Blog Archives
I have the Class of ’85 visiting ~ Courtesy of Buy the Book Tours!
Osiyo~
The Ranch has joined with Buy the Book virtual tour company, so once a month I will offer a slot to a tour guest on whichever day they need a hostess for. Today I am happy to present my first guest on her Blitz tour.
JANNINE GALLANT
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The Roses of Prose
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THE LONELY ROAD TO YOU
AmazonKate Abbott isn’t looking for excitement and is perfectly content with the secure life she’s built in Seattle, even if her son thinks she’s in an uninspired rut. Former rock star Tyler North has no intention of shaking up his life on the Montana ranch where he fled years before to escape the ravages of fame and fortune. Neither plan to attend their 25 year high school reunion in Summerville, but fate throws them together on a lonely road, leading them on a journey of discovery.
From the majesty of Yellowstone to the shores of Lake Ontario, Kate and Tyler fight unexpected attractions and old insecurities. Their journey is full of surprises and odd twists. From bison and bears to a deep crevasse and a crazy old man, they work together to overcome the obstacles in their path. But will these two opposites be able to put aside fear of change and rejection to take a chance on the promise of love?
MARGO HOORNSTRA
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The Roses of Prose
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TO BE, OR NOT
Barry Carlson had it all, a successful career in professional baseball and the adoration of any woman he wanted. Except one. Forced to retire in his prime, Barry returns to his hometown of Summerville, New York to coach the Minor League Hornets.
Twenty years ago, Barry broke through Amanda Marsh’s trust issues. He melted her ice, won her love, then walked away without a backward glance to survey the wreckage. Now Amanda is the head of public relations for the Hornets and happily single—until Barry slides back into her life.
Still reluctant to trust, Amanda gives Barry another chance. But the announcement of their twenty-fifth high school reunion leads to an asinine bet between Barry and his old buddies, and threatens to ruin their newfound relationship. As scandals of the past and present converge, can Barry and Amanda get beyond their differences to find their second chance at love?
KAT HENRY DORAN
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EMBRACEABLE YOU
AmazonAward-winning photojournalist Dru Horvath doesn’t stay in one spot for too long. Her vocation of documenting abuses against women worldwide prevents her from risking her heart. Every day working stiff Rory McElroy is a two-time loser when it comes to women—and he doesn’t plan to take a chance on a relationship again, thank you very much.
But when Dru comes back into his life, he’s not sure which poses the greater risk: protecting her from third world thugs who want to silence her permanently—or allowing the one woman who captured his heart years ago to embrace him for good.
SILVER JAMES
WebsitePROMISES, PROMISES
Betrayed former society wife Kelly Kincaid only wants to make things right. Paying off her ex-husband’s debt of honor is tough when a minimum-wage job back in her hometown is the only one she can find. Could the answer to her problems be right in front of her?
The moment pub owner Michael Doogan sees Summerville High School’s former golden girl at the train station, he loses his heart. Again. He’d give Kelly Kincaid the world on a platter, but the stubborn woman is intent on going her way alone. A threat to her safety provides him the incentive to stand up for what he wants, but will he have the patience to win her love?
KEENA KINCAID
If she could, Nora Emerson would demand a “do over” of the last twenty-five years. An emotionally abusive marriage, failed fertility treatments and a nasty, public divorce have left her bruised, skittish and determined to remain independent at all costs.
With an all-consuming business and a furious teenage sister on his hands, Nora is a complication Nick McPherson doesn’t need. It’s one he wants. Her vulnerability and kick-ass competency intrigue him, and the sexual sparks between them could set Summerville on fire. The more she insists the sex is just for fun, the more determined he becomes to turn their fling into something more.
Five fabulous books published by The Wild Rose Press are FREE downloads February 15, 2013 only!
Don’t miss this awesome opportunity to get 5 great books by 5 fantastic authors FREE!!!
Pen of the Dreamer
A Blue Million Books
Creative Hodgepodge
Oh The Books You’ll Read!
Storm Goddess Book Reviews & More
Brooke Blogs
SnifferWalk Books
Between The Pages
Reading To The Stars And Back
Socrates’ Book Review Blog
My Devotional Thoughts
Simply Ali
Janna Shay
Books and Needlepoint
The Mighty Redwoods
Osiyo~
The Mighty Redwoods as a Setting
It’s so great having you back, Jannine! What a great book you’re here to share today. Let’s jump right in. 🙂
Calisa, thanks so much for having me on your blog today to promote my new release, A Deadly Love. I thought I’d talk a little about setting. For me, where the story takes place is huge. It creates more than just a location for the action. The setting is key in creating the tone of the story. A book that takes place on the beach in the summer is probably going to be lighthearted and fun. If your characters are stuck in a backwoods town with a gothic mansion sporting gargoyles and… Well, you get the picture.
A Deadly Love takes place in the fictional town of Woodvale in Northern California. Woodvale is located just south of the very real town of Crescent City. I know this area well—I grew up here. Which brings me to my second point—when creating a setting, authenticity is everything to the reader. You can’t beat firsthand knowledge for giving a location the small details that will make it pop.
