Tanya Agler talks about "The Sheriff's Second Chance"

Welcome to author Tanya Agler!!

An award-winning author, Tanya writes sweet contemporary romance. A graduate of the University of Georgia with degrees in journalism and law, she makes her home in Georgia with her wonderful husband, their four children, and a lovable Basset, who really rules the roost. Her debut novel, The Sheriff’s Second Chance, is a January of 2020 Harlequin Heartwarming release. She’s represented by Dawn Dowdle and the Blue Ridge Literary Agency. When she’s not writing, Tanya loves classic movies and a good cup of tea.

1.    Tell us about your life outside of writing.

Hi, Diane. Thank you so much for inviting me to be your special guest on your blog today. I live in metro Atlanta with my wonderful husband, four kids, and one lovable but fussy Basset hound named Vera. In my spare time, I love reading to students at a local elementary school and I’m often found at my daughter’s basketball games or my son’s Cub Scout den meetings. I love going on picnics, and Georgia has some great hiking trails and state parks allowing my family to enjoy a picnic after walking. I’ve enjoyed climbing the steps to reach the top of Amicalola Falls and hiking in Cloudland Valley. Whether it’s walking outside in nature or on a treadmill, that’s one of my favorite activities. Otherwise, I’m usually found with a book in hand or watching a classic movie as I’m a huge fan of Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart.  

2.    Do you have a work in progress?

I currently have two works in progress: the second book in the series is with my agent and awaiting edits before we send it to my editor at Harlequin Heartwarming and I’m also working on the first draft of the third book in the series. In my second book, the heroine was first seen in The Sheriff’s Second Chance and the book deals with how she rebuilds her life in a small town after her ex-husband embezzled money from several of the town’s residents while battling bats and balancing work with her chaotic household including her young twins and menagerie of pets. The third book centers around another character from my debut novel.

3.    What was the most difficult section/piece you ever wrote? What made it difficult?

The first page of my books are always the most difficult for me. I’m still getting to know the characters and figuring out where to start and how much information the reader needs to get grounded in the story while not overwhelming them with too much detail is always the most difficult. Once I start writing and get the words on the page, I try to have fun with the book even the gut-wrenching parts where the couple faces insurmountable odds.

4.    What sort of research do you do for your work?

It depends on the book. For me, it’s a combination of interviewing people, watching YouTube videos, and doing online searches.

For the book I’m starting, I interviewed a friend of mine who is in the military about military life, reenlistment issues, and bereavement leave. I also rely on friends with different career backgrounds for information. My husband works in the medical field, and he’s answered questions on everything from poisons (for the cozy mystery I wrote) to stent procedures.

YouTube is amazing as I’ve watched videos on everything from how to change brake fluid to how to navigate a high ropes course.

5.    Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author that inspires you?

Reading is one of my favorite hobbies. In my childhood, I fell in love with Trixie Belden mysteries and still love reading cozy mysteries. Some of my favorite mystery authors include Anne George, Carolyn Hart, Rita Mae Brown, V.M. Burns, and Heather Blake. I’m also a huge fan of romance novels and love reading sweet contemporary romance and romantic suspense. Series and small-town romances are two of my personal favorites. With my debut novel coming out with Harlequin Heartwarming, I love so many of the books in the line, and two authors in the line whose books I read when they come out are Rula Sinara and Melinda Curtis. So many authors inspire me on both a personal and a professional level. On a personal level, Tina Radcliffe has patiently answered my questions about writing, my critique partner Jeanine Englert has read my earliest drafts, and my accountability partner Sharee Stover helps me stay on track. Professionally, I have the utmost respect for RaeAnne Thayne and Carolyn Hart and so many others who demonstrate a strong work ethic while writing remarkable stories.

6.    Was there a person who encouraged you to write?

In high school, my junior English teacher announced a contest for young writers, and her encouragement led me to enter. My mom found a copy of that story and was the first person to tell me she enjoyed my writing. When my two oldest children were in school and I started writing a novel, I told my husband what I was doing and he said he wondered when I would realize I was a writer and start doing something about it. He knew before I did that I wanted to write romance novels and he’s been a huge encouragement ever since then.

