Post Thanksgiving sluggishness set in? How about the Christmas shopping fever? Well whether you are near or far do I have the place for you. This week I had the pleasure of sitting down with the owner of one of the "Treasures in my Backyard". I've mentioned Broad Street Books before. This amazing shop in downtown Branchville NJ is a must for you to visit if you're in the area. Even if you have to drive a bit, I promise it's worth the time. Not only a brick and mortar (literally) this successful entrepreneur and her family do a thriving on-line business. I'm so excited for you to meet today's guest I'm about to burst. Before that happens, please help me welcome Sue-Ni.

Sue-Ni this is an amazing building. Can you tell us a bit about its history?
When we purchased the building it was a Lawyer's office. But in 1904 it was originally The First National Bank of Branchville. Once it was robbed and they called it the Jesse James bank even though it wasn't the infamous criminal. We bought and opened the book store in 2012 and will celebrate our ten-year anniversary of opening on November 9, 2022.
Any other insights into it?
There is the mystery of how they removed the vault from the basement. It had to come out in one piece and none of the doors or windows are big enough. Across the street, in the newer bank, you can see the inner workings of the lock system that was preserved.  And at one time the building was a bomb shelter. Also, the store is only the tip of the iceberg. We have 3 buildings holding inventory. So if it's not on the shelves you see, talk to us or email us. We may have or are able to obtain a copy of that special book for you.
Are you a Branchville native?
No, I'm the child of wonderful parents. My mom is a deaf Taiwanese immigrant and my Dad is USAF (met on Taiwan while serving). They settled in Florida. I grew up in humble circumstances. We moved to Branchville to start our family. My husband and I have three sons.
Are they book people? 
If you noticed the young man at the front desk when you came in, that is Cory , our employee.  He grew up with my youngest son Oak. They are book people at least now.
How do you mean?
My youngest took a while to grow into it. It was a matter of finding his niche in the reading world.
Hmm, his niche? 
Many young people come through the doors here. So many think they don't like to read. You have to find what interests you. All books have value. For instance here. These are classic works done as graphic novels.
What! Shakespeare? 
Ownership of books is important for a child. Graphic books are a mix of reading and art and can give them an opening into a lifelong love.
It's a great way to think of it. Have you read Shakespeare?
I read all of Shakespeare the summer before starting 8th grade while visiting my grandparents in Taiwan. They were the only English titles books my grandparents owned. I believe they shaped me into the person I am today with a love and appreciation of many genre's including poetry.
Other than family, is there a person or book that made a difference in your life?
Both. In grade school, Ms. Dorothy Parson's placed a copy of Carolyn Keene's, The Secret of the Old Clock in my hands. It was the first of the Nancy Drew books. BTW, there is not an actual Carolyn Keen. A ghost writer for The Stratemeyer Syndicate wrote it
What are you reading now?
I usually have several going. Mostly on growth, mindset, and the art of persuasion. I'm reading Isaac Asimov, Margaret Atwood, and Nabokov's Butterfly: And Other Stories of Great Authors and Rare Books​.
A little light reading, lol. Do you remember the first book you owned?
The first book I purchased with my own money as a teenager. I think it was a Sidney Sheldon book. One of my friends has many of my books now.
There's a saying curiosity killed the cat and satisfaction brought him back. I'm a naturally curious person. What is the most valuable book you've sold? 
The final biography published about Babe Ruth three weeks before he died is the most valuable recent book that we have sold.  The bonus was the book was flat signed by Babe Ruth too! Baseball memorabilia is quite valuable.
Have there been any times throughout your time at the bookstore someone has touched you or said something that you carry with you always?
Yes, when you own a place like this so many come through the door. Each person has a story in themselves. In particular, there was a Catholic sister whose family was unhappy with her decision to join the church. She told me the peace of store was like a sanctuary to her. We also have many books on self-care, coping, overcoming, spiritual. Often I guide the person to exactly what they need. Books create a vital human connection. They lead us forward with inspiration and aspiration.
Other than books, what do you enjoy?
Travel and camping. My husband and I enjoy being together with others and having honest and open conversations while being respectful and listening to others, realizing the value of their beliefs even if they differ from ours. Everyone's walk and story come from a different life experience.  
Let's chat a bit about Branchville. Can you tell us about your involvement in the community?
For any success, a small business has to be involved. We are members of Branchville Art Walks, Branchville Redevelopment Committee, Friends of the Branchville Rotary, and supporters for the up-and-coming Holiday Date Night. Additionally we donate/provide the electricity for our Branchville Christmas tree to maintain the holiday tradition.
Oh, I'm a romance author tell me about Holiday Date Night.
It's not just for couples but for anyone you love. On Friday, December 3rd the town tree lighting is happening. Our Branchville businesses are coordinating a “Holiday date night” from 4-7pm with the tree lighting at 6pm including carolers from the Branchville United Methodist Church. We invite everyone to come and take a stroll in our family-friendly borough. Maybe do a little local shopping, have a delicious meal, savor a drink, make a charitable donation, discover a new local business along with the festive spirit.
What a wonderful idea! It's the kind of thing that makes Branchville a treasure. Another treasure many people forget to take advantage of is their local library. Is Broad Street Books involved with ours?
Definitely, we are. As lovers of books, we need to be part of pro-literacy. During certain library events for children, we provide gift certificates as well. 
Sue-Ni, I appreciate you spending time with me today. It's pretty busy here. (A lady and her daughter not from the area just excused themselves asking about where to find a certain book). I'm going to let you get back to what you do best after one more question. Grab your soapbox and tell us what you would like to say to everyone about running a small business or books, or whatever is on your mind.
One of my favorite quotes was given to me by my son from a hip-hop song, "Work until idols become rivals". Also, find great mentors. Ask questions and don't be afraid. Don't waste time pretending when you don't understand something. Every day should be an education.
To find out more about Sue-Ni and Broad Street books head over to 
https://broadstreetbooks.com/
Follow them on 
https://www.facebook.com/BroadStreetBooksNJ
https://twitter.com/bsbnj
https://www.instagram.com/broadstreetbooksnj
https://www.yelp.com/biz/UTyOyE1Blicvu8AGv4mZ_Q
​https://www.pinterest.com/BroadStBooks

A note from D. V. 
Broad Street Books is also so supportive of local authors. From the beginning of my writing career and ongoing they have carried my books. I also frequent the shop and my most recent purchases were books on the history of Jazz for research on my upcoming release of Jazz House. The lady and daughter I mentioned above? Bought a copy of Rock House Grill I signed for her. 
​
So, if you are looking for any of the following reach out. The store ships worldwide.
​
Art, Architecture, Photography,  Painting/Drawing, Design, Fashion,
Cooking, Gardening,
Pets/Animals/Nature,
Children's Books, Young Adult, History, Religion, Philosophy, Mythology/Occult, Sports, Science, Chess, Music, Transportation (auto, trains, planes, and ships), Sociology, Psychology,
Plus many others.
Broad Street Books also carries a large selection of Classical and Jazz CDs.

How are you all doing? It's post turkey day here in the US. The Black Friday shopping madness is history. Need a few minutes of rest and relaxation? What says that more than a cozy fire, a warm beverage, and conversation.  A book you say? That's true but stick your finger in the page and hang with us today for a few. My guest is eager to meet you  and we may deal some cards and hang out. You in? Great, here we go... 

Welcome Cherie. I'm so happy you are sharing my fire today. Let's pretend it's the two of us and tell me, who is the person behind the official bio?
Hi! And thanks for having me on your blog! I’m a wife and mother of four boys who are now amazing men, a subject matter excerpt for my day job, an avid reader, and a lover of nature. When the weather is nice, I like to be outside. I don’t care if it’s doing yard work, strolling through the arboretum, or wandering in and out of boutiques, as long as I’m enjoying the day. (Although, I’m sorry to say I’m not much of a camper. But I do have fond memories of camping with my aunt, uncle, and cousins when I was fourteen or fifteen-years-old.)

Oh, well we all can't be campers, but, we can all enjoy a toasty fire. Let's dig a little deeper into you and your life. Do you have a particular object like a piece of jewelry or a keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you?
I believe that certain stones, herbs, and oils have calming properties. I have several bracelets and necklaces I love to wear, including amethyst (for inspiration and protection), lava stone (a grounding stone that gives strength and courage), and obsidian (shields against negative energy).

I have an aroma therapy infuser in my writing area I use for enhancing or calming and even at times inspiring me. What is your favorite mug?
I’m a proud Gryffindor, so it’s not surprise that my favorite mug is my Gryffindor mug. Although, what makes it so special is my son and his girlfriend gave it to me. 

Hah, I'm a Hufflepuff. I've been tested. Do you have a favorite childhood book? Or writing that inspired you to become an author?
I have several. The first three to come to mind are Good Night Moon, Escape to Witch Mountain, and The Wizard of Oz.

If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be?
If you ask me this in a year, it will probably change, but right now Brandy by Looking Glass.

Funny how life can change our song. What's your worst household chore?
Windows! No matter what I do, they end up streaked. 

Ugh, I am continually searching for something to get the inside of my windshield clean. My trunk is filled with fails, so I get it. Let's ignore the streaks and tell me, would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?
Unlimited international first-class tickets! I’d love to travel the world.

So far nobody wants to eat free. Writers are an adventurous bunch. Whether you are a camper or not board games have been around since the beginning of time. Do you play board games? What games do you like?
I would, but my family it’s big on them. But when my boys were little, we used to play all the time. Allowance and Monopoly were my favorite.

Oh, so sad. You come play with us, though I've never played Allowance. Let's change lanes. We all want to know about your writing. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I’m always researching the paranormal and witchcraft. I love to know the lore and then put a unique twist on it.

You have quite a few books, how do you select the names of your characters?
Each book is different. Sometimes, I name my characters after people I’ve met with interesting or pretty names. Other times, I’ll research names with specific meanings.
 
Reviews are a hot topic in the publishing world, do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I will read reviews, and I’m grateful for all reviews. The good ones I may share on my social media. Bad reviews I look at as a learning opportunity to see if there’s something I can do better next time. Or, if the person just didn’t like the book, I remind myself that not everyone is going to love every book they read.
 
As authors we invest so much of ourselves in the story and characters, what was your hardest scene to write?
This isn’t so much a scene, but lately I’ve been finding the middle of the book, just before the all is lost moment, the hardest to write.

Yes! Keeping up the momentum and tension is tricky. So many voices clamor for our hard earned cash. Can you share what the best money you ever spent as a writer was?
Over the years, I was able to attend several writing conferences in California and one in New York. It’s amazing to be able to spend several days with other writers and professionals in the field, and I came back energized and excited to dive into my WIP. (Those stick middles seem less daunting too!)
​
LOL, Cherie.  Thank you for sharing my fire today. If you want, I grab a deck of cards and we can hang out. While I'm doing that, can you tell us where to find out about your latest book and where to find more about you?

Cherie shares one of her favorite places. An arboretum. 

Merry Little Wishing Spritz.
​by
Cherie Colyer
Christmas Cookies series by The Wild Rose Press
Sweet Paranormal Romance

 Can a cleverly cast spell save Cassie Moore’s home and job?
 
Modern-day witch Cassie Moore’s cozy life turns upside down when her friend foresees the wrecking ball that threatens to destroy Cassie’s home and workplace. But Cassie isn’t giving up without a fight. She casts a well-intended spell meant to save her apartment and her job. But magic is unpredictable, especially when her friend casts a little charm of her own that has Cassie lusting after the man she desperately wants to despise.
Jack Quinn has had his eyes on Lakeside Books for years, and he couldn’t be happier the owner is finally ready to sell. He has big plans for the cozy waterfront property, but he didn’t expect to care about the store or its employees. And he never imagined he’d be drawn to a certain brown-eyed saleswoman.
 Almost as if by magic.

What others are saying.
*Merry Little Wishing Spritz made me smile, grin, giggle and thoroughly entertained me. ~ Long and Short Reviews
*This book is perfect for an afternoon read and has a spritz of magic and a sweet romantic ending. ~ Stillwater Magazine
*Merry Little Wishing Spritz is a happy romance story that includes a little paranormal zing of witchy wonderfulness ~ Goddess Fish Reviews
 
Get your copy now.
Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FWZYS9Z
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/merry-little-wishing-spritz-cherie-colyer/1140147083
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/merry-little-wishing-spritz/id1585526848
Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/m0BJBV
 
More About the author
Professional network technician by day, novelist by night, Cherie lives a quiet life in the Chicago suburbs with her charming husband. She has four amazing sons who she loves dearly. Cherie magically weaves together stories with a paranormal twist. She’s the author of the Embrace series (Embrace, Hold Tight, and Entwined), Challenging Destiny, Damned When I Didn’t, and Friends to the End. She waltzes into the adult novel world with this enchanting holiday romance, Merry Little Wishing Spritz.
 Keep in Touch
Website: https://cheriecolyer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cherie-Colyer-author-250631921629169
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CherieColyer
Instagram: www.instagram.com/cherie_colyer/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5288487.Cherie_Colyer
Bookbub author page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/cherie-colyer 

Happy new week! I hope you have all your shopping done and your house smells amazing. I'm not cooking on Thursday but Friday. We'll have the usual, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes. There will be a few side dishes. Corn is a must have for my husband. Oh, and pumpkin pie too. I hope you enjoy today's guest at the fire. You know sometimes we have a fire in the fireplace, sometimes in the firepit. One time we had a New Years Eve one upstate. Brr! it was cold but you just snuggle up to someone and pull your chair closer to the flames. Today we're braving the outdoors at a campfire. Please help me welcome today's guest.

​Hi, Marla! Thank you for joining us today. Why don't you introduce yourself?
Hello campers, thank you, D. V., for saving a place around the campfire with you!  I love the holidays, and this year has been particularly special with the release of my very first book, “The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder.”  I’ve been making up stories since I was in grade school but am something of a late bloomer, not getting published until my late fifties.  Hopefully, that will inspire any readers who think they’re too old to accomplish their next big dream—it’s never too late!

Nope, it's never to late so many greats got their start. Grandma Moses started painting at 76 and Julia Child was in her fifties when she become a television icon. I bet they all had someone or ones supporting them. Who encouraged you in your writing?
None of it would have been possible without the Friday Night Book Club that started it all.  We are four authors who started meeting once a month for wine, cheese and reading each other’s pages for thoughts and encouragement.  Two have since moved away, but the momentum is still there. 

What kind of books do you like to read and are there any that stand out?
I read multiple genres and find inspiration in all of them.  From Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series to Louise Penny’s Inspector Gamache books, I’m drawn to great characters with flaws and lots of heart.  From Raymond Chandler’s lyrical prose to Robert Parker’s blunt but funny Spenser books, I think there’s room for all kinds of writing styles.  The one influence on my writing that all of these writers share is a sense of humor.

