Five lessons of forgiveness

Please welcome another guest from the Small Town Charm boxed set. After a career in the telecommunications industry, Cheryl Norman turned to writing fiction and won the 2003 EPPIE award for her contemporary romance, Last Resort.  Her debut with Medallion Press, Restore My Heart, led to a mention in Publisher's Weekly as one of ten new romance authors to watch. Running Scared, a romantic suspense set in Jacksonville, Florida, and Washington D.C., received a Perfect 10 from Romance Reviews Today. Reviewer Harriet Klausner calls her writing "Mindful of Linda Howard." She currently writes the Drake Springs series romance novels for Turquoise Morning Press.

Her passion for cooking and healthful eating led her to write four cookbooks and an award-winning blog, The Hasty Tasty Meals Kitchen--http://www.hastytastymeals.com. She also offers writers grammar help via her Grammar Cop blog, newsletter articles, and workshops. In addition to writing fiction and cookbooks, Cheryl works with other breast cancer survivors to raise awareness about early detection and treatment of the disease.

Cheryl Norman lives in the Suwannee River Valley area of Florida, near her fictional Drake Springs. She writes romance in several genres: romantic suspense, time-travel, inspirational, and sweet series romance, including the upcoming Drake Springs category romance series. For more about Cheryl, follow her on Twitter (@cherylnorman) and visit her site (http://cherylnorman.com ) or her author blog is at http://cherylnorman.blogspot.com.

FIVE LESSONS ON FORGIVENESS

Rebuild My World is romantic suspense, but its theme is forgiveness. In the course of the story, several characters must learn the power and peace of forgiveness. It isn’t a preachy story or a religious one; rather a lesson in mental health.

You read that right: Forgiveness is good mental health.

How can Taylor Drake forgive the man who attacked her and murdered her roommate? How can Adam Gillespie forgive the man who contributed to his family’s financial ruin? How can Taylor and Wil forgive the person responsible for their mother’s death? How can Adam forgive the man who abandoned his pregnant sister and later forgive a startling betrayal within his own family?

Yet, ultimately, they do forgive, and that’s the heart of the story. Have you had to forgive someone when it went against every fiber of your being? Or have you had to forgive yourself?

I’ve watched television programs about people who visit the killer of a loved one in prison and forgive them. I’ve asked myself repeatedly, “How can they? Could I do that?” Frankly, I hope I never have to test myself on that one!

I remember after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when ministers called on their congregations to forgive those attackers. How’d you do with that one? I struggled. I was angry and shocked. I wanted swift justice. Forgiving those responsible for all those innocent lives asked too much. Yet I finally made peace with myself and forgave them, thanks to the five lessons I learned (and share below).

Forgiveness isn’t easy. It can be one of the hardest emotional decisions you’ll make. If you aren’t able to forgive, the price you pay is high. The Drake and Gillespie families find this out for themselves until they learn these five lessons:

1. Forgiveness isn’t earned: You don’t forgive an offender because he deserves it.

2. Forgiveness isn’t necessarily wanted or requested: The offender need not ask you for forgiveness. In fact, he may be indifferent to your feelings.

3. Forgiveness isn’t approval: You aren’t endorsing the behavior by forgiving the offender.

4. Forgiveness can be anonymous: Just because you forgive an offender doesn’t mean he or she will know about it (i.e. he may even be dead).

5. Forgiveness is healthy: It relieves stress. (Remember, resentment is an acid that eats away at its container).

In conclusion, forgiveness is about the forgiver, not about the forgiven. Do it for your own health.

I hope you enjoy the mystery and romance that unfolds in Rebuild My World. Although its theme is forgiveness, the story is much more. Enjoy.

