Author Spotlight - Q&A with Shirley Kiger Connelly

STEPH: I don't know much about "That Impossible Dream." What's it about?

SHIRLEY: Geraldine Jordan has lived all her life with an unpleasant disability. She learns the meaning of painful rejection early. Any probability of obtaining a respectable suitor one day to someone like Alistair McKenna the man of her lifetime dreams is slim to none.

When Geraldine is passed off to live with her controlling-zealot Uncle Henry, she grows weary of waiting for that impossible dream -- until a treasured aunt arranges a potential marriage with an esteemed Chicago banker in search of a wife and mother for his young ward. But Geraldine’s disgruntled Uncle Henry whose always believed her unsuitable for any man of status, sets out to block the betrothal. He quickly demotes Geraldine to status of a common servant, hiring her off to a family in need of a governess.

Will the shattered Geraldine be forced to abandon all hope when she suddenly learns the prospective groom-to-be her aunt arranged for her was none other than her life-long love, Alistair McKenna?

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

SHIRLEY: Everything I write seems to me to take forever, Steph. This one took me a year.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

SHIRLEY: Since this was the second in my Decisions series, I didn’t have to do too much research except for the area of Chicago, where Geraldine must go. Also, as it is about a young woman with a disability, I didn’t find that difficult either. That’s because my model for Geraldine, has character traits and reactions to her problems that are similar to what I’ve seen in my physically challenged daughter.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

SHIRLEY: The cover artist did an awesome job. Since the story is so much about a dream that’s impossible for my heroine, the artist showed the house Geraldine must go to, but with an gated area that looks very difficult to go through. I was more than pleased with her vision.

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

SHIRLEY: Geraldine’s strengths are her determination, her sweet disposition, her faith, and I believe, her stubbornness. Her weaknesses probably would have to be the difficulties she believes she has with her disability. That and her over-sensitivity about how she might look to others. She’s a typical woman, really, who has a thing about her appearance. I decided to emphasize that in the story.

STEPH: What does Alistair find appealing about her?

SHIRLEY: Her perseverance, her uprightness, that he hasn’t seen in most of the women he’s known before, her faith, and that she lives it.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

SHIRLEY: Not to give up, even if things don’t look like they are going the way you might have hoped they would. And if something other than your dreams are headed your way, try to look for the good in them, rather than the bad, no matter how difficult it might be.

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

SHIRLEY: Mostly from God. Sometimes from past experiences that have taken place throughout my life or that I’ve seen.

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

SHIRLEY: I use a Kindle. Although I love print books, at night before I go to sleep and whenever I’m traveling my Kindle works best. I really hope to get myself an ipad soon.

STEPH: Fun question: Autumn is the season for baking. Do you do any autumn baking? Pies? Cookies? Specialties?

SHIRLEY: I love to do apple pies and pumpkin pies. Not sure how I’m going to work that this year, since my husband and I are trying to go gluten free. My cookies are the pits, so I avoid them, except for eating of course. Specialties? Baked squash with brown sugar and butter and nuts, scalloped potatoes, fresh clam or mushroom soup. Autumn is my favorite time of year…could it be because I’m a redhead and those are just my colors?


Buy links:

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-353/Decisions-Book-Two-cln--That/Detail.bok

http://www.amazon.com/Decisions-Book-One-Yesterday-ebook/dp/B005HB7GPY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1349308630&sr=8-2&keywords=say+goodbye+to+yesterday

my website: http://shirleykigerconnolly.com
my author page at facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShirleyKigerConnollyAuthor?ref=digest_email#!/ShirleyKigerConnollyAuthor
my twitter: http://twitter.com/shirleyhere

Review snippet from Decisions Book One: Say Goodbye to Yesterday: “From heartache to love to forgiveness and redemption, this novel will leave the reader breathless. The best part of this story is that it's the first in a series so there's more to come! I am excited to see what Ms. Connolly has in store with the second book. Take a trip into time, learn to accept your actions and move on with new friends and a fantastic story line! – Reviews by Molly…Romance Reviews

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "Death Cheater"

Thanks for joining me this week at the Desert Breeze Publishing blog. I enjoyed sharing a few thoughts and some details about Death Cheater. Enjoy the excerpt below and have a wonderful October! - Danielle Thorne

*****

From Death Cheater


I glanced at my watch and realized the last bell had rung long ago. "I'm late for European History," I apologized. I blinked to see if I could make him disappear, but it didn't work. Maybe he could do the snapping thing again.

