Introducing Best-Selling Canadian Women's Literary Fiction Author, Deborah Armstrong

 

 I'm pleased to share a wonderful new-to-me author named Deborah Armstrong! I met Deborah at the local Summer Arts Festival and read her novel Boss, which I really enjoyed! Looking forward to book 2 in the series!

I am an Amazon Best Selling author of Women's Literary Fiction.

I'll never forget that hot and steamy summer that started me on my writing journey. 

It was June, and I celebrated a significant birthday. I couldn't settle for some reason, and all that interested me was reading my daughter's collection of romance novels. I read them all: paranormal, contemporary, historical, and chick-lit. And, I didn't read the books once; I read them repeatedly. I also began to write romance, and by the time fall arrived, I had two rough drafts ready: Forever Love and Love's Promises.

I live with my family on a large dairy farm. My writing is a romantic blend of farming, family, and fantasy. Romance and farming were never so hot, especially when a Hollywood heartthrob or rock star is involved. 

My latest release, a short story called Love's Farewell, will be available for free from October 27 until the 29th. 

I have two Amazon campaigns scheduled for Thursday, October 27. Forever Love is scheduled for a price countdown starting at $1.99 on Thursday and then increasing by $1 the following days.

Want to discuss books, cows or favourite shows on Netflix? Reach out to me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Check out my storyboards on Pinterest, too.

Links to my social media: 

Website;  https://deboraharmstrong.ca/

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

Pinterest  https://www.pinterest.ca/deboraharmstrongauthor/

LinkedIn  https://www.linkedin.com/in/deboraharmstrong4108/

Twitter  https://twitter.com/WriterDeborah

Here is the link to my Author Page on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B008WNVMXQ

How many hours a day do you write?

I wish I had more time to write than I do. I think the average is 10 productive hours a week. I can easily get distracted, so I pick a day when I know I won't have the phone ringing or grandchildren popping over for a visit. For example, today should be free of distractions, so I plan to write once I send you this email.

How do you choose which stories you will write?

My stories choose me. I have a list of titles and 10-word blurbs. Whichever story pops out at me is the one I focus on.

What is the most difficult part of your artistic process?

The most difficult part of my writing process is hitting that wall when the characters fall silent. I have a work in progress now where the hero, who is the strong and silent type, has gone silent. When this happens, I move on to my short stories for a while.

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

Five years from now, I would like to be writing and publish on a more regular basis. I'd like to release a book every six to eight months. I think this is a realistic goal.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

I have no unpublished books. Everything I have written is available for sale. I have one story and one short story that I am working on now.

Was there a person who encouraged you to write?

My father was an avid reader and a stickler for proper grammar. He would tutor me in sentence structure and grammar. He kept a daily journal and enjoyed writing letters. He passed away before I published my first book, although I'm sure he would be proud of my accomplishments.

FOREVER LOVE – Book 1 – Davina & Quinn Series

What would you do if you sat next to your Hollywood crush on your flight to Los Angeles? How would you spend those few hours? What if he asks you to go on a mile-high speed date with him?

Davina Stuart is a widow, dairy farmer, and bestseller author. She isn’t looking for love, but she’ll settle for a one-night stand with the handsome Quinn Thomas. What does Davina have to lose? Once her time with Quinn is over, she can return to her farm and get back to the life she loves.

However, Quinn isn’t looking for a one-night stand. He’s looking for his forever love, and he’s sure Davina Stuart is the one for him. Quinn stops at nothing to romance the beautiful widow to win her love. She may be older than him, but age doesn’t matter when it comes to matters of the heart.

Join Davina and Quinn on their romantic journey with stopovers in Hollywood, New York City and Davina’s dairy farm in Canada. Add an unplanned pregnancy, a stalker and a fortune teller who is never wrong, and you’ve got terrific romantic suspense for your reading enjoyment.

 

BOSS – Book 1 Game Changer Series 

If you’re looking for a new series with sizzle, the Game Changer series is the one for you.

Dane Andrews, known as Boss to the men who served with him in the Canadian special elite force, has one rule. Never socialize with the women in his hometown. He can’t afford to be attached to a woman, especially in his line of work, and most of all, he can’t let anyone know about his work. 

