Day one Blogger Book Fair with Jacquie Rogers

It is my great pleasure to be apart of the Blogger Book Fair. As we kick off the week long celebration I get the joy to introduce to you a great author. For this first day I have with me Jacquie Rogers.

 

      Dawn: Jacquie, it is great to have you with me today.  First tell us a little about yourself.  Your likes and dislikes, your favorite foods, your special pets? What makes you…you? 

      Jacquie: Thanks, Dawn!  It’s great to be a guest on your blog and participate in the Blogger Book Fair.   

      Likes: the smell of sagebrush, wind rustling through the junipers, baseball, rodeo, and hitting the bulls-eye.  I love reading an action-packed novel that makes me laugh and sigh. 
      Dislikes: Macaroni and cheese, cleaning house, and over-bearing people. 
      Pets: we have one cat named Annie who was feral when we got her thirteen years ago, and only now will let us pick her up and pet her.  But she’s a sweetheart, even if she’s a little scaredy. 
      Me: I’m outgoing in some situations and a quivering coward in others—sometimes I’m surprised by which is which.  I grew up on a dairy farm in Owyhee County, Idaho, which is where my Hearts of Owyhee series

(http://www.jacquierogers.com/hoo.html) is set.  It seemed a natural thing since that area isn’t far removed in culture and deed from the wild west, and I use some of my experiences in my fiction.

 

      Dawn: What is the title of your current work and what is it about?

      Jacquie: My latest release is a traditional western short story, Muleskinners: Judge Not, in the Wolf Creek, Book 6: Hell On The Prairie anthology. 

Before that, I released another short story, a time travel to the future romance, titled Single Girls Can’t Jump. 

 

 

 

 

 

But my latest novel is the third book in the Hearts of Owyhee series, Much Ado About Mavericks. 

 

     Here’s the blurb: 

     

Benjamin Lawrence is a highly respected attorney in Boston, but in Idaho Territory, they still think of him as that gangly awkward boy named Skeeter. When he goes back home to settle his estate, he's confronted with a ridiculous will that would be easy to overturn--but can he win the regard of his family and neighbors--and the foreman?

      The Bar EL's foreman, Janelle Kathryn aka J.K. aka Jake O'Keefe, is recognized as the best foreman in the territory. But being the best at her job still isn't enough--now she has to teach the new owner how to rope, brand, and work cattle before she receives clear title to her own ranch, the Circle J. The last thing she expects is rustlers. Can she save her ranch without losing her heart?

 

Buy Links:

Kindle: http://amzn.com/B008EDN9T4

Print: http://amzn.com/0985923482

 

Excerpt:

Much Ado About Mavericks

Copyright © 2013 Jacquie Rogers 

      Ben Lawrence could hardly wait to see his mother and sister, even if his stomach soured every time he thought about his childhood home.  But he had to take care of the family and ranch now that his father had died.  Worse, he had to contend with Jake O’Keefe because Pa thought his own son too incompetent to hire good people, even after four years at Harvard and nine years of practicing law. 

      The soda was refreshing and he took his time while she waited, not patiently, shifting her weight from left to right, then tossing a few pebbles. 

      “I think we should reintroduce ourselves.”  He placed the mug on the boardwalk and offered his hand.  “How do you do?  I’m Benjamin Lawrence, visiting from Boston.” 

      “Janelle Kathryn.”  She grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously.  “I’m surely pleased to meet you.” 

      He tested his shoulder to see if it still functioned after her hearty handshake.  Then, just to knock her off guard, he took her hand and kissed the back of it with grandiose gallantry.  “My pleasure, Miss Janelle.”

♥  ♥  ♥

      Jumpin’ juniper berries!  Jake snatched her scorching hand away from Skeeter’s lips.  His well-placed little smacker burned hotter than a branding iron in August.    Only better, but she sure as shootin’ wouldn’t admit it to a soul.  Ever.  Of course, she had no intention of washing her hand for a month either.  That hot kiss sent goosebumps clean down to her toes. 

      She sucked in a deep breath and cleared her throat.  “Let’s go.”  She hopped onto the wagon and picked up the reins. 

      Ben leapt onto the seat and took the reins from her.  “I’ll drive.”

      His thigh rubbed hers.  She didn’t know how he could think right if he tingled anything like she did.  But, he probably didn’t.  She inched away from him as the buckboard moved out of town.  She focused on the sagebrush—at least it didn’t knock her plumb senseless.  He was too damned good-looking in a dandified sort of way.  Taller than she was, too, by a few inches.  Few men were.  She stood even with Whip, who, although bent with years of hard work, was taller than the rest of the men. 

