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Posts tagged with: Suzanne Ferrell
SURPRISE~BOOK LAUNCH!Posted by Suzanne Ferrell Apr 12 2012, 12:09 am in Columbus Ohio, Contemporary romances, KIDNAPPED, romanitc suspense, Russian Mafia, Suzanne Ferrell
Jake Carlisle, undercover FBI agent gives a tug to his partner’s hand: Will you look at this place? It’s a cross between a medieval castle and some sort of mansion! Any clue where the boss lady is holed up? Sami Edgars, ER nurse, shakes her head then leans in closer: I told you we should’ve told her we were coming. She does NOT like being interrupted when she’s working! Look what happened the last time you interrupted her… Jake grinned: Hey, I was desperate! I needed help. Jake: Well, it got you to clean the floor of your car didn’t it? At that moment a door opened, and Jake pulls Sami behind him, wishing he hadn’t come unarmed to the boss’ and her buddies Lair. A tall blond man enters the hall: I believe you’re looking for Ms. Ferrell? Jake eyes the chiseled man in the white t-shirt and slacks from head to toe: Who might you be and how do you know that’s who we’re looking for? The man growls. : I’m Sven, head man here. And I believe you’re the two worrying Ms. Ferrell these days. She’s playing in my kitchen again, has the chocolate out and is muttering something about unleashing more characters onto the world. Sami, gives Jake a shove so he’ll move a little, then peeks around him to smile at Sven: Do you think you could show us where the kitchen might be? Sven opens the third door that leads to a hallway: Follow it down past the music room and library. You’ll know you’re almost there once you start smelling the chocolate. And with that, the headman headed down the stairs, swinging a key in his hand and muttering about ordering more champagne in the morning.  Ryan Gossling is as close as I can come to Jake Carlisle, my FBI agent in KIDNAPPED, A Romantic Suspense Novel, if I were casting it! Jake and Sami wait until he disappears, then head in the direction he’d told them. The pair look into each room, marveling at the opulence and rare treasures held in the music room and the shelf-lined library. Jake: No wonder the boss lady likes hanging out here. Wonder how many of these books she’s read? Sami: You’ve seen her read. I bet a good deal! See there’s a whole shelf to that Julie Garwood person, and hey, that’s Anna Campbell and Kate Carlisle. I know I’ve seen her reading them! Jake gave Sami’s hand a tug, knowing she’d stay in the library all night if he didn’t get her moving. A few doors more and the hall dumps into the large gathering area. A pool, a lounge area, a bar with dozens of bar stools….and in the far corner a huge open kitchen. And there was the boss lady, standing over a pot. Jake: Hey, bosslady, what’s cooking? Sami slugs him again: God, that’s an awful joke. Suzanne Ferrell turns around, lifts one brow and points a fork with chocolate covered tines at the couple: You two! What are you doing here? I sent you out to conqueror the world. You have your story. Why are you bothering me again? Sami scoots into a barstool: What are you cooking? It looks delicious. Suz: Chocolate covered pretzels. You know me, I always cook when I’m worrying or stuck on a story. Figured I’d make a snack for all the other Bandits since I’ve been nervously thinking about you two.  Sami Edgars as I picture her in KIDNAPPED, A Romantic Suspense Novel, (Anna Belknap is this actress) Jake sneaks in and pilfers one of the treats cooling on the rack: Why you worrying about us? Suz: You two have a penchant for getting into hot water. Now that I’ve published your story on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.com, I’m just wondering if you’re going to do well or cause havoc out there. Jake tries to look innocent: What do you mean? We didn’t do anything. In fact the whole situation was sort of thrust upon us. Sami holds up her hands: Hey, I’m the victim here, you know! Remember? Something was in her mouth. Sami’s tongue slid along the edges of something plastic. Flat, low ridges, holes—an adjustable strap. A baseball cap? Another taste. Hair spray. Gross. Someone had stuffed her baseball cap in her mouth, and from the feel of it they had taped it in place. Her arms were tied behind her and she lay face down on the floor—of what? Her car. The carpeting scraped her cheek every time they hit a bump. Panic flooded Sami’s senses. She came instantly awake. Inhaling deeply through her nose, she willed herself to calm down. Her working motto flashed through her brain, panic never accomplished anything. Of course she had never been kidnapped and tied up before. In the dim light of passing cars, she glimpsed things—paper gum wrappers, an old straw, one whopper wrapper, a CD cover. That’s where Sting went. Been looking for that for days. Man did she need to vacuum this car out. A metallic scent hit her nose. She’d recognize that smell until the day she died. Blood. And by the odor, someone had lost a great deal of it. Panic welled inside her again. This time too much to dismiss. Her heart raced. Breathe, dammit! She couldn’t. Oh God, who was this guy? Why did he pick her? Why hadn’t she begged to stay and finish the shift, even if it was a slow night? Calm down, Samantha. Think about something peaceful. You can’t do anything right now. Maybe there’s a simple explanation. Get real. Nothing simple could explain away that much blood loss. She’d learned that the first time she’d stood by a gurney and watched her trauma victim’s blood drip off the side to pool around her feet. Even though she didn’t do more than work, sleep and work some more, it was still her life. As much as she’d hated almost every waking moment since Aimee’s death, she suddenly realized she wasn’t ready to die. Not tonight. Certainly not like this. A deep sigh bubbled out of her. Since the air rushed out her nose instead of her mouth, it sounded more like a snort. She scrunched her eyes and ignored the suddenly schizophrenic voices in her head. She refused to panic. So far the only damage done was to her dignity. If she kept her wits about her, maybe she could escape. Isn’t that what her brother had preached to her for years? They’d covered all the bases, from car-jackings, to floods, tornadoes and any other natural disaster. In a crisis situation, remain calm and watch for an opportunity to act. That same out of body experience she felt during an emergency flowed over her, allowing her to see the entire situation, and act accordingly. When everyone around her flew at break neck speed on an adrenaline rush, Sami remained peacefully calm and organized. Her body slumped into the carpeting. Quietly, she listened to the rhythm of the wheels beneath the floor. After a few minutes she almost fell asleep. Her near exhaustion, after working forty-eight of the last ninety-six hours, coupled with the mental and physical energy needed to fight her building hysteria, lulled her mind from the very real danger around her. The car slowed, turned, then stopped. Sami’s eyes popped open. ”Damn, where does she keep the garage door opener?” the man in the driver’s seat muttered. A chill crept up Sami’s spine. That same deep baritone had rumbled over her ear earlier, just before something squeezed her throat and the lights went out. A test swallow confirmed her tender throat. He’d cut off her air supply. This guy wasn’t above controlling her by physical force. A snap sounded above her head. Damn! He’d