Wednesday, November 8, 2017

An Unlikely Story

Story ideas come from unlikely places, sometimes even from the random comments of others. Like my short story “The Old Scout,” published today by Flyway Journal.



A couple years ago, on a mild Sunday in early spring, Husband and I headed “up nawth” to Franconia Notch, where the only section of two-lane interstate in the country runs between Cannon Mtn. on the west and a section of the Presidential Range to the east. It’s gorgeous country, with soaring cliffs and winding trails, cloud shadows and eagles’ nests, still lakes and snow-fed streams. And if you listen carefully, they will whisper their stories to you.



In the green shadows of pines, Husband and I skidded over still-icy trails beside the rushing Pemigewasset River, here just a brook; visited the noisy, swirling waters of The Basin; and paid our respects to the Old Man of the Mountain, the “Great Stone Face,” which fell in 2003 and is still mourned by Granite Staters. 




Then, a bit winter-stiff and getting hungry, we drove over to say hi to Mt. Washington, tallest peak in New England and home to the worst weather in the world. 


Parked at the side of the highway, we followed a footpath to a pretty spot along the Ammonoosuc River, where we munched our lunch and basked in the sun. Husband skipped a few pebbles, and I let my eyes drift over the mica-studded rocks in the water. A couple large boulders caught my attention. Sharp-edged, massive, clean of clinging moss and lichen, unlike the other worn and greened stones. I frowned. “I wonder where those big rocks came from,” I mused.


That’s when the magic happened. Husband gathered the whispers floating in the air and gave them voice. “Maybe from when Mt. Washington erupted,” he said.

It made no sense, of course. These are old, stable mountains eroding their way back to oblivion. Not volcanoes. But what if? What if…

The Old Scout whispered his tale to me, and you can read it here . Enjoy it, and the next time you’re out and about--listen.



Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Random Thoughts After A Long Weekend


At our destination
If ever someone won the daughter-in-law lottery, it’s me. What a gem! She had the insight and the patience to marry my son, of course, but also she’s smart, generous, and a terrific mom. Love you, Joanne.

Not a bad deal in the mother-in-law lottery, either. She’s sweet, shy, uncomplaining, amazed by technology, devoted to family. Her only flaw is that she refuses to come live near us.

My bold, fearless granddaughter (3yo) reminds me of my mother, who late in life finally got a chance to do some aerobatics. Wherever she is, I bet she’s yelling, “Another barrel roll!” in the same way Norah demands “Higher!” when I push her on the swing.

And my by-the-book, tried-and-true, process-driven grandson sat down with me to help knit a “blanket for poor people.” 82 stitches is a lot for an active 7yo. He had all the right-hand moves down pat by the end of the row.

Hot dog! I brought along exactly the right amount of yarn to knit into four squares of an afghan, plus enough to make a little sweater for Mr. Moose, Norah’s birthday present.


 
By far, the highlight of the trip is seeing how the grands adore their Grandpa, and vice versa. They play, roughhouse, read, tickle, swarm, hug, tease, wheedle, and cuddle all over him. He eats it up. He was a great dad, but he’s even better as a granddad.







In the car

My sweet lord, I miss George Harrison.

At my funeral, will someone please play Loreena McKennitt’s “Dante’s Prayer” and Yes’ “The Meeting.” Note that I don’t see either of them in a traditionally religious light. To me they express how one finds the courage to face the trials of life.

Speaking of George: why do I get all teary-eyed about him, but not about my mother?

Thanks to my son for the bootleg CD of a keyboard genius and master storyteller. A real treat!

Back home again

Laundry multiplies when you ignore it for four days. So does email. And bills.

The darned vole dug itself a new tunnel into the garden, but the garlic-based repellent evidently dissuaded it from chewing the beans. I need to pick some lettuce and the last of the peas, then plant some more green beans and spinach. Tomatoes and peppers are in flower, and the popcorn has shot up.

It's amazing how a 12-mile bike ride to work the kinks out and celebrate a gorgeous summer day leaves me feeling weary but surprisingly refreshed.

We were very comfortable at the kids’ house, but it’s good to sleep in our own bed. 
















Monday, October 10, 2016

NOBODY KNOWS, Susan Coryell's Latest!



