Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "A Legacy of Lies"

Thank you so much for supporting Stephenia's week in the spotlight. Leave a comment today, Saturday, and Sunday on the excerpt post along with your email and we'll pick a winner on Monday to receive a 10 GC for Amazon from Stephenia! Enjoy the excerpt!

Moderator Steph
*****

It was cold.
Too cold.

The eerie silence of a moonless, starless night engulfed him.

Jim shivered. It had been high noon only a few minutes ago. Had he fallen asleep? He didn't remember being tired. He shook his head and tried to focus his groggy mind. He peered around cautiously. Where was his horse?

A rustling sound in the bushes startled him. His eyes darted to investigate.
Nothing.

No, wait. There it was again. Off to the left. His eyes strained, searching for the slightest movement or shape. Something. Anything.

Silence.
He felt like a kid afraid of the dark.

Get a hold of yourself, man.

Fingers of fear teased along the back of his neck. The hairs stood on end. He shivered. Where was that horse?

"Ciervo!" His voice sounded weak even to his own ears. He tried again. Now he was completely hoarse.

Swallowing the panic rising from the pit of his stomach, he took a cautious step forward. He heard stirring in the woods behind him. Squirrels? He listened intently.
The noise came again. No. Definitely not a squirrel. Something was pacing in the woods. Deliberate. Stalking. Jim's mouth went dry.

Mountain lion.

His heart raced and he looked desperately around, scanning the darkness. Blackness blanketed the meadow. Jim hoped Ciervo hadn't wandered too far. He started to walk. Slowly. Calculating. He couldn't tell in what direction he moved.

His cell! He could use it as a light source. Jim's hand brushed at his hip. It wasn't there. He frowned. It always stayed on his belt. He never left the ranch without it.
Jim's eyes strained, but he could barely make out his surroundings. The farther he walked, the darker it got. His breathing came in quick, rapid intakes.

A shrill sound broke the silence. His heart leaped.
"Ciervo?"

Where was he? Was the mountain lion after him?

Hoof beats. Thank goodness.

They were pounding quicker than his rapidly drumming heart. A shadow appeared about thirty feet in front of him.

It wasn't his beloved horse. It looked like something galloping up from Hell.
The horrid creature ran wildly toward him. The cold air caused the hot breath to billow from its nostrils like a smoking dragon.

The monster's eyes looked like no earthly thing he had ever seen. The bulging orbs had a luminescent shine that came from deep behind the pupils. In the pitch black they glowed like a ghostly beacon.

The horse-shaped beast lowered his head. The creature was preparing to slam into him. Jim threw himself out of its path and landed sharply on his hip. His right thigh slammed into a large, extruded boulder. Fire shot down his leg. Ignoring the pain, he jumped to his feet, eyes probing the darkness for the crazed brute. The ghostly version of Ciervo had vanished.

Despite the cold, he began to sweat. Jim felt eyes boring into him. Someone or something watched him. He was exposed. Unprepared. His heart hammered in his chest. His body refused to move.

Another sound. Different. It wasn't rustling limbs or bushes, and it certainly wasn't the horse's wild hoof beats. It was quiet, like a soft whisper. Crying? No, calling out for something.

He strained to catch the garbled words. The voice grew louder. More urgent. Still he couldn't make out the woeful tone. Then, as if his brain finished translating some cryptic code, the word became clear.

"James!"

Again. Louder this time. "James... James..." The voice rose and fell in the darkness. Its eerie sound slithered into his ears.

"Hello?" His voice echoed hoarsely. He held onto a feeble hope the voice came from someone nearby lost in the dark along with him. No one here knew him by that name. He stood holding his breath, listening.

Suddenly, a freight train of frigid air knocked him backward. Terrified, he dared not to move. The voice came again.

"You must help. Soon it will be too late--"

An insidious roar erupted around him. Hot, musty breath bathed Jim's face. He struggled backward. He couldn't quite make out the figure standing over him. The silhouette was enormous. Its shoulders spanned at least four feet. An odd-shaped head swayed from side-to-side.

It growled.

Paralyzed with fear, Jim lay helpless. The creature rose to stand upright. Seven. Eight feet tall. Jim gasped for air. His feet tore into the soft ground, trying to gain footing. Desperately trying to get away. The creature came crashing toward hi

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007K1LS58?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Christianbook.com
http://www.christianbook.com/a-legacy-of-lies-ebook/stephenia-mcgee/9781612521497/pd/28979EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=1012247&event=ESRCG&view=details

Desert Breeze
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-273/A-Legacy-of-Lies/Detail.bok

"I knew it was a Christian romance when I started reading. I didn't know it would have such unexpected twists and turns. Desperately needing to know what would happen next, I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page."
Judy T

"McGee keeps her story moving and the reader guessing, expertly juggling the elements of gothic suspense, cowboy romance, divine intervetion, and inspirational fiction. I enjoyed Legacy of Lies for its characters and unique mix of story styling."
Barbara Scott, author

"This book has it all: a nice quick plot, a massive castle, cowboys, a dark mystery, a cold seductress and a story that leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished the book. If you’re looking for one good read, I definitely recommend this book."
Patty Froese, author

"A Legacy of Lies is a heart-warming tale of a man's search for forgiveness. A blend of Western Romance and Big City Intrigue, Stephenia H. McGee takes the parable of the prodigal son and creates a modern twist readers won't see coming until the final page."
Jennifer Lindsay
Facebook
www.facebook.com/StepheniaMcGee

Twitter
www.Twitter.com/StepheniaHMcGee

My website
www.StepheniaMcGee.com

My book review blog
www.fictionwithflair.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - That First Kiss!

Do you remember your first kiss with someone special? I still think it was that first, quick stolen kiss on my grandmother’s front porch that won my husband’s heart. I was (and still am) a very shy girl. He couldn’t believe I planted a quick peck on his lips and then dashed in the door. I must have intrigued him, because three months later we were engaged and married just three months after that. Six months from my quick peck to our “you may kiss the bride” kiss. =) We have now been married nine years, and I still love to kiss him!

