Lynn Romaine - How I Became A Writer

I'm very pleased to welcome my friend and fellow author Lynn Romaine to share her story of how she became a writer.

~ * ~

I am a fiction writer. Yes, I am. It's hard for me to believe I have actually written and published five books with two more on the way. How did that happen? Well, I'm not really sure. I'm not one of the usual authors who has  dreamed of writing novels since childhood, starting out as a fledgling writer for the public school paper, or writing little stories to entertain the relatives since I was eight.  I started at 58! I never imagined I could write fiction--or even thought about writing stories. Yet there was something. Whenever I heard tell of  someone I knew or a friend  knew who'd written a book, I'd perk up and feel a certain  sort of sensation in my chest I'd have to call yearning.  

I probably would never have gotten around to doing any story telling except for the fact that I belonged to a group of people taking a growth and development seminar. One of our exercises was to share something with each other that no one else in our lives knew. What I shared was that I'd been writing continuous stories in my head since I was five. These were in no way something I dreamed of publishing, but more they were stories  to comfort myself at night or times of duress. I started sometime around five years of age, when the main character was Superman. Gradually as I got older, my characters aged as well.  And in school I'd use the stories to escape from the boredom and  routine of algebra or geometry.  Or the apparent threats of my peer groups. 

When I finally told my small group of growth and development people about these stories, they urged me to write down a scene or two. And that was that! From there I leapt into one more scene and then another until finally I thought, 'well, if I can write a scene, why not a book!'  What began as a childhood diversion with suspense turned into romantic suspense as I got older. And so here I am at 69, an author of five books with two more in the hopper! How did that happen? 

Lynn romaine

lynnromaine@lynnromaine.com

www.lynnromaine.com

Available at Turquoise Morning Press

and at Amazon.com

A night of passion between two strangers binds them together four years later in a desperate effort to protect their child. Jack Roselli is a bomb squad cop, caught up with investigating ecoterrorism, whose life turns upside down when Sofie Novakoff shows back up in his life, desperately pleading for him to protect the child he didn’t know he had.

Sofie is a woman who has grown up in a household of women. She runs a feminist bookstore and is raising her daughter with her own values. Jack comes from the world of men, a large Italian family who all work in law enforcement. All that changes when Sofie and Jack are brought together. Distrust mingles with sexual desire as Sofie and Jack struggle to save Katya. 

Suzanne Lilly - How I Became A Writer

I'm very pleased to introduce you to fellow author Suzanne Lilly who shares her story of how she became a writer.

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First of all, I want to thank Linda for having me on her blog today. It’s always fun to guest post on another writer’s site, and especially one as supportive as Linda.

I’ve always been a writer and always thought of myself as a writer, even as a child. Much to the chagrin of my teachers, I used my weekly spelling lists as story fodder. When my children were born, I wrote stories for them. Although my life took several detours through the years, I never lost that love and desire to leave my mark on the page.

When I celebrated a forty-something birthday, I realized if I was serious about publication I needed to hop on it and get busy submitting my work. I took some writing courses, carved out time in my day to write, and wrote horrible fiction. I wrote much better nonfiction, and started selling articles to magazines and websites. I joined writers groups online and in person.

After five years of diligently practicing my fiction craft, I sold my debut novel, Shades of the Future, to Turquoise Morning Press. What a rush! We popped open a bottle of champagne and celebrated. To this day, each time I sign a contract, we still celebrate the same way. To date, I’ve opened several bottles of champagne for novels, and celebrated contracts for short stories in three anthologies. The latest is The Wedding Day Collection. You can subscribe to my blog, TeacherWriter.net http://www.teacherwriter.net or follow my author website, http://www.suzannelilly.com to stay current on all of my releases.

Of course, this story makes it sound as if I’ve always been a writer. But in my mind, I didn’t truly become a writer in the real sense of the word until I fully embraced it, mind and soul. Now when I’m introduced to people and they ask what I do, I tell them I’m a writer. It feels natural to introduce myself that way, because I’ve fully embraced my calling to bring words to life on the paper or screen. It’s what I do, and I love it.

How about you? When did you become a writer?