Welcome back, Susan! I'm thrilled to have you here again. Susan's newest installment of the Overhome Trilogy will release Oct. 14, 2016, from The Wild Rose Press.
What fun to interact on Nikki’s blog once again. Thanks for inviting me, Nikki!  I appreciate your suggestion to set up my Overhome Trilogy so that previous readers can have their memories refreshed and new ones get a glimpse into what came before my new release NOBODY KNOWS, third book in the cozy mystery/Southern Gothic series. Remember, folks, Halloween arrives at the end of October. Why not celebrate with a spooky series featuring ghosts, the Overhome Trilogy.



Sometimes even the most
 fiercely guarded secrets are
 destined to be revealed.
A RED, RED ROSE, the first book in the trilogy involves twenty-year-old Ashby Overton’s visit to her family’s ancient historic estate Overhome in Southern Virginia. In search of her roots, Ashby finds mysteries galore permeating the old plantation house and grounds. Aided by Rosabelle, a family spirit inhabiting the oldest wing of the mansion, Ashby discovers sins and secrets of the past, while acquiring maturity and her own sense of self. Oh, and there’s a bit of romance involving Luke, the stable boy and Ashby’s riding instructor, who does not believe in ghosts.

Sins and secrets of the past lie
buried deep beneath the stones.



BENEATH THE STONES picks up five years later finding Ashby, now owner of Overhome Estate, faced with financial ruin; it’s up to her to find a solution. Selling off some of the property seems a viable solution until a recalcitrant spirit hold-over from the Civil War makes a determined stand against her every effort.  Ashby must use her evolving sixth sense to ferret out the mysterious past that surrounds the angry spirit determination. And, yes, the romance deepens.

Why do ancient spirits hover at the
crossroads between two worlds?

NOBODY KNOWS, third and final book, takes place five years afterwards. Now married and a successful author, Ashby’s bucolic life is turned upside down by the arrival of an African-American professor in search of his own roots: his ancestors apparently derived from Overhome Estate: one a slave and one a plantation master. Coinciding with a local effort to destroy a slave-built church, the professor’s appearance stirs up slave spirits who wreak havoc on life at Overhome. Everyone is depending on Ashby’s extrasensory ability to find the source of discontent in order to quell the fury.  For fun, a bit of both married and teen-age romance.
 With a successful writing career and blissful marriage, Ashby Overton is fulfilled and content at historic Overhome Estate in Southern Virginia'until a stranger walks into her life. The arrival of Professor Ellis O. Grady coincides with a violent and bizarre turbulence emanating from the dark world of Overhome's ancient spirits.

As paranormal events build into chaos, Ashby must use her sixth sense to sort out the real from the imagined in both the visible and the invisible worlds as, stirred into fury, the souls of Civil War slaves engage in a dangerous battle destined to reveal long-held secrets of the past.

What is the connection between the enigmatic professor, a slave-built chapel and a restored overseer's cottage on Overhome Estate? Ashby struggles to find the answers before the spirits destroy her family's heritage, and the lives of those she loves.