Here is an excerpt of my characters’ first kiss. Leave me a comment on theirs, mine or tell me about yours!

They were alone.

Her pulse quickened. He was close enough for her to smell his slightly salty, woodsy scent. She squeezed her eyes shut and took a deep breath.

His husky voice broke into her silent revere. "You worried me back there. I don't know what I would've done if you'd been hurt."

Her gaze met and held his for a moment, but she quickly looked away. Sarah plucked a tall blade of grass and rolled it between her fingers. The emotion in his voice stirred the butterflies in her stomach. She straightened her posture. "I made it out okay."

A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, but he remained silent.

Sarah lowered her head. "What I meant to say was thank you for saving me," she whispered.

"You're welcome."

Sarah smiled. "That bull sure did give me a scare. I'm kinda surprised my heart didn't explode from sheer terror."

He cleared his throat. "Well, now you know how I felt. When I heard you screaming, my heart nearly stopped." His eyes locked on the dancing flames.

Sarah swallowed hard, the tension thick enough to be palatable. She eased a little closer to him. Suddenly, he turned to her. His face was only inches away.

For a moment, she openly gazed into his eyes. They were deep brown with tiny flecks of gold. Pools of mystery she longed to solve.

"I'm sorry, Jim. I just saw that baby get stuck and I didn't want to see it trampled." Her hands trembled now. She needed to look away. She needed to break this hold he had on her. She couldn't.

"I know. You're a sweet girl." He spoke so softly she nearly missed the words. His fingers traced her jaw and then lifted her chin.

To her surprise, her lips eagerly met his.

Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007K1LS58?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Christianbook.com
http://www.christianbook.com/a-legacy-of-lies-ebook/stephenia-mcgee/9781612521497/pd/28979EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=1012247&event=ESRCG&view=details

Desert Breeze
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-273/A-Legacy-of-Lies/Detail.bok

"I knew it was a Christian romance when I started reading. I didn't know it would have such unexpected twists and turns. Desperately needing to know what would happen next, I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page."
Judy T

"McGee keeps her story moving and the reader guessing, expertly juggling the elements of gothic suspense, cowboy romance, divine intervetion, and inspirational fiction. I enjoyed Legacy of Lies for its characters and unique mix of story styling."
Barbara Scott, author

"This book has it all: a nice quick plot, a massive castle, cowboys, a dark mystery, a cold seductress and a story that leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished the book. If you’re looking for one good read, I definitely recommend this book."
Patty Froese, author

"A Legacy of Lies is a heart-warming tale of a man's search for forgiveness. A blend of Western Romance and Big City Intrigue, Stephenia H. McGee takes the parable of the prodigal son and creates a modern twist readers won't see coming until the final page."
Jennifer Lindsay
Facebook
www.facebook.com/StepheniaMcGee

Twitter
www.Twitter.com/StepheniaHMcGee

My website
www.StepheniaMcGee.com

My book review blog
www.fictionwithflair.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Stephenia McGee shares her Chocolate Chip Cookie receipe

Here’s a great recipe for chewy chocolate chip cookies that one of my characters makes in A Legacy of Lies.
Montana Chocolate Chip Cookies

Description:
Soft and chewy, these sweet, triple chocolate chip cookies are the ultimate treat! Great for curling up on the couch with a glass of milk and a good book!
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 12 oz pack semisweet chocolate chips
1 12 oz pack milk chocolate chips
1 12 oz pack white chocolate chips
Preparation
Step One:
Preheat oven to 350*F. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt in a large bowl; set aside. Combine the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl and beat with electric mixer set on high speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time; stir in vanilla.
Step Two:
Gradually add the flour mixture, beating well after each addition. Fold in the chocolate chips.
Step Three:
Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about two inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Flatten the dough slightly with the back of a fork. Bake the cookies until golden brown, about fifteen minutes. Transfer to wire cookie racks to cool completely. Makes five dozen.

Presentation Suggestions:
Serve warm with a glass of milk or top with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce!




Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007K1LS58?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Christianbook.com
http://www.christianbook.com/a-legacy-of-lies-ebook/stephenia-mcgee/9781612521497/pd/28979EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=1012247&event=ESRCG&view=details

Desert Breeze
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-273/A-Legacy-of-Lies/Detail.bok

"I knew it was a Christian romance when I started reading. I didn't know it would have such unexpected twists and turns. Desperately needing to know what would happen next, I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page."
Judy T

"McGee keeps her story moving and the reader guessing, expertly juggling the elements of gothic suspense, cowboy romance, divine intervetion, and inspirational fiction. I enjoyed Legacy of Lies for its characters and unique mix of story styling."
Barbara Scott, author

"This book has it all: a nice quick plot, a massive castle, cowboys, a dark mystery, a cold seductress and a story that leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished the book. If you’re looking for one good read, I definitely recommend this book."
Patty Froese, author

"A Legacy of Lies is a heart-warming tale of a man's search for forgiveness. A blend of Western Romance and Big City Intrigue, Stephenia H. McGee takes the parable of the prodigal son and creates a modern twist readers won't see coming until the final page."
Jennifer Lindsay
Facebook
www.facebook.com/StepheniaMcGee

Twitter
www.Twitter.com/StepheniaHMcGee

My website
www.StepheniaMcGee.com

My book review blog
www.fictionwithflair.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Famous Quotes

Can you name the famous book from which I got each of these lines? Answer as many as you can without Googling. Don't forget we are holding a drawing at the end of the week from all the comments. You could win a $10.00 Amazon gift card. Good Luck!

1) “With enough courage, you can do without a reputation.”

2) “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

3) "People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word."

4) "But you see, Meg, just because we don't understand doesn't mean that the explanation doesn't exist."