Blurb

Aspen Dwyer, recently emancipated from foster care, is searching for a place to hide from a past with secrets too dark to share. Honey Creek, Ohio, presents itself as the best place to start a new life and stay undercover. There she meets Colton Moraine, a man with strong family ties and an even stronger sense of loyalty. His boisterous, loving family welcomes Aspen with warmth she hasn’t felt in years. She’s surprised at how quickly and deeply she falls for Colton. When a dangerous criminal comes to Honey Creek, intent on his revenge against her, Aspen must choose between two options. Should she stay and risk her life and the rejection of the people she’s grown to love? Or should she run again, and leave behind any chance of a happy future?

Excerpt

“Tell me how the new job is working out for you.” I knew this was more than just small talk. Margot was evaluating me.

“It’s fine.” I nodded. Surprisingly, I actually enjoyed working at the lodge. “Linda is a super boss. Even though I hurt my ankle the first day, she still took me in. She’s having her nephew help me learn to drive. She has a wonderful family. Of course, you know all that already.” I stopped babbling to take another sip of my latte before going on. “I really want to do well for her. I think she cares more about me than my last four sets of foster parents did, and she’s only my employer.”

“Linda’s always had a heart the size of Texas,” Margot agreed. “She’ll stand behind you and support you in whatever you want to do.” She made a note on a form and shoved it back into a manila folder. “Now, off the record.” She clicked her pen shut and slid it into her purse. “How are you really? Do you feel safe?”

I considered her questions for a moment before answering. “I don’t think I remember what safe is supposed to feel like anymore. It’s comfortable with Linda and working at the lodge.”

Did safe mean I could sleep at night, resting easy, trusting no one would come to get me in the darkness? Did it mean not having to look over my shoulder everywhere I went? Did it mean not worrying if the person who gave life to me was waiting for the day he could kill me?

“I guess I feel as safe as can be expected.”

Margot waited, her expectant eyes boring into mine.

“You said Rick will never think of looking for me in a tiny town like Honey Creek.” Rick didn’t deserve the title of dad, father, or anything else indicating a relationship between him and me. As far as I was concerned, he was just the sperm donor.

“He won’t look there. He’ll be concentrating on the bigger towns. Columbus, Cincinnati, places where jobs are more plentiful.”

I shook my head. “Do you think I should try to move out of state?”

“Don’t leave Ohio.” Margot reached across the café table and grabbed my fingers. “I won’t be able to help you if you move far away. Besides, haven’t you heard of hiding in plain sight?”

Buy links:

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/289280

Turquoise Morning Press: http://www.turquoisemorningpressbookstore.com/products/untellable-by-suzanne-lilly

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Untellable-Honey-Creek-Books-ebook/dp/B00BKTAXHK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1361796979&sr=8-1&keywords=untellable+by+suzanne+lilly

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/untellable-suzanne-lilly/1114700545?ean=2940016203263

Author Bio

Suzanne Lilly writes lighthearted young adult stories with a splash of suspense, a flash of the unexplained, a dash of romance, and always a happy ending. Her debut novel was Shades of the Future in 2012 followed by Untellable in 2013. Her short stories have appeared in numerous places online and in print, and she has placed and received honorable mentions in writing contests. She lives in Northern California where she reads, writes, cooks, swims, and teaches elementary students.

You may find Suzanne Lilly online at these sites:

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Suzanne-Lilly/e/B006HY79IY

Website: http://www.suzannelilly.com

Blog: http://www.teacherwriter.net

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/SuzanneLillyAuthor

Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5258804.Suzanne_Lilly

Twitter: @suzannelilly http://twitter.com/suzannelilly

 

 

Heather Geoffries - How I Became A Writer

This week I'm very pleased to welcome author Heather Geoffries--who is actually two people--but I'll...er...let her explain that.

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Hello!

Thanks for letting us guest blog.

I have always been interested in stories, whether it be reading or writing them. When I was 13, I wrote my first full length romance story and then gave it to a friend. Throughout my teen years I wrote many more and gave them away. When I was not writing, I had a book in hand from the moment I awoke, until I went to bed.

Over the last 6 years, my husband and I have been trading story ideas with a friend of mine, who I have Beta read for as well. We officially created a writing group called M.U.S.E.(Most Underappreciated Super-Egos) and met frequently over the last 4 years. In that time our friend became a best-selling author of numerous books. She has always been supportive of me and my husband’s writing and after one of our meetings where my hubby and I wrote an M/M erotic romance together, she urged us to submit it to Champagne Books, Carnal Passions.

