A Holiday Interview with Linda McLaughlin!

Today I have author Linda McLaughlin in the house, author of The Best Present, part of Sweetwater Springs Christmas: A Montana Sky Short Story Anthology by Debra Holland and Friends.

Welcome, Linda!

 

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a semi-retired librarian who used to be a travel agent, as well as a writer. I fell in love with books as a child, and libraries have always been one of my favorite places to hang out, along with bookstores. When my husband and I travel, he knows he’ll lose me for a while every time we come across a bookstore. I may not buy, but I can browse for hours. I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA., but moved to Southern California at the age of 14 and have lived there ever since, except for a year at University of Texas in Austin to get my library degree.

How did you get started writing? Did you always want to be a writer?

As a child, I daydreamed about writing books for children, coming up with elaborate plots in my head. Unfortunately, I never wrote anything down. In high school, we took a preference test, and my results showed that I had traits shared by people in three professions: teachers, librarians and writers. My parents made it very clear that two of those choices were acceptable, and writer wasn’t one of them. So I put those dreams aside. When I turned 40, I decided to give writing a try. (Forty was my magic number too!)

What was the hardest thing you’ve found in the process of self-publishing? What was the easiest part of self-publishing?

The hardest thing about being self-published is keeping track of everything. Spreadsheets help, but there are a lot more details to deal with that traditionally-published authors don’t have to deal with. Cover art, ISBNs, copyright, formatting, uploading, etc. The easiest part is not having to submit you work to an agent or editor and wait months, or years, or sometimes forever, to hear back. Mostly I like having more control over what happens to my stories.

Do you believe there is still a stigma attached to the idea of self-publishing? And how to combat any negativity you come across?

Yes, I think there is still a stigma, mainly because there are still poorly written and poorly edited books being self-published. Someone who wants to stigmatize self-publishing can find examples, if that is what they wish to do. However, self-publishing is now a lot more acceptable than it was even a few years ago. Nothing succeeds like success, and there have been enough indie authors putting out quality work and being rewarded for it to minimize the criticism.

Tell us about your main character. Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses.

My main character in The Best Present, is ten-year-old Allison Harcourt, who is having the worst Christmas of her short life. Her dad has lost his job, her beloved grandmother has died, and her family is moving from Pittsburgh to Spokane. Life will never be the same. Allison’s strength is her resilience. But she’s a worrier, and she doesn’t always know when to keep quiet. Sometimes that gets her in trouble. She’s a lot like I was at that age. In fact, the story was inspired by some of the events of my childhood.

What are you reading now?

Three To Get Lei’d, third in the Tiki Goddess Mystery Series by Jill Marie Landis, a very funny cozy mystery by one of the authors in the Sweetwater Springs Christmas anthology. Sometimes I get a little melancholy at this time of year, and reading a humorous book helps.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors?

Learn your craft: read how-to books, attend workshops or conference, take online classes and WRITE.   

Find a support group: join a local writer’s organization, find a critique group or online partner. Unpublished writers can help each other hone their craft. Your strength may be someone else’s weakness.

Never give up. (Awesome advice!)

Do you or have you belonged to a writing organization? Which one? Have they helped you with your writing? How?

I joined Romance Writers of America and the local Orange County California chapter shortly after I started writing. I’d never have made this far with OCC. That’s how I found my critique and plot groups, plus the monthly meetings have been a source of learning and inspiration. RWA and its local and special interest chapters does a fantastic job of training romance writers and providing support.

Would you prefer to live in the mountains or near the ocean? Why?

Ocean. I grew up not far from the Allegheny Mountains, but I’ve always been fascinated by the ocean, even as a child. Of course, living in Southern California provides the best of both worlds. The Pacific Ocean and San Gabriel Mountains are both in easy driving distance, and the desert is, as well.

What's your favorite food?

Anything with chocolate in it. (Absolutely!)

Where can readers find you?

Website, http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/ or

Blog at http://flightsafancy.blogspot.com/.

Twitter https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthor

Goodreads  http://www.goodreads.com/lindamclaughlin

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Linda-McLaughlin/e/B007A3OMLS/

Thanks for hosting me on your blog today, Debora.

The Best Present by Linda McLaughlin

           

Ten-year-old Allison Harcourt's life has been turned upside down since her father lost his job and her beloved grandmother died. She's not looking forward to Christmas, especially since she can't figure out how to finish the scarf she's making for her mother. An unexpected stop in Sweetwater Springs brings her and her parents to the boarding house of the widow Murphy. Sometimes sweet things can be found in the most unexpected places.