Website: www.tanyaagler.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTanyaAgler/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tanyaagler

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyaaglerauthor/

The Sheriff's Second Chance

Broken things can’t be fixed…
Or can they?
Officer and single dad Mike Harrison doesn’t believe in second chances. Ever. That is, until he learns that his former best friend—gorgeous green-eyed car mechanic Georgie Bennett—is back in town. Unfortunately, she’s also a suspect in a recent break-in! But it’ll take an old classic car to show Mike and Georgie that almost anything can be restored with a little patience…and a whole lot of love.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1335889566/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_3ZBkEbS5RNVP8

Harlequin: https://www.harlequin.com/shop/books/9781488061844_the-sheriffs-second-chance.html

BN.com: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-sheriffs-second-chance-tanya-agler/1131651914?ean=9781488061844

Devon Delaney talks about "Guilty as Charred"

Welcome to today's author Devon Delaney!

BIO:

Devon Delaney is a mother of three, grandmother of one, accomplished amateur cooking contester, lifelong resident of the Northeast and author of a cooking competition mystery series. She has been handsomely rewarded for her recipe innovation over the last twenty-plus years, including a full kitchen of major appliances, top cash prizes, and four trips to Disney World. She has also won the Grand Prize in a national writing contest for her “foodie” poem “Ode to Pork Passion.” Her latest book, Guilty As Charred, was released in late summer and two more are in the works. Between dreaming up new recipes for cook-offs and new ways for murder and mayhem to incorporate themselves into the competition, Devon’s plate is full.

Devon’s author website can be found at: www.devonpdelaney.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/devonpdelaney/

Tell us about your life outside writing.

When I’m not writing about murder investigations centered on cooking competitions I’m probably participating in one of my beloved hobbies or frolicking with my granddaughter. I play competitive league team tennis to keep myself in shape. I’m an avid gardener and I jar and pickle my harvest. Of course, I create recipes. I needlepoint, hook rugs and read cozy murder mysteries when time permits. I walk my standard poodle and I adore volunteering to educate underserved children about gardening at a nearby community garden.

Do you have a work in progress?

My fourth book, title undecided, is in the final edit phase. Let’s see: without any spoilers, there’s a Fall Fest cook-off, a murder (of course), a family crisis, a mysterious cast of out-of-towners clouding the murder investigation and a sense of urgency to solve the murder before the main character’s brother is tossed in jail. As always, I include a few of my recipes in the book, many being award winners.

This is the point in the writing process where I, as a proud author, offer up my creation to my editor for final polishing. While that manuscript is out of my hands being worked on, I don’t take a break, I move right into the next project, which is the fifth book in the series.

Was there a person who encouraged you to write?

My father encouraged me to write when I showed an interest as early as elementary school and thank goodness for his persistence. I have a strong memory of him reading one of my compositions and telling me I had writing talent. What a gift his words were. My mother also continues to encourage me at the ripe old age of ninety-four. I am very lucky.

 Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?

Years of writing winning recipes took a left turn when it led me to writing cozy murder mysteries. From the years of honing my recipe contesting hobby I learned to craft clearly written recipes with interesting titles and easy to follow steps. Each recipe has unusual “Devon spins” that made them unique to my culinary viewpoint. The next five years will be spent translating that process into my cozy mystery craft and I see myself becoming a better writer, story-teller and wordsmith.

What are you working on now?

I am in the process of letting my fifth book in my series find its way to the finish line. By that I mean, I thought the detailed outline of the book was leading in one direction, but it’s taking an unexpected and exciting turn. As my series hook explains, competition is the perfect backdrop for foul play, as it not only brings out the best, but also the worst, in people vying for cash and valuable prizes. My main character is having a character growth spurt, the murder victim was not at all who I expected him to be and the circumstances of the cook-off murder are unusual, to say the least. The pages will be filled with delicious action, tasty clues, twists and turns, and I am so excited to share my cook-off experience with my readers.

Weston Kincade

Welcome to author Weston Kincade!

Weston Kincade is a bestselling writer of supernatural mystery and horror novels that stretch the boundaries of imagination, and often genres. His current series include the A Life of Death trilogy and the Priors. Weston's short stories have been published in Alucard Press' "50 Shades of Slay," Kevin J. Kennedy's bestselling seasonal anthologies, and others. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA) and helps invest in future writers while teaching. In his spare time Weston enjoys spending time with his family and friends, fishing, and playing board and roleplaying games like D&D. 

Tell us about your life outside of writing.

Well, I'm a PK-8 Computer Science teacher by day. Nights, weekends, and over the summer, I write, participate in Story Medics' YouTube shows Prompt Joust and Story Glimpse, do book signings and lectures, coach writers, edit, and help out with Cleveland ConCoction's Authors Alley, the lit side of the convention. I began it 6 or 7 years ago. Since then, Melissa Stasko took over and the convention has continued to grow as a result. In my spare time I enjoy movies, shows, camping, fishing, video games and roleplaying, like D&D. To put it simply, I stay busy.

