publishing Company

https://www.facebook.com/leatherboundpress/ – FB Publishing Page

Whistlin’ Dixie

A man on a mission….

Mackenzie Coalson was determined to rebuild his hometown after a devastating flood left it in ruins. He has no time for a relationship and all the romantic junk that goes with it. He has a vandal to catch and no sweet smelling bundle of femininity is going to sway him.

A woman protecting her family….

Dixie Harris charged into the county sheriff’s office with a sassy sway and a smart mouth, eager to give the sheriff, and anyone else, a piece of her mind. When she locks horns with the devil himself, in the form of Mac Coalson, she quickly learns he has a temper to rival hers, even if he’s the living epitome of her sexual fantasies.

When the two unite to catch a potential murderer, it’s in everyone’s best interest to keep it, “business only”. But that’s hard to do when their combined attraction is volatile enough to burn down the town.

https://www.amazon.com/Whistlin-Dixie-Tempered-Steel-Book-ebook/dp/B00PKEQU4G – eBook

https://www.amazon.com/Whistlin-Dixie-Tempered-Steel-1/dp/1503228088 – Paperback

https://www.amazon.com/Whistlin-Dixie-Tempered-Steel-Book/dp/B071ZT6X36 – audio

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/whistlin-dixie-maggie-adams/1120811922?ean=2940152277173

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1017188679

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/whistlin-dixie-1

https://www.scribd.com/book/270868862/Whistlin-Dixie-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-1

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/b75e7806-ddd0-492e-90e9-e8f52f84a8b7

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1165299

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/514528

LEATHER AND LACE

Sam Coalson, ex-Navy Seal, has returned to Grafton for the wedding of his brother. After being run out of town fifteen years ago for a crime he didn’t commit, he’s determined to claim what is rightfully his and take on anyone crazy enough to try and stop him.

Angel Devereaux is smart, sexy and definitely on Sam’s blacklist. After siding with Sam’s enemy fifteen years ago, Angel can’t help but wonder what if….what if Sam had never left? What if he could forgive her now? She had her reasons, but he won’t listen. So enough with words, sometimes action is exactly what’s called for.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TVASI1S – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Leather-Lace-Tempered-Steel-2/dp/1508558620 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/leather-and-lace-maggie-adams/1122718449?ean=2940152729245

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1047544579

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/leather-and-lace-12

https://www.scribd.com/book/283907754/Leather-and-Lace-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-2

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/53a82fab-eb8c-4714-a4de-91ff674823ea

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1173744

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/581261

Something’s Gotta Give

Chance Coalson loves women. And they love him. Young or old, no woman is immune to his charm.

Except one.

Georgia Haines is the only female volunteer firefighter in Grafton. She’s had a crush on Chance Coalson since he offered her his handkerchief at her momma’s funeral. But she’s smart enough to know that it takes a special woman to tame a charmer like Chance, and there’s nothing particularly special about her.

When fire breaks out at the Coalson’s construction business and Chance is trapped inside, Georgia braves the flames to save him, only to discover her “crush” has morphed into love.  And she’s helpless to hide her desire.

Chance awakens to find an angel breathing life into his lungs with a kiss. The woman he wanted more than any other was the one who paid the “Casanova of the County” no mind.

So how does a man with a bad reputation convince a shy firefighter that he’s worth taking a chance on love?

By fighting fire with fire…

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YWEK4KQ – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Somethings-Gotta-Tempered-Steel-Novel/dp/1514659190 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/somethings-gotta-give-maggie-adams/1122231120?ean=2940152688993

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1044524338

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/something-s-gotta-give-10

https://www.scribd.com/book/283053296/Something-s-Gotta-Give-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-3

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/02b01f9c-d0c7-4dd8-aed3-b3485b36c23d

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1173699

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/581271

Getting Lucky

Lawrence “Lucky” Coalson is on the track of the arsonist that torched his older brother’s construction company. The clues have led him to the Mississippi Flame Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Taking a job as a bouncer there, he hopes to find a connection to the vandalism or even the arsonist. What he finds is a blonde bombshell in a bit of trouble, so like the alpha male he is, Lucky comes to the rescue. But like a magician’s trick, not everything is as it appears.
Can Lucky discern the difference between lust and love when what happens in Vegas doesn’t stay in Vegas? And is the Coalson family prepared to face the consequences of his actions?

https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Lucky-Maggie-Adams-ebook/dp/B014JLZTFG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/getting-lucky-maggie-adams/1122731957?ean=2940152737455

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/getting-lucky-31

https://www.scribd.com/book/283217153/Getting-Lucky

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/e470b010-1721-4c1b-bdc3-3432abf833ae

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1165146

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/581464

Love, Marriage & Mayhem

His brothers tease that he’s the “Sensitive”‘ one— Brandon Coalson has a huge heart and a tender touch with those that need saving. He thought it a weakness. He will see it as a gift when he meets shy and frightened Anna Meeks.

Anna has a secret that keeps her from encouraging Brandon’s thoughtful advances. He lifts her to heaven during the day, but she goes home to hell at night. Can she trust this gentle giant with her life and the lives of those she loves?

When tragedy strikes the Coalson family, can Brandon and his brothers save the company they’ve worked so hard to build? Or will he be forced to sacrifice Anna when she’s caught in the crosshairs of a psychopath’s revenge?

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Mayhem-Tempered-Steel-ebook/dp/B016J9WLUC – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Love-Marriage-Mayhem-Tempered-Steel/dp/1519625316 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/love-marriage-mayhem-maggie-adams/1123082752?ean=2940152785982

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1089174879

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/love-marriage-mayhem

https://www.scribd.com/book/301452291/Love-Marriage-Mayhem-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-4

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/3e0c8609-5cc7-4881-af68-42e7a665b9b3

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1173705

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/635891

Forged in Fire

“Lady, if I were you, I’d get the hell away from here ‘cause when I make it up this hill, I’m gonna be looking for you.” Lucky Coalson’s luck has run out. His ex-wife turned out to be a con artist; his business is in a shambles, and he’s been tossed into a muddy river by a smart assed feminist with a chip on her shoulder. Things couldn’t get much worse…or so he thought.

