Beyond the Book: I Pick Elizabeth

“If you could be — even briefly — one of your OWN characters… which character would you be? Why? For how long?”

I always fall in love with all of my characters. When I’m writing I think that the ones I’m writing about are the best ones ever. However, there are a couple of heroines who stand out to me.

The first is Betsy McLaughlin, heroine of A New Leaf. Betsy had a charmed life and loved every minute of it, but then she fell in love with an ex-convict and found out how it felt to have everyone disapprove of her. Naturally she preserved and found happiness.

Second, I loved Violet Emerson of A New Dream. Violet was an inexperienced small town girl who fell in love with a more sophisticated man. She has a hard time dealing with his past, but she shows a lot of growth and they get their happy ending.

But my ultimate favorite is Elizabeth Lane of Return Engagement. Elizabeth had a very unhappy childhood with an alcoholic father who didn’t take care of his family. She eventually made her way to Hollywood where she became a big star. She also met Richard Lovinggood. Richard was the son of California senator Henry Lovinggood. Senator Lovinggood disapproved of Elizabeth and tried his best to break them up. He succeeded.

But then one night Richard and Elizabeth met by accident on a California beach and found that all their old feelings were still there. They vow that this time nothing will ever come between them, but of course it does, and in a way no one ever expected or saw coming.

I loved these characters so when the when the book ended I couldn’t bear to leave them behind. So I wrote a sequel titled Blue 52. I even named one of the characters Elaine. But ultimately, I wouldn’t want to be anyone but myself. Even though I’d enjoy a few weeks in their world I’d be happy to come home and just be myself.

Beyond the Book: Heard Anything Good Lately?

I was once asked, “Have you overheard a conversation and added it in some way to a story?”

I’ve thought about it, and, no, I don’t think I ever have. I’m a little hard of hearing so it would be tough to overhear a conversation anyway, LOL.

I have, however, included conversations I’ve had with my husband. He gets to proofread my manuscripts even if he doesn’t want to. He usually has some type of criticism of my characters. One of my favorite characters is Richard Lovinggood from Return Engagement. I still think he’s absolutely dreamy. I had one romantic scene in the book where Richard sent small gifts to his love every hour on the hour one day. My husband read that and scowled at me. “I don’t like that. He’s trying to buy her love.” I didn’t think so because the gifts weren’t expensive. One of them was a giant Hershey’s kiss. Another was a couple of mylar balloons.

Anyway, he was reading my manuscript of Turnaround Farm, and to my surprise he said, “I really like this. Dan is a great hero.”

I thought about that for days but couldn’t figure it out. Dan’s great, no doubt about that, but I still liked Richard better. (Richard made an appearance in Turnaround Farm. He married Dan’s cousin Elizabeth.” It wasn’t until the book came out and I was looking through it that I realized why my husband liked Dan. Dan was based on my husband. It was all there, from his dislike of parties to his determination and everything in between. No wonder he liked Dan!

So, that’s about as close as I can come to adding real world conversations to a story. Maybe I should crank up my hearing aid and try to hear something really good! Maybe one day.

Beyond the Book: The Most Romantic Books of All Time

What are the most romantic books of all time?

Well, that’s an interesting question with no set answers. Your list is probably different from mine, but here’s what I think.

1.Gone With the Wind. When Rhett grabbed Scarlett and ran up those stairs, it took my breath away. Clark Gable who played Rhett in the movie was the perfect actor for the job. His portrayal of Rhett was exactly right.

2.Wuthering Heights. Even death couldn’t separate Cathy and Heathcliff.

3.Pride and Prejudice. People all over the world like this one. You can get a good feel for English life in the 1800’s too.

4. The Sherwood Ring. This is a young adult book. I read it a long time ago and was totally enchanted by it. So much so, that my heroine in my WIP is named Aimee Sherwood.

5.The Bronze Horseman. It’s heart wrenching, wonderful, and at the end I vowed never to read another book by Paullina Simons. That was before I found out there was a sequel.

