Hi everyone! Welcome to my campfire. This is a place to sit back, relax, and maybe find a new to you book and author. Don't be afraid to ask a question or leave a comment. One thing about authors is they love to discuss all things book. And if they've agreed to join me at the campfire they aren't shy about talking about their lives. So pour yourself a favorite beverage and join the Campfire Crew. Real quick update from the road. I'm near St. Mary's Georgia today. We're parked at the lovely KOA here just north of Jacksonville Florida. Today we went to a museum and café. We also stopped at a few local antique and vintage shops. I scored something I've been looking for for months. The DVD of UP! Yep, I'm just a kid at heart. Tomorrow DH and I will be taking Hali to a dog friendly boat for some dolphin watching. I'm infatuated with Glamping and seeing all this country has to offer. Okay, nuff about me. Please help me welcome today's special guest Susie Black.

​

Ahoy, Susie! Since we're near the coast it seems an appropriate greeting. While you tell us about any camping or adventures, what can I get you? The camp fridge is like a treasure chest. Anything inside is possible. Are you a camper?
Thank you so much for inviting me to the campfire. I prefer black coffee, please. Kind of in a roundabout way. For over a decade we owned a houseboat that was as close to camping as I have been. She was only 36 feet in length and let’s say she was cozy for one and cramped for two or more.  

Tell us about your favorite vacation or adventure. 
My favorite vacation was a trip to Cancun where I went power boating and snorkeling with my son. 

Fun! We Jet-skied and snorkeled. Tell us about your latest project. 
My debut novel was released on June 9th Death by Sample Size, is a cozy mystery, Heat level: is pretty cool. Much more humorous.

I love a book that can make me laugh.  What was your inspiration?
The inspiration for all my stories is my experiences in the ladies’ apparel industry. 

Can you tell us about the main characters?
Sales exec Holly Schlivnik, Holly’s colleague Queenie Levine, buying office owner Bunny Frank, Gotham Swimwear designer Louis Chennault, Retail swimwear buyer Angela Wellborn. 

Great names. How long did this take you from conception to publication?
Three years.

Is there anything else on the horizon for you?
Yes: I am completing the fourth novel in the Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series and am mapping out an initial outline of a new series. 

So you're not busy at all. {wink wink} Do you have a tagline or life motto?
I do. Ask me a question, be prepared for my answer.
 
Oh, yeah. I find it impossible when someone asks me something not to be straight with them. Who are your inspirations for writing? 
My inspirations are the interesting and quirky people I have encountered during the course of my career. 

Working with the public is certainly interesting. Oh, the stories. would you like to give a shout-out to anyone or their books? 
My dad who was my career mentor

Huzzah for loving and engaged dads everywhere!   In the spirit of mentorship, do you have any tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others? 
Write what you know. If you don’t know it, don’t write it until you do. 

Now the fun questions 

1. If they made a movie about your life, what would the title be, and who would play you? Movie title: Rag Lady. Sandra Bullock would play me.
2. Do you have a special object like a piece of jewelry or keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you? I wear my grandfather’s ring. My Nana was the eldest of six children, four girls two boys. When one of her four sisters became engaged, her future husband received the same ring as my grandfather did from my Nan, so all my great uncles had the same ring.. 
3. What is your favorite mug? When I got into the swimwear business, my smart alec Nana bought me a mug that says “Things could be worse. We could be trying on Swimsuits.”
4. Years ago, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours? The moment the doctor put my newborn son in my arms for the first time. 
5. Favorite childhood book? Nancy Drew 
6. 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? People by Barbra Streisand
7. Did you ever win something? What? Yes. A sandwich at Nelly’s deli

Susie, thanks for joining me at the campfire. Before you head out, could you leave us a bit more about not only Death by Sample Size, but you and where we can find out more?

Death by Sample Size 
by
​Susie Black
Everyone wanted her dead…but who actually killed her?
The last thing swimwear sales exec Holly Schlivnik expected was to discover ruthless buying office big wig Bunny Frank’s corpse trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey with a bikini stuffed down her throat. When Holly’s colleague is arrested for Bunny’s murder, the wise-cracking, irreverent amateur sleuth jumps into action to find the real killer.  Nothing turns out the way Holly thinks it will as she matches wits with a wily killer hellbent for revenge. Get ready to laugh out loud as Susie Black’s Death by Sample Size takes you on a rollicking adventure ride through the Los Angeles apparel industry.

Bonus excerpt
When the elevator doors opened, I had to stop myself short not to step on her. There was Bunny Frank-the buying office big shot-lying diagonally across the car. Her legs were splayed out and her back was propped against the corner. Her sightless eyes were wide open and her arms reached out in a come to me baby pose. She was trussed up with shipping tape like a dressed Thanksgiving turkey ready for the oven with a bikini stuffed in her mouth. A Gotham Swimwear hangtag drooped off her lower lip like a toe tag gone lost. Naturally, I burst out laughing. 
Before you label me incredibly weird or stone-cold, let me say genetics aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. If you’re lucky you inherit your Aunt Bertha’s sexy long legs or your father’s ability to add a bazillion dollar order in his head and get the total correct to the last penny. Without even breaking into a sweat, it’s easy to spout at least a million fabulous traits inheritable by the luck of the draw. Did I get those sexy long legs or the ability to add more than two plus two without a calculator? Noooooooooo. Lucky me. I inherited my Nana’s fear of death we overcompensated for with the nervous habit of laughing. A hysterical reaction? Think Bozo the clown eulogizing your favorite aunt.
I craned my neck like a tortoise and checked around. Then I clamped a fist over my mouth. Cripes, how could I possibly explain my guffaws with Bunny lying there? Disappointment was simultaneously mixed with relief when there was no one else in the parking lot. Where was security when you needed them?
I toed the elevator door open and bent over Bunny. I’d seen enough CSI episodes to know not to touch her. She was stiff as a board and I attributed the bluish tinge of her skin to the bikini crammed down her throat. I was no doctor, but I didn’t need an MD after my name to make this diagnosis. Bunny Frank was dead as the proverbial doorknob. 
It was no surprise Bunny Frank had finally pushed someone beyond their limits. The only surprise was it had taken so long. The question wasn’t who wanted Bunny Frank dead. The question was who didn’t?
Available for purchase aat
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More about Susie Black

Susie Black biography
Born in the Big Apple, Susie Black calls sunny Southern California home. Like the protagonist in her Holly Swimsuit Mystery Series, Susie is a successful apparel sales executive. Susie began telling stories as soon as she learned to talk. Now she’s telling all the stories from her garment industry experiences in humorous mysteries. 
She reads, writes, and speaks Spanish, albeit with an accent that sounds like Mildred from Michigan went on a Mexican vacation and is trying to fit in with the locals. Since life without pizza and ice cream as her core food groups wouldn’t be worth living, she’s a dedicated walker to keep her girlish figure. A voracious reader, she’s also an avid stamp collector. Susie lives with a highly intelligent man and has one incredibly brainy but smart-aleck adult son who inexplicably blames his sarcasm on an inherited genetic defect. 
Looking for more? Reach her at mysteries_@authorsusieblack.com

​

 Today's guest is author Lyndi Alexander who always dreamed of faraway worlds and interesting alien contacts. She lives as a post-modern hippie in Asheville, North Carolina, a single mother of her last child of seven, a daughter on the autism spectrum, who finds that every day feels a lot like first contact with a new species. Welcome Lyndi. What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, wine? The camp fridge is like the Starship Enterprise. You speak it, you get it.
You have anything in the way of a hard cider? Maybe something with havafruit?

​Hava I got a fruit for you. 😂 While I convince the camp fridge I'm serious why don't you tell us about and adventures you've had
I do like camping. We used to camp in the Florida Keys a lot while I was a reporter and then a law student in Miami. I’ll never forget the case of Pennoyer v. Neff, now that I read it going over the Seven Mile Bridge (and I hate bridges!)  It was always a good time…and I love the smell of an outdoor wood fire. Like yours.