When Lucky’s accused of murdering his ex-wife, the Coalson family enlists the help of a private investigator to gather the clues necessary to prove his innocence. Little did they know that Renee Morgan is the same woman that sent Lucky scrambling up a sodden river bank at the height of a storm.

The two square off immediately, but Renee’s admiration of the Coalson family, despite her dislike of Lucky, is the deciding factor in her acceptance of the job. And although Lucky bristles every time she speaks, he grudgingly respects her intelligence and savvy skills as a private investigator.

As the hunt for the killer escalates, the two find they are not the only ones looking for the mysterious assassin. And the other people are more than willing to take out anyone that gets in their way, including those that Lucky and Renee hold dear to their hearts.

In a moment of passion that rocks them to the core, they realize their love may be forged in fire, but both have been badly burned by past lovers, and too stubborn to admit the truth. Can they find a way around their fears, or will Lucky’s ex-wife continue to plague him from the grave?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HOGHT4C – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Forged-Fire-Tempered-Steel-5/dp/1532744722 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/forged-in-fire-maggie-adams/1124034269?ean=2940153351971

https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1129001448

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/forged-in-fire-10

https://www.scribd.com/book/316984155/Forged-in-Fire-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-5

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/03262bfa-f49d-4295-8206-5113386ab41c

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1544652

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/647432

Cold as Ice

He wants her to be his lover…she wants to be his forever.

Nick Coalson is abrasive, arrogant, and an absolute dynamo in the bedroom. Problem is, he knows it.

Rebecca Morgan is sweet, shy, and immensely attracted to Nick, but he’s trouble in tight jeans and she knows it.

When Nick Coalson saves Rebecca Morgan from an assassin’s bullet, he sets his sights on the shy partner of a detective agency. But he mistakes her kindness for weakness and learns the hard way that although she may seem submissive, she’s a voluptuous bundle of intelligence and determination.

Rebecca tries to hide her feelings for Nick because he’s the kind of man that makes a smart girl do stupid things. After a sensual encounter, Nick grows distant, stating he wants a lover, not a wife. Rebecca realizes she’s going to need to keep her wits about her if she wants Nick forever because it’s too easy to lose herself to his dominant personality.

When a stranger offers to help her win Nick, she accepts although she wonders what’s in it for him.  But Nick thinks it’s too late for his love when he witnesses a tender moment between Rebecca and another man.  His head tells him to step aside, but his heart aches for her tender touch.

And as the killer closes in on the Coalson family, Nick wonders if it will be too late to save not only their love, but their very lives?

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Ice-Tempered-Steel-Book-ebook/dp/B01N9YK2KT – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Cold-Tempered-Steel-Maggie-Adams/dp/1544071159 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cold-as-ice-maggie-adams/1125895673?ean=2940154271964

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/cold-as-ice-24

https://www.scribd.com/book/340963036/Cold-as-Ice-A-Tempered-Steel-Novel-6

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/3d3a4d80-38ba-432f-89c0-123673b9ebe6

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=2038544

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/723097

 The Lustful Trilogy, an erotic journey…

 Lustful Letters

https://www.amazon.com/Lustful-Letters-Trilogy-Book-ebook/dp/B01NBE5TGF – ebook

https://www.amazon.com/Lustful-Letters-Trilogy-Maggie-Adams/dp/1519099533 – paperback

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lustful-letters-maggie-adams/1125283120?ean=2940153486932

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/lustful-letters

http://www.inktera.com/store/title/4521411b-71c3-42f4-bcc1-4ea6ed48c7b8

https://www.24symbols.com/book/x/x/x?id=1834189

When the picture-perfect wife of a prominent local businessman decides to let loose of her inhibitions, she begins a journey into the darker art of romance and sexual gratification. Through online chats and fetish forums, she explores the world of kink, from Dominance and submission to BDSM. Sensory deprivation, wax, fire, rope and knife play are ideas waiting to be experienced.  Then there’s the relationships with Daddy/littles, Master/slave, primal, puppy play, hedonists, and leather families.

She yearns to explore, and yet, fears the loss of her vanilla world, for once seen, it can never be unseen. Her solution is to conduct dalliances online, but it soon becomes apparent that this will not satisfy her cravings. So, she must choose to continue in cyberspace or take the leap and truly begin to live the life her body, and her heart, desires.

But not every kinkster is a good soul, and she learns the hard way that trust can be misplaced, the mind can be twisted, and those that seek the darker passions may have their own psychotic agendas.  Just like Alice’s Wonderland, nothing is as it appears and what’s right is wrong and what is perceived as pain is, in fact, Nirvana.

 

Book Two, Lustful Lies

https://www.books2read.com/u/4AwR5J

https://www.amazon.com/Lustful-Lies-Book-Two-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B0754LV5TN

 In the beginning, it was good…

That’s how I look back on this time in my life. In my sexual prime, a widow escaping the mundane, seeking the darker art of romance. Romance? Ha! It was an obsession, a compulsion to discover the sensual being hidden for so many years.

I was a fool.

I ran rampant with the fever of sexual discovery, from submission to Dominance, edge play to slavery, I was willing to try it all. I would seek out willing participants in debauchery from online sex sites to chat forums. It didn’t matter. It was safe to play online, to meet in groups of like-minded people intent on pleasure.

Or so I thought.

When drugs and alcohol make the mind blurry and the hands unsteady, someone could get hurt. When the highs of pleasure can go no higher, when slavery and edge play take on dangerous thrills for the Dominant and frightening scenarios for the submissive, it is time to safeword out. So, I did.

But no one listened.

Now I must live with the consequences. I must decide to run away or face the challenge before me. I must discern the truth from the Lustful Lies.

IF you like romance with an erotic edge or straight up erotica, Maggie is your gal! Go check them out!

Write on my friends, write on!

Thank you Maggie for being my guest today!

 

Nontoxic Zone

I know it’s been a while since I made my “cancer” posts. It occurred to me last week that I hadn’t finished my series that I started. I really hate it when I do that! You have my sincere apologies.

Today, let’s wrap that up! First, let’s have a little review since it’s been so long. (In my defense, I’ve been going to lymphedema therapy two to three times a week and it takes three hours of my time every time I go unless I get stuck in rush hour traffic, in which case it took four hours.)