The Best Present is part of  Sweetwater Springs Christmas: A Montana Sky Short Story Anthology by Debra Holland and Friends: E. Ayers, Linda Carroll-Bradd, MJ Fredrick, Paty Jager, Jill Marie Landis, Trish Milburn, Linda McLaughlin, Bev Pettersen, Tori Scott, Cynthia Woolf

Come celebrate the holidays in 1895 Sweetwater Springs, Montana, as ten Western Romance authors join New York Times Bestselling author DEBRA HOLLAND in telling SHORT STORIES of love and laughter, heartbreak and healing, and most of all, Christmas joy.

Buy link: http://amzn.com/B00G06W3SA

Excerpt:

Montana, December 24, 1895

“Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents.”

Allison Harcourt stared at the opening lines of her favorite book, Little Women, until the words blurred. Unable to read, she closed the volume.

Christmas won’t be Christmas without Grandma.

Sudden tears filled her eyes, and she turned her head to stare out the train window, blinking furiously to make the moisture go away. Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry. The words pounded rhythmically in her head to the clack of the train over the tracks. Mama and Papa hated seeing her cry, but it was hard to hide the tears with Mama sitting across from her. If only her seat faced front. Then Mama wouldn’t be able to see her.

Her mother heaved a sigh. “Why do you read that book when it makes you weep?”

Allison wiped her eyes and looked at her mother. For once Little Women wasn’t the reason she was crying, but she gave the same answer she always did. “Because it’s so good.” It was a familiar refrain, one they had exchanged the second and fifth and tenth time she’d read the book. Usually she only cried Beth to died, but now, with Christmas only a day away…

She slipped the book into her carpetbag and turned back to the window so Mama couldn’t see her face. The scenery outside sped by as the train clattered along the track, clouds of black smoke billowing back from the locomotive. Allison could barely see through her tears, but it didn’t matter. She was tired of looking at the prairie, so flat and boring, especially today with the sky a pale gray. There were supposed to be mountains ahead, but her seat faced the rear of the train. All she could see was what was behind her--not just miles of prairie, but her friends, her school, and her home back in Pittsburgh--before Grandma died and Papa said they were moving.

She wiped away a tear. It’s not fair. But Papa said life seldom was. Since she was only ten, Allison guessed she’d have to take his word for it. But leaving still didn’t feel right.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of history fostered by her paternal grandmother and an incurable case of wanderlust inherited from her father. She has traveled extensively within the United States and has visited Mexico, Canada, & Australia. A lifelong dream came true with a trip to England where she was able to combine sightseeing and theater with research for her novels. A native of Pittsburgh, she now lives in Southern California with her husband.

Her first book was Worth The Risk by Lyn O'Farrell. Now Linda writes historical and Regency romance. She loves transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward.

She also writes sexy to erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont.

Great interview, Linda...thanks for being here today! Great excerpt, too! 

 

A Holiday Interview with Regan Walker & an Excerpt!

Welcome Regan Walker to my Scribbling Through Time blog! Pull up a chair and kick off your shoes...


Tell us about your current release and what inspired it.

I love to read and write Christmas stories. They put me in the mood for the holiday. Last year I wrote a short story, The Holly & The Thistle, which readers seemed to enjoy. This year I decided to do another story but make it a bit longer, and The Twelfth Night Wager comes in at half the length of one of my novels. As for inspiration, I was doing some research and discovered that men in the Regency loved to wager—and they wrote their wagers down in “the book”! Some of their wagers were quite outlandish, so I came up with one of my own, a scandalous one involving a rake and a virtuous widow.

What is your favorite social media hangout?

I love Facebook because it’s so interactive—and there are pictures! (I’m visual…) I get comments on the things I post and many of my “friends” on Facebook share my posts as I do theirs. It’s a wonderful way to be involved in each others’ lives in just a short amount of time. Of course, I also share my new releases in the hopes my readers are watching for them.

Do you have a view in your writing space? What does your space look like?

I do have a view! Of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. I live on a hill, house sharing with friends, and my office looks west. It’s my “den’ where I write. I have a large table with no drawers (I’d be worried I’d forget what is there!) with stacks of research, supplies and promotional material along with my Mac and my printer. And I have a bookcase with my books for research segregated by the book I’m writing or will be writing soon. It’s a wonderful workspace any author would love. I don’t often stare out the window, but when I do, I’m inspired. Hmmm...I think I'd daydream a lot with a view of the Pacific out my window!