Until —

One night Jules Montgomery walked into his bar and needed a hero. Dane stepped in to be the man that the red-headed beauty required. For one night, he pretended to be her boyfriend. He kept her company, made her laugh, and made her forget the stalker who was after her. For one night, they pretended to be lovers.

Five years later, Dane is brain injured. He has a service dog to keep him safe, his best friend to watch over him, and a housekeeper who loves him like a son. Dane also discovers he’s the father to a precocious five-year-old daughter.

Can Dane reunite with the woman who has haunted his dreams?

Can Dane break through Jules’ defences and win her love?

Can Jules reconcile the man of her dreams is also the man of her nightmares?

 

LOVE'S FAREWELL - A Short Story Davina & Quinn Series

Whose arms would you want to hold you in a love's farewell?

Foxx O'Connell is dying.

As the thorn in the side of Quinn Thomas, O'Connell's final request will deliver his ultimate revenge … to die in the arms of Davina Stuart Thomas, Quinn's beloved wife.

Will he get the chance to get the better of Quinn?

Will Davina choose Foxx over Quinn?

Will Davina bring comfort to Foxx or remind him of a life of regrets?

Even after the happily ever after ending, there is still more to the lovers' story.

Love's Farewell is a short story that brings devoted readers into a deeper layer with the main characters. For all, it's about love, death, dying, and saying goodbye one last time.

For new readers, Love's Farewell introduces you to the main characters in the Davina and Quinn series. You'll witness the strength and compassion of Davina, and you'll feel the emotions that she stirs within Quinn.

 

Announcing Charlotte Gray, the second book in the Those Regency Belles series by Vicki Chatham

 

Welcome to fellow BWL Publishing mystery and romance author, Vicki Chatham!

Victoria Chatham’s tag line History, Mystery, and Love says it all. She is a history buff, especially of the Regency era, adds a little mystery into her novels and seals them with a loving happy ever after ending. She meets with her writing buddies as often as possible but when not writing enjoys the great outdoors, especially if it includes playing around with dogs or horses. She lives near Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 

            www.victoriachatham.com

https://bookswelove.net/chatham-victoria/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVictoriaChatham/

Tell us about your life outside of writing.

I retired from the workforce several years ago and appreciate the freedom from having to get up to the sound of an alarm clock. I love dogs, and because it was no longer practical to have my own, I started house and pet sitting. I have several clients and care for various dogs, from an elderly and quite grumpy Yorkshire terrier to a young mixed breed with bags of energy. I can write wherever I go once I have the dogs’ routines figured out, but do not take my laptop on holiday with me. That is nearly a complete break, although I often use the places I’ve visited for settings in my books. I take loads of photos, too, although I’m more of a point-and-shoot kind of gal rather than a real photographer. I enjoy the movies, too, and am just beginning to feel comfortable going to the cinema again rather than watching them on Netflix. I’m also thinking of trying my hand at mixed media art, but I will save that for a winter project.

Do you have a work in progress?

Not yet, although it is in the works. It will be a contemporary western romance I’ve been toying with for the last six months. Although most of my books are historical romances or historical fiction, I like being able to switch genres. When I wrote the first contemporary, I mistakenly thought I wouldn’t need to do so much research, but that didn’t happen. I found I needed to do almost as much to write accurately about steer wrestling and ranch life, about which I knew very little. No one has called me out on it, so I guess I got it right.

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

That had to be Charlotte Gray, the second book in my series Those Regency Belles. It may seem odd to non-writers when they hear writers talk about fighting with their characters, but Charlotte did not want the story or the life I planned for her. In the original plot, Charlotte was an orphan who, like so many young ladies of that era, had no future other than getting married, becoming a governess or lady’s companion, and going into prostitution or the workhouse. Original Charlotte became a lady’s companion and lived a quiet life in the country, mooning after her employer’s nephew each time he visited. Charlotte wanted more, so I gave it to her. Not only did she have the action she demanded but landed herself a dashing hero.

What sort of research do you do for your work?

I read a lot. I also watch movies and YouTube, which is a fantastic resource. Wanting to know what life on a ship would have been like for passengers, I watched To the Ends of the Earth, a three-part BBC TV miniseries starring Benedict Cumberbatch about a voyage to Australia in 1812. I also appreciate virtual tours of the great houses of England, frequently stopping the video to catch details that may or may not finish up in my narrative. I use Mr. Google, but that is usually a starting point, not the be-all and end-all. As a tactile person, I like to see and hear things for myself whenever I can. One of my most poignant moments came at the Imperial War Museum in London, England, reading an actual letter from a soldier in France during WW1 while researching my book Shell Shocked.

Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author who inspires you?

Georgette Heyer was my inspiration to write Regency romance, but I later enjoyed Mary Balogh’s Regency romances just as much. Although I read a lot in my genre, I also thoroughly enjoy a good thriller. I’ve been a Jack Reacher fan for years and have recently started reading the Longmire books as I enjoyed the TV series so much. Anthony Horowitz is another author I enjoy reading. He also wrote the TV series Foyle’s War and contributed scripts to the Poirot and Midsomer Murders TV series.

Was there a person who encouraged you to write?

That would be my late husband, bless him. My family never saw my writing as a serious career, rather a little hobby, although I think they are proud of my achievements now. When I started talking about how much I wanted to write and would when I retired, Nitch (a nickname—only his family called him Neil) signed me up for short story writing classes and then entered me in a short story competition in which I placed fourth and won $100. He did the shopping, cooking, and cleaning so that I could write. His only reward, he said, was to have a red Ferrari and an eighteen-year-old blonde chauffeur when I made it to the New York Times bestseller list, which hasn’t happened yet. I agreed to the car but not the chauffeur. Can you imagine what the insurance would have been? He’s been gone twenty-one years now. During that time, my writing tribe has gone on to support and encourage me every step of the way. 

 

Charlotte Gray discovers her home ransacked, her father missing, and a dark and dangerous stranger, Benjamin Abernathy, waiting for her. He had promised to take care of his friend’s daughter if anything befell him and must now follow through with that promise.

With no other options, and despite her misgivings, Charlotte becomes established in the stranger’s home as governess to his nephew and niece. Benjamin doubts her ability to cope with the two young hellions but is quickly reassured as he recognizes the sharp mind behind her blue eyes. But is it Charlotte’s mind he falls in love with, or her delectable body?

Charlotte is hunted for the knowledge she is suspected of possessing and Benjamin for the threat he presents. Will the smugglers and spies behind the threat have any chance against this duo who will go to any lengths to protect the secrets they each must keep?

https://books2read.com/Charlotte-Gray

Callie Wade: Some would call her a successful businesswoman. Colt McKeacham must call this knockout redhead his boss.

Colt McKeacham: Some see him as a rugged, tough ranch foreman. Callie sees a sexy-as-hell cowboy with an attitude. How can she resist him?

Callie Wad almost inherits a ranch from a grandfather she never knew she had. The last stipulation in his will that she marry the ranch foreman, Colt McKeacham, within six months leaves her reeling. When Callie visits the ranch and suffers a series of accidents, Colt sees a disturbingly familiar pattern and suspects that her grandfather’s death was not what it appeared. Who is deliberately trying to drive Callie away, or worse? Despite their growing attraction, Callie has her suspicions that Colt wants the ranch more than he wants her. The truth stuns them both.

https://books2read.com/Legacy-of-Love

 

Canadian author Julia Dovey launches a great new book, Lipstick Tattoo.

 

Welcome to BWL Publishing author, Julia Dovey!

Julia Dovey grew up in Aldergrove, BC. In eleventh grade she decided to write a book after a substitute English teacher gave a positive comment on a short story, and her first full-length and hilariously bad novel was finished in three months. She went on to get a bachelor’s in Creative Writing from the University of the Fraser Valley, where she kept writing novels of (hopefully) increasing quality. Today she hails from Abbotsford, BC, where she writes to the tempo of unceasing rain.

Website and social media:

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/julia_writes_things/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC32THCY7CvIXXBcjf0iYOZQ

Publisher page: http://www.bookswelove.com/dovey-julia 

What genre do you write?

Currently I’m writing romance, with my first book being LGBTQ+ romance. However, I also love to write literary fiction and magical realism.

Do your reading choices reflect your writing choices?

For sure. When I was younger, I was an avid reader, and I read across a wide variety of genres. I loved literary fiction, romance, magical realism, and comedic writing. I learn something new every time I read, and it’s not surprising that my writing reflects what I consumed as a child/teen/young adult. A writing passage of mine may have been dually influenced by both Anne of Green Gables and Good Omens.

Which type of characters are your favorite to write?

Oh, interesting question. I suppose what I like to write are characters who put on this façade of being fine and dandy, but are hiding the fact that they’re trapped – from outside or inside sources. This “brave face” person is fun to write because I know, at some point, they’re going to snap and make a scene and shock everyone.

Do pictures, real life or plain imagination create the character you want readers to love?

Characters develop a few ways, for me. One way is certainly to base them off people I know. If they’re based off a friend, then (if I managed to portray them correctly) I know I’ve got a good shot at people loving them, because I sure love them! And the same goes for people who really salt my coffee – an irritating real-life person will hopefully make an irritating character.

However, a lot of the time I think my characters – or even my stories, for that matter –start off from a feeling rather than a concrete image. This feeling could manifest from something that happened to me, or to someone else, or even from an image or a song. I realize that I want to create a character who is feeling this specific feeling; it’s what’s creating their conflict. For example, the character of Bianca from Lipstick Tattoo had actually manifested from listening to dodie’s song “Cool Girl,” which is about a girl’s misguided struggle to be perfect and low-maintenance for her partner, and not be like “other girls.”

That being said, these are simply starting points. My character develops from there, as I write, and could be entirely divorced from their initial conception by the book’s final draft. I’ll get little ideas throughout the days that pass – “Oh, I want my character to be obsessed with this certain type of drink” “oh, I’d like my character to have THOSE eyes, specifically.”

The trick is to create characters that are cohesive, and not just scrapbooks of different things you like. It’s quite a feat to create a person from nothing, and a realistic, likeable person, at that.

Do your characters come before or after your plot?

I get a general idea for a plot concept, and the characters usually manifest after. I’ll have ideas of what characters are needed for this plot to work (“okay, I need the main character who struggles with X, the love interest who does X, maybe a friend character…”) and I develop them from there.

How do you choose a villain and how do you make them human?

A teacher once told me that you need to love your villains just as much as you love your protagonists. Not that these characters are inherently better people than your protagonists, but they’re just as much your characters and you need to give them the same amount of care in terms of developing, backstory, traits, what have you.

In Lipstick Tattoo, you can make the argument that there are a couple villains. However, the one I’m thinking of got just as much thought as my protagonist, and as a result, I got different reactions towards them from test readers. It was so interesting to see how this character was perceived, how some hated them without faltering, while others saw, somewhat, this character’s side.

As long as this villain doesn’t start garnering more sympathy than your protagonist (in a romance, this would not be great) it’s important to let your villain say their piece. Because outside of children’s shows, rarely do villains think they’re villains. They have the perspective that tells them they’re in the right, that they’re doing the good thing, or that they’re at least warranted in doing the bad thing. Unless a person has faulty brain wiring making them only find joy in causing pain, there’s always “their side” of the story, and there’s always some degree of logic. It doesn’t mean it’s right. It just means that you don’t look at a character who cheats on his wife and think “wow, he’s a cheater, what a piece of shit, he has no soul at all, and I’ll write him as such.” You look at them and listen to their side (“My wife and I haven’t been getting along lately, and this other girl laughed at my jokes, and I didn’t want to hurt my wife or deal with the consequences, so I cheated once and kept it from her”) and then decide what stance to take. (“He’s a human who probably has good aspects to him, but he was unforgivably selfish and deserves to be dumped.”)

More realistic, human villains tend to be more hateable, anyway. A large-than-life, cackling “mua-ha-ha” villain is this unbelievable force to be overcome, but they’re hard to hate because we just don’t encounter them much – we don’t have a frame of reference in which to react. On the other hand, villains that are more similar to people we deal with in real life hit us where it hurts. A person threatening to blow up Earth with a space cannon is scary, but not super hateable. A boss who calls your protagonist into work the day of her wedding upon threat of termination is technically less of a villain, but 100 times more hateable.

 

 

LIPSTICK TATTOO

Bianca used to write romances before Pete made her realize how silly they were.

His poetry focuses on reality. It means something. Romances – “saccharine cells for pity from bored housewives” – have no footing in real life.

