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Thursday, June 27, 2013

New blog site!! (Because Blogger sucks ass)

THIS WILL BE MY LAST POST ON BLOGGER

PLEASE VISIT http://nrwalker.wordpress.com/  FOR MY NEW SITE

Blogger has decided to change it's "Adult content" policy, which has left me little option but to leave. :(

The email I received, as did a lot of others, stated that any sites displaying links to 'adult products' would be deleted. The email, in its entirety reads:



You are receiving this message because you are the admin of a blog hosted on Blogger which is identified to have Adult content.
Please be advised that on June 30th 2013, we will be updating our Content Policy to strictly prohibit the monetization of Adult content on Blogger. After June 30th 2013, we will be enforcing this policy and will remove blogs which are adult in nature and are displaying advertisements to adult websites.
If your adult blog currently has advertisements which are adult in nature, you should remove them as soon as possible as to avoid any potential Terms of Service violation and/or content removals.
Sincerely,
The Blogger Team

My concern is that they will view gay erotica as an 'adult product' and while I can delete pics they may deem 'inappropriate' I can't, and won't, delete links or information on my books. 

Soooo, where does that leave me??


Wordpress is where.
 

My new-look blog site is http://nrwalker.wordpress.com/

So please head on over and check it out!!  I hope to see you there! It's still a work-in-progress, and I hope to sort it all out over the weekend.

And a wee reminder, that Ten in the Bin, my little 12k football fic, will be out on the 1st of July <3 







Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Number One!

OH EM GEEEEEE

So today was a good day for Blindside!


And this one, too...


Getting to Number One on both sites on the same day is so amazing, and humbling and amazing, and brilliant and amazing. 

The incredible part is, Blindside makes 3 from 3. Blind Faith, Through These Eyes, and now Blindside, have all reached the awesome Number 1 (on Amazon) milestone. 

And it just proves one thing...

I HAVE THE BEST READERS ON THE PLANET. 

It's true.



I just wanted to say thank you, to all who've supported me, and these boys. It really means more than what 'thank you' can convey. 

To mark this epic occasion, I'll be giving away an ebook copy of Blindside!  Please just leave a comment below, and on Monday 6pm (Sydney AEST) I'll pick a random winner!  

And one more final gif, because Sheldon Cooper doing Star Trek is just too damn much :)




Live long and prosper </nerdgirl post>



Saturday, June 15, 2013

Blindside is available now!


Blindside - Mark's story is live!!




You can buy it at  

Blindside at ARe


Blindside at Smashwords

Blindside at Amazon 

Blindside is the third installment in the Blind Faith series. We met Mark in Blind Faith and Through These Eyes. Best friend to Carter; loyal, funny and commitment-phobe, he's about to be blindsided by love. 

The poor guy won't know what's hit him. 

I'm really excited about this book. Hope you all love Mark and Will like I do <3 

I need to thank some people for making it happen. Sara York for the amazing cover, Erika Orrick for the fabulous job she did editing (I exposed her to my bloody comma addiction) and of course, Will Parkinson for encouraging (read: pestering) me to give Mark a story. 

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Blindside - Mark's Story: Blind Faith 3


I've been a bit of a blog fail, sorry. Real life has kind of buried me of late. 

I have a beautiful cover for Blindside!!!  Made by the oh-so talented Sara York. 




I'm hoping it will be released in the next few days. It is still with my editor at the moment, but as soon as I have it back, I'll be uploading it to Amazon.

Mark is a great character. He was fun to write. His mother is hilarious and possibly one of my favourite supporting characters I've written. 

Mark's mother, Susan

Mark's relationship with Will is a little complicated. They're best friends, and Mark learnt with Carter, that staying platonic with friends keeps the friendship in tact.  He never thought of Will as anything more than a friend because he valued his friendship too much. 

Will Parkinson

But things for Will are about to change.  He becomes unsettled and unhappy, and Mark remembers Carter being the same way before he moved to Boston. Scared of losing Will to the same fate, Mark takes it upon himself to find Will a reason to stay.

A boyfriend.

What Mark doesn't realize, is that the wheels he sets in motion will change things forever.

Mark gets knocked off his feet, blindsided, and everything he thought about love and life, is about to come crashing down.