Books by Cheryl Norman (Amazon):                                                               

RUNNING OUT OF TIME (Turquoise Morning Press)
REBUILD MY WORLD (Turquoise Morning Press)
RECLAIM MY LIFE (Medallion Press)
RESTORE MY HEART (Medallion Press)
RUNNING SCARED (Medallion Press)
ROMANCE ON ROUTE 66 Anthology (Highland Press)

Short fiction by Cheryl Norman:

A Little Faith (Highland Press’s anthology)
Hometown Blessings (Highland Press’s Christmas Blessings anthology)
The Christmas Prayer (Highland Press’s The Heart of Christmas anthology)
Veiled Threat (Turquoise Morning Press’s The Wedding Day Collection)
Twilight Time (Highland Press-Romance on Route 66)
Bad Moon Rising (Highland Press-Romance on Route 66)

 

Denny’s Chicks

Please welcome my Wednesday guest on Tuesday (kindly do not ask about the day switch!). Kathy Aarons is the author of Death is Like a Box of Chocolates, the first in the Chocolate Covered Mystery series by Berkley Prime Crime, published September 2014.

According to Kathy, research for the series was such a hardship: sampling chocolate, making chocolate, sampling more chocolate, and hanging out in bookstores.

After growing up in rural Pennsylvania and attending Carnegie Mellon University, Kathy built a career in public relations in New York City. She now lives in San Diego, with her husband and two daughters, where she wakes up far too early and is currently obsessed with the Broadway Idiot documentary, finding the perfect cup of coffee, and Dallmann’s Sea Salt Caramels.

You can follow Kathy on Facebook or Twitter or visit her at: www.kathyaarons.com.

 

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Some authors can write alone, edit their own work, and send it off to their editor. I’m the kind of writer who wants (and needs!) a critique group.

Denny’s Chicks was founded many years ago following a raucous yet productive book plotting weekend run by RWA San Diego. Barrie Summy, Kelly Hayes and I got along famously, laughing at each other’s jokes and driving the instructor assigned to us just a little bit crazy. (Maybe more than a little…) But we left that weekend with three complex and interesting plots and the goal to work together to make our publishing dreams come true.

With another writer who has since left to pursue other artistic interests, we started Denny’s Chicks; Denny’s was the most central restaurant to our four homes, and they let us hang out there for hours. The wait staff has been very supportive of our writing efforts and so far, we’ve never heard of other diners being upset with our discussions of murder, paranormal activity, romance, zombies, or a dystopian future.

Since that plotting weekend, Barrie Summy (http://barriesummy.com/) has published her middle grade I So Don’t Do mystery series with Random House, and her fifth book – The Disappearance of Emily H – is coming out in 2015. (It’s already on Amazon!) Kelly has signed with Fine Print Literary Management and her young adult book will soon be shopped around to editors.

With the recent launch of my first book, Death is Like a Box of Chocolates by Berkley Prime Crime, Denny’s Chicks are on a roll!

 Besides holding each other accountable, we all bring different talents to the mix. Barrie is not only a title genius, she’s the master of pacing, goal-motivation-conflict, tightening sentences, and the best copy editor ever. She has kept us all on track, ensuring we take our writing careers seriously even when we were just starting along the publishing path.

Kelly is a librarian and has read almost every book you could imagine. She has an encyclopedic memory about them all, and knows a ton about what is being published. Among other talents, she’s great at logistics and visualizing a scene, so that the actions that are written make sense and lead into the next scene.

 

My focus is usually on the plot, especially coming up with ideas to make them more complex. Barrie and Kelly love when I get that far-off look in my eye – it means I’m thinking up whacky ideas for driving people apart, bringing lovers together, or taking down the bad guy.

Thousands of words and gallons of Denny's coffee later...and we're still going strong.

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Death is Like a Box of Chocolates

Whether it’s to satisfy a craving for chocolate or pick up the hottest new bestseller, the locals in charming West Riverdale, Maryland, are heading to Chocolates and Chapters, where everything sold is to die for….
 
Best friends Michelle Serrano and Erica Russell are celebrating the sweet rewards of their combined bookstore and chocolate shop by hosting the Great Fudge Cook-off during the town’s Memorial Day weekend Arts Festival. But success turns bittersweet when Main Street’s portrait photographer is found dead in their store, poisoned by Michelle’s signature truffles.
 
