Author Spotlight - Character Interview with Kirsty from "Recipe for Romance"

Sue: Hi Kirsty, thanks for coming with me to the Desert Breeze Spotlight. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?

Kirsty: Not at all. What would you like to know?

Sue: What were your thoughts when you met Reeve?

Kirsty: [laughs] You really want to know? I thought him a stuck up prig who had to be in charge. The first time we met he breezed in as if he owned the place. I found out later this was almost right. He was the man in charge for the new owners.

Sue: What do you think he thought of you?

Kirsty: I imagine he thought he'd met a bumbling idiot. I stood in an untidy, less than clean kitchen trying to cope with everything on my own. Everything went wrong for me and I'm sure he thought I was totally incompetent.

Sue: Did you feel any attraction for him?

Kirsty: What do you think? I might not have liked his attitude but his dark hair and athletic figure is gorgeous. His smile is something to die for and - well I shouldn't gush too much about him or I might give away what happens in the book.

Sue: How did you feel when things started going wrong for you at work?

Kirsty: Frustrated at first, but after a while when things didn't improve I began to doubt myself. Tired emotionally and physically I didn't seem to be able to think straight. I couldn't understand what was happening and why everyone seemed to be out to get me.

Sue: Do you have any dreams to fulfill?

Kirsty: I'd really like to have a restaurant all of my own. The select type where you have to book weeks ahead to get a table. I think one should always have dreams to aim for, it makes life worth living.


Website: http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

Blog: http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.com

Buy Link: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-388/Recipe-for-Romance-Sue/Detail.bok

Review by Maria Sadowski https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=394396763975022&id=187981637917791&comment_id=64891361¬if_t=share_comment

Author Spotlight - Researching Recipe for Romance

"Recipe for Romance" is the second romance novel to be set in my home country of New Zealand. The first I placed in the South Island, but the location for this one is on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula in the Hibiscus Coast north of Auckland.

This book is an amalgamation of my time on the North Shore of Auckland and some memories of when I lived there. We wanted to live on a lifestyle block (smallholding) and searched the area for a property with two acres and a 3 bedroom home. Reeve's house rose from this search. My husband worked in hotels so I have visited hotel kitchens and spoken to hotel chefs. In fact my life was the research for the book.

I also had friends who worked in the catering industry so my research came to me rather than the other way round. This is only part of the work of writing a book. The main part is actually putting pen to paper - or the modern way of putting fingers to keyboard. Like all writers once I start I don't want to stop until the end of the book, but little hiccups occur now and again. I've found the best way keep moving is to jump to a part of the book where I know what's going to happen. By the time I've finished everything has smoothed itself out in my mind and I'm ready to fill in the gaps.

Sounds easy doesn't it? Not so. Once I collect all the ingredients (pardon the pun) I then have to spend time and effort to pull everything together and make it all work. Hopefully I've brought everything together to entice the reader to open the book and start reading. Then it's over to Kirsty and Reeve to keep them entertained.


Website: http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

Blog: http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.com

Buy Link: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-388/Recipe-for-Romance-Sue/Detail.bok

Review by Maria Sadowski https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=394396763975022&id=187981637917791&comment_id=64891361¬if_t=share_comment

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Sue Perkins

STEPH: I don't know much about "Recipe for Romance." What's it about?

SUE: It's absolutely beautiful on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula north of Auckland and when I this area instantly sprang to mind for the location of this book. In a small hotel the sous chef Kirsty and the new manager Reeve clash from day one. Attracted to one another but pulled apart by circumstances Kirsty and Reeve must solve the mystery surrounding the hotel before they can achieve any sort of future together.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

SUE: Not that long really. It seemed to flow once I'd got the original idea firmly fixed in my mind. Probably about three months from start to finish, followed by edits of course.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do? When I first began this story I lived in the northern area of Auckland and from the local beach I could see the peninsula. So location wise I didn't have to do much research. My husband used to work for one of the big hotel chains so I know the basics of what went on behind the luxury facade. The cooking and intimate working of the kitchen proved the major hurdle, but luckily I had friends who had worked in the catering industry for decades so they were able to help.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

SUE: Don't be me started about the cover or I'll never stop. Carol, the artist, got it right first time and I love how she took what was in my mind and made it reality. The kitchen implements give an indication of where the main story takes place, with the Chef's hat indicating a professional kitchen. The rose was Carol's idea and takes the cover one step further to show it's a romance. Absolutely gorgeous. I can't thank her enough.

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

SUE: I wanted a strong female who believed in herself. Kirsty knows her strength lies in her cooking skills, but is wise enough to know she needs more practical experience before applying for an upmarket job. Her weakness comes when she begins to believe the catastrophes around her are her fault.

STEPH: What does Reeve find appealing about her?

SUE: He's attracted to her beauty, independence and feisty nature. Somehow she intrigues him and irritates him both at the same time. He is frustrated by his need to keep business first but can't help being drawn to Kirsty.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

SUE: Reeve's company has recently purchased the hotel but when he takes over he finds the restaurant has been losing money for the last six months. He believes Kirsty might be to blame. Kirsty begins to doubt her own capabilities when things go wrong in the kitchen and all errors point to her. The mystery of falling revenue must be solved and Kirsty must clear her name before they can think of themselves.