6. Return Engagement. His father broke them up ten years ago, but when they meet by chance on a California beach, the sparks fly.

What’s that? You don’t think I should include Return Engagement because I wrote it? What can I say? It’s super romantic and makes my heart just melt.  Return Engagement as well as its sequel Blue 52 are available at Amazon and Whiskey Creek Press.

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. I've been sharing samples from Return Engagement for several weeks now, but starting next week I'll be moving on to something else. Last week we left my heroine Elizabeth at the mercy of a man with a gun who tricked her into coming to a deserted motel. I'm skipping a lot of text and finishing up with this scene. Remember that Richard is an FBI agent. Check out the graphic at the bottom of the page. I have a new book coming out November 1, and I'd love for you to come to my cover reveal. I'm giving away prizes. (Are you tempted? I hope so.)

You can find more snippets here and here. 

A spasm of mirth overcame the small man. “It’s too late for that, Agent Lovinggood. I have a new plan. You see, I won’t leave here without repaying you for what you did to me and my family.” He cocked his head. “Who would it hurt you more to lose: your lover or your father? I think maybe
you could get another woman, but you only have one father, and I only have time for one shot.”

As the gun swung toward Senator Lovinggood, Elizabeth reacted without a second’s hesitation. She threw herself on top of the senator as a loud roar filled the air. Richard watched in horror as a red stain bloomed on her temple.

You can find Return Engagement at Amazon and at www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors: Return Engagement

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more snippets at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

So far in my excerpts from Return Engagement my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They find that all of their old feelings are still there even though she's engaged to another man. They've gone to a carnival together, and now they're walking back down the beach to their cars. He just gave her his jacket to wear and said he liked the idea of her wearing his clothes, like in high school.  They sat down on the sand to watch the moon, and both of them spoke at once. Elizabeth told him to speak first, and he told her she didn't really love her fiancé or she wouldn't have been flirting with and kissing him. Elizabeth just told him she can't stand it if he walks away again, and he tells her that it's taken 10 years, but they're back where they belong: together. Last week he asked to go home with her, and she said no. Today, I'd like to focus a little on Elizabeth and her background. We may come back to the place where we left off last week.

She didn’t come from money the way Richard did. Mentally, she pictured the small, two bedroom home where she had grown up. The house had originally been white, but Elizabeth had lived there for nineteen years, and they hadn’t painted it even once. By the time she and her mother came to Hollywood, most of the peeling paint had finally flaked off, leaving the weathered, gray boards exposed to the elements.

The inside matched the exterior: old, faded, and dirty looking no matter how much she and her mother tried to clean it. It had mice too. They never had any food to waste, so they constantly fought the little pests. She vividly remembered the day she found a mouse in the sack of dried beans her mother planned to cook for dinner. Sadly, her mother had thrown the bag away. For the next two nights they’d had nothing but sliced loaf bread smeared with margarine for dinner. 

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more snippets at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

So far in my excerpts from Return Engagement my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They find that all of their old feelings are still there even though she's engaged to another man. They've gone to a carnival together, and now they're walking back down the beach to their cars. He just gave her his jacket to wear and said he liked the idea of her wearing his clothes, like in high school.  They sat down on the sand to watch the moon, and both of them spoke at once. Elizabeth told him to speak first, and he told her she didn't really love her fiancé or she wouldn't have been flirting with and kissing him. Elizabeth just told him she can't stand it if he walks away again, and he tells her that it's taken 10 years, but they're back where they belong: together.

“Let me help you make up your mind about what you want to do.” Richard pushed her back into the sand and kissed her, a delicate brushing of lips that deepened as hearts caught fire. 

Elizabeth imagined she could feel the thudding of his heart against her own and shivered against him. She didn’t really notice when his hand slipped under her blouse, but when she felt its warmth on her breast she cried aloud and shoved him away.

“I want to finish this in private,” Richard whispered, eyes blazing. “We’ve waited ten years, and we deserve this night. Ask me to go home with you.”

Burning shame scorched and seared Elizabeth. “No!” 