5) "How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail,
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale! ..."

6) "No, there wasn't much he drew the line at. He fancied he was going to enjoy himself at Indian Island"

7) "I knew that nobody but a luckless man could ever need a doctor in the face of a cyclone."

8) "If I can fool a bug... I can surely fool a man. People are not as smart as bugs."

9) "Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks up the stairs of his concepts, emerges ahead of his accomplishments."

10) "It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it."


Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007K1LS58?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Christianbook.com
http://www.christianbook.com/a-legacy-of-lies-ebook/stephenia-mcgee/9781612521497/pd/28979EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=1012247&event=ESRCG&view=details

Desert Breeze
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-273/A-Legacy-of-Lies/Detail.bok

"I knew it was a Christian romance when I started reading. I didn't know it would have such unexpected twists and turns. Desperately needing to know what would happen next, I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page."
Judy T

"McGee keeps her story moving and the reader guessing, expertly juggling the elements of gothic suspense, cowboy romance, divine intervetion, and inspirational fiction. I enjoyed Legacy of Lies for its characters and unique mix of story styling."
Barbara Scott, author

"This book has it all: a nice quick plot, a massive castle, cowboys, a dark mystery, a cold seductress and a story that leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished the book. If you’re looking for one good read, I definitely recommend this book."
Patty Froese, author

"A Legacy of Lies is a heart-warming tale of a man's search for forgiveness. A blend of Western Romance and Big City Intrigue, Stephenia H. McGee takes the parable of the prodigal son and creates a modern twist readers won't see coming until the final page."

Jennifer Lindsay
Facebook
www.facebook.com/StepheniaMcGee

Twitter
www.Twitter.com/StepheniaHMcGee

My website
www.StepheniaMcGee.com

My book review blog
www.fictionwithflair.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Stephenia McGee

STEPH: I don’t know much about A Legacy of Lies. What's it about?

STEPHENIA: It's about a life built on a legacy - a legacy built on lies. Haunting supernatural visions, grand adventure, mystery, intrigue, cowboys, suspense, the hand of God and an unexpected love.

Sarah Sanders was always the reasonable sort, until she kissed a cowboy against her better judgment. Feeling strangely drawn to this mysterious ranch hand with a dark past, she finds herself swept up in an adventure that will force her to question everything she believes.

Jim Anderson's cowboy gig is going pretty well. Except for one thing - he thinks he's going insane. Night terrors, hallucinations, and now a girl he has no business falling for. It's better to keep his distance. But when Sarah is nearly killed, he will risk it all to save her.

When tragedy brings him back to the home he tried to escape, Jim will have to face the truth behind his strange circumstances and hope that Sarah will believe him. Digging up the answers to questions long buried, does he have the strength to face the dark family secrets that threaten to destroy them both?

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

STEPHENIA: That’s a tough one. I worked on this book on and off for about six years. This was my very first manuscript, although the published version is a good bit different from the original. As I started writing, taking classes and going to conferences, I learned a lot. What I learned I applied to my story. It grew along with me.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

STEPHENIA: Most of the research I needed for this book I had already done in real life. My hero uses natural horsemanship, and it is something I have studied, practiced and taught for some time now. The other things, such as information for the ranch, average temperatures, and the names of local landmarks, I found on the internet. Miles City and the Tongue River are real places in Montana.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

STEPHENIA: You can see the two characters on the ranch at sunset. He is looking into the distance at his horse (symbolizing his lifelong dream). The most striking element is the evil eyes formed in the clouds. Hanging over him, watching his every move.

STEPH: Sarah is the heroine. What are her strengths? Weaknesses?

STEPHENIA: In a way, Sarah’s strength is also her weakness. She has become so self-sufficient that she has walled herself in, afraid of opening up to anyone or letting someone help her. But Sarah also has a very strong faith in God, and it this faith that pushes her to take risks.

STEPH: What does Jim find appealing about her?

STEPHENIA: Aside from her striking emerald eyes, Jim is drawn to Sarah first through their common interest and then to her quite strength, honesty, and spunk.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

STEPHENIA: Redemption. The characters find that no matter how messy life can get, grace can heal all wounds.

STEPH: As a writer, where do you draw inspiration from?

STEPHENIA: Other than my overactive imagination? From the world around me. Anything I see, characteristics, funny comments, mannerisms is all food for the story always circulating in my mind.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

STEPHENIA: I have a Kindle. I love being able to carry such a slim library and bookstore in my purse!

STEPH: Fun question: Do you believe in New Year's resolutions? Why or why not?

STEPHANIA: Believe in them, yes. Able to stick to them...well, not so much. But I am really trying to follow mine this year. Eat a little healthier, exercise a little more.


Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007K1LS58?ie=UTF8&force-full-site=1&ref_=aw_bottom_links

Christianbook.com
http://www.christianbook.com/a-legacy-of-lies-ebook/stephenia-mcgee/9781612521497/pd/28979EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=1012247&event=ESRCG&view=details

Desert Breeze
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-273/A-Legacy-of-Lies/Detail.bok

"I knew it was a Christian romance when I started reading. I didn't know it would have such unexpected twists and turns. Desperately needing to know what would happen next, I couldn't put it down until I reached the last page."
Judy T

"McGee keeps her story moving and the reader guessing, expertly juggling the elements of gothic suspense, cowboy romance, divine intervetion, and inspirational fiction. I enjoyed Legacy of Lies for its characters and unique mix of story styling."
Barbara Scott, author

"This book has it all: a nice quick plot, a massive castle, cowboys, a dark mystery, a cold seductress and a story that leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished the book. If you’re looking for one good read, I definitely recommend this book."
Patty Froese, author

"A Legacy of Lies is a heart-warming tale of a man's search for forgiveness. A blend of Western Romance and Big City Intrigue, Stephenia H. McGee takes the parable of the prodigal son and creates a modern twist readers won't see coming until the final page."
Jennifer Lindsay
Facebook
www.facebook.com/StepheniaMcGee

Twitter
www.Twitter.com/StepheniaHMcGee

My website
www.StepheniaMcGee.com

My book review blog
www.fictionwithflair.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Substitute Lover

Thank you so much for supporting Delores' week in the spotlight. Enjoy this excerpt from Substitute Lover.