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

SUE: Everywhere. Scenery, overheard conversations, unusual names. Sometimes I'm lying in bed and a story comes to me out of the blue. I very seldom write about people I know, or events that have happened. The one exception is my book "Blitz" which was based on my parents love story.

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

SUE: Yes, I have a Sony reader. This is mainly because until recently Kindles were not available in New Zealand and you still can't purchase a Nook here. However I mainly read on my iPad using the Kindle app and the iBook app. I can't really understand why people think the ebook will push the print book into oblivion. I love reading whether it's in hard copy or ebook format.

STEPH: Fun question: Do you have an artificial Christmas tree or a real one?

SUE: Blush. We have an artificial one. We've moved a few times in the last twenty years and it seemed easier to keep one in a box during the year. Now of course there's only my husband and I, so we tend to put the tree up just for us. We have a lovely semi circular full length window where we place it with the lights all twinkling. What's Christmas in New Zealand like? Absolutely lovely. Imagine all the things you enjoy doing during summer, including good weather and throw in Christmas as well. Days at the beach, the beginning of the long summer holidays - all these happen from Christmas onward so it's a very happy time. Dinner is quite often a barbecue either at the beach or in the back yard, with family and friends invited. Some of us who have emigrated from the northern hemisphere still have the traditional turkey and trimmings (that's the way for England - turkey) but also some have adopted the Kiwi way.


Website: http://www.sueperkinsauthor.com

Blog: http://sueperkinsauthor.blogspot.com

Buy Link: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-388/Recipe-for-Romance-Sue/Detail.bok

Review by Maria Sadowski https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=394396763975022&id=187981637917791&comment_id=64891361¬if_t=share_comment

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from Catch of the Day

Thank you so much for supporting Petie during her week in the spotlight. Leave a comment about the excerpt today, Saturday and Sunday along with your email so we can get in touch with you and we'll pick one lucky winner on Monday to receive a PDF or Epub of Petie's novel, "Catch of the Day."

Enjoy the excerpt!
Smiles
Moderator Steph

**********
Holy cow!

Gage looked over Lila's head and saw Cody stomping toward the dock, a big Igloo cooler in her arms, fire in her eyes, and steam escaping from her ears. He swallowed hard and tried to pry free, but Lila would have none of that.

"Now you just hold still, cutie patootie," she drawled, "and let little ole Lila give you your good luck hug." She crushed her barely-covered breasts against his abdomen, the neckline on her tank top drooping almost to her navel.

Cody reached the dock and stomped so hard he could feel the vibration in the boards. Her glare could singe the fins off an alligator gar, and he had Lila stuck to him like a tick. He was a sitting duck.

Cody looked even madder now than when she left to get the rest of her gear, which could only mean...

She was jealous.
Of Lila.

Cody's glare deepened upon final approach.

He grinned for real.

Zeke Tumson, my ass. She likes me.

He stopped trying to struggle free of Lila and waited for Cody to get to the boat and the fireworks to begin. Lila felt his struggle cease and snuggled in closer, rubbing every inch of her front against him and laying her cheek on his chest. A week ago, Lila's antics would have elicited a very pronounced and noticeable reaction. Today -- he glanced down to check -- nothing. His gaze shot to Cody steaming down the dock. Had she done this to him?

"Mmmm," Lila cooed and squiggled her body again, "good luuuuck."

Cody marched mere steps away. When Lila purred, Cody hesitated for the span of a second, made a sharp left, stepped down into the johnboat, and proceeded to hook up her livewell. He waited a five-count. Cody kept her head down and fooled with the tubing attached to the cooler. He had to move. If he didn't, Lila would be in his shorts any second.

Maybe he should let...

Nope, bad idea. Cody would push him overboard later and drive off and leave him. Heck, she may already be planning to do just that.

He cleared his throat to be sure Cody heard. "Thanks for seeing us off, Lila," he said politely.

No reaction from Cody.

"I didn't come to see her off," Lila said in a snit. "Just yooou," she cooed and rubbed her breasts against him again.

Cody missed it. She never looked up.

"All right, you get on back to your registration table, and let me get to my fishing." He took her shoulders and physically set her back.

Cody finished with the livewell and picked up a fishing rod.

Lila batted her eyelashes. "I'll be waiting when you get back, sugar. What say we have dinner tonight?"

No way was he answering that question. He smiled and stuck a foot out to step down in the johnboat. Lila chose that instant to hook her finger into his belt loop to tug him back.

Too late, Gage saw the butt end of Cody's rod push off on the dock cleat, and the johnboat shot back the full three feet of loose bow and stern line.

His sneaker stepped out into thin air, and he dropped like a rock.

He hit the water at an angle, and Lila followed him in, her index finger still hooked in his belt loop. The water wasn't nearly cold enough to chill his white-hot temper, and he broke the surface with an indignant roar. Lila climbed him like a dock piling, and he struggled for a moment to keep his head above water until he gained control and pulled her toward the dock.