Mark's song is Out on The Town by FUN.  The lyrics, posted below, sum him up perfectly.



Lyrics to 'Out on the town' ...
I set all my regrets on fire
Cause I know I'll never take the time
To unpack my missteps and call all of my friends,
I figure they would take your side.
I make the bed, just not that well.
Your name comes up a lot when I talk to my mom,
Oh I think she can tell...

I was out on the town so I came to your window last night.
I tried not to throw stones, but I wanted to come inside.
Now I'm causing a scene thinking you need a reason to smile.
Oh, no. What have I done?
There's no one to keep me warm.

So maybe I should put out the fire,
I'll call them back and borrow a box knife
So I could learn to live with all the stupid shit I've been doing since '99
And I know I could be more clever,
And I know I could be more strong.
But I'm waiting for the day to come back and say,
Hey, maybe I should change my mind.
I drink a lot, I'm not sure if that's new.
But these days when I wake up from a night I forgot,
I just wish that it never came true

I was out on the town so I came to your window last night.
I tried not to throw stones, but I wanted to come inside.
Now I'm causing a scene thinking you need a reason to smile.
Oh, no. What have I done?
There's no one to keep me warm.
I could be more clever,
And I know I could be more strong,
And I know I could be more clever,
And I know I could be more clever

I knew there'd come a day,
When all was said and done,
And everything I want is everything but gone
All my big mistakes are bouncing off your wall.
The bottles never break, the sun will never come
So come on let me in.
I will be the sun.
I will wake you up.
I'll move slow.
Just open up your heart, open up your heart, open up your heart.
I was out on the town so I came to your window last night.
I tried not to throw stones, but I wanted to come inside.
Now I'm causing a scene thinking you need a reason to smile.
Oh, no. What have I done?
There's no one to keep me warm.


I'll post some more news on the release of Blindside when I know more.  As for now, I'm starting to write Starting Point (Point of No Return 3) and I can't wait to give these boys the proper HEA they deserve. 



Thursday, May 16, 2013

HOP AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA AND TRANSPHOBIA








IT STARTS AT HOME, FOLKS.

As adults, we teach our kids to walk, talk, read and write. We also teach our kids right from wrong (in most cases) and we teach them what is acceptable in behaviour, when to speak up and when to be respectfully quiet.

Well, that's what I teach my kids.

It doesn't always go to plan, I'll admit.  Unfortunately, inheriting traits like being stubborn and short-tempered, and only having so many hours in a day is factored into this equation and sometimes there are nuclear reactions with vein-pulsing-in-my-forehead melt-downs. 

But all in all, we do okay.

I'm not proclaiming to be an inductee of the Mother of the Year award (because I have two kids who would do themselves an injury from laughing so hard if I did) but there's something I also teach my kids... and that's tolerance.

Imma let you all in on a little secret. 

Hate or intolerance of any kind is not inherited. 

It is taught.



I'm sure psychiatrists call it something technical, like 'environmental behavioural science' but whatever... To me, it's just plain old monkey see, monkey do. 

Kids hate because they're taught to hate. They're taught somewhere along the way, that it's okay, that what they do, what they are, is better than someone else. And then those kids grow up to become teens who hate, who inevitably become adults, who hate. 

And it's not just homophobia. It's not just racism. It's not just religious discrimination.

It's all forms of intolerance. 

Thinking someone is stupid, or inferior to you, because of the books they read, the TV shows they like, the clothes they wear, are all forms of intolerance. 

So next time someone in your house says someone is 'stupid' or 'lame' or whatever, for supporting a different football team, or liking a certain band or singer or driving a certain kind of car, stop and think...

What exactly are you condoning?

Intolerance is intolerance, no matter what it's disguised as. 

And none of it's acceptable. 

If kids think it's okay to hate someone because of the football team they support, or the clothes they wear, then they're learning that it's okay to hate someone for any other reason. 

And it needs to stop. It needs to stop with our kids, so they can teach their kids, and the cycle of hate stops. 

I'll leave you with something Nelson Mandela once said...




So, let's spread the word on Homophobia and Transphobia.  The m/m community is a fabulous place to start. 

May 17th - 27th is when we blog hop to celebrate tolerance and share experiences. 

