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Your HostHi, my name is D. V. Stone. I am a multi-genre author who also enjoys reading across genres. On this page you'll meet a great group of writers and get an insider's view into their lives and books. I hope you enjoy this special peek and find new and exciting reads. |
![]() Thank you, D.V., for having me on your blog today! I’m excited this is Wild Crime’s one-year anniversary. The release of this mystery/domestic suspense wrapped up a three-book series that follows the story of Meredith Lowe, an abused wife and mother, who fantasizes about killing her husband. When he is found murdered, she becomes the likely suspect. In this third book, Meredith discovers a shocking letter from her late mother, one that reads: I’m a murderer. She must discover the truth behind those words. There is much more to this series, however: Quirky characters in a small town, a search for the truth about her past, and yes, a fair bit of romance. Who: I was a journalist for years and have always loved writing stories. People are fascinating, aren’t they? When I left my career, I eagerly turned to fiction writing. The idea for the Wild Crime series began with my earlier move from California to Idaho; the idea had been brewing in my mind for a long time. Talk about feeling like a fish out of water. Idaho is a mostly rural state, with vast and rugged wilderness areas. At first, I was a bit overwhelmed. Pretty quickly, though, I was bowled over by the stunning beauty of the mountains and lakes, and the kindness of people here. Now, it’s been my home for twenty years and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Interests: Like many writers, I’m an introvert and love to read. As a child, I spent soooo many hours in the library. But I also was a bit of a tomboy. I loved to ride horses and play softball. My softball days are behind me, but I still love the outdoors. This past year I bought a kayak and spent wonderful days paddling some of Idaho’s beautiful lakes. I enjoy traveling the world and look forward to a time when those travels can begin once more. My favorite interest is my family – two kids and two grandkids. I am so lucky! Network: One of the best things I’ve done is create and join writer groups. I surround myself with others who feel the same way I do about writing. While we don’t meet in person at the moment, we do still meet online. I find a great deal of support and inspiration, as well as advice, from fellow authors – and I enjoy helping them too. Desk: These days, I’ve set up shop in my formal dining room. I have an upstairs office, but with so much quarantining, I need to have some bustle around me. From my dining table, I have a view of the front sidewalk and can watch neighbors out on walks or with their dogs. I also can see the delivery trucks arrive – online shopping in my household certainly increased this year. Outrageous: I’m not afraid of failing at things. I’m willing to try most activities at least once, from rock climbing to ziplining to windsurfing. Many people tell me they’ve always wanted to write a book but weren’t sure they could. How would they know if they hadn’t tried? I certainly didn’t know if I could do it, but worked hard at the process. The worst thing that could happen was my ego getting bruised, but after a career as a journalist, I’ve developed a thick skin. Window: Out my window is my raised planter garden where I love growing vegetables and flowers. Spring through autumn, I have more than a dozen types of veggies under cultivation, from cucumbers to tomatoes to eggplant. This time of year the beds lay under a layer of snow. We all deserve a rest, don’t we? My garden works very hard the rest of the year. ![]() Wild Crime by Julie Howard "I'm a murderer. I'm a murderer. I'm a murderer." Those three repeated words discovered in an old letter propel Meredith Lowe in a cross-country pursuit to unveil her mother's murky past. Danger stalks Meredith back to Hay City, Idaho as she peels apart the mystery: who is her father, and did her mother kill him? In finding the answer, will a growing love slip through her fingers? Past merges with the present as the story races to its stunning conclusion. Excerpt from Wild Crime: Her hair fell below her waist, ripped free of its ties and weighed down by the warm, lashing rain. The sky-blue dress, so carefully chosen for this night and tried on so many times in her bedroom, was ruined. One strap had torn from her shoulder and dangled down her back. Mud splattered the hem. Sweet Cantaloupe lipstick, a lovely coral that heightened the green in her eyes, was smeared like a bruise on one cheek. She ran. The high school gym behind her, decorated in crepe paper and curtains, vibrated with electric guitars and teen-aged hormones. Couples gyrated on the dance floor and then disappeared into dark corners. It was late and the Spring Dance was in full throttle. No one would miss her for hours. Before her, trees dripped moss, barely visible in the darkness. She envisioned the moss brushing her shoulders, low branches snagging in her hair, the possibility of snakes both at her feet and above; this made her hesitate. It would take one scream, one gasp, and he would find her. Amazon: https://amzn.to/2W8j0Pt iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/wild-crime/id1482591716 Barnes andNoble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-crime-julie-howard/1134112545?ean=9781509228638 Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Julie_Howard_Wild_Crime?id=xjzADwAAQBAJ Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/wild-crime About the author: Julie Howard is the author of the Wild Crime series, and Spirited Quest. She is a former journalist and editor who has covered topics ranging from crime to cowboy poetry. She is a member of the Idaho Writers Guild, editor of the Potato Soup Journal, and founder of the Boise chapter of Shut Up & Write. Learn more at juliemhoward.com. Website: http://juliemhoward.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/juliemhowardauthor Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18116047.Julie_Howard Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Julie-Howard/e/B07D6CS4NQ/ Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/julie-howard?list=author_books Twitter: https://twitter.com/_JulieMHoward
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![]() Who: By day, I’m a mild-mannered pre-school aide. By night, I’m a wild, wanton… er, no. At night, I’m a mild-mannered mom and author of time travel and small-town witch romances. I’m not one of those writers who knew what they wanted from the time I learned my ABCs, but I always loved to read. I started writing when my kids were babies and I needed something not baby-related to occupy my mind. I dumped every trope I’d ever liked into that first book, lol. Thankfully, I got involved in some writer groups, took a lot of writing classes, and researched the industry before trying to sell that monstrosity. I rewrote it half a dozen times before publishing with The Wild Rose Press in 2013. I discovered my passion and never looked back. Interests: Reading, writing, but definitely not arithmetic. When not reading or writing, one of my favorite activities is to go on hikes with my family. We bought a travel trailer several years ago so we could bring our dog on vacation and enjoy the great outdoors (boarding a large dog is seriously expensive and we love having her with us!) The trailer has made us take more vacations (even if just weekends away) than we would without it. You can’t own something like that and not use it (though sadly Covid has forced us to stay home for the time being.) Network: My family is very supportive, especially my mom (though she would prefer my characters stop swearing.) But I rely mostly on my three writing partners, Ruth A. Casie, Lita Harris, and Nicole S. Patrick. We don’t meet as often as we’d like (especially now) but I can always count