Cody leaned over the side of the boat, eyes wide with innocence. "I'm so sorry," she said.

He didn't buy it for a second. She climbed out onto the dock and extended a hand to help them out. Two anglers appeared on either side of her and nudged her out of the way to pull Lila from the water. Both men were rightfully compensated, judging by their gapes. Lila's white sundress stuck to her like a second skin and looked far more transparent wet than it had dry. Lila hadn't stopped squawking since she came up for air the first time, but the appreciative stares of the two anglers slowed her down considerably. One of the anglers pulled Gage out, while the other stared at Lila.

When Gage climbed up on the dock, he rounded on Cody. "What the hell was that for?" he thundered.

Hard to believe, but her blue eyes grew even wider. "What do you mean?" she said, so calm and innocent he fought the urge to turn her over his knee.

"You did that on purpose."
"What?"

He almost bought the innocent routine. Almost.

"You did, you little bitch!" Lila hissed and took a step toward her.

Cody didn't back down. She turned to face Lila, and the innocence left her eyes as her cheeks pinked with anger. "Don't blame me if you're clumsy."

"Clumsy!" Lila shrieked. "Why you misbegotten--" Her hand reared back, and Gage deftly snagged her backswing.

"Enough," he ordered. "You need to go change clothes, Lila, and so do I." Damned if he would spend the morning in wet clothes. He kept hold of Lila's hand and marched her down the dock and across the grass past more gaping anglers.

Cody called after them, "Gage, you better be back by our flight time or--"

He spun around. "Or what?" he thundered.

Back came the wide-eyed look and innocent smile. She shrugged. "Or I'll just have to wait for you."

*********
My buy link is: http://www.amazon.com/Catch-of-the-Day-ebook/dp/B00AAQCDF4/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354240396&sr=1-16&keywords=desert+breeze+publishing

Find me on the web at: http://www.petiemccarty.com

Review:

"4 Stars...CATCH OF THE DAY is Ms. McCarty’s second release and like the first one, EVERGLADES, presents the reader with likeable characters, a mini suspense, and an engaging storyline with an environmental edge. Great story and I am looking forward to more by this author." -- The Romance Readers Connection

Author Spotlight - Character Interview with Lila Tumson from Catch of the Day

Bentonville Daily Chronicle Sports Editor Jeffrey Waller interviews Lila Tumson, supporting cast from Catch of the Day

Waller: "Excuse me, are you Lila Tumson?"

Lila: "Why yes, I sure am. And who might you be?"

Waller: "I'm Jeffrey Waller of the Bentonville Daily Chronicle, and I'm doing a series this week on the Loon Lake Tournament."

Lila: "Oh wonderful!"

Waller: "I'm pleased to meet you, ma'am. I understand you handle the registration for the tournament."

Lila: "That's right. The registration and all sorts of things for my daddy, Mayor Billy Tumson. Daddy runs this tournament."

Waller: "I see. Anything exciting happen at the registration this year, Miss Tumson?"

Lila: "Oh please, call me Lila."

Waller: Did she just bat her eyelashes at me? "All right, Lila. Anything exciting you care to share?"

Lila: "Why all the anglers are excitin'. I get to meet every cutie patootie in the tournament right over there at my registration desk."

Waller: "Every…cutie patootie?"

Lila: "Well, not every single one. I just met you this every instant."

Waller: "Um…Miss Tumson…your finger's caught on my shirt pocket."

Lila: "Oh, so it is."

Waller: "I guess what I really wanted to ask about was your very first female angler, Cody Ryan."

Lila: "What do you want to know about her for?"

Waller: "Well, because she's special -- being the first female angler and all."

Lila: "There's nothing special about her."

Waller: "All the Loon women I've interviewed think Cody Ryan is special."

Lila: "Yeah, but the Loon men sure don't. They want a gal to be feminine and helpless like li'l ole me."

Waller: "Somehow I don't see you as helpless, Lila."

Lila: "You don't?"

Waller: "Um…that's my belt loop you've got your finger hooked in…"

My buy link is: http://www.amazon.com/Catch-of-the-Day-ebook/dp/B00AAQCDF4/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354240396&sr=1-16&keywords=desert+breeze+publishing

Find me on the web at: http://www.petiemccarty.com

Review:

"4 Stars...CATCH OF THE DAY is Ms. McCarty’s second release and like the first one, EVERGLADES, presents the reader with likeable characters, a mini suspense, and an engaging storyline with an environmental edge. Great story and I am looking forward to more by this author." -- The Romance Readers Connection

Author Spotlight - Petie McCarty talks about personal words

All authors are a tad eccentric. If someone accused us of that, we assuredly would cry "foul!" But honestly, think about it. How many people do you know who hole up for hours at a time and are often heard talking to themselves. Actually we are probably testing dialogue, but does the person on the other side of the door realize that? Of course not, only another author would. So it stands to reason, most folks would find us a tad eccentric.