"Yes, I give you a ring, you come to me, and we work a little project together now and then." He made it sound like a school assignment, and as if he had a cell phone, which I doubted.

"You want me to help someone pass on?" I guessed.

"Bingo." He pointed at me.

I shook my head. "I really don't know how to do that. Sometimes things come back. Sometimes..."

"I know, the flatworms. I get it. That's why I'm here."

"I just don't understand," I shrugged. "I can't go around bringing people back to life. It's sacrilegious to even think about it."

"You can help people decide," he suggested. "Some people, like your Poppy," he added with an accusing glare, "have their time up, and there's no use talking them into staying."

I stared back trying to see where he was coming from.

"What good did it do you?" he challenged me.

"I had more time with him. I didn't even have to think about it, I just wanted him to stay. That doesn't mean I meant for it to happen."

"He suffered. He was sick."

I swallowed away some guilt.

"You have the power of influence, Athena." Aero sighed and glanced down at his hand as if studying his cuticles. Did the un-living dead get manicures? "I need your help, you see, in convincing people it's time to go."

That seemed kind of hokie. I tapped back in to the hum of the room. Aero did not ooze angelic peace or light. He was dark. He moved in it. He emitted it. The chill bumps had not completely disappeared, nor the hazy glass-like edges of my peripheral vision. I felt sick and hot again.

Aero seemed to sense I was back peddling. "Have we got a deal?" he asked.

I could not mistake the demand in his cold tone. Concentrating on the hum of the room, the dark dog, and the not-so-good feeling he emanated, I slowly shook my head 'no.'

His eyes flared with angry spurts of indigo light. The hound on the floor bounded to its feet and growled.

I stepped away. "I can't," I stuttered. Fear shot through me, and it felt like my head suddenly weighed a ton, crushing down into my feet.

"You can," Aero answered.

"No," I said, reaching for the hum. For Poppy. For light. "Whatever it is you want me to do, it’s no good. I can feel it," I admitted. "Here." I put my hand on my palpitating chest. My mind hurt.

With one swift movement, Aero leapt up onto the sink. He snarled a wicked sound that made my knees buckle. It was scarier than the dog that had somehow disappeared. "You weren't so angelic when you chose to come, Athena."

I stumbled back, falling against the bathroom stalls. "I don't know what you're talking about," I cried, losing my grip on courage. Before it slipped completely away, I gushed, "I won't help you make people die."

"You will, Death Cheater. If you can make them live, you can make them die."

There was a crack like lightning striking glass, and everything went black.

Buy Now:
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-259/Death-Cheater-Danielle-Thorne/Detail.bok

A Goodreads Review:
"…I really enjoyed this book, it was well written, had good pace, and kept the reader interested. I really related to Athena as a character, and really felt for her and the problems she was facing. It definitely reminded me of what it's like to be a teenager, and I really liked that she had her own way of saying things, eg: 'oh cheese!'

The storyline itself was intriguing, the idea of being a death cheater was original and not something that I have come across before, and the romance element was light and didn't overpower the rest of the book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book, and would recommend it to anyone who likes young-adult fiction, or books with a paranormal/fantasy feel."

Find Danielle at:
http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com
http://www.daniellethorne.com

Author Spotlight - Danielle Thorne talks about Inspiration

People are always curious about me when they find out that I write. The first question they always ask is, "What do you write?" Although I still find it difficult to answer, I know in my heart the response should be, "Whatever inspires me."

Have you noticed those who move through life as if theirs is more important? I think that is what we envy in people more than we know. Perhaps we think we covet a smile, shoes, a car, or even a home, but what we truly admire in people is the energy with which they live their lives.

