January 12, 2013

Firstly, thank you to my writing pal and fellow CaRWA http://www.calgaryrwa.com member, Victoria Chatham – http://victoriachathamauthor.wordpress.com -for inviting me to participate in this blog hop.  I’m on Facebook and on Twitter, but I’ve been remiss in blogging in the latter part of 2012. One of my 2013 goals was to increase the frequency of my blog posts in the New Year.  No time like the present.

What is the working title of your book?

In 2012, I published several books in the contemporary romance genre.  I’m changing genres in 2013 and currently working on revisions to Book One of my historical western Spirit Creek Series, No More.

Where did the idea come from?

I’ve been an avid reader of historical American west romance for years. The genre is my first love and my writing mentors always said ‘write what you know’.  I suppose write what you enjoy qualifies, too. The plot just popped into my head one day.

http://t.co/IH0Faqny

For as long as Jack can remember he’d been a resident of Bandit Creek. For almost two hundred years he’s been roaming the streets, alone, drinking to forget about his damned life. Cursed by a demon, he can’t die, although he’s tried many times.  The only thing that can release him from this wretched existence is to find the gold he stole all those years ago and return it to those who died in the flood. Only problem is…with his mind so ruined he can’t remember where he buried it.

His salvation comes with Kristen Morgan’s arrival. The infamous psychic and the sheriff’s daughter can help him. There’s only one other person who knows where the gold is…his long dead partner Colton. And Kristen’s seen him in her dreams.

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This is the final book in the Bandit Creek Series.  Kinda sad, isn’t it? But we finally learn about Jack! 

December 31st…the last day of 2012.  And what a year it has been for me!

My main resolution for 2012 was to become a published author. Thanks in huge part to encouragement, support and friendship from my writing pals from CaRWA (the Calgary chapter of Romance Writers of America), I achieved this goal on March 17th (fitting for a gal of Irish heritage) with the release of War Bride on Amazon http://amzn.to/VyXsTK . My story, Lucy’s April Fools http://amzn.to/LEqTlD, followed in the Bandit Creek anthology, Fool’s Gold released on April 1st. My Bandit Creek story, A Bandit Creek Miracle http://amzn.to/KgZu6U , was released on May 15th as part of the wonderful Bandit Creek Books Series. Being a member of the Bandit Creek Book Series taught me so much about Indie publishing and all that it entails, and I’ll be forever thankful that I was included in that wonderful project. As a result of this experience, four more of my contemporary novels were released in 2012. I’m especially proud of Love To The Rescue http://amzn.to/Si97FR, of which I’m sharing half of my royalties with Humane Society shelters. No stopping me now.

What’s on the agenda for 2013? More writing, more book releases. I’m currently working on a couple of contemporary stories that weren’t completed in time for a 2012 release. I’ll publish them on Amazon sometime next year. But the truly exciting, upcoming project is my Spirit Creek Series. Yep, I’m concentrating on historical American west romance (my first love) in the New Year.

The Spirit Creek Series is set in the fictional Montana town of Spirit Creek, located a few miles south of Miles City in the south-east part of the state.  Book One, NO MORE, takes place in 1889, the year Montana received its statehood. The story centers on the sheriff’s widow left destitute by her late husband’s lies and deceptions. Book Two, NO TIME, continues the series with the story of the newly-elected sheriff’s fiancée. Book Three, NO CHANCE, tells the tale of the bank manager’s daughter, a finishing school graduate and female piranha who is out to find herself a suitable husband. More storylines for Spirit Creek books are simmering on the back burner of my mind, including NO TIES about the new schoolmarm in town. Seems the local male population keeps marrying the school teachers and finding replacements has become a full-time job for the school committee chairman. There’s no telling who he might unwittingly hire.

2013 is looking promising for me, and I hope you’re making plans and resolutions and setting goals for yourself, too.  You can accomplish anything you set your mind to if you’re willing to work hard, learn all you can about it, and then fearlessly jump in with both feet. Worked for me. 🙂

Happy Reading and Happy New Year, Everyone!

Christmas on the Run

(A Bandit Creek Romantic Suspense)

Available now on Amazon http://amzn.to/WeYyX

When Ramon Ramirez is found not guilty of first degree murder, Adelina Ramirez grabs their six year old daughter and leaves Atlanta, determined to keep him from taking Sadie to Brazil and keeping her there.

A bad snow storm on an almost-deserted road in Montana forces Lina to stay in Bandit Creek for Christmas. New friend Todd Black is bound to help the quiet woman and her child. He knows there’s more to her story than she’s saying, but it’s none of his business.

In the midst of Christmas preparations and a record snow storm, Ramon tracks her down. He doesn’t care about Lina but he wants his daughter and he’s going to take her.

With Todd at her side, Lina is forced to confront her worst fears. Together, they will face Ramon and forge a new future – a gift from her Christmas on the Run.

WHEN DREAMS COLLIDE

(Sequel to A Bandit Creek Miracle)

For years, Susan Sanders worked diligently until the ambitious young woman attained her current position as manager of the Helena branch of the Ellis Bank. Now, she dreams of being named a director of the bank one day.

Through circumstance and a bit of matchmaking, Susan is introduced to a handsome ranch foreman named Dusty MacFarland. They spend a memorable day and evening serving as bridesmaid and groomsman at their friend’s wedding.

Dusty has held a lifelong dream of his own—buying and operating a horse ranch. Due to a recent inheritance, his dream is within reach and he enlists Susan’s assistance in making the dream come true.

Susan soon realizes that her urban commerce goals don’t match with Dusty’s rural ranching plans and with their contrasting dreams on a collision course, a future together seems impossible.

An early disappointment derails Dusty’s plans, but a new opportunity presents itself immediately. Surprisingly, this arrangement could enable both of their dreams to come true and a future together might be possible after all. And then tragedy strikes, leaving Dusty’s dreams in tatters. Could this unfortunate situation destroy Susan’s hopes of a happily ever after?

Available on Amazon  http://amzn.to/Rm4no4

Up the Creek Without a Saddle

(A Bandit Creek Contemporary Romance)

December 1, 2012

It was a series of misunderstandings that lead Lily to this place of deceit. She thought she was all by herself when she gave in to a temper tantrum in the middle of a field of cattle near Bandit Creek, Montana. By the time she overcame the shock of finding an insanely handsome man was watching her, she found herself lying without ever intending to.

Now this kind man had come to believe she was poor and in desperate need of help, when in reality she could easily purchase the entire town of Bandit Creek with the money readily available in her chequing account. It was her family’s enormous wealth that had prompted Lily to head out west in the first place, to take some time away and decide if she really wanted to take her place in the corporation like everyone expected. Leaving all signs of her wealth behind her, Lily was doing just fine… until she stumbled into Jayce.

Not only were his disarming looks leaving Lily to blush like a schoolgirl, she quickly realized her family’s great fortune came at a cost to farm families just like his. And now she found herself creating an entire fabrication so that he wouldn’t discover she was actually his enemy. But it became more and more pressing to tell Jayce the truth, if Lily wanted the chance to get to know him better. Bracing herself, Lily finally came clean with the truth of her background. But she was unprepared for the long-held secret that Jayce had of his own.

Available on Amazon now.   http://amzn.to/SQa36o

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