I love a book that can make me laugh. What other interests do you have?
Camping is something I love to do but living in California, it’s been tough this past year because of the fire danger.  A group of us planned to go camping, but the parks closed, so we set up tents in a friend’s backyard instead.  Roasting marshmallows around their fire pit was just as delicious, and the bathrooms much nicer, LOL!  I also love quilting, gardening and hope to get back to horseback riding at some point in the future.   

Oh, that sounds like so much fun. We do a lot of "Driveway Camping".  Margo, sometimes people evoke memories, sometimes objects. Do you have a special something?
I have a mug that a dear friend gave me that says, “Trust Your Journey.”  It’s been a tough past few years, and this mug makes me smile every morning. 

Let's rub a magic lamp. Would you ask the genie for unlimited international travel tickets. Or, never have to pay for food in a restaurant again?
I’d definitely rather have unlimited international travel – if this past year has taught me nothing, it’s that cooking at home can be fun. 

What household chore do you dread?
Worst household chore, hands down, is cleaning the refrigerator.  I know because I just did it the other day.  Taking out all the shelves and drawers – yuck.

And you never know what you'll find growing in that container behind all the other stuff. As a camper, you must play board games. I think it's an unwritten rule. 
I love board games!  I’m not sure if this counts, but I love a Yahtzee set I have that is shaped like the Tardis from Doctor Who, and the dice have villains like Weeping Angels or Daleks instead of numbers.  Cards Against Humanity is hilarious in a big enough group.

We carry Yahtzee too but I'm jealous of your Tardis. What was your first job?
My first job ever was at a fabric store.  At sixteen, I think I was the youngest person to ever walk in the place, nonetheless work there!  But I’d been sewing since I was about eight, so I loved it.  Plus, it was in a mall where a lot of other friends worked, so there was always someone to see or talk to. 

I am obsessed with Project Runway and my favorite part is when they go to Mood. For years I've played Where's Swatch? So, sixteen, still in school. What should they teach in school that they don't any longer?
Can they teach common sense in school?  Music is something that should definitely be taught in school again.  There’s nothing quite like being in high school band.  Also, cursive handwriting – why did that go away again?

I'd don't think they can teach common sense. You have it or you don't. Unless time and experience are your teacher. I agree the arts should be in there and such a shame about cursive. It can be quite beautiful. Do you do research for your books?  
I do a lot of research, but usually after my first draft.  I typically outline my books, so I know the story going into it, but sometimes new ideas come up as you write, and I’ll put a # by that thought, and before I start the second draft, do the research.  I don’t like to stop the writing process if I’m on a roll to do a lot of research. 

Oh, that's a good tip. How about your characters? How do you come up with names?
Sometimes the characters just name themselves, and sometimes I do a group text and ask my friends for suggestions.  Once a poster at the dentist’s office inspired me.  You just never know when or where ideas for a name will come up!

Reviews are a big topic in writing circles. What are your thoughts?
I'm just new in the writing game, so I haven’t had to deal with bad reviews – yet.  I’m sure I will and will probably muddle through with a glass of wine and some chocolate.

Everyone is on a budget so it's nice to know what others think. What's the best money you've spent on you writing career? 
The best money I’ve spent so far as a writer was to pay a professional to edit my book. 
Marla, thank you for stopping by the fire. Before you leave would you tell us more about your new book and where to find it and you?
​  

Marla share the holiday's around her house.

The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder
by
Marla A. White 
(per the author rated G)
When Mel O’Rourke traded in her LAPD badge for a spatula, she had no idea baking could be so hard…or deadly.
  
After injuring herself on the job as a Los Angeles cop, Mel O’Rourke leaves the force battered both physically and mentally.  Looking for a fresh start, she moves to a quiet mountain town and opens the Babbling Brook Inn.  Excited for her new life, Mel decides to participate in the town’s holiday cookie contest, but her newfound joy goes up in smoke when one of her guests turns up dead in her lobby.
Mel is tempted to attribute the death to natural causes but when another guest dies, her cop instincts kick in.  The local Sheriff tells her to stand down, but Mel can’t let it go.  With everything on the line, she has to push through her fears to catch the killer before more bodies drop, perhaps even her own.

www.WildWomenReviews.blogspot.com
 On a scale of 1-5, The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder deserves a 6.
In this fun, fast read, script writer turned author Marla White shows off her talent for writing crisp, snappy dialogue and creating unique, one-of-a-kind characters capable of invoking laugh-out-loud moment.  Just when things are running smoothly, another monkey lands on the piles of wrenches, sending B&B owner Mel O’Rourke off and running—literally if  not figuratively.  The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder is an homage to small rural communities and those who flock to them—as well as large, Irish families who pass down their traditions—flawed by accident, or maybe not.  We hope this story is the beginning of even better stories to come.
 
Amazon
Apple
Barnes & Noble
Books2Read
BookBub
Goodreads
More about Marla
​Marla White started her illustrious career as a storyteller at the age of four by drawing on the TV screen to help Winky Dink get out of mortal danger, earning her a firm spanking. Deterred by the negative feedback, she studied to be a park ranger instead until she realized it was really a TV show about park rangers she liked, not the actual outdoors.
After a stint working in local TV as an assistant/hand model/ad copywriter and occasionally a camera operator, she came out west. Her first job was working for the producers of “A League of Their Own” but no, the character of Marla is not named after her.
She’s been involved in several award-winning television movies for ABC, CBS, USA, and HBO. Later she became the head of television for Emmy Award winner Peter Tolan’s Fedora Entertainment where she worked on several network shows before turning to write stories of her own. Additionally, she teaches story analysis and story workshops at UCLA Extension.
Appropriately, she found out on April Fool’s Day she’d sold her first book, "The Starlight Mint Surprise Murder” to Wild Rose Press, to be released in the second half of 2021. “The Angel By The Tower” is the first of her fantasy trilogy.
Follow Marla here
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Wow, I can't believe it's only five days until Thanksgiving here in the U.S. The year has blown by so quickly with so many changes and happenings. This year we'll be having dinner at my sister's house. It'll be the first time without my mom. I just sighed as I typed that. The past year many of us have had losses. But the bible says in all thing to give thanks. That doesn't mean for the losses but to count the blessings that you still have. Where would our life be if we only focused on the bad things? I imagine there's going to be tears around the table this year but also remembrances of a life lived.  Of love given. Probably laughter at some of her antics. Each year the pain will be less but the memories are buried inside forever. Friday we'll have dinner with my son and his family. The house will have the laughter of children which wouldn't have been possible with out Mom and Dad. 
It's the circle of life
And it moves us all
Through despair and hope
Through faith and love
'Til we find our place
On the path unwinding
In the circle
The circle of life
Songwriters: Elton John / Tim Rice
Circle of Life lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company

Speaking of life, today's guest has had some twists and turns herself. New home. New job. New book. And she still found time to share the fire with us. Please welcome today's guest, N. Jade Gray. Thanks for joining us. We know you are an author but what interests besides writing do you enjoy? 
I love music and enjoy attending concerts. I enjoy hiking and nature and trying to capture the nature beauty in pictures. I read mostly romance. Give me a happy ever after every time…. 

We have very similar interests and I'm a total fan of the HEA. Music = Bands= Team work, who is your team? What folks do you count on?
My main support system is mostly my family and friends. I’ve been a member of a couple of writing groups. I’ve stayed in touch with several of these members and we try to encourage each other in our writing endeavors. 