What threads lead from first book to last?
Many themes underlie the three novels. One overarching theme is that we cannot overlook the past in terms of what we expect of the present and future; layers of history affect our values and attitudes and may determine our very destiny . The ghosts in each novel might be symbolic of the hold-overs from the past that we cannot deny or ignore. Another major theme involves a look at the culture and society of the South where long-held, hard-felt ideas and beliefs often battle with modernity. The importance of family, cultural diversity, and economic and regional clashes also resonate throughout the series.
In terms of characters, all of the main characters and many of the subordinate ones mature and grow with each succeeding novel. The setting, Overhome Estate, remains the same, and the romance advances from attraction to devotion. I call the series Mystery, History, Romance & Ghosts!
Did you plan to write a trilogy or did it grow organically as you wrote?
Although I thought A RED, RED ROSE would be a stand-alone novel, subconsciously, I must have known there was so much more to Ashby’s story; I left some issues unresolved for some reason, right? When readers clamored for a sequel, I knew I was on a roll. BENEATH THE STONES was definitely an organic growth as I discovered over a dozen actual family letters written from the Confederate battle fronts in Virginia in the midst of my composing the novel. I was able to weave many of these into the story. NOBODY KNOWS pulls the saga full circle to family in search of heritage. In spite of a continued story, I have written each novel to stand alone.
Did your research lead you deeper into the history?
Oh my, yes! In fact, I find it very hard to know when to stop researching and start writing! I use local sources such as the Bedford Museum and the Museum of the Confederacy. I interview professors, farm owners and workers, horse experts, large-animal doctors, blue grass musicians and a host of others represented in my novels. And I read extensively—books, articles, news clippings. I have become a bit of a Civil War wonk—at least when it involves Virginia and our battles and soldiers in the Confederacy.
What got you started and is NOBODY KNOWS definitely the last?
My writer’s antennae went up while touring a supposedly haunted historic estate in Northern Virginia. When I retired to Smith Mountain Lake in the southern part of the state, I decided to look for a similar property there and set my story on fictional Moore Mountain Lake. Once I found the prototype for Overhome Estate, I was off and running.
I intend for NOBODY KNOWS to end the series. However…if enough of my readers want more…who knows?
What are you working on next?
I want to take a break from Gothics and write about the mystery and drama taking place in a large public high school when a principal without principle takes over. I’ll have plenty of fodder based on my thirty years of public school teaching!
Is there anything you learned in the process of writing these books that changed your way of thinking about the past, your life, writing? In what ways?
I think I’ve found my niche writing contemporary characters with a history background.  I will probably return to the genre after I finish my school-days book. I’ve also come to appreciate the depth and width of history in Virginia, where the first English colony was established in Jamestown in 1607—a rich heritage for a Southern writer! Finally, writing romance does not come naturally to me, so I’ve had to stretch my creative outreach there.


Excerpt from NOBODY KNOWS: 
     Walking over the weedy ground, I felt the desolate abandonment of those long-dead. A few tilting gravestones, so blurred with time that their epitaphs were illegible, listed toward the ground as if sheltering from a punishing wind. Scattered among the patchwork grasses were small, thin stone markers set in the dirt, little more than raw rocks, though several bore the faint outline of initials which had been chiseled into them so long ago. Ellis and I surveyed the bleak cemetery, each harboring our own thoughts.  I don’t know how long we stood there breathing in the silence. Then, I heard the voice.—so clear, so distinct, that I startled and almost fell back. Did my companion hear it, too? I darted a look at him. He stood with eyes closed, evidently completely lost in his own reverie. I held my breath and listened with all my senses on alert. The voice wavered this time, as though trailing away, but its repeated message was identical to the one I had first heard at the Overseer’s Cottage when the candlestick went missing. I had thought, then, that I heard “red apple,” which made no sense. Now I understood. “Jared Chapel,” the voice warned. Yes, its tone was severe. Demanding. “Jared Chapel.”
     I touched Ellis’s arm. “It’s here, Ellis. I know it is.” And when he blinked uncomprehendingly, I added, “You wondered if Jared Chapel offers anything in your search for your ancestry. It’s here—there’s something here. I feel it and I...I know it.”
     He blinked several times, a serious expression on his face. “You know because...”
     “Sometimes the past speaks to me. I can’t explain it, but I have to trust the voice that tells me things.”
     He rubbed his chin. “You know...this is odd. Really odd.”
     I raised my eyebrows in a silent question and he continued. “Because I thought I heard something. I definitely felt...a presence I can’t explain. Someone trying to get my attention. Someone very, very seriously trying to make me understand.” He shook his head. “Understand what? I confess, I’m baffled.”
     “It’s a sign,” I said. “Something I’ve learned over my years at Overhome. We ignore the signs at our own peril.”
Anything else you’d like to add?
My books work well for book clubs because there’s plenty to discuss with all the themes and symbolism and history. One local library actually provides multiple copies of popular books for local clubs and I am proud to report that both A RED, RED ROSE and BENEATH THE STONES are available through them. I’m hoping NOBODY KNOWS, after it releases October 14th will join the other two.

Contact info: website: www.susancoryellauthor.com
Buy link for NOBODY KNOWS:  https://amzn.com/B01L5TXLJ6

Finally, I’d like to offer another thank-you for allowing me to join you on your lovely blog. 