Inspiration is what moves us. It gets us out of bed in the morning. It takes us from one day to the next, gives us drive to prepare for what is coming, and courage to deal with what is left behind.

We need the world to inspire us. We need good story tellers, dancers, football players, good food, bad jokes, mountains, and blue skies over water. We need music in our day. We need chocolate and daintily-wrapped gifts. Children need to hang on us. Grandparents must take us in their flabby, funny-smelling embraces.

This thing we call death is already upon us in our sadness, boredom, hatred, and fears. We need to be inspired to have something to live for. Something small, something every day, something that makes us bubble up inside and want to live. A baby through the nursery window. An old woman in the beauty shop. The cat curled up on the sofa. A book waiting on a shelf.

Life without inspiration is not living. It is a monstrous routine of breathing without thinking, without caring, without wondering. It is waiting on death the way people wait at bus stops.

What inspired my new paranormal, Death Cheater? The fact that so many young people worry too much about the wrong things. Their youth passes them by in a cloud of insecurity and bad direction. I wanted to inspire readers that courage isn't all that hard to find inside of us when we set our mind to it. And it takes courage to live.

Why do writers write? Why do readers read?
Why do we sit outside and face the sun with our eyes closed?
So we can be inspired.
So we can dream.
And that is why I write.
Because I want to live.
Forever.


Danielle Thorne
www.daniellethorne.com
Blogging as The Balanced Writer at: http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com

Bio
Danielle Thorne is the author of sweet romantic adventure books, both historical and contemporary. She has published poetry, short fiction and novels. Danielle currently writes from south of Atlanta, Georgia. She was the 2009-2010 Co-Chair for the New Voices Competition for young writers, is active with online author groups, and she moderates for The Sweetest Romance Authors. Besides freelance editing and writing full time, Danielle has four sons with her husband, Rob. Together they enjoy travel and the outdoors. Death Cheater is her first paranormal.


I would love to meet you!

Follow on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000700796495
Twitter: @DanielleThorne
Follow the Blog: http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Danielle Thorne talks about what she learned from a Hobbit

Part of being a good writer is being a reader, and I don't often get the chance to indulge in reading for pleasure these days. It's ironic, since books have been my biggest inspiration in life. Last summer, I sat down for almost three days and indulged myself in a Lord of the Rings marathon. As much as I would have liked to have time to actually sit down and read the books (and I plan to with my ten year old who let me read The Hobbit to him last year), I did get a lot out of the movie and took some time to reflect on the beauty of Tolkien's imagination and the wisdom in his messages.

Every time I write a story, whether it's a romance or some far flung adventure, I am conscious of the messages that I send out with my characters. While I'm certainly no genius at integrating life changing morals into epic tales, I am fully aware of the impact of what my stories say. It's my hope that with my sea adventures, the reverence I have of the oceans comes through the pages.

With historicals, I strive to bring the beauty and innocence of the past to life. With my young adult paranormal, Death Cheater, I hope that you ponder on the fragile existence we own in this short life, and the power we have to make it all that it can be. Life needs reverence and beauty, and it takes courage, too.

So many lessons are too easily forgotten. Maybe in his own way, that's what Tolkien was trying say. Here are ten things that I have learned from the hobbits of the Shire:

Life was meant to be an adventure.
Never, never, never quit.
Faith will always find a way.
There is no greater gift than a loyal friend.
Power is a heavy burden to those who are true, and a weapon for the wicked.
No one is flawless.
To die with a friend, is to go in peace.
Trees have feelings, too.
To choose not to act, is to fail what is right.
There is no place like home…

I know there are more messages, all more profound, in the story of Frodo and his ring that I haven't even begun to unravel. I wish I'd taken the time to jot down my thoughts as I watched the films, but that they still linger on my mind is proof of the profound influence a good book can have. I wish each of you a wonderful autumn full of books (and epic film interpretations) that bring inspiration, wisdom, happiness -- and yes, adventure.