Smiles
Moderator Steph

*****

When she looked up at him, he clamped his mouth shut. "I heard Jasper had left town with you, and then it took me a while because you weren't in any of the places I expected to find a lady."

"I'm so glad you found me." She smiled and stroked his arm.

"We've got to talk, Tennyson. Have you eaten any breakfast?"

Her stomach rumbled at the mention of food.

"I guess not. Let's see to you, first." Caleb looked her up and down, and then turned her around. His big hands brushed down her long skirt. Bits of hay and dust fell onto the ground. Next, he fumbled with her hair.

"Let me." She lifted her hands to tuck the stray locks away, refreshing her dignity back into place before he escorted her to the stage stop for breakfast. "Is this better?" She turned her questioning gaze on him.

He narrowed his eyes and then he smiled. "A bit dusty, but any traveling lady would be. Let's go eat at the stage depot. Oh." He paused, and looked into the distance, chewing on his lip. He rubbed the toe of one flat-heeled boot in the dust. He sighed, then looked down and met her gaze. "Is there a ring on your finger?"

The intensity of his gaze bored into hers.

Her cheeks turned scarlet.

"Why, no." She paused, her voice whispery as she stretched her hands out for him to see.

"We never found the preacher, so we didn't get married." She swallowed. "And then Jasper left."

He quirked his mouth in a cynical grin.

"I'm not Jasper, but will I do for now?"


Find Substitue Lover at:
http://goo.gl/X3f5l (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1oqYI (Amazon.com)
Also available at Barnes & Nobel, major e-book publishers

Also available by Delores Goodrick Beggs:
Place in the Heart Book One: Breaking Point, May 2012
http://goo.gl/lH5NE (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1BIuN (Amazon.com)

Charming Champion, August, 2012, Contemporary single title
http://goo.gl/mfYCR (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/r8J1U (Amazon.com)

Coming June, 2013 - Place in the Heart Book Three: Perfect Tenderfoot

Author Spotlight - Going The Distance by Delores Goodrick Beggs

As my 50th birthday approached, visions of over-the-hill accoutrement and skidding down into life's shadows vanished when I made an impromptu decision to participate in a newspaper-sponsored10K mile footrace.

Why I made such a decision I didn't know, and still don't, any more than I ever knew why I'd taken up sewing as a 4-H teenager, or started my Place in the Heart western book series, typing evenings after a stressful work day before there were closed captions to interest me in television programs. It wasn't like I'd had an affinity for track as a teenager - in gym class we girls were required to run once around the track at the close of the hour, and I usually trailed in last.

I spoke of my new goal with my adult son, who'd ran some track races when he attended high school. There was a moment of silence.

"The 10k? I haven't even run in the 10k, Mom," said my three-sport letterman.
"All I have to do is finish," I replied. "And I get a participant's ribbon."

"You have to finish that same day," he reminded me.

"You can coach me through this." I decided I needed some expert advice.
I began to train hard at the local high school track, and felt a great sense of achievement when I could jog a bit further each day. "I'm soon going to be able to run all the way around the track once," I chortled to my coach son.

"For 10K you need to go 25 times around the track," he replied.

I frowned, somewhat shocked, before I gathered my determination again. I'd had no real sense of distance when I'd decided to do this. I just had an inner need to complete something new.

I refused to be daunted, however, and kept on keeping on toward my goal. On race day, I started near the end of the pack, and stayed there; admittedly, I'd figured out some options to reach the finish line. I had to walk a lot of the way after the half way mark, running a bit, and then walking a bit, but I did finish the race that day, and while I was close to the end of the racers that trailed in, I had the satisfaction of knowing I wasn't last.

Sometimes when I worked on writing my Place in the Heart western series, and I needed to decide what issue a character would run into next, and how he/she would handle it, my mind went blank. Then the 10K race would come to mind, and my determination to finish the book would firm up again, leading me to brainstorm fresh problems the characters might logically be involved in.

For me, completing a book manuscript could be likened to running the marathon. Once started, I needed to go the distance and cross the finish line, or I didn't have anything to speak for the time and work I'd put into the creative process.


Find Substitue Lover at:
http://goo.gl/X3f5l (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1oqYI (Amazon.com)
Also available at Barnes & Nobel, major e-book publishers

Also available by Delores Goodrick Beggs:
Place in the Heart Book One: Breaking Point, May 2012
http://goo.gl/lH5NE (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1BIuN (Amazon.com)

Charming Champion, August, 2012, Contemporary single title
http://goo.gl/mfYCR (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/r8J1U (Amazon.com)

Coming June, 2013 - Place in the Heart Book Three: Perfect Tenderfoot

Author Spotlight - Humpty Dumpty by Delores Goodrick Beggs

I have a problem I suspect is common to most writers. My days are unbalanced. I spend too much time writing at my laptop and not enough time exercising. In addition, I usually also have a small dish with a snack to nibble on while I pause to think what a character would say or do next. Although I try to concentrate on healthy, from time to time sweets slip in, compounding the original problem.

I have tried various ways of exercising while I sit at my desk, but the appetite increases.

I have tried breaks every hour, but my characters usually manage to be in the middle of an important scene I just can't drop without losing the original idea/flavor of it.

For a while it worked to jump right into an exercise routine when I first got up in the morning, but soon my mind put a stop to that by popping up fresh ideas that I just had to capture on my computer before I lost them.

There was no help for it. I had to find another way to add in more exercise to my daily routine. I needed something that got me outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine and busy moving. I needed a project, a big one.