It's been a delight, as always. Readers, I'm sure you'll enjoy all three of Susan's books. I know I'm looking forward to Nobody Knows.

Saturday, July 23, 2016

A Refreshing Break

SUN TEA

Ah, summertime. Don’t you just love those long days, vacations, open windows? Not to mention the food. Sweet corn, tomatoes, peaches, strawberries. Cold beer, cream soda, and iced tea.

Delicious, real iced tea is so easy to make. You don’t even have to put a kettle on.  Just dump 10-12 teabags in a gallon jug, fill it almost full with fresh, cold water, and set it out in the sun. In a few hours, when it turns a rich, deep reddish-brown, add sugar and lemon juice to taste and maybe a sprig of mint. Serve over ice. Heaven.

Nothing at all wrong with that recipe, but how about a few tips to make it even better? I’ve been making sun tea for twen--thir--fort…er, a long time, and I’m happy to pass along a thing or two I’ve learned.

First, use a glass jar. Plastic ones are cheap and easy to find, but they have a nasty tendency to develop an unpleasant aftertaste. Glass stays clean and unscented. Plastic heats up fast and cools down fast; glass coddles your tea, warming and cooling it gently, so the tannins don’t get overcooked and bitter. If you can find a jar without a spigot--like the ones old-fashioned deli pickles come in--so much the better. The spigots inevitably leak and they’re almost impossible to keep mildew-free. If all else fails, remove the spigot, take the jug to a good hardware store and find a seal that fits. Wash it well and use a little silicone to hold it in place.

Try different tea blends. If you like a tea hot, you’ll probably like it iced. Replace a couple of the black tea bags with herbal teas or fresh herbs. Mint, lavender, and rosemary make lovely tea. (If you use fresh herbs, start with small amounts until you learn how you like them.) Try sweeteners other than sugar. With the tea brewed so gently, you may find you need less or even no sugar. Stevia is very sweet and calorie-free. Some people like honey. Use a few berries or other fruit instead of sugar, but put them in each glass. They’ll get kind of goopy in the jug. Substitute orange or lime juice for all or part of the lemon; my favorite is about 1 part lime to 3 parts lemon.

One last thing. Try making moon tea. Start it before bed and it will be ready when you get up. Because it won’t get as warm as sun tea, it will have a delicate, subtle flavor. Use a light hand on the add-ins, and serve it to your sweetie for a little romance under the stars.


How do you like your tea?

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

O Christmas...Branch?


Blue  Spruce 2-0
Original seedling 1998
 12" high
Shortly after I moved to New Hampshire I discovered a great deal from the state forestry service. Fifteen Christmas trees for only $20! Of course, they were only a foot tall and had to be planted, but still. Not all of them survived, but after a few years I still had ten trees.

Dave and I started cutting about twelve years ago. At first we cut a whole little tree. Great fun, and so easy to tote it in our garden cart instead of hoisting it to the car roof. But here's the thing. Trees continue to grow. By the time the third or fourth Christmas rolled around, we were looking at big trees. Great big bushy tall trees. So we started topping them.  The trees quickly filled in the empty spaces where their tops had been.


2015--12ft. high


By this year, all our trees had been cut or topped. Last weekend we ventured to the upper forty, where I planted those saplings long ago. The trees look great, but each top now consists of three or four stems. "Well," I suggested, "maybe we can cut just one stem and put it against the wall."

The "hole" left after we
cut the branch
Dave was skeptical, but he's used to going along with my harebrained ideas. We chose one stem, full and green on one side, nearly flat on the other, and applied the saw to it. It put up a fight, being high up and very close to other upright stems, but we persevered and succeeded. It tumbled through the lower branches I was holding aside and landed butter-side-down. Which made for an interesting haul to the garden cart, because it kept wanting to roll in our hands.








It was much too tall and it had a pronounced curve. It rolled onto its belly every time we let go of it. We trimmed it to size and applied the tree stand. The tree refused to accept its fate, instead bending one of the prongs meant to steady it. Dave got out more tools, fixed the prong, and tried again. The tree allowed itself to be supported, and we set it against the wall.