      It ate at her that Skeeter muddled her mind so, and she had no idea what got into her to tell him her real name.  She’d better set him straight. 

      “Just so’s you know, I ain’t no simpering female.  Folks around here call me Jake.  Jake O’Keefe.  I expect you ought to call me that, too.” 

      She nearly laughed at his horrified expression. 

     “Jake O’Keefe?  My foreman?” 

      Just what she needed—a greenhorn who didn’t think she could do a man’s work.  Well hell, she’d already proven herself better than any hand in the territory, and she wasn’t about to do it again—especially to a feller they called Skeeter.  “Yup.  And just so’s you know, Harley Blacker hired me on with the Flying B, so as soon as I show you the ropes, I’ll be leaving the Bar EL.” 

      He set his lips firm like he was cogitating.  She didn’t know what there was to think about—she’d laid out the deal square enough. 

      Finally, he said, “All right then, Jake, just so you know, my name is Ben.  Benjamin Lawrence.  I expect to be called that.”  His jaw tensed and his cheek twitched just a might.  “And I’d appreciate it if you’d stay on the Bar EL, at least until I get the family affairs settled.  I’ll be going back to Boston as soon as I can.” 

      “Got a woman?”  Jake could’ve slapped her own fool face.  Why the hell would she care?  But that tickly feeling deep inside seemed to make her lose all her brains. 

      “I have a law practice there.  And friends.”  He pulled on the right reins and flicked the left side, turning the team onto the Lawrence road.  “A lady friend, too.” 

      Probably some frilly-assed, sappy female who batted her eyelashes at him and giggled at any harebrained thing he said.  Men seemed to like such silly critters, although, for the life of her, she couldn’t see why.  “Well, I ain’t staying, so you’d better be on the lookout for a new foreman.  Fred’s probably your man—he’s been sourer than five-day-old pissed-in milk since the old man chose me over him.” 

      “Don’t want him.  I need you.” 

      “Tough.” 

      “How much is Blacker paying you?” 

      “Eighty dollars and found.” 

     “I’ll give you a hundred.” 

      She shook her head.  “One-twenty and found.”

      “One-ten.” 

      “And found—ain’t interested in eating my own cooking.”  She’d starve to death if she did.  Whip had taught her how to rope, shoot, and just about everything else, but he never could teach her how to cook.  Every concoction she had tried ended up looking and smelling like fresh-branded cowhide.  Not that she’d wanted to learn in the first damned place. 

      He nodded.  “And found.” 

      “I’ll take it.  Six months I’ll give you.  But come spring, I’m working my own ranch, so you better get used to the idea.” 

      “One-twenty and found for any months you work after six.” 

      “I ain’t budging.” 

      “All right, for now I’ll take six months at a hundred and ten dollars and found.  Shake?” 

      She wasn’t so sure she wanted to feel his hand on hers again—more dangerous than a rattlesnake with a toothache.  Grabbing his hand, she gave it one shake and let go immediately, wiping her hand on her pants.  “Deal.” 

      But it would be a helluva long six months if she buzzed like her guts were filled with bumblebees every time Ben Lawrence took a gander at her. 

      Dawn: Awesome excerpt. How long did have you been writing and when did you know that writing was what you wanted to do? What kind of writer are you, a plotter or a pantser? 

      Jacquie: My mother wanted me to be a writer so of course I did everything I could think of except write, and only started about 15 years ago.  So I’m not one of those who say they were born with pencils in their hands.  As for how I go about creating a story, it all starts with characters and I don’t write a single word until I understand my characters as well as myself.  Then I plot out the bones of the story, write out a few scene ideas along the way—but then it’s all seat-of-the pants.  So 50/50. 

      Dawn: Share your social profiles with us. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest…where do you spend your cyber-time? 

      Jacquie:  I’m on Facebook more than the others, but it’s frustrating because I’m at my friends limit, so I’ll include the link to my author page.

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JacquieRogers

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/jacquierogers

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

 

Blogs:

Romancing The West: http://romancingthewest.blogspot.com

Jacquie Rogers, Author: http://jacquierogers.blogspot.com

Website: http://www.JacquieRogers.com  

      Dawn: If you could travel to any-where or any-when…when and where would that be? What would you do when you got there? 

 

      Jacquie: That’s a hard one because I’d like to go everywhere, just about any time—it’s all fascinating to me.  I’d love to visit Ancient Greece and before that, Ancient Babylonia.  But since I write Westerns, the first place I’d like to visit would be Silver City, Idaho Territory, in the early 1880s.  Some things just can’t be learned from books—daily life of those who were never written about, for instance.  It would be interesting to follow a rancher’s wife around all day (if I had the stamina!), and the rancher, too.  I’d love to go on a wild horse roundup.  Then there’s town life.  The general store’s contents would tell me a lot, and who wouldn’t want to be a fly on the wall in a saloon or brothel?  

      Dawn: What draws you to the genre or genres in which you write?  

      Jacquie: For the Westerns, it would be the fiercely independent spirit and can-do attitude that I so admire.  The lawlessness and resulting moral code interests me.  Rooster Cogburn might not have been a model citizen, but he never waivered from his personal moral code. 

      For my Fantasy stories (Faery Special Romances and others), I’m drawn by the magic.  Life is magic but we mostly ignore it, so in fiction we can magnify it and even glorify it.  Besides, I’d love to clean my house with a twitch of my nose like Samantha Stevens in Bewitched! 

      Dawn: Who is your favorite author and why? Which book speaks to you the most?

      Jacquie: I have never read by author and in fact, I’m pathetically name-challenged, so rarely ever remember the titles or authors of the books I’ve read.  That said, there are a few that stick in my mind, the first being Mary Renault and her novels set in Ancient Greece.  Great books, all, my favorite being The King Must Die.  Western authors: Louis L’Amour is the king, of course.  Currently, I’m reading books by Troy D. Smith and James Reasoner, and am also drawn to books by Robert Randisi and others.  For a list of who’s who in western fiction, go to the Western Fictioneers site (http://www.westernfictioneers.com) and click on Members.  In Romance, there’s Leigh Greenwood, Maggie Osbourne, Kathleen Eagle, Gerri Russell, Gina Robinson, Heather Hiestand, and in Mystery, there’s Ann Charles and Wendy Delaney (new author).  A slew more.  

      But like I said, I don’t choose books by author or title.  I read the blurb, click on Look Inside, and whatever interests me, I buy.  

      Dawn: What do you like to listen to when you write? Music, TV, silence?  

      Jacquie: Usually, I listen to four little boys fight.  Peace and quiet would sure be nice.

 

     Dawn: When do you find the time to write? Are you an early morning person or a late at night writer? 

      Jacquie: Night owl.  I write from 10pm to 5am, and go to bed around 6am. 

      Dawn: Tell me about any promotions or contests you are running? Where can we go to sign up and what are the rules? 

      Jacquie: Besides the Blogger Book Fair, I’m in the Western Roundup Giveaway Hop.  I’m giving away several books and you can find out more at Romancing The West: http://romancingthewest.blogspot.com.

 

It’s been fun today, Dawn, and once again, I’d like to thank you for hosting me on your blog for the Blogger Book Fair.  I hope everyone checks out your post on my blog at http://jacquierogers.blogspot.com

 

      Jacquie Rogers, thank you for being with me today.  I enjoyed learning about your book and look forward to reading it.

 

      Check out Jacquie's blog at http://jacquierogers.blogspot.com

and come back to see me tomorrow to meet my guest Zrink Jelic.

Day Two of the Blogger Book Fair with Zrinka Jelic

      Welcome to day two of the Blogger Book Fair. Yesterday we had some exciting Westerns to check out. Let's see what fate is in store for us today as we meet my guest today.

Hello Blogger Book Fair hoppers

I’m very delighted to meet you. My name is Zrinka Jelic and I’m author of three published books, Bonded by Crimson, a paranormal romance, and Treasured Chest, a historical romance. Plus my work appears in an anthology titled Angles Cried dedicated to tiny victims of unimaginable and senseless violence of Sandy Hook School.

Today I’d like to talk about my newest release, a time travel romance titled “Love Remains”. It was published by Crimson Romance on July 15^th.

It is dedicated to all women, but especially working kind. It takes a lot of skill and energy to juggle career and family, and to keep going day in and day out. When kids are sick and we have to stay at home with our little ones, we face the employer’s scrutiny and in some cases even losing jobs. The treatment of working mothers in the corporations got me thinking and I’ve decided to show my findings (at least the way I was treated when faced with the issue) through my writing. And since I am a romance writer, what best way to do it than through romance. Of course, being of Croatian descent, I have to throw something Croatian in the mix. Would you sacrifice your family for the sake of your career? Is it OK for corporations to dispose of women who put their families before their jobs? Is there a golden middle?