I wasn't good about dumping the daily and weekly newspapers often so the stacks grew pretty good-sized before I gathered them up and headed for the trash bin. One day I opened my extra closet and noticed I had enough brown cardboard rolls collected, the kind sheet gift wrap comes rolled around, to make stick arms and legs for numerous make-believe creatures, or a paper fence to enclose my garden. When the ideas flowed I always headed for my computer, not for the trash can.

But on that particular day, looking at the high pile of old newspapers, and cardboard rolls, I was reminded of the various crafts projects I dabbled in before I started writing my novels. I searched my mind for something easy to make, and then gathered an armload of newspapers, some cardboard rolls, a mop bucket, and my canister of flour to make flour and water paste and headed for the back yard.

A couple of hours and much bending and twisting exercise later I left my creation sitting in the sun of the back patio to dry. I needed to pick up some blue paint for Humpty Dumpty's suit anyway, and black to add his face and buttons.

At that time we lived in a neighborhood where folks often put decorations in their front yards for the neighbors to admire. I worried though, that neighborhood dogs would make up-close visits to Humpty and make his suit run with streaks. Our house had a flat roof, so in the end, we sat Humpty up on the roof, his legs hanging over the edge.

For a week, he drew admiring glances from the neighbors taking their daily walks. Then one morning a neighbor knocked on the front door and asked me where Humpty Dumpty was. I stepped outdoors to check the roof. He was gone.

The neighbors assisted me in my neighborhood search for him. We didn't find him.

I went down to the local authorities' office to make a report. The officer glanced at my report. "Humpty Dumpty?" he asked with a concerned face.

"Yes. He's wearing a blue suit and he has black eyes and black shoes on his feet. He was sitting on my roof, and he's gone. I want him back." The officer studied me a moment, and then hollered loud enough for the crew in the break room to hear, "Humpty Dumpty's missing boys! Anybody sees him, bring him in to the station!"

Sadly, Humpty Dumpty was never found. I still wonder what became of him. But I moved on to my next paper mache' project. I had to keep the exercise going.


Find Substitue Lover at:
http://goo.gl/X3f5l (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1oqYI (Amazon.com)
Also available at Barnes & Nobel, major e-book publishers

Also available by Delores Goodrick Beggs:
Place in the Heart Book One: Breaking Point, May 2012
http://goo.gl/lH5NE (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1BIuN (Amazon.com)

Charming Champion, August, 2012, Contemporary single title
http://goo.gl/mfYCR (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/r8J1U (Amazon.com)

Coming June, 2013 - Place in the Heart Book Three: Perfect Tenderfoot

Author Spotlight - Friendship learned with my horse by Delores Goodrick Beggs

It would be easiest to start this with saying "Friendship I learned FROM my horse,"
but that is not the way it works. Learning, between a human and a horse, is a shared experience.

In Place in the Heart Book Two: Substitute Lover, Tennyson at last learns what her older sister Mauranie has known all along, how to make friends with a horse. Or rather, the horse befriends her, and she is enthralled and eager to expand her friendship with horses.

My father, known as "The Old Cowman" in our rural Wyandotte County, Kansas farm area, first taught me to make friends with a horse. When I met Snowball, his 14-hands-tall white mare, she ended up becoming my faithful riding companion. I moved close to her head, lifted her nose a bit, took a deep breath, and breathed into Snowball's nostrils several times. Dad told me that our horses remembered the smell of our breath and thus labeled us "friends." I have observed that horses in a herd share breaths this way in the process of selecting friends they graze with, groom each other's necks, and generally stand around with.

I could be grooming Snowball in preparation for a ride when she would sometimes raise her head, ears pricked forward, and I'd feel her skin rumble with vibrating sound.

Horses do communicate. A quick nicker alerts me something caught her interest. A neigh when she sees me coming for her in the pasture is a greeting to me, or a call to her wandering foal to come back to Mama. A snort may be caused by a tickle in her nose. The first time I saw one of our horses curl her upper lip in a "horse laugh" when I haltered her, I was shocked. It happened again the next day, the open mouth and curled upper lip. The Old Cowman asked if I was using a new hand lotion; I was. He suggested not using it until after I rode, so I followed his suggestion, and the horse laughs stopped. Something in the scent of my particular hand lotion caused the "horse laugh."

Horses learn fast and in my experience remember very well what they learn. The most important word to teach a horse is "Whoa." I usually combine this with "Easy now," rather than repeat "Whoa" over and over when a horse is panicky. Horses sense my emotion in the stiffness or relaxation of my hands, in the sharpness or calmness of my voice, in the smoothness or jerkiness of my motions. An important lesson I learned, growing up, was if I remained calm, they will calm, but if I get panicky, they gather themselves ready to bolt and have to be held back.

It is the "Whoa's" and the calm emotions that can make all the difference when I'm horseback and the unexpected happens.

For example, in my teen years I rode my equine friend Snowball on the road going uphill and down, between our house and my best friend's house several hills away rather than walk it. It would have been a long, tiring walk under the hot Kansas sun; Snowball cantered it smoothly and quickly and the exercise of regular visits with my friend helped to keep her in good shape. Besides, I loved to ride horseback, given the slightest reason.

But one day Snowball jumped straight up in mid-canter, all four hooves off the ground. I was riding bareback with a saddle pad as I often did, and when she jumped I tumbled forward over her shoulder, onto the road, still clutching the reins. She managed to land just on the other side of me, missing me with her hoofs, as I called "Whoa," and then she stood perfectly still, lowering her head to nuzzle me. I was confused by her action, but the mare seemed calm enough so I grabbed a handful of mane, and jumped back on, and we continued to my friend's house without further incident.

A few days later the same thing happened again. This time my younger sister was riding a bicycle beside us while I rode Snowball, and when I stood up from my tumble over Snowball's head and dusted my jeans off, she asked me if I'd heard that.
"Heard what?" I asked. I have a hearing impairment.