So, back to Woodvale. It’s a logging community set deep in the redwoods. If you’ve never seen a redwood tree, they’re incredibly impressive—towering, massive. There’s also lots of fog, as the setting is very close to the coast. What better place for mystery and suspense? What better place to hunt for a serial killer who ties his victims to redwoods and… I’ll stop. I don’t want to give away the whole plot!
I’ll leave you with the blurb and the opening scene from A Deadly Love, which I hope gives you a good sense of both the tone and the setting of the book. The photos were taken by moi. I’d love to answer any questions you may have!
^^^^^
Blurb:
In the heart of the redwoods, a madman waits…
Recovering from a broken engagement and determined to start over, Brooke Wakefield flees to her grandmother’s home deep in the redwood forest. Discovering her teenage crush lives next door is a less than auspicious beginning. The last thing she needs is another man to break her heart, but every time Dillon glances her way, her heat level soars.
Dillon Tremayne isn’t looking for a relationship. With a young son, an eccentric grandfather, and a logging company running him ragged, he can’t afford any romantic entanglements. But Brooke’s humor and strength are hard to resist.
When a woman from his past is brutally murdered and another disappears, Dillon is heartsick—and terrified the killer will target Brooke next. Can Brooke and Dillon find love in the heart of the forest? Or will a madman’s twisted dream destroy their chance at happiness?
Excerpt:
Fog shrouded the towering redwoods, swirled around the massive trunks, and settled on the fern covered floor of the forest. Brooke Wakefield clutched the steering wheel, straining to see the road through the dense mist creeping in from the Northern California coast. Swearing under her breath, she leaned forward, her gaze focused on the barely discernable yellow line down the center of the highway.
Why didn’t I stay in Eureka? Another bad decision on her part, and there’d been far too many of them lately. A sign loomed ahead, its reflective paint just visible in the gloom.
“Ah, there’s our exit.” She slowed the Subaru to a crawl and turned onto the narrow county road leading to Woodvale. Gradually, she increased her speed. Warm air blasted through the heater vents, and she hummed to an old Rolling Stones tune playing on the radio. “Almost there, Otis. I can’t wait to get out of this miserable fog.”
The dog hung his shaggy head over the seat and moaned. Drool dripped on her shoulder. She loosened her white-knuckled grip on the wheel and gave him a shove. “Back off, boy. Only a couple of miles to go now.”
A flicker of movement caught her eye seconds before a figure in white burst onto the road. The woman threw up her arm and blinked in the headlights’ glare. A cloud of dark hair surrounded a white face dominated by terrified eyes. A blood chilling scream rent the air.
Brooke slammed on the brakes and jerked the wheel. Fear lodged in her throat as the tires slid on damp pavement, caught, then slid again. The giant trunk of a redwood rushed toward her, and a tremendous jolt hurled her into oblivion.
^^^^
Links:
Website: http://www.janninegallant.com/
Blog: http://janninegallant.blogspot.com/
Group Blog: http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/JannineGallant.Author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JannineGallant
Publisher: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=4940
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/jannine-gallant?r=1
That’s a great cover and excerpt. Thank you again, Jannine.
So what about you? How do you use settings to help your writing? Do you have a favorite setting?
Dodadagohvi~
Nothing But Trouble with Jannine Gallant
Osiyo~
Wow, I can’t tell you all how excited I am to have a wonderful sister Rose here today! Jannine Gallant has brought her new release, Nothing But Trouble, which is part of the Honky Tonk Hearts series you may recall me raving about. I need to read this book and love the cover, Jannine!
Thank you so much, Calisa, for having me on your beautiful blog. Happy May Day!
Thanks! Happy May Day to you too! Let’s get to knowing your deepest, darkest secrets. *rubs hands in anticipation* Ready?
1) Which comes first for you—plot or characters?
I’m an odd duck who approaches stories differently depending on the length. For full length novels, the plot comes first. I write a rough outline, hitting the highlights, then decide what sort of characters best fit the plot. For novellas, I’m more of a pantser. I come up with the characters and then drop them into a situation that fits their personalities. I’ve tried this with longer works, but I get hopelessly tangled in subplots if I don’t have an outline. For my current release, Nothing But Trouble, I came up with the opening scene, wrote it, and prayed more would follow. LOL
2) I’m a pantser all the way so I admire anyone who can plot past titles. Does your editor cheer or cringe when your draft crosses her desk?
I’m a control freak! Just ask my kids. LOL I can’t write a dirty draft and then edit when it’s finished. I start my writing day editing yesterday’s work. Then at the end of each chapter, I go through and edit again. Yes, it takes a lot of time, but there is an upside to this technique. When I finally type “The End” my manuscript is nearly ready to send off to my editor. I’ve been told I write very clean. I won’t tell how many hours go into “clean” if you won’t!
3) I’m the same way. Clean, clean, clean… What did you enjoy most about writing your latest work?