This is not a bad thing, and the label gives us leeway to be creative -- or odd, as others might claim -- in new and innovative arenas. Take for example, new words -- personal words -- our own created words used only by us to juice up our writing. Or more importantly, to create voice.

Authors will take two common words, stick them together, and hyphenate them as a new adjective. We'll take two verbs and run them together to create an altogether new verb. Or we'll just pull a brand-new spectacular word out of our…thin air, like a magician, and call it our own. All of which drives our content editors to distraction for they want to pigeon-hole our grammar and word choice into acceptable guidelines, which is really a good thing in the grand scheme of safe and purchasable publishing. Yet some words just scream for their own time and their own stage. And we all have them.

Take for example, perseverate -- my old boss's favorite word, and he was a PhD in Environmental Engineering. A good definition might be "to persevere to concentrate" or in other words, you won't let the issue go and you stick with it like a dog with a piece of meat. You perseverate on the issue. Authors are adept at perseverating, especially if someone is editing their manuscript. Twenty years ago when the Doc came up with this, I couldn't find the word anywhere in Merriam-Webster, and it only appeared in recent years. Did my old boss coin the term as a personal word? Who knows? Anything's possible.

How about frinklesnatcher? What in the world is that? Well, it's a Petie-ism. [Actually now, my entire family and everyone in my office uses it.] The term started out as a descriptive word for the accoutrements found clinging to the grill at the bottom of the refrigerator. Little pieces of "I don't know what" that blew in and out with the air movements under the appliance. A good definition would be "that which no one recognizes and no one wants to touch or especially not to pick up." But frinklesnatchers do exist, and they did need a name, a name as unique as the whatever you don't want to touch. Thus frinklesntacher. Works in a myriad of situations. "Yuck! Look at that frinklesnatcher." Or "Ewww, pick that frinklesnatcher off my shirt." The word can also work for anything that requires a name and doesn't yet have one. I suspect as I get older and more forgetful, I will find more frinklesnatchers in this world.

And my segue back to this week's blog about Catch of the Day -- I do have a couple personalized words in my story, and my content editor was kind enough to leave them. I don't care what anyone says…pokety-outy is an absolutely perfect adjective when used properly.

My buy link is: http://www.amazon.com/Catch-of-the-Day-ebook/dp/B00AAQCDF4/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354240396&sr=1-16&keywords=desert+breeze+publishing

Find me on the web at: http://www.petiemccarty.com

Review:

"4 Stars...CATCH OF THE DAY is Ms. McCarty’s second release and like the first one, EVERGLADES, presents the reader with likeable characters, a mini suspense, and an engaging storyline with an environmental edge. Great story and I am looking forward to more by this author." -- The Romance Readers Connection

Author Spotlight - Researching Catch of the Day

Catch of the Day was a fun book to plot and write with the zany assemblage of townsfolk from Loon, Alabama that came along for the ride. But before I started writing out my story scenes for Catch of the Day, I spent quite a bit of time online doing research to get a flavor for the types of lakes one would find in Alabama as well as the type of fish habitat one would encounter in those lakes. I needed a just-right type of atmosphere, a little wild and a little crazy, for the Loon tournament.

First, I had to get the lake and the environmental conditions right. It wouldn't do to go to all that trouble with rods and reels and lures, only to have an Alabama reader email and say, "Hey, Loon Lake doesn't resemble any lake I ever saw in Alabama." I had to get close on water quality -- clear versus slightly turbid or even tannic -- and habitat, as in actual aquatic vegetation and the proper indigenous species. Or is the habitat supposed to be just boulders, tree trunks, and branches because the lake is an old reservoir?

Then I had to be sure I had the right fish species for both the habitat and for the tournament use [even though I may only mention fish species three times in the entire story, I had better get them right]. Plus, I had to tackle the tackle, so to speak. Find the appropriate lures, get the terminology, and make sure I applied those lures to the correct species of fish. No, our scaly friends are not all alike and each has food and habitat preferences, so the lures must correctly match up with the chosen fish and hiding spot.

And the biggest hurdle was to provide all that without making the story seem like it was bogged down with a lot of details. And even though I did all that research before I started writing, the more my survey partner talked about his professional tournaments, the more I knew I needed his help. So I started asking dozens of questions, and he, in turn, provided the technical background I required, teaching me basic tournament rules and procedures and eventually editing my final draft for fishing faux pas. I wanted plenty of fun and humor for my story and didn't want to bog down the plot and pacing with details. With my partner's helpful editing, we were able to keep our tournament details accurate -- but yet at a minimum -- which allowed the story to totally concentrate on the people and the plot and the romance.

The wildest part of the research came after the story was completely finished! I had a nice chase scene for a climax, but it didn't make me hold my breath as I wrote it, so I was a tad disappointed. Shortly after finishing the story and before my personal first round of edits, my survey partner returned from a tournament raving over the winning angler and how the man managed to jump a beaver dam in one of the coves with his bass boat to get to the prime fishing habitat on the other side. When my partner finished his wild tale, he stared at me for a minute and said, "What are your eyes all lit up for?" And I told him with a mile-wide grin, "You just helped me rewrite my chase scene," and I already knew I'd be holding my breath when I wrote it.