Check out the adventure of Athena Gray in Desert Breeze Publishing's Death Cheater. Here's a little blurb:

Athena Gray lives vicariously through her sister because people in general avoid her. Whether it's strange things like dead butterflies fluttering to life, or the time she saved her dying grandpa just by willing him to live, Athena knows that she is different. The only person who doesn't seem to think so is Dan, the most popular boy on Omega High School's baseball team.

Happy Reading!
Danielle Thorne
www.daniellethorne.com


Bio
Danielle Thorne is the author of sweet romantic adventure books, both historical and contemporary. She currently writes from south of Atlanta, Georgia. Besides contract editing and writing full time, Danielle has four sons with her husband, Rob. Together they enjoy travel and the outdoors.

Backlist
DEATH CHEATER (Desert Breeze Publishing)
THE PRIVATEER (Desert Breeze Publishing)
BY HEART AND COMPASS (Desert Breeze Publishing)
JOSETTE (Whimsical Publications)
TURTLE SOUP (Smashwords)
SOUTHERN GIRL, YANKEE ROOTS (Willow Moon Publishing)

Author Spotlight - Danielle Thorne & Autumn Spooks!

I love promoting my paranormal, Death Cheater, during the month of Halloween because it goes hand in hand with the spook-filled holiday. Ironically, the real truth is when it comes to all things ghostly, I am the biggest chicken. I believe in spirits, and yes, I've had my own paranormal experiences, but writing about them didn't become a journey until my vacation to the Native American burial mounds in Pinson, Tennessee that inspired my story. I wondered how many ancient souls wandered through the nearby forest. I wondered what it would be like if I could see those spirits, and what would I do if there was contact? Reaching back into my memories of high school to shape a new character was quite the self-introspective adventure.

Athena Gray is a strong, independent character who understands she doesn't have to fit in to like herself. She also knows that she has a gift. High school doesn't come easy though, because dealing with teen drama and her own social anxiety issues are as difficult as accepting her grandfather's death. With no parents to turn to and few friends, Athena has to dig deep when a dark angel enters her life at the worst time. And he doesn't just have information about who she is, he has demands.

Now don't be too concerned. Athena isn't left entirely to her own devices. Her older sister has her best interests in mind, and Dan Lipinsky, Athena's secret crush, seems determined to make her one of his closest friends.

Is there really such a thing as ghosts? Are there dark angels intent on making us miserable? How many of us have abilities we haven't embraced? Death Cheater is an exploration into forces from the other side and our power to choose what is right over what they would influence us to do. Meet Athena Gray and find out more!

Danielle Thorne
www.daniellethorne.com
Blogging at http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com


Bio
Danielle Thorne is the author of sweet romantic adventure books, both historical and contemporary. She has published poetry, short fiction and novels. Danielle currently writes from south of Atlanta, Georgia. She was the 2009-2010 Co-Chair for the New Voices Competition for young writers, is active with online author groups, and she moderates for The Sweetest Romance Authors. Besides freelance editing and writing full time, Danielle has four sons with her husband, Rob. Together they enjoy travel and the outdoors. Death Cheater is her first paranormal.


I would love to meet you!

Follow on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000700796495
Twitter: @DanielleThorne
Follow the Blog: http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Danielle Thorne

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

DANI: Death Cheater is a young adult paranormal for all ages, set in West Tennessee and the fictional town of Omega. It tells the story of Athena Gray, who has lost her grandfather and is trying to get through high school without anyone finding out that she has a strange ability. She's able to see death and in some cases reverse it. When a dark spirit shows up in Omega and tries to blackmail Athena into using her powers for evil, her secret and her family and friends are in danger.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

DANI: I was very inspired by Athena's story once I had the idea, so it was a very quick writing process compared to my previous work with environmental and historical romances. It was a fun experience-- when you really enjoy what you're doing time flies.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

DANI: I'd visited and been inspired by ancient burial mounds in Pinson, Tennessee. There's a haunting atmosphere in that park, and it gave me a lot of my story ideas. The only research I needed for Death Cheater was to study the Chickasaw nation of that region and prehistoric people who dwelled there.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

DANI: I love the cover of Death Cheater. Jenifer Ranieri did an amazing job capturing the very essence of the story. The woods of Omega are Athena's haven, but once they become dark and dangerous she loses that safe and comforting place. Athena has experience with insects and butterflies fluttering to life once she touches them, and her own journey throughout the story is a type of rebirth and realization of her strength and courage. I thought a butterfly was a perfect symbol to represent her story.