Tell us about your hero and heroine. Give us a strength and a weakness for each.

My hero, Christopher St. Ives, Viscount Eustace is a rake in his 30’s who rebelled against his father to go into politics and now lives a fast life, admired for his successes in the bed chamber as much as in Parliament. His strength is he’s honorable deep down and his weakness is he can’t pass up a challenge, or a beautiful woman.

My heroine, Grace Lady Leisterfield, is a young widow with a dark secret. Her strength is she is unselfishly caring and her weakness is she doesn’t often assert herself as much as she should.

A scandalous wager brings them together…

What do you have planned for the future?

The third in my trilogy, Wind Raven, a pirate Regency set in 1817, will be released in early 2014. I’m very excited about that one. As for my writing, you may not believe it but I’m finishing a medieval, The Red Wolf’s Prize. I started it after my first novel. I have a passion for the time when William the Conqueror invaded England and the dramatic change he brought to the lives of the Saxons. The research is very challenging, as you might imagine. After that, I’m going to write the prequel to my trilogy, To Tame the Wind. It’s set in 1783 in France and England—and on ships!—and involves privateers and pirates! I love that you hop around different periods, so much fun!

“Love sought is good, but giv’n unsought is better.” —William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night
 

Chapter 1

London, January 5, 1819 Twelfth Night

It never would have happened if he hadn’t been so terribly bored that night at White’s. Staring into the crackling fire in the parlour on this frosty night and reflecting back on the last several months, Christopher St. Ives, Viscount Eustace, recalled the evening well; the deep leather chair he sat in, the lit cheroot dangling from one hand and a brandy in the other. He had only been half listening as Hugh Redgrave, the very married Marquess of Ormond, droned on about the virtues of the leg-shackled state. Happily married men could be so tiresome. Looking back on it now, it seemed years not months since they’d traded quips in the conversation that led to the wager:

“I say, Ormond, just where are you going with this praise for the wedded state? You know me too well to believe I’m convinced.”

“You might at least consider taking a wife, Eustace. There’s much to be said for the change it would bring about in your otherwise tawdry existence of late. After all, thirty-five is past the age where dissipation wears well, don’t you think?” Tawdry existence? Dissipation? “Surely you cannot mean those words, Ormond. I’m just after a bit of fun.”

“You go after women like you go after the fox. It’s all in the chase for you.”

“And that is wrong? Just because you have your heir and a spare at thirty-two does not mean I wish to accumulate the same baggage.” At the frown that appeared on Ormond’s face, Christopher, Lord Eustace, hastened to add, “No offense meant toward the beautiful Lady Ormond, whom I admire above all women, but I am not ready for such a change, as my recent indulgences confirm. Besides, I like women and have my own way of handling them, which suits me quite well. I see no reason for change.”

“As far as I can see, your way of ‘handling’ them is not to have one at all.”

“Ho, now that ain’t so, and well you know it! Though, being a gentleman, I’ll not disclose the number ‘had’ even if I could recall. My method, I assure you, works perfectly for me.”

“You have a method?” Ormond asked, incredulous.

“Well, perhaps not a method as you would count it. I seduce ’em, bed ’em and—”

“Leave them. Yes, I know. But not always smiling, I’ve heard.”

Christopher looked up at the chandelier above and back to his friend as he let out a sigh. “Perhaps not, but none complain till the end is in sight. Then, well…I admit things have on occasion become a bit sticky. But they are all willing players in the game.”

“Your way of handling women cannot work with all. You must have failed with some.”

“Quite the contrary, my good man. I’ve succeeded with every lady I’ve gone after.” Christopher held back a grin. He did not lack confidence when it came to his success with women. And a worthy adversary made every game more exciting.

“I would wager there is one you cannot seduce.”

“Ho! Wager? Do I hear a challenge being laid down?” Snuffing out his cheroot, Christopher leaned forward. “Who might this unassailable paragon be?”

Ormond glanced about the sparsely populated club room filled with tables and chairs. Christopher’s eyes followed, noting the small group of men at a round table engaged in muted conversation some distance away. None appeared to be eavesdropping.

Leaning forward, Ormond whispered, “Grace, the Lady Leisterfield.”