I hope you’ll find “Love Remains” a thrilling read as I found it when I wrote it.

Here’s the book’s blurb

Olivia Owen, a busy, single, high-functioning, corporate executive officer, is not afraid to die a spinster for the sake of her career. But in an alternate reality world, bridged by the angel of her Down’s syndrome sister, she meets Tom Medar, a dedicated, Croatian defense attorney who dreams of the right woman, but never has time to find her. Together they foil an adulterous murder plot while discovering there’s room for love and family in their busy lives—but not before they are separated again.

 When they awaken from their alternate world, will they be able to cross countries to find each other again?

Love Remains is now available on Amazon

 

 

       Also, there’s a little giveaway on my blog and since I’m in Canada I’ll have to make it digital. So a copy of Love Remains for your e-reader and $5.00 Amazon gift card. Just drop by my blog Hello Romance and leave me a comment, join my blog or like my Facebook page.

And a bit about me

Zrinka Jelic lives in Ontario, Canada, with her husband and two children. A member of the Romance Writers of America and its chapter Fantasy Futuristic &Paranormal, as well as Savvy Authors, she writes contemporary fiction—which leans toward the paranormal—and adds a pinch of history. Her characters come from all walks of life, and although she prefers red, romance comes in many colors. Given Jelic’s love for her native Croatia and the Adriatic Sea, her characters usually find themselves dealing with a fair amount of sunshine, but that’s about the only break they get. “Alas,” Jelic says, with a grin. “Some rain must fall in everyone’s life.”

 

 

 

 

      Zrinka, it has been wonderful to meet you. I look forward to reading your books.  Please stop by tomorrow and meet with Lily Bishop.

Welcome Catmarie Wilson

       In my rambling travels I have come across many great authors. I have the opportunity today to introduce you to one. Have you ever seen a ghost, have you ever had an unexplained encounter? Many people have and my guest today has had the great fun of interviewing those people.

Everyone welcome my guest Catmarie Wilson.





 

        Dawn: I would like to welcome Catmarie Wilson to my blog today. Catmarie, it is great to have you with me today.  First tell us a little about yourself.  Your likes and dislikes, your favorite foods, your special pets? What makes you…you?

       Catmarie: As a former dance teacher I enjoy all types of exercise including yoga, tai chi, aerobics, zumba, you name it.  I love taking daily walks while thinking about what to write.  When I’m not reading a good book I’m usually planning a Red Hat Society event as the queen of the Snake River Scarletts.  Photography is another passion.  I’m still an amateur, but enjoy entering contests and posting at online photo sites.  I can’t forget my love of the computer and word games too. 

       Dawn: What is the title of your current work and what is it about?

       Catmarie: My current book is “STRANGE Unexplained Tales from Idaho and Beyond.”  I relate my own experiences including winning a contest to begin training as a ghost hunter.  I’ve included results of investigations and ghost tours along with thoughts on dreams and reincarnation.

      Friends and relatives contribute with tales of UFOs, near death experiences and many ghost stories, mostly from Idaho.  A wide variety of paranormal phenomena will please the reader.

Buy Links:  http://uintahspringspress.com/

                   cathywilson1@hotmail.com

Available in digital form through Nook and Kindle

 

       Excerpt:

       The phone rang during a pleasant visit with my in-laws.

“Is Charles there?” said the man in a slow, despondent manner. The tone of his voice was very sad.

“May I ask who’s calling?” I said.

“This is Karl,” he said even more sorrowfully.

I called to my husband, who was in another room visiting with his mom and dad.

“Charlie, the phone’s for you. It’s your Uncle Karl.” However, when my husband picked up the phone, no one was on the line.

Later the news came that Karl had died at the exact time we received the call. While cutting grass, he had collapsed from a heart attack. This was in the 1970’s before cell phones were popular. He’d had no chance to get to the inside phone. I believe his spirit wanted to contact the family gathered at my house. I had talked to a dead man on the telephone

 

      Dawn: How long did have you been writing and when did you know that writing was what you wanted to do? What kind of writer are you, a plotter or a pantser?