on them for a quick brainstorming session or pep talk. Desk: A hot mess. My desk is in a corner of the living room and, theoretically, can be closed up when not in use. That never happens because I’d have to clean it up first. I like to think if I had more room, I’d have everything neat, organized, and in its place, but I doubt it, lol. Outrageous: My family always marvels at the way all our pets congregate around me. No matter where I go, they soon follow. When I come home from work, my husband will laugh that he hasn’t seen the cats all day, but the second I walk through the door they’re demanding attention. I don’t think it’s all that mysterious—Guess who feeds them? Window: Nothing too exciting, just a (mostly) quiet neighborhood. My favorite part is the cat perch my husband and kids built and attached to the window ledge. It’s right next to my desk and usually occupied by one or both cats soaking up the sunshine. ![]() Time After Time When Sophia Segarra, the owner of Time After Time Antiques in Havenport, finds a packet of love letters from the 1920s in her shop, she can’t help but fantasize about what it would be like to find a love like the one described in those letters. But even though she’s told the pearl necklace from her Halloween costume will bring the wearer to true love, she never imagined they’d transport her back in time to the Roaring Twenties. In 1928, Liam O’Connell is writing an article on the Main Street Bandits for the Havenport Herald while investigating the disappearance of his brother. He’s not having much luck with either and a trip to Tilly’s speakeasy on Halloween is about to make life more interesting. Liam’s reporter instincts tell him Sophia’s hiding something, and he’s determined to find out what. Will her secret keep them apart, or will they come to realize that time after time, love overcomes all obstacles? (Time After Time is the 6th book in the Witches of Havenport series. While it is a stand-alone story, some readers might prefer to read the series in order. In particular, characters from book number 5, Tricking the Beast, play a significant role in this story. The entire series is available to read on Kindle Unlimited for free.) Excerpt: Sophia stepped out onto the back deck of Royce’s and shivered in the chill night air. A set of steps led down to the dock. Laughter and music spilled out from the tavern, and twinkling orange lights lit up the surrounding area. What a night. Going straight home held no appeal, so she took a walk on the dock. A quick glance at her watch showed just shy of midnight. She’d at least stay out until twelve before calling it a night and heading back to her lonely apartment. A giggling pair of lovers leaned against the railing. Cleopatra and Marc Antony seemed familiar. She tried to get a good look without staring and finally recognized Reina Mills and Keenan O’Connell. She rushed by without saying hello. She’d gotten to know the pair quite well over the past year. Keenan was almost as fascinated by her antiques as she was and came into her store fairly often. And, loving history as she did, his family story intrigued her. He was a descendant of the Lovers of Havenport. Those star-crossed lovers who disappeared in the Roaring Twenties never to be heard from again. All that was left of them was their portrait in Havenport’s Seaport Museum. Keenan had given her a little insight into his ancestor’s story and she’d eaten up all the details. His version differed completely from what the Havenport historians thought. She loved being in the know on such an epic tale. But seeing Reina and Keenan entwined as they were made her think of Mia and her “true love” spell. She twisted the pearls around her fingers and gazed up at the gorgeous full moon. She envied the lovers she’d just passed. What she wouldn’t give to have someone to share this beautiful evening with. A passage from the love letters came to mind. I wished for you one lonely night but never did I dream that you would come to me, my love And set my heart alight. Oh, she wished all right. A sudden gust of wind roared in her ears. Heat engulfed her body. A flash. Then everything went black. Buy Links: Amazon Amazon Witches of Havenport Series Page Personal links: Website: www.emma-kaye.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/emmakayewrites Twitter: www.twitter.com/emmakayewrites Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/emmakayewrites Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/emma-kaye email: emmakayewrites@hotmail.com Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Emma-Kaye/e/B00G2J21IC ![]() Who I am: I’m a novelist, and to explain how I got here, I’ll say, I picked up my purse at work one day in 2015 and walked out the door, never to return. My only sibling, who is eleven years older than me, was in a nursing home suffering from early-onset dementia. His wife was in a different nursing home stricken with early-onset Alzheimer’s. We (their children and I) were trying to move them into the same facility. At the time, I worked for a rude woman. One day she disparaged me in front of our consultants and something inside me snapped. I realized working for her wasn’t worth it. My husband had been telling me to quit my job, I was a writer, so on that day, I decided to do what I always wanted to do: quit my full-time job as a grant writer/administrator and write novels. Three years later, I published my first two novels, The Suicide Gene (The Wild Rose Press) and Dream Wide Awake (Kindle Direct Publishing.) Since then I published Project Dream in 2019, Friends Who Move Couches in 2020 and am currently editing, Don’t Mind Me, I Came with the House. Interests: Family, writing, running, traveling, and people. I love spending time with my three adult children and my sweet granddaughter when I’m able. (Two of three children and my granddaughter live out of town.) I am also blessed to have several friends with whom I run, walk, and travel. (Well, we will travel again once this pandemic is over!) Network: Since Friends Who Move Couches is “Almost” a memoir, readers will find I have a large network of “friends who move bodies” in my life. (You must read Friends Who Move Couches to understand how lucky that makes me.) For writing, several of these friends, along with a few acquaintances compose my Beta readers. Desk: I write from my front office (next to two windows) or my screened-in back porch while I’m in my new home in Wendell, North Carolina. I moved to Wendell a year ago, but still spend summers and fall in the town I grew up in, Erie, Pennsylvania. When there, I write on a deck at a campsite on Presque Isle State Park and spend afternoons walking, running, biking or kayaking with my husband, Jeff, and our good friends. To sum it up, my desk is mobile and messy. (I’m the most unorganized person I know.) Outrageous: I have had visions and premonitions in my life that people often find unbelievable, frightening, interesting, or outrageous. My Dream series books are based on people who have a sixth sense and several incidents in these books were inspired by real events. Chapter one in Project Dream was stirred by a vision I had in a little chapel. Chapter three in Dream Wide Awake was inspired by something that happened to me when I was three years old and sleeping in the attic of my grandparent’s home. Window: Outside my window is a world filled with puzzles. Beyond the sunshine or darkness filtering through my glass, I see love, life, and souls. No matter where I sit while writing, in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, or occasionally in California where my granddaughter is, I gaze out the window and my thoughts wander past the setting. To me, outside my window, is a magnificently huge puzzle just waiting for me to piece it together into stories. Bonus Content! Here's a link to an online interview with CJ youtu.be/6H1tqVqFv7M ![]() Friends Who Move Couches www.amazon.com/Friends-Who-Move-Couches-Zahner-ebook/dp/B0874BNHG7/ Nikki Grey's idea of living dangerously is not wearing a seatbelt, yet calamity always seems to find her. Married to a workaholic, mothering three rebellious kids, and feuding with neighborhood friends, Nikki forgets her problems one afternoon by smoking marijuana. That blunder ignites a lifelong yet dormant medical condition, and she loses her driver’s license. Suddenly stranded in her home, she’s forced to stare out the window at women who have ostracized her. Her true friends encourage her to concentrate on her health, but Nikki is her own nemesis. She embarks on a scheme to win back neighborhood friends and plunges into efforts that only end in muddying her reputation. She becomes the butt of neighborhood jokes. Foolishly, her ache to mend her broken relationships escalates. Not until her two-timing husband asks her a question that catapults her frivolous suburban life into a tailspin is she forced to stop reaching for others and stand on her own. If you like novels about family struggles, friendship wars, quieting your inner critic, and surviving rejection, you’ll love Friends Who Move Couches, a laugh-out-loud yet insightful story every woman can relate to in some way. Exerpt “I can’t drive.” “Oh, c’mon, it’s six blocks. It’s not like you’re going to run someone over.” “I could, you know.” I remove my keys from a hook in the kitchen and stomp toward the front door. “There are a lot of kids in this neighborhood.” “You’re such a pansy. Have you ever done anything wrong in your entire life?” “In case you forgot, I smoked dope the other day, Hux.” What am I doing? Trying to impress my kid? I’ve lost more than my license. I’ve lost my mind. “Yeah and that’s what got you into this mess. It’s not my fault you lost your license. Bring me my lunch. It will take less than three minutes.” He’s right. This isn’t his fault, and I am cowardly. I’m a law-abiding pansy. My idea of breaking the law is jaywalking. “Just because you break the law all the time—” “You’re such a prude,” he interrupts. “What did you call me? I’m your mother, for God’s sake.” “Mom, you’ve driven to school thousands of times. What do you think is going to happen this one time?” He’s attempting to guilt me into this. I know. But it’s working because I never do anything I’m not supposed to, and I’m sick and tired of the dull-and-boring Nikki I’ve aged into. That’s probably Mark’s annoyance with me, too. “There’s no excitement in our life,” he complains, relentlessly. “Is that Hux’s lunch? I can drop it off,” Evy says. Hux hears him. “There, if you’re chicken shit, have Evy bring it.” “What?” My blood boils. I head out the front door and hurry toward my SUV. “You little s--t.” I’ll be mortified later that I swore at one of my kids, but he’s being such a spoiled brat right now I don’t care. I pull my mouth away from the phone. “Evy, can you please keep an eye on the girls for a minute?” Then I holler into the phone again. “I’m getting you out of bed tomorrow at seven-thirty, you hear me?” “You’re not supposed to drive,” Evy scolds as I get in the car and turn on the ignition. “Seven-thirty? I start at eight-thirty. It takes less than ten minutes to walk here. I don’t know why you won’t let me take your car, anyway. It’s not like you’re driving it.” “Naggy,” Evy hollers. “You’re not allowed to drive.” “You wrecked my car, Hux. That’s why your father had to buy me a new one.” I turn around and gaze out the back window because my old car didn’t have a camera, and I forget my new one does. I step on the gas, giving it more than expected. I feel a jolting motion and hear a crunch. My first thought is, my God, I’ve run over a kid. I shove the car into park and run to the back. Evy beats me there. “Oh, darling, please tell me that’s D-Amy Everglade’s bike and not Gianna’s. It would be sweet justice in so many ways.” I glance at the mangled bike lodged beneath my back bumper. The front door opens, and Amy Everglade lets out a scream that sends our dog, Furgy, scurrying out the door and down the street. Evy opens the car door and grabs Hux’s lunch. “I’ll drop this off and find the dog. You might want to call in the pit crew, Mario.” My plan to win more friends might not be working as well as once thought. To find out more about CJ here's the links www.cjzahner.com https://www.instagram.com/cjzahner/ https://twitter.com/TweetyZ http://bit.ly/FBcjzahner https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyndiezahner/ http://bit.ly/gProjectDream http://bit.ly/BBProjectDream ![]() Who I am a middle-aged woman who decided eight years ago to get serious about my writing. I had been dabbling since my final year of university, but hadn’t actually completed a book. In 2012 I wrote “the end” on my first book and I haven’t looked back. I persisted – taking courses, attending conferences, learning about both the craft and the business of writing. 2020 was my year as I’ve published three books. Interests I know it’s a cop-out, but I really do spend most of my spare time writing, editing, or doing other business-related things. I guess if I were to choose one interest, it would be Outlander. I have met Diana Gabaldon several times – a very gracious lady – and I have listened to her series through from beginning to end three times. That’s roughly an investment of 365 hours for the “Big Books” and another 74 hours for the “in-Between” books and the Outlandish Guides. Needless to say, I’m waiting for baited breath for Book 9. I recently had the honor of listening to Ms. Gabaldon read a chapter. Can’t wait. Network I have a great support network. I belong to the Greater Vancouver Writer’s Association and pre-pandemic, looked forward to their monthly meetings. We still have meetings online, but it’s not quite the same thing. In March I joined The Creative Academy for Writers and have found a true home. The women who run the Academy have created a welcoming place where writers from every genre can meet and share craft tips and business ideas. We even share our work and I did my first ZOOM reading from my current book. Desk My desk? Well, a bit eclectic. I was working from home before the pandemic, so I have my two monitors, keyboard and mouse. I push those back when I’m not working and pull out my laptop for anything non-work related. Also, I have my cat’s food. Lady Arabella de Bergerac (better known as Bella) is a purebred Himalayan, seventeen, and blind. I found it easiest to put her food on the desk. My recliner butts up against it, so she can eat when she’s hungry, and hunker down on the recliner when she’s full. This arrangement has the added bonus that my five-year-old ChinPoo doesn’t have access to the cat food. Ally and Bella get along well, but Ally would do just about anything to get a hold of Bella’s wet food. Outrageous I’m struggling to come up with some outrageous talent. Something I’m good at. So I’ll talk about my dog. Ally was a rescue, and the first thing I did was take her for training. We did four rounds of training in her first two years, culminating in therapy dog training, which she passed with flying colors. She’s not a service dog, but she is dedicated to making people happy. In pre-pandemic times, we would hang out at the local coffee shop. I would write novels, and she would hang out at my feet. Regulars would come to visit, and often children would venture over. Ally is incredibly patient with everyone, but especially children. I think she misses the human interactions as her world is now just me and my roommate. I can’t wait until the world returns to normal, and she can get back out into the world to make people happy. As the honorary mascot of my writing group, I know she’s been missed. That being said, she has been known to ZOOM bomb meetings. Window In my old home, I looked through my window and out over a forest. The trees were beautiful and soothing. Recently I’ve moved to the city and my window looks out over a street. I can see my neighbors – something very new. The view isn’t what it used to be, but Ally is