But when Louise – a sophisticated journalism student with date purple eyes and a kiss tattoo – makes a chance reappearance, Bianca’s simple story takes an abrupt turn. Bianca is faced with two paths. One: save, paved, and colourless. The other: a twisting, vibrant trail into the dangerous unknown.

Buy link for Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228620252?ref_=pe_3052080_397514860

 

Margot Johnson tells us about Love Takes Flight and Love Leads the Way

 

Welcome to Canadian romance writer, Margot Johnson!

Margot Johnson grew up in a family of writers and has always loved books and writing.

She is the author of LOVE TAKES FLIGHT and her new release LOVE LEADS THE WAY. Before turning her focus to the fun writing life, Margot held leadership roles in human resources and communications. Her motto is "Dream big and work hard."

When not writing, she loves to connect with family and friends, volunteer with SK Writers Guild, and walk at least 10,000 steps a day (except when it's minus 40!) She lives in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada with her amazing husband and beloved golden retriever.

Social media links:

Margot Johnson Author  —Heartfelt stories of dreams, family, romance & happy endings.

https://twitter.com/AuthorMargot

Tell us about your life outside of writing.

Normally, my husband and I spend lots of time with family and friends. We love to travel, and the UK is next on our wish list. I was invited to the Queen’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, but it was cancelled due to Covid. I’m still hoping to attend another year. Closer to home, I’m in a monthly book club and a romance writers’ group.

Do you have a work in progress?

I have two novels drafted that are ready for final polishing, and I just wrote a fun story for The Wild Rose Press Cookies Series that will be published next Christmas. Ideas are always percolating in the back of my mind.

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

I can’t think of one that stands out. Some days everything flows, and other days feel bumpy. I had to learn to add details involving all the senses to bring every page to life. Sometimes I have to pause and really think about how a scene sounds or smells.

What sort of research do you do for your work?

My books are contemporary romance, so a lot of my ideas come from my imagination and the world around me. In my first book, Love Takes Flight, the hero is a military jet pilot. I know nothing about flying but worked with a pilot who shared his expertise and reviewed sections for accuracy. Sometimes, I draw from life experiences. For example, my heroine in Love Leads the Way works in Human Resources like I did for many years. Her mother has dementia, and I reflected on my dad’s experience with Alzheimer’s.

Which books and authors do you read for pleasure? Is there an author who inspires you?

I enjoy women’s fiction like The Rosey Project and mystery/thrillers like A Nearly Normal Family. I loved Girl with a Pearl Earring. My book club often gets me to stretch and read books I might not pick up otherwise (American Dirt, Indian Horse).

New York Times Bestselling author Mary Balogh is part of our local romance writers’ group. She is an inspiring role model and always shows interest and support to writers at all levels.

Was there a person who encouraged you to write?

My dad, Ian Bickle, was a journalist and editor, and he encouraged me to write from an early age. He passed away thirteen years ago, but I think of him often when I write and hope he knows I follow in his footstep. My sister Donna Gartshore writes for Harlequin Love Inspired, and she is always there to cheer me on and talk about writing.

 

 

LOVE LEADS THE WAY

She coaches him in team leadership, but do they both need lessons in love?

Single mom Tessa Shore runs a successful leadership program at work and supports a mother with dementia. She can handle any challenge in her jam-packed schedule as long as nothing spins out of control…especially her feelings.

Engineer Mark Delaney is an expert on pipelines at the same company, but his interpersonal skills need a makeover. Advancing to an executive job requires enrollment in a leadership course he doesn't think he needs.

When their professional and personal issues entangle, life at the office gets a lot more complicated. Romance is impossible…or is it?

 

LOVE TAKES FLIGHT

 

After the devastating loss of her husband, Erin Humphrey is rebuilding her life. She runs the Canine Corner dog kennel in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Then a prairie blizzard strikes just as Erin's family arrives for the weekend, followed by a handsome but difficult client, Drew Dixon. A daring jet pilot, Drew is a magnet for Erin's young son Noah, upsetting Erin who is terrified of flying. Drew is at a crossroads because of a career-threatening mistake.

Despite an icy start, the couple warm to each other, sparking an undeniable attraction. But will their secret fears keep Erin and Drew's love from soaring?

Buy it here:

LOVELEADS THE WAY

 

LOVETAKES FLIGHT