Do you have a work in progress?

Yes, I'm actually finishing a prequel to my Life of Death trilogy. I hope to have it finished by the end of the year. The trilogy was received well, so I wanted to give fans a bit more to enjoy in Alex's world. I've written short stories in the Life of Death world that have been published in anthologies, but I wanted to give readers something more after the trilogy.  While Alex and Paige are the stars of the trilogy, his mysteriously absent father and amnesiatic grandfather are the stars of this one. I think it holds answers to a few mysteries readers were intrigued by.

Was there a person who encouraged you to write?

Well, not really. My father encouraged me to read, bringing home fantasy books that got me hooked, like Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. However, I never knew any writers growing up. It was just something I had to get out or go insane. It gets quite claustrophobic if I don't get the voices out of my head now and again.

Five years from now, where do you see yourself as a writer?

In less than 5 years, my plan is to become a full-time writer. Book sales and finances will dictate whether that's possible. Until then, I am shooting to get out a book a year.

What are you working on now?

In addition to the Life of Death prequel, I'm working on a short story anthology, a few other novels, and I host two YouTube shows under the name Story Medics: Prompt Joust and Story Glimpse. Prompt Joust is a storytelling competition where authors match wits, whereas Story Glimpse uses short stories I've written to highlight best writing practices and offer advice to aspiring authors.

Social Media Links:

Website: kincadefiction.com

Twitter: @WestonKincade https://twitter.com/WestonKincade

Facebook: @WAKincade https://www.facebook.com/WAKincade/

Instagram: WestonKincade https://www.instagram.com/westonkincade/?hl=en

Pinterest: @WAKincade https://www.pinterest.com/wakincade/

YouTube: @StoryMedics https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdEI13B3ztngLLnj5Af_1sg?

Amazon Book Links:

A Life of Death: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078J66NYY?ref_=dbs_r_series&storeType=ebooks

A Life of Death Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7hx6fMxC80

The The Priors: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0753GD755?ref_=dbs_r_series&storeType=ebooks

Strange Circumstances: https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Circumstances-Magic-Fiction-Collection-ebook/dp/B00730UTS8/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Strange+circumstances&qid=1572378284&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

 

Build Your Authors Alley: https://www.amazon.com/Build-Your-Authors-Alley-How-ebook/dp/B07B8X6XKH/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=build+your+authors+alley&qid=1572378343&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Marci Baun talks about Snow Spirits

Happy New Year! Escape with a Writer Sunday welcomes author & publisher 

Marci Baun!

A fifth generation California, Marci Baun has had a passion for books from an early age. Unless climbing trees, swimming, catching frogs, or getting into the usual hijinks with her friends, she had one everywhere she went. That passion turned into desire to create her own stories. She wrote her first one in sixth grade, decided it sucked, and promptly lost it. It took her nearly 20 years before she wrote her next story. That only happened after she opened her own publishing house and had published books by some very talented authors.

Her stories, ranging from horror/science fiction to paranormal to contemporary romance and beyond, are influenced by her early years in Central California and her travels around the States and the world. But no matter the genre, you’ll always find a love story winding its way through it. Because . . . love.

She lives in California with her husband, her child, and two cats.

Snow Spirits

Not quite human, not quite animal, and isolated in a tiny village in the Qílián Shān mountain range, Lin Xuě just hopes to survive and live in peace.

When her parents insist she marry Kwan Bao, a young man from a neighboring village, her life is overturned. Bao is handsome, gentle, and unlike any man she’s ever met.

But, with the Great Famine in full swing and Chairman Mao’s oppressive presence felt in every inch of China, Xuě and Bao find themselves running for their lives across the Asia continent with the People’s Liberation Army hot on their heels.

Excerpt

They stepped outside into brilliant sunshine, and all of the hairs on her body stood on end. Something wasn’t right. Loud, angry voices filtered back to them from the direction of the banquet. She recognized her father’s voice, but not the other male.

Xuě looked to Bao. His entire body tense, he grabbed her arm. Their gazes met. Without a word, she motioned for him to follow her. They circled around the back of her parents’ hut and slipped into the forest.

Retreating farther into the trees, they sneaked around the village until the banquet area came into view. A truck with eight to ten soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army with rifles at the ready stood next to the vehicle. An officer stood at the front of the soldiers and looked around the village as if searching for something. Her heart raced, and she shrunk back. Slipping her hand in Bao’s, she pulled them behind a tree and crouched down in the melting snow. A pit opened in her stomach.

Why were they in her village? Soldiers only arrived to take something, or someone, away.