I know, right? Can't top the charm of a wood fire crackling away, however I can do without the "smoke-eye" We haven't made it to the Keys yet but they are on my to-do list. So, tell us about your latest project and what’s on the horizon. 
 Sixshooter is the latest to come out, a science fiction romance set in a galaxy only far away, not far FAR away.
I’ve been thinking about writing this book for five or six years, but various other writing commitments have put it off. The concept comes from an old RPG I used to play in, and a love triangle that was created. Nik, our genderfluid alien, however, is a new addition. The actual writing and editing took about six months. All that rumination must haver given me a jump start!

LOL! Love the reference. Do you have a tagline? Life Motto?
The tagline for the book is Like space, love has no boundaries.
My personal motto is “Pee first.” Especially as I get older. 😊 

Are there any mentors, authors, or books you would like to give a shout-out to?  
Very grateful to the other authors in my critique group, the Fellowship of the Quill in Erie, PA. Talented, open, honest and supportive—they’re a great bunch

Oh, I love the Erie area. We've camped near there and look forward to doing it again. What does literary success look like to you?
Geez, I’d really like to have some regular royalties come in. I used to be all “Oh, I just hope people like my books!” But at some point, I think some monetary success would be great. 

Amen to that sister. I am now officially retired and would be grateful for supplementary income. Do you have any Life Hacks?  You know, tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others. I’m also interested in how you have been managing your life and writing with COVID-19.
For me, the only good thing that came out of the pandemic was the movement of my crit group onto ZOOM. Since I moved to Asheville, NC, I have missed their support and great feedback—and suddenly it was there  again! They’ll be going back to in person meetings this summer, and we’re hoping to keep some form of ZOOM participation alive. A good critique group is invaluable, in my opinion. Every writer should find one.
 
Now the fun questions 
Do you have a special object like a piece of jewelry or keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you?  
I have a polished stone with a spider inscribed on it I got in Taos, New Mexico. I have always thought of the spider as my spirit animal—a spinner of tales!—and so I keep it near on the desk always.

What is your favorite mug or teacup?
Last year one of my daughters bought mugs that said “Best Mom Ever!” for me and for her sisters who are moms, then coordinated photos of all of them for Mother’s Day. It was so very special.

If you were an animated character, who would you be and why? 
If I were animated….hmm. I’d leave behind my broken physical body….so I think I’d be the Tasmanian Devil. My mind is always going faster than I can make this body work, so I could really keep the two spinning madly, simultaneously.

What do you think the headlines will read 40 years from now?
I really wish the headline would read that we have conquered climate change, that humans have learned to be kind and respect each other, and that someone has found an unlimited resource of good coffee. Sadly, humans being what they are, I’m afraid the headlines will be blaming one faction or another for the downslide of humanity and the environment. ☹

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?
DEFINITELY the Imperial March (Darth Vader’s theme) from Star Wars

Favorite childhood book?  
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Lyndi, thank you so much for stopping by and spending time with us today. Before you leave and you give us a peek at your book and where to find out more?

Happy Saturday, Campers! I'm so glad you could join us today. Camping season is in full swing and I can't wait to leave on our big trip. Hali's bag is packed and she's more than ready to hear the word "Load".  Today 2HOOTS is in the shop getting new tires for our trip to Florida. There's a couple of things you should never skimp on- tires, brakes, and always get the best coffee you can afford. So get your favorite mug or beverage. Now that we're all settled, please help me welcome today's guest. Hi, Patricia! What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, wine? The camp fridge is like making a birthday wish except you speak it, you get it.
Red wine. How about Merlot? I mention it in one of my novels.
​I love Merlot! Let me pop the cork while you tell us, about your favorite  camping trip, adventure or vacation. What made it special to you?
I have camped, but perhaps my favorite adventure was canoeing in Georgia’s beautiful Okefenokee Swamp, paddling past beautiful flowers, birds—and crocodiles.

Gulp! 😲 Never thought about canoeing with crocs. I am looking forward to camping in Georgia though. Tell us about your latest project and what’s on the horizon.
My new release, Shadows of Doubt, is about a young man who fell into drug dealing in college, but got out of it by leaving school and going to work on his uncle’s North Caroline farm. He returns to a different college to get a degree in agriculture, and there is forming a relationship with a young woman when his old drug supplier finds him and wants him to begin dealing again.

Oh, that sounds like an interesting premise. Can you give us the tagline?
 Despite warnings, should she take a chance on him? On the horizon is a novel about a teacher and student tentatively titled The Arborist. (I change my mind about titles.)

How long did it take you from conception to publication? How did you do it so quickly, or what circumstances drew the process out?
I actually began a version of Shadows of Doubt in the 1980s when I’d taken a year off from teaching. I meant it to be a YA and so the main characters were in high school. But I went back to teaching, and not until about two years ago did I pull out the old, yellowed, literally cut-and-pasted-on typescript. I re-read it and thought it had possibilities. I rewrote the novel, making the main characters college students and adding the drug dealer elements for stronger drama.
​
Are there any mentors, authors, or books you would like to give a shout-out to?
One mentor is my sister, Dorothy Altman, who has always been one of the first readers of my fiction. Another is Kaycee John, my Wild Rose editor. I have learned a lot from her—from being sure I infuse more descriptions of characters’ emotions into crucial scenes to presenting action before dialogue to identify the speaker rather than using tags. Finally, a book that really helped me—recommended by Kaycee—was Revision and Self Editing by James Scott Bell.

I have a sister named Dorothy too. I'm also looking forward to meeting Kaycee at the Ignite Your Imagination conference in Tampa. Every author has their own idea of what being a successful author is. What does that look like to you?
A friend emailed me that she’d finished Shadows of Doubt. She’d just begun reading it earlier that day. I commented, “You read fast.” She wrote back, “I couldn’t put it down.” Without obsessing on sales, that’s what success looks like to me.

Do you have any tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others. I’m also interested in how you have been managing your life and writing with COVID-19.
A “trick”: I, like many writers, keep a piece of paper and pen by my bed. When I get an idea for my current writing project during the night I turn on the light and jot it down so I won’t forget it. I’m retired, so my life during Covid did not change drastically. However, I found I could remedy the boredom and stress of the Covid year by escaping into the world of my fiction. 

Now the fun questions 
Years ago, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours?
My Kodak moment is literally a photo of me with my sister when I was maybe five and she three. We are sitting in a field of grass, her head is leaning against me, and I seem to be comforting her. It epitomizes the close relationship we’ve always had.

Teach me something I don’t know in two sentences.
​Lay takes a direct object: Chickens lay eggs. Lie does not: I like to lie on my couch and watch tv. (Apologies; you probably know that, but I so often see those verbs used incorrectly, even in novels, that I had to seize the chance to vent with this answer.) (I'm always trying to figure out which to use, so thank you.)
What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Cinderella, because I like romance and the idea of a Prince Charming.

Favorite childhood book?
The Wizard of Oz

What weird talent do you have?
I type very fast with only two fingers. 

Patricia, thank you so much for stopping by the campfire today. Can you leave a little more about your book and where to find out more about you?​

Shadows of Doubt
by
Patricia McAlexander

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspenseful to the End!
McAlexander's story is about a universal dilemma: knowing who people really are, not how they appear to be. 

Former grade school bully and, later, amateur drug dealer Jeff Hudson turns his life around and is pursuing a degree in agriculture. His future, as well as a budding relationship with fellow student Sandy Harris, is threatened when a former dealer threatens to expose Jeff's past to university authorities if he doesn't rejoin the ring. Realizing that Jeff is no longer an angry, misunderstood boy, Sandy must take a stand against her family and friends who swear he is no good and will only cause her unhappiness. Together, can they escape the past in order to forge a future?