“Nordic Prince” got published and did really well in sales. Plus we received some really great reviews at Coffee Time Romance & More, Night Owl Reviews and Amazon. We were very pleasantly surprised and inspired to continue writing.

In August, “South Sea Siren” comes out as part of the Aphrodite Island stories(Champagne Books). It is a sequel to “Nordic Prince” that follows Steven Mills’s sister, Dr. Amanda Mills on her journey finding love. We are also currently working on a third installment that takes place in the Sahara Desert and is wrought with danger, intrigue and romance.

I hope you enjoy our stories. We plan to keep the romance alive and well both inside and out of our stories.

Heather Geoffries

You can find me here:

http://heathergeoffries.webs.com/

http://heathergeoffries.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/heather.geoffries

https://twitter.com/HeatherGeoffrie



When Doctor Steven Mills is dragged onto The Nordic Prince for fun in the sun by his sister, Amanda, he is certain he will be miserable. Until he meets Erik.

Erik is fun, exciting and just what the doctor ordered. Some drinks and dancing with him are more enticing to Steven than any date he’s gone on with women. Before long, the two escape the busy dance floor for the quiet—and private—spa where Eric works on Steven’s body with very skilled hands. Steven is overcome with an onslaught of new emotions and sensations and has the best sexual experience of his life. Now Steven must wrestle with new feelings and desires and make a decision that could change his life forever.

Nordic Prince is available at:

Amazon

Carnal Passions

All Romance Ebooks

Bookstrand

Kobo

All of My Friends Are At Lori Foster's RAGT and I'm Not--Part 2

Let me share a blurb and excerpt from Dark Horse, my romance novella with a suspense/mystery twist.



Blurb: 

Private investigator Vanna Marbury arrives in Lexington to search for a stolen thoroughbred. She boards her daughter’s horse at Big Sky Stables and soon becomes curious about the mysterious black colt the owner keeps sequestered in the barn. Stable owner Braxton Hicks lives up to his name. He can truly be a pain with his grumpy demeanor and arrogant attitude.

To Brax, Vanna is nosey, over-bearing and too damned attractive, and he considers telling her to take her horse elsewhere. Especially after she tells him she is an investigative journalist. The last thing he needs are more headlines and a snoopy woman looking over his shoulder.

Excerpt:

            “What the hell is going on in here?” Brax strode into the barn, toward the shrill whinnying and snorting. He stopped in front of a stall where a large, jet-black thoroughbred colt reared up on his hind legs, kicking at the air.

            “This horse is just plain crazy.” His brother, Pete, edged out of the stall. “He’s gonna kill one of us—probably me.”

            Brax stood with his hands at his waist staring at the colt. “Ever think it’s you that makes him crazy? I think he’s magnificent.”

            He cautiously opened the gate and slid into the stall. The young horse stomped and took a few steps back, snorting. His wild eyes rolled as he seemed to study Brax. “Easy, now. Settle down.”

            “You’re nuts,” Pete muttered. “As crazy as that horse. And maybe you’d like to let me in on what he cost us and what you plan to do with him.”

            “I didn’t buy him, and he’s not costing us anything. The owner prefers to remain anonymous, and he’s paying us good money to take care of his horse while he’s out of the country. He has a vet and trainer in place, and he’s paying to repair the old quarter-mile track.”

            “I fail to see the need for all the mystery, unless there’s something illegal going on. Why not just board this colt at one of the local thoroughbred stables and train him there?”

            Brax shrugged. “I guess the owner wants to keep him under wraps until he’s ready to race again. Supposedly, he had an injury and is now recovered and able to resume training.” He scowled at his brother. “I don’t ask a lot of questions. We board horses and the owners pay us for it. This owner is paying us quite well, and all I have to do is muck out the stall and give him his special feed.”

            As if wanting to end the discussion, the colt reared and rolled his eyes.

            “He’s completely wild. Look at him. He’s got the devil in him.”

            “I told you I’d handle him. Shhh. Easy, boy. Can’t have you getting injured on my watch.” Brax soothed the frantic animal, his voice low and calm. “You can leave, Pete. I got this.”