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

DANI: Athena's greatest weakness, like so many of us, is that she doesn't know how strong she is. She's insecure and suffers from real social anxiety, but she has courage that not everyone has; she's able to be true to herself no matter the circumstances, and she faces her fears with great courage.

STEPH: What does Dan find appealing about her?

DANI: Dan Lipinsky is Athena's new best friend. He's one of the most popular boys at school, but despite Athena's coolness toward others he sees right through her tough exterior and seems to understand her insecurity. Dan admires that Athena is smart and not a follower.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

DANI: The theme of Death Cheater is enduring the little things and standing up to our darkest fears. My hope is that readers will be inspired by Athena carrying on despite her fears and the obstacles thrown in her path.

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

DANI: I’m often inspired by the places I visit. I love to see new things, even just a quirky road sign along the highway that may be funny or curious. I've learned to become an open minded-observer of the little things around me. For me, history and nature are full of stories waiting to be told. And the parts of ourselves we keep hidden from the world are great character traits waiting to be explored and analyzed.

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

DANI: I have a Kindle Fire at this time which I love reading books on from online, but I do wish I could find a PDF program that would give me text size options and better control for reading other files on it.

STEPH: Fun question: Are you going to dress up for Halloween this year? If so, what are you going to be?

DANI: I dress up every year and help my neighbors and neighborhood pull off a great Haunted Mansion and pirate tour. Last year I dressed as a voodoo woman a la Pirates of the Caribbean and this year I will probably play that role again. It's a good time.

FIND DANI AT:
http://www.thebalancedwriter.blogspot.com
http://www.daniellethorne.com

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "Baer Necessities"

Thank you so much for supporting Linda during her week in the spotlight. Leave a comment today, Saturday, and Sunday along with your email addy (so we can contact you if you win!) and we'll pick one lucky winner on Monday to receive a copy of Linda's latest book, "Baer Necessities." Enjoy the excerpt!

Smiles
Moderator Steph

*********

Blurb:
Baer Necessities - Book Two of The Three Baers

One of them will be just right.

Connor Baer left the ranch to see the world.

Jessie McIvey wasn't far behind.

He wanted no part of small town life, and she didn't want a cowboy in her future.

But sometimes the thing your heart wants the most, you've had all along. Two people left one small town to find what their hearts were searching for only to find everything they'd ever wanted right in their own backyard.

Excerpt:
As he drove toward the wide spot in the road known as Sentinel, Wyoming, he found his Jeep pulling into McIvey's Café parking lot.

Strange, he wasn't really hungry.

A little, lime-green, hybrid zipped into the spot next to him. The license plate said Colorado. A dozen strands of beads and a peace sign hung around the rearview mirror. Greenpeace and Eat Vegetarian stickers plastered on the rear window.

The man inside the hybrid gave Connor a nod as he got out of the car and followed him inside the café.

George McIvey smiled.

"Hi Connor, what can I get you?" He walked to the counter. George never changed. He still had the same military buzz cut, although it had gotten grayer. He still wore the same white apron, same flannel shirt underneath, and his eyes couldn't hide his happy soul.

"Coffee." Connor sat on a stool at the counter, watching the stranger who plopped down a few stools over. Curly dark blond hair fell to about mid-shoulder; he had a beard and moustache, square sunglasses, and sandals. Sandals? Well, at least the man didn’t wear socks with them.

George slid a fresh cup of coffee in front of him, and waited on the stranger.
"Coffee for you, sir?"

"No thanks, I'd like water, and do you have a vegetarian menu?"

George laughed, "You're in luck, our last cook was a vegetarian, and she made some mighty good meals." He handed the man a small paper menu. "It's short, but it's good. I'll get your water."