thrilled. The window is floor-to-ceiling, so she sits at my feet and looks out over her dominion. She has to say ‘hello’ to all her buddies in the neighborhood so there’s plenty of barking. I’ve grown accustomed to my new view, and my biggest regret is the beautiful colorful leaves have all fallen and we’re now headed into the dreaded Pacific Northwest rainy winter. At least I have my dog at my feet and my cat nearby. ![]() Amber Eyes School principal Gage Clayton is still grieving the death of his wife and submissive, yet he can't ignore his Dominant needs. As he enters Club Kink, he's inexplicably drawn to a newly released sub with an intriguing proposition and the most captivating amber eyes. But she has disturbing baggage and her expectations prove quite a challenge, one that would necessitate a commitment he's not ready for. Rielle Reid needs a Dom while she waits for her former Master to return. When she invites a handsome stranger to her home dungeon for a night of play, she's surprised at his gentle dominance—and her response to it. But in the light of day, his demand for equal footing confounds her. After living four years as a twenty-four/seven slave, she has no concept of how to be anything other than property. Gage must find a way to master Rielle to free them both from the shackles of the past. Excerpt She released his hand, rose, and stretched. Leaning down, she placed a kiss to his cheek. “Come to bed soon. You’re looking as tired as I’m feeling.” Then she was gone. In her wake, however, a wave of desire swept over him. Come to bed soon, she said. As in come to our bed soon? There had been no talk of sleeping arrangements, and the room she’d used the previous weekend had been cleaned, sheets laundered, everything put to rights. Sex was out of the question, but sleeping with someone? For the whole night? That held almost as much appeal. Almost. Cleanup was simple, and within a few minutes, he headed to the bathroom. The steam from her earlier shower had dissipated, but her scent lingered. He’d yet to put his finger on the exact scent of body spray she used, but he liked trying to guess. He loved the mystery and allure that came with the not knowing. When he stepped into his bedroom, one of the bedside lamps was on, casting the room in shadows. She was already in bed, covers pulled up. He stripped out of his clothes and slid in beside her, cradling her against him, spoon-style. She extended a hand to switch off the light, and he stopped her. “I don’t mind sleeping with the light on.” “With you next to me, I don’t need the light.” He was moved almost to the point beyond words. “I’ll always protect you. You know that, right?” Instead of responding, she cuddled closer to him, burrowing herself under the blankets. It wasn’t long before her breath evened out and even less time after that before his did. Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3jf4oJd Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2CasIeT Banes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/amber-eyes-gabbi-black/1137343876 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Gabbi_Black_Amber_Eyes?id=g-33DwAAQBAJ KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/amber-eyes-11 iBooks: https://books.apple.com/us/book/amber-eyes/id1526064524? Publisher: https://www.thewildrosepress.com/books/amber-eyes Add it to GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54920296-amber-eyes Personal links:Website: http://gabbiblack.com/ Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/2763198834 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorgabbiblack/ Facebook (page): https://www.facebook.com/Author-Gabbi-Black-106666354460589/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/authorgabbiblack/boards/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/GabbiAuthor More about Gabbi Even though Gabbi Black is a firm believer in happy endings, she makes her characters work for it in every romance she writes, no matter what the genre. From contemporary to BDSM, they are penned early in the morning in her home in beautiful British Columbia while she is kept company by her trusty ChinPoo dog and her cantankerous Himalayan cat. She also writes gay romances as Gabbi Grey. ![]() Who: I am optimistic, a trait I share with my heroines no matter how tough the times, strong willed like my heroines to the point of never giving up, and love animals especially dogs. My heroines each have a pet whether a cat or a dog. I was born in New Jersey to two very loving and wonderful parents. My father, an Italian immigrant, taught Latin and Italian at a small local college. He left to start his own business, an independent print shop. My mother loved to help people and volunteered at our church and with charitable groups. She was a talented lace maker and loved to crochet and knit; her father, also from Italy, was a custom furrier and tailor for some of the most affluent residents of our community. Unfortunately I didn’t inherit those wonderful talents since I am barely able to sew on a button. As for my father’s ability to read, speak, and write foreign languages, that went by the wayside as well. But one trait I did inherit from my father was his love of a good story and he often told me stories about his childhood. I remember one that especially aroused my curiosity. He said that growing up in Naples, his family was divided by their economic status - rich or poor. His immediate family was not rich and those that were wanted nothing to do with them. He went on to tell me that his family was related to the Prince of Naples who became the last King of Italy. I always wanted to trace my family history to see if that was true. I have no reason to doubt him but it would be fun to verify and would make good fodder for a story … maybe a royal romance? Interests: I love to travel whether in the U.S. to our amazing national parks or abroad. I walked on The Great Wall of China, visited the pyramids, went to a pachinko parlor in Tokyo, saw the giant statues on Easter Island, and traveled the ring road in Iceland to name a few. Of course Italy has always been included in my travel plans and found my father’s church in Naples. Two years ago, we traced my husband’s heritage visiting Armenia. Having owned a video store on our island for twenty years, I love movies. I watch them at home now and try to find ones I haven’t seen which at times can be a little tough. Network: My husband is my best cheerleader and support to talk over my creative dilemmas as are my friends in my local RWA chapter. Desk: Eclectic. I guess you can say it’s like me. My desk is very small and built into the wall in our family room near the lanai door to the pool. It’s usually a mess with notebooks filled with future writing plans, calendar reminders, and books on writing stacked to one side. But I also keep fun stuff like colorful Mardi Gras beads I caught in the parade hanging from my bulletin board, a framed hand carved book mark made from very thin wood with “AUTHOR” inscribed on it along with the caricature of a god that my husband bought for me in Indonesia, a Troll from the movie of the same name, and a photo of my husband and dog Max. On the wall over my desk is a large water color of a manatee swimming beneath the water. It was done by one of our local island artists. Outrageous talent: This was a tough one for me since I couldn’t think of one so I had to ask my husband what he thought. It took him mere seconds to respond. He looked straight at me and smiled. “You are a people magnet. We could be standing in a crowd of thirty people and anyone looking for conversation or to get advice about a current life problem always seeks you out.” I thought about that and remembered that when I had my video store (when video and DVD’s were popular) that happened all the time. It happened so much I stopped asking “How are you?” It was hard to take a lot of time away from other customers so I asked what kind of movie they were looking for instead. I