Need more?
“Sandy—I need to tell you something about him.”
“I don’t want to hear it. You’d better take me home.” 
Bill abruptly turned around in a parking lot he was passing and headed back toward her house. His expression was grim, almost angry. “I’d be better for you, Sandy. Your mother thinks so, too.” 
Anger replaced her anxiety. “How do you know what my mother thinks? I hope you and she didn’t discuss this!”
“Just a little, last night before you came downstairs. She didn’t say much, but I could tell how she felt.” He pulled up in front of her house. “We both worry about you with Jeff. It’s not just that we think this won’t last…” 
“Why else should you worry?”
Bill hesitated. “For one thing, he has a temper. He may physically hurt you. Remember how he was even as a kid.” 
Her anger notched up higher. He was sounding just like her mother, expressing unfounded, outdated fears. “It was years ago that he got in those fights. He’s not like that now. I’m sorry, Bill, but I think it would be better if you and I don’t see each other for a while.” She got out of the car and slammed the door. 
Bill started to pull away, then stopped, lowered the window, and called out to her. “Just remember, if you ever need me, I’ll be here.”

Convinced? Here's the links.

https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Doubt-Patricia-McAlexander-ebook/dp/B08XTN863F/ref  
https://www.amazon.com/Shadows-Doubt-Patricia-McAlexander/dp/1509235426/ref 
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-doubt-patricia-mcalexander/ 
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/shadows-of-doubt-patricia-mcalexander/1138919956  
http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781509235438 


If you're looking for more about Patricia and her writing
Patricia McAlexander is from upstate New York, the setting of Stranger in the Storm (2020), but she's also lived in Colorado, Texas, and Wisconsin. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of New York at Albany, a master's from Columbia University, and a doctorate from The University of Wisconsin, Madison, all in English. Patricia now lives in Athens, Georgia, with her Southerner husband, whom she met when they were graduate students in Wisconsin. After retiring from teaching at the University of Georgia, she's had had more time to garden and travel while renewing her interests in photography, history, and, most of all, writing fiction. Her second novel, Shadows of Doubt (2021) is set in Athens.
Website: https://patriciamcalexander.weebly.com  
Email: mcalexanderpatricia@gmail.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/patriciamcalexanderwriter/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/PatMcAlexWriter 
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/patriciamcalexander/​

​Good morning (or afternoon)Campers! I'm so glad you joined us at the fire today. Before I get to today's special guest I want to give a big shout-out to my DH Peter. We're celebrating 27 years of blissful marriage. Never had a fight. Never got mad at each other. Never stormed out of a room. I write fiction, can't you tell. Marriage has it's ups and downs but I wouldn't trade one minute of it. Here's to the next 23. We have a 50 year contract and then reenter negotiations. LOL. ​

Gone Astray
by
Terry Korth Fischer
www.amazon.com/Gone-Astray-Terry-Korth-Fischer/dp/1509235256

​A heart attack sends detective Rory Naysmith reeling. Too young to retire, he accepts a position in small-town Winterset, Nebraska. Handed an unsolved truck hijacking case, with the assistance of a rookie, Rory sets out to prove he is still able to go toe-to toe with younger men. When the body of a Vietnam veteran turns up, he dons his fedora and spit-shines his shoes. But before he can solve the murder, an older woman disappears, followed closely by a second hijacking. He doggedly works the cases, following a thread that ties the two crimes together.  But can Rory find the mental and physical strength to up his game and bring the criminals to justice before disaster strikes and he loses his job?

More about Terry
From Cash Register Programmer to WriterI began writing short stories in 1996. My sister, Holly, with a degree in creative writing from Ohio's Bowling Green State University, offered a fiction writing challenge.  A short story a month for a year, to share and critique.  We imposed monthly deadlines to force putting pen to paper while life's demands left few hours to pursue writing aspirations. At the time, I was submerged in a technology career and happy to participate in the joint, creative distraction. 
​Over the years I have attended writer conferences, participated in writing groups, and joined literary organizations. I've signed-up for on-line classes and led writing workshops. What started as a lark, took on a life of its own. From the initial challenge conception, twenty years ago, I continue to enjoy the daily ritual of creative writing. 

Website: https://terrykorthfischer.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/terryiswriting
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerryIsWriting
Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/terrykorthfischer
​

Today the Campfire is coming to you from a favorite place. On the outskirts of Lancaster is New Holland, PA. One of the things about campfires, is campers are like moths to the flame. One year we were in Florida and not allowed to have our normal blaze. I'm sorry but it didn't feel like we were camping. Work around time. We used our hibachi grill and stuck in a Duralog. Bam! problem solved. And like I said, next thing we had a few folks haul their chairs around and chatted the night away. Everyone brought their favorite beverage. Some water, others a can of soda, or cuppa. My DH is a Sam Adam's guy. Today's guest saw the flame and are strolling in so lets get to it. We have a special dual interview I'm sure you will enjoy. So cozy up to the flame with your favorite drink and join the conversation.

• Greeting Campers! Grab a chair and make yourself comfy. What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, wine? The camp fridge is like candles on a birthday cake. You speak it, you get it.

LIZ: I’m going for the wine unless you have some bourbon.    
DES: I’m with Liz on the bourbon, although special coffee gets second place.

Last year hubby and I took a camping trip to Kentucky. I believe I have a lovely bottle tucked away in here. While I pour can you tell us, have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp? If you’re not the camping type, tell us about your favorite adventure or vacation. What made it special to you?
LIZ: I like to tell my husband of nearly 30 years that the 30+ years he has spent trying to convince me to camp in any whatsoever might pay off someday. He’s even trying to bribe me with an RV (which I think he only wants because he is a car guy, loves to drive, and wants to drive one of those giant things). I’m not really inclined unless there is, indeed GLAMPING involved. Some of the places on Airbnb that call themselves “glamps” look like the kind of cabin resorts I can get behind. As for vacays, we’ve taken a lot of them, because we’ve been lucky to live all around the world. We did this with our small kids, and so wherever we went, they went. I think my favorite one of these was when we lived in England and drove up through York and to Scotland, where we rented a farmhouse with another family/friends of ours and took day trips from there for 10 solid days. It was an actual farm, and one day one of the horses got out of its paddock and was standing, calmly staring into the kitchen window one morning, which scared the living daylights out of me. It was typical weather those 10 days, a peek of sun every day but mostly grey, so we named the 2 horses Windy & Rainy. It was a blast. The time we got our passports stolen in Spain but still had a great time anyway since it meant an unplanned trip to the U.S. Embassy in Valencia comes in second.
DES: Well, camping isn’t in my genes, BUT I grew up in Maine, and we had a cottage on a lake that we went to over the summer that I loved. I guess that’s close to camping!  When I got older, I used to do beach days at Bar Harbor with my friends, and I miss those. But I’ve traveled to a lot of places—Spain, England, lots of places in the Caribbean, South America. All adventurous and interesting. And I’ve traveled to a lot of places in Canada, which I love.

You have an exciting project. What can you tell us about it and what’s on the horizon?
LIZ: We wrote a book together called NUMBERS GAME that is a second chance sports romance about a couple who are a  bit older than the usual romance characters, both divorced, both laser-focused on reviving their respective careers—he as a D1 football coach after an ignominious fall from grace in the pros which is part of his secret backstory and she as a sports reporter/documentary producer after her divorce from a powerful bully of a husband who was in charge of a network. When they find each other, he, as the subject of her documentary about their mutual alma mater’s return to football glory, things heat up right away, surprising them.  But they both have baggage that has to be unpacked and demons to outrun, which they do, eventually, together.
 
Do you have a tagline? Life Motto?
LIZ: If life gives you lemons, cut them up and throw them in a  glass of vodka & tonic.
DES: the best surprised some when you least expect them.

What was the timeline from conception to publication?
LIZ: Numbers Game was a project that took longer since we had to work around our respective schedules doing our back-and-forth writing thing. I think it was about a year and some change from the start to get it ready for submission. But it was fine since Des and I are both pantsers. We gave each other the time needed to bring each of our characters to life. She wrote in the female perspective, and I wrote in the male one.