As suspicion mounts against Michelle, her sales begin to crumble and her career seems whipped. With Erica by her side, Michelle must pick through an assortment of suspects before the future of their dream store melts away…

First in a new series

Includes Scrumptious Chocolate-Making Recipes!

 

 

 

 

 

Feisty Heroines Make Me Smile

Please welcome another guest from Small Town Charm--Julie Anne Lindsey, author Bloom.

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I love a good romance. Who doesn’t? What I don’t love is a heroine who’s too waify. Too proper. Too snorey. When I set out to write my first sweet romance, I hoped to create a woman who'd make readers smile. For me, that meant making my heroine relatable...and again...for me, that meant she needed to be kind of exuberant, perhaps even a well-meaning hot head. *Looks in mirror* *waves*

Hey, I like big personalities. I can't help myself. They make me smile. I couldn’t help wonder what a slow speaking, hay baling, small town hero might do if faced with an uptight, displaced former local? It was this course of thought that led to my first sweet romance heroine. Voila! Cynthia Potter was born.

In Bloom, my heroine Cynthia says what she means…at the moment… and causes a problem or two as a result. She’s feisty. I like her. She puts her foot in her mouth. A lot. Gets caught kissing someone she didn’t intend to kiss.  (Who hasn’t been there?) And makes an embarrassing discovery of biblical proportions. <-- a="" after="" bloom="" heart.="" hhh="" joke.="" my="" nbsp="" o:p="" own="" s="" she="" that="" woman="">

Writing sweet romance opened a whole new world for me. I learned what mattered most was the chemistry, banter and the will-he, won't she of it all.  I get screwed up in a knot on my couch writing every “Kiss her already!” moment, and I love it. In sweet romance, every sentence leads up to the all-important confession, “I love you.” And getting there is so much fun. Cynthia finds a lot more than romance in Honey Creek, but you'll have to take a peek for yourself to see what else. J

If you’re in the mood for a sweet and sassy heroine , I hope you’ll visit Honey Creek. It’s a beautiful place where anything can happen. Kick off your shoes, relax into that porch swing and cuddle up to a steamy hot toddy. Take a trip to Honey Creek. They're just a click away:  See you there!

Bloom by Julie Anne Lindsey

In a town filled with her past, she never expected to find her future….

Seven years ago Cynthia left Honey Creek with a broken heart. Three years ago Mitchell arrived with one. Now Cynthia’s come home, and these two hardened hearts can’t stop arguing. If they’d only take a break long enough to find some common ground, they might be surprised to find love can grow anywhere.

If they let it, love will find a way to Bloom.

Read more stories like this in the Small Town Charm Box Set! 8 Stories. 8 Authors. 99 cents!

**for a limited time**

Small town America has its charm—not to mention its fair share of romance and mystery!

Everyone knows small towns have their own unique charm, that’s why they make fabulous settings for stories! Turquoise Morning Press presents the best of their small town settings—all in one volume, and for one very small town price!

From Drakes Springs, Florida, to Briny Bay, North Carolina, to Wheeler, Texas, where a little romance and a lot of murder and mystery take center-stage—and then to Honey Creek, Ohio and Legend, Tennessee, where home-grown romance blooms, and love lives right next door.

Eight fabulous authors share their views of small town charm, love and mystery in this eight book boxed set—providing you with a satisfying glimpse into the lives and stories of the quirky characters who live in these charming settings.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | IBOOKS | KOBO | SMASHWORDS | ALL ROMANCE EBOOKS

 