Hopefully when my readers reach the story's end, they will realize they learned tidbits of tournament fishing knowledge along the way -- and more importantly, laughed all along the way.



My buy link is: http://www.amazon.com/Catch-of-the-Day-ebook/dp/B00AAQCDF4/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354240396&sr=1-16&keywords=desert+breeze+publishing

Find me on the web at: http://www.petiemccarty.com

Review:

"4 Stars...CATCH OF THE DAY is Ms. McCarty’s second release and like the first one, EVERGLADES, presents the reader with likeable characters, a mini suspense, and an engaging storyline with an environmental edge. Great story and I am looking forward to more by this author." -- The Romance Readers Connection

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Petie McCarty

STEPH: I don't know much about "Catch of the Day." What's it about?

PETIE: In Catch of the Day, I hope to make readers laugh out loud one minute and grip the edge of their seat in the next. They will tag along with a red-headed spitfire named Cody Ryan and her tournament partner, Special Ops Coast Guard Captain Gage Connor, as the partners compete in a wild and crazy fishing tournament in the Doc-Hollywood-esque town of Loon, Alabama, accompanied by an assemblage of townsfolk as zany as the name.

The mayor of Loon makes up his own rules for the private town tournament, his lunkhead son plans to cheat to win the event, and his daughter just plans to cheat to win Gage Connor.

There's plenty of excitement for everyone when inept drug smugglers come looking for their uncut diamonds inadvertently stashed in the Coast Guard captain's borrowed bass boat as the exchange point for their smuggled drugs. The Colombians are playing for keeps and will stop at nothing to retrieve their stash, even if it means kidnapping Gage's girlfriend.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

PETIE: Catch of the Day took about nine months to finish. It would have been much shorter if I didn't have that "day job" to report to every day. But without the day job, there would have been no Catch of the Day. *grin*

I wrote a large part of the story before I had the technical assistance from a professional angler, so I eventually received a detailed editing from him that followed my own full-scale edits. Then after the manuscript was completely finished and I had let out my huge end-of-the-story sigh of relief, I ended up rewriting my story's big climactic scene. See "Researching Catch of the Day" on tomorrow's blog. *Sly grin*

STEPH: Where did you get your inspiration for Catch of the Day?

PETIE: This is an easy question, and it goes back to my day job. I routinely survey lakes for aquatic vegetation, and my survey partner is a professional angler with the National Bassmaster Southern Opens series. [The national fishing organization, B.A.S.S., has a membership more than half a million strong and is the focal point of a multibillion-dollar fishing industry.] He would always come back from his three-day tournaments around the southeastern United States with plenty of fishing stories, and then one day, the movie popped into my head. What would happen if a girl entered an all-guy tournament? And what if I staged it in the Doc-Hollywood-esque town of Loon, Alabama with plenty of quirky residents?


STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

PETIE: I did quite a bit of research online [Alabama state parks, Alabama Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bassmaster.com, Bass Pro Shop to "shop" for tackle] before I eventually turned to my survey partner for help. Research can get away from you if you let it, but in this case there was more research needed than just angler skills and fishing tackle.

In fact, I rewrote my entire finale after my partner brought back a whopper of a tale -- albeit true -- from one of his fishing tournaments. You'll have to read about Researching Catch of the Day on tomorrow's blog to see how I worked that in. ☺

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

PETIE: The cover displays one of the physical focal points of the story -- Cody Ryan's crummy little johnboat on Loon Lake as the sun comes up. Cody, the heroine, is paired up with the hero Coast Guard captain for the tournament, but if both partners bring a boat, the pair has to use each boat for one day in the tournament. Thus, the feminine little johnboat causes quite a bit of ruckus amongst the sleek, thoroughbred -- and very male -- bass boats. If that isn't disturbance enough, her homemade livewell, made out of an igloo cooler, has the competition in an uproar.

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

PETIE: Cody enters the Loon Lake tournament because her father had fished in it every year, and when he passed away, she thought she'd feel closer to him and maybe not miss him so much if she fishes the tournament, too. Meanwhile, the women of Loon decide to adopt her as their personal mascot, and before Cody knows it, she's competing for women's fishing rights in Loon. So her obvious strengths are her willingness to face challenges head on and her attention to detail. She's also an accountant with a soft heart and ends up checking the books for half of Loon.
Her real strengths come out in the tournament, however, and are obvious to everyone but Cody -- her patience, her endurance, and her courage.

Cody really only has one major weakness -- a definite lack of trust in others. Her mother died and left Cody while she was very young, and her father turned to his job and buried himself in his work, so he was never there for Cody. Consequently, she not only fears others will let her down -- she expects it.

STEPH: What does Gage Connor find appealing about her?

PETIE: Cody's tournament partner, Special Ops Coast Guard captain Gage Connor comes to Loon to resolve an old family dispute and to search for the girl who was his very first love. Meeting Cody throws a wrench into his well-laid plans.