On August 28th, I posted No Cancer formed against me.  In this post, I kicked off my series about the four areas that you can protect yourself from getting cancer, or have a recurrence of cancer.

Much of what I’ve shared has been gleaned from hours of research. In this post I shared

that much like diabetes, cancer can be self-inflicted.

But how? 

There are four areas that we can have control of whether or not we get cancer or get a recurrence of cancer.  Once you have been diagnosed with cancer,  there is always a risk of it returning. You’re always looking over your shoulder.  I want to put as much distance between me and cancer as I can.

So, logic would dictate:

IF I CAUSED THIS,  THEN I CAN FIX THIS.

There are four areas that we can take control:

1. Nutrition
2. Activity
3. Stress Management
4. Toxins

The next post covers Nutrition. You can find that one here: Proper Nutrition for Preventing Cancer Recurrence. The diet plan outlined by my doctor and nutritionist closely resembles the Mediterranean diet, based on the MyPlate system. Mostly vegetables, lean protein, some fruit, and dairy. It is a carb restrictive diet, but not carb free. It seems to be working, I’ve lost nearly 40 pounds. WOOHOO!

Now I just need to keep it up. I will say this,  the longer I go, the easier it gets.  I had to go back to checking my portions last week. I’ve been stressed with physical issues from lymphedema, and the long drive to and from the appointments stuck in traffic, and had gravitated towards larger portions and heavy carb comfort foods. I know, these things shouldn’t really cause stress, but they do. It seems to me that little things get to me more than they used to, which is yet another reason to learn to deal with stress.

I’ve discovered that chicken and dumplings are off my menu, spaghetti is off limits, white potatoes in just about any variety is a no-no, and I have to limit my fruit to very small portions.  I’ve gone back to measuring my portions, and making sure to check the labels for whole grains.

I’m thankful for the cooler weather because I can make soup. Soup is very satisfying to me. I know it’s a comfort food, remembering when my mother would make a huge pot of her vegetable soup on cold winter days. A bonus with having soup,  the broth helps to keep you hydrated.

The next post covers exercise: You’ve Got To Move It!

All copyrights of this photo belong to Jenny Sugar.

In this post, I shared the pitiful state of where I was after coming off of radiation. It was sad! I could barely do ten minutes on the treadmill. Now I regularly participate in an aquacise class at the Y, Monday through Friday. I take two classes back to back actually,  one is in the shallow end, the other is deep water.  I love the deep water one, I can really feel my heart rate go up in that one.

This is what my doctor recommended for me with the lymphedema, and with the joint pain caused by the medications I have to take. Good thing I enjoy it!  On weekends, we go for walks at the park, do housework, yard work, and usually end up doing far more than the recommended 30 minutes.

Next, I shared about stress management: Chill Out!

I covered some of the stress management things that were suggested to me, and the things that I actually do. I would still like to try Tai Chi but haven’t found a class.  The adult coloring books are therapeutic! I have procured rocks and have painted them. I promise pictures to follow.

ladybug, dragonfly on leaf, ocean Son of a Beach, and a fairy house. The other three belong to my daughter.

Which leads us to the fourth area that you can control, or at least practice some control over  – toxins. 

The easiest place to eliminate toxins in our food. If the ingredients on the labels include some preservatives and chemicals that you can’t pronounce,  then don’t eat it!  We no longer eat anything that is processed.  No more Doritos! No boxed dinners. No frozen prepackaged foods.

I buy chicken, turkey, fish, and seafood frozen. The only preservatives on them may be a saline solution. Salt has long been used as a preservative and I thankfully don’t have a problem with sodium. Our fruit and vegetables are bought fresh which means I have to take the time to clean them, chop and cook them. We rarely use the microwave –   it damages the phytonutrients in your vegetables.

The second place to eliminate toxins is in our home. Be careful of the cleaning products that you use.  My immune system is still very weak. I rented a Rug Doctor because the carpet was a disaster. I have never had such a terrible reaction to anything in my life! I had red blotches all over me, I couldn’t seem to catch my breath, had that tickle at the back of my throat that I couldn’t get rid of. This was the last time I will ever buy those chemically laden rug shampoo detergent. Very soon we will have hardwood flooring. We’ve known carpet was bad for allergens anyway, but now I have an even better reason to get those hardwood floors I’ve been wanting!

Laundry soap  – look at the harsh chemicals in your detergent. This affects the clothes that you put on your body every day, some in more intimate areas than others, as well as your bedding. You spend 6 to 8 hours every day between the sheets, and if you have one of those harsh chemical detergents,  is it any wonder that I was having a rash over my legs?

Shampoo and conditioner –  do you really know what you are putting on your head?

Burning candles can produce toxins especially if you are using cheap discount store candles.

Certain construction materials can emit chemicals into your home.  If your home is made of those particle board panels which a lot of newer homes are,  then your home itself can be emitting formaldehyde into your living space! Crazy right?

We can’t really do anything about the pollutants in the air around us other than not contribute to it,  but we can be aware of our own space.

I’m not trying to be a scaredy cat over every little thing.  I’ve become aware of these things because of the effects it is or has had on my weakened immune system.  It would be the same for an elderly person, or a small child. We don’t want to expose our kids to poisons! We’ve got to open our eyes to the things that are causing us issues.

 

Quotidiandose does not own the rights to this image, all rights reserved to artist.

Here’s an example of a toxin in foods –  I used to love Lucky Charms cereal. I loved those little marshmallows in it. Of course, the sugar-laden oaties were good too,  but I really loved the marshmallows.  Then I read the ingredients after someone burst my bubble.  They contained TSP –  trisodium phosphate. Do you know what that is?????

It’s a product that you use with heavy rubber gloves to clean the grime off of your walls before you paint! If we have to wear rubber gloves to protect our skin, should we really be ingesting it?  I haven’t eaten a single bite of Lucky charms or their generic ever since.

The kicker is,  this is FDA approved,  that it has “tolerable” levels that are accepted to be in our food source. Not in my food it isn’t!

Be kind to yourself and become aware of what you put into and on your body. Don’t wait until you hear the diagnosis of cancer, be proactive. I am much more aware now, I wish I had been from the start!