A lovely lazy day--and a lesson in compassion

I have a case of the lazies. Last night I did nothing but focus on the novel I'm currently reading for review. After procrastinating about Loved Honor More by Sharon Wildwind, I found myself quickly drawn in--or was I avoiding writing? Anyway, I decided today was Saturday, and I'd play hooky again. Went to Central Market for a few special items--and, oh, tragedy! bought the wrong kind of chocolate.
Met a former student (she graduated in '98, so she really is former) for lunch at Swiss Pastry where they have my favorite tuna salad. She's an interesting lady--background working at a winery and lots of experience in food service, with a smattering of editorial jobs in there. Like a lot of sous chefs, she bounced from restaurant to restaurant, but four months ago she started what seems like her dream job. She's director of food service for Union Gospel Mission. So we talked about the joys and perils of feeding 800 meals a day. The mission relies on donated food, but once they had cases of canned green beans donated--all those small cans. It meant hours of opening cans. She has lots of stories and they're funny and sad.
But the reason she's perfect for her job is that she has such compassion for her guests. Yesterday as I left a small restaurant, a homeless man called something to me across my car. I didn't understand him, but I quickly said, "No, no thank you," jumped in my car and locked the doors. When I told Heather about it today, I said, "You wouldn't have done that, would you?" She said no, but she understood. I asked what makes her feel safe and she said, "Instinct. I'm pretty good about reading people" and told me about a man who rushed up to her. She said, "Hey, you're in my bubble, and I don't let anyone in my bubble." He backed off.
The world needs more people like Heather, and I will do what I can to be one of them. Jordan always rolls down the window and gives a bottle of water or a couple of dollars to someone begging on a street corner--another thing it never occurs to me to do.
Came home, read some more and went down for a nap just as the thunder rolled in. I saw on Facebook that some people sat on their covered porches, a few with wine, and enjoyed the rain. I'd have liked that, but it's so lovely to lie in bed and listen to the thunder. My mom said the gods were bowling. I didn't sleep, but I drowsed, and when I got up I saw that the schoolyard across the street was a lake, so we had a good amount of moisture (that's my rain gauge).
Tonight, Jacob's with me. He's terrified of storms still at age eight, but I think it's passed at least for now. If it doesn't come back before he's asleep, all is well. He won't wake. He brought his golf clubs and explained in detail when you use each one, but it makes me nervous when he practices in the house. I told him about the time his grandfather took out an entire chandelier with a golf club.
Meanwhile, less than two hours after dinner he was starving for a peanut butter and honey sandwich. I said when I finished what I was doing, and he asked indignantly, "Which would you rather do? Write or get me a sandwich when I'm starving?" "Write," I said. Maybe that too is a lesson in something but probably not compassion.

The Cats of Heart to Heart

Please welcome my latest guest from the Small Town Charm, Love & Mystery boxed asset. Jan Scarbrough is the author of Heart to Heart as well as the popular Bluegrass Reunion series. She writes heartwarming contemporary romances about home and family, single moms and children, and if the plot allows, about another passion--horses. Living in the horse country of Kentucky makes it easy for Jan to add small town, southern charm to her books, and the excitement of a horse race or a big-time, competitive horse show.

Leaving her contemporary voice behind, Jan has written a medieval romance My Lord Raven and several sensual Medieval romantic short stories. Her Gothic romance, Tangled Memories, was a Golden Heart finalist. Timeless is her newest Gothic romance.

A member of Novelist, Inc. and the Romance Writers of America, Jan has published with Kensington, Five Star, ImaJinn Books, Resplendence Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press.

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Heart to Heart is part of a four-book Ladies of Legend series called Return to Legend. The premise of all four stories is the return to Legend, Tennessee, a fictitious town created by authors Maddie James, Magdalena Scott, Janet Eaves and me.

When I wrote the story of Heart to Heart, about an animal communicator and her relationship with the owner of six cats, I knew the cat characters were critical to the story. I thought it might be fun to honor a few of cats I knew, as well as those of my Legend co-authors.

When Jeremy’s aunt gives him a second chance, he must decide if he believes in the unbelievable and the pet psychic who teaches him about faith…and love.

Tinkerbelle
Last winter dogs killed a cat named Tinkerbelle at the barn where I take riding lessons. The character of Tinkerbelle is my way of honoring this sweet, little cat.
Notes: Long hair pale gray – gentle – likes attention and being the center of things
Quote: “The gray cat had followed them into the living room and continued its leg rubbing routine. Jeremy clenched his teeth, forcing himself not to kick the animal off his pant leg. This was his best Armani suit, for crying out loud. He didn’t want cat hair on it.”