Gage is enthralled by Cody's courage in entering and competing in the Loon Lake tournament -- the sole female angler in the male-dominated touranment. She suffers jeers and taunts with her chin up and her shoulders back. And standing behind her are all the women of Loon, watching the fun.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

PETIE: Your heart will always recognize your one true love, even if your eyes, at first, are blind.

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

PETIE: I was given a Nook for my birthday this year, and I didn't really want one, loving the feel and yes, even the smell of books. But my darling husband reminded me that if I didn't have a Nook I'd never get to read my own books. So on my release date at Thanksgiving, I joyfully put my second book in my Nook, so I could look at my book wherever I took ….oh well, Seuss I am not…

STEPH: Fun question: Do you have a favorite Christmas recipe you like to bake up during this time?

PETIE: I am without a doubt the world's lousiest cook! I knew how to make 10 things when I got married, and now I know how to make 12 things. When my husband told his mother in the Christmas season of our second year of marriage that I made Tollhouse cookies for Christmas cookies [which was a fib since I had never made ANY Christmas cookies], she sent me twelve cookie recipes. After reading them over, I thought I could only accomplish one -- a sugar cookie recipe that I decided to be brave and try. Grandma McCarty had the ingredients and the procedure on an index card, but it didn't say how many cookies each batch made, so I made SEVERAL batches. *sigh* And I kept rolling out dough and rolling out dough and rolling out dough…

Everyone we knew got cookies that year and so did the mailman, the garbage man, the toll plaza change-maker man… well, you get the idea. I made 22 dozen sprinkle-coated sugar cookies in the shape of St. Nick, bells, reindeer and stockings and never made Christmas cookies again.

My buy link is: http://www.amazon.com/Catch-of-the-Day-ebook/dp/B00AAQCDF4/ref=sr_1_16?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354240396&sr=1-16&keywords=desert+breeze+publishing

Find me on the web at: http://www.petiemccarty.com

REVIEW:

"4 Stars...CATCH OF THE DAY is Ms. McCarty’s second release and like the first one, EVERGLADES, presents the reader with likeable characters, a mini suspense, and an engaging storyline with an environmental edge. Great story and I am looking forward to more by this author." -- The Romance Readers Connection

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "Shadowed Dreams"

We hope you've enjoyed Tina's week in the spotlight. Leave a comment today, Saturday, Sunday along with your email address and we'll pick one winner to receive a PDF copy of one of Tina's books.

Enjoy the Excerpt!
Smiles
Moderator Steph


Caroline finally made it out of the store after wrestling herself free, and all but slammed the door behind her. She tugged her dress into place with a 'humph'. "Doesn't anyone know how to fix anything here?"

Her diatribe of complaints continued outside as she nearly tripped on a loose slat, and maneuvered around a couple of men who forced her to the outer edge of the walk. She continued toward the hotel, hugging the outer posts when she could. "I see manners are lacking here as well."

She was so busy mumbling complaints to herself she didn't notice anyone else on the walk. It was too late by the time she did. She ran into a man. It felt like she hit a brick wall.

Unbalanced, she teetered, grasping for air, and fell off the walk. She found herself deposited face down in the muddy street. She righted herself quickly, and sat there stunned and fuming. Her hat was down on her forehead. She pushed it back, and with clawed fingers dragged the mud from her eyes, then wiped the mud from her face, which only added more mud.

An open hand slipped into her limited field of vision. "Let me help you." There were some gentlemen here, evidently. She started to accept until he added, "Sorry about this. Didn’t mean to knock you off the walk."

She snatched her hand back. This man, the one with whom she collided, was trying to offer her assistance. "How dare you? You weren't watching where you were going!"
Caroline renewed the attack at the mud on her face with the backs of her hands.
"Ma'am, honest, I'm really sorry but..."

It was a good thing he stopped talking, because it sounded like he was going to blame the entire situation on her.

"There are no buts about it. You ought to be sorry! Just look what you've done! Do you realize how much this dress cost?" Muddy tears filled her eyes. Caroline lifted her arms from the mud. The sleeves, weighted and wet, hung heavily, like muddy flags in the air. She flapped them. "Look at this mess you've made!"

"Can't comment much on the dress, ma'am. But it was you who ran into me. I'd be happy to help you." He stepped behind her, reaching down for her, and caught her under the arms and began to lift.

Caroline craned her head back to look at the stranger. He had soft and strangely familiar blue eyes. He was even somewhat handsome.

But he was dirty.

The buckskin britches and the shirt he wore were filthy and sweat-stained. He looked like he hadn't seen water in weeks.

Caroline continued her rant as she flapped her arms. "How dare you touch me? Remove your filthy hands from me this instant!"

"I daresay my hands are a heck of a lot cleaner than you are right now, ma'am." He smiled. She noted he had nice white teeth, and a little dimple playing just to left of his lips. "Besides, I doubt you want me to let you go right now."

"I do." Caroline stiffened her legs, and used her dead weight against him. Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Ma'am, you're in a precarious position."

"Only because you're touching me." Nice eyes, bright smile, and dimple aside. "I don't want your foul hands on me! Now let me go!"

"Whatever you say." The stranger shook his head. "Tsk, tsk, as you wish." He let go of her. She flopped back into the mud, making a sploshing sound when she landed.

"How dare you! How dare you!" She kicked her legs and screamed, like a two-year-old having a tantrum.


******

Tina Pinson resides in Mesa, Arizona with her husband of thirty plus years, Danny. They are blessed to have three sons, and six grandchildren with another on the way.
Tina started her writing in elementary school. Her love of writing has caused her to seek creative outlets be it writing poetry, songs, or stories. Her WWII story Trail of the Sandpiper won third place in the Genesis in 2003. In the Manor of the Ghost and Touched By Mercy and When Shadows Fall Book 1 in the Shadows Series are available through Desert Breeze Publishers.

To Catch a Shadow the next installment of the Shadow Series about the civil war and the Oregon Trail, will be available, June 2013. To Carry her Cross will be available January 2013 and Then There was Grace a Sept 9/11 type story will be available Sept. 2013 and Christmas in Shades of Gray an offbeat Dickens type tale releases December 2013.

Blurb:
Matthew has braved the war and near death with one thought in mind… Rebekah. He won her hand in marriage, and now he has a few short months to make her see how much he loves her. How much he needs her. Given the wall she's put up between them, he prays he'll have enough time.

After fleeing the war, Rebekah is determined to go west to Oregon, only to be turned down when she tries to join the train. Matthew's proposal of marriage, in name only to help her west, becomes the miracle she needs. Loving him as she does, she dreads the idea of letting him go once they reach Oregon, but how can she ask him to stay with her, to love her? How could he love her once he's found out her secret? She must guard her heart and his.

My website -- http://www.tinapinson.com/
Twitter:@Tina_Pinson
Facebook-- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103

Purchase my books at:

Desert Breeze Bookstore.
When Shadows Fall
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
Shadowed Dreams

Amazon:
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
When Shadows Fall
Shadowed Dreams

Barnes & Noble
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
When Shadows Fall
Shadowed Dreams

Christian Books Distributors
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
When Shadows Fall



Tina E. Pinson--
Touched By Mercy, In the Manor of the Ghost, When Shadows Fall
Shadowed Dreams Twitter @Tina_Pinson My Website, My Blog
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD... " Jer. 29:11

Author Spotlight - 1863 in History

Here is a list of some of the things that happened during the time Matthew and Rebekah's took their trip to Oregon.

Remember the Civil War was still being fought and there were several battles during this times as well.
I didn’t list them all.

May 1st - Battle of Chancellorsville, VA (29,000 injured or died)

May 1st - Confederate congress passed resolution to kill black soldiers

May 2nd - Stonewall Jackson attacks Chancellorsville, wounded by his own men

May 5th - Joe Coburn KOs Mike McCoole for US boxing title in 63rd round
May 8th - Confederación Granadina becomes Estados Unidos de Colombia

May 16th - Battle of Champion's Hill, MS-bloodiest action of Vicksburg Campaign

May 19th - Siege of Vicksburg, investment of city complete
Jun 2nd - Harriet Tubman leads Union guerrillas into Maryland, freeing slaves
Jun 5th - CSS "Alabama" captures "Tailsman" in Mid Atlantic
Jun 7th - Mexico City captured by French troops
Jun 10th - Battle of Brice's Crossroads, Miss; Nathan Bedford Forrest w/3500 defeats 8000 Feds
Jun 13th - Samuel Butler publishes 1st part of "Erewhon," Christchurch, NZ

Jun 17th - Travelers Insurance Co of Hartford chartered (1st accident insurer)

Jun 20th - 1st bank chartered in US (National Bank of Davenport Iowa)
Jun 20th - West Virginia admitted as 35th US state

Jun 25th - US General George Meade replaces General Hooker to be more aggressive

Jun 29th - George A Custer (23) appointed Union Brig-general

Jun 29th - Lee orders his forces to concentrate near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Jun 29th - Very 1st First National Bank opens in Davenport, Iowa

Jun 30th - Dutch colony Suriname counts population of 33,000 slaves

Jul 1st - Battle of Gettysburg, Pa; Lee's northward advance halted

Jul 1st - Free city delivery of mail begins in 49 US cities; postage 3 cents per oz

Jul 1st - Slavery abolished in Suriname & Netherlands Antilles

Jul 3rd - Battle of Gettysburg Pa ends, major victory for North

Jul 4th - Boise, Idaho founded (now capital of Idaho)

Jul 4th - General Lee's army withdraws from Gettysburg

Jul 6th - Northern Territory passes from New South Wales to South Australia

Jul 7th - 1st military draft by US (exemptions cost $100)

