Osiyo~

I am honored and so pleased to have my crit partner (yes another great talent I’m blessed to work with), and super author, Cheryl Yeko on the ranch today! Plainly put- she ROCKS!!! Here she is to tell you about her, and her debut book, Protecting Rose. Check out the awesomeness of Jimmy on her cover!

My husband, Patrick, bought me a kindle for Christmas a few years ago and changed my world.  I rediscovered my love of reading all things romance. I stopped watching TV completely and started reading.  My Kindle library grew at a rapid rate as I read 2-3 books a week. Two years later when I finally came up for air, I decided I could do this, I could write a romance novel. I determinedly set out to learn the craft and signed up for online classes, buried myself in library books and started my manuscript for, Protecting Rose.

I wrote and learned at the same time. I went into total book mode and the next year was spent learning and writing. When not at my pesky day job, I was home immersed in the writing craft. When I would start to burn out I would pick up my Kindle and take time to read a book, once again filled with motivation. I wrote in the middle of the night, on my lunch hour, after work, on weekends, anytime I had a spare moment. I was consumed with it.

I had a vague idea of a plot and just put pen to paper and wrote. I learned later that the term for my writing style is ‘Pantser.”  Who knew?  The first time I heard that term I laughed my butt off. It is just so…descriptive! Because that is exactly how I did it. My story grew, sentence by sentence, chapter by chapter. A patchwork of small and large scenes, and at the end I went back through and fit all the pieces together.

A couple scenes were a direct result of class assignments. I figured if I was going to put all that effort into something it was going to be for my novel. Another little known fact, except amongst family and friends, is that the villain in, Protecting Rose, was named after Brett Favre. I was so mad at him when he left the Packers I decided to make him the bad guy, and then killed him off.  Sorry, Brett! I’m over it now. Go Aaron!

My current WIP is a bit different. I guess that comes with the learning process.  I do plan my scenes a little bit now, but I’m by no means a Plotter. When I started my current WIP I tried to give plotting a try. After a month of total frustration, and lacking my muse, I tore up my plotting notes and started over. Much better. My muse returned and I’m over the halfway mark, heading into the final plot scene. I just finished with my big sex scene.  That is always fun to write.

My goal is to write at least one novel a year…more if it ever gets to the point where I can quit my day job! Writing’s now in my blood. I love all things writing. I love formulating the story and getting it on paper. I love the writing community, the networking and critique groups. Especially my crit. group. Love you guys!

Building a romance is like falling in love all over again and I’ll never grow tired of it.

I hope everyone enjoys reading, Protecting Rose, as much as I enjoyed writing it.

-Cheryl

Here’s a cute little scene I wrote with my husband in mind.  He’s a car guy and the green Mustang is actually one he owns:

—————-

They stopped at the weathered red barn. Nate reached into a flower-filled bucket, brought out a key and unlocked the full-sized double door. He threw the two sides open and Rose stepped inside.

It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. The barn overflowed with equipment, cars, and snowmobiles.

She spotted a dark green Mustang in the corner. It reminded her of a car she’d recently seen in some movie on Turner Classic. “Wow, impressive.”

Nate seemed pleased. “Thanks.” He walked to the Mustang to stroke the hood. “This one’s my baby. I bought it about five years ago, and I’ve been restoring it ever since. At the moment, I’m rebuilding the carburetor. Well, at least I was before I went under cover.”

“How long were you undercover? No, never mind.” She snorted on a laugh. “If you tell me you’ll have to kill me, right?”

“That’s right, ma’am,” Nate deadpanned with a wink.

Rose counted five snowmobiles, including one child-sized machine and a motorcycle. She admired the gleaming black motorcycle. “What a beautiful bike,” she exclaimed. “Do you think we could take a ride?” She glanced at him hopefully.

The low sexy rumble of his laugh sent tingles down her spine. “That’s my brother Jerry’s Harley. But I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if we took it for a quick spin.”

Nate went to a cabinet on the wall and opened it to take a key off a hook. He picked up a red helmet from a bench on the way back and handed it to her. Then he retrieved the black helmet off the back of the bike and put it on before checking that hers was on properly. He tightened the strap securely under her chin and tweaked her nose with a grin.

“Are you ready?” His eyes gleamed with laughter and excitement.

Rose filled with anticipation as Nate lifted the bike off its kickstand and wheeled it outside before throwing his leg over the seat. It took only a moment to start the bike. The rumble of the powerful engine shook the air. He grinned and held out his hand to her.

The butterflies in her belly stirred. She placed her hand in his and swung her leg over the bike to settle behind him.

Nate reached back, placed his hands at her thighs, and pulled her close, until she was pressed intimately at his back. “Hang on tight, babe,” he said above the roar of the bike’s engine.

Here is my online sites:
http://www.cherylyeko.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cheryl-Yeko/167503089995030
https://twitter.com/#!/cherylyeko
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5406425.Cheryl_Yeko
http://soulmatepublishing.com/

Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Protecting-Rose-ebook/dp/B006P5SO8Y/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1329688487&sr=1-1

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/protecting-rose-cheryl-yeko/1108117584?ean=2940013699311&itm=1&usri=protecting+rose