Find Return Engagement at www.whiskeycreekpress or amazon.com

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more snippets at:

http://www.wewriwa.co,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

So far in my excerpts from Return Engagement my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They find that all of their old feelings are still there even though she's engaged to another man. They've gone to a carnival together, and now they're walking back down the beach to their cars. He just gave her his jacket to wear and said he liked the idea of her wearing his clothes, like in high school.  They sat down on the sand to watch the moon, and both of them spoke at once. Elizabeth told him to speak first, and he told her she didn't really love her fiancé or she wouldn't have been flirting with and kissing him. Elizabeth is speaking.

"I’m so confused I don’t know if I’m coming or going,” she cried. “I do love Alex. I do! That’s why I agreed to marry him, but with you I feel like a different person.

“I know I shouldn’t have flirted with you and kissed you, but I couldn’t help myself.” Her eyes misted with tears. “I didn’t want to help myself. It’s like it was ten years ago only better because now nobody can accuse me of corrupting a minor. You asked me what I’m going to do, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know. The only thing I’m sure of is that I don’t think I can stand it if you walk away again.” 

Return Engagement is available at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com and at Amazon.com.

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors: Return Engagement

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more snippets at:

http://www.wewriwa.co,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

So far in my excerpts from Return Engagement my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They find that all of their old feelings are still there even though she's engaged to another man. They've gone to a carnival together, and now they're walking back down the beach to their cars. He just gave her his jacket to wear and said he liked the idea of her wearing his clothes, like in high school.  They sat down on the sand to watch the moon, and both of them spoke at once. Elizabeth told him to speak first, and he does.To end at the place I need to, I'd done a little creative punctuation.

Richard turned slightly, an almost angry look on his face. “What the hell do you think you’re doing getting yourself engaged to Alex Crawford? It’s obvious to a blind man that you don’t love him. You’ve been teasing me and flirting with me all evening; you’ve even kissed me. ” 

He stirred up the butterflies in her stomach when he gently caressed her shoulder. “Right now your body language makes me think if I wanted to take this snuggling any further you’d be willing.”

“Wha...” Elizabeth sputtered.

“You don’t strike me as the type of woman who’d pick a man for a night of sex and then go back to her fiancé like nothing had happened. If that’s true I don’t think you love Alex as much as you think you do. The question is: what are you going to do about it?” 

Return Engagement is available at Amazon and at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more excerpts at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. All the old feelings are still there so he invites her to have a hot dog and go to a carnival with him. She's conflicted because she's engaged to another man.

****
Elizabeth was right. It was a public place, and one set of eyes had been focused on them for almost the entire evening. The small, unremarkable man with washed out brown hair did not follow this time, but in his mind a new plan started to take shape, an infinitely superior plan.
****
“Look at the moon, Richard. Have you ever seen anything so big and beautiful? Isn’t it lovely the way it’s reflecting off the water?”

“Yes, but not as lovely as you are.” Richard made a sound of disgust. “That is so trite. You’ d think I could do better , but all evening I’ve had trouble saying what I mean.” 

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you leave here, you can find more samples at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

To recap, my hero and heroine have met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. After having a hot dog and going to a beach front carnival, they realize the old feelings are still there. The only problem is that she's engaged to another man. This excerpt takes place immediately after she tells him they'll have to wait for another kiss. It seems as if her conscience is pricking her. The cat is a stuffed cat he won for her at a carnival.

Oh, lord! What time was it? She glanced at her watch. It was time to go home. Maybe Mother and Alex are worried about me. I haven’t behaved very well tonight. It isn’t fair to Alex for me to go out on a date with Richard. Oh, but you can’t call this a date! Yeah, right, and maybe the sun won’t come up tomorrow. She picked up her cat, and they started the walk back to their cars. 

So what do you think? Will they go their separate ways or not?

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the works of a talented group of authors. I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. There's still a great attraction between them. The only problem is that she's engaged to another man. They've had hot dogs at a beachfront cafe and he won her a stuffed cat at a carnival. They've just left the shooting gallery, and she asked him if he was blushing after she bragged on him.