Christopher leaned back in his chair and took a sip of brandy. In his mind’s eye he saw a slim blonde in a rather modest gray gown standing next to the elderly Lady Claremont. “Yes, I recall her from the last ball of the Season. The young widow lives like a nun, or so I’ve heard.”

Ormond grinned. “That, old man, is the challenge.”

“She’s in mourning, is she not?”

“Just coming out. And a worthy contender to test your…method.”

“I see.” But did he? Was there more to this than a wager? It was clear Ormond had something in mind, and the marquess could be exceedingly cryptic at times. Still, whatever was behind the challenge, and whatever the stakes, Christopher was drawn by the opportunity, even more by the encouragement, to entice the lovely Lady Leisterfield to his bed.

“I’ve been very impressed with the lady,” his friend continued, “and I would love to see you fail miserably trying to scale her castle walls. I would consider it sweet justice for the fairer sex.” Ormond winked.

Christopher was tempted to decline, still miffed at Ormond’s comment about his tawdry existence. Yet the memory of the beautiful Lady Leisterfield permeated his thoughts. “Perhaps I shall accept your delightful challenge.”

Ormond grinned, then his expression turned serious. “One thing. If you do this, Eustace, you must promise to preserve the lady’s reputation no matter the outcome. That must be part of the challenge, as I would not see a good woman ruined at the end of it.”

“Well, I know of no woman who has suffered overmuch from being associated with me, but I assure you I will be discreet.”

“All right—and so we are clear,” said Ormond. “You must seduce, bed and walk away from the baroness, else I will have won.”

Christopher nodded, wondering all the while if he’d missed something. Ormond always seemed to have an agenda not fully disclosed. With him, much was hidden beneath the surface.

The marquess suggested with a pointed look, “Ninety days should be sufficient; do you agree?”

“We are indeed agreed. And let me add, it will be my pleasure.”

It wasn’t just the thought of bedding the lovely widow that put a grin on Christopher’s face; he was thrilled with the prospect of a real challenge with a virtuous woman. It was a wholly different sport than he normally engaged in, but Lady Leisterfield was a worthy quarry. A challenge indeed. One for which he felt himself uniquely qualified.

“Shall we reduce the wager to the book?” Ormond inquired with a wry smile. “Say, one thousand pounds to make it interesting?”

“Done.” Casting his reservations aside, Christopher set down his empty glass, reached for Ormond’s extended hand and gave it a hearty shake.

And so, that night, Christopher entered the following into White’s book:

 LD EUSTACE HAS WAGERED LD ORMOND 1000 POUNDS THAT BY TWELFTH NIGHT HE CAN SEDUCE, BED AND WALK AWAY FROM A CERTAIN LADY UNDERSTOOD BETWEEN THEM. 

Buy link for 12th Night:

 http://www.amazon.com/Twelfth-Night-Wager-Regan-Walker-ebook/dp/B00GG2DALC

Author website: http://www.reganwalkerauthor.com/

Regan’s blog: http://reganromancereview.blogspot.com/

Twitter: @RegansReview (https://twitter.com/RegansReview)

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/regan.walker.104

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450403.Regan_Walker

Thanks Regan for stopping by today, I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

Welcome, Gemma Juliana!

Welcome to another holiday interview! Today Gemma Juliana is sitting in the hot seat and sharing a little about her writing journey.

Welcome Gemma!

Thanks for inviting me to the blog, Debora!

If could choose your own superpower, what would it be?

Teleportation, so I could satisfy my desire to travel anywhere in the world that calls to me. Perhaps it’s why I love to give my characters mystical powers whenever possible.

How did you get started writing? Did you always want to be a writer?

I always preferred writing to math at school and always made up my own stories. I started writing in earnest while expecting my first son thirty-one years ago. I’m sorry to say I didn’t stick with it when we suddenly moved to Europe. I got swept up in our business and child-raising and didn’t get back to writing until a decade ago. One of my few regrets in life is that I didn’t stay serious about it way back then.

What genre(s) do you write in and why?

I enjoy creating worlds, and a sprinkling of the paranormal ends up in my stories. They’re suspense with light paranormal – witches, ghosts, psychics, magical powers. I’m not into werewolves, zombies, vampires or devils. My dark characters are utterly human usually.

Tell us about your current release.