It leaned to the left, it leaned forward, and the "flat" part was more like 150 degrees than 180. Many of the branches were vertical.We tinkered with the leans for an hour or so, rotated it for the best view and hoped the verticals would relax in the warmth. I apologized for my suggestion. Dave conceded that from the proper angle, it looked very nice. And he discovered that the extra 30 degrees of emptiness, where it didn't touch the wall, made it very easy for us to water the tree.

Not the best-looking tree we've ever had. But once it recognized its place of honor, it graciously allowed us to decorate it. It released its heavenly aroma and sipped politely at the water in the stand. Its oddities give it more character than the manicured ones in the lots. And it looks pretty darn good with lights and ornaments and tinsel.

And the good news is, we have lots more branches.


Monday, November 30, 2015

Sheryl Marcoux: Cowboy in the Moonlight

It is my great pleasure today to host author Sheryl Marcoux. Sheryl recently released Cowboy in the Moonlight through Pelican Book Group. It's a wonderful story, complete with great historical detail, romance, and a touch of humor. Full disclosure: Sheryl was a member of my writing group for several years, and we had the pleasure of midwifing Cowboy.


Make sure you leave a comment. One lucky reader will win an e-copy of Cowboy in the Moonlight!

Thank you, Nikki, for inviting me to be a guest on your blog. I’m excited about the release of my debut novel, an historical inspirational romance.

Tell us a little about Cowboy in the Moonlight.
An 1880s attempt at scientific matchmaking goes awry, and a woman who wants to be loved for more than her beauty is challenged to look beyond a cowboy's scarred face and into his Godly heart.

How did the story come about? Did you base it on any life experiences? Do any research?

I always loved the “Beauty and the Beast” plot.  In Cowboy in the Moonlight, the common interest between hero and heroine is music, and that idea came about from listening to Josh Groban while I exercised on the treadmill. I have no clue what led me to write a western, because at the time I was living in New Hampshire. By the time I got the novel published, I’d moved to Arizona. Go figure.

Talk about your writing process: Are you a pantser or a plotter? Do you work on a novel every day? How do you revise? How long did it take to write your book? Do you have any rituals, such as selecting music, when you write?

I treat novel-writing as an art as well as a science. I’m a plotter to the extent I’ve spent years studying story structure. Since my plots are character-driven, my first step is to understand my main characters. What are their special abilities, flaws, and needs? Once I determine how my characters are going to grow, I outline their character arcs. This is their inner journey. Then I follow a template I’ve designed to plot an outer journey that will logically stimulate these changes.

Now that I know what’s going to happen at the milestones of the story, I draft it. I color code point of views and highlight where certain objectives are met. By now I also have a strong sense of character voice—and a very colorful manuscript. Then I rewrite for story balance, and fine-tune details of place and sensory information.  Then it’s time to submit chapters for critique. After I’ve integrated feedback, I find a fresh reader to see how the story flows.

My preferred ritual is to write every day, first thing in the morning, when it’s still dark. I love the serenity of writing in the quiet of the day and by the soft glow of a lamp.

Who are your favorite authors, and why? How do they influence your work?
I don’t have a favorite author or genre. I’m a fussy reader.

Do you have a day job? Tell us about it.
I have a military background as a behavioral science specialist and then I worked as an executive secretary for twenty-some odd years. This adds up to a winning combination of an insight into human behavior and speed typing.

Finding a publisher can be difficult. How did you find yours?
I found my publisher by entering Cowboy in the Moonlight in the 2013 Lone Star Writing Competition.  It won third place in the Inspirational Romance category. The publisher was one of the final judges.

What inspires you? How do you keep the writing fresh?
First, I accept reality. Storytelling has been going on for thousands of years. There are only so many plots that exist. For instance, Taming the Shrew, My Fair Lady, and 10 Things I Hate Most about You are all the same plot. I’m not going to invent a new plot, and so I begin by identifying and understanding the plot I want to use. Once that’s established, I integrate new characters and places to refresh the old story. I really believe we love to read the old plots over and over again, but we need that “something new.” Not only does this technique keep an old plot fresh, but I find it also makes a story fun to write.

If you could set a novel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
I would advise any new writer to begin by writing about what you know best—your own backyard. Research can be tedious. Worse, we can also get our facts wrong. So why do we always think the grass is greener in another place and time? Yeah, I’m guilty.