Attila
My cat hero is named after Magdalena Scott’s companion of the same name. Magdalena often writes emails about Attila, and that gave me the idea of using the name in my book.
Notes: Male, Maine coon – big cat, sturdy, rugged – uneven, shaggy coat, long tail carried proudly, large, well-tufted paws – intimidating size – brown tabby with white underbelly and white paws. Normal cats have a total of 18 toes, with five toes on each front paw and four toes on each hind paw; polydactyl cats may have as many as eight digits on their front and/or hind paws.

Calliope
Calliope is one of Maddie James’ cats.
Notes: Calico – long hair – knows she’s beautiful – princess - tri-colored
Quote: “The top of the desk was empty except for a longhaired, tri-colored calico cat stretched out in the center preening herself. A tiny pink tongue licked a white paw in a leisurely manner. The cat didn’t even look up to greet them.”

Clio
Maddie James has a second cat named Clio. The real Clio is a tortoiseshell female. I changed Clio’s color in the book and his sex.
Notes: Orange tabby with white bib – nervous – comes up for affection sometimes after gets to know you
Quote: “The last cat in the room, an orange male tabby named Clio sat next to the water fountain watching the other cats in the room with a worried gaze.”

Jinx
I gave my husband a fiftieth birthday gift—a black cat named Jester. You can tell where I found my character Jinx.
Notes: Black cat – prowls, sneaky, pops up expectantly
Quote: “Jinx, the sleek black cat prowled the perimeter of the kitchen as if he couldn’t stay in one place for long.”

Gloria
My favorite cat of all time was Gloria. My daughter, the veterinarian, brought her home from college at Thanksgiving one year. Knowing my daughter is dangerous, because she has a knack for placing homeless pets. How do you think Maddie James got her two cats?

Notes: Tortoiseshell – female, this color is typically reserved for cats with relatively small or no white markings.
Quote: “Gloria was the oldest cat in the house, a tortoiseshell in color—reddish orange and black—with a distinctive orange stripe down the bridge of her nose.”

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Follow me on Twitter @romancerider

Website: http://www.janscarbrough.com/

 

The week in retrospect

I'm laughing at myself. I've cooked supper for four tonight--meatloaf, oven fried potatoes with rosemary, broccoli, marinated asparagus, and a blue cheese salad. Cooking was the focus of my day--a big deal! I realized though that for years I worked, wrote and cooked for four teenagers every night. It wasn't a big deal. Yes, I do cook fancy dinners for company now, but this is just an ordinary family meal and I should have done it without a thought. I also did manage lunch with a friend, a trip to the grocery, a bit of reading and a nap. This is a terrible thing for an author to say, but I'm not in the mood for writing. Guess what I did this week has to simmer in my brain.
I did make progress this week--I have 5500 words on the second Oak Grove novel, I've contracted to with a reader to do an audio version of my short story collection, the neighborhood newsletter is out the door, I only have one blog pending for someone else. And several of my personal blogs were written for me--by contributors to the Small Town Charm, Love and Mystery boxed set who were my guests.
The boxed set has been a learning experience. I've never had a book in a set before, and I know there's come controversy over them. Some writers believe it amounts to selling your book too cheaply, but eight books are 99 cents--some romance (sweet not sexy), some mystery, some funny, some serious. My publisher must have had great success with these before to keep doing them. We've been blogging and sharing on Facebook and Twitter, and if there's a person left who doesn't know about this set, I'm surprised.
I'm also scheduled autograph parties for what I consider my "big" book--The Perfect Coed, first in the Oak Grove Mysteries from Alter Ego Publishing (yeah, you can figure out who that is!). Watch for details in the next couple of weeks, and if you're in Fort Worth, mark your calendar--Saturday, Sept. 20, from 7:00-9:00 a.m. (that's right, early morning) and 5:00-9:00 p.m. Monday Sept. 22. Both at the Old Neighborhood Grill.
So it's been a busy week, including several lunches and dinners with friends, and tonight I'm going to enjoy dinner with my family and reading Loved Honor More by Sharon Wildwind. Halfway through and enjoying it.
Friends were talking the other night about retirement and suggested that too many people retire and want to talk about their past careers. They don't have a life in the present. A big compliment for me when they said I'm living in the present, not the past, with my writing, my family, my friends. Boy am I! Keeps me busy.
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Welcome to Briny Bay, North Carolina