"Get that mangy mutt out of my restaurant." Margaret yelled from the kitchen as the swinging doors that separated the dining area from the kitchen slammed open. A muddy, foul smelling dog burst out of the opening in the counter, followed by a very cute woman on its heels.

Connor smiled as the dog wedged himself under the table in a booth, peering out at the sexy woman who tried to coax him out.

"You, come out of there. Come on boy." She bent over, talking softly to the dog, and the jeans pulled tight across the cutest little butt he'd seen in a long time. Her bare feet only added to her hotness.

"Jessie, is that you?" Sandal man walked toward her.

She stood and turned around.

Connor took in a deep breath. Damp, brown, curly hair matted around her face. Her eyes were chocolate brown, her lashes long, her hips tiny, and her breasts large. This girl was like a walking, talking Barbie doll. Connor swallowed hard, using the paper napkin George had supplied with his coffee to wipe his brow. It seemed rather hot in the café.

"Oak?" A smile lit up her face. "You came." She squealed and ran across the room to the man, throwing her arms around his neck.

"Connor," George leaned on his elbows across the counter, toward him, "did she just call him Oak?"

"I believe so."

Margaret stomped across the room, ignoring their reunion. "Dog. Out," she ordered, but the dog didn't move. "George." Her head turned toward him, her eyes shooting daggers.

He nodded and ran from behind the counter. "Come on." He got on his knees, calling to the dog.

"Dad, let me try." Jessie pulled away from Oak, dropped to her knees and nearly crawled under the table with the mutt.

Connor envied the dog.

Oak walked past George, tapped Jessie on the shoulder, and held his hand up. "Let me."

Margaret gave Connor an eye roll, crossed her arms over her chest, and tapped an aggravated foot.

"Come boy. Come out." Oak looked to Jessie. "What's his name?"

"Toby." George mused.

"Hank." Jessie chimed in.

"Dead dog," Margaret said, "if you don't get him out of my restaurant."


********

Booktrailers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BuDECZsZrg - Baer Necessities
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaA8p65oOeo - Baer Truth


Linda McMaken
www.linda-mcmaken.com
www.makenwords.blogspot.com

BAER TRUTH - Book One of the Three Baer's Trilogy
-One of them will be just right for you!
From Desert Breeze Publishing

THE GRANITE ROSE
Ancient Rome, epic battles, endangered hearts
From Desert Breeze Publishing

Author Spotlight - Linda McMaken & Mud :)

There is a place that has legendary mud. I mean mud on steroids. This mud sticks to you like a lobbyist sticks to a politician. I've only found this mud in one place, Wyoming. Any readers from this amazing state will back me up here.

We headed out on a day trip up in the Big Horn Mountains. The road was hard packed dirt on the drive up the mountain. But coming back down we discovered it had rained, and now the road had to turned to not just mud, but sludge.

We safely made it down and the next morning as we reminisced about our mountain adventure, we noticed a strange substance clinging to the fender wells of the truck. Hubby kicked at it - it wouldn't budge. On further inspection we discovered it was mud from the aforesaid mountain road. He took a shovel to it, only a few small chips of the stuff dropped to the ground. We loaded up and headed into town, to find a car wash.

With a spray of high intensity water, a pick-ax and a military shovel we dug at the goo that had lodged under the truck. It was stuffed into that little divot inside the bumper, under fender wells, wrapped around the tie-rods, was even plugging the bottom part of the radiator.

We've off-roaded before and a swish of power washer always cleaned off the mud - not this mud. It took 2-hours, about 20-dollars, and a pick-ax and there was still mud on that truck. In fact, I broke my little Army shovel on this darn mud!

We continued our vacation, another 1500 miles, came home and there was still mud on the truck. We power-washed it, we scraped it, we finally took it to a big semi-truck wash that had industrial washing equipment - this is where a huge boulder of the stuff fell off. The guy at the truck wash went to scoop it up with a shovel and nearly snapped his back trying to lift it. (No, wonder our fuel mileage dropped on the way home.)