Jul 7th - Orders barring Jews from serving under US Grant are revoked

Jul 11th - Japanese battle cruiser shoots at Dutch warship Medusa, kills 4

Jul 13th - Anti-draft mobs lynch blacks in NYC; about 1,000 die

Jul 14th - Jews of Holstein Germany granted equality

Jul 15th - Pres Davis orders service duty for confederate army

Jul 16th - Utrecht-Swells railway opens

Jul 17th - Battle of Honey Springs - largest battle in Indian Territory

Jul 30th - Pres Lincoln issues "eye-for-eye" order to shoot a rebel prisoner for every black prisoner shot

Jul 30th - Indian Wars: Chief Pocatello of the Shoshone tribe signs the Treaty of Box Elder, promising to stop harassing the emigrant trails in southern Idaho and northern Utah
Aug 3rd - Governor Seymour asks Lincoln to suspend draft in NY

Aug 3rd - Saratoga Racetrack (NY) opens

Aug 8th - American Civil War: Tennessee's "military" Governor Andrew Johnson frees his personal slaves. During the early 20th century, the day was celebrated by blacks in Tennessee as a holiday.

Aug 11th - Cambodia becomes French protectorate

Aug 12th - 1st cargo of lumber leaves Burrard Inlet (Vancouver, BC area)

Aug 15th - Submarine "HL Hunley" arrives in Charleston on railroad cars

Aug 15th - The Anglo-Satsuma War begins between the Satsuma Domain of Japan and the United Kingdom (Traditional Japanese date: July 2, 1863).

Aug 16th - Emancipation Proclamation signed
Sep 1st - RR & ferry connection between SF & Oakland inaugurated
Sep 5th - Bread revolt in Mobile Alabama
Sep 10th - George Bizets opera "Les Pêcheurs de Perles," premieres in Paris
Oct 3rd - Lincoln designates last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day

Oct 5th - Confederate sub David damages Union ship Ironsides.
Oct 6th - Dr Charles H Sheppard opens 1st public bath, in Brooklyn

Oct 15th - Cliff House opens in SF (1st of many on site)

Oct 16th - Grant is given command of Union forces in West
 VA

Oct 26th - Soccer rules standardized; rugby starts as a separate game

Oct 26th - Worldwide Red Cross organized in Geneva

Oct 26th - Football Association forms in England, standardizing soccer

Oct 27th - Dutch railway to Harlingen opens
Oct 29th - Intl Comm of Red Cross forms (Nobel 1917, 1944, 1963)

Oct 31st - The Maori Wars resumed as British forces in New Zealand led by General Duncan Cameron began their Invasion of the
Nov 17th - Lincoln begins 1st draft of his Gettysburg Address

Nov 19th - Lincoln delivers his address in Gettysburg; "4 score & 7 years..."

Nov 23rd - Patent granted for a process of making color photographs

Dec 4th - Storm flood ravages Nethe coastal provinces

Dec 8th - 2,500 reported killed as result of fire at Jesuit Church of La Compana Santiago Chile

Dec 8th - Abraham Lincoln's Amnesty Proclamation and plan for Reconstruction of South


Dec 15th - Romania is using for the first time a mountain railway (from Anina to Oravita)


******

Tina Pinson resides in Mesa, Arizona with her husband of thirty plus years, Danny. They are blessed to have three sons, and six grandchildren with another on the way.
Tina started her writing in elementary school. Her love of writing has caused her to seek creative outlets be it writing poetry, songs, or stories. Her WWII story Trail of the Sandpiper won third place in the Genesis in 2003. In the Manor of the Ghost and Touched By Mercy and When Shadows Fall Book 1 in the Shadows Series are available through Desert Breeze Publishers.

To Catch a Shadow the next installment of the Shadow Series about the civil war and the Oregon Trail, will be available, June 2013. To Carry her Cross will be available January 2013 and Then There was Grace a Sept 9/11 type story will be available Sept. 2013 and Christmas in Shades of Gray an offbeat Dickens type tale releases December 2013.

Blurb:
Matthew has braved the war and near death with one thought in mind… Rebekah. He won her hand in marriage, and now he has a few short months to make her see how much he loves her. How much he needs her. Given the wall she's put up between them, he prays he'll have enough time.

After fleeing the war, Rebekah is determined to go west to Oregon, only to be turned down when she tries to join the train. Matthew's proposal of marriage, in name only to help her west, becomes the miracle she needs. Loving him as she does, she dreads the idea of letting him go once they reach Oregon, but how can she ask him to stay with her, to love her? How could he love her once he's found out her secret? She must guard her heart and his.

My website -- http://www.tinapinson.com/
Twitter:@Tina_Pinson
Facebook-- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=754617103

Purchase my books at:

Desert Breeze Bookstore.
When Shadows Fall
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
Shadowed Dreams

Amazon:
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
When Shadows Fall
Shadowed Dreams

Barnes & Noble
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
When Shadows Fall
Shadowed Dreams

Christian Books Distributors
Touched By Mercy
In the Manor of the Ghost
When Shadows Fall



Tina E. Pinson--
Touched By Mercy, In the Manor of the Ghost, When Shadows Fall
Shadowed Dreams Twitter @Tina_Pinson My Website, My Blog
"For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD... " Jer. 29:11