Please welcome today’s guest author from the boxed set, Small Town Charm. Bobbye Terry is a multi-published author of romantic comedy, fantasy and suspense.  Her writing credits also include inspirational nonfiction books and dozens of national and international magazine articles. Bobbye continues to write with extensive humor, where southern charm sometimes meets macabre reality. Her awards include Eppie finalist and two-time finalist of Detroit's Bookseller's Best Award.

Bobbye lives among the cotton fields in West Texas with a spoiled chocolate Labrador who has a sock-fetish. Bobbye remains a voracious reader of anything from novels to tabloids in the grocery line; a collector of strange and unusual trivia and observed behavioral idiosyncrasies of strangers, and a connoisseur of rich dark chocolate, fine roasted coffee and smooth red wine.

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Welcome to Briny Bay, North Carolina

By Trixie Frye & Roxie Turner

“Hi everyone. My name is Trixie Frye. I’m the second born in a wild and crazy bunch of siblings. Our oldest sister got out of our little bayside town early while the gittin’ was good, and who knows if she will ever be back. However, my sister, Roxie and baby brother, Jack, still live in Briny Bay, North Carolina.  It’s not that we don’t love the stuffin’ out of our little dysfunctional home. It’s just that the place defies explanation. I mean, if you knew it recently gained notoriety for having  the highest per capita murder rate on the Eastern seaboard, you’d probably think just setting your dainty little foot on our sandy soil would be enough to make you seriously consider increasing your life insurance. But, as sure as I am a southerner, you don’t have to worry your pretty little head one tiny bit. Why, we don’t even lock our doors at night.”

“She’s right you know. Roxie Turner here. Nobody from Briny Bay’s gonna’ bother you unless it’s one of our town drunks, and they’ll just crawl up on your porch and sleep it off.”

“It’s my turn to talk, Roxie so stop your yapping. As I was saying, when it comes to As upstanding, everyone except my couch-potato husband, Floyd, and his bunch of misfit sports buds go to church on Sundays. And, thank the Lord for donations at our last picnic social, we even have a pet cemetery. No, we don’t deserve this bad press. Truth be told, we have gone and gotten a bum rap just because of a few mutilated bodies that had the unmitigated gall to end up dead here. Coincidence, sheer coincidence. You see, it all started with Georgia Adams’ murder. She was Roxie’s lifelong nemesis and Georgia up and croaked in the town landfill with a knife through her eyeball. “

“That’s enough sister. It’s time for me to take over this conversation. She was my nemesis and I did almost go to the big house over this unfortunate misunderstanding. You see, readers, most of the town folk are convinced I, Roxie Turner, the younger prettier sister, am the reason for our sudden surge in the death toll. I don’t understand how rumors get started. Someone out there obviously doesn’t follow the International Snoop Guidelines. When I tell someone the latest gossip, I make sure they repeat it back to me for accuracy before I let them loose to spread the word. Anyway, who knew somebody would take me seriously when I said I was going to kill Georgia. I mean, really? I’d just been saying I’d snuff her for a couple of decades. If I were really going to do it, don’t you think I’d gone ahead back then when our feud started? It would have been an easy task to just blow her up or push her off the cliff into the bay.”

“Now, Roxie, my honest-to-God need to get all the facts on the table requires I, the smarter more detailed sister, butt in, that is, respectfully submit additional information. You see, it’s not just that you always wanted to run down Georgia so she was deader than road kill on a one-hundred degree day, but that you have an uncanny way of stumbling over dismembered body parts and corpses and then feel the need to touch them. Whoever invented baggies never knew the ghoulish ways some people like you might use them.”