I have two holiday novellas available. Autumn Masquerade is a tribute to the Halloween and Thanksgiving season and the cycles of life. I was inspired to write about a gifted psychic woman who learned at a young age to hide her psychic gifts and ability to speak with ghosts. Her mother feared her powers and rejected young Anna until she abandoned her essence. Fast forward two decades, and Anna is a professional woman climbing the corporate ladder. Her boss, Richard, is a handsome widower carrying a load of guilt because his wife lost her life on a jet he hired. A series of events places Anna in the position where she must be the psychic at a masquerade ball. Richard will be there. Can she successfully disguise herself, or will he know her? The ghost of his wife decides Anna is the perfect person to deliver a message to him.

My other holiday release, Christmas Spirits, takes place in an Irish castle. It’s a ghost love story that transcends time. I loved writing it so much I didn’t want to leave that world behind.

What inspired your latest book?

Autumn Masquerade was my desire to honor the spirit of gratitude, acceptance, loss and balance that autumn represents. Halloween is when the veil between the worlds is very thin. The story presented itself to me as I contemplated that sacred time of year when stillness makes it possible to reflect on our lives.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Anywhere and everywhere! Sometimes from a news story and other times from things that happen to me or my friends. Usually I take a thread and weave a tapestry from it.

What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

Stop thinking about it and do it sooner rather than later. It’s an exciting world with a tremendous number of sharing and caring authors all helping each other get ahead. Love this!

What was the hardest thing you’ve found in the process of self-publishing? What was the easiest part of self-publishing?

It was hard to press the publish button for the first book, but it became easier. Now I’d say the biggest problem is making enough time to write at a steady pace and not allow promotion and marketing to consume too much time. Finding the balance… The easiest thing is learning from others and sharing what I’ve learned. Launching books becomes easier. There’s a lots of joy on the indie publishing loops. It’s contagious! Isn't it? You are absolutely right!

Do you believe there is still a stigma attached to the idea of self-publishing? And how to combat any negativity you come across?

There was a stigma attached to self-publishing but it is very much in decline. Writing for profit is a business, and quite frankly anyone can learn this business as well as any other business. I love the control I have over what genres I write, choosing an editor, cover creation, release dates, price points, promo and everything else. I waited a long time to finally write and now I can move at my own pace. There is room for both traditional and indie publishing and each has merits. In a perfect world each boosts the other.

What’s next for you? 

 Thanksgiving! Then, once I’ve recovered from my favorite feast, it’ll be time for revisions on a wedding novel (first in a new series) that recently came back from the editor. It should be available in the spring. It’s a story that’s near and dear to my heart.

Would you prefer to live in the mountains or near the ocean? Why? 

I’d love to live near the ocean again. I love the moods and emotions of the water. I lived near it for much of my life and miss it these past fifteen years. I do love mountains too, and in my ideal world, I’d have both. I’ll just have to write a place with both!

What's your favorite food?

Pasta, pasta and more pasta. However, I eat surprisingly little of it these days. Potatoes, too. I’m trying to retrain my taste buds to love salad but they are not easily swayed.

What's your favorite time of day? 

Twilight, when there’s magic in the air and one can reach through the veil. There’s nothing like a vibrant sunset.

How you do unwind after a stressful day?

An aromatherapy bubble bath, and possibly some rich chocolate and a glass of merlot. A good laugh will always get me to unwind! I think we're twins :)

Thanks for having me visit, Debora! I wish you and your readers a healthy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Connect with Gemma
GemmaJuliana.com | Twitter | facebook

Buy Gemma’s Books on… Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo *  Apple * SmashWords

Amazon Author Page: Gemma Juliana

GEMMA JULIANA is a multi-published author who lives in an enchanted cottage in north Texas with her handsome hero, teen son and a comical dog. She loves making new friends and hearing from readers. Exotic coffee and chocolate fuel her creativity. Buy Gemma’s books on Amazon.

A Holiday Interview with Elysa Hendricks!

Today I have Elysa Hendricks in the house to share a little about herself and her latest holiday releases. I know my cats, Oreo and Rocky are very excited to see some other felines basking in the spotlight. ;)

Welcome Elysa!


Have you had other interesting careers before becoming a writer?