Where can readers find your book ? 
Cowboy in the Moonlight is available in paperback at Amazon.com:
http://amzn.com/B018DWGH76


Sheryl, it's been a pleasure having you. Best of luck with your book! If you're ever back in New Hampshire, be sure to stop in for a Talespinners' meeting. We miss your insight and gentle humor.

Nikki, I enjoyed being your guest. I want you to know that your editing expertise and the heart you’ve put into helping me improve my story have been tremendous assets. You’ve been my mentor on this quest toward publication.







                         

Monday, October 26, 2015

Please Welcome Louise Lyndon


Of Love And Betrayal

Welcome to the River today, Louise. Thanks for stopping in.
Tell us about your latest book, Of Love and Betrayal. How did it come about? How did it change as you researched wrote and it?
My latest book is Of Love and Betrayal. It takes place fifty something years after the first book in the series, Of Love and Vengeance. It features the grandson of the hero and heroine from the first book.

Interestingly, this book came about purely because I was avoiding doing housework! I don’t like housework and will look for any excuse not to do it. So, instead of vacuuming, I decided I would put together Laila and Aymon’s (the heroine and hero from Vengeance) family tree. One name kept popping out at me – Troy. For days I kept thinking about him and it was obvious he wanted me to write his story. And so I did. Of Love and Betrayal  has lots of action, danger, dark emotions, and betrayal–and of course love.

It’s become apparent Aymon and Laila have lots of grandchildren, and great grandchildren too, so there will certainly be other “Of Love and…” books to come!

      Well, I know I sure prefer writing over vacuuming! Or doing laundry, dishes, or dusting. Do you have a favorite character? Why?
I love Troy, the hero from Of Love and Betrayal. I don’t know why. I guess he’s as close to the type of guy I personally would go for.

That's a good reason to like a guy. Especially when you can make him do whatever you want. I'm curious--what authors do you return to again and again, if any? Where do you find new authors to read?
I will always pick up a Jodi Picoult book no matter what. I love her. And of course, Diana Gabaldon. Although I have to admit I haven’t read her last two books – not enough time! As for discovering new authors? I scroll the lists on Amazon and if a blurb interests me then I’ll buy the book – I’ve discovered many new authors that way.

Picoult is one of those authors you can read over and over, and still discover something new. Do you have a writing routine/ritual? What distracts you when you’re writing?
I’m disciplined when it comes to writing – especially on the weekends. Not so much during the week as I have a day job. But the weekend is a different story. I try to get everything I need to do (non writing wise) done during the week so that on Saturday and Sunday I wake up and just start writing. I do get distracted by TV, I have to admit. And I have it on in the background when I write (with the volume down low) because I find it’s more distracting if it’s quiet.

What do you like best/least about writing?
The voices in my head! Now, that can be the best or least good thing about writing. I’m not sure yet. But I constantly have voices in my head – bits of dialogue, snippets of scenes. And if I don’t pay them any attention (i.e., write their story) they only get louder and louder. And as soon as I’ve written their story then it makes room for other voices. It’s never ending and often new voices will pop into my head when I’m part way through another story. I’m usually easily distracted so I have to be disciplined and refuse to listen to them. For now.

Oh, I know about those voices. They even wake me up at night. What are your favorite non-writing activities?
I enjoy spending time with family and friends. I’m also a movie addict so I tend to watch a lot of movies/TV shows. And of course I read as well. Does eating chocolate count as an activity? If so, I do that a lot as well.

Yes, eating chocolate counts. I figure the calories used to chew it counteract the ones consumed. What is your advice for newbies?
Write. Then write some more. And when you think you’ve written enough, keep writing! The other piece of advice I’ll mention, and this was mentioned to me when I first started, is to write the book of your heart. Don’t worry about what is trending, or selling, or popular. Write the book you want to write. You never know, you may be the one to start the next trend! After all, wouldn’t you rather be a trend setter rather than a trend follower?

Now that Of Love and Betrayal has hit the shelveswhat else are you working on?
I’ve temporarily dragged myself from the medieval period and am working on a contemporary novel, tentatively named Catch Me If You Can. It’s a romance; think Cold Case, Law and Order, Criminal Minds, and Bones. It has a handsome hero and a kick butt heroine!