“Trixie Frye, stop trying to turn our audience against me. Tell you what, readers, why don’t you read Buried in Briny Bay and decide for yourself? It’s in the Small Town Charm, Love and Mystery boxed set for just $.99. It’s cheaper than a piece of Trixie’s lemon icebox pie and a lot easier on the waistline. We’d love to hear what you think, and come to see us sometime.”

Links: for Bobbye Terry:

www.BobbyeTerry-MysteryHappens.com

www.DarynCross.com

www.facebook.com/BobbyeTerry

   

Writing about everyday heroes

Please welcome my Wednesday guest, Susan Schreyer, the author of the Thea Campbell Mysteries. The sixth in this locally-set, humorous series, Saving the Queen of Diamonds, has just been released in print and e-book format. Susan lives near the scenes of her murders with her husband, two almost-on-their-own children, a bunch cats, a couple of tame lab rats and the ghosts of a number of family pets of various species. Her horse lives within easy driving distance. Occasionally, Susan makes a diligent effort at updating her blogs "Writing Horses" and "Things I Learned From My Horse," and writes articles for several worthy publications. Mostly, she works on stories about people in the next town being murdered. As a diversion from the plotting of nefarious deeds Susan trains horses and teaches people how to ride them and, when the weather gets to her, works in a veterinarians’ office. She is a member of the Guppies Chapter of Sisters in Crime and is co-president of the Puget Sound Chapter of SinC. When she has a minute she cleans her house and does laundry.

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      Hi, my name is Susan Schreyer and I write about people and events on the edge of reality. No, I don’t write paranormal (although part of the fun is the distinctly unexplainable element or two in every book). I write about people with jobs, families, friends and lovers, pets, hopes and dreams -- and conflict. Pretty normal stuff, right?
Now, throw in a murder or two, life-threatening situations with dramatic conclusions and emotionally satisfying endings. Ah, now you see where I’m going. Not the stuff of everyday life, for most of us, right? Especially if you’re not law enforcement, but you do get to put the world right again.
What about the heroism? The “above and beyond” selfless act? Isn’t that pushing at reality? Nope. That’s normal, in my opinion.
“Aw, come on, really?” you say.
Really. Most readers will identify with a character’s struggles, desires, their less-than-noble thoughts, and their failures readily enough. But what about when the chips are down? How often does that elusive chance to shine come our way? Heroism is action everyone can hold to their hearts as something we would at least try to do if presented with the opportunity.
 “Yup, got that part.”
 Good. We’re on the same page. Now, look around you. There are acts of heroism all the time, every day -- even in our own neighborhoods. It’s right-thinking paired with right-action. There’s a hero in each and every one of us, although I don’t think we often recognize it, even when it happens. That’s why I write it. It’s every reader’s chance to say, “Me, too!” and see the hero in ourselves.
These elements are the substance of the Thea Campbell mysteries: excitement and situations that stretch the
limits of reality in a setting that has a high degree of familiarity, then touch on the human desire to participate in heroic action and make the world right. Oh, and one more thing:
Along the way, let’s not forget to laugh! Life, even when very serious, has distinctly farcical moments!

Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Susan-Schreyer/e/B004CLPMUG   Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/SusanSchreyer; Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/susan-schreyer?store=allproducts&keyword=susan+schreyer webpage: http://www.susanschreyer.com blog (Writing Horses) http://writinghorses.blogspot.com blog (Things I learned from my horse) http://thingsilearnedfrommyhorse.blogspot.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Schreyer-Mysteries/161359303906634 Twitter: @susanschreyer

Small Town Charm

Today is launch day for the boxed set, Small Town Charm, from Turquoise Morning Press. I'm thrilled that my mystery, Murder at the Blue Plate Café, is included in the set. Over the next couple of weeks I'll be bringing you guest blogs from the other authors whose books are included. Today's guest is Magdalena Scott, author of Midnight in Legend, TN, part of the Ladies of Legend series.
 Magdalena lives in her own fantasy world of Magdalenaville, Indiana, and spends her time writing stories with small town settings. As a lifelong citizen of small-town America, Magdalena knows that life in a “burg” is seldom dull—if you’re paying attention. There is mystery, romance, scandal, and the occasional unexplained occurrence. Step into Magdalena’s world and find out what’s hidden just below the surface of those tiny dots you can barely see on the map.