found the door opener’s hiding place between the seats. A few minutes later, the Chevy inched forward. Motion sensor lights flooded the garage in a yellowish hue, casting eerie shadows inside the car. Sami thought she heard a moan. Then the garage door closed. Breathe. Calm, just stay calm. Fight the panic. The driver’s door opened. The car’s weight shifted, then rose. Heavy boots sounded on the cement garage floor. The front passenger door opened. A grunt and whoosh of air escaped the man. He sounded like an Olympic weight lifter going for the clean and jerk record. More boots thumping. Sami strained to lift her head, but couldn’t see more than halfway up the seat in front of her. She rested her head on the floor once again, waiting. Again, the boots thudded across the garage, drawing nearer. Breathe. Stay calm. Count. One-one thousand, two-two thousand. The door swung open. Sami clenched her eyes shut, pretending she was still out cold. It seemed like minutes passed. Every second marked by the rapid beat of her pulse in her ears. What was he waiting for? Something soft and warm whispered across her cheek. The smell of cinnamon teased her nose. She couldn’t stand it. Cautiously, she opened her eyes. Two clear blue eyes beneath the thickest black lashes this side of a movie star met her gaze—only upside down. The rest of him was…shaggy. He reminded her of Robert Redford in that mountain man movie, Jeremiah something-or-other. Thick dishwater blonde hair hung to one side of his forehead and in layers down to his collar. A dark five-o’clock shadow covered the lower half of his face. Her eyes traveled lower. Across the edge of his flannel shirt about an inch below his left collarbone, a circular pattern of dark crimson swirled outward from a hole, so full of old dried blood it bordered on black. Whoever he was, he’d been shot tonight. Her gaze flew to his. He lifted his right eyebrow in a sardonic fashion. “Good, you’re awake.” With both large hands he grasped her by the shoulders. Carefully, he eased her into a sitting position. “Let me make something perfectly clear. You are here only because I need you to patch up my friend. Got it?” Sami nodded. With one hand on top of her head, he guided her out of her car. Sami waited for the dizziness to clear her mind before taking a step forward. The garage door button next to the inside house door caught her eye. An escape idea popped into her head. Grasping her arm firmly, her captor nearly dragged her over to the door. Unsteady on her feet, she played it to her advantage and stumbled against him a step or two. Timing was everything. Just as they both stepped onto the bottom step leading into the house, Sami threw all her weight sideways into her captor. He grunted, falling to the side. His wounded shoulder hit the side of the house. Sami stumbled backward to the button, pressing the side of her head against it. Above her the w-h-i-r of the garage door opening sounded. The panic she’d been fighting throughout her car trip surged through her once more. Fight or flight. She chose flight and suddenly propelled herself past his grasping hands toward the lifting garage door. Footsteps pounded behind her as she gained the driveway. One step. Two. Three… “Ooomph.” She hit the grassy bank to the driver’s side with what felt like a ton of bricks on top of her. He swore as his arms wrapped around her and he rolled with her to the side. Immediately, Sami began to squirm—legs thrashing, torso bucking into his. “Damn it. Hold still!” “Mmmph mmph!” Like hell! He increased the pressure of his arms on her ribs, slowly purposefully squeezing the air out of her lungs. At the same time he trapped her flailing legs between his own. Very quickly Sami decided to give in, for now, rather than lose consciousness again. With a resigning snort she let her body go limp against him. “Look!” He growled in her ear and Sami despised the shiver of fear that coursed down her spine. “I don’t have time to play games with you, lady. I tried to be nice. Now we’ll do it the hard way.“ Jake gives Sami a miscevious grin: But dang you looked kind of sexy all tied up like that. Sami rolls her eyes: Hey we’re one of her Romantic Suspense stories, not the erotica! Men, geesh! Suz laughs: He doesn’t ever give up, does he? Sami: Nope. Good thing. Once he decides to protect something he goes after it like a dog with a bone.  Columbus's skyline at night, the city where all the action starts and ends. Jake, snags a couple more pretzels as the Sven guy returns with what looks like bottles of champagne: So, why DID you decide to self publish our story? Suz opens the oven door and pulls out the crab stuffed mushrooms.: That’s one of those what the hell moments I tend to have. Like when I started writing your book, KIDNAPPED. I thought, wonder if I can write a book in which all the action takes place in less than a week. And when I entered it in the Harlequin Intrigue contest, *which you’ll remember it won*. And when I entered it in the Golden Heart contest. They were all sort of what the hell, let’s give it a try moments. I thought, it’s a great story with great characters and it’s sitting in my computer gathering virtual mold. So, I thought let’s share it with the world. Sami places a mushroom on a plate. : It’s set in the Midwest. Isn’t that a killer location for books. I mean no one wants to read about central Ohio. Nothing happens there, right? Jake: Only people getting killed and wild women driving SUV’s! Sami studied him for a moment. Concern etched his rugged features. He actually cared what happened to her. Oddly, her heart skipped a beat at the knowledge. “Okay. I promise.” The corners of his lips lifted in a half smile. “I’m sorry if I hurt you in any way. It would’ve been nice to meet you under other circumstances.” “You didn’t really bruise anything more than my ego.” She gave him a rueful smile. “Now get Nicky out of this cool weather.” “Yes, ma’am.” Sami sat behind the wheel, watching Jake swagger with Nicky in his arms toward the market’s front door. A few soft white flakes fell on the windshield. She sighed with regret. In one day, he’d filled her dull life with more excitement than she’d had in the past ten years combined. She’d never see either the man or boy again. In front of him, the door to the market flew open. A balding man in jeans and a heavy sports-type wind-breaker, hurried out. He waived frantically at Jake. The man yelled something. Suddenly, several men ran out behind the older man. Without any warning, they took police stances, firing their weapons at Jake and the man. Jake turned, sprinting as fast as he could toward her. In morbid fascination, fingers glued to the steering wheel, Sami watched as the balding man fell in slow motion. He sank to his knees. His hands flew upwards. He tipped forward like a felled tree in the forest. Finally, he sprawled, face down on the pavement. The door to the suburban flew open. Jake jumped in, clutching Nicky tightly to him. “Get us out of here, Samantha!” Sami snapped to action at his orders. She threw the car in reverse. Gunning the engine, they flew backward. She laid on the horn hard. Innocent pedestrians in the path behind them scattered out of the way like startled pigeons at a public monument.  