do genuinely care about people and my husband says that sincere empathy seeps onto my face whether in the grocery store or after meeting someone for the first time. I have listened to many interesting stories about romance, divorce, moving, and other life dilemmas. Some of the happier ones, I have stored in my mind. After changing the names, locations, and time line of the story teller, I have integrated many as backstories in my novels. Window: I consider myself very fortunate to have such a beautiful view. There are many days I’d rather look out my window than watch TV. We live on a Gulf Coast island in Southwest Florida. My window faces a sleepy lagoon that flows off the Back Bay where dolphin frolic and manatees swim. Never mind all the gorgeous birds! I watch anhingas dive for fish while the pelicans dive bomb after them, and the osprey or sea eagles circle and fly down to grab an unsuspecting fish. Ibises, blue herons, white egrets walk across my back yard while in winter we have vacationing Blue Jays and cardinals. There are owls at night, hummingbirds, and majestic eagles. Mangroves fill the other side of the lagoon while the flowering bushes like hibiscus and oleander in our yard add bright colors to my view. ![]() It’s the Holidays and Jessica Munroe seems destined for misery. Nonetheless she is trying to make the best of it. Her fiancé Jake, an emergency room doctor, dumped her for his nurse and just two weeks prior, she had to put her dog, her best friend, Mazy to sleep. The pain of losing both the man she loved and her best friend has taken her to a new low. Jessica, determined not to stay down, is now hard at work trying to push through the holiday season by doubling up on Christmas lights and decorations she’s putting up outside her residence. As Jessica works, a big brown scruffy dog appears in her yard and refuses to leave when she tries to shoo him away. He’s filthy, looks hungry, and seems like he needs help. A dog lover, Jessica takes him to her vet who discovers a metal bone shaped tag buried in his matted fur. The tag reveals his name, Sam, and a phone number to call if he is lost or injured. Sam’s owner Trey Musgrove is in the hospital the victim of a head-on collision. Now Jessica’s life is about to change forever thanks to Sam, this big brown scruffy lovable dog. Side effects of reading PAWS FOR CHRISTMAS are a happy heart, an uplifted spirit, new confidence in the future, and a smile on your face! Excerpt: I arrived at Healthwell, picked up my pre-arranged visitor’s badge, and headed directly to the sixth floor. I was so curious about him I couldn’t get there fast enough. Starra was on duty at the nurse’s station. Her face lit up like the shooting stars that influenced her name when she saw me. She called out, “Jess, please hurry. I told Trey you were coming. He’s anxious to meet you. Please follow me.” Starra walked briskly. I followed her pace into his room. Since I studied that photo online so many times, I felt like I already knew him. My heart pounded when I noticed the curtain surrounding his hospital bed was half closed. Starra walked us around to where he could see us, and we could see him before introducing me. “Trey Musgrove, this is Jessica Munroe. She’s the young woman who sent you the note about Sam.” Trey’s gaze was turned away from me as he drank water from a straw held by another nurse. When he turned to face me, his blue eyes took mine hostage. My body trembled from his stare. It was as if we had known each other for a long time. He looked a bit paler and thinner than in that photo but still incredibly handsome. There should be a law against being that handsome. His kind blue eyes looked tired and he appeared weak like Jake said because he might have “atrophied muscles.” I remained quiet to let him speak first. He looked at me, well, really stared at me. I wondered if my holiday outfit was over the top. He spoke as I held up my holiday cookie bag. “Jessica, I appreciate your visit and for taking such good care of my Sam. I can’t tell you how relieved I felt after reading your note since I feared the worst after no one found him near the accident scene. I can tell by looking at you that he’s a very lucky dog.” Amazon Books & Audiobooks https://www.amazon.com/Mariah-Lynne/e/B00AYH099G?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000 Apple Books & Audiobooks https://books.apple.com/us/author/mariah-lynne/id543077728 Rakuten-Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/search?query=Mariah+Lynne Mariah Lynne Website http;//www.MariahLynne.com Twitter @MariahLynne1 www.facebook.com/MariahLynneAuthor https://www.pinterest.com/mariahlynneauthor https://mariahlynneauthor.blogspot.com/ ![]() Who- Hey, kids. I’m Peggy Jaeger and I write romcoms, small town romances, and contemporary romances about strong women, the families who support them and the men who can’t live without them. I’ve recently dipped my writing toe into the romantic suspense genre, too. My latest book is a Holidary Romance Anthology titled CHRISTMAS COMES TO DICKENS. I’m one of 10 authors who each have a story in the collection, all centered around the fictional New England town of DICKENS during the weeks leading up to Christmas. My story is titled ANGEL KISSES AND HOLIDAY WISHES. Interests- People watching (in a purely nosy, not creepy way); restoring old steamer trunks by decoupaging them; hand-painting note cards for gifts and craft fairs; all things aging-skin care related – from dermal peels, to laser lights, to the newest in top of the line skin products. Hey, I’m 60. I gotta be proactive in the aging department, and knowledge = power, plus good skin! Network- I’m a member of RWA, NHRWA (my local chapter), I’m a Wild Rose Press author, have written for LIMITLESS and KENSINGTON, and I’m also now officially an indie author. I’m also a retired Registered Nurse, I have a masters degree in geriatric psychology and I’m a practicing Catholic (and I say practicing because I’m never gonna be an expert! Hee hee) Desk- When I’m working on a new book it looks like a cyclone blew through the area. Reference books tossed all over it, my three daily calendars stocked on top of one another, various pens and markers scattered about, and I’ll always have an empty glass or cup (or 3 or 4) from forgotten soda, tea, and water. Outrageous- For my 58th birthday, my daughter and I took trapeze lessons at Chelsea Piers in NYC. Can I just tell you how scared I was – but also wickedly exhilarated??!! Window- Outside my attic office window I can see the seasons change in my woodland paradise. I live in the woods and I see – daily – turkeys, deer, squirrels, chipmunks, and birds scurrying about below me. Since I live in New England and the weather has been schizophrenic lately, I had the view of 3 inches of snow last week, that has now all melted with the three days of 60 degree temps we’ve had. ![]() Universal link: Christmas Comes to Dickens UBL Link: https://books2read.com/DickensChristmas BLurb for ANGEL KISSES AND HOLIDAY WISHES Can a first love be rekindled when the past is filled with heartache? After a personal tragedy, Sage Hamilton left the town she’d grown up in and boy she’d given her heart to. With a vow never to return, Sage forged on with her life in order to forget the sadness of her past. Keith Mills loved Sage from the first moment he spotted her ambling down the hallway of their middle school. And she’d felt the same about him. Or so he’d thought until she’d walked away from everything they’d meant to one another with a tearful and rushed goodbye. But now, eighteen years later, she’s back and, as the town’s new doctor, it looks like she’s staying. Can Keith put the hurt of Sage’s dismissal to bed for good? And will she want to rekindle the love that had burnt so bright all those years ago? Find more about Peggy at these links https://peggyjaeger.com/ https://www.facebook.com/PeggyJaeger.Author https://twitter.com/@peggy_jaeger https://www.instagram.com/peggyjaeger_author