Sorry, it has taken me so long to wrap this up. It has been weighing on my mind ever since I first started this series back in August.

I hope that some of this information is helpful to you.

Write on my friends, write on!

 

 

 

 

Weekend Writing Warriors

This week my snippet will introduce the third character in Roxy’s saga. You’ve met Roxy, the main character that begins the tale with heartbreak. You’ve met Luke, her fiancee who gets himself into hot water. This week you are introduced to detective Devon Miller.

So, I joined this group, Weekend Writing Warriors.

HOW IT WORKS

It’s simple and fun. Sign up on the linky list with your name, blog url, and email address on Mondays, 8:00 AM EST. Each week, the list remains open until Saturday, 11:59 PM. Then on Sunday, post 8 to 10 sentences from a current writing project, published or unpublished. Visit other participants and offer opinions, critiques, support. Writers hanging out with writers, a good time with a great group of people.

~~~~~~~~~

8 sentences –  I can manage that, can’t I?  That sounded like a challenge and I was off!

Yes, it’s late in the year but what the heck! Maybe this will turn into a regular thing.  I ‘ve been thinking I should share more snippets anyway. So here goes:

~~~~~~~~~

 

“Two males. Looks like meth heads, but we need to find out what’s going on. This is the fourth time this month that homeless guys have shown up dead. I’m putting you two on the case. Check with Dickerson in narcotics, see if he has any leads.”

Sergeant Brenner stood from his crouched position next to the bodies, flipping the body bag back over the victim’s face. “I want to know what they are taking, who they are buying from and the cause of death. I want a full tox screen and have Simmons report anything out of the order. Anything! Talk to some of the regulars at the shelter up the street.” He tucked his hands into the pockets of his black leather jacket, eyes downcast to the ground.

Excerpt from Chapter 3 of Roxy Sings the Blues.

That wasn’t so hard!

If you want to read more – you can get your own copy of Roxy now!

Be sure to check out the other author’s snippets as well!

Write on my friends, write on!

Meet my Furbaby, Ginger #MFRW

Week 43 – Meet my Pet, MFRW blog Hop.

My furbaby, Ginger is a golden chow. That is a golden retriever mixed with a chow. Her mother was a golden, and the father was a red chow. When she came to us,  she was a fluffy fat bellied fuzzball with a broken tail.

After weeks of deworming, and TLC for her poor little tail, she quickly adapted to being the third puppy in our home. I don’t know what order she was in her own litter,  but for a while, she asserted her dominance over our youngest daughter.  I began watching to see what was going on, and our youngest would lay on the floor and put Ginger on her tummy and pet her. Well, to a dog that is a sign of submission. It didn’t take but a few weeks for both of them  – my daughter and the puppy, to get the order of dominance.

Ginger still pushed it a few times, and Hannah was afraid of her when she would growl, or bark to assert herself.  To Hannah’s defense,  she was just a kid at the time and Ginger seemed like a big dog to her. Now that Hannah towers over me, Ginger only comes to her knees.

She is the most lovable, happy, easy going dog I’ve ever had in my life. That’s saying something because when I was growing up we had a St. Bernard, a gentle giant. He was like an overgrown puppy with a sweet disposition.

Recently, we had to take Ginger to the vet because she was acting disoriented, drunk, was staggering and falling down. Two days of testing and xrays led the vet to determine that she has a brain tumor. Ginger is 13 years old, her muzzle is grey, and has recently dropped weight from her usual 50ish pounds down to barely 40 pounds.

She is a prima donna when it rains,  prancing around with an “I don’t like to get my paws wet” tiptoe around the wet grass.  She loves peanut butter, she loves her mom – me! In the time we have left with her,  we are spoiling her silly with peanut butter and honey sandwiches – by the instruction of the vet because as an old dog, she is showing some signs of low blood sugar at times. Dogs get diabetes too!

Her coat isn’t as full as it once was, but then again my hair has thinned this past year as well.

My sweet Ginger

Ready for my peanut butter sandwich mom!

Loving tummy rubs!

Fresh straw keeps her paws dry.

Ginger loves the snow. She loves to play in it, roll in it!

She’s got quite a bit of grey on her muzzle and down her neck now.. LOL- kind of like me – white on top!

We will continue to spoil her during the remainder of her time with us. Love my baby!! She helps me with my stress management.

What about you? What kind of pet do you have? You can read what the other authors have to say:

1. Meet my Furbaby, Ginger #MFRW	2. Crazy Cat Lady – Robin Michaela
3. Crazy Cat Lady – Robin Michaela	4. Leading The Dog Life
5. Mary McCoy-Dressel Meet My Furry Family Members	6. And His Name is. . .
7. Tinkerbell and Aramis	8. Introducing My Past & Present FurBabies
9. My Fur Babies	10. Meet My Maddie – Valerie Ullmer
11. Dead goldfish and tailless dog	12. Welcome to my zoo
13. What is a pet? Henderson	14. Gabby and Henry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Write on my friends, write on!

Meet the author – Char Webster

My guest today is Char Webster. First, my apologies for not connecting at Penned Con and secondly thank you for agreeing to be interviewed.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and where you are from.

Southern New Jersey, is where I was raised in a very suburban town and neighborhood. I was always active, loving to ride my bike everywhere and for hours. The TV was never an interest and it still isn’t. There are so many shows that I have heard about but have never seen. (I am maybe the only person alive who has never watched Seinfeld.)

My day job (Marketing and Strategic Planning) is very demanding, but I like it. I get to work on all kinds of different projects and every day is something different.

I spend as much time as I can with my adorable niece, Briella, who is 18 months old. She has discovered a love for shoes and I have completely indulged that because her Aunt Char LOVES shoes too! It’s one of my favorite things to shop for.

I’m really close with my family and I’m thankful that most of us live in the same area. Holidays are usually at my house and I wouldn’t change that. I love the happy chaos.

Family is very important to me. This past year, I was made acutely aware of what is important. What genre do you write?

YA/NA Paranormal (Urban Fantasy) Romantic Suspense

What genre do you read? Which do you read the most?

I love paranormal, fantasy, urban fantasy, mythology, and sci-fi. Lately, I have been hooked on shifter books and vampires.

Who are your favorite authors – can include Indy authors.

Traditionally Published Authors I Love: JK Rowling, Cassandra Clare, Rick Riordan, Matthew Reilly and James Rollins (I could go on)

Indie Authors I LOVE: Ednah Walters, Melissa Haag, Teresa Gabelman, Erica Stevens, St Bende, Jaymin Eve, Cameo Renea, Alyssa Rose Ivy, Quinn Loftis, Breda K Davies, and so many more. There is not enough room here!

My oldest daughter absolutely adores Rick Riordan and Quinn Loftis! What do you value most in a friend?

Loyalty and a great sense of humor. Both are really important.

Where do you get your inspiration for your books?

I have always had so many different stories in my head and it’s just now that I am writing about some of them. My mom used to tell us incredible stories she would make up before we went to bed and I always looked forward to hearing about the next adventure the three little girls would go on.

I did that for my girls as well. I started off reading books to them,  then we moved to me making up stories. I remember one about a snake in a pillowcase that they asked me to repeat multiple times. Tell us a little about your latest book.

I am writing the fourth and final book in the Gifted Series. These books focus on a group of people who have special powers or abilities. The main character, Kate, grew up away from that society, not having any idea of her origins. She helps a couple of kids from foster care and they literally drag her into a world of kidnapping, danger, and evil.

Are you a pantser or plotter, or a plontser?

I have no idea what this is.

LOL. I guess I wasn’t too clear on my made-up words.  A pantser is an author who writes by the seat of their pants.  A plotter is someone who outlines their story whether it is a basic rough outline – beginning, middle end, or nine plot points or a detailed outline with subsets. A plontser is a combination of the two.  What’s next for you?

After the final book in the gifted Series is completed. I have an idea for two different series. The first will be about elemental magic users that are disappearing and the second is about shapeshifters. I can’t wait to start them both.

Oh, those sound amazing! I love those type of stories. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

Playing with my niece, shopping with my mom and sisters, trying out new restaurants and hanging out with my friends.

What is your work area like? (desk or work at a table or on the sofa, tidy or untidy, OCD organized, chaos, perfectly decorated, a niche carved out in a closet, etc. )

I sit on my couch with a tall glass of iced tea next to me and my laptop on my crisscrossed legs with the TV tuned to a music channel (usually country). Once in a while, I will have a Hallmark Channel movie on. I love romantic comedies.

What is your ideal getaway vacation?

I love finding new places to explore. There is always something cool to do and to see just about everywhere I go. I am not very good with sitting still, so I don’t last very long on the beach.

Do you ever use real people as a basis for your characters?

All the time. No one person is an exact character, but everyone around me has contributed to a character trait. My sister Kelly is a Guidance Counselor which is the job of my main character, Kate. Kelly is also an amazing listener and gives great advice, so I wrote those traits for Kate. My sister, Chrisie, was an English Professor when I started the series, so Kate’s best friend, Cindy, teaches English. Cindy talks very fast, is really strong and doesn’t realize it, and is tall and willowy, which are all things that remind me of Chrisie. I’ve borrowed lots of traits from the guy in my life for my characters, Nick, Robert, Jason, and Ryan.

What is your favorite food?

This is a tough one for me because I LOVE food. French Fries, Pizza, and bagels (especially breakfast sandwiches) are a few of my favorites. I really love breakfast too. That is my favorite meal of the day.

Do you snack while you write or is food off limits in the office area?

I usually don’t snack because once I start writing, I get in a groove and I don’t want to mess with that.

If I give you a story prompt,  could you write a flash fiction piece of 1000 words or less?

YES! That sounds like fun!

Awesome! PM me on Facebook and I will give you a prompt for my flash fiction challenge for December/January!

Char Webster is the best-selling author of young adult/new adult paranormal/urban fantasy romantic suspense books that create a world where people can escape reality for a little while.

Reading and getting lost in a story have always been Char Webster’s favorite things to do. She has also had a love for writing, which led her to her daytime career in public relations and marketing. After years of writing for others, Char decided to write something for herself.

Char Webster loves living in South Jersey because she feels like it is in the center of everything.

Social Media Links

Facebook:   www.facebook.com/CharWebsterAuthor

Facebook group:   www.facebook.com/groups/GiftedSociety

Twitter:   www.twitter.com/JustaGirlinSJ

Instagram:   www.instagram.com/char.webster

Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/CharWebsterAuthor

Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/Char-Webster/e/B017GPYNN6

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/char-webster

Experiments, A Gifted Series Prequel

(short story)

Amazon: http://goo.gl/WpqUhF

B&N: http://goo.gl/PQQCcK

iBooks: https://itun.es/us/IPwifb.l

Kobo: http://goo.gl/PnSXdF

The Gifted Society, a race of people with special abilities, lives among humans. They have survived for thousands of years by hiding their special powers from the world.

Now, someone is trying to manipulate human DNA to create the gene mutation that triggers these abilities. Nick, Robert, Jason and Ryan, newly graduated from the Gifted Society’s Elite Academy, are tasked with stopping whoever is behind these experiments.

Will the guys succeed with their first assignment? Will they be able to stop the experiments? Discover the beginnings of the Gift Series in this prequel novelette.

Discovery, Book One of the Gifted Series

#Romance  *  #Suspense  *  #Mystery  *  #Intrigue

Buy Now for Free!

Amazon: https://goo.gl/NEvb5F

Barnes & Noble: https://goo.gl/uOdgXW

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/discovery-43

iBooks: https://itun.es/us/9nI6-.l

Hunted by evil.

Hidden from birth.

Knowing nothing of her powerful origins, twenty-three-year-old Kate Sutton believes her life is perfectly normal and is looking forward to a quiet relaxing summer.

Her life dramatically changes when she’s asked to help three troubled kids in the foster care system. Strange things begin to happen, and Kate discovers that her foster kids are not quite who she had thought and that neither is she.

Suddenly, Kate is thrust into a world where people have powers and she and the kids are being stalked. Now, she must learn who she really is and keep the kids safe before it’s too late.

A hot guy keeps showing up everywhere she goes, but is he there to help her or turn her and the kids over to the ones searching for them?

Discover the danger of being Gifted. #GiftedSeries * #Free

#Romance * #Suspense * #Mystery * #Paranormal

Blurb:

Hunted by evil. Hidden from birth. Knowing nothing of her powerful origins, Kate believes she’s ordinary, but her life dramatically changes when she helps three troubled kids. Suddenly, Kate is thrust into a world where people have powers and she and the kids are being stalked. With the help of a mysterious guy she doesn’t know if she can trust, Kate must uncover her past to keep everyone safe. Discover the dangers of being Gifted.

 

Exploration, Book Two of the Gifted Series

#Romance  *  #Suspense  *  #Mystery  *  #Intrigue

On Kindle Unlimited Until Dec 24, 2017

Amazon: https://goo.gl/KlhRcm

What does it mean to be Gifted? And just how dangerous can it be?

When Nick took off to track down a kidnapper and killer, he left Kate alone to deal with her new life. Thrown into a world she knew nothing about, Kate must piece together information from the past and discover her role in the events that have begun to unfold.

Will history repeat itself? Will Kate be able to protect the kids and herself from the forces who want to use them to unlock a power that could destroy everything?

Transformation, Book Three of the Gifted Series

Power is shifting. Control of the Gifted Society is in jeopardy. Will Kate and her friends be ready?

Kate Sutton has learned that being Gifted is extremely dangerous. New revelations put her life at even greater risk. People are after Kate for her abilities and will stop at nothing to control or destroy her.

Nick, Robert, Jason, and Ryan are trying to figure out all of the different players and what each of them is after. Will they discover the truth before it’s too late to help Kate?

#Romance  *  #Suspense  *  #Mystery  *  #Intrigue

On Kindle Unlimited Until Dec 24, 2017

Amazon: http://goo.gl/nNrmrZ

Stubborn Souls, A Runes Universe Novella

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2onXYd5

Valkyrie Aria was sure of three things: she is one of the best soul reapers there is, she gets cranky when her assignments take her too far from the beach, and she hates Damian with a fiery passion that will last throughout time.

Grimnir Damian has done some stupid things in his long life, but the worst by far was leaving his soul mate, Aria, at the altar all those years ago. Six hundred years later, they can’t be within a mile of each other or sparks will fly, and not the good kind.

Now, the man responsible for making Damian walk out on their marriage has escaped from an Asgardian prison, and the Valkyrie Council is forcing Aria and Damian to team up to capture him.

Can they put their differences aside long enough to save the nine realms?

Part of Ednah Walters’ Runes Universe

Mini Description:

Aria and Damian have hated each other for centuries. Can they put their differences aside long enough to work together to save the nine realms?

Acceptance: Book Four of the Gifted Series

Coming Winter 2017-18

An ancient, evil family line is seeking to restore their powers that had been taken away thousands of years ago to protect the world. Kate Sutton and her adopted kids are caught in the middle.

Will she take her place with the Gifted Society and accept her destiny or will she cause the destruction of them all?

Find out in the conclusion of the Gifted Series.

 

Those should keep you busy for a while! I am very curious to read Stubborn Souls myself! In fact, I’m going to go get me a copy now!

Write on my friends, write on!

 

Meet the Author: Candace Carrabus

I got the chance at Penned Con 2017 to interview the lovely Candace Carrabus to talk about her latest book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Candace was in the same group as I was for an authorgraph card, the prize being a basket of books from each of the authors participating. What better prize for book lovers, right? It was a such a joy to speak with Candace! At the awards ceremony, we sat near each other and had the opportunity to talk a little more. I’m looking forward to seeing her at Penned again, and perhaps some other signing events. Since I got sidetracked during our interview, and didn’t actually let Candace talk about her book as much,  here’s a bit more information for your pleasure.

Run Out, Dream Horse Mystery #2

by Candace Carrabus

Viola Parker might be one of the best show-jumper riders around, but her attitude just landed her out of work. Again. Now, all that’s between her and a surprise trust fund is keeping a job for one full year by the time she’s 30. But between the ghost horse visiting Vi’s dreams and the dead bodies piling up, the question isn’t whether she can keep her mouth shut long enough to earn a reference, but whether she’ll live long enough to get it.

Blurb:

Keeping a job for one year shouldn’t be so hard…

Vi’s sworn off whipped cream, her favorite bra is strung on a tomato plant, and ghost horse Wastrel has galloped back into her nights. When her estranged parents land on the farm’s doorstep with suitcases full of nothing, tempers flare and secrets emerge. Fearing her boss/lover, Malcolm will lose his patience, Vi does her best to keep her grandfather out of the gun safe and her dog out of his garden. Curbing a lifetime of anger to endure her parents’ mystifying visit is the least of her problems. A furtive stranger is stalking them, and he’ll stop at nothing to execute his long-awaited revenge.

Vi can barely resist the urge to RUN OUT.

Will she survive a scorching summer of tomatoes, tango, and terror?

Witty, crisp dialogue and plenty of twists and turns will keep you guessing right to the very end of this thrilling and emotional sequel to On the Buckle.

Released September 8^th

 

Buy Links:

Books2Read – https://www.books2read.com/u/mqpvrv

Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0757328GQ

 

Excerpt:

Certain men should be required to wear a sports bra when riding.

That’s what I was thinking as I boosted an overweight guy onto Fawn, a stout quarter horse mare who could carry him without straining anything. Although she did let out a little grunt of protest when he plopped onto the saddle. His parts bounced recklessly. And by parts, I mean man boobs. Moobs.

I’d read a recent study that said riders could throw their horse’s balance out of whack if they didn’t wear the right undergarments.

I couldn’t unsee the moobs, but I could ignore them as I mounted my horse—correct undergarments in place—and set off for the relative cool of the woods. Here it was, late August in Missouri and there was no sign of the heat letting up or rain coming down.

Unfortunately, there was no sign Winterlight Farm would discontinue public riding anytime soon, either.

BONUS Excerpt:

It was when I stepped down into the aisle that a loud boom ricocheted through the barn. Horses in the field jumped, lifted their heads and looked toward the house. Zoe came through the tack room door.

“Was that—”

“I think—”

The sound had been both familiar and foreign. But my brain was catching up fast.

Again, a crack bent the air, sending a tremor through me. A couple of the horses bucked and took off.

“Shit,” I said, starting to run. “Those are gunshots.”

I ran. Ran like the devil himself had a bead on me.

Which someone had, once, not long ago, someone evil. But that time, I’d been on a horse. A very fast horse.

Oh god oh god oh god.

Again, I found myself running straight at my fear instead of disappearing in my preferred direction—away.

Wishing I had four legs, I forced more power into the two, sprinted up the driveway, pounded across the porch, and tore the screen door off one hinge getting inside.

Needed to breathe. Not picture the images rushing my brain.

No one in the front room.

Sliding down the slick old hardwood of the hallway on the soles of my riding boots, I careened into the kitchen.

There, my parents sat at the table, each reading a section of the days-old local weekly paper. My father wore glasses.

No blood.

Had they killed Giacomo and stashed the body? If so, they were mighty quick.

Author Bio:

Candace Carrabus is a multi-published author of fantasy, contemporary mystery, and metaphysical fiction. Most of her stories feature women of a certain age <cough> because, well, women of a certain age like to have adventures, too, right?

She’s written stories and ridden horses–simultaneously–for as long as she can remember. Now, she shares a farm in Missouri with her husband and daughter, two dogs, three cats, two feisty goats, a gentle alpaca, and a guard llama. Her horse wasn’t interested in sharing his pasture with those critters, so he lives at a horse farm.

Not surprisingly, Candace’s stories are often infused with the mystery and spirituality horses have brought to her life. Come along for the ride!

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCandaceCarrabus/

Twitter – @CandaceCarrabus

Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/authorcandace/

Website – http://candacecarrabus.com

 

OTHER BOOKS BY Candace Carrabus:

On the Buckle, Dream Horse Mystery #1

Raver, The Horsecaller: Book One

The Roar of Smoke, A Book of the Meldborn (Horsecaller YA spinoff)

The Man, The Dog, His Owner & Her Lover

The Good Horse, The Bad Man & The Ugly Woman

 

Please leave a comment to show Candace your love and support! I am going to get my copy of this book now because I love a good mystery!  Thank you for being my guest today Candace and I hope to see you again soon.

Write on my friends, write on!

When Things Go Horribly Wrong

So, I joined this group, Weekend Writing Warriors. Let’s see if I can keep this up for 10 weeks to the end of the year!

HOW IT WORKS

It’s simple and fun. Sign up on the linky list with your name, blog url, and email address on Mondays, 8:00 AM EST. Each week, the list remains open until Saturday, 11:59 PM. Then on Sunday, post 8 to 10 sentences from a current writing project, published or unpublished. Visit other participants and offer opinions, critiques, support. Writers hanging out with writers, a good time with a great group of people.

~~~~~~~~~

8 sentences –  I can manage that, can’t I?

~~~~~~~~~

 Luke swallowed hard, raising his hand to his face, partially covering his open mouth. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he realized he had learned more than he had intended to. He played the video over again. They were healthy young men at the beginning, and in ten weeks, their appearance was so altered that their families wouldn’t have been able to identify their bodies.

 Maybe he was wrong, maybe there was some other explanation. This additive to the company product, a product that he had been using in his training, a product that was supposed to give him an edge in competition, had caused the deaths of these two young men. 

Something clicked inside his head. News reports about students missing. Discoveries of homeless on the riverfront that had overdosed on a synthetic drug.

Nervously, Luke took the micro-sized flash drive from the pocket of his lab coat.

This is an excerpt from Chapter 2 of Roxy Sings the Blues.

That wasn’t so hard!

Just click on the photo above to get yours now for only 99 cents!

 Go check out some of the other weekend warriors as well!

Write on my friends, write on!

First Love #MFRW

Welcome to week 42 of the 52-week MFRW blog hop – My First Love. Wow – do you realize there are only ten -TEN weeks left in the year??? Holy moly where did the time go?

My first love . . . hmmm. Does that mean the first man I fell in love with?  That would be my husband of 32 years, and we dated for 6 years before that.

Does it mean my first love as in God and Jesus? That should be all of our first loves, but I don’t really think that is what it is referring to in this blog hop. Although, if you are writing Christian romance for Steeple Hill, then I guess that would be a suitable topic.

OR does it mean my first love in reading? Sometimes I get confused as to what the intent was for these prompts, like the week about the open door, yeah I totally missed that one!

I need to think over a cup of joe while I sort this out in my head. In the meantime,  you can listen to this:

Alright, coffee consumed and I think I will share about my first love – my hubby. After all, our view about romance and how romance works is filtered through our own perceptions. I will be breaking a rule by sharing this because the hubs doesn’t like for me to talk about him, or us, on the blog.

I was fifteen years old when I was crushing on this gorgeous hunk. Muscles, oh my! Ripped abs, bulging biceps, but not too bulky. His voice – a deep rich baritone, think Lou Rawls!

His sexy grin sent shivers down my spine before he ever cast a look in my direction. He was the Captain of his football team, I was a band geek. I never thought in a million years he would even look my way and was speechless when he asked me out. Please understand, for me to be speechless is a feat!

He had a full head of thick luscious hair, and back in the 80’s, his hair brushed his shoulders. Our first 3 dates were Friday night – school dance, Saturday night – my school dance, and Sunday – a bowling outing with our youth group from church.

I was a goner from the first kiss. Man, can he kiss! The kind of toe-curling, knee popping, my insides turn to mush kiss.

This is one of my favorite photos of the hubs, taken long before we were married. He had been working on his car – a 64 Chevy Impala SS, you can see he’s inside the engine compartment and had been laying on the ground beneath the car.  He wasn’t too thrilled with my photography, but I just love this shot!

But, you know . . . true love is more than the physical relationship. We connected. We talked. We shared common interests while maintaining individual interests. He still loves sports, I don’t. I still love the creative crafty stuff, he is meh.

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We’ve had our share of ups and downs, highs and lows. This year has been a lot of lows, but through it all, he’s been my rock. I don’t know that I could have made it through all this cancer stuff if he hadn’t been my biggest supporter, encourager, hand holder, chauffeur, and above all, my best friend.  He was willing to shave his head with me for support!