The color in Richard’s face deepened. “I don’t think so. It’s just the lights.”

“Oh, yes you are! You always used to blush when I teased you. Did I embarrass you?”

Richard ducked his head, a little gesture of vulnerability that probably sent her blood pressure sky high. “All right, my face does feel a little warm” he admitted, “but no, you didn’t embarrass me. It’s...well it’s kind of nice to have you flirt with me and brag on me. I’m surprised how bad I wanted to

show off and win that cat for you.”


Return Engagement is available at Amazon or at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here, you can find more authors at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine met by chance on a California beach ten years after his father, the powerful senator Henry Lovinggood, broke them up. They had hot dogs at a beach front cafe, and now they've gone to a carnival where she asks him to win an animal for her at the shooting gallery. There's been a lot of flirting going on. Oh, yeah, she's engaged to another man.

I've skipped the part where he actually did the shooting. The sights were off, but he adjusted for them and won her a stuffed cat by hitting ten in a row.

Elizabeth tucked her arm through his and squeezed. “This is so exciting! Nobody ever won anything for me before. You're such a good shot. I bet you’re one of the FBI’s best marksmen.” 

Is he blushing? I bet it’s been a long time since a woman made him blush.

She couldn’t resist the urge to tease him. She came to a halt and looked intently into his face. “Why, Richard, are you blushing?” 

Return Engagement is available at Amazon and at http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here, find more snippets at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They ate hot dogs at a beachfront cafe, and now they've gone to a carnival where she asks him to win a prize for her at a shooting gallery. Don't forget that he's an FBI agent from a powerful senator's family, and she's an A-list Hollywood actress who's engaged to another man.

Richard groaned. “Those guns are probably all sighted wrong so you can’t win. Couldn’t I just buy you one instead?” 

“No, that won’t do at all. Never mind. It’s okay if you don’t think you can do it,” she replied with no hint of a smile whatsoever. Would he try to win a prize for her or not? 

“Okay, I know a challenge when I hear it.” Richard stepped up to the counter and inspected the row of guns provided by the arcade. “I’ll win you an animal if I have to stay here all night.”

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here, you can find more excerpts at http://www.wewriwa.com and https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine have accidentally met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. To say they have unfinished business is an understatement. They've gone to a beach-side cafe for hot dogs, and now they're on their way to an amusement park. He took her hand last week.

They had only gone a little way when he drew her against his side and put his arm around her. Really! I shouldn’t have held hands with him, she thought. What was I thinking?

Before she could scold him Richard came to a stop. Her knees started to shake as his eyes bored into hers. “Are you going to slap my face if I try to kiss you? I hate getting slapped, but I’m having a hard time keeping my hands to myself. ”

A heady sense of feminine power rose up in Elizabeth and almost made her heart bounce out of her chest. Richard Lovinggood wanted to kiss her! 

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the writing of a talented group of authors. Links to the entire lists can be found below the excerpt. For the past few weeks I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine meet on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. She agreed to have a hot dog with him even though she's engaged to another man. They've just finished eating and are walking down the beach. I've skipped a few paragraphs so you missed him talking her into it. In that part we learned that she was breaking a date with her fiancé to go to the amusement park with Richard.

“No roller coasters. I’m scared to death of them.”

Richard snickered at her. “Yes, ma’am, no roller coaster rides. Merry-go-round okay?”

“Yes, and so is the Ferris wheel.” She chunked a small piece of ice at him to pay him back for mocking her fears.

They picked up their trash, threw it in the garbage can, and continued their walk down the beach. They hadn’t gone ten steps before Richard took her hand. Elizabeth tried to breathe normally.

So what do you think? Will she let him hold her hand or not?

http://www.wewriwa.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, Richard and Elizabeth meet by accident on the beach ten years after Richard's father broke them up. Richard invites her to have hot dogs with him, and she does. Last week she told him he was too possessive, but he said you're supposed to take care of the one you love. He's been pushing her pretty hard about Alex the guy she's engaged to. I've skipped a few lines, and we're picking up here:

“I told you it was just tentative plans, Richard. Let it go at that.” Elizabeth knew she had made firm plans to meet Alex and her mother. She’d have some major explaining to do tomorrow, and oh, how she dreaded it. Without lying she couldn’t think of any way to make this evening with Richard sound like anything other than what it was. And she didn’t make a habit of lying.