https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/ ![]() Who- Hey there, I’m Birdie Song, an Asian-Australian sweet romance author. I write both for fun as well as for a living. And yes, it’s true… I do love a bit of pineapple on my pizza (and with sweet and sour pork, and in fried rice). Interests- My passions include food, nature and travel, especially combining all three within my home state of Western Australia. I live a pretty active life too, and am often nursing one or two sports injuries at any given time. All of these interests give me plenty of inspiration for things to write about. Network- Even though everybody in my family lives in different cities these days, I still think of them as my network. We have this strange relationship where we’re a lot closer and get along much better when we’re far apart. Perhaps it’s because when we talk now, we have to make an effort to focus on each other, rather than just spending time by the by. As an introvert who’s better at email and texting than talking, this is totally fine by me! Desk- For health reasons, I have three “dedicated” workspaces set up around the home — two seated desk setups and one standing setup. It ensures I don’t stay in one position for too long, as that tends to wreak havoc on my posture. My home is very small, so it’s kind of magical that this was even possible! Outrageous talent- I rock a mean microphone at karaoke. At least, I used to before microphone hygiene became a thing to worry about. Now I just sing very loudly in the shower, in the car, at my cat, and only slightly less loudly when I’m working in the garden. Window- Ah, outside my window is a view of a street that’s very busy for half the day and very quiet for the other half. We live between a hill and a body of water, which I think someone once told me is good feng shui. I have a feeling the way we’ve arranged the furniture around our window isn’t quite as auspicious as it could be, but — touch wood — we’ve felt reasonably safe and comfortable since our last redecorating effort. ![]() The Guy From The Internet A sweet romance with a touch of family drama. Holly Chee does not have her life together. She's flip-flopped on uni courses and career choices, and somehow scared off her long-term fiancée-to-be, much to the chagrin of her immigrant parents. But she does have her streaming channel, where she broadcasts her art from her one-bedroom Mount Lawley apartment. And she has that guy from France... assuming he's even who he says he is. "The Guy From The Internet" is a sweet #OwnVoices Asian-Australian romance novella, set in the world of Somerville Downs. * Contains mild swearing, multicultural language, alcohol use, and references to workplace harassment and infidelity. Available now on Amazon Excerpt Afterwards, when Jed asks to see my phone, I know exactly what she’s looking for. I mangle my quiche while pulling up the latest photo from Florian saved in my gallery. I’ve looked at that photo at least seventy-four times since he sent it, and it still makes my heart flutter. His steely eyes, soft features, light brown skin and a splash of freckles across his nose—my boyfriend is crush material. His hair’s shorter than usual in this photo. It’s a recent change, one of many he says he’s ready to make. A fresh look and a fresh start away from Paris is only the beginning. Jedda gives a long hum of approval. “My girl, he is a looker. Is he mixed?” “Both his parents are. On his dad’s side, his granddad is Scottish, and his grandma’s from Mali. His mum’s dad’s from South America, and her mum is from the same place in China as my mum’s family. Not that it’d make much difference to my folks.” “Oh yeah? Are they a bit…” She gesticulates with a grimace. “You know?” “Maybe. I don’t know; we’ve never really talked about it. But they loved Nick so much and kept going on about how he’s such a good Chinese boy. I think they’d definitely have a problem with me bringing home anyone who wasn’t exactly like him—looks and all.” We’re interrupted by a ruckus starting in the middle of the dance floor. “Great. There’s a nope.” Jed hands back my phone. “Sounds like it’s all kicking off over there.” “What do you mean? They’re just dancing.” “No, not there. Over there.” She points my chin at the other end of the room. Not far from the Christmas tree, a small group of new call centre recruits are reluctantly entertaining a familiar, unwelcome face. Their polite smiles, nervous sipping and uncomfortable glances around the room say plenty. I feel sick. “You coming, Hol? Actually…” She puts a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. I got this.” My heart pounds as I watch Jeds walk their way. My stomach does a huge flip. I try telling myself it’s the champagne and canapés, but I know deep down it’s not. Once she disappears into the crowd, I slip my shoes back on and get out of there as fast as I can. A Bit More About Birdie Song Birdie Song is an Asian-Australian romantic who writes sweet stories about people falling in love. She believes love is more important than labels, integrity is our most attractive quality, and that no one should be judged for putting pineapple on a pizza. Find out more here ●Newsletter ●Website ●Blog ![]() Who –I was born in the middle of a blinding spring snowstorm at the University of Michigan, which forced my mother to walk across campus in the snow to the hospital while in labor. I don’t remember any of this auspicious beginning, but it always makes for a good story! As a child, I moved across the country six times to various big cities before the age of fourteen. At college I met and married my love and moved to his small hometown in southern Ohio. At the time I didn’t know how I could live in a place where the stop light went on flasher at 11 o’clock, but now you couldn’t get me out of here with a crowbar! I taught first grade and fourth grade and raised my children who did not have to change schools even once. Interests – History has always been one of my loves. I am fascinated by the people from the past and how they lived. Much of history falls under the category of “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up!” and lends itself to some interesting stories. My favorite thing to do is find a real historical event and drop my characters into it and see how they fare. My two fiction books published by The Wild Rose Press, Steadfast Will I Be and By Promise Made, are set in the 1500s in Scotland during the reigns of King James V and his daughter, Mary, Queen of Scots. Network/Support System – My biggest support system is my family and friends. Before Covid-19, I spent time having lunch, enjoying movies, attending church, going to a Bible Study, and golfing with my friends in Ohio and those in Florida where we spend our winters. This pandemic is hard on everyone, but email, Skype, and Facebook streaming have been a big help for me. My niece and granddaughter, along with several of my friends, serve as my Beta Readers. Their input has been invaluable. I have also depended on my editor at The Wild Rose Press, Eilidh MacKenzie. Not only has she improved my writing, her own Scottish background has helped me give my stories an authentic flair beyond my research. Desk – I am lucky to have my own office. Originally intended as a Mother-in-Law suite, after my husband and I decided that neither of our mothers-in-law would be moving in, it became my office. Every other week I clean it up so the cleaning people can do their job, but the rest of the time I have papers, etc. stacked everywhere. I can usually find whatever I’m looking for even if it takes me awhile, and as A.A. Milne said, “One of the advantages of being disorganized is that one is always having surprising discoveries.” Outrageous Talent – The first time I was onstage in a community theater production of “Guys and Dolls,” I realized that I wanted to play all the parts. As a writer, I can do that. My time on stage the last fifteen years has been with a music and drama ministry