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Hello! I'm so excited to have a story included in this new boxed set. It's the first set I've been a part of that includes not just romance but also mystery. What a great idea!

My book Midnight in Legend, TN is a sweet romance. This story actually began as a writing exercise with Maddie James, Jan Scarbrough, and Janet Eaves. One Saturday we decided (via email) to each create a character from the name of our first pet and the street we lived on as a child. My character was named after my beautiful black cat, Midnight. That name helped me decide what the character would look like: Tall and slender with super-black hair, porcelain skin and black eyes. The writing exercise progressed as each heroine was given a profession. We each decided where our heroine would live, and who her hero might be.

The details changed over time, including some of the names. Eventually the fictional town was named Legend, Tennessee, a map was drawn, and the four stories were published. Since then, many more characters have strolled the streets of Legend. Jan Scarbrough's Heart to Heart, in this boxed set, is the 29th book, and the 30th book, by Maddie James, will release in October. Thirty books! That seems quite a milestone, and I'm immeasurably grateful.
Having four authors writing a series could be a challenge, but our friendships have grown right along with the number of books. I wonder if that's part of why Legend, Tennessee is a place readers love to go.

 

 

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Monday, September 01, 2014

A banner day--and some uncertainty

My newest mystery, The Perfect Coed, is live on Amazon today--actually it was live a couple of days ago. The ebook was supposed to be delayed until October 1, but it doesn't look to me like it was. This is a huge deal to me, a book that is my first leap into indie publishing, one that I've labored over for several years, and one I really hope readers like. It's different from the Kelly O'Connell and Blue Plate Café mysteries--a little darker, a little more complicated, a little less cozy.
But when and whether to announce has been a dilemma. I was uncertain of the timing in putting a book on Amazon, so, compulsive that I am, I planned ahead--had it edited and formatted last spring and early summer. Started a listing on Amazon for it, but sat on the proof for a long time because I'd advertised an October 15 pub date. Then that seemed silly, and I approved the proof. It was up almost instantly. So in an industry where the dreaded scourge is a late book, mine is a month and a half early.
Another thing about indie publishing: there's no fanfare about launching, unless you create it. So if you see this cover over and over, I'm sorry. I just want everyone who might be interested to know it's out there. I'll be posting excerpts and snippets of reviews--all good so far.
This is probably the first mystery I ever wrote (if you don't count Nancy Drew knock-offs years ago)--though it's been through countless versions. I wrote it ten to twelve years ago and placed it with an agent who got disinterested replies at best. In retrospect, she was the wrong agent. She wanted me to write romance, which I didn't feel any affinity for, and her main area of expertise was textbooks. Eventually either I took it back or she gave it back--anyway we both gave up.
I joined Sisters in Crime and Guppies and learned more than I can ever tell about the world of writing and publishing mysteries. And I published seven--five in the Kelly O'Connell series, with one more to come, and two in the Blue Plate Café series. But every so often I went back and rewrote The Perfect Coed, and I followed my instincts. I thought it was good; I ignored my mentor's advice to take out two of my favorite characters, who have since been praised in one review. I kept at it. Perseverance, they tell me, is the key to publishing.
I am eternally grateful to Turquoise Morning Press for getting me into the world of mysteries, but when they announced they would henceforth only publish romance, it solved a dilemma for me. I didn't want to go with another small press--I'd learned some lessons there--and I surely didn't want to compete for a slot in the competitive world of New York houses. I don't need that kind of pressure to produce in retirement. Sure, I like my books to make money but I also like to enjoy my life and don't want to feel driven. So indie publishing was my answer. And after considering all the pros and cons and opinions, I chose to go exclusively with Amazon--at least at first.
So there it is folks--my big project is out there for you to judge if you want to. If you're in Fort
Worth, watch for a launch party at the Old Neighborhood Grill sometimes soon. Believe me, I'll give plenty of notice--and maybe come up with some giveaways and prizes and fun things.
Happy reading!

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