Richard surprised her by obediently dropping the subject of Alex and her dinner plans. “Be it far from me to argue about Alex Crawford. Are you finished? If you are let’s go to that amusement park down the beach and have some fun.” 


What do you think? Will she go with him or go back home to her fiancé?

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. For the past few weeks I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. So far, my hero and heroine have met on the beach ten years after his father broke them up. The thing is, she's engaged, and he keeps questioning her about the man. Last week she accused him of being too possessive. This is his reply.

“Like I used to be, you mean? I’ve gotten much worse since then. Maybe it’s my FBI training kicking in, but I’d insist you check in with me, and I’d check in with you too. I wouldn’t be able to sleep until I knew you were all right.” He paused a moment. “Anyway, if you really love someone how could you not try to take care of her? Or him. Isn’t that what you do for the ones you love?” 

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors: Return Engagement

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors and Snippet Sunday, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine have met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. They've found that many of the old feelings are still there. He asked her to walk down the beach with him and eat a hot dog. The talk turned to her fiance Alex Crawford. I've skipped some lines. I'm not saying why she wasn't wearing her engagement ring. I've done a little creative punctuation to get the lines I wanted. Richard speaks first.

“What will old Alex say about you going out with another man; did you call him from the dressing room to tell him where you were going? Doesn’t he care where you are tonight?”

Elizabeth’s heart plummeted. “Actually, I...I made tentative plans to have dinner with Mother and Alex; it wasn’t a firm date, but I really should go back to my car and get home. ”

Richard polished off the last of his hot dog. “If you didn’t call me I’d be worried; won’t Alex come looking for you when he doesn’t hear from you?”

Elizabeth frowned. “We don’t check in with each other every minute of the day, Richard. I don’t like a man who’s too jealous and possessive.”

Buy link: http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=819

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. My hero and heroine have met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. The attraction between them still seems to be there, but Elizabeth's engaged. She agrees to have a hot dog with him, and he takes the chance to quiz her about her fiance. He speaks first.

“Tell me about Alex Crawford.”

“What...what do you know about Alex?” she asked, feeling as though she were floundering.

“Anybody who watches Inside Edition would know about you and Alex Crawford. It seems to me the two of you are the lead story four nights out of five. Everyone in America knows where you went on vacation, what he gave you for Christmas, the size of your engagement ring, and even what kind of perfume he likes for you to wear.”

“I don’t have any privacy left!” Elizabeth exclaimed as she scowled at him. “All of that was on television?” 

“Yes, and more besides, but if you’re engaged to the man, why aren’t you wearing his ring? 

Buy link:http://www.whiskeycreekpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=819

Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors

Welcome to Snippet Sunday and Weekend Writing Warriors, your chance to sample the work of a talented group of authors. When you finish here you can find more excerpts at:

http://www.wewriwa.com
http://www.facebook.com/https://www.facebook.com/groups/SnippetSunday/

I've been sharing excerpts from Return Engagement. To recap, my hero and heroine have met on a beach ten years after his father broke them up. Both are greatly affected by the meeting, and in spite of the fact that she knows she shouldn't since she's engaged, my heroine agrees to go to dinner with him. In this excerpt they're walking down the beach looking for a place to eat.

Pull yourself together! Elizabeth mentally gave herself a shake. Right, easier said than done. Her fingers curled into fists as she and Richard walked down the beach. She had dated Alex for two years, but he had never made her feel so...so...flustered. Yes, that was it. She felt flustered. Spending time with Alex always gave her the warm fuzzies, but Richard’s blatant masculinity had thrown her into a tailspin. 

Return Engagement is available at Amazon or at www.whiskeycreekpress.com