He puts up with all of my quirks. I’ve put on a lot of weight since we first began dating and he’s rarely complained. If anything, he encourages me to be healthy and regularly tells me I can do it!

True love goes so far beyond the physical attraction, it’s difficult to put into words for the younger crowd. When you find someone who loves you and wants to be with you even though they know your flaws, your hang-ups, and every one of your bad habits. . . . that is true love and worth hanging onto.

This is the kind of love that inspires me to write love stories,  to write romance. This is what inspires me to face the next day when I’m tired of being a pincushion, tired of Dr’s offices, and tired of facing yet another change caused by cancer.

We aren’t wealthy financially by any means, but when I count my blessings,  I feel I am the richest woman alive to have found my Mister Right!

Sure, he has flaws. He’s human after all but they are easily overlooked when looking at the big picture. The big picture for me is a life full of happy memories,  two beautiful children, a loving home, and my best friend to grow old with!

I’m curious to see what the other authors have done with this prompt, so let’s go check them out.

1. First Love #MFRW	2. Is this Love (correct Link)
3. Is This Love	4. You Never Forget Your First Love
5. Love Was In The Air	6. Love (Or Maybe Just Hero Worship)
7. Call me a prairie vole	8. #MFRWAuthor. . . My first love
9. My First BOOK Love

Write on my friends, write on!

 

 

 

 

Weekend Writing Warriors

Behold – I do a new thing.

What can I say, my ADD got the better of me and I  jumped into another thing. Give me a break, ok? It’s been a crap year! I need more fun things in my life!

So, I joined this group, Weekend Writing Warriors.

HOW IT WORKS

It’s simple and fun. Sign up on the linky list with your name, blog url, and email address on Mondays, 8:00 AM EST. Each week, the list remains open until Saturday, 11:59 PM. Then on Sunday, post 8 sentences from a current writing project, published or unpublished. Visit other participants and offer opinions, critiques, support. Writers hanging out with writers, a good time with a great group of people.

~~~~~~~~~

8 sentences –  I can manage that, can’t I?  That sounded like a challenge and I was off!

YEs, it’s late in the year but what the heck! Maybe this will turn into a regular thing.  I ‘ve been thinking I should share more snippets anyway.

~~~~~~~~~

I gave myself a quick mental talk about facing reality and to stop being a hopeless dreamer as I took several deep breaths. One step into the doorway, all I could see was the curtain pulled around the hospital bed. Two steps, the end of the bed with feet visible beneath a white cotton blanket with the blue hospital name on it. Three steps and I was at the side of the bed, afraid to look down and recognize the woman in the bed as my mother. Tara was on the other side, her head down on the edge of the bed, holding a frail bluish hand.

My eyes welled with tears.

“NO!”

My body wracked with sobs as I lifted the other cold lifeless hand to my cheek. Tara lifted her head slowly; looking up at me with such a forlorn and lost expression, it broke my heart even more. I ran around the bed to her, lifting her from her chair as we sobbed together.

This is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of Roxy Sings the Blues.

That wasn’t so hard! Just a note, but Roxy is going to be on a countdown deal from October 18 through the 25th! Be sure to get your copy!

Write on my friends, write on!

Sparks of Genius #MFRW

Welcome to week 41 of the 52-week MFRW blog hop – My Blogging Inspiration.

Wow, what a loaded question. Where do I get my inspirations? The short answer, everywhere.

The more complicated answer: I have tried to work themes around different days, for example I’ve set aside Fridays for this blog hop. I tend towards Motivational Mondays, have posted Teasers on Tuesdays, Woman Wednesday where I have hosted many female authors, Thinking Thursday and Fun Fridays. Ironically when I tried to channel my ideas into specific ideas, my  creative juices came to a screeching halt.

Then there are the time issues,  like when I was undergoing treatment, the days I am still sruggling to function, the myriad of appointments, and other life demands.  I have  good intentions to blog daily,  but lately I’ve been doing good to post twice a week. By the way,  I sat at the computer for well over an hour with several stops and starts, erase, delete, type over for last week’s prompt.  My mind just wasn’t  in it. I couldn’t think of a single book quote to save my life and it wasn’t until it was time to log off and start on dinner that my friend Cathy suggested I google it. DOH!

Anyway, back to my inspirations. . . everything.  A post on Facebook,  something on the news, something  I saw while driving,  or most often that ‘spark of genius’ that pops into my head. LOL

I wish I could say that it was some deep thinking, brilliant thought process,  but most often it’s just what pops in at the moment.  Yes, on occasion my thoughts run deep but I don’t often share those, because I like to keep it light and fresh and those deep thoughts can be intense.

I enjoy blogging. probably more than I like writing books because they are short pithy posts, and I get them out of my system quickly.  Books take a loooooooonngg time and my ADD fights me every time. That and the perfectionist in me thinks  it has to be absolutely perfect before I release it to the world.  Meanwhile, I have twelve books completed and sitting in the files waiting for final edits. I am working on the next one, I’ve done final edits geting it in shape to send to my beta readers.

I may start sharing snippets again from that one, now that I have been in a good groove with my writing. Plus, looking forward to NANO next month to work on a new novella that ties into the universe of Faere Warrior.

One of the reasons I like to interview other authors is because I get inspired with their enthusiasm. Then I can write for a while longer. Selfish I know.

Comment below and let me know which of the topics you enjoy hearing about! Here are some other authors in the blog hop – be sure to check them out as well!

1. Sparks of Genius #MFRW	2. Why Do I Blog?
3. Perspective	4. Indescribable!
5. My Blogging Inspiration- Valerie Ullmer	6. Inspiration You Say?
7. The Thought Bubble Never Pops	8. Readers are my Blog Writing Inspiration
9. MJ Where’s the Inspiration?	10. Inspire Me!
11. My Blogging Inspiration is—Look a Squirrel!	12. Blogger, (N)hungry recluse
13. Inspired to Blog	14. #MFRWauthors week 41. . . my Blogging Inspiration
15. Narration or Imagination	16. My Heart’s not in It

Write on my friends, write on!