He remarked, "What is that stuff?" As he tried to shovel it outside.

I smiled, "Wyoming mud, legendary mud."

My darling husband snarled commenting about nuclear waste.

The car wash guy grunted, arms straining to take the lump outside. "Remind me never to go there. This stuff is nasty."

Booktrailers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BuDECZsZrg - Baer Necessities
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaA8p65oOeo - Baer Truth


Linda McMaken
www.linda-mcmaken.com
www.makenwords.blogspot.com

BAER TRUTH - Book One of the Three Baer's Trilogy
-One of them will be just right for you!
From Desert Breeze Publishing

THE GRANITE ROSE
Ancient Rome, epic battles, endangered hearts
From Desert Breeze Publishing

Author Spotlight - Linda McMaken talks about the inspiration behind "The 3 Baers Trilogy"

Even though I'm a Midwest girl by birth, my heart is in the West. My mom used to read me Zane Grey, Louis L'amour, and Max Brand books. She took me to every John Wayne movie that was made and she'd talk about mountain men and cowboys and their free spirits. Cowboys are tough, hardworking, quiet and unassuming, and I think that is what attracts many people to read and attracted me to write about them.

I'd have to say my inspiration for writing westerns, would be my mom. Although she never got to visit the West, it lived in her in so many ways. She would tough, dependable, hardworking, faithful, everything that history seems to have embodied in cowboys.

Since, I know about farming, but very little about ranching, I figured me being on a ranch would be pretty funny to those cowboys. So, there is a bit of me in some of those funny scenes.

Baer Truth, the first book in the Three Baers Trilogy began during a family vacation in Wyoming. We passed a cattle ranch where hundreds of head were grazing. I wondered about that ranch family, how long had they lived there? How big was the ranch? Then my snarky muse (who I call comedian Robin Williams evil twin) takes over and says "what if a cowboy on that beef ranch fell for a girl who happened to be a vegetarian?" Baer Truth was born, and other cowboys soon followed!

Booktrailers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BuDECZsZrg - Baer Necessities
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaA8p65oOeo - Baer Truth


Linda McMaken
www.linda-mcmaken.com
www.makenwords.blogspot.com

BAER TRUTH - Book One of the Three Baer's Trilogy
-One of them will be just right for you!
From Desert Breeze Publishing

THE GRANITE ROSE
Ancient Rome, epic battles, endangered hearts
From Desert Breeze Publishing

Author Spotlight - Linda McMaken shares the cast of "Baer Necessities"

Meet the cast of Baer Necessities:

The Three Baers - Joe, Connor and Matt Baer. They live on the Hidden Rock Ranch, well, not all of them. Joe loves the ranch and lives there, Matt is sort of finding his way around the Baers, and Connor, he left the ranch to find greener pastures elsewhere.

Baer Necessities is Connor's story. Called back home when Joe is critically injured in a bull riding event, he hangs around to help out. When things are back to normal, he longs to head back to Seattle and a job as a geologist that takes him around the world, far from the ranch fences. Although, after he runs into a former high school friend, Jessie McIvey, he isn't so sure anymore.

Jessie McIvey left home right after graduation, headed to college, earned a degree in archeology and she too has traveled the world. Growing up with cowboys left her longing for a different kind of man, a refined, well-read man -- no cowboys for this girl.

As a nasty neighbor rancher with a vendetta against the Baers starts making trouble of the legal kind, they stay to help. Although they are at bitter odds over how to help. The stealing of a satellite, (they just borrowed it), water rights, and legendary Wyoming mud are all standing in their way.

---Sometimes the things we yearn for the most, have been right in our back yard all along. --

Booktrailers - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BuDECZsZrg - Baer Necessities
and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaA8p65oOeo - Baer Truth


Linda McMaken
www.linda-mcmaken.com
www.makenwords.blogspot.com

BAER TRUTH - Book One of the Three Baer's Trilogy
-One of them will be just right for you!
From Desert Breeze Publishing

THE GRANITE ROSE
Ancient Rome, epic battles, endangered hearts
From Desert Breeze Publishing