Let's see, I've been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn and a king. No wait, those are lyrics from a song. I was a commercial casualty insurance underwriter for several years BC (before children.) Then AC (after children) My husband and I owned and operated a video store for a few years until Blockbuster came along and dominated the market. I ran a day care out of my house and I was a domestic goddess for hire. But overall my real life is basic boring beige. I've done nothing terribly exciting, adventurous or dangerous. My motto is boring is good. Excitement is vastly overrated, so I save all of the adventures for the characters in my books.

If you could choose your own superpower, what would it be?

I already have a super power. It's called "common sense," which is the rarest super power of all. But if I could have another, I'd like to be able to fly or even better teleport. Who ever said "getting there is half the fun" is nuts. Traveling today is such a pain. You either have to deal with traffic or the TSA. Maybe if I had lots of money and could go first class all the way it might not be as bad - maybe.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Stephen King always tells people he digs his ideas out of the ground, but he's a horror writer. Being a romance writer, I decided that I didn't want to be digging stuff up, so I planted an idea tree in my backyard. Every morning I go out and pluck a couple of almost-ripe ideas off the tree and put them on my window sill to mature. When they're fully developed I eat them and the ideas fill my brain. Seriously, ideas come from everywhere - the news, newspaper articles, TV, movies, books, magazines, watching people in the grocery store, listening in on conversations (I could give the spy agencies a run for their money,) and of course, my imagination. I see or hear or read something and immediately my mind starts the "what if" process. I often wonder what people who don't write, think about.

What inspired your latest book?

A KITTEN FOR CHRISTMAS was inspired by the year when I was a child that the only thing I wanted for Christmas was a kitten. Unfortunately, I didn't get my wish. I didn't get Cassandra (Sandy) Queen of the Calicos until March of the next year. She was with me for eighteen years, but I'll always remember my disappointment when there was no kitten for Christmas for me.

My Christmas village along with The Twilight Zone episode Miniature inspired THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE. And my love of cats gave me the idea for MUST LOVE CATS: The Nine Lives of Thomas Cash Riley - Book 1. (I love cats too, I am definitely putting these on my wish list to fill up my eReader for the holidays!)


What is most difficult for you to write? Characters, conflict or emotions? Why?

I'd have to say conflict is the hardest for me to write. Characters and their emotions usually come fairly easy for me. I tap into my own wants, needs and desires, and layer them onto the characters. Since in my own life I dislike conflict and confrontation, putting my book children into those types of situations is difficult. That said, I think I manage to give my characters plenty of challenges to overcome before I let them have their happily ever after.

Was your road to publication difficult or a walk in the park?

I've always been a storytelling. As a child I was the one who came up with the "stories" behind the games we played. In high school I wrote short stories. In college I majored in English, but the only path toward a writing career back then (in the Dark Ages) was journalism. I knew I'd never survive writing nothing but the facts and it never occurred to me that I could write a book without a college degree in writing, so I buried my urge to write and got a day job. Seems like today I could be a "news writer," since few of them bother to write the facts. It wasn't until I was a stay-at-home mom of two small boys that I decided to try my hand at writing a short contemporary romance. When the heroine of the story turned out to be a winged, telepathic alien who stows away on a passing space ship, I decided I liked writing stories set in different times, places, and realities. By the time I finished that book, which, by the way is hidden under my bed guarded by killer dust bunnies, it was too late. I'd been bitten by the writing bug. I joined Romance Writers of America, took writing courses at the local college (no online stuff back then,) and learned how to write. It took me just about ten years to sell my first book, a western historical romance, to a small press. During the following ten years I sold seven more books to various publishing houses. Since then, two of those houses have folded and I've jumped into the self-publishing pond, which has now become an ocean, and learned to swim with the sharks.

Tell us about your current release.

MUST LOVE CATS - The Nine Lives of Thomas Cash Riley was inspired by my love of cats. I wanted to write a romance that featured a cat as a major player in the story. And I wanted to use a cat's point of view. Thomas Cash (TC) Riley is mad, bad and – dead. Killed in a one car wreck, the twenty-nine-year-old playboy is given one last chance to redeem himself for living a selfish, unfulfilled life and to determine his soul’s final destination. To help his young daughter recover from the loss of her mother, Daniel Bishop, a widower who dislikes the country and is allergic to anything with fur, has moved back to his wife’s rural hometown to be close to her large family. Katherine Sinclair, the local veterinarian and the single mother of an adventurous ten-year-old son, is wary of the handsome newcomer. Once before she’d given her heart to a wealthy, charming man and she’d ended up pregnant and alone. With the help of a lonely little girl and a brash young boy, can TC find a way to bring these two damaged people together? Can he remember his past and save his soul in the allotted time? And can he do it all as a cat?


