Monday Quote

Monday Quote

Monday Quote

Desert Breeze Publishing

Donna Keevers Driver's debut book is one of the new releases. She's the creative soul who made several memes for me with quotes from me and my books.

This last one is a picture Donna snapped. Amazing. Best wishes to Donna on her debut.

Posts About Me 6

This is the sixth in a series of posts about me. I hope these help you decide my books are worth the read. I also hope they help save time for those who have no interest in my books. I know there's nothing more disappointing than expecting one kind of book and discovering what I'm reading isn't something I'm interested in reading. Not all books in a single genre are the same. Authors in the same genre are as different as football players on the same team and cupcake bakers. A lot of similarities but no two are alike.

Endless Knights series was originally supposed to be part of the Endless Possibilities series. I didn't take into account the value of book covers. I appreciate it far more now. I knew what I wanted for the covers, and it wasn't a continuation of the beautiful Endless Possibilities series.

Donna Drivers Keever created this picture of the tag line for Endless Knights for me.

Truth be told, I never planned to write the Endless Knights series. However, gentlemen made small appearances in the Endless Possibilities series, and I liked them. I wanted to know why they were they way they were. I wanted to know what happened to them. I wanted them to have their own Happily Ever Afters.

I fell in love with Jack long before I had any idea about his story. I toyed with a number of ideas, including time travel. Jack would go from the future, when they finally had transporters, to the past. I spent a little time considering the possibilities but finally decided to keep him firmly in the Regency time period. I knew he was clever and elusive and incredibly bright. I enjoyed including weird facts like the Clydesdale horses, which were bred not far from Castle Sugan's location. Jack filled the role of a Tarnished Knight exactly as needed.

Richard, my Reluctant Knight, was only ever supposed to have a minor role. In fact, he wasn't supposed to be there at all, but James Thorn needed a roommate. I couldn't have him chasing after Lily and leaving Molly all alone, attended. Richard stepped in and, to my surprise, claimed Molly. My description of Gretna Green comes from material I read and my own visit, in 1986. My writing method began to changing during the writing of this book, for the better, I hope.

Another beautiful creation from Donna Keevers Driver, sharing a bit of conversation between Cassandra, the heroine, and Mrs. Davies.

Errant Knight is the next book in the series, scheduled for release, this June. It's currently in edits. Fitzgerald twisted into a different character from the Endless Possibilities series to the Endless Knights series. Life-changing events will do that. I've seen the mock up of the cover, and it fits with the series, of course, thanks to the talented Carol Fiorillo. I'll have another post on my cover artists.

Knight in Disguise comes out in 2017. I'll keep you in suspense for now.

Reluctant Knight in paperback...

For those who prefer paperback, Reluctant Knight is now available, along with all the other Laurel Hawkes titles.

http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Knight-Endless-Knights-2/dp/1682949877/ref=sr_1_2

The Rebellious Damsel

A baron's spoiled daughter, Cassandra Treyman's plans to escape her parents goes awry, and she determines to burn the Bible of the maid who ruined everything. One word captures her attention: Forgiveness. Is it too late?

The Reluctant Knight

Heir to his father's shipping empire, Richard Carrington's wealth fails to make a tradesman's son suitable for a baron's daughter. Her parents prefer to bargain her to an unknown suitor in India, a man Richard suspects may not exist. Why pursue an unattainable woman?

The World

Unscrupulous men and women conspire to gain what they desire no matter the cost to anyone else. Honorable men and women do what they may to follow God and aid in His work to save souls. Follow the world or follow God. Which will they choose? The consequences may cost more than they can afford.

New Releases from DBP... Reluctant Knight

The Rebellious Damsel

A baron's spoiled daughter, Cassandra Treyman's plans to escape her parents goes awry, and she determines to burn the Bible of the maid who ruined everything. One word captures her attention: Forgiveness. Is it too late?

The Reluctant Knight

Heir to his father's shipping empire, Richard Carrington's wealth fails to make a tradesman's son suitable for a baron's daughter. Her parents prefer to bargain her to an unknown suitor in India, a man Richard suspects may not exist. Why pursue an unattainable woman?

The World

Unscrupulous men and women conspire to gain what they desire no matter the cost to anyone else. Honorable men and women do what they may to follow God and aid in His work to save souls. Follow the world or follow God. Which will they choose? The consequences may cost more than they can afford.

Reluctant Knight is in...

Today, I will celebrate with a friend.

I love Richard, and I'm so proud of Cassandra.

Back to working on Secondhand Samhain. I think I have the next novella sort of mapped.

Yesterday, I was dazzled by the sunny skies and the pattering rain. I stared at the clear sky overhead. A few clouds dotted the sky, but nothing that looked like rain clouds. Fanciful. The wonder of the moment is in what else I saw. A hawk circled above a flock of birds; I'm guessing pigeons. I would have missed it had the clouds been thicker, and I wouldn't have looked up if I hadn't been mystified by the sunshine and rain. Amazing.

God is good.

(These are pictures from a month or two ago. I love wispy clouds, and the way they collect color.)

Reluctant Knight cover art

Thank you, Carol Fiorillo, for the personally designed cover. It's heroic! Thank you, Jenifer Ranieri, Marketing Director of Desert Breeze Publishing for the different versions, including an avatar.

New Creation by Donna Keevers Driver

I love this exchange between Cassandra and Mrs. Davies, in Reluctant Knight (Release Date is December 2015). Donna created this one for me:

Isn't it beautiful? I'm combing through other books to find quotes she can make prettier. :-)

Another Donna Keevers Driver pieces...

This is a quote by Lord Sinclair in Reluctant Knight. (Release is in December.):

Mind you, I never planned for Lord Sinclair, until he showed up. Bossy boots.

Faith's Labor

Faith's Labor was my tribute to Labor Day in my Holiday, USA series.

http://www.amazon.com/Faiths-Labor-Holiday-USA-Book-ebook/dp/B00X5XJLMM/ref=sr_1_2

  

At long last, the fifth novella in the series has arrived...

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and maybe a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Organic herb farmer Faith Walker regrets many things in her life, none as much as marrying a man who divorced her after their wedding night, leaving her pregnant and alone.

Horse trainer Dusty Harper crushed on Faith all his life. What is he supposed to do when she drops back into his life and turns his world upside down?

God provides unexpected answers to those who seek His will...

Just Friends is the next novella in the series. It's a bit more difficult to write than I first anticipated. History I didn't expect appeared. I haven't discussed a cover with my sister yet.

Reluctant Knight is back to the Editor, with Round One done. Coming in December 2015.

Editing in progress...

I received the edits for Reluctant Knight. My week is now booked. Enjoy pictures of the recent storm.

The blur is from the sheeting rain. ^^^

The puddles are because we received an inch of rain in less than a half hour, and the ground can't soak it up fast enough. Our soil is mostly caliche, clay.

 The storm was winding down. ^^^

 At 5 in the evening, we turned on the light so the flag wouldn't be in the dark.

It almost amazes me how there's enough water on the cement to create a reflection.

God is Good...

Reluctant Knight's deadline was last Saturday. It's been a real struggle to write this one. I made some changes in my style. The rough draft was really, really rough. Sometimes only a thought of what the chapter should entail. The chapters are much longer, but I used some breaks that I usually rarely use. I also allowed my faith to be more prominent.

It wasn't bad enough that I need to finish a book I've been struggling with for months, but storms were promised those last few days, the worst on the 31st. Yes, I felt like forces were combining against me. If there's thunder and lightning, I turn off the computer, not conducive to finishing a book.

I've been working to learn how to be more faithful and more trusting and more grateful.

Test time.

Wednesday, the storms never materialized. Thursday, the storms dissipated before reaching me.

Friday, a storm rolled in from the east. I turned on the local weather station and would glance at it, from time to time. It also happens to be a good way to help reduce eyestrain. I watched the bank of yellow, red, and green, with lightning flashes, roll across the state. I watched it creep up to about where I live, break apart, and reform on the other side going west.

A little after five, another storm rolled up from the south. Lightning and thunder and buckets of rain. I'd reached the end of the second to last chapter, a good stopping place, for a break. I turned off the computer, ate dinner, did my physical therapy, fed the feral cats, and generally caught up on everything that needed to be done. I realized I needed to make some changes to what I'd written. The lightning and thunder moved further north and vanished by 6:30 p.m.

Another storm was scheduled to roll through round 10:00 p.m. It never showed.

I turned on the computer and wrote, with occasional breaks, finishing at 11:45 p.m., in time to report my word count at the online writing camp I joined this month, for this project. Final 7502 words added.

Done.

Thanks God. I could not do it without You.

Reluctant Knight is due...

...this Saturday. It's coming along. I always feel the tug of a deadline. Up until the moment I send it in, I find something to change in the hope of improving it.

It's Wednesday night, and a storm is moving in. Not helpful. Storms are distracting.

God is in control. He knows me. He knows what I need. He knows I've lessons to learn.

From the look of it, on the weather station, it's taming a bit.

The storm dissipated, leaving me free to write uninterrupted. Thanks God.

This was posted on FB, and it is pretty accurate. It also makes me laugh.

Sneak peek...

I shared this on FB, last week. I wanted to thank those who follow my author page. Richard Carrington is the hero of this story. He was introduced in "Unexpected Possibilities," a friend of James Thorn. What I didn't mention is that Sinclair simply showed up, as so many of my characters do. Never planned on him. Not sure if he has a more significant role at some later date. He's a prideful, stubborn man, but I like him.

A sneak peek at "Reluctant Knight" (unedited):

To what do we owe this attack of nerves?" Sinclair's gaze drifted to where Richard rubbed at his middle. "Ah. She's going to learn of your perpetual itch and weak stomach. Awkward when you want to be her knight in shining armor."

"A bit melodramatic?" Richard stretched his fingers. "A few hundred years too late for knights."

"Every man needs to be the knight in shining armor to the woman who holds his heart."

"Who said she held my heart?"

"Another weakness."

"I beg your pardon?"

"Lying to yourself. Might want to leave that trait in this room when you walk out the door. Glaring does not intimidate me."

Quote

Sneak Peek into Reluctant Knight...

Over on FB, my author page received another Like. Thank you! As a reward, I shared a sneak peek of what I worked on most recently in Reluctant Knight.

"I wonder where we passed them." Richard didn't bother to correct the reference to Miss Treyman being his young lady. The argument began in London and had changed little over the long months of travel.

"Probably for the best." A wry expression etched the weathered face. "Knowing you, you'd've attempted to find her, delaying us further. As it was, the captain shortened the stops in every port and did all within his power to hasten the journey. It paid off."

"I'm grateful." Richard surveyed the workers preparing for the ships docking, like ants scuttling about. The prickly sensation under his skin intensified.

Paul's gaze sharpened, focusing over Richard's shoulder. "Beware the approaching storm," the sailor grumbled.

"Mr. Carrington!" The honeyed feminine voice reached him before the cloying scent the woman always wore.

"Lady Friedman." Richard turned to face the woman who'd made her interest in him unmistakable, despite her married status.

A new Like on my FB author page...

...merits a sneak peek, unedited, at the current WIP Reluctant Knight:
 

A ridiculous hope had grabbed hold of his heart. Miss Treyman no longer sneered at him, perhaps she was softening. The Treyman finances were floundering. He schemed and planned to swoop in at the eleventh hour and save the day.

Rumors flew. Miss Treyman inherited a tidy sum, and all his strategizing burned to ashes.

He packed fantasies of winning Miss Treyman into a box in the back of his brain, but she refused to stay there. He'd see her, and the all-too-appealing images of marriage to the lady popped into his mind.

The slightest encouragement recalled his heart to her like a faithful dog.

There'd been a time, not so long ago, she'd avoided his company with adroit expertise. No doubt learned from her mother. The harpy ensured he knew his lack of suitability for her little darling. Perhaps he ought not criticize. The woman was protecting her daughter. He'd expect no less. He simply resented being the one from whom she was being protected.

Another like on FB...

...so a sneak peek! Reluctant Knight (unedited):
 

Irritation gained the upper hand. "You asked. Now, may we continue? The hour grows late."

"Oh, do please lead on," Fitzgerald mocked.

If Richard didn't need the other man's aid, he'd send him packing.

What must it be like to be needed not for the man you were but for the title you held? A title to be passed to someone else upon one's death. Richard glanced at his friend as they walked. How did a man know who sought the power of his title and who were true friends?

"I thank you."

Fitzgerald shrugged, but the hardness in his expression eased. "You owe me."

"Of course." A debt Richard would gladly pay.