What inspires you to pick up a book and invest time in it. Author? Similar books?
I have a few favorites, but really a blurb, cover, or inside cover can get me interested in a story more often than not. 

How do you lighten the load life often gives us?
I enjoy being a kid at heart. There are just instances that you have to let your inner child come out and play.

What is your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special?
After twenty-five years my husband and I moved from Kansas to Missouri earlier this year. We are adjusting to the new neighborhood, but truthfully I’ve really enjoyed the animals the neighbor has on the acreage next to ours. Horses, cows, a goat, and a pot belly pig. All have visited us on our property and I don’t have to clean up after them. Win win!

That's a touchdown. I'm a country girl too. We drove past someone walking their goat on a leash the other day. Have you had any adventures lately? 
The move took me out of my element this year. I’m chomping at the bit to get back out to signing gigs for my books and plan my next vacation.

Worst household chore?
Does anyone ever really enjoy scrubbing the toilet? Show of hands…Probably my least favorite!

Ugh, you are correct. What ridiculous thing has someone tricked you into doing or believing?
I’m gullible sometimes. I’m just going to leave this subject right there!!!!

Hmm, maybe one of our visitors can pull that information from you. I'm intrigued. Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?
I’m all about experiencing new things. I’ll take the tickets please. Book it! ☺

Do you play board games?
Growing up we liked to play board games and several card games. Canasta was a big family favorite growing up. I liked playing the game of Life. I just found at an antique shop the game of anagrams. We used to play Anagrams with my Grandma Miller. It was fun to reacquaint myself with the game.

What was your first job?
At fifteen I drove to a neighboring town to do laundry at a Nursing Home. But truthfully, growing up as a farm kid, my first real job was well before that one. I drove a tractor, I greased the combines, and I could scoop chicken poop like the best of them.

Yep, I lived on a dairy farm. That has to count. What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
The historical books I’ve written definitely were more challenging and took more preparation. But truthfully I don’t outline my stories, so the research I need to do I do when I’m ready to add that element to my story.

How do you select the names of your characters?
Sometimes the names just pop into my head. And sometimes the names have been changed to protect the innocent. Ha ha  I’ve always wanted to say that.

LOL! What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
​Ordering my cover art of my books to be printed onto metal. An inexpensive way to prove to yourself you can make your dreams come true. It just takes hard work and persistence.

What a wonderful idea! My new friend, would you leave us a bit of a tease about your newest release and where we can find out more about it and you?

And here's a picture of her neighbor. I wonder why the long face?

Kisses and Lemon Snowflake Cookies
by
N. Jade Gray
(will release December 6, 2021)
Return to Cedar Bend, CO
Fireman Dustin Keith didn't realize women would be coming out of the woodwork after he posed for the local fundraiser calendar. But the one who catches his eye is a baker with trust issues. Can he scale the wall she's built around her heart, or is fate destined to extinguish the flames of desire before they engulf his heart?
Lauren Badini came to Cedar Bend to lend a helping hand at her aunt's bakery, not fall for Mr. July. The image on the calendar she received last Christmas fueled her fantasies, but the in-person version is too hot to handle. But if life after her ex has taught her anything, it's okay to look...but don't touch.
Pre-Order
​https://www.amazon.com/Kisses-Lemon-Snowflake-Cookies-Christmas-ebook/dp/B09HR9N69V
More about the author
I grew up on a farm in Oklahoma with one sister and three brothers. I met my husband while attending college. After college I held various accounting positions and have worked as a legal assistant.  ​
I enjoy reading and have been writing stories since high school. Now that my family is grown, I'm working on writing and getting published. 
I am a former member of the Wichita Area Romance Authors and Romance Writers of America.
https://www.njadegray.com/
https://www.facebook.com/njadegray/
https://twitter.com/njadegray1
https://www.amazon.com/N.-Jade-Gray/e/B0721C5C72

It's a special fireside chat with fellow Wild Rose Press author Margot Johnson. I made the fire extra warm today. She's from the way north in Canada and reminded me of my years in Minnesota and what -40 degrees feels like. No a recommended temp for strolling through the woods, just saying. But whether it's warm or cold where you are you're always welcome to share my fire. Now let's grab a cup of something soothing and you are encouraged to join the conversation. 

 Hi, Margo, I'm so glad you joined us today. Let's jump right into the deep-end. ​We all have the official version of who we are, but who you are other than your bio?
I’m a real family person. As an introvert, I don’t need a lot of social interaction, but I do love to stay in close touch with our big blended family through texts, Facetime, and Zoom. My mom learned to text at 87, and she’s a lively contributor. 

Variety is the spice of life, that said, what interests besides writing do you enjoy?
I walk at least 10,000 steps a day. My monthly book club helps me expand my reading choices—we read a wide variety including mysteries, thrillers, biographies, chick lit, romance, literary fiction, books off the bestseller lists, and stories by Canadian authors. I love to travel—Mexico every February and wherever else we find deals or interesting things to do. I also serve as a Board member for the Saskatchewan Writers Guild. 

Busy lady. Book clubs are great for drawing us into what we may not usually pick up. You said you are an introvert but do you have a network or support system?
I’m lucky to have a supportive husband and extended family. My sister Donna Gartshore writes for Harlequin Love Inspired, so writing is a favorite topic at family dinners. During normal times, I attend coffee meetings of the SK Romance Writers, and it’s a talented and successful group of authors who support each other. 

How wonderful you have an insider in the family to to chat with about writing. I fear I bore mine when I talk about it. Who or what books or authors are your inspiration? My dad, Ian Bickle, was a writer and editor. From a young age, I saw writing as a way of life, and I wanted to be like him. He used to sit at the dining room table and click away on an old, manual typewriter.

So, it's runs in the family. I'm jealous. Other than walking in sub-zero temperatures, have you had any adventures lately? Conferences, conventions, vacations? Tell us a bit about what made it special to you.
I’m excited about an adventure to come. Two years ago, I applied and received an invitation to the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. It was postponed because of Covid, but I hope it might happen in 2022.

That's amazing! What an opportunity. I wonder if you're going to wear a hat or a
fascinator? You'll have to post a picture. What is your favorite mug or teacup if neither T-shirt with graphic or Meme?
I have a collection of dog-themed mugs, and I love them all. The most recent addition says, “I will always woof you.”

Favorite childhood book?
I read all the Nancy Drew books, and I loved the Secret Garden. 
Worst household chore?
Washing floors. Our floors are always covered with dog pawprints.

Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?
Definitely, the tickets. I have a long wish list of travel destinations, especially throughout Europe.

Did you ever win something? 
I came within one number of winning a car on the TV game show “Let’s Make a Deal.” 

Do you play board games? What games do you like?
Our family is big on games, and we even hold fake medal ceremonies on makeshift podiums using chairs and/or coffee tables. Favorites include Catchphrase, Telephone Pictionary, Uno, and Utter Nonsense.

What was your first job?
As a student I taught figure skating. My first real job after graduating from university was writing ad copy at a radio station.

What’s the most amazing natural occurrence you’ve witnessed?
Baseball-sized hail! We were staying in a cabin at Waskesiu Lake in northern Saskatchewan when a huge summer storm hit. 

What kind of research do you do, and how long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
So far, my books haven’t demanded a lot of research, but I do it as I write or revise. My first book featured an air force pilot, so I learned from a former air force pilot turned flight instructor and had him review the sections that referred to flight.
 
How do you select the names of your characters?
probably spend too much time on it, but it’s like naming a baby. Names give a certain feel to a character, and I often google popular names the years my characters were born. I learned from my editor to avoid names that start with the same letter so readers don’t get confused.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I’m happy to read and learn from every review. I wish more readers would post them.

What was your hardest scene to write?
I can’t think of one specific scene, but in general, I find writing the middle sections hardest because I want to avoid the ‘sagging middle’ and keep the plot and pace strong enough to hold a reader’s interest.
 
What was the best money you ever spent as a writer?
I attended a 2-3 day romance writers’ retreat that was a three-hour drive away and based in an old monastery. I enjoyed quiet time during the day, got a solid start on a new novel, ate delicious, home-cooked meals, and socialized with other writers in the evening. It was fun and productive!

Margo, you are such a fun person. Thank you so much for sharing my fire today. If you can, before you leave, how about telling us where we can find out more about you and your books? And for our guests make sure you go to the end and read some interesting tips and insights. 

How do you dress for a walk in -40s. I say with a shawl, slippers and a cup of tea in front of the fire. But my intrepid guest bundles up and heads out.

• Let it Snowball a Christmas novella by 
  
• Margot Johnson
  

Christmas tours brim with lights, cookies, and…unexpected romance?

After a short drive, the busload arrived at their first stop. “You’re in for a treat.” Merilee leapt up, leaned over, and gave directions on where to park. Absorbing Ross’s delicious scent, clean like snow infused with a trace of peppermint, she jerked back and steadied her breath. Sudden, shocking warmth flooded her insides. Now where was she?  She paused to gather her wayward thoughts. 
“These rules apply for each stop so we can all enjoy the goodies inside and still keep the tour on schedule. You are free to choose from several platters of cookies. If you would like to sample other kinds or take some home, you can purchase as many as you’d like. We’ll stay for thirty minutes, and then I’ll jingle.” She demonstrated with a string of bells. “Last one back on the bus has to tell a joke or lead a song. If you agree, shout snowball.”  
“Snowball.” In a chorus of voices, the group hollered back the right answer. 
She lowered the mic. “What about you, Santa?”
He shifted the gear into Park. “Nobody’s going anywhere without me.” He straightened his hat and quirked a fluffy eyebrow. 
She smiled, folded her arms, and tapped a foot. Her boots were pretty eye-catching covered in green and red toppers with bells on the toes. Maybe she could cajole him into some good-natured joking. “Santa, you know what happens to kids who don’t behave. You don’t want to end up on the Naughty List, do you?” 
“Snowball.” He kept a straight face. 
 Review from New York Times Bestselling Author Mary Balogh:
“I loved LET IT SNOWBALL. From the first page I wanted to book a place on Merilee’s nightly Season’s Eatings Christmas tour bus with its three stops at cookie shops to sample and buy. On the last page I wanted to book ahead for the Valentine’s tour! Margot Johnson has a way of making a festive atmosphere seem very real. Combine that with a warm and gentle love story that feels truly authentic, and you have a winner of a story.”
Links: 
Let it Snowball
Love Takes Flight  
Love Leads the Way

Also author of the novels Love Takes Flight and Love Leads the Way. I write feel-good stories about women who chase their dreams and bump into romance along the way. They live in small communities near my home in the Canadian prairies, and they count on an eclectic mix of family and friends to make their lives interesting and fun.  
My new release is available as an eBook on Amazon and major online bookstores. I hope you agree it’s a fun way to celebrate the Christmas season! 
In my story, the heroine, Merilee, shares her famous cookie recipe for chocolate snowballs. Maybe you’ll want to add it to your Christmas baking list.

Website: margotjohnson.ca  
Facebook: MargotJohnsonAuthor  
Twitter: @AuthorMargot 
My writing tip: Don’t wait for the perfect idea or ideal moment. Just sit at your keyboard and write! 
Inspiration for this story: I live in a place where winter storms and frigid weather are common. I also love Christmas.  
Last year during lockdown, my husband and I couldn’t visit friends and family in person, so we delivered Christmas light necklaces to their doors and then connected online. We also bundled up for a walk on a minus forty degree day. I can imagine my characters Merilee and Ross sharing similar adventures. 
One wish: I love hearing feedback from readers. I wish everyone who reads Let it Snowball would post a review.

Happy Monday to you all. It's a chilly day in New Jersey but I've lit the fire so it's toasty warm. Thank you for joining me and today's special guest who is also from the Garden State. Ruth is a best selling author and her latest book releases November 16th. Yep, tomorrow! So grab a cuppa and join the conversation. 

Hi, Ruth. Thank you for joining me today at the fire. Let's get right to it. Who you are other than your bio?
I am the proud mother of three wonderful children. I have written that sentence at least three times. Children. They are all have children of their own. Our older daughter is a pre-k teacher who did an awesome job with remoting teaching. She has a daughter who is 16 and a son 13. Our younger daughter has just started her own cottage baking cookie business. She made cookies for Anna St. Claire and I with our signature and book covers for the reader’s event we went to Romancing the Gold Coast. She and her husband have a daughter who is 4. Our son is the youngest is a cyber security engineer and if I knew what he did he’d have to kill me. His ring on my phone is Secret Agent Man. He and his wife have a new baby who turned 3 months last week.
​
So you have a full house at times. I wish I had someone to make special cookies for me. Sigh, no that wouldn't work. I'd eat them. So hold the cookies and tell me, what interests besides writing do you enjoy? 
I am working on a new Regency series, so a lot of my recent reading is research driven. Today it was Napoleon’s escape from Elba Island. I enjoy doing count-cross stitch, I’ve started a new project for the upcoming holiday. A gift for the new baby.
I am also taking a class on paper craft. It’s always difficult to find just the right ‘thing’ to give away at a conference or in a giveaway. In this class we are learning to make projects that are useable, pretty, and can be branded.
 
I'm no crafty, but making paper crafts sounds interesting. Who is your network or support system? 
This is tough question. There are so many people who have and still do contribute to my career. My first critique partners Emma Kaye, Nicole S. Patrick, and Lita Harris. The writing groups I belong to New Jersey Romance Writers, Hudson Valley Romance Writers, Washington Romance Writers DC, Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and Regency Fiction Writers (aka Beau Monde)
My publishing twin, Julie Rowe. Our first novels were published by Carina Press and were released on the same day. We have stayed very close friends. Eliza Knight who was my mentor. Kathryn LeVeque my editor and role model.
There are my readers, librarians, friends, and family. I don’t think anyone does it alone. 

Wow that's an impressive list and you're right, I couldn't imagine doing this alone. Okay, Jersey Girl, tell us about your neighborhood? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special? 
I live in Teaneck, a northern New Jersey town about five miles outside of New York City. We are a town of roughly 40K people. The township was created in 1895, but the first buildings date back to 1704. Our area was prominent during the Revolutionary War with George Washington and his troops passing through Teaneck on their hasty retreat from the British.
Cedar Lane is our main street in town and the crowning shop is Bischoff’s Confectionery. It is an old-fashioned ice cream soda fountain experience complete with red leather spinning stools. I LOVE the cherry vanilla ice cream.

Bischoff's sounds wonderful. I love treasures we can find close to home. Have you had any adventures lately? Conferences, conventions, vacations? Tell us a bit about what made it special to you.
While I have been to Zoom conference this past October I went to my first in person event in 18 months, Romancing the Gold Coast in Glen Cove Long Island. This was a two-day reader’s event with games and crafts, an elegant tea and delicious ball. Many of us were in costumes which made the event even more special. I met fans I only knew by name and saw authors and librarians I hadn’t seen in a long time. 