            Brax rubbed a palm over the colt’s velvety muzzle. “Thatta boy. Easy now. You’re really something. It may take time, but you and I are going to get along just fine.”

            “Hello? Is anyone here?”

            The colt startled at the high-pitched female voice and whinnied, dancing sideways in his stall.

            Brax reached back with one hand and fumbled to open the gate. He stumbled out of the stall and his heel caught, sending him backward onto the hay-covered cement floor. Instinctively, he jammed a foot against the gate to prevent the colt’s escape. He found himself flat on his back, looking up at the blue-eyed blonde who now stood over him.

            The woman gasped. “Oh, are you okay?”

            He examined his left hand, which had inconveniently landed in manure residue. “I’m fine, no thanks to you.” He scrambled to his feet and reached into a bucket for a rag to wipe his palms. “Why the hell would you come in here and screech like that?”

            She gasped again. “I did not screech. I went up to the house and then I walked around outside, but no one was around.” She looked at the agitated colt. “He’s beautiful. What’s wrong with him?”

            “There’s nothing wrong with him. You startled him.” He shifted his gaze from the horse to the woman. His quick and not-so-covert evaluation told him she was probably about thirty, just shy of his six foot height, and with the bluest eyes he had ever seen. In horse terminology, she was a fine-looking filly. “What can I do for you?”

            “I’m Vanna Marbury. I spoke to someone earlier about boarding a horse.”

            “Vanna? Like the letter turner on TV?”

            “Vanna as in Savannah. You know, a city in Georgia.”

            He extended his hand, then dropped it when she shifted her gaze from his palm to the rag and then to the spot on the floor.

            “Braxton Hicks.”

            The corners of her mouth—a very tempting mouth—twitched with the usual reaction. “Did you say Braxton Hicks? You’re kidding, right?”

            “Am I smiling? Most people call me Brax. Besides, you’re named for a city.”

            “Yes, and you’re named for labor pains.”

~ * ~

Available at Champagne Books and at Amazon.com and B&N.com

Linda

All My Friends Are at Lori Foster's RAGT--and I'm Not, so...

Lori Foster's Reader-Author Get Together is going on now in Cincinnati. Some of my author friends are there. I'm not, but why let hundreds of miles stop me? I'm having my own little cyber Get Together right here. I'll be posting excerpts over the next few days and am open to comments and questions, either here or on Facebook. Don't be shy.

Up first is my newest women's fiction novel, Unconditional.



Blurb:

Meg Flores has it all—a loving family, a fulfilling career, and marriage to her best friend, Thomas. She is devastated when her husband announces he wants a divorce so he can pursue a relationship with his secretary—his male secretary. For Meg, the betrayal goes beyond that of a cheating husband. She is losing her best friend and the hopes for adding a child to her life. But when Thomas is diagnosed with terminal cancer and his lover walks away, Meg must decide if she can move beyond Thomas’s betrayal and love him 'til-death-do-us-part.'

Excerpt:

A door opened and closed, and a voice called, “Megan. Wait up.”

I whirled around at Thomas’s approach. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack?” It was a rhetorical question, however. He’d already attacked my heart.

“I wanted to make sure you’re okay,” he said with sincerity in his voice and, I saw as he came nearer, in his eyes.

“I’m just peachy. What the hell is wrong with you? Am I okay?” I shouted. “You’re unbelievable. You traipse out here in the fog, in the dark, with your damn gay lover driving, to ask me if I’m okay?”

He stood with his head bowed, hands shoved into his pockets. The soft rain continued to fall, beading on his jet black hair. I instinctively lifted a hand to brush off the moisture, but then recoiled.

“I’m sorry. But you’re not answering my calls,” he murmured.

I took a breath. “And that would be because I don’t want to talk to you. We have nothing more to discuss.” I paused. “I do have one question, though.” I looked past him to the darkened SUV. “What does he do for you that I didn’t?”

Thomas closed his eyes for a moment, then looked directly into mine. “It’s not you. It’s me.”

“Oh, please. Don’t even go there. Thomas, it’s over. As soon as the paperwork is filed and signed by a judge, you’re free to be with…” My gaze wandered again to the SUV hulking like a dragon in wait of its prey. “…with him.”