Even from the distance, their conversation echoed loud and clear in her ears.

“Where is she? Where is your daughter?” the officer asked.

She peeked around the tree.

Her father bowed his head and said, “I don’t know.”

The man stepped closer to her father, towering over him, and scowled. “I don’t believe you. Tell me where she is, and you won’t be punished.”

Her father stared at the other man, his expression giving nothing away. “I don’t know.”

The officer stared at her father. “I will only ask one more time: Where is your daughter?”

“I don’t know. She went for a walk early this morning with her new husband, and she hasn’t returned yet.”

“You lie. This is their banquet feast. They wouldn’t miss this.” He turned to two of his soldiers. “Check their hut.”

“No,” her father protested. “They’re not there. I told you they left early this morning for a walk.”

The officer raised his arm and struck her father, who reeled and crumpled to the ground.

She gasped and rose, almost giving away their position, but Bao pulled her back, whispering in her ear, “No. They’re protecting us. The best thing we can do is leave.”

“But—”

“If we’re gone, then your father isn’t lying. The officer may not punish him. We must leave before the soldiers find our wedding clothes.”

Fear rocketed through her. “The clothes will prove Father has lied.”

“No, they will prove we were married, but not when.” He pulled on her arm, and she turned to face him. “We must leave now.”

“We can’t—”

“Xuě, we must. What do you think will happen when they confront you?”

Xuě paused. She would freeze. Her yukihyō instincts ensured that. All of her life, she’d battled those instincts. Not once had she won, but maybe this time . . . “We can save them.”

“No, we can’t.” He grabbed her shoulders and captured her gaze. “Why do you think they’re looking for you?”

Her heart stuttered in her chest. Somehow, Mao knew. They knew about her. If they knew about her, then they knew about Bao, too, and possibly all of the others. Mao’s government had proven to be no more kind than the Japanese. Mao might kill them, but he might also do as the Japanese had done and experiment on them. He was right. They had to leave.

Behind them, someone said, “Zhōngwèi, the old man is telling the truth. They aren’t in the hut.”

“Then they are somewhere in this village. Search all of the huts,” the lieutenant ordered.

When they didn’t find them in the huts, they would search the forest. At least, the snow had melted enough to hide their tracks. And she knew this forest better than anyone.

“Come.” Bao’s whisper,  a breath on the air, tickled her ear.

Xuě bowed her head and nodded. With one last glance at her parents and the village, she sprinted after him into the trees. He surged ahead of her. She picked up her pace. Their footfalls barely a murmur above the silence. Some minutes later, he stopped and turned to her, his eyebrows raised. This territory belonged to her. He could only lead them so far.

With a nod, she ran ahead through the trees, heading toward her hunting ground and the cave she used to get away from everyone to think.

A few gōnglǐ away, the cave would be a perfect hiding place. Above the scree, in a rock outcropping, it nestled between two large boulders. From a distance, it looked like the other rock formations around it. Not even an experienced tracker would find them let alone regular soldiers. They would disappear into the mountains, like ghosts.

In a few days, still unable to find their quarry, the soldiers would give up and move on. Then they could return to the village and check on their parents.

Her spirits lifted, and she smiled. Plans of returning home and then continuing on to Bao’s village spun in her head. The comforting sound of her husband’s light rasping breath urged her forward.

They’d covered about a quarter of the distance to the cave when a shot rang out. Its echo ricocheted through the silent forest. A second shot followed by a third and a fourth then multiple shots reverberated in her ears. Xuě stumbled. Bao caught her and pulled her into his arms, turning her to press her face into his chest. She clung to him.

“Bao?”

The unasked question hung between them.

She looked up into his face. All color had drained from it. He nodded. She didn’t need to witness what had happened. In her heart, she knew. Her entire village was dead because of her and what she was—what the Japanese had made her and her new husband. Because their family had protected them, their blood now seeped into the earth, their lives but a memory.

Her knees buckled. Bao clasped her to his chest, supporting her.

“We can’t stay here. We must leave,” he said, but he didn’t move. Instead, his arms tightened around her. His chest expanded and shuddered under her cheek.

She closed her eyes. “I know.”

Her whispered words caught on a sob, but she couldn’t cry. She didn’t have time to cry. Once they reached the cave and they were safe, she would let her emotions take hold, but not now. Now, they had to escape.

Releasing Late January 2020

Marci’s works are available on Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited:

https://www.amazon.com/Marci-Baun/e/B01L2SQZ52

Links:

Website: https://www.marcibaun.com/books

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcibaun

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/marcibaun

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcibaun