Mark Edward Jones

PECULIAR ACTIVITIES

Welcome Mark Edward Jones to

Book Treasure Tuesday!

 

Introduction

 I retired in 2017 after thirty-three years of working in higher education finance. I grew up in Duncan, Oklahoma, then attended the University of Oklahoma, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science and public administration.

 

My wife and I have three grown children, and we celebrated our fortieth anniversary in November 2021.

 

Mystery/suspense/international intrigue novels are my favorite reads, and I’ve found a niche with medieval murder mysteries, noting it’s interesting to see the lifestyles from other eras and how crimes were solved.

 

My favorite music includes Elvis, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Boz Scaggs (among others).

 

Shadowed Souls, Detective Henry Ike Pierce series, part II, releases on Halloween this year.

Sneak Peek

 

Peculiar Activities (Detective Henry Ike Pierce, book 1) released October 6, 2021.

Genre: Mystery/Suspense with paranormal elements

Heat Level: Subtle

 

A murder in a park, and a new detective finds an old conspiracy.

Excerpt

 

Eddie Stone stepped toward the fence, then cleared off another area. Five gray markers appeared, all said UNKNOWN and JANUARY 1995. “These are the five homicide victims we told you about.”

Those deaths came into focus like a cold slap. “Why couldn’t you identify them?” I asked.

“No heads, hands, or feet.”

“Excuse me?”

“Whoever did this kept the skulls, hands, and feet.

With no teeth and no fingerprints, we had nothing else sophisticated enough to help us.”

“No guesses even? A missing person’s report?” “Nope. We found a connection, though.”

“To what?”

“To each other, it seemed. The victims were male, all wore brown leather jackets, and the damnedest thing—a piece of Orehnjaca was stuck in the breast pocket of each victim.”

“Oren Jaka? I’ve never heard that word.”

He grinned. “I hadn’t either. It’s a Serbian bread dessert. A nut roll or something.”

“These murders sound more like mob hits.”

“Bingo. We’ve thought similarly over the years but couldn’t connect it to local gangs.” A blast of north wind shuffled the leaves, covering the headstones again. “I don’t think it’s only a local issue, and neither does the director.”

 Peculiar Activities is available in ebook, print, and audio.

♥ Amazon

 

Research Tidbits

 

The story’s setting is on Maui, and I have been there several times. For me, it has definitely been better to write what you know.

Interview Questions

1.    Do you belong to a critique group? If so, how does this help or hinder you?

Yes. Critique partners have helped me to see things I cannot, not only grammatical and punctuation errors, but the consistency of characters’ actions, linking scenes, and logic issues.

 

2.  Do you write full time? What did you do before you became a writer? Or still do?

 

I try to write/edit/market full time now. I worked in the budget/financial areas of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Central Oklahoma for over thirty years before retiring in 2017. I had little time before to write. Now, it’s a matter of discipline to sit down each day and do something related to writing.

 

3.  What is your writing process? Do you outline, fly by the seat of your pants, or a combination of both?

 

A combination of both. A general outline helps me keep on track and reduce my inclination for a sagging middle. Complete pantsing is too unstructured, and I will wallow in the story, put it aside, and tend to overedit. A strict outline never held up for me as the story evolved. After a few chapters, I would either reconstruct the outline or pitch it aside, and I’d rather spend my time writing instead of constructing outlines.

 

Social Media / Contact 

Mark has an ‘updates’ section on his website, many updates he publishes on Facebook, and does try keep up on Twitter. Readers can contact Mark through his email link below.

 

♥ Website ♥ Email ♥ Facebook ♥ Instagram ♥ Goodreads ♥ Twitter ♥ Newsletter

 

Thank you for spending time with Mark and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!

 

Hugs~

Maxine

Award-Winning Author

RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel

ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational

THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical

AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp

NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY

PRE-ORDER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN

  

Diana Stout

BURIED HEARTS

 Welcome Diana Stout to

Book Treasure Tuesday! 

Introduction 

I’m Diana Stout, and I live in the historic community of Marshall, Michigan. With 15 years of teaching experience (classes for writers), at mid-life, I became a non-traditional college student. My goal was to teach accredited classes. I became an English professor of writing classes, which allowed me to marry my two passions of writing and helping others become better writers.

Today, I write full-time and still help writers become better writers through presentations, workshops, and classes. In early 2015, I created Sharpened Pencils Productions LLC, from which I publish my books:  screenplays, novels, novellas, and nonfiction that includes a cookbook and the first of my how-to series.

My newest release is Buried Hearts: A Laurel Ridge Novella (Book 4). The series involves 7 books, where 9 of the 14 characters are classmates and another 3 are best friends. Additionally, there’s a VW beetle that was fished out of the lake in Book 1 (Shattered Dreams) and so began the mystery that touches each book in the series.

Because the characters are in and out of each other’s stories, my spreadsheet became mammoth, making it both fun and difficult—especially when I had someone in two places at the same time! I’ve spent so much time with these characters, they’ve become good friends that I’d love to hang out with. If only. 

Sneak Peek 

A quick rundown of the series published so far.

Shattered Dreams #1 – High school sweethearts, Mason and Shelley, meet 12 years later and the sparks still fly, but Shelley won’t cooperate. Soon, both are shocked to learn the truth of their high school breakup and who was responsible. Is it too late to rekindle the love once shared or will their dreams be shattered forever?

Burning Desire #2 – Once a bubbly teenager, as a senior Eddie (Edwina) Taylor withdrew, spurning everyone, keeping a secret that could destroy her. Now a decade later, when firefighter Aaron Rhett Sinclair Renoux—a man who hates liars—investigates a fire in her grandmother’s farmhouse, she’s guarded, fearing he has the potential to blow up her world completely.

Arrested Pleasures #3 – Can Cutter, the bad boy womanizer of Laurel Ridge, ever win the heart of game warden Annie Martin, who’d rather see him in handcuffs? They had dated once in high school and once was enough for Annie, and now they’ve best friends. Can Cutter ever get beyond the friend zone?

Genre: Small-town romance 

Heat Level: subtle (thoughts & banter)

 

He’s an academic archeologist who digs up the past. She’s an on-the-road psychic balloonist who lives in the clouds. Can they meet in the middle and shed their walled-up exteriors to expose hidden longings and buried hearts?

 Excerpt

     “Would—”

     “I read you? Wanting to discover your future so you can satisfy your parents?”

     He snorted and laughed. “That’ll never happen. Not in my lifetime. Mom just likes to be contrary.”

     “She wants to be right.”

     “Remind me to never try to surprise you.”

     “You already have, with dinner, this conversation.” She paused, cocking her head, looking at him. “You’ll end up married much to her delight.”

     “How—”

     “I see you at the altar, surrounded by friends—”

     “What does she look like? Can you see her?”

     “No.”

     “What about you? Will you get married?”

     “I never get that sense about myself. Besides, I’m a realist. People marry for selfish reasons. Money. Security. Status. Power.—”

     “So, what’s my reason for getting married?” he asked.

     “Love.”

     “Not lust? Isn’t that what attracts us to each other?”

     A statement and phrase she always touted, too.

     He continued. “You’re right. I want to be one of those who marries for love. Otherwise, count me out. Mother will just have to be unhappy.”

The series is available as eBooks only through Amazon, but once the series is completed, the series will appear in one print book made available at all bookstores.

♥ Amazon

Research Tidbits

     Because the series takes place in 15 days and is the same 15 days for each book, as I was writing the second book, I realized I needed to track who was where at what time of day and who was with them so that I didn't have someone in two places. I knew a sharp reader would call me out. The spreadsheet I created was mammoth when printed—12 sheets of paper taped together.

     Once I had everyone in position properly, I typed up each day's activities per each book into one long outline/story log document.

      From there, I decided to write the first draft of all the books before I published #2 to ensure I hadn't written myself into a corner that I couldn't fix. I'm glad I wrote those first drafts because I encountered logistical errors that did need fixing in several books that weren't on the spreadsheet.

Interview Questions

1. When you have writer’s block how do you break free?

At one time, I had what I thought was severe writer’s block. Now, I no longer believe in it. I write about how I came to destroy that writing myth in my Finding Your Fire & Keeping It Hot book, and what I do now to avoid from ever having that situation happen again.

2. What type of book have you always wanted to write?

Ever since watching Somewhere in Time, The Two Lives of Jenny Logan, and reading Constance O’Day Flannery’s romance time-travel books, I’ve wanted to write a time-travel story. I’ve had a story in mind but am still working out the plot. In my mind’s eye, I see it as a screenplay, but that’s not to say I couldn’t write it as a book, too.

3. Please describe your writing environment.

I live in a small 520 sq. ft. one-bedroom apartment where my living room is my office, where I’m surrounded by books. An environment I saw in my mind’s eye decades before it occurred, even while I was married!  

Social Media / Contact

Readers and groups can contact Diana through email or message her through Facebook. Diana’s website contains links to her three blogs, newsletter, and social media.

♥ Email ♥ Blogs/Website ♥ Facebook ♥ Twitter ♥ Instagram ♥ Pinterest 

♥ Goodreads ♥ BookBub ♥ Newsletter

Thank you for spending time with Diana and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!

Hugs~

Maxine

Award-Winning Author

RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel

ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist—Inspirational

THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical

AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp

NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY 

PRE-ORDER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN

F. Tilly Brownne

TREVOR’S TORMENT

Welcome F. Tilly Brownne to

Book Treasure Tuesday!

 

Introduction

 

     I write fiction under the name F. Tilly Brownne. I just released my first book in July 2022, titled Audrey’s Search. I’m getting ready to release its sequel, Trevor’s Torment. These books are part of The Reclusive Man series, and part two of that series: Hers to Redeem.

     I also have many more titles coming up: Magi Cottage in the Holiday Cottage series and a book in the new Christmas Ridge Romance series, both coming in November. Then more books scheduled in 2023.

     But I haven’t always been a romance writer. Until now, I’ve been writing nonfiction books and articles (psst: under my real name Dianne E. Butts). And I’m a screenwriter. My screenplays have placed in some pretty big contests, and I’ve produced and directed a few award-winning short films.

     When I’m not writing (which isn’t often!), I enjoy riding my motorcycle with my husband, Hal. We ride with the Christian Motorcyclists Association. I also enjoy photography and tinkering in my flower gardens, but they are often neglected and overgrown because I’m working on some writing deadline!

 

Sneak Peek

 

     I’m super excited that my second book, a historical romance, Trevor’s Torment, will release in the next few months. It’s the sequel to my debut novel, Audrey’s Search, which came out July 6, 2022, in the Reclusive Man series. Both stories center on two sisters in the late 1860’s who hire on with a widower and his two kids to pay their way west with a wagon train. The first story focuses on Audrey Stillman, then the sisters get separated. In this second book, Francine, travels on to Colorado in Trevor’s Torment, which is in Part 2 of the Reclusive Man series: “Hers to Redeem.”

 

Genre: historical romance with a Christian thread

Heat Level: clean and wholesome, subtle touching

 

Trevor lives alone in a forest to protect others from his curse…until Francine needs his healing power. Can love break a curse?  In this sequel to Audrey’s Search, return to follow Audrey's sister, Francine Stillman, to Fairplay, Colorado, where the mysterious gray horse’s reappearance helps the Sweeneys and Trouble the dog. When Trouble gets injured, Francine seeks help from a reclusive man, Trevor Kayne, who lives alone in the forest and is said to heal animals. Can Trevor save Trouble? And when the worst happens, can Francine save Trevor?