Are there any mentors, authors, or books other than yours you would like to give a shout-out to?
LIZ: Well, naturally, I wouldn’t be here talking about this project if one of my mentors/friends/author heroes had not agreed to write with me! I’ve learned a lot through this process, but I also think we learned from each other at every stage, from conception to promotion.
DES: And I really want to give a shout-out to our editor Diana Carlisle, who “gets” the book and helped us turn it from a story into a winner. She is pure editorial gold.

What does literary success look like to you?
LIZ: To me, it’s that moment when I can get up in the morning, have coffee, write for a few hours, talk to my agent and publicist about my next signing or speaking, negotiate the sale of my latest series to Netflix. After that, then take a walk on the beach outside my door before settling in to write more in the evening.
DES: Well, sort of like that. But to me, it’s the moment when a new book of mine releases and people are clamoring to buy it/review it, and I have to weigh the different film/video options. Oh, and if any of them were made into a movie/series and it starred a young Sam Elliott!

Life Hacks from Authors. Tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others. Please try and keep this tight. I’m also interested in how you have been managing your life and writing with COVID-19.
LIZ: I come at this from a unique perspective since I took a huge step away from both writing and promoting (or being on social media generally) for about three years prior to COVID. I wrote with Des during this time which quite literally revived my Muse, prompting me to write 4  books in 2020 alone, all of them in the second half of the year. My secret is not something that I necessarily recommend for writers to do—I write in marathon sessions. Once I wrap my mind around a concept and characters, I will write during every spare minute I have to get it done. And I’ve been known to complete a 60k word book in 2-3 weeks. But then I will go for weeks or more without writing a word.
DES: COVID-19 really only impacted my life marginally because my routine already was to write/edit 6-8 hours a day. I am a disciplined writer, and my routine is: social media for two hours, then write/edit/rewrite until 6:00 PM. While I watch TV at night, I review that day’s pages and make notes for the next day.
 
 
Now the fun questions pick at least

If they made a movie about your life, what would the title be, and who would play you?
LIZ: “Beer Wench” is the title, and Alison Janney plays me.
 
Do you have a special object like a piece of jewelry or keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you?
DES: A heart bracelet that I always wear. My late husband gave it to me on our first anniversary.
 
Years ago, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours?
The moment I saw my great-granddaughter for the first time.
 
Teach me something I don’t know in two sentences.
LIZ: The ingredient that makes beer taste bitter or dry is “hops.” They are added to the brew (the “wort”)  during three different stages of brewing, depending on what you want them to provide: aroma, flavor, or simply “bitterness.”

Which superhero would you like to be existing or you make up?
DES: Wonder woman. She was my hero ever cine I read the first comic book. Nothing stops her.
 
What’s your favorite cartoon, and why?
LIZ: I love Big Mouth on Netflix. It’s terrifically vulgar but incredibly realistic about puberty, hormones, and family life in general.
 
What’s your favorite candy or cookie?
DES: chocolate chip cookies. YUM!

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?
DES: Sweet Caroline
 
Last movie you saw? 
LIZ: the last movie I saw in an actual theater was “Uncut Gems” back in February 2020. It was amazing, including the shocking ending.
 
What weird talent do you have?
LIZ: I can tell you what beer you might like based on what wine you prefer and vice versa, and am almost always right.

Last thing you googled? Why?
LIZ: How to add my books to one of those book – box subscription things, because we authors are ever-seeking new ways to find new readers.

Ladies, thank you for popping by the fire. I'm amazed at how authors can work together and put out a book. Before you head out can you share a little more about the book and how folkes can find out more?

Good morning ladies and welcome to my campfire. Marilyn could you do the honor of introducing us to your friend?
Marilyn. Thank you for inviting me to the campfire but I couldn’t resist traveling back in time to 1878 to bring Miss Olive Muegge with me. Olive is on her way to Wylder, Wyoming Territory to start a new phase in her life and I thought she deserved a night out with the ladies. 

Wonderful! The camp is a place where we enjoy meeting new people from all over. What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, wine? The camp fridge is like a magical Chuck Wagon. You speak it, you get it. 
Marilyn. We are coffee drinkers.

DV: I can do Cowboy coffee if you don't mind grounds but since we're modern I think I'll use my Corning percolator? How do you take it? 
Olive: Six-shooter not black water, please.
Marilyn: That’s how they ordered full-strength black coffee in the US Wild West. If you didn’t specify, it was automatically watered down to what we call half-caffeinated.

Ugh, what's the point of drinking it then. Six- shooters for all. Olive in your time I would guess "camping" is much more prevalent.
Olive: I’ve never lived in a house so my entire life is what you would call a camping trip. I’m a guttersnipe or what you call an orphan, so I roamed around our beautiful country. I had help from the migrant tribes where I would spend the night in a teepee, asi, or wikiup, but mostly I slept under the stars.
Marilyn: Well, I have it on good authority that your intended Nartan Sagebrush has spent the past seven months building a modest cabin for you. Living in one place will be a big adjustment.
Olive: I can’t wait to meet Mr. Nartan Sagebrush. I heard he is as genuine as a thoroughbred but gentle as a colt. He put this advertisement in the telegraph office in Lusk and a good Samaritan brought it to my person. 

DV: Wait! Advertisement? Like mail order bride? Is that it? Can I see it?
Olive: Oh yes. “A quiet wife for a quiet life.” He’s a leather tanner from what I hear. Isn’t that a fine dream? A permanent home with a vocation to fill my soul with a husband to fill my belly with babies. I haven’t seen Mr. Sagebrush but even if he’s uglier than a bucktoothed opossum, I could love him for giving me this dream.

But Olive, you aren’t exactly a quiet woman…are you worried about getting along with him?
Olive: I know I’m louder than the songbirds in spring. When he sees my heart is in his corner, he will adjust. I hope. Well, maybe I will be focused on not causing trouble.
  
Marilyn can you tell us about your latest project and what’s on the horizon? 
Marilyn: Olive’s book Dance to a Wylder Beat comes out this spring. When her stagecoach rattles into town, she not only rattles Nartan but the entire town of Wylder. 
Olive: How could lil’ole me do that?
Marilyn: Just wait and see. Today is the cover reveal for Dance to a Wylder Beat and we are so grateful to you for hosting us.

Is that you on the cover?
Marilyn: Yes, Nartan insisted Olive was the cover model on the adventure they share. Despite their rocky start, Nartan commits to making Olive happy. Once Nartan commits to something, nothing will change his mind.

The cover is gorgeous and so are you, Olive. I can't imagine he'll be disappointed in you.  Do you have a life motto? 
Olive: My motto is to give everyone a chance for you haven’t seen the world through their eyes. Sometimes the meanest people are the ones who need the most care. If you judge them at first sight, you miss out on the lesson they bring to you. I’ve met gentle souls from Mexico to Montana and learned how to do so many things. I can work leather, pound pemmican, butcher animals, read, and work numbers, because I would listen to anyone willing to talk to me.
Marilyn: Well said, Olive. You are a survivor because you saw the good in everyone you met along your travels.

How long did it take you from conception to publication? How did you do it so quickly, or what circumstances drew the process out.
Marilyn: Olive, I will take this one. I dreamed of Nartan last July – 
Olive: Hey! That’s my man! If you dreamed of him, why won’t you tell me what he looks like? He’s just a shadow on the cover. 
Marilyn: Don’t worry, Olive. I’m happily married and wouldn’t survive on the Sagebrush Homestead of 1878. I can’t live without things you don’t know were invented yet…and no, you will just have to wait and see what Nartan looks like. Go ahead and pout.
Olive: I wasn’t pouting.
Marilyn: I wrote Dance to a Wylder Beat from start to finish in August of 2020. I have never written a book so quickly. It felt as if someone else possessed my fingers on the keys. It flew through the editing process once the level of “old-timey phrases” was established. My only struggle was the balance between Olive and Nartan’s 1878 voice and their 2021 audience. I didn’t want anyone to have to Google what they were saying.
Olive: Who are you calling “old-timey”? What’s a Google? Is it like a newspaper?

Marilyn, looks like you walked into that one. We don’t have time to explain the tech behind search engines. Are there any mentors, authors, or books other than yours you would like to give a shout-out to? 
Marilyn: Dance to a Wylder Beat is part of a multi-author series designed by The Wild Rose Press called The Wylder West. All the books take place in and around the town of Wylder, Wyoming Territory. While all the books presently published take place in 1878, there are other books in the works which tell Wylder’s story from then to the present day. 
The series started with the first four books being released at the same time. Nicole McCaffrey’s The Wylder County Social Club, Kim Turner’s Wylder Hearts, Laura Strickland’s A Walk on the Wylder Side, and Sarita Leone’s A Wylder Christmas establishes the town of Wylder for readers. While the books can be read in any order, readers have loved the different styles and stories of the same town’s people. Next released was Sherrie Lea Morgan’s Wylder Magic, which I just loved. Home in Wylder by Jane Lewis and A Wylder Undertaking by Laura Strickland are the newest releases. A reader can enjoy a wide range of stories from sweet to steamy, and funny to tear-jerking, in Wylder. I have enjoyed every book.

Wow these sound amazing. And readers might not understand the research that goes into not only a particular author's book but all the books in the series to make the cohesive. Can you tell us what literary success look like to you?
Being in the same group as the other Wylder West authors is the definition of success to me. I’m a fan of them all. I’m still shocked my proposal was accepted. I’m waiting for my alarm to wake me up from this dream. I love hanging out in the Wylder West Facebook group with readers and the other authors. The camaraderie is incredible, and I’m honored to be a part of it.

Life Hacks for Authors. Tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others. And if you don't mind how you've dealt with Covid 19.
Marilyn: Olive close your ears. I have made it a goal to learn about a new topic each month we have been in quarantine. From pirate documentaries to YouTube tutorials on making paneer from scratch, I have loved every minute of it. For Dance to a Wylder Beat, I took a non-mechanized leather tanning course with our local historical society at a historical site. When the other students heard I was researching for a romance novel, I became the heel of many “leather uses” jokes…ah-hem... I learned not only would I make an awful leather tanning (little upper body strength) but also the smell would chase me away. Leather was soaked in urine in 1878 to release the fat and hair from it. Then the rawhide was conditioned with a mixture of cedar oil and cattle brains. I was fine scooping the brains from the skulls and mixing the conditioner. It was pulling the skins who had sat in urine for a few days that sent me running for the hills! 

Taking something awful and turning it into a learning and life experience. I applaud you. Now the fun questions If they made a movie about your life, what would the title be and who would play you? 
Marilyn: For Dance to a Wylder Beat, I would have Adam Joaquin-Gonzalez play Nartan Sagebrush. Adam Beach (circa 2010) would play Nartan’s nearly silent brother, Ikshu Sagebrush. Olive Muegge would be played by Maria Gomez circa 1966.

Do you have a special object like a piece of jewelry or keepsake of some sort?
Olive: Since I’ve been on the run my entire life, I have no special keepsakes. If I can’t carry it easily, it is left behind.
Marilyn: Your future husband has many special treasures though. He keeps his ceremonial costume and Shamanic tools in the special chest. Those cultural artifacts are hidden away.
Olive: Why would Mr. Sagebrush hide his spiritual gifts after studying with a medicine man?
Marilyn: That’s for Nartan to tell.
Olive: I will just have to find this chest and go through it for myself.

Teach me something I don’t know in two sentences.
Olive: Marilyn thinks it's funny my skunk eggs are what you call onions. Bird eggs are called cackleberries and lizard eggs are called snake droppings in 1878. 

What do you think the headlines will read 40 years from now?
Marilyn: Olive, this one is for you. What will the headlines look like in the 1920s?
Olive: Oh, my stars! There will be railroads crisscrossing our land from sea to sea. You could hop on a train and go around the world if you liked. The trains would bring more people to feed, so we will have more cattle everywhere. I bet every house will need its own herd. We’ve already seen an influx of cattle coming from Texas to graze on our common green. In twenty years, I bet grazing land will be more expensive than city buildings.

If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?
Marilyn: Pizza. I live for pizza.
DV: Did they have pizza in 1878?
Olive: I don’t know what a pizza is, but I don’t know anything about settler food. I was relieved when Mr. Sagebrush’s advertisement didn’t mention cooking skills.
DV: You should pick up a pizza for Olive before she is returned to 1878. I don't think there's delivery here at Camp.
Marilyn: Wouldn’t that be a blast! Pizza came to America until 1905 so it wouldn’t ruin history too much if we snuck her some.
Olive: I don’t know if I want to mess with explosive food.
Marilyn: It’s not – never mind. I must pick up some pizza before we head back to my time machine, so we better get going.
Olive: Thank you kindly, Ma’am, it’s been a pleasure.
Marilyn: Yes, Thank you so much for hosting Olive and me. Look for more of Olive’s antics in my upcoming release Dance to a Wylder Beat and check out the rest of The Wylder West series by the talented authors of The Wild Rose Press.

I'm so happy you both stopped by. I know you both have a busy schedule but before you leave, could you tell us more about the book, where to find and links to more about you, Marilyn?

Dance to a Wylder is COMING SOON

Dance to a Wylder Beat
by
Marilyn Barr

• He wasn’t comfortable in his skin before she crawled under it. Now he burns…

Back Cover
Nartan Sagebrush's name may mean "to dance" in Arapaho, but he dances in secret. Forced to abandon his Shamanic apprenticeship, he is overwhelmed with homesteader life, and even his spirit guides are at their wit's end. Nartan takes fate into his own hands. Instead of divine intervention, a wife will help with his responsibilities and in assimilating into the Wylder community. 
 
Olive Muegge answer's Nartan's "wife wanted" advertisement.  Wildly independent she has secretly dreamed of a family to call her own. The secret she carries inside makes her an outcast and her wild ways don't fit the quiet wife Nartan thinks he desires.
  
Despite their differences, they are drawn to each other but a mistake may drive them apart.  Will Nartan embrace his Shamanic past to save them both or will he choose to rid himself of Olive forever? 

Excerpt
When I turn back, the men are wrestling in a cloud of dust. Dead Eyes’ friends hoot like owls while a small crowd gathers around the scene. Being half-drunk, Dead Eyes is two steps slower than Nartan, who is landing punches on both sides. When Dead Eyes slams his gun on the ground in surrender, the dust settles, and I can study my future husband. 
Nartan’s muscular body straddles the smaller man while his broad chest billows. His hat has blown off in the scuffle, revealing two thick black braids adorned with feathers. Tendrils of raven-black hair wave around his head. “Quiet wife for a quiet life” my bloomin’ butt. This man is a sweet lick of passion wrapped in a delicious exterior. I think I’m gonna like being Mrs. Sagebrush just fine. I can handle an odd stick as long as he has the countenance of Nartan because I’m not as normal as I appear myself.

About
​Marilyn Barr currently resides in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband, son, and rescue cats. She has a diverse background containing experiences as a child prodigy turned medical school reject, published microbiologist, special education/inclusion science teacher, homeschool mother of a savant, certified spiritual/energy healer, and advocate for the autistic community. This puts her in the position to bring tales containing heroes who are regular people with different ability levels and body types, in a light where they are powerful, lovable, and appreciated. 
 