"There was a loud bang," she said. "Then Snowball jumped."

That evening, after I told Dad about it, the Old Cowman introduced Snowball to simulated sounds by banging on a metal pan and calming her so the sound no longer startled her.

Also, when we'd returned home after the visit to my friend earlier that afternoon, I'd praised Snowball again for having avoided stepping on me when I fell and gave her an extra handful of oats. She never startled on me again.

Friends watch out for friends, after all.

Find Substitue Lover at:
http://goo.gl/X3f5l (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1oqYI (Amazon.com)
Also available at Barnes & Nobel, major e-book publishers

Also available by Delores Goodrick Beggs:
Place in the Heart Book One: Breaking Point, May 2012
http://goo.gl/lH5NE (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1BIuN (Amazon.com)

Charming Champion, August, 2012, Contemporary single title
http://goo.gl/mfYCR (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/r8J1U (Amazon.com)

Coming June, 2013 - Place in the Heart Book Three: Perfect Tenderfoot

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Delores Goodrick Beggs

STEPH: I don't know much about Substitute Lover. What's it about?

DELORES: Substitute Lover is the story of Tennyson Wells, sister of hearing-impaired Mauranie Wells in Book One of the Place in the Heart series, and Caleb Cameron, who follows bad boy Jasper Greon to Mescal Flats New, Mexico, and appoints himself Tennyson's protector when Jasper's
proposed larks go beyond fun.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

DELORES: I wrote the story during a period of time when I worked overtime and before captions were readily available on television (I have a severe hearing loss.) I usually got upstairs to my writing desk at home in time to watch the owl that nested in the palm tree in front of my bedroom window fly past on its nightly hunt. Then I'd sit at my desk and write for several hours. Completing Tennyson's story a few hours at a time took me the better part of a year.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

DELORES: Regarding research, I knew markers had been responsible for bringing a couple together, but I didn't know anything about how they were used or the tradition they represented, even though they were in universal use back in the 1800's. The family relation who had marker experience in her family line explained to me how they worked back then.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

DELORES: I think the cover is perfect, thanks to Gwen Phifer, who seems to effortlessly envision illustrations that capture the essence of my stories in her creations. Tennyson Wells loves to be in town and wear pretty dance gowns.

STEPH: Tennyson Wells is the heroine. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses?

DELORES: Tennyson is much more than a pretty woman who loves to wear new gowns and dance. She has a warm heart and she loves to help people, sometimes too much, because she sees the good in everyone and doesn't distinguish when bad has unexpectedly been thrown into the mix.

STEPH: What does Caleb Cameron find appealing about her?

DELORES: Caleb notices Tennyson because bad boy Jasper Greon, whom he has been trailing for some time, takes up with her, and Caleb feels a need to protect her when Jasper's larks take a wrong turn. Caleb is himself drawn to Tennyson's kind heart and her desire to help people.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

DELORES: The theme of the novel is finding ways to help persons who need help. It has seemed to me everybody needs someone sometimes.

STEPH: As a writer, where do you draw inspiration from?

DELORES: I draw inspiration from everywhere as a writer. An act, an incident will stay upon my mind and formulate itself into the basis of a story. Or just jump into my mind unexpectedly when I am concentrating upon another task, and then I have to jot myself some quick notes before it will let me be to finish the task I was on when it struck me. I have scorched the breakfast bacon more than once because of this.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

DELORES:I have a kindle e-reader and I love it. I always have a book on it ready to read when I have spare moments, usually to relax before bedtime.

STEPH: Fun question: do you have any New Year's traditions you'd like to share? How did you celebrate New Year's?

DELORES: Usually I make a small list of new things I'd like to try in the coming year. But this year I got waylaid by the idea for a new story and it wouldn't leave me alone until I captured the essence in words on paper. So I guess writing the new story is my plan for this year.

Find Substitue Lover at:
http://goo.gl/X3f5l (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1oqYI (Amazon.com)
Also available at Barnes & Nobel, major e-book publishers

Also available by Delores Goodrick Beggs:
Place in the Heart Book One: Breaking Point, May 2012
http://goo.gl/lH5NE (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1BIuN (Amazon.com)

Charming Champion, August, 2012, Contemporary single title
http://goo.gl/mfYCR (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/r8J1U (Amazon.com)

Coming June, 2013 - Place in the Heart Book Three: Perfect Tenderfoot

Author Spotlight - Excerpt for "Forbidden"

Thank you for supporting Barri's week in the spotlight. Leave a comment today, Saturday and Sunday along with your email (so we can get ahold of you) and we'll pick a winner on Monday, 14 JAN to receive a copy of Barri's novel, "Forbidden." Enjoy the excerpt!

Smiles
Moderator Steph

*****

Maggie grinned. "I would like to get off this horse for a while."

They rode to the creek, dismounted, tethered the horses, and sat under the big oak.
Maggie rested her back against the massive trunk. "Did you enjoy the dance last night?"

Zoë pulled a dry blade of grass and twisted it between her fingers. "You didn't ride all the way out here on the back of a swaying horse to talk about a dance."

"No, I didn't. Shall I come directly to the point?"

"Please do."

"Why did you marry Holt?"

Zoë dropped her head. "He's rich and in ill health. Maybe I saw a way to become a rich widow in a short time."

"Then why did you sign a prenuptial agreement cutting you off from inheriting anything Holt has after he was gone?"

"How did you know that?" Maybe she shouldn't have been so quick to invite Maggie to speak her mind.

"There aren't many secrets at Triple H, Zoë, but in this case, Clint told me. He also said he paid you a great deal of money to get you to sign that agreement."

Shame brought the heat of a blush to Zoë's cheeks. "I did take money from Clint, but not for the reason you think."