What was the hardest thing you’ve found in the process of self-publishing? What was the easiest part of self-publishing?

Self-publishing may seem like the easy way to be publish, but while the necessary skills (formatting, cover art, promotion, marketing) can be learned, there's nothing easy about being a self-published writer. Writing has always been an isolating career. Writers spend their days alone, with no one to talk to but imaginary people. Writers are gods in their worlds. Unfortunately all of their characters are atheists. Self-published authors not only have to write the book, they have to handle the myriad details necessary to format, publish and promote it. They swim alone in a vast ocean. Still, if a writer has the determination and the ability to follow through, it can be the most satisfying.

What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish? 

 First write the book. Then sit down and determine what it is you really want from your writing career. Are you a control freak? Do you want to be in charge of everything? Do you have the skills (or are willing to learn them or pay for them) to handle all the technical aspects of self-publishing? Are you capable of doing or paying for your own marketing and promotion? Or do you want to focus solely on the creative part of writing? Are you willing to submit and wait to hear from traditional publishing? Can you deal with rejection after rejection? Are you comfortable changing your story to fit the editor/publishing house's vision? There are no right or wrong answers. You just need to determine which path will work for you. In the last few years the world of publishing has changed. It's an exciting time to be an author. We have more options than ever before. It's up to us to jump in and ride the waves.

A KITTEN FOR CHRISTMAS 

Excerpt: 

Though Jackson stirred her in ways she thought had died with Gerald, Dani hesitated. Was she ready to risk her heart again?

"Things are happening too fast." She turned her face away from his hand. Immediately she missed the contact.

"Then we'll slow them down. There's no rush. Let's go shopping." He took her hand and tugged her out onto the sales floor.

Warmth curled through her as they moved through the store picking out gifts for Travis and Suzy. At one point he disappeared for several minutes. When he popped back up at her side he attempted to conceal a store bag behind his back.

"What's that?"

"You'll have to wait for Santa to come to find out."

"Santa?" She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to stare him down, but the mischievous twinkle in his eyes reduced her to giggles.

"Got something we can use to wrap stuff?"

She pulled out the holiday paper the store used to wrap customer purchases during the Christmas rush. While he wrapped the mystery gift she went back to the office and poured some eggnog. She put on one of the Santa hats she found, and despite his protests plopped another on his head.

Laughing, they sat under the tree at the front of the store and wrapped everything. Once they were done, and the packages were arranged under the tree, he settled himself against the wall and pulled her back against his chest. Together they watched through the front window as the snow continued to fall.

Peace and contentment washed over Dani. His solid warmth weakened her resolve. When he tipped her face to his and slanted his lips over hers she didn't object.

Buy Links:

A KITTEN FOR CHRISTMAS

 THE CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

 MUST LOVE CATS: The Nine Lives of Thomas Cash Riley - Book 1

 Find Elysa online:

ElysaHendricks.com

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Thanks to Elysa for being my guest today and thank YOU for spending a few minutes with us today at Scribbling Through Time!

A Holiday Interview with Moira Keith

Today I'm happy to welcome Moira Keith to my cyber-home!

Moira, I'm so excited to have you as my guest here on my Scribbling Through Time blog...Thanks for being here.


What genre(s) do you write in and why?

The million dollar question. I write contemporary western romances because there is just something about a cowboy that makes me giddy like a school girl. Urban Fantasies and Paranormal romances are a huge draw for me as well, but that is because there is no limit to my imagination. The world is what I make of it and I find creating those rules and constraints that your characters must live within very challenging and fun.


Tell us about your current release. 

Frost is a novella written as an intro into the world of Holly Monroe, an elf who walked out on the one man who was able to sneak underneath her defenses—Jack Frost. She’s a detective with the North Pole Police Department and her partner happens to be Jack’s brother-in-law. It’s made putting Jack in her past difficult. Then Jack goes missing and Chief Clause assigns the case to Holly. She must bring Jack or risk the holiday being ruined. This is one fun novella...I'm reading it now!


What inspired your latest book? 

My parents always made the holidays seem like they were filled with magic and wonder. I wanted to capture a piece of that in my story, but I wanted it to be a little unique and off the beaten path. Holly practically screamed at me from the get go and Jack Frost just seemed to take on a life of his own as I started writing him. I can’t wait for their story to continue.