When engaging with the real world, she is collecting characters, empty coffee cups, and unused homeschool curricula. She is a sucker (haha) for cheesy horror movies, Italian food, punk music, black cats, bad puns, and all things witchy.
 
website 
Twitter 
Facebook
Instagram
Amazon author profile
Goodreads
BookBub
And if you are looking for more Wylder West books here the link to Wild Rose Press www.thewildrosepress.com/bookseries/the-wylder-west

What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, wine? The camp fridge is like the Starship Enterprise. You speak it, you get it.
All of the above. I must have my morning coffee, I often enjoy afternoon tea (perhaps my English heritage), wine with dinner, and if it’s cold outside or I’m having chocolate withdrawals, I want cocoa.  
​
Tell us, have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp. If you’re not the camping type. Tell us about your favorite adventure or vacation. What made it special to you.
Growing up in Wyoming, camping is a given. As a kid, my dad’s idea of a family vacation was a packtrip into the mountains. One of the most memorable was a trip into Eagle Creek Meadows. I was probably only six at the time but rode my pony the entire way (I believe the meadows are about 10 miles from the trailhead), except for when my dad thought a river was too deep or swift for me to safely cross he would put me in front of him on his big black horse. My mom would have to lead my pony since my dad was leading the packhorse with all our gear for a week in the wilderness. Over the years, I’ve done all kinds of camping. Recently my husband and I got a camper van, which is a little more my speed nowadays than a packtrip into the remote grizzly country on horseback.

Tell us about your latest project and what's on the horizon.  
I’ve just released the fourth installment in the Risky Research Series, A Measure of Madness (blurb, excerpt, and buy links below). Since finishing A Measure of Madness and waiting for it to be released, I’ve written a novelette (A Formidable Foe) and a micro-read (Midnight in Montana). Both are prequels to the series and free to download. I’m also working on the fifth and likely final installment in the series.   

Do you have a tagline? Life Motto?
I came across a quote a while back by Wilferd Peterson that I’ve adopted as my motto and aspiration as I move forward into the next phase of my life, “Practice the art of adventure by breaking the chain of routine, renewing your life through reading new books, traveling to new places, making new friends, taking up new hobbies and adopting new viewpoints.”

How long did it take you from conception to publication?
Writing the novel didn’t take long (Probably only 6 months) since I already had it sketched out when I conceived the Risky Research Series. However, the publication process can be lengthy. My publisher sets the timeline for editing, cover design, and ultimately when the book will be released, so it can take a while, and it’s pretty much out of my control once I hand it over.

Are there any mentors, authors, or books you would like to give a shout-out to?
One of my favorite authors is James Rollins. I’ve read all of his books that he has written under James Rollins and solo. I also had the opportunity to meet him at a book signing, and he was great – funny, personable, and informative.

What does literary success look like to you?
I’ve had ten novels published, which feels pretty good, but one day I would love to see one of my novels in a bookstore at the airport as I browse titles between flights.

Do you have any tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others. 
Try to keep expectations reasonable. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve talked to believe that just because you have a book published, you’re raking in the dough. For most writers, nothing can be further from the truth. You really have to write for the joy of writing.
 
Now the fun questions  What is your favorite mug or teacup, if neither, T-shirt with graphic or Meme?
I have a coffee cup with a classic National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation quote on it. It makes me chuckle, so I use it year-round, not just during the holidays.

Years ago, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours?
My wedding photo. We had an outdoor wedding just outside of Yellowstone National Park – it was stunning. I will be celebrating 35 years with my soulmate this June, and every time I see our youthful faces in that photo, it brings back a flood of wonderful memories.

What’s your favorite cookie?
I love ginger snaps, but not just any old ginger snap. They must be homemade, really gingery, and super soft.

Last book or movie that made you cry?
Pretty much everything makes me cry, which is why I write and read adventure and suspense. I’m not particularly fond of crying, so I avoid sad books and movies as much as possible, but one that always sticks in my mind because I cried the entire movie was P.S. I Love You. After that, I’ve asked more questions before agreeing to a “girl’s night” at my neighbors.

What’s your favorite ‘90s jam?
Although I believe it was released in 1989, The Dance by Garth Brooks was and still is my favorite Garth tune. I like rock music equally as well as country, but the ’90s fell a little short in the rock genre for me. My high school years were more about Def Leppard, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, Aerosmith, Heart, and Journey. 

Kim, thank you so much for stopping by the fire. Before you head out on your next adventure will you leave us with a book teaser and where readers can find out more  about you?

FBI agent Devyn Nash’s pursuit of a deadly organization heats up in this fourth installment of the Risky Research series.
​by Kim McMahill

The FBI locates the mastermind behind Coterie, but attempts to bring him in result in a shootout that sends Coterie’s members scrambling for cover. When Devyn’s partner is left fighting for his life in a Puerto Rican hospital, she becomes more determined than ever to bring them to justice.

Devyn’s decision to ignore her orders and pursue the head of Coterie to Brazil puts her job and her relationship with Sheriff Gage Harris in jeopardy, but she is unwilling to allow those responsible for so much death to live out their lives in paradise.
 
Further Tease
Devyn did as ordered as tears streamed down her checks. She felt like a coward running, but knew it was retreat or die.
Bullets rained around her as she ran in a zig-zag pattern, trying to avoid being hit. She had almost reached the truck when a bullet grazed her ankle, sending her tumbling to the ground. She scrambled to her feet. Fueled with adrenaline, she ignored the pain as she hobbled the last twenty feet to the truck.
As Sofia’s arm lowered, J.R. walked toward her. He knelt on the ground and placed his lips to hers for a long and tender moment. He then slowly rose to his feet and pointed the gun at Sofia.
Devyn couldn’t watch. She threw the truck into reverse and hit the gas. The truck’s tire’s spun and skidded on the dirt and gravel as she raced backwards until she reached a spot wide enough to turn around. Cranking the wheel hard, she spun the vehicle and barreled toward BR-116.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Measure-Madness-Risky-Research-ebook/dp/B08TX7C1BZ/
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-measure-of-madness-kim-mcmahill/1138684987?ean=9781522398837
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-measure-of-madness
 
Blog: http://www.kimmcmahill.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimmcmahill
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/KimMcMahillAuthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimmcmahill/
Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/849945.Kim_McMahill
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Kim-McMahill/e/B007IK0EJW/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kim-mcmahill
 

Happy Saturday! Just a dab of housekeeping this morning. Many of you know that Rock House Grill is celebrating a 1 year book birthday. The .99 sale is on until April 16th and here's a universal link to all the online booksellers books2read.com/u/49No0k .
Also there are several rafflecopters going on. 
www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/ac49ce0b16/  from my  https://booksonthemic.com/ podcast
www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/post/rock-house-grill-a99 ran a book spotlight and here's the rafflecopter for that www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db7750105 
Okay, enough about me. You know that making new friends is exciting, but visiting with old friends is satisfying. Today's guest has been at the campfire before but we love Colleen and are thrilled to have her return. So let's light the fire and pour some drinks. Sit back and enjoy our conversations. And as always we'd love for you to engage. Drop a comment or ask a question. 

Welcome to the campfire, Colleen. What are you hankering for today? The camp fridge is like Hermione Grangers bag. I reach in and pull out what ever I need. 
Thick, black coffee, nothing added to it! 

Ha, I'm pulling out the briki, and you're going to get Greek coffee. It's a strong brew, served with foam on the top and the grounds at the bottom of the cup. How's that for hot and thick? Tell us, have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp. Tell us about your camping trip and While it's cooking tell us about your adventures. What made it special to you?
A smiling turtle burned my first camping memory into my mind forever. Being around 4 years old, I poked through weeds while others fished until I came upon a turtle the circumference of a Frisbee hiding under a bush with a huge smile on his face. I reported him to my parents who assured me turtles didn’t smile. I returned to the bush, peered under it, and there he was, grinning up at me. To prove to me that turtles in general weren’t happy, my parents laid their fishing poles aside and followed me to the bush where the turtle sat, grinning up at them. The turtle turned out to be a snapper, which meant I was led off a safe distance while my dad investigated and discovered a fishing hook lodged sideways in in the turtle’s mouth stretching it into a grin. It only made him look happy, which snappers never are, especially this one.