      Catmarie: I took a children’s writing class in 2002, but decided I like writing for adults more so I submitted to magazines and contests.  In 2009 I developed breast cancer and came through it with new priorities.  I wanted to share my beliefs with people and let them know how ordinary people experience these fantastic events every day.  Writing a book felt imperative.
 

      Dawn: Share your social profiles with us. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest…where do you spend your cyber-time?

      Catmarie: You said it already, Facebook for games and Idaho Author’s Community, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads, and myboomerplace.  I’m sure I’m forgetting more.

      Dawn: If you could travel to any-where or any-when…when and where would that be? What would you do when you got there?

      Catmarie:  Ancient Egypt!  What a thrill it would be to see an ancient civilization in its glory days.  Modern day Egypt is on my bucket list, but I’d want to wait until things settle down there.  I got to see the Eiffel Tower, now it’s on to the pyramids.

      Dawn: What draws you to the genre or genres in which you write?

      Catmarie:  I’ve always had a passion for the weird and unexplained.  Chalk it up to watching the “Twilight Zone” while growing up along with reading fairy tales and hearing about miracles. My grandmother’s eerie tales must have been an influence too.

      Dawn: Who is your favorite author and why? Which book speaks to you the most?

      Catmarie:  Tough question.  I like reading a wide variety and don’t have one special favorite.  I’m impressed with Dan Brown and all his research.  Dean Koontz and Stephen King have wild imaginations.  Shirley Maclaine isn’t afraid to speak out about her beliefs.  Betty Eadie’s “Embraced by the Light” influenced me decades ago.  Her book encouraged me to read everything in the library about death experiences and the paranormal.  I actually got to meet her at a Salt Lake City book signing.

      Dawn: What do you like to listen to when you write? Music, TV, silence?

     Catmarie: Silence.  I try to give full attention to my writing and tune everything else out.

      Dawn: When do you find the time to write? Are you an early morning person or a late at night writer?

      Catmarie: Since I retired as a substitute teacher I have all the time I need.   I can write at any time.  The problem is scheduling interviews with all my contributors.

      Dawn: Tell me about any promotions or contests you are running? Where can we go to sign up and what are the rules?

      Catmarie:  I haven’t done anything like that yet.  It sounds like a great way to promote and I’m open to it.

      
  Catmarie, I want to thank you for being with me today.  I love reading stories about the true unexplained experiences of people. It must be fascinating to talk to so many people about their “close encounters”. I enjoyed learning more about your book and look forward to reading it.



This is a picture of Catmarie after winning all the prizes from Dreyer's Ice Cream Co.  They sent her to the Haunted America Conference.

Writing and writers...how does the muse speak to you

      Something I have learned in the process of publishing my book and talking with people is that a wide majority of people are writers. Now, I have come to that conclusion because it seems like every person I tell that I am an author tells me in return "really, you know, I write too."
      This has got me to thinking about all the different kinds of writers there are.

•   The Closet Writer--This is what I was for years. I wrote just for me and was too self conscious to even tell people I wrote, let alone let someone read my work. I wrote for me and only began to consider getting published recently, because of insistent encouragement from my husband. The closet writer writes for the love of writing, but is afraid of criticism and hides behind endless excuses of why he cannot go for publication. Even though sharing my stories with the world has always been a dream. I let fear hold me back for far too long.
• The Outspoken writer, who for the want of a more politically correct term, sucks--I know some of us know someone like this, at least I have spoken to several people who do. This person is the one who writes a story and believes it to be perfect, an instant success (even with no editing and no structure). They push their work off to everyone and anyone who will read it. They send off copy after copy of their masterpiece and constantly complain that the publishers and editors do not know a great story when they read it. They are also the ones who claim you to be jealous if you give them some supportive and helpful advice.
• The Insistent writer whose works shines--They push their work to publisher, agent and reader. They are confident and accepting of advice and use it to make their work better. They are on top of all the latest publicity moves and are always first to talk about their book. (This is the category I am striving to be in).
•  The Inconsistent writer--This person has several stories started and tucked away in her closet. They have been there for twenty years, but every so often she pulls them out, dusts them off and tells herself she will finish one, only to put it back again until who knows when.

     
I am sure there are countless other types, but whether it be the pushy or the shy, one thing remains constant. We write because we are compelled to do so.
      No matter what kind of writer you may be--keep at it. Push yourself beyond what you believe you can accomplish. You might just surprise yourself.
      Dr. Seuss, J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, Catherine Coulter. All would still be closet writers without that first step to get published.
            We all may not have an instant success on our hands--nothing is instant.
    