Those virtual events were great, but there's nothing like meeting and greeting in person. I mentioned treasures above, do you have a particular object like a piece of jewelry or a keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you?
I have a pin that is very special to me. My grandmother gave it to me when I graduated from college. I had never seen it before. It’s a beautiful diamond and platinum antique pin. After all these years of not having anyplace to where it, I finally found the event and dress to wear it, on the Regency costume I wore to the Romancing the Gold Coast reader’s event this last October.
​
That sounds lovely. I have my mom's sweet sixteen ring that I'm going to hand down to my granddaughter. What is your favorite mug or teacup if neither T-shirt with graphic or Meme.
My most favorite mug is the one that says, Nana. It’s just the right size and it keeps my coffee hot.
​
I bet drinking from it reminds you at every sip of those beautiful grands. What's you favorite childhood book? Or writing that inspired you to become an author.
My favorite childhood author was Walter Farley and his Black Stallion series. I had read Nancy Drew. I didn’t really like the Hardy Boys. But there was something about this series that hooked me. It a triumphant tale of a boy and a wild horse. Alec is on ship and the stallion is being transported. There is a storm at sea. Alec saves the horse. They both make it to a deserted island where they have adventures and are eventually rescued.

If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be? 
Easy answer… Cherry vanilla ice cream from Bischoff’s 

Worst household chore? 
The worst household chore ever is the laundry for one simple reason. I cannot reach the bottom of the washer to remove the clothes. Therefore, (*smiley face*) my husband does the wash. 

If you could time travel, where would you go and when? Why?
I would love to travel to London in the Regency era about 1825. I am currently writing a Regency romance and I am immersed in the era down to the clothes. 

Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants? 
I would take unlimited international first-class tickets and travel, travel, travel. I want to see places I write about again and again

Do you play board games? What games do you like? 
Sometimes I play Scrabble with the family or Chutes and Ladders with the grandchildren. I am currently learning Mahjong. It’s a board game without a board.
 
Who is the most interesting person you’ve met and talked with?
Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize for Economy 2001. Full disclosure. Joe is my sister-in-law’s brother. I cannot claim the gene pool. Joe and his wife Anya are gracious and wonderful, but I will admit to being a bit star struck. At a family gathering, he sat with me and asked about my writing, when my next book was being released, and he asked with interest not as a conversation filler. He found it mind boggling that I self-published several of my books.
On the writing side, I had real fan-girl moments when I met Diana Gabaldon, before Outlander was on television. We didn’t talk for long, but she gave me words of advice. I had just read Tasha Alexander’s first book in Lady Emily Mysteries. I was the conference chair that year for the New Jersey Romance Writer’s and had to invite speakers. I loved her book so much, I contacted her and she attended. It was great.

If someone came up to you and said, “Hey, do that thing you do!” what thing would pop into your head first?
Make a brisket.

How do you select the names of your characters?
I start with names I like and many times, most times actually, as the story develops, their name changes.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
I do read my reviews. The good and the bad ones. When my first book was published I read the reviews excited that someone actually read my book, Knight of Runes. One review threw me for a loop. It wasn’t about the story. I could understand not pleasing every reader, but this review was a personal attack.

What was your hardest scene to write? 
I was writing the second book, Knight of Rapture, in my Druid Knight series. This is a time travel romance. In this story, the heroine has been tricked to go back to her time in the 20th century. The love of her life, our hero has to go find a way from the 17th century into the 20th century to save her. He finds her and tells her he will never leave her. The villain has been devious. If our hero stays in the 20th century, his estate will vanish and so will the heroine. The only way to save her is to return to the 17th century. But she cannot return.
I cried when Arik realized that with all his magic there was nothing he could do. He had to leave her. I cried when I wrote that scene and I cried when he actually left her. I cheered because she was made of stronger stuff and found a way to follow him. I still cry when I reread those scenes.

Ruth, this has been a great interview and so interesting. I do have one more favor, would you leave us a peek at your book and where to find out more about it and you?

The Lady and Her Quill
Her mind kept telling her to stop loving him, but her heart couldn’t let him go.
Heat Rating  PG
Renowned author Lady Alicia Hartley has lost her muse after a bad review. She blames it all on the author JC Melrose. A chance encounter with a handsome, witty Justin Caulfield has her heart racing, and her muse seemingly back. Is he her savior or her worst nightmare?
He didn’t see the turbulent ocean. He was too busy dealing with a different tempest.
The recently retired Captain Justin Caulfield is facing his own demons. As gifted author JC Melrose, his stories honor men who died at the hand of one man. His only focus is to avenge their deaths, that is, until he meets and falls in love with Lady Alicia.
The two authors take on a writing challenge based on a story of stolen gold taken from the newspaper headlines all to determine the better writer. While researching the story, Lady Alicia is captured by the thieves’ ringleader. Can Lady Alicia turn this mystery into an award-winning story? Can Justin save his real-life heroine? Can they both overcome their own challenges for a happily ever after?
Amazon KU
​Reviews for The Lady and Her Quill
5 Stars – Goodreads – Petula – Very easy to get involved, excitement and adventure
4 Stars – Goodreads – C. Baker – Good Read
4 Stars – Goodreads – E’s Reading Corner – Entertaining first in new series
4 Stars – Goodreads – M. Whitworth – Very much enjoyed

Author Biography
RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages and have earned her several coveted Crowned Heart Awards. She currently has three historical series, The Druid Knight, The Stelton Legacy, and her new Regency series, The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea. She also has a contemporary romantic suspense series, Havenport Romance. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/ marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.
 
 Social Media Links:
Website: https://ruthacasie.com/
Ruth’s Newsletter Signup:  http://ruthacasie.com/contact.html#newsletter       http://bit.ly/RuthsNewsletterSignUp
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ruthacasie/
Facebook private reader’s page, Casie Café: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963711677128537/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/RuthACasie/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RuthACasie
Email:  mailto:[email protected]
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ruth-a-casie
Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/ruthacasie
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4792909.Ruth_A_Casie
Personal Blog:  http://www.ruthacasie.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ruth-seitelman/6/6b7/964
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ruthacasie/
YouTube:  https://bit.ly/YouTube-RuthACasie
AllAuthor: http://ruthacasie.allauthor.com

Happy Saturday! Thank you for joining us today at the fire. We've had a few gorgeous days here in New Jersey and Pete, Hali and I have been hiking in the woods near our house. We even lit the chiminea and spent the evening reading around it. Is it just me or is everyone thinking it 10pm when its only 6? I hope you enjoy learning about today's guest who's also a "Jersey Girl".

Hi Maria! I'm so glad you're with us today. Let's get right to it. I have a bio, you have a bio, we all have a bio. But who you are other than your bio? 
​I’m the mother of two incredibly strong and independent daughters who love spending time with my husband and me, and we love spending time with them. I’m the daughter of a strong and independent 94 year old mother, who is my biggest cheerleader. I talk to her everyday and see her at least once a week. We do crossword puzzles and jigsaw puzzles together.  I guess you could say I’m a family person. I’m also a lover of beaches, travel, dancing, music and lifelong learning.   

That sounds wonderful. We do puzzles too. I like crossword-Pete sudoku. What interests besides writing do you enjoy? Tell us about what you read too.  
I’ve loved reading since I was 5 and that hasn’t changed one bit. I am usually reading 2-3 books at a time, which I wouldn’t recommend, but I can’t help myself.  There is always the book club book, which is generally something I wouldn’t have chosen myself, but I’m always glad I read it. They may be historical fiction, suspense, women’s fiction – usually something that’s been on someone’s list (Oprah, Jenna, NY Times). I also read romance (contemporary, historical, and sometimes erotica). In addition to reading, I like to exercise (Jazzercise because it’s dance-y or walking while listening to music).