Where do you get the ideas for your stories? 

Ideas are funny things. Anything can spark a story idea. Usually I find that my mind starts to wander and the next thing you know I’m playing a mental “What If” game. What if an elven wonder has issues with entrusting her heart to someone? What if that someone were Jack Frost? What if she was an orphan who was used to being disappointed and heartbroken? Then it just kind of develops from there.

What is your favorite social media hangout?

My favorite social media hangout is Facebook. The interaction there is a little easier for me. Share the things I love, give a little update, stay in touch with friends…it’s very easy for me. Twitter moves so fast, it’s hard for me to keep up at times. Lots going on in both places, but Facebook just feels more manageable to me.

What advice do you have for other authors wanting to self-publish?

Treat the process as though you were being published by a traditional publisher. Expect a little expense and a lot of hard work. Invest in a nice cover, spend time on edits, work your formatting. Understand that it will take time to get your lovely little gem out and in front of the masses. Marketing (my own Achilles heel) is time consuming and you have to be wise about where you are spending your time. The success or failure of your book rests on your shoulders. It’s not an easy road, but it can be a very rewarding one.

What was the hardest thing you’ve found in the process of self-publishing? What was the easiest part of self-publishing?

The hardest thing has to be the marketing piece. You don’t have a big publisher helping get your book out there. You are the publicist, the publisher, the author. It is hard to wear so many hats at times. The easiest part is the creative control. From the story to the cover art, the decisions are all yours. If something is off in your formatting or if something happened to be missed in the editing process, you can make updates. Having that kind of control is really nice.

Do you have critique partners? Beta Readers? 

Of course! They are a necessity for me. Like breathing…or finding the perfect pair of shoes. Having them as part of my routine helps me become a better writer. I’ve got an amazing support group in my critique partners and they are very much a family to me! My beta readers are too and some of them have been with me since my first story and come along for the journey.

What are you reading now? 

After putting books aside for a bit to get some work done, I devoured three books recently: Muffins & Mistletoe by my lovely host, Debora Dennis, Foul Play by Janet Evanovich, and A Little Bit Cupid by Jennifer Shirk. I just started reading The Keepers by Heather Graham.

Do you write under a pen name? Why or why not? How did you choose it?

I do write under a pen name. Early on, I was advised that it was easier to try and keep your personal life separate from your writing life if you had a pen name. I’m not sure if I find that true or not, since I’m the same person. Choosing the name was actually really simple for me and just seemed to click. Moira is the Irish/Scottish version of my real name. Keith is a family name from Scotland. The pen name was a way for me to honor part of my ancestry.

Do you have any words of inspiration for aspiring authors? 

Just keep moving forward. Write as much as you can, every chance you get. Each story comes with its hurdles and provides you with an opportunity to learn. Most importantly, don’t give up and enjoy the process.

What is your favorite quote and why?

“I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you can appreciate them when they’re right, you believe less so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” ~ Marilyn Monroe.

It’s on a picture of her that my mother gave me and it hangs near my desk. It’s just very poignant and inspiring to me.

Two things Detective Holly Monroe has never been able to handle—Christmas and matters of the heart.

Living the job has helped keep Holly sane, but as the holidays approach, she struggles to keep the past at bay. Then Jack Frost—the man she walked out on a year ago—goes missing and Holly is handpicked by Chief Claus to work the case…alone. Feelings she’s denied for the past year resurface and fear soon follow tempting her to run once more. But elves that leave the North Pole don’t survive long and regardless of her feelings for Jack, she can’t allow him to be suffer that fate.

Bringing Jack back is going to take more than just showing up. Holly’s going to have to decide if she is willing to risk everything—including her heart. 

Available on Amazon

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Moira Keith is a lover of shoes, a connoisseur of Guinness, baker of cocktail themed cupcakes, and an overall complete mess!

Moira lives in Las Vegas with her twin zombie sons, a fish, three parakeets, and a turtle. but is a proud Texan by birth (and true Southern girl at heart).

Her stories are often filled with the magic of love and the mayhem that ensues, which always threatens to keep her couples apart. She writes paranormal romance, urban fantasies, and contemporary western romances. She has published three books. Buckling Down, a contemporary western romance, an Urban Fantasy titled, Blood and Moonlight, and her newest release a holiday panaromal romance novella titled Frost. 

She can be found around the web here:

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