"I don't want you to explain, and don't ask me how Holt keeps me virtually a prisoner at Triple H, because I can't tell you. I know how Holt Hamilton operates. I should -- I'm one of his victims." After a pause for breath, Maggie demanded, "Did Holt force you to marry him?"

Zoë's fingers dug around in the dry grass. "Yes."

"Great goodness, he's a vicious, conniving old reprobate."

"He's blackmailing you, too, isn't he?" Zoë's own pain was quickened by sympathy for Maggie. "Clint doesn't suspect?"

"I'm careful to see to that. Officially, I'm Holt's private secretary. The truth is Holt keeps Clint at Triple H by forcing me to stay. I have every reason to believe Holt keeps the damning evidence he has against me in a safe deposit box in a bank in Mason City. I can live with that." Maggie stared toward the far horizon. "But what happens when Holt dies and his safe deposit box key becomes the property of his sole heir?"

Zoë recalled Holt once telling her he had the proof of her identity safely tucked away in a bank vault in Mason City. "When Holt dies, Clint will have access to that box?"

Maggie's tone was grim. "Not immediately, but eventually, and what he will find there could destroy the lives of two people and hurt Clint immeasurably."

Zoë reached to touch Maggie's arm. "I wish I could do something to help."

Maggie's reply sent shock waves shivering through her. "You can."


"Holt would never let me into that box."

Maggie leaned forward. "He wouldn't have to know. I have a plan. It's risky, daring and complicated. If it works, you stand a chance of getting into that box before Holt dies."

The naïve Zoë Martin who had come to Triple H two months ago would have been terrified at the thought of planning and executing a scheme that was both complicated and dangerous. She would never have considered conspiring against a man as powerful and devious as Holt Hamilton. A much wiser, disillusioned Zoë Hamilton who sat now, grave and melancholy, was willing to dare the impossible to keep safe dark secrets that could send her to prison. "Tell me your plan."

"We will have to involve two other people and neither of them rates high in the trust department. You will be the one taking the risks." Maggie paused and caught her bottom lip between her teeth.

So the plan required she break the law. Zoë would worry about that later, when she wasn't staring into the grim face of disaster. "Tell me what I have to do.

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-ebook/dp/B00AVE3GNS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357243934&sr=1-1&keywords=Barri+Bryan

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/foBook trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pessC9ClzWY


Buy links:
Dessert Breeze Publishing:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-399/Forbidden-Barri-Bryan/Detail.bokrbidden-barri-bryan/1114054292?ean=2940016137636

Find me:
http://barribryan.com/
http://pinterest.com/louhou85/
http://www.facebook.com/BarrriBryan?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/texpoet

Author Spotlight - Barri Bryan talks about expressive writing.

Learning to communicate expressively is not achieved the way one assimilates facts about geography or learns by rote the meanings of symbols. It is a process of practice, discovery, and creation. Writing is an art. Like any art form, it has an attending craft. There are skills and abilities that can be recognized and practiced to help hone that craft.

Expressive writing is not accomplished speedily or through half-hearted efforts. To write expressively, a writer must be focused. Focus induces a state of concentration that is intense and absolute.

An expressive writer is perceptive. Perception allows the creation of something where nothing existed before, thus filling a void.

Empathy for the feelings and emotions of others is important in expressive writing.
An expressive writer's work has unity. When writing about imagined occurrences, the objective is not just to relate what happened. It is also necessary to recount the vision in a way that recreates the mood, and develops the dramatic significance of the event.

An expressive writer is aware. Awareness is an integral part of expressive writing. It begins by combining sensory messages with past knowledge and personal expectations, in order to examine more closely the blur of daily experiences.
Imaginative thinking moves past literal applications to discover implied analogies and relationships. The intensity of searching and discovering requires time and effort. Those relationships are not always obvious.

An expressive writer is a passionate lover of words who persuades and convinces readers. Wooing with words involves perceiving, feeling, and thinking with subtlety and precision. It also demands a good vocabulary. The more acquainted a writer is with a variety of words and their meanings, the more able that writer is to express thoughts and sentiments.

An expressive writer relates to readers with honesty and candor. This is always a challenge and often a trial. It is never easy to disclose personal truths, discover and express intimate realities. Honesty, as a writer perceives it, is a deceptive concept that continuously slips away on the wings of sentiment and sensation. To be honest with readers requires that a writer be honest with herself or himself. Honesty with one's self can be disturbing and painful. I believe it is the first prerequisite to writing expressively.


Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-ebook/dp/B00AVE3GNS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357243934&sr=1-1&keywords=Barri+Bryan
Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/foBook trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pessC9ClzWY
Review snippets None yet
Buy links:
Dessert Breeze Publishing:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-399/Forbidden-Barri-Bryan/Detail.bokrbidden-barri-bryan/1114054292?ean=2940016137636
Find me:
http://barribryan.com/
http://pinterest.com/louhou85/
http://www.facebook.com/BarrriBryan?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/texpoet

Author Spotlight - Barri Bryan talks about writing Description

Description has been called the essence of fiction. When properly related, descriptions can provide concrete illustrations of general principals. To my despair, I often find there was nothing in my vocabulary that will adequately portray the sights I see in my imagination or express the emotions I feel in my heart. I have all these wonderful thoughts in my mind and images in my head, but I lack the ability to give them vision or volume.

I think of a description as a re-creation in words. My task is to create the verbal representation. To do this, I must choose the right words, and choose which words to exclude. Good description is never overstated. It reveals as it recalls and persuades as it presents.

To write a good description I must not only see clearly, I must perceive clearly. Seeing refers to outward vision. It involves describing the concrete through sensory details. Perceiving refers to inward vision and involves describing the abstract thought figures of speech. A good description uses both sensory details and figures of speech. A great description maintains a delicate balance between seeing and perceiving, to produce a symmetrical and harmonious re-creation.