Who is your network or support system? Those who contribute to your writing career.   My husband is an incredible supporter of my writing. He’s only read a few of my books, but has been very positive in his comments about them. When other people ask if he’s read my books, he usually says that he doesn’t want to know what he should be doing and isn’t. For Christmas last year, he printed out all of my book covers and framed them. They are now hanging in our library and it makes me smile every time I see them. My mother is like my agent, but in an embarrassing way. Everywhere she goes (doctors, grocery store, Macy’s, church meetings) she hands out my bookmarks and tells people how wonderful my stories are (she has told me that the sex in them isn’t necessary though). I do love that she’s a huge promoter as long as I’m not with her. 

He's so sweet. Your mom sounds amazing too. Can you tell us who or what books or authors are your inspiration?   
Judith McNaught, Kristan Hannah, Emily Giffen, Rachel Gibson, Kristan Higgins.
  
Do you have any fun or outrageous talent? 
Absolutely none.

Oh I bet you have some party trick you can pull out. But alas we'll keep wondering. What's your neighborhood like? Are there any places you frequent? What makes them special?   
I live in a small town in central NJ- a typical suburb in a pleasant neighborhood. Since I hate to cook, my husband and I go out to eat frequently. Our local restaurants here in Lawrenceville and the surrounding area are the best. Chambers Walk, Metro Grill, Boro, Enzo’s, TJ’s, Yardley Inn. We’ve gotten to know the owners/managers of all of these restaurants as well as the wait staff, and everyone is friendly and welcoming.  It’s like going to a friend’s place for dinner. 

I love local restaurants where you feel like your in an episode of Cheers. Unfortunately two of our favorites are closed. Have you had any adventures lately? We just got back from a two week vacation—our first after staying put for the last year and a half. We went back to Key West (where we’ve gone every year for the past 35 years) for a week. It’s such a wild and crazy town. It was Fantasy Fest week and the college kid comes out in every adult there. Not us of course. People generally enjoy many cocktails throughout the day and night while listening to music at various open air bars. Halloween costumes are the norm, but if you don’t want to wear a costume, there are dozens of places to have your body painted sans clothes. The weather is warm, the spirit is lively, and it’s great fun – for a week. After that, we headed to Delray Beach to visit friends, then on to St. Augustine since we had never been there before. Seeing new places, whether in the US or abroad is what I want to do going forward. Next trip – Alaska. 

The Keys are on my bucket list. And you're going to adore Alaska. If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?  Milk chocolate-any time, all the time. 

Hah, as Charles Schultz said, "All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt". Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants? 

Unlimited international first-class tickets. There are so many places I want to fly to and being able to enjoy the flight because of a more comfortable seat and improved food would just make the whole experience that much better. 

Did you ever win something? What?  I’m very lucky in general.  I once won a Mercedes SUV through a Big Brothers Big Sisters raffle. I also won a diamond necklace at a fundraiser.
Wowzah! Next time I buy a lottery ticket I'll pick you up first to go with me. What was your first job?  I was the candy girl at a small local movie theater when I was 15. I loved it because all my friends worked there too. My job was my social life. 

What subjects should be taught in school, but aren’t? 
Civility 
Oh, for the days of Miss Manners. Do you do research before starting a book?
I don’t spend any time researching before beginning a book. I create an in-depth outline (more like a blueprint) of the entire story and only research when I’m writing a scene that requires it.

Reviews are an author's lifeblood. Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones?
​I absolutely read my book reviews.  I smile while reading the good ones and talk back to the reviewer who wrote a bad one – explaining what they missed. 
​
Maria, thank you again for spending time with us. Before you leave can you share a bit about your newest book and where we can find out more about you and it?

Red Velvet Crinkles And Christmas Sprinkles
By
Maria Imbalzano

Competitive, work-obsessed Bella Simonetti has just been fired from her high-paying job at a Manhattan law firm. At an all-time low, she returns home and helps her parents at their small-town gift shop, but the business is failing and may not make it past the Christmas holidays.
Successful landscape architect Dean Jackson is like a son to Bella's parents. But he’s a persistent annoyance to her—he seems to have forgotten his unforgivable blunder thirteen years earlier.
When Bella transforms her parents’ gift shop into a cookie cottage, Dean's generosity and magnetic smile are hard to resist, and those feelings of unrequited adolescent love come rushing back. But can Bella let go of the past and accept Dean for the man he is today?
 
****Review from N.N. Light’s Book Heaven 5 stars***
Red Velvet Crinkles is a heartwarming enemies-to-lovers holiday romance I devoured in one sitting. Maria Imbalzano takes a few tropes, whips them until they're frothy, and then adds sugar to make the ending on Christmas sweet. The plot moves at a great pace with a close-knit cast of characters. I loved the small town, Bella's parents, and so much more. We get both Bella's and Dean's POV which filled a lot of holes in the story. Dean teased her in high school to keep his distance. His feelings scared him back then and now he has to make amends. There are some meaningful messages in this story, even though it's short. Sometimes what you've been looking for is right in front of you. The romance was so good and honestly written. I enjoyed the push and pull between Bella and her parents. The dialogue is humorous at times with plenty of snark. Red Velvet Crinkles is a delightful holiday romance and one I highly recommend!
Get your copy today
https://books2read.com/u/38d09r
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09FYVGDWR
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/red-velvet-crinkles-and-christmas-sprinkles-maria-imbalzano/1140147130?ean=2940162321644
https://books.apple.com/us/book/red-velvet-crinkles-and-christmas-sprinkles/id1585527197
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=Maria%20Imbalzano&c=books
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/red-velvet-crinkles-and-christmas-sprinkles

More about the author.
Maria Imbalzano is a retired matrimonial lawyer who now writes full time. Instead of drafting motions, legal memoranda, and briefs, although fascinating, she now spends her days creating memorable characters and taking them on their emotional journeys through her contemporary romance novels.
Her novel, “Unchained Memories,” won the Wisconsin Romance Writers Write Touch Readers’ Award and the ACRA Readers’ Choice Heart of Excellence Award. “Sworn to Forget,” the first of the four-book Sworn Sisters Series was a finalist for the illustrious RONE award as well as the Book Buyers Best Award. Her novellas, “The Blueberry Swirl Waltz” and “A Song For Another Day” each came in first in their category in the National Excellence in Story Telling contest and finaled in the Colorado Romance Writers Beverly contest.
 Visit Maria at 
http://mariaimbalzano.com
Or follow on
https://www.facebook.com/mariaimbalzanoauthor
http://www.twitter.com/mariaimbalzano
@mariaimbalzano
Mariaimbalzano_author
http://www.mariaimbalzano.com/category/blog/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7276749.Maria_Imbalzano
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/maria-imbalzano
https://mariaimbalzano.com/sign-up-for-my-newsletter/
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00FG9RI5K
 

Come on. November's not a bad month. There's so much to be thankful for including all my new email pen pals and especially National No Diet Day, otherwise known as Thanksgiving here in the US. So what else is going on? Count them with me

• Things looked good on the 11th. It was National Sundae Day. And I encourage you to a continuing celebration. Maybe with a Rainbow Sprinkles signature Salted Caramel Sundae.
• Today the 13th is World Kindness Day. Good one, right
• Okay, get ready for the 15th. National cleanout your refrigerator day. One of my favorite comics was a Garfield he stood pressed against the fridge door and the caption was "No, mystery meat. Today the refrigerator, tomorrow the world." How many bottle of old condiments do you have?
• And don't forget the 18th. If you imbibe then maybe take advantage of The Great American Smokeout. I've been cigarette-free for 28 years.
• November 19th? National Play Monopoly Day. Who still has this iconic board game AND plays it?