“I was hoping we could remain friends. You know me better than anyone.”

I laughed, but it came out as more of a bark. “No, I don’t think I do. Please. Francisco has seen a side of you that I had no idea even existed. I’m sure the two of you had a few laughs about that. Poor Megan, clueless that her husband prefers men. All those times I smiled and welcomed Francisco into our home. It must have been a helluva joke between the two of you.” I had never felt so totally alone, disconsolate.

Even in the shadows, I could see color deepen in his face. Then it hit me. The one thing I could count on from Thomas was no longer available to me. Consolation. He wasn’t consoling me. He was seeking forgiveness.

I swayed, and he enveloped me in his arms, echoing the words he had used the night he shattered my heart. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

My cheek fell to rest on his chest, a familiar place. “You know what hurts the most? That you kept this secret. You kept it from me.” I lifted my face to his. “You know all of my secrets.”

He took a step back and stared at his shoes. “I was ashamed.” Unshed tears glimmered in the light that cut a swath across his dark features.

I gazed into his liquid brown eyes where I could once easily lose myself. But I was not lost. I was simply a stranger there. Shrugging out of his embrace, I hoisted up the shoulder strap of my briefcase. “I have to go.” With a shaking hand, I opened the car door and took one last look back.

“I’m trading in my car this weekend.”

“Something wrong with it?”

“Yes. It reminds me of you.”

~ * ~
Available at Turquoise Morning Press and at Amazon.com and B&N.com

Linda

A Big Thank You and Lessons Learned

Even before I became an writer, there were a number of authors whose work I admired and read faithfully. Not only did those authors give me hours of entertainment, take me away from the mundane or stressful but, once I began to write, they gave me something to shoot for. The authors are in my adulthood what The Lone Ranger (I know, I'm dating myself), and later the Beatles, and Peter, Paul & Mary were in youth--my heroes.

It's always a thrill to meet one of your heroes, one of those people you look up to and admire. It's even more thrilling to have one of your heroes acknowledge you and your work.

A few of my current literary heroes (heroines?) are Elizabeth Berg, Lisa Scottoline, Claire Cook, Sherryl Woods, Elin Hilderbrand, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Susan Wiggs, and Kris Radish. When my women's fiction novel, Unconditional, was being prepared for release last month, I had the fleeting thought, "Wouldn't it be great if one of my favorite authors, like Kris Radish, would give me a quote for my book?" After dancing around the idea for days, I decided to go for it. Ask. And, so, I contacted Kris and phrased my request to include every possible way for her to graciously say, "No." I was awestruck when she responded that yes, she would be happy to read my book and give me a quote. I was more anxious about that than I'd been about asking in the first place. What if she didn't like the book? What if she simply unfriended me on Facebook and hoped I went away? What if I made a fool of myself?

We can kill ourselves with 'what ifs' and worries. I had to ask myself if I really believed in my book, if I truly thought the book was worthy for my readers. Yes, I did and I do. So why all the doubt about having Kris read my book?

Because we fail to see ourselves as worthy in comparison to those we admire and put on a pedestal. And there are those who would enjoy that pedestal and use it for their own advantage to feel superior.

Kris Radish is not one of those people. I should have known that after having read her books. Because only a writer with a big heart could write the stories and create the characters she creates. Only a writer secure in herself and her work would be so openly generous. Only a writer with a big heart--a best selling author--would so easily say yes to a request from a fellow (and relatively unknown) author and then produce an insightful quote for her book.

About Unconditional, Kris writes:

"Unconditional is an important story about love, redemption, family and the amazing power of forgiveness. The heart and love can expand endlessly and these characters are setting the pace."

Kris Radish

Bestselling Author of A Grand Day to Get Lost

Now, how cool is that? When an author gives your book a quote or review, she's putting her name on your work, telling others it's worthy of her name. That's a risk for an author to take. I've learned a few things from this experience. The first is that, if you don't ask, you don't know and nothing will happen. The second is to never assume the worst. Just go for it. The third is to remember the kindness if/when you are in the position of being asked to give a fellow writer a quote or review.

If you haven't read any of Kris Radish's work, get moving. Check out Kris's web site and books here: http://www.krisradish.com/  You won't be disappointed.

Linda