Welcome to the Campfire

​Welcome to our second visit around the Campfire. One of my favorite things to do is sit around the fire. Whether it’s away in a campground, or at home in front the chiminea, some of the best conversations I’ve ever had, have been with a cozy flame and sparks drifting up into the night sky joining the stars. I hope your enjoyed meeting Daryl last week. I know I did. So, wherever you’re joining us from, click on the campfire video and relax. I hope you enjoy our conversation. Please feel free to leave comments or questions below. Also, if you would like to keep up with Around the Campfire and information, don’t forget to sign up for my Newsletter. 

Okay, without further delay…Today I’m welcoming author Leslie Bowes, around the Campfire.  What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, or wine, Leslie?
​Cocoa
 
Cocoa it is. Let’s jump right in. Have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp. If so, tent, trailer, RV? Where? Did you like it? If not, and no judgment here, would you like to someday? Where?
I have gone camping. It was in NC, and we only had a tent, and I hated it because it was raining the whole time, which made everything wet. So, no, I will never go camping again.
 
Oh, no. I’m sorry that happened. That’s why it’s only an RV for me. I tent camped with a friend one time, and we ended up sleeping in the car and left at the crack of dawn, so I get it. On a more pleasant note, tell us about your latest project. What’s the title and genre?
My Book is called Heart Healer, and it’s a Time Travel, Romance, Historical, Contemporary
 
Wow, that’s exciting. A little bit of everything to interest readers of many genres. Do you have a tagline?
In the darkest hour, can time and love truly to heal all wounds?
 
Nice! A question many of us wonder. If you don’t mind me asking, can you tell us how long it took from conception to fruition?
I started writing Heart Healer in 2012, but it wasn’t called Heart Healer; it was called Rose Hill. But Rose Hill never got published. So I start on A Second Chance at love, but when I was in the middle of that I thought something was missing so I went back to Rose Hill and put those two together and it became Heat Healer, and on June 13, 2018, The Wild Rose Press published Heart Healer
 
That’s quite a crooked road you had to take, but we’re so glad it worked out for you. Did you ever hit the place where you threw your arm up in the air and said nope this is not going to work? If so, how did you get past it?
No, I am too stubborn to give up lol.                       
 
Stubbornness and perseverance are two of the must haves for an author, I think. I have a myriad of projects at various stages of development, how about you? Anything you’re itching to get to?
I have started working book 2 of the Heart Healer series called The Choices for Love.
 
We hope to see it soon. Tell us, looking over your shoulder, is there something you would tell your beginning self?
Yes, writing is more than fun for you.
 
Do you have a tattoo? If yes, what is it? If you feel brave, where? Does it have a story you feel you could tell us? If not and you were to get a tattoo, what would it be?
I do not have a tattoo and do not really want to get one. They are really not my thing.
 
I’m don’t either. I do think they are interesting though. What was the best vacation you ever took? Why?
I don’t really have best vacation because they were all the best vacation, I ever took in their own way
 
Years ago, there was a commercial which talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours?
The one my friends and I took after our high school graduation.  We know that we all were going our separate ways and when I look at that photo, I always remember the great friendship I had with them
 
Friendships can transcend the years. I hope one day you get to see them again. Are there any mentors, authors, or books, other than yours, you would like to give a shout-out to?
Nicholas Sparks he’s the one that got me into the romance genre.
 
He’s definitely a wonderful author. Final question. What does literary success look like to you?
Fans reading my book, and hopeful someday, my book becoming a movie
 
Leslie, thank you so much for joining me around the campfire today. I would appreciate you leaving us a blub and exert from your work. Don’t forget to add where we can purchase your book and how we can find out more about you below.

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Catherine Andrews is an English woman living in the 1800's. Her father sells her to Blake Von-Clyer to be his wife to pay off debts owed to Mr. Von-Clyer. Catherine soon finds out Blake is a cruel and horrible man. On their wedding night, to escape his cruelty, she throws herself into the river. Death is better than marriage to a beast.
Christopher King is living in 2014 doing his best to raise his young son Ryan after his wife left him. One night, Christopher finds a woman in the river unconscious and barely breathing. She is also wearing old fashioned clothes. Christopher does everything in his power to help the young women. When Catherine regains consciousness, she finds herself in a strange and unbelievable situation. Terrified, she does her best to keep her guard up against Christopher. But as she gets to know him,  she can't help but fall for the man who saved her life. When Catherine's dangerous past                     
comes back to haunt her, it has Catherine and Christopher fighting for each other and their love.

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Excerpt
“That’s true, but I don’t need a servant. I need a wife.” Catherine dropped the spoon as her whole body shook. What was her father planning to do? Hard work? A wife? What was going on? She was not her father’s slave to trade as he wished. She was his daughter. Too nervous to turn around, Catherine prayed that she heard wrong. “What did you say?” her father asked, shocked. “You heard me.” Mr. Von-Clyer laughed. “You had no problem selling her to me as a servant Mr. Andrews, but now that I want her for my wife your conscience haunts you. What’s the difference? Either way your debt to me is paid.” “Catherine, get over here now!” her father yelled drunkenly. The longer she stared at the vein in her father’s neck; she realized that she was making him angrier than Catherine had ever seen before. She slowly walked over to the table and stood in front of her father. Her heart was pounding in her chest as she watched him drink his last bit of wine. “You will be Mr. Von-Clyer’s wife to pay off my debt.”  

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Available at Amazon

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Movie Recommendations
Steel Magnolias because of all the Heart Healing that's needed.
​The Notebook to shout out Nicholas Sparks
 Bonus Rain Man because of Leslie's ill fated camping trip.

Well, I'v been on many rainy day camping trips. Last summer it seemed we never had a nice weekend. So, what does a camper do? Hobo foil packs.  Easy peasy. You take squares of foil. I spray them with non-stick spray. What ever meat you like goes in. What ever veggies, the same. Add a pat of butter or a touch of oil. Twist the foil closed to make them look like a Hershey Kiss. Place them on a grate over the fire (or grill). Cooks for about 45 minutes.  Each person gets a bag. No mess. No dishes. What could be better?

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