A couple of trivia notes about the eleventh month

• The full moon is called Beaver Moon
• The gemstone is Topaz and symbolizes strength and honor.
• Chrysanthemums are the flower of the month and whether red, white or yellow reflect love. 

Can I ask a favor? Click here 
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to add Rock House to Good Reads "Want to Read" and "Follow Author" There's no obligation but will give me a boost
​Not a Goodreads person? How about Bookbub?
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If you're not familiar with either of these sites, you should check them out. No cost but you get personalized recommendations for books, see what your friends are reading, and book bargains.

We had a lovely time the past fall traveling and I'm already making reservations for next year. If you want to get a camp site these day you must plan in advance. Also we have two weddings to attend next fall. (Maybe three but I'm not spilling the beans until February. Sign up for my newsletter to get first notice.  
mailchi.mp/3b289d8d7569/d-v-stones-peek-further-and-campfire-crew
It's going to be exciting!

​Whoot! Whoot! Whoot! I finally signed my contract with Wild Rose Press Books. This makes my fourth agreement with them. Stay tuned for more information but here's the blurb.
Jordan Vasilakis is on the run, living under the assumed name of Madeline Cielo. After a disastrous marriage to a notorious Greek business tycoon, she’s rebuilding her life as a jazz singer.
Police officer Michael Machau is friends with the House family, who have welcomed him into their lives. But their family is in danger from a woman who has already injured them.
Jazz House, a modern throwback to jazz music’s heyday, brings together a dedicated police officer and a woman living a lie. Can lives be rebuilt after so much destruction?

I'm going to need an ARC team or Advance Reader Copy. What is that? If you enjoy reading and aren't afraid to leave an honest review then maybe this is for you. Send me an email if you are interested and I'll send you the details no obligation.
Help Wanted. Advanced Readers needed for reviews. No experience needed . A few sentences to paragraphs. Jazz House is moving along in the publishing process and a need a few readers to tell me what they like and what they don't. Click here for details. No cost. No obligation.

Cherry Red
One Scoop or Two 
by
Darlene Fredette

​She creates ice cream. He radiates heat.
 

This summer, ice cream entrepreneur Carly Redd's only focus is expanding her business—until she's coerced into attending her ex's engagement party. Showing up without a date is unthinkable. She reluctantly agrees to be escorted by her brother’s co-worker, although doing so breaks her rule of not dating firefighters. 
The daughter of the town’s fire chief should wear a Do Not Touch sign, but firefighter Noah Harding's interest blazed the moment he saw Carly. Agreeing to be her fake boyfriend is a no-brainer, but convincing Carly to trust him with her heart is harder than extinguishing a fire.
Overstepping the platonic-only rule is as dangerous as fire and ice swirling into a tempting combustion.

A look inside
“This might seem like a strange question, especially since we’ve just met, but would you be interested in going out for a coffee? Or an ice cream?” Noah rested an arm on the bar.
Carly glanced down at her jeans and black T-shirt embroidered with the company name and logo…a cluster of red cherries. In a room full of women all dolled up in fancy—and some a bit scanty—dresses, why would this incredibly handsome man ask her on a date? “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not interested…”
Noah raised a brow. “I know you like ice cream, so is it the coffee, or me?”
“What? No. I mean, yes.” She took a second to collect her scrambled thoughts. “I like coffee. I just don’t hang out with firefighters.” Not that he was a real firefighter. Did impersonators count in her rules of men to avoid? She never dated a stripper, but she wasn’t sure she could have a relationship with a guy who was paid to take off his clothes and have other women fawn over him. Not that the guy asked her on a date…just a simple coffee. His frown made her feel badly. “I’m sorry. It’s nothing personal.”
“Burnt in the past? No pun intended.” He smiled.
She couldn’t help but smile back. “Something like that.”

About Darlene Fredette
Darlene resides on the Atlantic Coast of Canada where the summers are too short, and the winters are too long. An avid reader since childhood, Darlene loved to develop the many stories coming to life in her head. She writes contemporary romances with a focus on plot-driven page-turners. When not working on her next book, she can be found with her husband, her daughter, and her yellow Labrador. Darlene’s favourite pastime is taking summer daytrips to the Valley to soak in the small-town feel.

Universal Purchase Links: 
http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/2021/04/my-books-purchase-links.html
https://books2read.com/u/bPQznl

Author Web Site: http://darlenefredette.blogspot.com/
Blog: http://findingthewritewords.blogspot.com
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Fredette/e/B005NAF660/
The Wild Rose Press Author Page: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/authors/darlene-fredette
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darlenefredette_author/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DarleneLF
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DarleneLFGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/DarleneLFAnthology (Two Stories): https://www.thewildrosepress.com/product/a-scoop-of-romance


Books by Darlene Fredette
Law of Attraction
Twist of Faith 
Hershey’s Choice
His Candy Christmas (Redford Falls Story 1)
Kissed By Winter (Redford Falls Story 2)
Under The Apple Blossoms (Redford Falls Story 3)
A Recipe For Forever (Redford Falls Story 4)
Cherry Red
Finding Home Again (Redford Falls Story 5) February 07, 2022

Reviews
5 Stars – Goodreads H. Roman - Great story, fun romance, well-developed characters make this book a joy to read. 
5 Stars - Goodreads G. Rifkin - Fun and tasty read. A happy little escape. 
5 Stars – Goodreads Wild Women Reviews - Interesting, relatable characters with crisp, snappy dialogue. Cherry Red deserves a 6.

It's wonderful when you meet someone who reflects the things you love and today's guest is one of those and I can't wait for you to meet her. At my house we are often at the chiminea in the yard or propane firepit on the deck. Sometimes Pete and I will read together in front of my electric fireplace in my library/office. You know a camping trip for me isn't complete without a campfire. And today's guest is similar in many ways. So, without further ado please welcome Maggie Blackbird to the fire. And if you'd like to be part of the conversation use the comments section or send me an email at [email protected] I'd love to hear from you.

Born for This – Maizemerized, book one
by 
Maggie Blackbird
Time Travel, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, First Nations, Cultural, Adult.
Heat Rating: Level 3
October 29, 2021

She’s always been obsessed with her ancestors, and now he’s offering her a chance to live with them…forever.
Second-year university student Edie Whitecrow gobbles up each course on Indigenous studies.  If only she could experience the lives of her Anishinaabe ancestors instead of reading about them.  On her way to a Halloween party decked out as a historical Ojibway maiden, she spies a corn maze in a spot known to be barren.
A scarecrow figure beckons Edie to enter with the enticing offer of making her biggest wish come true.  She jumps at the chance and finds herself in the past, face to face with the man who haunts her dreams—the handsome brave Thunder Bear.  He claims he’s spent twelve years waiting for Gitche Manidoo to send her to him.
Life in the eighteenth century isn’t what Edie romanticized about, though.  When her conscience is tested, she must choose between the modern day or the world of her descendants—where the man she was created for resides.
Publisher:  eXtasy Books
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Purchase at :  eXtasy Books

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