The south central Hocking Hills area where Jake and Sami hole up in a cabin for a while The men from the market ran toward them. Car windows around them shattered. Bystanders dove for cover behind cars and light poles. She maneuvered the car to the road entrance, turned the wheel sharply and backed into traffic. Ignoring the screeching tires and blaring horns of the other motorists around them, she slammed the car into first, and sped down the road. “They killed him!” she yelled at Jake as she headed back to her house. “Damn it, don’t you think I know that” Suz: Columbus is my home town. I lived there and trust me when I say there’s more going on in the Midwest than most people think. Besides, where ever people are, there’s a story. There’s love, there’s murder, there’s intrigue. I chose to write about a place I knew well. Jake: So why you doing all this cooking? Sami looked at the whole counter filled with appetizers.: OMG, she made her famous chickensalad on mini rolls, Bacon and cream cheese swirl puffs, the famous cheeseball and candied pecans! It’s a party!!! Suz: Yep! It’s my virtual launch party for you two!! Sven arrived with uncorked bottles of champagne.: You know, Ms. Ferrell, the sound of the cork popping usually brings the Banditas and their buddies out of the woodwork. Suz: Yep, and I’ve got more food in the oven! Paolo’s gonna HATE the dishes in the morning! So, dear friends, please help me celebrate the launch of this book that has been through so many milestones. You’ll love Jake and Sami, trust me! What would you bring to a spontaneous party? Who would you bring to liven it up? Any unusual guests? In honor of my book finding its home on the internet, I’ve got 3 $10 Amazon gift cards to give away to lucky commentors. Sexy Shifters with J.D. Tyler’s Alpha PackPosted by Suzanne Ferrell Apr 3 2012, 12:07 am in Alpha Pack, Blue Bloods, JD Tyler, paranormal romance, police, shape shifters, special ops, Station Five Firefighters, Suzanne Ferrell
Steak Bruschetta—a favorite of both of ours Suz: So, JD, pull up a bar stool while I put the bruschetta in the oven for a quick melting of the cheese over the basil, sun dried tomatoes and basil. You’ve been a very busy girl lately, what with the eBook release of BLACK MAGIC last month and now the release of SAVAGE AWAKENING this month! Girl, how do you get so much writing done? JD: It hasn’t been easy. Due to some life changes, it’s been tough to get my writing done lately, but I set aside a portion of each day to work on my page and word count goals. Sometimes I make it, and other days, well… I end up having Steak Bruschetta and sangria therapy with my good friend Suz! Suz: When you started the ALPHA PACK series did you have an over all arc for the series, or did you just start with one book and let it build from that? JD: Good question! I don’t think anyone has asked me that before, that I can recall. I began with an outline for the series that named the characters, their abilities, and where the plots of the first 3 books were basically headed. But it wasn’t until I started writing PRIMAL LAW that the bigger arc started to really form and become clear. My readers have guessed by now that the major plot arc over the first 3 books is headed to an explosive culmination in Kalen’s book, BLACK MOON. I already know where the next arc is headed in the series, but I’m not telling yet! JD: When we first meet Beryl in the prologue of PRIMAL LAW, it’s no secret that she’ll probably be important in the future—which is the purpose of the prologue, to show (not tell) what the guys went through when she betrayed them, and so that she doesn’t come out of left field later in the book. So, she’s Jaxon Law’s former lover, and she’s linked to the main bad guy. But WHO is the Big Boss? That’s the question… Suz: Sisters play an important part in SAVAGE AWAKENING. Rowan Chase has her own connection to the pack, doesn’t she? JD: She certainly does! Rowan is a tough LAPD police officer who grew up with her younger brother, Micah, in one of the roughest barrios in East L.A. Now she protects the people she’s known all her life. She thinks there isn’t much that can scare her anymore, that she’s seen it all… Until Micah goes missing and her search for him lands her smack in the middle of a paranormal world she never imagined in her worst nightmares. And then her search leads her to Aric, the smartass redheaded wolf shifter, and her life is turned upside down yet again… Suz: We met Aric Savage in PRIMAL LAW as the wisecracking Firestarter/Telekinetic of the pack. He’s the kind of hero I think is hardest to convince love is possible, how do you do that in SAVAGE AWAKENING? JD: Oh, I didn’t convince him—that was all Rowan! She’s strong, self-assured, no-bullshit. Aric hasn’t been easy in his skin in years, and he covers for those feelings of inadequacy with his snarky attitude. He just doesn’t believe he’s worthy of a woman like Rowan. But she sees the vulnerable man inside who wants so badly to love and be loved, and yet he won’t give in. Reaching him seems impossible, and if she walks away, he’ll literally die… Suz: Ok, without giving anything away, can I just say that you’ve made some really gruesome bad guys for this pack to fight. Without wondering where your imagination gets them, why so creepy? JD: I couldn’t tell you where my imagination gets the baddies if I tried, so no worries there. I guess that’s my love of horror flicks and books coming to the fore! (Stephen King, anyone?) When I’m writing, the creepier the better. And to me, the most terrifying of all is what you can’t see coming. Suz: What’s next in your writing schedule? JD: Right now, I’m working on Kalen Black’s story, BLACK MOON, which is due to my editor soon. After that, I’ll start writing book 1 in my new contemporary series SUGARLAND BLUE, coming out next spring under my Jo Davis name. It’s the spinoff of my FIREFIGHTERS OF STATION FIVE series that my readers have been requesting for quite a while, and it focuses on the heroes at the Sugarland Police Dept., the dangers they face, and the women who love them. (Think BLUE BLOODS) Readers will be treated to some old favorites (Six-Pack, anyone?) and new loves. And yes, Detective Shane Ford gets the first book! I’m also thrilled to announce that I’ve just sold books 4 and 5 of the Alpha Pack series to NAL! I’ll start writing book 4 this summer, after I finish book 1 of SUGARLAND BLUE, and the tentative title is HUNTER’S MOON. Three guesses who the hero of that story is! I can’t wait! I hope my readers feel the same way. JD is giving away a signed copy of Savage Awakening to one lucky commentor today. A short talk with J.D. Tyler and Addison FoxPosted by Suzanne Ferrell Mar 5 2012, 12:02 am in Addison Fox, Alpha Pack series, Ellora's Cave, JD Tyler, novellas, paranomal romances, Penguin publishing, Sons of the Zodiac series, Suzanne Ferrell, THE SURRENDER OF LACY MORGAN