called “LightReaders.” We are a small troupe that, until the pandemic hit, traveled around to churches and nursing homes with programs of music and Biblical drama. I have played Jonah’s wife looking for ship insurance, an angel trying to figure out Christmas, and the bleeding woman who touched Jesus’s robe, among many other roles. I have written most of the sketches we present, and we find accompaniments for the music. Some people think this is “outrageous” and would never get up in front of others, but the influence Christian drama has on other people resonates with me. ![]() Window – The entire backyard of our house is untamed forest. It gives us complete privacy in the spring and summer, is colorful in the fall, and serenely beautiful in the winter. My granddaughter made the paper butterfly hanging off the sill in preschool. ![]() BLURB FROM BY PROMISE MADE Hugh Cullane, accused of murder and sentenced to hang, is forced to deliver a message of betrothal to four-year-old Queen Mary of Scotland. He faces death yet again when, in rejecting the proposal, the queen's guardian orders his severed head sent back to England in a jar. Trained to protect her queen at all costs, Katherine Payne can show no mercy to the handsome messenger, despite the way his stolen kiss unsettles her single-minded sense of duty. Trapped between the English and Scottish armies, she must escape with Mary. Hugh joins her as they are chased by men determined to murder the young queen in their own quest for power. EXCERPT Musselburgh, east of Edinburgh on the Firth of Forth, 1547 Death circled him like a vulture. Hugh Cullane, on his knees in chains and surrounded by her guards, gaped at the queen’s guardian in disbelief. How could this be happening to him? All he wanted was to get back to his family home at Makgullane in the southern Highlands. All he had intended was to stop here at Fawside Castle, deliver his message from the duke, and head for home. He’d already wasted five years of his life, gambling and carousing in London. It was time to go home. “Why?” he beseeched her. “Ye will be beheaded in the morning,” she repeated calmly as if she were ordering porridge for her morning meal, “because the Duke of Somerset abuses his power as regent for the young English king Edward, and because he thinks our babe, Queen Mary, has no one to protect her. He will soon find out how wrong he is.” Hugh’s breath came in quick gasps. “I was sent from London to offer a proposal of marriage between Queen Mary of Scotland and King Edward VI of England. Surely ye can see the advantage of joining the two countries peacefully.” She spit out the words. “Peacefully? Ha! Somerset thinks he can marry off four-year-old Mary to a nineyear-old child they call king. ’Tis obscene! He doesna want a marriage. He wants Scotland to fall at his feet. He’s a loon! Yer head will send a message that his ruthlessness will be returned with equal ruthlessness.” “But I didna come to conquer Scotland,” he implored her. “Can ye no’ hear my brogue? I am a Scot, same as ye.” “After all these years of invasion by old King Henry, why would Somerset send only a single messenger? And a Scot to boot? Do ye think me an amadan?” “Nay, mistress!” He was the amadan for leaving Makgullane and the adopted father he loved. The woman continued to rant at him. “Our land has been ravaged by war over a tiny babe, and still, even after Henry’s death, ye want to slaughter us. The Duke of Somerset is a brutal man who will get the same in kind. Yer head in a jar will show him exactly that!” “Please, mistress, I merely came as ordered on the demand of wee King Edward. I had no choice but to come.” “Then ye will have no choice but to die. Take him away.” http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S3Q1FK6 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/steadfast-will-i-be-susan-leigh-furlong/1131669297?ean=2940161211540 https://www.susanlfurlong.com/ https://www.facebook.com/SusanLeighFurlong/ https://twitter.com/FurlongLeigh ![]() Who- I’m Jan Scarbrough, a romance writer from Louisville, Kentucky. I never settled on what I loved to write, so I have contemporary romances, Western contemporary romances, one medieval, and a couple paranormal Gothic romances. I’ve been a high school English teacher and a technical writer. I’m currently retired and appreciate, in this time of the pandemic, that I don’t have to get up in the morning and drive downtown to work or boot up a laptop and work from home. Interests- Outside of writing, I enjoy a weekly horseback riding lesson. It’s Kentucky, after all! A lesson is an easy way to get a “horse fix” without actually owning a horse. Over the years, I’ve owned three American Saddlebreds, the breed I love to ride. I also volunteer with a not-for-profit organization called Alley Cat Advocates, a group formed to provide a means of spaying and neutering unowned cats. Trap-Neuter-Return is the most effective way to stabilize and reduce the unowned cat population. This humane method identifies an unowned cat or colony, humanely traps the cat(s), spays or neuters them, and returns them to their environment. I enjoy working with the volunteers and helping the caretakers who really love the stray, “community” cats they feed. Network- I am a member of Novelist, Inc., a professional network for career novelists. My most immediate network is a group of 23 multi-published authors who have formed a blog and visit with readers in a Facebook group. This summer several of us created a short story set called Last Chance Beach: Summer’s End. It’s on Kindle Unlimited, but only 99 cents if you don’t belong. We came up with a FREE Cocktails on Last Chance Beach. That was fun making my cocktail, getting my husband to photograph it, and then drinking it! Desk- I’ve taken over one of the kid’s unused bedrooms to create my writing room. It’s full of bookcases, books, and file cabinets. Periodically, I go through my notes and research and purge. I have a big box of to-be-shred paper. My computer desk sometimes is crowded. My cat Folly likes to share my writing space. I have a MacBook Air. We’re an all Apple family. Outrageous- As noted, I love horses. When I retired, I decided to buy into a syndicate to own a thoroughbred racehorse. My guy is named Fire Marshall Bill. I own 1.5 per cent of him! He’s won one race, come in second once and third once. He’s three years old but didn’t make the Kentucky Derby. I have a friend who bought into another syndicate. Her horse, Authentic, actually WON the Kentucky Derby. Window- When I look out the window, I see my suburban neighborhood and the ranch house across the street. A church is nearby and often church bells ring and school children walk home. I also enjoy feeding wild birds and planting flowers for pollinators. When I look out to my back yard, I see my bird feeders and flowers, a bit faded because of the autumn weather. ![]() One of Jan's editorial staff is Folly, the cat, on her computer. ![]() My new 4 book series, available at all ebook stores, is called Ghost Mountain Ranch. Hank, the first book in the series is free, but you must read the second book, Darby, to find out if Hank gets his romantic happily-ever-after ending. The Ghost Mountain Ranch The secrets of the past still haunt the living… HANK: On Christmas Eve, Hank accepts the job of ranch foreman over the mountains in the Gallatin Canyon, Montana. But something dark is happening at the Ghost Mountain Ranch, where the past is reaching out in dangerous ways to haunt the living. https://books2read.com/u/49PaEM DARBY: Thirty years ago, Darby Heston fled her family’s Montana dude ranch. Now she must return to help her father. Would the boyfriend she’d abandoned still be there? Hank Slade has never stopped loving Darby, but is he willing to risk his heart again? Secrets tore them apart once. Given a second chance at love, will more shocking secrets from the past destroy their hopes for the future? https://books2read.com/Darby Bio Jan Scarbrough