 But with patience and time the possibilities are endless.

My Release Date is Finally Here

      No, I haven't been in prison, so its not as bad as it sounds. I have although been waiting so impatiently for the release of my new novel The Dark Lady. The Dark Lady is a historical romance set in 12th Century England.

The Dark Lady
       

She should have grown up in a life of luxury and ease—instead, she was thrust into one of danger and deception... 

Forced by her scheming mother to pretend that she was a boy, Vanessa Fordella becomes Van, the Dark Knight, in twelfth-century England. But when her now-dying mother demands that she leave behind her charade and marry, Van embarks on the most difficult journey of her life. And if her new husband ever finds out the truth...

After years of war, all he wants is peace and the simple life...

Peter Lawston, Lord Grayweist, hopes for a shy and controllable wife to run his castle and bear his children. What arrives, instead, is a hell cat, who doesn't know the first thing about being docile or obedient. There’s something familiar about his unconventional wife, but Peter can’t put his finger on it.

 
As Van struggles to let go of the knight she has been and become the wife she is expected to be, events unfold that threaten to destroy everything she holds dear, including her very life.

You can read the first three chapters at www.dawnchandler.net by clicking on the free reads link.
You can purchase your copy today at
 www.blackopalbooks.com
or
http://www.amazon.com/The-Dark-Lady-Dawn-Chandler/dp/1626940134/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1369529714&sr=8-2&keywords=The+Dark+Lady+by+Dawn+Chandler

If you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask. I will get a response to you as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support and happy reading.

My Favorite Books

      I am an avid reader, but I have to say that my very favorite is Stephen King. I have almost all of his books and I have read them all multiple times. I also like to read Catherine Coulter, Connie Mason, Kat Martin and a wide array of other romance novelists. I prefer to read and write historical romances. Contemporary women, while yes we have our own problems, are not as interesting a read. Women nowadays are not sold off, or traded or bartered with, at least not in decent society. It is not a matter of your father telling you that you will marry this man because the families made an arrangement before you were even born. And it is not just the women, the men were just as trapped in marriages that may or may not work out, just as trapped by the dictates of society. Walk around the stores today and look at the pants bagging around the ankles while the boys try to hold them up while they walk and you will see that society no longer has a claim to what people want and what they want to be.
      I will rant on about that at a later posting, this one was supposed to be about my favorite books, and those would be The Dark Tower Series, by the master Stephen King. I have read them several times and unfortunately my copy of The Gunslinger is not in need of replacement since I have read it once to often.
      In this series, Roland Deschain, for whom my
wiener dog is named, is the last of the gunslingers and the final remaining member of the line of Arthur Eld.  A once magical land is now dying and the Gunslinger is on a journey of many lifetimes to fix the problems that are devastating his home. Roland's quest is to find the Dark Tower, the building that is said to hold the fabric of reality together. That is why this series is my favorite, and why I am a Dark Tower Junkie. It holds secrets from many of his other books and you get to become reacquainted with your old friends.
      Tell me about your favorite books and why and then go to http://dawnchandler.net/Contact.html and send me a comment with your email address in it and a comment that says you would like to enter to win a wonderful swag bag full of prizes.
      If you have not yet had the chance to go to my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dawnchandlerauthor?ref=tn_tnmn please come by and help me celebrate the release of my novel The Dark Lady. Its official release is tomorrow, but I thought I would start celebrating early.

Sooo Excited

      I am so happy to let you all know that the long awaited arrival of The Dark Lady is quickly approaching. Do the happy dance :)It will be released on May 25th, 2013 and available for pre-order through www.blackopalbooks.com three weeks before that day. As soon as I have a link to the pre-order I will let you know. I am excited to finally see it in print. I cannot wait to hold it in my hands and smell that wonderful new book smell. 
      If you are unfamiliar with Van and her story you can read the first three chapters at http://dawnchandler.net/thedarklady_LIY1.html
      The Dark Lady is a historical Romance set in 12th century England. It is the first book in a series of five. Keep your eyes out for From Under a Dark Shadow, Book two of the Dark Series, that will follow soon.
      The 100 lucky winners have been posted at http://dawnchandler.net/giveaway.html and will be receiving an email in the next few days. Congratulations to you all, and if your name is not on the list please check out the contests page at http://dawnchandler.net/Contests.html for a chance to win other great prizes.