Poor guy. But I'm glad you were safe. Snappers and put a hurting on you. But they are so cool with their prehistoric appearance. Tell us about your projects. I know you usually have a lot going on.
My last book was, “Letters and Lies” the humorous jaunt of an Old West spinster who after being jilted decides to head west and go after her man anyway. 

Do you have a tagline?
Why wait for a new door when you can wedge the one that just closed open again?

What kind of timelines do you have for working on a project?
It generally takes me a year to write and polish a book, then around nine months for the final publication to be released. I had to do a serious rewrite on the beginning of this book (beginnings and endings are crucial to a good story), so it slowed my normal timeline.

It's time for a weekly shout-out to. Who inspired or helped you get where you are today?
As to classics, I love “The Monk” by Matthew Lewis. His book is considered the first Gothic Horror, a harrowing depiction of good vs evil within a person. My favorite living authors are Louise Penny (mystery) and Laura Strickland (a variety of genres, and does them all well).

What does literary success look like to you?
At first, being published by a traditional publisher meant success. When one of my books was picked up by one, success changed to being traditionally published twice. After that, I dared to dream I’d be traditionally published three times. I think I have six traditionally published books now, so I guess I’ve achieved some measure of success.

Life Hacks for Authors.  Do you have any tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others. I’m also interested in how you have been managing your life and writing with COVID-19.
I don’t know if this qualifies as a life hack, but I’ve worked hard to be a good listener. While someone is speaking I don’t ponder what I will say next. When they finish I refrain from sharing a similar experience that shifts the conversation to about me. I either ask questions or make comments that move the subject forward. I focus, don’t interrupt, and only add a scenario about myself only if it adds to what they’ve said. Good listening is a gift that tells someone they are important.         
As for COVID, since I’m far from a social butterfly, my activities – writing, outdoors activities, helping on the family farm – changed or suffered little. A more interesting story would be one of my very social friends who thought the world was coming to an end.

True listening is a gift and a talent. Focusing on what other's are saying take practice and will. Thank you for sharing that. I think if we all abided to that, our world would be a much better place.

Now the fun questions If they made a movie about your life, what would the title be and who would play you?
She Meant Well” Oh, wait, no, that’s what I want on my tombstone. 

What’s your favorite fairy tale?
The Emperor’s New Clothes. Is that a fairy tale?


Favorite childhood book?
Little Hippo

What weird talent do you have?
I’m a crack-shot with a rifle

What’s your go-to coffee order?
Espresso

If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?
​Since I can’t have wheat or sugar, I’d choose a cinnamon roll. I miss those!

No wheat or sugar! And here I was going to ask my husband Pete to make us some of his amazing homemade cinnamon buns. Oh, well how about some veggies? 

“Letters and Lies”
by Colleen L. Donnelly

Louise Archer boards a westbound train in St. Louis to find the Kansas homesteader who wooed and proposed to her by correspondence, then jilted her by telegram – Don't come, I can't marry you. Giving a false name to hide her humiliation, her lie backfires when a marshal interferes and offers her his seat.
 
Marshal Everett McCloud intends to verify the woman coming to marry his homesteading friend is suitable. At the St. Louis train station, his plan detours when he offers his seat to a captivating woman whose name thankfully isn't Louise Archer.

Everett's plans thwart hers, until he begins to resemble the man she came west to find, and she the woman meant to marry his friend.


Read further from Letters and Lies
“He wrote and changed your plans? Why didn’t you tell me? You know I love hearing his letters.”
Everyone loved hearing his letters. Or at least they’d pretended to. I glanced at my friends, especially the one who’d first suggested I correspond with her husband’s homesteading friend in Kansas who was ready to look for a wife. She dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief while she flicked the fingers of her other hand in a weak wave. I dredged my soul in search of a smile. The man she’d introduced me to truly had penned everything I’d ever wanted in a husband, months of letters which convinced Mama Jim was my open door. Letters I’d foolishly carted from family to friend to blather every word like a desperate spinster. Drat.
“He didn’t send his change of plans in a letter, Mama. He sent them in a telegram.” Don’t come, I can’t marry you. The only words I never shared.  
“Well I imagine your Jim has a surprise for you and didn’t have time to send a letter before you left for Crooked Creek. How thoughtful to wire you instead.” 
Thoughtful…I felt poisoned and Mama would too if she ever found out Jim had shut my open door. Which she wouldn’t, since as soon as I got out there and found him, I’d wedge it back open again. 

Where to get your copy of "Letters and Lies”
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2yNFGNv
Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3aXuMCl 
iTunes: https://apple.co/2YinxBY
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3bmGatt
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/3pBNDtZ

To find out more about Colleen
http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ColleenLDonnelly
http://www.Goodreads.com/colleenldonnelly
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-l-donnelly
http://amzn.to/37vcnO4​

Hello, everyone. Well, March seems to be going out like a lamb at least here in Northern New Jersey. We've taken a couple of opportunities to sit out on our newly refurbished deck around the propane firepit. With April coming in this week I'm looking forward to Honesdale, PA and glamping with the grands. 2Hoot has a new roof after some tree damage and everything seems to be in full working order. Did you hear that? It was me knocking on wood. I'm also looking forward to April for another reason. I'll be celebrating Rock House Grills 1st birthday. Starting April 2, it will be on sale for 99₡. Also check out my much more page for a list of bloggers helping me celebrate. 
Now let's light the candles and welcome Gayle back to the fire. Hi Gayle, make a birthday wish for some refreshments and we'll see what we can do.
 Well, since my 60th birthday took place two days ago, I think we should go all out with champagne! 

Oh yeah. The camper fridge has a bottle of pink bubbly just waiting for you. I know that you've camped before but tell us about it and your latest adventures. 
My family took camping trips when I was a child; now I prefer staying in cabins. Last fall, I discovered some KOAs have cabins, and my husband and I stayed in one during a trip to Yellowstone National Park to celebrate our 20th anniversary. For my 60th birthday this weekend, we’re staying at friends’ ranch. They have a guest house, and I love visiting and staying here! During spring, sandhill cranes stop in the fields to forage, and the nearby Powder River provides water, not only for the cranes and other wildlife, but also for the ranch’s horses and llamas. This has become one of my writing sanctuaries, as it’s only 70 miles from our home. Nature and tranquility reside here, and inspiration abides, stimulating my creative juices.

That sounds wonderful. I know about the KOA cabins. For Christmas the past couple of years, Santa gives my son's family a gift certificate and they enjoy a week each year in one of them. Some have teepees and Conestoga wagons. Here's a link to check it out. koa.com/ways-to-stay/cabins  Gayle, tell us about your latest project. What book are you talking about today, and what’s on the horizon.
My latest release is “My Montana Love,” a sequel to my first romance novel in my Pet Rescue Romance series, “Rescue Road.” The new story looks at the primary characters in my first book five years later. Their blissful life on a Paradise Valley, Montana ranch is challenged when Levi experiences a health crisis. A much-anticipated anniversary trip to Ireland postponed, a financial situation she didn't expect, and a past experience she thought she'd put behind her causes Rhiann to face critical decisions. Can she keep the property solvent and her marriage intact, or will these incidents cloud her judgment and cause chaos she cannot control? 
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And your next project?
A holiday novella set near Grand Teton National Park called “In the Shadow of Mount Moran” as part of my Pet Rescue Romance series. The release is planned for early November.

Do you have a tagline? Life Motto?
My author business is Waggin’ Tales Inspirational Pet Stories, and my goal is to inspire, educate, and entertain.

How long do books take you?
I’m an indie author but some projects take longer than others. Originally, the title of the book was “My Montana Valentine,” and I intended to release it as a Valentine’s Day story. The characters had more to say, so it became an early spring release and the ending encompasses St. Patrick’s Day and the first day of spring. 

Are there any mentors, authors, or books other than yours you would like to give a shout-out to?
I’ve discovered a plethora of authors who also write romance that include animals. Most recently, I’ve learned about Melissa Storm and have ordered some of her books for my springtime reading, including “The Churchdogs of Charleston” and “A Place to Belong.”

I'll have to check her books out. Literary success is different for everyone. What does it mean to you?
I enjoy touching lives with entertaining, inspirational reads and I hope that translates into helping more pet rescue and adoption organizations, as I donate a part of my book sales to such groups. I’d also one day like to become a snowbird, spending winters in southern climates and getting out of FEETS of snow, as my state has experienced this month.

Do you have any tips you would like to share? 
Persevere – you never fully know the impact your writing has on others. I received an email last year from someone I didn’t know during a time I was questioning if I should continue writing. She told me, “I just love your books! I can’t wait for the next one in your Pet Rescue Romance series!” That doesn’t happen often for me, but it’s just the encouragement I need to keep the stories flowing!

Now for some quick, get to know me better questions. What is your favorite mug or teacup?
Years ago, a friend gifted me a mug that says, “Rescue Mom.” I love that cup because all my pets are rescued animals.

Once upon a time, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours?
I was speaking at a school more than 12 years ago and with me was my blind dog, Sage. (I became a children’s author with a book about her life). My dog meandered to the back of the group of kids, who were sitting on the floor, and sat next to a boy. I’d glance back now and then to see Sage still sitting there and as I finished up my presentation, I saw the boy was petting Sage with one hand and his other arm was draped across her shoulders. As I left with Sage ten minutes later, the teacher told me the boy’s grandfather had died earlier in the week. I’ve never forgotten that scene of my blind dog giving comfort and friendship to a sad little boy. 

Hey, stop it. You made me tear up. Sniff. Now, teach me something I don’t know in two sentences.
Pets benefit people’s mental and physical health, including reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, and encouraging exercise, helping to improve people’s cardiovascular health. 

If you were an animated character, who would you be and why? 
Lassie – I like helping people and living in the country!

Which superhero would you like to be existing or you make up? Wonder Woman

Last book or movie that made you cry? “A Dog’s Way Home”

Gayle thank you for giving us a glimpse into your life and work. Before you leave, will you share some more information about your work and where folks can find out more about you?​

Horses at the Kaycee WY ranch.

​But for now my guest is patiently waiting. Hi, Daryl. What can I offer you?
Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa with 3 mini marshmallows and a hint of cinnamon. 

Yummy! That sounds delish. I think I'll join you. And while those marshmallows get gooey, tell us, have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp. Tell us about your camping experience. What made it special to you.
My final year of my undergrad, we went camping – in February – in Northern Ontario. They divided us into groups and did leadership skills and my group did awesomely. Which as it turns out was not a good thing. They drove out to the wilderness, dropped us off and said we had a week to get home. We had an experienced guide, but he was only there to help if we got into a life threatening situation. Things he did not consider to be life threatening
1. The ice broke on the lake and a student fell in. Yes, we got him out.
2. Another student stepped into an unsprung bear trap that didn’t snap because the snow was so deep.
3. Camping outside in tents in -40.
4. My dislocated shoulder. Long story!
And lastly
5. The diva who shoved her hand out her tent the first morning and wailed that her moisturizer had frozen.
We all survived!

LOL, that is some experience. I camped once in Minnesota when it was ten degrees. Nah, minus 40 sorry. I wouldn't even take 2HOOTs in that. Tell us about your latest project. What book are you talking about today, and what’s on the horizon.
My first attempt at a medieval fantasy romance – The Last Dragon. Someone mentioned I should write a book with a dragon and then one started flying around in my head. Currently I am working on 9?? different projects. I received my rights back on some books and I am getting them ready to indie pub, plus I am switching my alter-writer ego from Victoria Adams – to me. Only one name to keep track of – plus… no that’s enough for now.

I'm a huge fan of dragon stories and I loved this one. If you're interested you can read my review here www.goodreads.com/review/show/3835814416
Do you have a tagline? Life Motto?
My writer motte – Picasso wasn’t always Picasso. At one point, he was just Pablo, painting weird pictures.  What it means is – don’t follow the rules. Break out of the box. Ignore all those people who say – you can’t do that!

I love that. Nay sayers begone. Daryl, how long did it take you from conception to publication?
This book took years. Several things happened to cause that – but the biggest is I evolved from a hot romance author to a sweet one and it is because of this book. A scorching romance did not fit the characters.

Are there any mentors, authors, or books?
Shout outs to Viv, Cynthia, Jenna and Mart. Authors friends who have been there with ideas and help for many years.

What does literary success look like to you?
One fan letter. The first book I wrote, I got an email from a reader who loved it. That was the success I needed.

Life Hacks for Authors.  Do you have any tips, tricks, or anything you specialize in that you would share with others.  I’m also interested in how you have been managing your life and writing with COVID-19.
Life hack with covid – do what you gotta do. If ignoring your writing gets you through this – then stop. Not writing does not make you not-a-writer. No one should condemn you because you are taking a break. This is a bizarre moment in time and some will find solace in writing, and some with not.
 
Now the fun questions 
What is your favorite mug or teacup?
A friend gave me a hot chocolate mug that says – Stay Weird. The words are upside down until you drink from the mug. I love my mug.

Teach me something I don’t know in two sentences.
The marital art secret to breaking a board – is not to strike the front of the board. Focus on the other side of the board, so that your hand/fist/elbow/foot will go through the board to strike the target. (I have a 2nd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do)

What’s your favorite cartoon, and why?
Road Runner. No idea. I just love the little dude. Beep! Beep!

Favorite childhood book?
Ballet Shoes by Noel Streatfeild. The copy in my elementary school  library had only been taken out by me. We had to sign the card. I filled the entire card.

What’s your go-to coffee order?
I’m that person. What person? That one person who dislikes coffee. I’ve never drank a cup of it. It drives servers in morning restaurants crazy. They keep trying to fill my mug.

Daryl, thank you so much for stopping by my fire today. Would you please leave us with a bit about your book and where we can find out more about you?

What do dragons, knights and romance have in common? Grab a copy of multi-published author Daryl Devore’s medieval fantasy romance – The Last Dragon and discover the answer.

A sorcerer craving dominance merged with a dragon, the power overwhelmed him causing him to split into three dragons. Demora ruled thought, but was lost in time. Yidithe offered protection, shining like the light of the sun. Ayrradex craved chaos, revelling in destroying souls.
Many knights died, attempting to slay the devil beast. One knight, Prince Hawkyns, did not fear death. He’d lost everything. Away on a mission when Ayrradex attacked his father’s kingdom, Penrythe, Hawkyns returned to find his noble father – feeble and defeated. His wise mother – crazed. His beautiful wife and unborn child - dead. Only a pile of ashes remained for him to bury. He knelt before his King and vowed to slay the devil-beast or be slain.
Derry was born with powers that terrified her parents. They delivered her to a nunnery to be raised in secret. Jathe, a wise sorceress, discovered the young girl and trained her to one day use the secret hidden in her soul.
Legends spoken around campfires hinted the sole way to destroy Ayrradex was when the hearts of a knight and a golden dragon became one. But after a vicious battle with Ayrradex, the golden dragon was thought to be dead.
Can Prince Hawkyns’s bravery and Derry’s powers end the reign of the devil-beast’s terror?
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Amazon - ebook - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QPW4CVF
Amazon - print - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08QRVJ59P
Books2read – universal link - ebook – https://books2read.com/The-Last-Dragon
Books2read –universal link – print -  https://books2read.com/The-Last-Dragon-
BookSprout – https://booksprout.co/book/69199/the-last-dragon
 
Social Media Links – I am at several places, but these are where I hang out the most
Blog - https://daryldevore.blogspot.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/daryl.devore
Twitter - https://twitter.com/daryldevore
Newsletter – daryl.devore@yahoo.ca