Thank you for dropping by, and as a show of appreciation, I'd like to offer a copy each of Blind Faith and Through These Eyes to one lucky person who comments on my blog post. To enter, follow my blog if you're not already, leave a smiley face in the comments and then hop along to another blog and read what that author has to say.  I'll draw a random winner on the 27th. 


The link to the Blog Hop page is http://hopagainsthomophobia.blogspot.com/ 











Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Jess Buffett guest post - Come meet Jared Stewart.



The lovely Jess Buffett stopped by my blog and interviewed her main character, Jared Stewart.




Hi, Jared. Tell us a bit about yourself:
I’m a lawyer and I live in my hometown of Newport. I co-own the firm I work at with my dad and our partner Tristan who is engaged to my sister. You know, we like to keep it in the family.*smirks*

Tell us something not many people know about you:
Well...people are only just finding out that I’m gay, and how much I love Seth. I wasn’t exactly out in high school, I didn’t have Seth’s courage. But i’m not hiding anymore. And now Seth is home, so it’s time to put up or shut up, you know.
Why did you wait so long to make your move if you love Seth?
At first it was fear--fear of rejection, fear of the unknown. Then it was timing. Seth had so many things to deal with, and I did what I could to make things easy for him. He wasn’t ready for me to suddenly come back into his life, so I waited, got my life in order. Now I’m ready.
What do you dislike the most?
Being played. I hate people lying and manipulating, especially when it hurts the people I love.

Favorite music?
I’m love listening to Maroon 5, probably my favorite group.

What’s it like to work for your dad?

*Laughs loudly* Depends on what day you're asking. The man can love busting my chops, but he’s a great guy. I really love and respect my dad. Richard Stewart is a formidable man who will do anything for his family. He's a dad that knows what unconditional love means, and a regret ever doubting that.

Do you believe in true love?
Yes. Without a doubt. And I know that I have that with Seth...I just have to prove it to him. *smirks* Not that I mind. It’ll be fun convincing him.
How do you feel about Seth being a dad?
I love it actually. I’ve only briefly met the kids, but Lucas and Ally are great kids. Seth was always meant to be a dad. I’m sorry it happened the way it did, but I’m crazy about all of them, and can only hope they have enough room for me.
Which is stronger, love or fear?
For years I let fear rule me. It’s time for love to have its turn.
Where can we find out more about you guys?
Our story comes out May 4th with Silver publishing. By the end of it, Seth will know that he has always been mine.


Book blurb:

Seth Hall returns to his hometown for the first time in eleven years. Now a father of two, he vows not to let his past intervene when he sets up a happy, stable life for them. That is, until Jared, the boy who had broken his heart all those years ago, turns up wanting a chance with him.

Jared Stewart thought he had lost his only chance to be with Seth. When Seth finally comes home, Jared makes it his mission to catch Seth once and for all but unfortunately not everyone wants that to happen.

Will they be finally able to make a life for themselves together? Or will they be torn apart again, by people they thought they could trust?

Short author bio:
Hmmm, what can I say about myself...I was born and raised in New South Wales, Australia. I married my highschool sweetheart and we live on the Central Coast with our two children. I am absolutely a hopeless romantic who loves stories about true love that sizzle with a happy ending (which is probably a good thing given what I write). I'm a huge fan of M/M and M/F romance—anything with hunky men in all their glory, whether they be Shifters, Vampires, Cowboys, or the boy next door. I'm a firm believer in soul mates, happily ever afters, and in love at first sight, but that sometimes people need a second or a third for the brain to catch up. 


Author links:





Monday, April 1, 2013

Can you see discrimination?




April 2nd is World Austism Awareness Day

Fact on Austism: People with autism may demonstrate above average levels of concentration, reliability and accuracy.

~~~~~~

So I'm taking part in RJ Scott’s April Blog Hop, aimed at discrimination and prejudice.  When thinking about what form of discrimination I could write about, it seemed only fair that with my two recent releases, Blind Faith and Through These Eyes, that I approached the discrimination that blind people in our communities face on a daily basis.

As a member of any community in the developed world, whether able sighted or not, we are entitled to basic human rights.  So what are the rights of blind people? It is tempting to reply, no different from those of the sighted. We want a happy childhood; a good education; a satisfying job; a fulfilling family life; enjoyable leisure and social activities, and the chance to take a full part in public life. We want respect; esteem; affection; but above all recognition that we are citizens with full civil and human rights.

More often than not, it’s not the perception of the blind person that they can’t do or perform certain tasks, but the opinions of able sighted people who think blind people aren’t capable.

Many things able sighted people take for granted, are not a sure thing for those who are vision impaired.  Things such as:

Paid employment – probably the most trying. Some statistics I’ve read doing research for this blog post suggest anywhere between 80% – 95% of employers wouldn’t hire a blind person.  Blind people have appropriate qualifications because they go to universities and colleges like anyone else, so why would a potential employer think their abilities to be any different?  Is the fear of the unknown? Do they believe there will be extra needs? Extra cost?

The answer to these questions is generally no.

There are no other requirements or leniencies for blind people as there are for able sighted people, with one exception, which leads me to my next point.

Technology – I think it’s safe to assume there are some jobs, for safety reasons for all involved, that blind people couldn’t/shouldn’t/wouldn’t do.  Like being a driving instructor, or a pilot, or a brain surgeon.  But most other jobs, are perfectly suitable.  Office administrator, teacher, accountants, lawyers, social workers, counselors, academics… the list is long.

The most critical component in making these professions vision-impaired-friendly, is technology.
The aid of different technologies has progressed the ease and proficiency in which blind people can do almost anything.  Such as screen readers, text-to-voice, audio text, computer integrated reading software and Braille note takers.
  
So do employers have to provide such technologies for employees?  Yes, they do. Not all are too expensive and many governments have funding to encourage such employments under the various Discrimination Acts.

But there are still employers who won’t make the concession. Though in many instances, if the employer has less than a certain amount of staff and deemed a “small-business owner”, s/he is exempt from this legal obligation.  This makes it difficult for blind people living in smaller towns.

Renting an apartment – Many blind people have reported discrimination in this regard, particularly if they have a guide dog. There was one instance where a ‘control caller’ phoned some 100 real estate agents and asked about availability of apartments. Then the same agents were phoned again, citing the applicant had a guide-dog, and the differences were alarming.

Two landlords said guide dogs weren’t allowed at all. Three said only little dogs were allowed. (Ever seen a Chihuahua seeing eye dog?) Six said there was an extra fee for tenants with a guide dog. Two said guide dogs were allowed, but only in ground-floor units.
 
Using public transport - This is a big one, and one encountered frequently.  Thankfully, times and perceptions are changing. In the 1960’s blind people – even professional, self-sufficient adults - weren’t allowed to travel unaccompanied, insinuating they were child-like and not mentally capable. 

But still, there are issues and regarding safety and accessibility that still exist today. Whether using a cane, or a guide dog, blind people encounter issues pertaining to ignorance and discrimination on a daily basis.

In my two books, Blind Faith and Through These Eyes, the public transport issue is something Isaac encounters.  He works at a school for the blind, so his employment is strictly catered to his needs and there are very limited discrimination issues there.

Throughout the course of the two books, Carter realizes just how much discrimination Isaac, as a blind man, encounters.  Issues with taking a guide dog in public, into restaurants, onto public transport, even shopping. When Isaac needs a new laptop, the sales assistant first ignores Isaac, and then speaks to him slowly and loudly, like he was mentally inept or deaf.

As ridiculous as this sounds, this is something the blind community encounters often.  If you see or encounter a blind person, on the street or in a shopping center who looks a little lost or unsure, introduce yourself politely and ask if you can help. They are, above everything else, just a person.

If, god forbid, you see a blind person who is encountering a form of discrimination, again introduce yourself politely and ask if you can help. Because it’s our right as human beings to speak up for those who are being discriminated against.

So, enough with the serious, and on to the fun stuff.
I’m giving away a copy of BLIND FAITH and THROUGH THESE EYES.  Yep, two books!!

First, we have Blind Faith



Blurb

Starting a new job in a new town, veterinarian Carter Reece, makes a house call to a very special client.

Arrogant, moody and totally gorgeous, Isaac Brannigan has been blind since he was eight. After the death of his guide dog and best friend, Rosie, his partnership with his new guide dog, Brady, isn't going well.

Carter tries to help both man and canine through this initiation phase, but just who is leading whom?

Then Through These Eyes



Blurb

Six months after we last met Carter Reece and Isaac Brannigan, they're still very much in love. Moving in together, moving forward, life for these two is great until some life changing events occur. Isaac has a frightening setback and Carter's world starts to unravel. Things become even more complicated and start to change for both men when Isaac’s new colleague enters the picture.

As Isaac struggles for what he really wants, it might just cost him what he needs the most.

~~~~~~ 

Now, something on a little more personal note from me...

I’ve received a fair amount of harsh criticism for Isaac. Apparently many readers think he’s too obnoxious, too bratty, too rude and too cold. Apparently Carter deserves someone who’s nicer and deserves someone who’s capable of love, because apparently Isaac is not. I believe the term “most despised character ever written” has been used a few times.

I don’t mind criticism (if it’s constructive and fair) and to be honest, if someone says they hate the character then that’s more of a compliment than an insult because the reader felt something. Making a reader feel something, in any form of emotional response, is the aim of every writer – it means I’ve done my job. 

But to outweigh that, I’ve also had two reviews and an email, from people who have lived with, loved, married someone who lost their sight, and said the descriptions of Isaac’s anger, resentment and frustrations, and his defensive walls, were spot on. Absolutely 100% correct.

It’s reviews from people who have lived through what Isaac and Carter were living through, and applauded the not-so-pleasant reality that I created, that makes me love Isaac that little bit more.



For your chance to win a copy of Blind Faith and Through These Eyes, please leave a comment stating if you had to lose one of your senses, which would you choose, and why?  I'll be choosing a winner at the end of April (yep, the contest will be up for all of April). 

The link back to RJ's site, and so you can continue the blog hop, is RJ's April Blog Hop!


Saturday, March 30, 2013

Release dates!!



Have I told you how  much I love my new publisher?? 


Total e-Bound have truly been so very helpful. They know I'm a little gun-shy when it comes to publishers and contracts now and they have honestly been so nice about all my questions and concerns. 


I love them.
 



Okay, so I was looking for some cute love-group-hug gif to go here and an hour later I'm tumblr'ing in QaF and Torchwood gifs. *shrugs*  Jack and Ianto kissing gifs will win over a love-group-hug gif. Every time. JSYK.

I have some (tentative) dates for my books!!!

POINT OF NO RETURN, preorder date 24th June
ELEMENTS OF RETROFIT, preorder date 26th August
TAXES AND TARDIS, preorder date 21st October
THREE'S COMPANY, preorder date 2nd December


And all the sequels, to Point of No Return and Thomas Elkin, will be released when they can be fit in accordingly. 

For every one who has emailed me, pm'd me, messaged me, asking about release dates... Now I haz them!  





Will post more info when I have it!!  

Hope everyone has a GREAT Easter!  


I'm also participating in RJ Scott's April blog hop, so I'll see you again soon!!  




Friday, March 22, 2013

Guest Blogger - RC Bonitz


Nicole- thank you for hosting me today. I love to talk about my books. RC

Tell us about the book you're featuring today.

My title is A Blanket for Her Heart, and the book is available in all formats at the moment. You can get it at Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, or at your local bookstore. See the links below.

Tell us a little about A Blanket for Her Heart --, what inspired you to write it?

A Blanket for Her Heart is the book of my heart- my first full-length novel, about Anne Hoskins and the man who sparks her to give wings to her life. It's a tale of courage and setbacks, about a woman attempting to turn her life upside down despite fear and uncertainty. Some might say she's willing to try for nothing more than a man, but I maintain she's driven by far more than that.

When you start writing, do you already have the story plotted out or do you let the characters dictate what will happen?

I can't stand to decide every last detail of the plot, but I had to re-write almost an entire book one time when the story wouldn't work out. So, now I plot a couple of chapters at a time by "telling" what happens, as one would in a synopsis. Then I write those chapters, see where I am, and summarize a little more. As long as I keep the ending and a few turning points clear in mind the process works very well.
I usually start with a clear first chapter in mind before I plot anything. A Blanket for Her Heart began as a dream, which I recalled in detail and which became the Prologue and first chapter.

What inspired you to write in your genre? Is this the genre you started writing in or have you morphed to this one?

I've written contemporary romance, played around with historical and suspense novels, (all love stories) since I wrote A Blanket for Her Heart. My most recent book is a contemporary romance titled A Little Bit of Baby. That was published by Silver Publishing, along with A Little Bit of Blackmail, which preceded it. I like happy endings and love stories, so the romance genre choice was simple.

Do you have a favorite character you have written?

I actually have a couple. Jessie in A Little Bit of Baby is a mixed up but feisty woman at the start, but she gets her act together and makes sure Ike plays straight with her. Anne, in A Blanket for Her Heart, is an older woman faced with the most difficult decision of her life- whether to retreat into her quiet, withdrawn existence or take chances with her fate. Her choice leads to an unexpected challenges and consequences. She and Jessie are both strong, determined, and lovely women.

Who was the toughest character for you to "get right" that you have written so far?

The answer to this one is Megan, who I am writing at the moment. Her book doesn't have a title yet, but she's got me fully occupied. She's living with a jerk at the start of the book and why she's putting up with him escapes me. Of course, she's had a daughter by the man and worries about Jordan, so-? I go back and forth with her sense of duty towards her daughter, whether or not she fears her boyfriend, and how she decides to leave him for the hero.

Do you draw inspiration for your characters from real life? Any fun stories you could share?

My inspiration comes entirely from my imagination. I sometimes try to relate a character to someone I've met, but I need to know much more about my characters than I know about real people. My funny stories are all fictional I'm afraid. One scene in A Little Bit of Baby cracks me up, but it's at the end of the book so I will not reveal the details. In the new book, Megan fears Wade, the hero, is about to announce he loves her. Not ready to hear that, she dashes from house and wanders down the street, then goes back without a good explanation for her behavior. When he asks why she ran off like that she blurts out, "I had gas."

What do you find the hardest part of writing?

Bringing my characters to vibrant life, without a doubt. But, there's also that little factor one must deal with after publication- Promotion and marketing! I'd much prefer to be in Anne's head, or Megan's, telling their story, living their struggles and triumphs.

Name one thing that your readers would be surprised to know about you.

One thing? Hmm. My wife and I have celebrated almost fifty-five wonderful anniversaries together- which tells you I'm a guy and a grandfather! We have four daughters and a son and twelve wonderful grandchildren we love dearly.

Do you have a guilty pleasure?

I've had many in my life- guy stuff mostly- sailboat racing, bass fishing on a beautiful lake in an ancient red canoe, but now it's a nice glass of red zinfandel with cheese and crackers on the side while reading a great review of one of my books.

What TV Show are you addicted to?

I'm not much for TV, but I love Downton Abbey and MASH re-runs.

What do you need before you start writing? Anything that is just a must have or the creative juice don't flow?

I need an idea for the scene I'm working on. I actually think about the scene for a bit before I put words to paper. I can write with the TV blasting or in silence, early in the morning or late at night. If I have the scene figured out very little distracts me. If I don't nothing helps.
   

Where were you when you got your first contract? What problems did you have getting published?

I received contracts for two books in two days, so I was ecstatic. My wife was the first to hear the news since I was home and at my computer when the word came in. A Little Bit of Blackmail and A Blanket for Her Heart were published within a couple of months of each other, though Blanket took a detour on the way to the bookstores. My second publisher made a policy decision to handle only religious books just two days before Blanket's scheduled release date. Blanket doesn't qualify as a religious book, so they cut me loose! Since I had the cover and edited manuscript ready to go, I chose to indie publish the book rather than go through the submission process again. So, after a brief delay Blanket finally hit the shelves at Amazon.

How old were you when you read your first romance book?

Now there's a hard question. Do fairy tales count? In living memory I'd have to say I read my first Harlequin romance about ten years ago. The heroine was a tow truck driver as I recall- good book

What author causes you to “go fan girl”/ squeal over/anticipate upcoming books?

My friend and mentor, Kristan Higgins, whose book The Best Man just came out.

If you still have one of those pesky non-writing jobs what is it?

It's called "retirement"

Do you have a favorite movie you have seen in the last few months and/or an all time favorite?

My all time favorite is Sleepless in Seattle

What are you currently working on, and what else is in the wings?

As I mentioned above, my current WIP has no title at the moment, but the tale of Wade and Megan is through the first draft. Now the hard work starts- the editing. After that? I may try my hand at re-writing a suspense novel I developed years ago. Or a historical that I played around with once upon a time.


If you could co-write with another author who would it be?

I'm actually doing that with my critique partner of many years, Judy Roth. Judy is a busy editor these days and I'm tied up, so our joint book is moving at a snail's pace. But we're working on it.

How do you pick your characters names?

Out of my head. Sometimes I change them halfway through the book if the character doesn't fit the name anymore (in my head).

Do you prefer the love at first sight approach or a steady growth throughout?

I write both now, though I believe in love at first sight. I told my wife I would marry her on our first date and here we are more than fifty years later. A Blanket for Her Heart is a love at first sight story, but the love of Wade and Megan in the new book develops slowly.


Anne Hoskins faces the most difficult decision of her life. Will she grab for the brass ring, or choose the safer, more familiar path she's traveled since her youth? Will temptation divert her from the choice she selects? She has much to learn about herself -  and tests galore to overcome.  A BLANKET FOR HER HEART is a story of courage and love, uncertainty and challenges. And an unexpected turn of fate.


Excerpt:

A BLANKET FOR HER HEART- EXCERPT PROLOGUE
  
He checked into the old Victorian hotel, dragged the ancient ten-speed bike from the rack on the Toyota, and headed along the shore, away from town. The route was familiar, ridden many times with his wife long ago. Back then, only two or three boats rocked quietly in the harbor. Now there had to be three hundred, rivaling Newport just across the bay. Shops and restaurants, once part of a sleepy little town, thrived on the bustle of early season tourists.
He cleared the harbor and headed south over the sandy isthmus that held the island together. The land had a name he’d seen on maps, Conanicut Island, but he called the whole place Jamestown, after the town. Passing Fort Getty, he started up the long hill he hadn’t seen since Carol died.
Proud of her riding, she’d always beaten him to the top, except once, that last time. He had teased her, laughing with victory. She had smiled and said it was just a fluke; she hadn’t had her vitamins that day. A first warning, it had gone unrecognized.
That was a long time ago, before he met Ellie and before she dumped him last year. Inactive since then, the last of the climb he had to do on foot.
Back on the bike, he pedaled toward the lighthouse, up and down the rolling hills. The New England air was crisp, but warm enough, and the ancient bike rolled smoothly under one of those clear blue early June skies. Scrub trees and bushes lined the road and an old rock wall, nearly hidden in the undergrowth, followed the pavement, its neglected top missing stones.
The heaviness of his last few months returned with a sudden certainty the island was a lonely place to live, not at all as bright and open as he’d remembered it.      
A bird high overhead caught his attention. An osprey or a hawk soaring, probably seeking prey. He caught his breath as it dove suddenly, flashing downward like a dart.
The bike lurched. His attention diverted, he had drifted into the ditch at the side of the road. Pulling hard to the left, he tried to recover, but the front wheel struck one large rock and then another. As if a spectator, he watched in disbelief as the wheel collapsed, pitching him forward, over the handlebars. The rocky ditch offered a hard greeting.
As his body registered pain, he lay unmoving, hoping someone would come by. But the road was devoid of homes or cars. He was alone.
Raw flesh against the rocks and pavement brought an involuntary cry as he struggled to get up. He lurched to his feet, his left arm crooked, panic clutching at his heart. Sliding his right arm below the left for support, he took a step and groaned in spite of himself.
A single driveway beckoned. It had to be followed, but its slippery, sloshing gravel made each step he took a grim adventure into pain. Finally, a house appeared deep in the woods, barely visible but a very welcome sight. Waves of pain ripped through the arm with each stumbling step, but he goaded himself onward.
"One more step, one more blasted step."
At last, the house. Thick shrubs shrouded the front, extending from the garage around to an L-shaped wing, a castle wall to block his entry. The garage was closed, no car in sight. Silence lay heavy in the air. He stared, numb, his mind uncomprehending. So much effort for nothing.
The deep roar of a motorcycle reached up from the road, unmistakable help gone by, a blow to his belly. Someone had to be home. Three steps toward the garage revealed a path, barely visible in the shrubs. He eased through, trying to avoid branches, and emerged in a sheltered courtyard.




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Once again, thank you Nicole. RC