                                                       The Dark Lady Excerpt:

Peter watched her walk away, head high and determined. He was about to go after her, despite her objections when she placed two fingers into her mouth. The deafening whistle that issued forth stopped him in his tracks.

He registered the answering scream of a horse from the stables and the crash of wood that could only have been the stall gate. Not looking back at the screams of the stable hands, he kept his eyes glued to the tall woman as she grasped the hole where he now knew her dagger was kept.

Vanessa grasped the material and pulled. Peter heard the long tear as the skirt fell open completely on the side, baring her leg from thigh to ankle. During it all, she never broke her stride.

Peter called out as her huge destrier thundered past him, screamed for her to watch out. Beast began to slow until Vanessa whistled again. He regained his speed, tearing straight for her. Peter’s breath caught in his throat as he knew he would not be able to save her.

She reached out a long arm, gripping the coarse waving mane as the animal thundered past, and smoothly swung herself onto his massive back.

Peter felt a jolt of fear as she wobbled slightly on the racing stallion, one creamy white leg glistening in the dim sunlight. Shadows played off the thick muscles as they rippled in her effort to stay on the unsaddled mount.

Release Date May 25th, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-626940-13-0
www.dawnchandler.net
www.blackopalbooks.com

In with the editor 'YAY!!"

       I am sorry that I have not gotten on here lately and you have not had the joy of listening to me ramble, but my computer has been down. I had to send it in to Toshiba to get it repaired. I hate sending my computer off for repairs, I so wish they had a person come to me to fix it or that I could take it to my local repair man. Mostly I hate having to reinstall everything that I use. I have everything that is important to me backed up in several places, so I haven't lost anything, but it is a pain to have to find all the programs and reinstall them. That is if I remember all the programs I am using. I guess if I forgot something it must not have been very important.
      I am now back online and excited to say that The Dark Lady is in rounds with the editor and I should be seeing edits within the week. I am looking forward to getting them. It is so much different from the first time I was waiting for edits. I was nervous and not looking forward to changing anything in my story. Now I get excited to get my edits back, to make my story perfect for my reader.
      I will be announcing my 100 Lucky winners in The Dark Lady Celebration Giveaway in Early 2013, as soon as I have an approved cover and know my release date. Please stop by http://dawnchandler.net/giveaway.html and read the first three chapters and sign up for your chance to be one of the lucky winners.

The Dark Lady

The Dark Lady is a historical romance set in 1100 England during the time of the dark and dangerous knights. It is a turbulent time of upheaval and strife. During this time a young female child is born to a loving and doting father and a jealous, spiteful mother. Angered because her arranged marriage was not to the man she loved and jealous of the way her husband doted over and spoiled their little girl she sought revenge. Stealing away in the middle of the night with the man she loved she took the one year old girl with her. In order to keep the baby hidden she lied to the child and everyone around her. She told everyone the child was a boy, and when Vanessa was old enough to question it she explained to her that her father wanted her dead. That she had been born a girl and her father had wanted to kill her because he had wanted a son. She told Vanessa that she had stolen her away the very night she was born and had hid her for her own protection. She told her daughter that she must pretend to be a boy and never go to her father for if she didn't do as she was told he would find her and kill her. Vanessa become Van very successfully and excelled at the art of sword play and is chosen to go to Grayweist Castle for page training where she fights her way to the top of the group and becomes a squire.

Excerpt from Chapter 2

The beautiful meadow where they had first taken camp was now a ransacked and demolished mess of torn up grass and flowers. Ruts and deep holes from the warriors and their horses made walking on trembling legs difficult for Peter.

      Out in front of all the men, the King’s man blew once again on the horn. All stopped to look at the men standing with the King. Peter allowed his two good friends to sit him on a low boulder, in the warm sun. When all of Peter’s men as well as the men the King had brought were circled around them, the King motioned to Van.

      The King’s face held a serious expression as he addressed the brave boy. “Van Burgess, will you please stand before me.” Van approached the King on shaky legs, head bowed. He appeared nervous and that surprised Peter. Why was this arrogant and self-assured boy so nervous around the King? Why was he so reluctant to be questioned or to be the center of attention? It almost appeared to Peter that the boy was hiding something. Peter took a deep breath deciding that more than likely the boy was just unaccustomed to all the fuss.