writes heartwarming contemporary romances about home and family, single moms and children, and if the plot allows, about another passion—horses. Living in the horse country of Kentucky makes it easy for Jan to add small town, Southern charm to her books and the excitement of a Bluegrass horse race or a competitive horse show. Her newest contemporary western romance series is the Ghost Mountain Ranch. Jan leaves her contemporary voice behind with two paranormal gothic romances, Timeless and Tangled Memories. Her historical romance, My Lord Raven, is a medieval story of honor and betrayal. A member of Novelist, Inc., Jan self-publishes her books with her husband’s help. WEBSITE | NEWSLETTER | TWITTER | BOOKBUB Amazon Author Page ![]() Who – I’m Marilyn Barr, paranormal romance author, homeschool mom, energetic healer, and daydreamer. My degrees are in molecular biology, chemical engineering, and physics (master’s level) with an emphasis on particle dynamics, so I’m an uber-nerd. My house has several large whiteboards in each room like the guys on the Big Bang Theory. After college, I became a microbiologist and studied the aerosol properties of microbes, vaccines, and therapeutic substances. I just love droplets and dust. They dance their own beat. My job was to design inhalers and devices to engineer the droplets to deposit in certain areas of the respiratory system. The job got too taxing on my body, so I became a high school science teacher – then I learned the real meaning of tired! Interests – I have a passion for wellness and health. As an autoimmune warrior, I have tried everything to keep my ulcerative colitis in remission. I keep an open mind and try every fad diet, miracle cure, exercise regiment, and spiritual practice. Yes, I sleep with a bag of rocks (crystals) in my pillowcase. Each rabbit hole teaches me more about the ultimate system - the human body and spirit. Recently I was certified as a level two Reiki Practitioner and started Shamanic Journeying classes. With my background in particle physics, it makes sense to me that our bodies live in a sea of energetic waves and ions. However, the idea of mind over matter did not hit me with true force until I met my spirit guides. I quote some of my spirit guides in my upcoming book “Dance to a Wylder Beat”. In the book, Nartan (Arapaho for Dance) has rejected his destiny as a Shaman for the safer life as a leather tanner and settler in 1878 Wyoming. When he tries to complete his idyllic homestead with a mail-order bride, his spirit guides intervene and lead him back to his spiritual path. Network – The Kentuckiana Romance Writers (KRW) and members of Leah’s Writing Lab are my biggest supporters. From advice on marketing to reading my drafts repeatedly, these ladies have been with me every step of my writing journey. On November 21st, 2020 I will be presenting virtually for KRW on Writing Characters with Differences and you are welcome to join us. We will be navigating the minefield of appropriate language when a character has a disability, such as Alison’s SPD in my debut novel “Bear with Me” or Aurora’s injury in “Round of Applause”. As someone with a sensory processing disorder and a son on the autism spectrum, I wish to see more neurodiversity in romance. Inclusion and acceptance are the main themes in my Strawberry Shifters series. This can’t happen if writers are too afraid of backlash to cast these characters not as sidekicks or victims, but as heroes in their own right. Desk – My desk is buried under homeschool projects. My ten-year-old has never been to school so his classroom is my office. He’s a mini-philosopher and poet, so the room is covered with books, notebooks of scribble, printed verse, and empty coffee cups. He would steal sips of my coffee until I started giving him his own mug. To avoid adding to the chaos, I write in my kitchen. I belly-up to the kitchen counter and sit lotus-style on a stool writing from 5 am to 9 am when my Future-Socrates rolls out of bed. Outrageous Tidbit – Well, so far, I don’t send my child to school and talk to spirits. Are you weirded out yet? When my son was three-years-old and very sick (deemed too sick for school), his doctor suggested using a DNA tracing website to see if any genetic diseases run in my family. I was adopted at birth and had zero family history. My son adamantly refused to spit in the tube after I opened it, so I took the test in his place. A month later I got an email asking if I wanted to link my results with my mother’s results. It took me a week to stop freaking out enough to answer. In the meantime, my biological mother emailed me with a request to talk. At age 35, I met my biological mother in person. Yes, she is as weird as me and we are besties. Someday I will write our story as part of the Strawberry Shifters series when one of the residents finds their adopted child. Window – Outside my window is one of the wild forests of Kentucky. I moved here five years ago without ever stepping foot in the state, just like my own voice's character, Alison in “Bear with Me”. Our little piece of suburbia is surrounded by horse farms and it is common to see horses running along the fence at the back of our property. This time of year, you can hear the music of birds migrating through our area from small hummingbirds to large owls. The feeders outside my kitchen window are often visited by bats, squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, moles, raccoons, skunks, and sometimes the intended birds. I feel like a fairytale princess when I step out onto our balcony because I’m instantly surrounded by woodland creatures. None of them will do dishes though. I checked. ![]() Blue eyes, dimples, and silky brown hair; Grant Luther has all of Alison's weaknesses. When he asks for one last chance to save their marriage, she agrees to relocate their family to isolated Strawberry, Kentucky in pursuit of his career dreams. Grant views Alison's sensory issues as limitations and protects her from outside threats. When he finds his new job includes changing him into a shifter in a war against the soul-sucking Sluagh he vows to keep the changes a secret. What he doesn't know is Alison has been hiding a magical secret of her own. One that makes her a target of the Sluagh. Will Alison emerge from Grant's shadow to protect her family? And can Grant learn that being different can be a strength not a weakness? Amazon Barnes & Noble Google Play iTunes KOBO ![]() Coming Soon!!! Release Date: 12/7/2020 How much do you owe the guy who rescues you from the slaugh fortress? Aurora Turner embarks on a post-graduate adventure to find her forever family only to be captured by the Sluagh, soul-sucking Fae exiles. While she is grateful to be rescued by the Strawberry shifters, her Prince Not-So-Charming is a little hasty when he starts picking out their wedding china. Destiny gives James Martin a second chance at love. Aurora may prove to be more of a hazard to herself than the Sluagh ever were. He has the daunting task of keeping her away from sharp objects, and from ogling his best friend, Nate. Nate Wagner is shocked when Aurora passes the prophesized shifter smell test identifying her as his mate. The beta male competes against the mature courtship skills of James with his own modern twist. However, will his devotion to James keep her out of his arms or will they create their perfect family—one they never dreamed of? Author Bio: Marilyn Barr currently resides in the wilds of Kentucky with her husband, son, and rescue cats. When engaging with the real world, she is collecting characters, empty coffee cups, and unused homeschool curricula.She has a diverse background containing experiences as a child prodigy turned medical school reject, biodefense microbiologist, high school science teacher, homeschool mother of a savant, and advocate for the autistic community. She would love to hear from readers via her website: www.marilynbarr.com. 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