Suz, reaching to pour a third glass of the delicious cocktail:Over here, Addison! JD: Hey Addison! Bout time you showed up, girlfriend. Addison: I am so excited to spend the day with you guys and the Banditas! The Lair is always one of the most fun – and hopping – places on the web! JD, lifting her glass in a toast: I’ll drink to that! Clinking of glasses sound, followed by laughter. Sven, one eyebrow lifted in question, turns to see if the trio is going to start trouble, which sends Suz sets her glass down and turns to her friends: I’ve started writing an erotic novella. I was wondering, you both have been multi published in novel length books. What was different about writing a novella set in your paranormal series? Addison: I’d actually start with what is the same. The world of my zodiac warriors is consistent book to book – that part was actually quite easy to get back into. What was different was finding a way in WAVE OF MEMORIES to put my hero and heroine together quickly vs. the canvas of a full-length novel to get them together. I’m not ashamed to say I used that age-old tactic to help get them together quickly….they’ve got a history with each other! JD: I’ve read many novellas, but I had never written one until BLACK MAGIC. When my editor asked me to write one set in the Alpha Pack’s world, I was both excited and nervous. The idea of squeezing a story into five or so chapters was daunting to me—sort of like trying to fit an elephant into a marble sack. I think “big” story, so that was different for me. I knew I wanted to write a novella for Kalen Black and Mackenzie, but I also knew they would have a full-length book. I’ll explain more about how I worked that in a bit. A cabana boy wanders past and the trio stop to admire the hitch in his gait. Suz, clearing her throat and getting back to the subject of their visit: I’ve been approaching this as a challenge to see if I can tell a complete story in a shorter format. What do you two think are the pros about writing a novella? Addison: Getting to revisit my warriors in WAVE OF MEMORIES and having a chance to put more stories in front of readers, hands down. I absolutely love everything about crafting an entire novel, but the realities of time means there is a wait time between books. As a voracious reader myself, I love when my wait time I shortened and it’s just as much fun as a writer! JD: I get to spend more time with those characters, in this case the heroes of the Pack! I also got to tease the reader with the promise of HUGE things to come when they read Kalen and Mackenzie’s full-length book BLACK MOON, which releases in December. Yes, I’m evil that way. Suz: The trio grin and again clink glasses. Suz: Like I said, this is a challenge for me. Having to be very tight in my writing. What do you consider the cons to writing a novella? Addison: The only con is that you don’t get to spend as much time with these characters on the page because you pretty much have their love story on high speed! JD: I didn’t find a con with writing this one. Mostly because Kalen and Mac’s story isn’t over, it’s just beginning… Suz: Just beginning? Oooo sounds intriguing! JD smirks in that usual mischievous way of hers and reaches for the pitcher of mojitos. Suz: Since I write for Ellora’s Cave, all my stuff comes out as strictly an e-book at first. How do you feel about your novellas being just offered as an e-book? Addison: I’m excited that digital publishing is making more options available to authors. While there is a component of universal availability that comes from being in print and digital, the fact that my publisher can put books/stories out more quickly is a benefit to me and my readers. That said, recognizing the story won’t be universally available, I did ensure that the novella weaves in with the broader world I’ve created, yet also stands alone. I think that’s actually a really important component in any book in a series – the story needs to be a stand-alone story first – but it is especially true with an e-only novella. JD: I think being offered as an eBook makes perfect sense for not just my novella, but all of the Penguin eSpecials. Readers can buy instantly and begin to enjoy the story right on their eReader, tablet, or computer, and that convenience is a very good thing. Suz: Well my experimental novella is NOT related to my book The Surrender of Lacy Morgan, but it is an American Historical that takes place after the Civil War. Tell me about your novellas… Addison: WAVE OF MEMORIES is Aidan’s story. Aidan is my Aquarius Warrior and he’s got a wonderfully angsty backstory with Megaera (“Meg” for short), one of the Furies. An old enemy of both of them has come after Meg and the only person she can turn to for help is Aidan, her former lover (don’t ya just love it when that happens?!?!) Of course in WAVE OF MEMORIES, the tables are turned on our dear stubborn Aidan pretty quickly when his old feelings for Meg come roaring back to life. JD: Kalen Black and Dr. Mackenzie Grant first met in PRIMAL LAW when Kalen was recruited to join the Alpha Pack. BLACK MAGIC (releasing on March 6) is the beginning of Kalen and Mackenzie’s story, to be concluded in December 2012 with their full-length book, BLACK MOON. In BLACK MAGIC, Sorcerer/Necromancer/black panther shifter Kalen Black and Dr. Mackenzie Grant battle a lethal enemy and come together in an explosion of passion. One night will set in motion dire consequences not only for the couple, but for the entire Pack. Those consequences will reach their full, devastating potential in BLACK MOON. As the Pack’s commander/PreCog Nick Westfall predicted, a terrible storm is coming, and Kalen will face not only a battle within himself, but a war on the horizon that could end them all… For those of you who are wondering, the novella IS a stand-alone story. Readers won’t have to read the novella to fully enjoy Kalen and Mackenzie’s full-length book. Yet reading the events in the novella first-hand, knowing exactly what happened the night Kalen and Mac first gave in to their passion, will greatly enhance enjoyment of their journey. I hope my readers love the ride! Suz, turns to look at the pool where several cabana boys and one sexy cowboy are swimming: Speaking of rides, have y’all tried the slide over by the pool? Sven retu So, readers, while me, JD and Addison oogle the males in the Lair, how about telling us what you like about novellas? Does having a “special” ebook in a series wet your appetites for more? We have prizes from both JD and Addison for several commenters today. JD is giving print or e-copy of Primal Law to one reader and Addison is giving an e copy of the novella and a printed or e version of Warrior Enchanted when it comes out to another reader **Okay, so Amazon wasn’t being nice to me when I wanted to add click throughs so y’all could purchase Jo’s novella which is available to preorder today or buy tomorrow. Click on this smaller version of her book and it will take you right to the site!** Self Induced PainPosted by Suzanne Ferrell Feb 28 2012, 12:56 am in Deep Tissue Massages, self-induced pain, Suzanne Ferrell, Swedish Massage
As many of you know my dreaded night job, henceforth known as the DNJ, is delivering babies. Much to the surprise of not only my patients, but other nurses and my own children, this is a very, very physical job. Not only am I on my feet a lot, some nights for hours at a time, but I do a lot of lifting and pulling. There’s equipment to move, patients on beds or gurneys to get from place to place, and when the patient is completely numb from the waist down someone has to turn them, (which isn’t too complicated unless the patient is more than 200 lbs!). Then there’s the screaming patient who has to be turned into a pretzel to get their baby out. (Ask me in a bar sometime about that one!) Now, in nursing school I learned the art of proper body mechanics. I’ve employed them religiously. There’s a button on the bed that raises the bed so I don’t have to bend over to do things like start IV’s. I use it without exception, okay as much as possible, (there is that whole pretzel thingy). But no matter how careful and consistent a nurse is there are aches and pains that come with doing a job well for 3 decades. Lately, though, I’ve had this spot just left of my spine and right of my left scapula, (shoulder blade). Periodically it feels like someone is driving a hot poker into it. It hurts a bit. So DH (Dear Hubby) suggested I contact our friend Lec to see if a massage would make it better. Good idea! Lec is a lovely lady originally from Thailand. She’s about as big as a minute. I kid you not. Maybe five feet tall and maybe 100 pounds, soaking wet and all her pockets loaded down with rocks. In other words, I could pick her up and toss her across the room. She is also a massage therapist. You strip down to your panties and climb under the covers, face down on the table. Lec politely knocks and asks in her soft, accented voice if you’re ready. Then she starts with a gentle rubbing of the area that is bothering you. This isn’t too bad. She rubs warm oil on the spot, feeling around, frequently, murmuring, “Here?” or “Yes, I see the problem.” She asks you questions about the other spots, all the while slowly working her fingers and hands over the offending area. Just as you’re relaxing from this exploration of your tender spot, Lec turns into torture woman. She takes her elbow and applies pressure, hard, until tears are in your eyes. You feel like you should be slamming your hand on the table like a wrestler conceding a loss to a more powerful foe. At the moment when you think you can’t take anymore, she eases up. Unfortunately, this is only to move further up and apply the same deep, hard pressure on another tender spot, one you didn’t know until that moment you even had! As she’s leaning all of her little body into that knotted-up muscle she quietly asks you to quantitatively describe your pain on a scale of 1-10. 90! Oh, wait, you’re not a wimp. Certainly, you can take this pain. It’s for your own good, right? Okay…uhm a 5? She says, “Okay, you let me know when it is a 4.” If I say now, will you stop? Oh goody! Can’t wait! She morphs from dragon-torture-woman back to warm-handed-masseuse and works on the rest of your body. You groan in almost ecstasy when she works on your feet and hands. Then, she’s back at that spot. No! Please, God, not there again! Yes, she’s got that elbow grinding slowly, torturously, deeply into that knot. That-deep-in-the-muscle-because-you-stupidly-ignored-it-for-5-months-knot. And then she works the entire trapezius muscle up to your neck and over to your shoulder joint. Each area sending warning shots of “you will hate this later” pain to your brain, which is begging you to plead for mercy. Then, she stops. Ah, relief. You turn over, and she begins massaging your limbs again. Pulling and rubbing with her entire forearms along your long muscles. She puts hot towels on your feet and hands as she works the joints. Ohhhhhhhh mama! You are relaxed again. She gets hot stones from her warmer and begins rubbing them on your shoulders and neck. AHHHH. You have survived!! Only, you know that for the next 24-48 hours that left side of your upper back and neck is going to complain. Not a whiney, child-like complaint. Oh no, it’s a full-grown-man-who-has-been-beaten-with-a-Louisville-Slugger-complaint! You know you’re going to eat Ibuprophen like candy and drink enough water to make Shamu jealous. You’re going to cry in the privacy of your own home. You pay the nice woman, who is smiling at you. Yes, YOU PAY FOR THIS! AND YOU SCHEDULE ANOTHER ONE FOR NEXT WEEK! Because you know that damn 5-month-old knot is not going to be completely gone unless you do. What does this have to do with writing? Well, sometimes when I’m doing edits or the story is going really well, I get into “the zone”. I’m so keyed into my writing that I’m almost obsessive about it. I find my posture slumps, mostly because I’m paying little attention to it. This causes my muscles to ache. Nothing as horrible as this aggrevating knot in my shoulder, but it still makes me feel beat up. That’s when I have one of Lec’s relaxing Swedish-type massages. Ahhh. Doesn’t that just sound wonderful? So, dear readers, let me ask you this: Do you ever get a massage? Do you prefer the Swedish massage or the Deep Tissue ones? Do you think feet massages are near orgasmic? Do you know your pain tolerance on a scale of 1-10? Do you ever do something you know is going to hurt just because it will be good for you later? Exercise? Run? Diet? S&M appointments with Lec? Banana CakePosted by Suzanne Ferrell Feb 20 2012, 9:20 am in Banana Cake, deserts, Suzanne Ferrell BANANA CAKE 1 ¾ cup flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 ½ cup sugar ½ tsp salt 2 eggs ½ cup vegetable oil ¼ cup + 1TBS buttermilk 1 tsp vanilla 2-3 ripe bananas
1. In large bowl stir flour, soda, sugar and salt together. 2. In second bowl mix eggs, oil, buttermilk, vanilla together and add mashed bananas. 3. Add wet mixture to dry ingredients. 4. Pour into greased and floured Bundt® pan. 5. Bake @ 325º F oven for 1 hour. 6. Cool on wire rack for 1 hour before loosening sides with thin knife and inverting on plate to release cake from pan. Jana DeLeon talks mysterious BayousPosted by Suzanne Ferrell Feb 3 2012, 12:46 am in Bayous, harlequin intrigue, Jana DeLeon, Romantic suspense, Suzanne Ferrell
Welcome, Jana. Please pull up a stool. I believe Paolo has a pitcher of mojitos for us today. Suz: Jana, since you’re from Southern Louisiana, can you tell us what it was like growing up there? Jana: When I was living it, it seemed completely normal. It wasn’t until I moved away that I realized how unique Louisiana culture is and that my childhood was vastly different than most. My parents owned a camp (think really unfancy lakehouse) on a bayou that you could only get to by boat. We ran shrimping barges in the winter, usually during a front which was the best time to catch shrimp, and had three commercial deep freezes at our house full of shrimp, crab and fish. It was very common for us to eat shrimp in some form three or more times a week. Suz: Did you spend a lot of time in the bayous? Jana: We spent a lot of weekends and weeks during the summer at the camp. Fishing, shrimping, crabbing – whatever was in season. I also spent a lot of time in a hammock on the end of the pier reading books. (The pictures below are similar to the fishing camps where we stayed. Suz: Were there any mysteries in the bayous where you grew up?And is that why you’ve placed your mysteries in that setting? Jana: Louisiana, in general, is full of lore because of the diverse backgrounds of the residents. All the myths and legends make it a great setting for my Intrigues because I wanted them to have that gothic feel. None of my Intrigues are based on local rumor, but my first single title, RUMBLE ON THE BAYOU, is based on drug runners who use the Gulf of Mexico to transport product. Suz: Can you give our readers a glimpse into the premise for The Lost Girls of Johnson Bayou? Jana: Ginny Bergeron was only six when she wandered out of the swamp the night the LeBlanc School for Girls burned to the ground, killing everyone inside. She has no memory of anything before waking up in the hospital. But at night, the burned remains of the house seem to call to her, beckoning her into the swamp to uncover her past. Paul Stanton believes Ginny’s lost memories may be the key to finding his sister, who he was separated from as a child in the foster care system, but it’s soon clear that someone doesn’t want Ginny to remember. Suz: Thi Jana: Absolutely! I intend to set books in the bayous of Louisiana until I run out of ideas.
Suz: What’s next for you? Jana: I have a new related series releasing back-to-back months at the end of this year called the Mystere Parish series. All the books are set in the fictional Mystere Parish and center around mysteries that include the lore and myths of Mystere Parish. For my single title humor fans, I’m also working on the first book in a new humorous mystery series that I’ll be releasing myself, hopefully in spring.
So readers, is there anyplace you’ve been that scared you? Did you sit around the campfire and tell scary stories? Was there a myth or story growing up that everyone you knew told that scared you? Jana will be giving away autographed copies of The Lost Girls of Johnson’s Bayou to two lucky commentors. Lorraine Heath returns with a new series!Posted by Suzanne Ferrell Jan 31 2012, 12:09 am in Crimean War, historical romances, Lorraine Heath, She Tempts the Devil, Suzanne Ferrell, The Lost Lords of Pembrooke
Welcome to the new Bandit Lair, Lorraine. Pull up a chair and we’ll have Paolo serve some wine. Suz: One of the question authors get asked is where do you get your ideas. (My reply is usually, ” from the big book of story ideas,” but only to my coworkers.) But I am fascinated in how you came up with this series. Can you share that process with us? Lorraine: I’ve always been intrigued by the story of the princes in the tower. For those not familiar with the story, Richard III had his brother’s sons, heirs to the throne, declared illegitimate by an act of Parliament so he could be crowned king. The boys were last seen in the Tower of London. Because they disappeared, it was always assumed they were murdered. Almost 200 years later when the tower was having some renovations, one of the workers discovered a wooden box beneath a set of stairs. Inside were the bones of children, believed to be the remains of the princes. Were they murdered? Did they fall ill? What happened to them? That became the premise for the Lost Lords of Pembrook. When their father—the Duke of Keswick—dies, they disappear. What happened to them? Rumors abound that they ran off, were eaten by wolves, died of disease. Twelve years later three men—roughened by war, the sea, and the streets—return to London to reclaim their heritage. Suz: You usually write such tortured heroes, that I easily fall for. Do you think your stories are more hero or heroine driven? Suz: When I told a friend I was getting to read She Tempts the Duke, she asked, “How was it?” I told her it was classic Lorraine Heath. If you could describe that, what would be classic Lorraine Heath books to your readers? Lorraine: Oh, that’s a tough one. I’ve always tried to do two things with my stories: make the reader smile and at some point, bring a tear to her eye. I like for my stories to run the gamut of emotions, but ultimately I want the reader to turn the final page with a sense of satisfaction that these characters belong together and deserve their HEA. Lorraine: Sebastian and Mary grew up on neighboring estates and she was pretty much as much of a hellion as he was—challenging him to climb trees and walls. He was 14, she was 12 when his uncle locked him in the tower and she dared to help the brothers escape. While they were too young to know an adult love, they still cared deeply for each other. In the years he was away, whenever Sebastian thought of Mary, he always saw her as the childhood friend so when he sees her again, he’s quite shocked to realize she’s grown into a lovely woman. The one thing that hasn’t changed is that she still challenges him.
Suz: Sebastian served in the army during the Crimean war. When he returns to England what kinds of scars does he carry with him? Lorraine: He lost a good bit of his face to shrapnel wounds, but I think it’s his hidden scars that are worse and those scars began forming the night that he and his brothers escaped. As the eldest and the heir apparent, he was the one his brothers turned to and trusted to make the right decision. He thought they should be separated. He left Rafe, who was 10, at a workhouse—crying not to be left behind. He sold Tristan to a ship captain to gain money so he could purchase a commission in the army. Leaving Tristan was harder because Tristan is his twin and he said not a word. (That parting is revealed in my October release, Lord of Temptation, when I share Tristan’s story.) When he is reunited with his brothers and sees the men they’ve become and begins to understand what their lives were like because of his decision, the inner wounds are reopened and he has to find a way to heal. Suz: Would you say She Tempts the Duke is your version of beauty and the beast? Lorraine: Oh, I would definitely consider this a B&B story. But it’s more than his scars that make him a beast. He’s closed off his heart; he’s bent on revenge to the elimination of anything else in his life. He’s obsessed with reclaiming Pembrook. He’ll have to realize that Pembrook isn’t nearly as important as Mary. Suz: Which brother is next to have his story told? Lorraine: Tristan is next. He’s a fun character because unlike his brothers, he managed to hold onto his sense of humor—but he also hides behind it. He gives the impression that he’s not bothered by anything, but in truth he cares very deeply. Now a question for the readers. Beauty and the Beast isn’t a new storyline, but I’ve always felt that it was timeless. What are some of your favorite romances that uses the B&B storyline? Two of mine are To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt and Shadow Fires by Catherine Spangler. Lorraine is offering a $20 amazon or BN gift card to one lucky commenter CREATURE OF THE NIGHTPosted by Suzanne Ferrell Jan 28 2012, 2:51 am in Creature of the Night, night creatures, snowfall, Suzanne Ferrell
No, what we’re going to talk about is that other world that majority of the world barely knows exists. That time between dusk and dawn. Night. When my daughter was in the third grade her teacher was teaching them about nocturnal animals. She explained to the class that nocturnal animals sleep during the day and do most of their work at night when others are asleep. After she gave this explanation she asked if anyone had any examples. Several hands shot up. The standard answers of owls, raccoons and She said, “My mom.” Surprised, her teacher asked why she thought her mother was nocturnal. Lynds replied, “She sleeps all day and she works all night delivering other peoples’ babies.” She was right. After more than 2 decades of working the night shift, I really function much better after dark. Often times a patient will ask me questions about how I can work nights for so long. I jokingly tell them I’ve worked nights for so long that everyone’s afraid I’ll combust once the sun comes up! But there are some great benefits to being nocturnal. 2. It’s quieter at night. This is great for thinking and creating. On our unit we turn the lights down to a minimum at the nurses’ station. Florescent lights might help keep you awake, but they really are hard on the eyes. The more mellow atmosphere helps the staff bond which helps the group work in a more cohesive team when it’s needed. Decisions are made in calm, yet efficient manners because the tension is focused where it should be, on the patients. But that’s not the only place it’s quieter. When I’m home and writing at night, my thoughts aren’t interrupted by telephones or family members. Even Rocky-the-wonder-dog doesn’t demand to be let out too often. Although he does do one or two perimeter checks before I’m ready to settle down to sleep. I can put on my earphones, listen to my music and drift quietly into the world of my latest hero and heroine. This is when the magic happens!
S Every once in a while we are so non-busy that one or two of us have to go home early. I love this. I’m on the road and maybe one or two other cars or trucks cross my path. I can drive as fast or as slow as I want. In the spring and fall I roll down the windows and sing slightly off key to the music. It’s almost like I’m traveling in a dark fantasy world that everyone else is missing out on. So, while there are scary things that go bump in the night, remember there are those of us who will give you a friendly smile if you should meet up with us on a dark street or on a cold winter’s night walk in the snow! How about you? Are you a daytime purist like my hubby? Up at the crack of dawn and ready for bed just after sunset? Or are you like me? Part vampire and completely nocturnal? Is there something in the night that you fear? Pieces of lifePosted by Suzanne Ferrell Dec 28 2011, 12:18 am in How To Make An American Quilt, quilting, Suzanne Ferrell This eveni The quilt is being made for the heroine as a wedding gift. The theme of the quilt is where love lives. The group of women making the quilt must each make an applique square depicting where love is for them. The theme should be a simple one, but as you watch, you learn the complexity of love is hard to connect, because it means such different things to every person. The story is told through the heroine’s eyes, a young woman questioning her choice in marriage and her choice in the man she plans to marry. As each quilter shares her story with the heroine, we learn how they found love and how that love influenced not only their quilt square, but more importantly their lives. It also shows how the act of coming together to piece their quilt together allows them to know each other and to bond into a close knit group. For years I have been fascinated with quilts. The art of them. The construction of them. How they became such an integral part of the American history. Before the 1840’s when textile manufacturing gained momentum, pieced quilts were a rarity and most quilts were made for the well-to-do families. After the 1840’s ready access to materials and the expansion of the country westward influenced the making of quilts. Women would gather together to help each other finish the quilt tops they’d spent the winter stitching together. It was a social gathering where they could exchange quilting and sewing tips, recipes, gossip and child rearing experiences.
Women used to have quilt frames up in the parlor or on the back porch all spring and summer long in order to finish their works before weather got bad. I had a great aunt who actually worked her quilts in the opposite fashion. She pieced her tops all spring and summer long. Then in the fall my great uncle would get her quilting frame out of storage, assemble it in the living room and attach it to a pulley system he’d rigged in the ceiling. Once the top, batting and backing were stretched across the frame and basted in place, he would hoist the quilting frame into the air. When the weather got bad, he’d lower the quilt or at night after chores were finished, down came the quilt. Not only did my aunt work on quilting it together, but she’d taught him the fine art of quilting and he’d help her.
Another favorite block of mine is the Ohio Star. Maybe because I’m from Ohio, or because the technical detail appeals to my sense of order. Triangles and rectangles are sewn in a fashion as to make a geometric square. The details are precise and in order for it to fit together perfectly, the measurements must not be off more than a millimeter at best. There are literally hundreds of block patterns and depending on the design aesthetics of the quilter, the combinations and end product is limitless. For years I used to love to crawl under the handmade quilts at my grandmother’s house. They were true patchwork quilts. She called them “crazy quilts”. I suppose that was because there was no rhyme or reason to their pattern. As I asked my grandmother why such pieces were put into the quilt, I learned something interesting. These quilts weren’t just some haphazard piece of bedding my grandmother used to make. No, she would spread the quilt over me and tell me where each piece of material came from. “This was the dress I wore when I met your granddaddy.” “This was from your mama’s favorite dress when she was a young girl.” “This was a piece from your uncle’s uniform he wore when he fought in World War II.” “This was from a traveling suit I wore when I went off to college in Barea.” Every piece of that “crazy quilt” held meaning to my grandmother. It was stitched together in no rhyme or reason, but it held together as strongly as the threads that held her family together. It carried with it her love for each of the family. Each piece overlapped and connected with another, just as people overlap and connect in the crazy fashion we call life.
In my family, it has become a tradition for each couple to receive a Double Wedding Ring quilt. The one pictured here is the one on my bed. I love the color green and my mother kept that in mind when getting this one for me. My great aunt who used to make them had passed away, so mom had to buy this one for me, but I love the meaning behind it just as much as if my aunt had constructed it.
Now least you think I simply admire quilts and quilters, let me show you a few pieces I have. The miniature Starburst block is a labor of love for me. One year I wanted to go to the local quilt show and dragged my daughter along with me. She’s an artist, but didn’t want to go look at dozens of “old blankets”. I told her as we went in to think of them as artwork made of material. That description opened her eyes and she truly fell in love with what she saw. At the quilt craft shop they had there, she picked out the pattern and all the materials for a miniature quilt. She designed how she wanted each pieced to go together to make this pattern. Then I, the sewer, stitched them together exactly as she designed it. We spray-painted the hanger black and it hangs in my office (writer’s cave), as a reminder of the fun we had at the quilt show and the making of the quilt block.
The second one is my attempt at a wall hanging. It’s a Log Rail pattern in greens and yellow. Completely hand stitched and quilted. One of these days I’ll make loops at the back to run a dowel through and hang it in my bedroom. But I love running my hands over the ridges and rows caused by the quilting pattern. The texture is almost as fascinating as the pattern it made. So, do you quilt? Do you like just looking at quilts for the work of art they are, or do you itch to put scissors and needle to use to form your own quilt? Do you have a favorite quilt pattern? Do you have memories of family quilts or family quilting parties? As readers do you like watching the patterns of stories unfold before you? Have you ever felt a writer put the wrong piece into a story? Writers, do you see the patterns of your stories all at once or watch it unfold one piece at a time? As a last gift from me to you, I’ll give a signed copy of my book, The Surrender of Lacy Morgan to one commenter today!
Debut Author, Julie Benson talks CowboysPosted by Suzanne Ferrell Nov 28 2011, 12:44 am in cowboys, fashion models, Harlequin American, Julie Benson, Suzanne Ferrell
Suz: Julie, pull up a seat and we’ll have one of the cabana boys bring us some peach margaritas. So, one of the things we love the most here in the Lair is an author’s “call” story. Julie: I’d love for you to share the story about your writing career and how you got “the call”. As for my writing career, I’m definitely what you’d call a slow learner, who can eventually be taught. I started writing when my oldest two sons were toddlers. They’re now in college, and I have a third son who’s fourteen. I’m definitely a great example of how persistence is key in this business. So, about my “call.” When I came home from writing at Starbucks (that’s a blog in itself) on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, I found a message from Kathleen Scheibling saying she wanted to talk about my book. The book she hadn’t even had on her desk for two months. I screamed for who knows how long. I scared my sons to death, all of whom were home for spring break, two of whom were asleep on the other side of the house. That was the best thing about when I got the call, because I got to share the joy of my first sale with my sons. They’ve always been so supportive, proudly declaring their mom a writer over the years it took me to reach this goal. Having raised my kids right, they knew what it meant at this stage of the process to have an editor call to talk about the book. Call, very good. Possible sale. In fact, they even asked, “Did you sell your book?” Once I calmed down, I returned the call, but had to leave a message. Then I spent the next couple of hours pacing. Later when Kathleen and I talked about the changes I needed to make, she floored me by saying she was willing do revisions under contract. Then she asked about the brother in BIG CITY COWBOY, and said she thought readers would be interested in him. I told her I was working on his story, and asked if she wanted to hear about his book. After my explanation and a few questions from Kathleen, she offered me a two book contract. Talk about stunned. It’s a good thing I was sitting down at the time because I’d have hit my head hard when I fell otherwise. Suz: The hero in your story, BIG CITY COWBOY, is Rory McAlister. I love how you got the inspiration for this character. Please tell us about meeting your co Julie: How I got the idea for BIG CITY COWBOY shows that a writer’s brain just works differently. My family attended a wedding in Estes Park, Colorado. (Thanks Angi and David for the invitation!) I’ve always loved horses, so we decided to go horseback riding. The cowboy helping my middle son with his horse was the epitome of why women swoon when they think of cowboys. Dark hair and eyes, and classic western good looks, the man could stop traffic, and yes, his name was Rory. While helping my son, an older gentleman approached, and started talking to Rory about modeling. Rory politely accepted the man’s business card, but told him he wasn’t interested. Once the man left, Rory told my son people asked him to model all the time, and didn’t understand why he didn’t jump at the chance. Okay, here’s the part about how a writer’s brain is different. All I could think about, other this cowboy’s good looks was what a great story it would make if a cowboy had agree to model. My mind was off and running. There’s one more funny thing about how this story came to be that I have to share. After our ride, I’m not sure exactly when, I told my husband I wished I’d taken a picture of Rory. How I didn’t do that, still confounds me. My dear husband, Kevin smiled. When I told him what a great story a cowboy being forced to model would make, he’d taken a picture of the cowboy. Talk about a great husband who supports his wife’s writing career. He’s definitely a keeper. Suz: This is a fish out of water story. How does a working cowboy end up modeling designer jeans in New York City? Julie: For me, why camera shy Rory would leave his life on the ranch to model was the key to the story. Of course the first thing that jumped to mind was to save the ranch. I set that aside, but kept thinking along the financial line. What if he needed money for something else, and the ranch was struggling so the family had gone through their savings and couldn’t get a loan? That worked, but I still need something more important for him to model. I have a dear friend, Judy Hoffman, who beat brain cancer. She went through experimental treatment in Portland, Oregon and if I’m remembering right, was one of the few patients that beat the disease. Talk about a tough lady. A true cowboy would do literally anything to save his mom, so I gave Rory a mom who was fighting brain cancer like Judy. Her only hope was an experimental treatment. I upped the stakes by saying insurance refused to pay for the procedures. Rory needed a lot of money and he needed it now, or his mom would die. Talk about motivation, and what woman wouldn’t love a man who’d put aside his pride to save his mother? Suz: So what kind of heroine is Elizabeth Harrington-Smythe? Julie: Heroines are tougher for me to create. I guess because I have three sons, I see things so much easier from the hero’s perspective, so it took me a while to get Elizabeth’s character right. Cowboys are notoriously independent, so I made Elizabeth a strong, I’m in charge kind of woman. She’s career driven. In fact, she comes to learn that’s really all she has in her life. She’s a big city girl, through and through, which makes it hard for her to see things from Rory’s point of view more often than not. She’s not used to having people question her decisions. She says what needs to be done, and people dash off to accomplish the task. That is until she starts working with Rory. Suz: What is in store next for you and American Harlequin? Julie: When I sold BIG CITY COWBOY, I sold Rory’s brother, Griffin’s story as well. I just finished that book, and it will be on the shelves June 1. Griffin’s very different from Rory. While Rory’s very responsible, driven and shies away from the spotlight, Griffin has more than a bit of the devil in him. He’s a charmer who hasn’t really discovered his place in life, but isn’t letting that stop him from having fun along the way. While Rory was somewhat unaware of his good looks, Griffin knows the effect he has on woman, and doesn’t hesitate to use it to his advantage. Of course I had to give him a heroine who didn’t fall for his schemes, and it was fun watching his reactions when Maggie didn’t fall under his spell. Griffin becomes the bachelor on a reality show designed to find him a wife, though he has no intention on getting married, and Maggie’s the show’s director. The story definitely took some turns I hadn’t expected, but it was a fun adventure for me as a writer. Suz: Readers, have you ever had a dream you’ve wanted so much you were willing to work at it for years before you got it? Have you ever had to do something you despised to help someone else out? Julie will be giving away a signed copy of BIG CITY COWBOY to one commenter today. Below are pictures from the trip Julie took that inspired BIG CITY COWBOY and y’all can read an excerpt from BIG CITY COWBOY at Julie’s website at juliebenson.net
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