      Peter’s head was beginning to ache and he knew it would soon be a blaring headache. He took deep breaths and concentrated on the King and Van and tried to ignore the throb that was becoming insistent. The King never took his eyes from the boy as his loud voice boomed across the torn up field. The bellowing voice tore through Peter’s head like a stampede of sheep. Prodding and gouging as they ripped through the soft tissue of his mind. 

      “All who have gathered here will be witness to great deeds today.” Van jerked his face up to the king’s in surprise, “Van Burgess, for your bravery on the field of battle. For your selfless act to save another, with no regards to your safety or to personal gain. For your personal stand to protect your beliefs in the face of opposition I am here to acknowledge you. Kneel.”

      Van dropped to one knee and bowed his head. Between the black clothes and the deep black hair the boy looked like a small dark boulder. The King pulled a sword from the scabbard at his belt. The shiny metal of the newly forged sword touched each of Van’s shoulders as the King said the words that made him a knight.

      Peter’s pride swelled within him as he listened to the familiar words. Richard cleared his throat beside him and Peter caught sight of the pride and emotion in his face. With a grin Peter watched the King speak the final words of the creed. “Now rise. Rise as Sir Burgess. The Dark Knight.”

 

The trouble my muse causes

      I write on an almost constant basis, which has a tendency to cause a few issues in my life. I have always done it (well ever since 5^th grade when my muse bit me). My mom used to say, as I was growing up, that I would space off into my own little world, but I didn't. I would be drug off into the world of my muse, okay to be fair I wasn’t kicking and screaming. No, I went into that world willing and eager.

       Now, when I say I am always writing that does not mean that I am always putting pen to paper, fingers to keyboard or however it is that I get a chance to actually get my story out. I write in my head.

      I used to be the cake decorator at Wal-Mart. Now the good thing about that was I have been decorating for over 15 years, so I didn't have to really think about my work. My fingers would do the cakes in the background. My thoughts would be on my characters and I could enjoy the unfolding of their stories. Now of course when I made faces or laughed at what my character would do or say...well, my coworkers had a tendency to look at me funny. **The bad thing is occasionally I wouldn’t hear people talking to me, as long as it wasn’t the boss or a customer I was usually okay.**

      I am a seat of the pants writer which means I don't outline, I do not know the story before I start writing and I don’t know what will happen until it happens. I have to go with the flow of the book, start at the beginning and let it go from there. My favorite thing about that is I get to find out as I go along what happens....which is why when something unexpected happened I would laugh or make a face. So I would let my mind flow and then on breaks or on lunch I would get as many notes down as possible so as not to lose the story later.

      The great thing about being able to allow my muse full rein as I worked is that I now have 38 novels completed and ready for edits. Of course the bad thing is getting them from my head and all those pages of notes, and onto the computer screen so I can start those edits.

      I now have the opportunity to write full time and I officially consider myself a professional author, even though I am still waiting for the money to think of me as one. So I have had the chance, here within the last few years, to put all those stories into the computer. In the last three years I have gotten four novels completed and the other 34 are entered into the computer, with at least 4 or 5 chapters.

      I also have several binders full of notes and 42 other novels that are only started, with at least one or two chapters going. I pull them out and work on them as they call to me. Which book that calls to me is always up for grabs, but one of them, at least if I’m lucky it is only one, is constantly running in my head.

      Now, as I mentioned, there are issues created by my muse’s constant ramblings.

      My memory sucks. My file cabinets are filled with places, people, and events from 71 novels, and some new ones that are trying to start and there isn’t much room for anything else. My attention span is small, I don’t have ADD, I just have so much going on in my head it is hard to focus on that stuff outside my head. I have always spaced off, and don’t hear when people are talking to me sometimes. I don’t mean to and I try to pay attention, but sometimes the muse’s voice is louder than the rest. As long as there is no break in the conversation I am good, but if you give me a few minutes of silence, well I know how to fill the empty space. 

      I take the good with the bad and wouldn’t know what to do if my muse was ever silent. I am lucky that my family is supportive and understanding when it comes to my writing. I try my best not to ignore them when they need my attention, but my kids grew up hearing…. “let me finish this chapter and we will go.” I tried to never make them wait long and was so excited to get my first laptop so I could just take my story with me and the kids didn’t have to wait to go to the park or wherever they wanted to go.  They never complained, probably because they knew they would get extra treats when we went out to make up for having to wait.

      Do you daydream, do you talk to yourself? For me it is the way I function every day, but to be fair, I don’t really talk to myself. I talk to the imaginary people inside my head….see, so I’m still okay.