Discover the mysterious man tormented by a curse who is hers to redeem.   If you enjoyed Audrey’s Search, you’ll love Trevor’s Torment. Coming this holiday season. Pre-order below. Excerpt  Greta continued talking. “This isn’t a whiteout like I’ve heard described. With those, the wind blows the snow and everything is white.” Mac rubbed his chin. “Well, this surely can’t seem much different.”  Junior ventured out further away from the wagon. His image started to fade as if into nothingness. Mac looked after him. “Don’t go too far, son.” “I know, Papa. But I can still hear your voice clear as a bell.” That sound started up again in the distance. A cry in the wilderness. A moan. From a man? Or a beast? She couldn’t tell. Francine spun around, straining to see into the white surrounding them. “Don’t you hear that?” Junior came walking back toward them out of the mist. It might insult his young manhood for her to say it, but the boy looked like he’d seen a ghost. He and all the others stopped, listening. The sound came from her left, from where the dark evergreens stretching southward had been visible minutes ago. No, wait. It came from straight ahead. She turned around, looking, listening. Around and around. Her eyes strained, trying to penetrate the mist, to see…something. Anything. She failed. All around she could see nothing but white.  Trevor’s Torment is available in ebook. ♥ Amazon   Research Tidbits        I had to do a lot of research about the telegram service in the western U.S. in 1870. I needed my heroine, Francine, in Fairplay, Colorado, to send a telegram to her sister, Audrey, back in Kansas asking her to do some investigating for her. I didn’t think that would be a problem, but boy, trying to figure out where the nearest telegraph was available turned out to be harder than expected.       I did learn that the telegraph service only lasted a few years before it was outdated by the telephone, but not by 1870 when my story takes place.          I also learned that telegraph lines ran along the railroad lines.       When I found a map that showed a railroad spur that went from Como up to Alma, Colorado, which today is about 6 miles north of Fairplay, I decided I’d set a telegraph office there. I also found a photo of a telegraph office called the Alpine tunnel telegraph station on the “Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad.” Fairplay sits on the edge of South Park, so I imagined Alma could have a similar-looking station.       That all took me hours of research, but I needed a not-too-distant telegraph office for my story!        Oh, and by the way. Have I mentioned I used to live in Fairplay?    Interview Questions   1. What was your first published work and when was it published?  My first publication was an opinion column in a weekly Christian denominational magazine, The Lookout, on December 29, 1991. The first Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, was in progress and my article was titled, “Should We Really Pray for Peace?” I’ve since published around 300 articles and short fiction in print publications and contributed to 21 books including Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I’ve published six nonfiction books under my nonfiction-writing name, Dianne E. Butts.  2. What is the best and worst advice you have ever received?   Worst Advice: Never outline – it destroys your creativity.   OMG. So. Not. True. Outlining explodes my creativity! I have so many unusable, unpublishable not-quite-finished novels in my computer from trying the “just start and write” and “write from the seat of your pants” theory. I wasted years (decades, really) trying to do it the way “everyone” said I should. Finally, I threw that out the window and started doing it the way I felt I needed to.   Frankly, it was when I started studying screenwriting, which led to studying story structure, that I began to figure out what I needed in order to write a successful story. Once I found my process, I’ve gotten faster and faster at developing and writing stories and I’m loving it.   Best advice: Comes from me and grew out of that worst advice experience: Trust your instincts. We each know in our gut what we need, what works for us and what doesn’t. Trust that. Yes, we need to learn from others and that helps tremendously, but we can sense when something we’re hearing just won’t work for us. We need to listen to ourselves and know it’s okay to disregard even the best-intended advice in order to do what works for us.   Now I outline every story before I write a word. This enables me to move around the outline and add in amazing ideas, set up themes and gags that will pay off later, and I don’t have to keep going back and rewriting large portions when I have a great idea. I develop my characters and their conflicts and motivations before I ever start writing. This process works well for me. I’m able to create what I think are far deeper emotional and thematic stories and write them much faster, which I dearly love because I feel I have a lot of making up to do after being stalled for so many years.   3. What type of book have you always wanted to write?   I have a fictional story about a small group of people who discover they’re living in the End Times described in the Bible. Unfortunately, the majority of people around them don’t believe that. My little group ends up going off grid and on the run from authorities to survive.   I wrote the first book in 1999 and it didn’t go over well with a few first-readers. Kind of a perfect storm of discouragement caused me to shelve the project, but the story has never left me. I’m a better and more confident writer now. I didn’t agree with those readers then, but I trusted them more than I trusted myself.   I now believe those books were ahead of their time. They are even more timely now. I really want to write them, and I’ve begun rewriting the first one. It began as a three-book series, but now I believe it can be much more. I’d like to write the “side stories” of each of the twelve main characters as novellas, then write the main series of books as well.   I have several deadlines coming up that are keeping me busy, but my mind is turning and developing this story and I can’t wait to write it.   Social Media / Contact   Currently, Dianne E. Butts’s fiction, which she writes under the pen name, F. Tilly Brownne, is housed on her main website. There’s a Contact form under the “More” menu where readers can contact Dianne. You can sign up for her newsletter at the link below.   ♥ Website ♥ Facebook ♥ Twitter ♥ Email ♥ Newsletter Signup ♥ Find All Social Links Here Thank you for spending time with F. Tilly and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday!  Hugs~ Maxine

 

ROSEMARY

 Welcome Margaret Tanner to

Book Treasure Tuesday!

Introduction

 I am Margaret Tanner, an award-winning, Australian author with over one hundred books published on Amazon. I now concentrate on writing sweet Western Historical Romance, although in the past I used to write Contemporary Romance and Australian Historical Romance.