Nothing But Trouble has a lot of humor in it. Not blatant humor, mind you, just little things here and there that I hope will make the reader smile. Usually I write suspense with stalkers or killers threatening the poor heroine. While there is a mystery that will keep you guessing until the end, this story is definitely lighter in mood. I had a lot of fun writing these characters, maybe because the hero and heroine keep each other on their toes.
4) I have tons of ‘stories’ packed away in a closet. My earliest writings that no one but my sister has seen. What was your first writing piece and where is it now?
My first manuscript was a historical set inSalem,Massachusettsin 1692. I was in my early twenties when I wrote it, and let’s just say that was a loooong time ago. It went through an agent and multiple rejections from major publishers back in the day, but I always loved the plot. So, last summer, in my infinite wisdom, I decided to resurrect my first baby. All 500 pages were sitting in a stack on the floor of my office, just taunting me. How long could it take to type it into a word file, make a few changes… Eight months later, after a massive rewrite, I finally finished it. Currently an author friend is reading it to tell me if it still stinks. This book WILL be published come hell or high water…
5) That’s true dedication, Jannine! Good luck with it. Can you talk about what you are working on now?
I’m spreading myself a little thin these days, but I think that’s true for many authors. My next book is a romantic suspense called A Deadly Love. It’s scheduled to release in August from The Wild Rose Press. My historical (the title is a WIP) is on the back burner while I try to get a little perspective. I also have a sequel to my first suspense novel, Victim of Desire, in the works. And, drum roll, I’m starting a new project. Seeing the success of many indie authors, I thought I’d take the plunge. I’m planning a three novella series that revolves around three life long best friends who were a witness to a murder when they were girls. I’ll keep you all posted on my progress.
Busy and they all sound great.
6) Dog, cat, or neither?
Dog! I adore my baby, Ginger. The highlight of my day is our hike through the woods. There’s nothing like fresh air and a dose of doggy antics to clear your head!
7) I totally agree. Favorite television shows?
I’ll admit I’m a Survivor junky. I’m also a fan of The Bachelor and The Amazing Race. I call it research into human nature. That’s it, research. I knew there was a reason why I’m hooked on reality shows.
8) How do you pick good fruit?
I find a prime specimen and run my hands over it to make sure it’s nice and firm… Hmm, sounds like my hero in Nothing But Trouble. LOL
Nice segue! How about we take a gander at that blurb, cover and excerpt now?
Blurb:
Chase Paladin avoids commitment like a patch of stinging nettles. He’s seen how love can trample a man, and he doesn’t plan to get hitched—ever. But when Honor Jackson walks into his life, hell-bent on keeping her distance, she turns his convictions inside out.
One look at the too-handsome cowboy with laughing green eyes and a killer smile, and Honor knows he’s nothing but trouble. She’s come to Redemption,Texasto help an old friend, not to let another man charm her into certain heartache.
But every time she turns around, Chase is there, and the closer they get, the more she fears he’ll break her heart. So when anonymous threats make it clear that someone in Redemption wants her gone, Honor is ready to oblige. Only now Chase isn’t certain he can live without her.
Will two wary hearts take a chance on love before it’s too late?
Excerpt:
Chase reached over and gave her arm a squeeze. The imprint of his fingers on her bare skin tingled like a brand.
“I’m sure you’ll do just fine. Soon as word gets out, you’ll draw the locals like bees to honey.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve never heard that line before.”
“I can see I have an uphill battle ahead. Charming you won’t be an easy task.”
Leaning her head against the high vinyl seatback, she avoided his smiling eyes. “More like impossible, so don’t bother trying.”
His lips firmed. “Is it me in particular, or are you always this friendly?”
She didn’t answer immediately. Stroking the dog’s silky coat, she spent a moment composing her thoughts. “I’m sure you’re a whole lot of fun. You’re handsome and entertaining.” She let out a breath. “You’re probably a firecracker in bed to boot.”
He coughed and shot her a wide-eyed glance.
“But I’m not in the market for a fling with a good-looking cowboy.”
“Why not?”
“Huh?”
“What happened to put you off men?”
“Life happened. I plan to work for Andee for a couple of months and get my ducks in a row before moving on. I’m pretty sure—make that one hundred percent positive—getting involved with you would complicate the equation, and I’m no math whiz.”
“What are you a whiz at, besides putting men in their place?”
Bio:
Write about what you know. I’ve taken this advice to heart, creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great outdoors. I grew up in a tinyNorthern California town and currently live in beautifulLake Tahoe with my husband and two daughters. When I’m not busy writing or being a full time mom, I hike or snowshoe in the woods around our home with my dog, Ginger. Whether I’m writing contemporary, historical, or romantic suspense, I try to bring the beauty of nature to my stories.
Places you can find Jannine and her books:
Website: http://www.janninegallant.com/
Blog: http://janninegallant.blogspot.com/
Group Blog: http://www.rosesofprose.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/JannineGallant.Author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/JannineGallant
Buy Link from TWRP: http://bit.ly/IbOwjk
Also available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
What a great story! Good luck with it, and thanks for coming to hang at the ranch, Jannine!
Dodadagohv~!
I write contemporary and paranormal romance, with sensuality as the key ingredient and spice for kick.
Pen of The Dreamer 