Are you a pantser or a plotter?
I used to be a pantser. Now I’m part pantser and part plotter. I have a goal to become a total plotter but I don’t think I will. I like not knowing everything that is going to happen. There is a certain something that happens in, Of Love and Betrayal, that came completely out of the blue. I had no idea it was going to happen it just did. And if I had been a plotter I probably would have missed that incident. Being a pantser is very much like walking around the corner and having no idea what is awaiting you. That’s both fun and scary at the same time. I’m not ready to give that up!

       Do you have critique partners or beta readers? How do they help?
No. I don’t have either. And I guess the reason I’m answering this question is because I want to let those writers out there who either don’t have/want a critique partner know that you don’t necessarily need them. Controversial I know! I’ve always had it drummed in to me that I need a critique partner. I used to have them many, many, many moons ago – and well, I don’t know. I felt my writing was being stunted. And when I parted ways with the partners I went through a very difficult time believing I wouldn’t be able to get published if I didn’t have someone look at my story first. But, I pushed through that. And yes, it does still scare me that no other eyes see the story before my editor does!

Writers seem to be creative from a very young age. Do you remember the first story you wrote? 
I can’t remember the first story I wrote because we were always encouraged/required to write stories at school. However, I do remember the first story I wrote outside of school. It was a blatant rip off of Dirty Dancing and it was bad. I mean, seriously bad. But, at the time I thought it was really good. I must try to find it. I’m sure it’s floating around somewhere…




     Of Love and Betrayal 
     by Louise Lyndon
BLURB:
Aveline de Bondeville is on the run. Determined to keep out of the hands of the cruel Raimbaut de Blois she will do whatever it takes to stay alive. And so when she finds herself in the company of Troy de Gysborne she must quickly decide if she can trust him. But can she confess to murder knowing it would mean her certain death?

Troy de Gysborne did the unthinkable; he tore the bonds of brotherhood and left a path of destruction in his wake. And now Troy must face those he betrayed, including the father who long ago renounced him. But to confess to the crime he committed will cost him everything. Including Aveline. But can he remain silent if it means losing the woman he loves?


Excerpt:
Aveline’s scream burned her throat; she tasted blood. Eudes staggered forward, his eyes wide. He looked at her as he fell to his knees and then slumped forward. Bright red blood rushed from his wound and pooled on the ground. She looked at Raimbaut.

“This time you shall not escape.”

She picked up her skirts and ran headlong into the forest and did not slow her speed as branches slapped her in the face and tore at her arms. The ground beneath her feet was icy and uneven. She risked a glance over her shoulder and did not stop even though Raimbaut was nowhere to be seen. He may not have been behind her, but it did not mean he was not stalking her.

Sweat trickled down her face and burned her eyes. Her heart pumped, her lungs gasped for air. She came to a skidding stop and looked wildly around. Should she keep running straight, go left or right, or make her way back to Gysborne? She turned in a circle and shoved her hair from her eyes.

A twig snapped behind her. She stilled and held her breath. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a blur rush by. Was it an animal? Was it Raimbaut?

She ignored the pain in her chest and her sudden need to loosen her bladder. But she could not ignore her trembling. She clutched her arms to her chest. A sour taste flooded her mouth as she did not see how she would be lucky enough a second time to escape from Raimbaut.



AUTHOR BIO:
Louise grew up in country Victoria, Australia, before moving to England, where for sixteen years she soaked up the vibrancy of London and the medieval history of England. She has since returned to Australia and now lives in Melbourne.

In 2013, Louise won first prize in the historical romance category of the Crested Butte Sandy Writing Contest for her story, The Promise, which has since been retitled and is now known as Of Love Vengeance.

When not writing, Louise can be found covered in mud, crawling under barbed wire and hoisting herself over twelve foot walls!

AUTHOR LINKS:
EMAIL:  louise_lyndon@yahoo.com
WEB:
  www.LouiseLyndon.com
FACEBOOK:
  www.facebook.com/pages/L
ouise-Lyndon/1472910852955051
TWITTER: https://twitter.com/LouiseLyndon1
PINTEREST:
llyndon3513
GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/LouiseLyndon

BUY LINKS: