Today I’m welcoming Gayle M. Irwin Back to the Blog.

Thank you for stopping by. I know you will enjoy today's guest but before we light the fire, I have some exciting information about my own camping trips. Yes I said trips. We are scheduled for a few things in spring. Honesdale Pa, KOA is one of our go-to places where my grandkids join us. And as I type this I hear hubby on the phone scheduling a site in Lancaster, PA. May 30th is the first day of retirement for me. Huzzah! We head out to Tampa for a conference then a leisurely trip up the southeast coast stopping in each state. There's a map on 2HOOTs door and every time we drop the landing gear we get to fill in another state. One of my most anticipated stops will be Chincoteague in Virginia. One of my most treasured books from childhood are the Misty series. I'll be posting lots of pictures and sharing so much in my newsletter you won't want to miss it. So sign up here mailchi.mp/37b945511a50/dvstoneauthor and make sure you read to the end. I have a special offer.
Now without further ado, please help me welcome today's guest Gayle Irwin

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Hi Gayle, and welcome to the fire. Seasons change and so do refreshments. What can I get for you? 2HOOTS is like Aladdin's lamp. Make a wish and it appears.
Pinot Noir, please.
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I have a nice bottle from Sonoma County Cali right here. Tell us, have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp. 
As a child growing up in Iowa, camping was a family adventure. We started with a tent when I was four and graduated a few years later to an over-the-cab pickup camper. My husband and I have camped in a tent a few times, but now our outdoor adventures take place in our 12x35-foot cabin, which sets on 6 acres of land in a peaceful setting in the woods of Wyoming.

Ohhhh, I adore cabins in the woods. There's a couple of television shows I watch and Log Cabin Living is one of them. Of course some of those cabins are over the top, but then I glamp more than I camp. Tell us about your latest project and, what’s on the horizon?
Rhiann’s Rescue released in December, and although there is no camping that happens in the story, my primary female character travels to bring dogs into rescue or get them to their forever homes. The descriptions of my settings (eastern Washington/northern Idaho and southern Arizona) will hopefully inspire others to get their travel mojo revved up again as we head into springtime! Additionally, I’ll be releasing a new book, My Montana Love, next month, which takes place in western Montana – another beautiful place to visit (and camp, if you enjoy doing that!)  

Those places are certainly on my map to visit. I'm also a huge proponent of rescue. Hali, my latest rescue has been with us for two years now. Gayle Do you have a tagline? Life Motto? The tagline for my Pet Rescue Romance series is “Where romance and rescue meet.”

I love it! How long did it take you from conception to publication?
Last summer I envisioned writing a Christmas story as part of my Pet Rescue Romance series.  However, I wasn’t able to complete it and now that book is set for release in November of this year. I had started what I thought would be a short story as a prequel to the series – that became a novella (Rhiann’s Rescue) that spans from December through February. Rhiann’s Rescue took me about four months from idea to publication. I am indie published.

Our stories do take over sometimes, don't they? Are there any mentors, authors, or books you would like to give a shout-out to?
I’m enjoying several different authors right now who write in the contemporary, clean romance genre: Casey Peeler, who writes YA contemporary romance; Eliza Boyd, who has started a line like mine called the Animal Sanctuary series; Linda O. Johnston, who weaves mystery into her romance stories that feature pets (the Barkery and Biscuits series); and Annie Rains, whose Sweetwater Springs series includes covers featuring cute dogs!

Those sound great. I'll have to check them out. What does literary success look like to you?
I love the idea of writing for a living, including creating new books and upping the game of my freelance writing career. I want to travel more – I so enjoy visiting America’s national parks and wildlife refuges! – and I’d like to become a snowbird in the next five years. A successful writing career for me means freedom, and one day I hope that becomes my reality.

We could be twins with that. Those things are just like my hopes and dreams. Gayle, do you have any Life Hacks for Authors?
Last year I learned about a book promotion site called BookSweeps. I joined two promotion opportunities for romance writers and gained more than 500 people for my email list. I also joined All Authors, which promotes books and BookFunnel.com. Additionally, I’m a speaker with the March 2021 Women in Publishing Conference, a virtual writing and book marketing conference for women authors. I’m enjoying discovering new outlets to reach potential readers and help other authors. (Here's the link folks, it looks wonderful womeninpublishingsummit.com/ )

Now the fun questions 
What is your favorite mug or teacup if neither T-shirt with graphic or Meme? A friend of mine gave me a coffee mug for Christmas a few years ago that says “Rescue Mom” and has pawprints on it. I use that mug often!

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? I visited Vancouver, British Columbia once and went to the aquarium. As I watched the beluga whales swim, one came over to me and seemed to look me in the eye. As I walked around the tank and enclosure, it followed and watched me. I felt a connection with that creature. I’d love to have a photo of that encounter; the memory remains in my heart.

Teach me something I don’t know in two sentences. Approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter shelters in the U.S. every year; about 3.2 million are adopted and many others (strays) are reunited with their owners. However, nearly 1.5 million dogs and cats are euthanized, therefore, we have a long way to go to eliminate the number of healthy, adoptable animals killed in America’s shelters.

Favorite childhood book? I enjoyed all the Little House books written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. My favorite though is Those Happy Golden Years.

What’s your go-to coffee order? Raspberry mocha!

Gayle, thank you so much for joining me around the fire today and sharing so much wonderful information about rescues and writing tips. Would you please leave us with some more about your book?

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Rhiann’s Rescue
by Gayle M. Irwin

Rhiann Kelly dreams of starting an animal rescue sanctuary, and her beloved grandmother desires to see her achieve that dream. However, they don't agree on when or where. Because of the older woman's health, Rhiann thinks it best they stay near large cities; Grams wants to return to Montana, where she was born and raised. During their annual winter trip to Arizona, the two women clash once again over relocating ... as well as about Rhiann's lack of desire to date and potentially end up with another broken heart. However, when art gallery owner and nature photographer Elias Griffin steps into her life, Rhiann reconsiders. Can she maintain her decision to not become romantically involved with someone again and keep her eyes fixed on helping animals and caring for her grandmother? Or will she decide Elias is worth the risk of possible heartbreak?

Rhiann’s Rescue is available in e-book and print format from Amazon. The e-book is only .99 cents! https://bit.ly/38tehAf_RhiannRescue
This novella is also available as an e-book on other platforms, such as Barnes & Noble and Kobo: https://books2read.com/u/3yzgYJ
More about the Author
Gayle M. Irwin is an award-winning author and freelance writer, being recognized by Wyoming Writers, Inc., and the Wyoming Press Association for several of her works. She is a contributor to seven Chicken Soup for the Soul books and the author of many inspirational pet books and stories for both children and adults. Her clean, contemporary romance series, Pet Rescue Romance, consists of Rescue Road, Finding Love at Compassion Ranch, and a prequel novella, Rhiann’s Rescue. Another book in the series, My Montana Love, releases in March 2021, and a holiday story, In the Shadow of Mount Moran, is scheduled for release in November 2021. An animal advocate, Gayle volunteers for various dog rescue and humane society organizations and donates a percentage of all book sales to such groups. 

Find Gayle on the Web:
Author Website: https://gaylemirwinauthor.com/
Amazon Author Page: amazon.com/author/gayleirwin
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/GayleMIrwin
Pinterest (under Waggin' Tales): www.pinterest.com/gaylemirwin 
Twitter: wyoauthor1 

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As homage to my childhood favorite, anyone who comments on either their own rescue companion or favorite childhood story, will be entered to win in a drawing for an Amazon gift certificate.  So comment away! And once more thank you for joining us at the Campfire.