Descriptive writing requires powers of observation. What we see is based to a great extent on what we know. What we see is also based on past experiences. The eye and the mind collect, sort out, and impose patterns on visual, verbal, and auditory stimuli. The mind relates those patterns to other patterns, enlarging, reinterpreting, and gives meaning to our experiences and observations by engaging our imagination.

The sunrise was beautiful does little to stir the imagination. The rim of a yellow sun climbed over the eastern horizon causing the misty veil of morning to lift and float away, gives the description of sunrise depth and clarity. The rainstorm was frightening pales in comparison to: A driving rain struck with sudden force unleashing a howling wind that rattled windows and shook through the branches of trees.

Is it any wonder that description has been called the essence of fiction?
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-ebook/dp/B00AVE3GNS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357243934&sr=1-1&keywords=Barri+Bryan

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/foBook trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pessC9ClzWY


Buy links:
Dessert Breeze Publishing:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-399/Forbidden-Barri-Bryan/Detail.bokrbidden-barri-bryan/1114054292?ean=2940016137636

Find me:
http://barribryan.com/
http://pinterest.com/louhou85/
http://www.facebook.com/BarrriBryan?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/texpoet

Author Spotlight - Barri Bryan talks about Researching History and Writing Fiction

Originality does not always mean making something from nothing. It can mean making interesting changes in what has gone before. I have developed as a writer of historical romances by playing with material already in existence. Writing is always rewriting, it comes from the writer’s reading and synthesizing. I can enter into a world that previously existed and by innovation and imagination, make it my interesting and exciting little universe. I like to look at the decade that surrounds my story to get an overall view of events and happenings. I want to feel, as well as know, the attitude and outlook of that particular generation. I do this by zeroing in on important events, transportation, fashion, music, inventions, social movements and developments, politics, psychological trends, entertainment, and sexually related trends and movements of that time.

When I can, I use the raw materials of history; primary sources like daily newspapers. Many newspapers are achieved on line. For a small fee, you can gain access. I look for first-hand accounts written by men and women who lived during the time I'm writing about. These kinds of accounts are not easy to find. When located, they are not always cheap. If they are authentic, they are worth the time and expense it takes to find and read them.

I have learned to evaluate and interpret. When incorporating fiction with history, realism and background should blend with characterization and plot. I am careful to strike a balance between too many or too few facts. Figures of speech should fit the time and place.

My research for Forbidden was extensive, sometimes exhausting. I researched the oil boom in Texas during the 1980's, events that were happening at that time, such as the eruption of Mount St. Helen's and the hostages being held in Iran. I looked at what music was popular, what books were best sellers… There were times when, in the midst of writing a scene, I realized I needed to research some subject that, so far, hadn't seemed important, or even relevant.

Even if research is painstaking, sometimes painful, I love doing it.

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-ebook/dp/B00AVE3GNS/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1357243934&sr=1-1&keywords=Barri+Bryan

Barnes and Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/foBook trailer link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pessC9ClzWY


Buy links:
Dessert Breeze Publishing:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-399/Forbidden-Barri-Bryan/Detail.bokrbidden-barri-bryan/1114054292?ean=2940016137636

Find me:
http://barribryan.com/
http://pinterest.com/louhou85/
http://www.facebook.com/BarrriBryan?ref=hl
https://twitter.com/texpoet

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Barri Bryan

STEPH: I don't know much about "Forbidden." What's it about?

BARRI: Forbidden is set in 1980. It is the story of a young woman who takes a summer job with an over-the-hill billionaire playboy to help him write the biography of his recently deceased wife. She goes to live in his gothic castle on his ranch in far West Texas. She is caught in a web of mystery and intrigue, sharing secrets that could destroy all she holds near and dear, and falling in love with the one man she has no right to claim.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

BARRI: It took me a little over a year to write "Forbidden." That includes the time I spent researching.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

BARRI: I did a tremendous amount of research. I do for every book I write. The first thing I do, as I start my research, is print a calendar for the year in which the book is set. The next thing is to check the weather for the specific months in which my book is set. For Forbidden, I found the summer months of 1980 were some of the hottest ever recorded in Texas. Next I look at trends in fashion, transportation, music, books, and politics. If it's applicable, I look at movies and television. I immerse myself in that decade. I try to feel the mindset and hear the heartbeat of that generation.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

BARRI: I love this cover. It's beautiful. It also captures the mood of the story. The silhouetted couple in the foreground speaks of the intrigue of the story. The castle in the background set against the rough West Texas landscape, adds a perfect touch of ambiguity.

STEPH: Zoë is the heroine. What are her strengths? Weakness?

BARRI: Zoë's strengths are her loyalty, her naiveté and her belief in the innate goodness of people. As she finds herself caught in a snare from which there seems to be no escape, those strengths become her weaknesses.

STEPH: What does Clint find appealing about her?

BARRI: Clint is attracted first by her beauty, and then by the mystery that surrounds her. Is she naïve and inexperienced, or is she a scheming opportunist?

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

BARRI Money can't buy happiness. Often the opposite is true. It brings misery and unhappiness.

STEPH: As a writer, where do you draw inspiration from?

BARRI For me, inspiration is like happiness. If I go chasing after inspiration, it eludes me. If I fill my days with study, work, promoting, writing, and open my senses to the world around me, inspiration comes looking for me. It appears in the most unlikely places -- the last leaf hanging on a barren tree, the strange way the ears are set on the sides of the head of the man sitting across from me in my doctor's waiting room; a tattooed snake that winds up the leg of a slim young girl, as she pushes a basket down a grocery aisle. The way my granddaughter looks at her children with love shining in her eyes…

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

BARRI: I have a Kindle and I love it.

STEPH: Fun question: Do you have any New Year's Traditions you'd like to share? How did you celebrate New Years?

STEPH: Definitely, I have to eat black-eyed peas and cornbread. It's supposed to assure prosperity. I have my doubts about this being true. All the same, I always eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day, just in case.