Frontier Australia and frontier America, have many similarities such as isolated communities living in a harsh, unforgiving environment, a large single male population, and a lack of marriageable women, so I have never found it hard to write Westerns.

I like my stories to be drama laden. My heroes hide behind a rough exterior. They are tough men who are prepared to face danger and overwhelming odds for the women they love. My heroines are brave, resourceful women willing to endure hardship and danger in an untamed land, if it means they can win their heart’s desire.

I have had had many jobs over the years including being an Army Reservist and an Army Major’s secretary. Another job I held was as a postal delivery person. Being scared of dogs didn’t help, as I was accosted many times by dogs who were/or were not, intent on doing me harm.

I sadly lost my husband a couple of years ago. I have three grown up sons, and two gorgeous little granddaughters.

Outside of my family and friends, writing is my passion.

Sneak Peek

 My latest release was on the 9th September, and is a standalone story in my Western Flower Brides Series - Rosemary (Book 4).

 Genre: Historical Western Romance

Heat Level: Sweet with Christian values

 

Griffin Eastman has been shot by an unknown assailant.   Disillusioned with women and life in general after a shocking betrayal, a wounded Griff Eastman struggles to the home of a distant relative.      They give him sanctuary, but there is always a price to pay, right?       Rosemary Duffy is the only mother little Luke has ever known.      When a ruthless relative tries to claim him, she will do anything to thwart his plans.

To keep Luke safe, Griff reluctantly offers to marry Rosemary.       Can Cupid’s magic enable this unlikely couple to find the happiness they both deserve?

 Excerpt

“Will grandpa be okay?” Luke manfully tried to stop his bottom lip from quivering as he helped Rosemary unload a wagon load of hay. Noah McVeigh, from Virginia City, had delivered it yesterday afternoon.

Rosemary hated to think of the little boy being so worried. Well, she was worried, also, as her grandfather was an extremely old man. What would they do if something happened to him? He had promised to leave her the way station in his will, knowing Luke would always have a home here with her. As if she would desert the ten-year-old she had brought up since he was twelve months old and looked upon as her son. She was the only mother he had ever known, and she would fight with every breath in her body to keep him happy and safe from harm.

Could she run the way station on her own and fight Jeb Cashmore, who wanted to get his greedy hands on it because of the creek? It was terrible thinking this way when grandpa was still alive, but foolish not to do so under the precarious circumstances in which they were living under now.

Over the last few months, grandpa seemed to have given up the will to live. The only thing keeping him alive was trying to find a solution to the dilemma she and Luke would find themselves in once he was gone.

“You need to find yourself a decent man to marry,” the old man kept saying. “It would scare Jeb away once and for all.” The words echoed inside her head until she wanted to scream at them to go away and leave her alone.

At twenty-one, she should have been married, but had yet to find a man who appealed to her. Not that she had much chance to meet anyone suitable, as keeping the way station going didn’t give her any spare time. If the stage line owners knew it was her and Luke who did most of the work here, they might be tempted to stop the twice weekly mail run, with the odd passenger or two, who needed to travel out this way.

If Jeb Cashmore found out the diabolical position they were in, he would use it to run them off the place.

 Rosemary is available in Kindle Unlimited

♥ Amazon

Research Tidbits

 I always do special research for each book, so the main characters have their own little niche and foibles, appropriate to the time period. I write mainly in the same era and areas, so I already have my basic research notes.

Interview Questions

Do deadlines help or hinder your muse?

 

I don’t like deadlines, mainly because I am no good under pressure. This is the reason why I am always well ahead in my writing schedule. 

What genre do you mainly write in?

 

I now write only sweet western historical romance with Christian values.

 

Do you recall when your interest in writing originated?

 

Yes, I can. I was about eight years old and loved writing short stories and submitting them to competitions, which I often won. The prize money, even if it was only a few dollars, was always helpful as my family were doing it tough. My father was wounded in World War II, and needed to retire from work at an early age due to ill-health, and with three young children my mother couldn’t go out to work.

        Over many years, my short story writing developed into novel writing, something I continue to love doing. It has truly been a Godsend now my husband has passed away and I spend a lot of time alone.

 

Social Media / Contact 

Readers can contact Margaret via her Facebook author group. Margaret would love to see you there. Or private message her on Facebook.

 ♥ Facebook Author Group     ♥ Amazon Author Page

Thank you for spending time with Margaret and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday! 

Hugs~

Maxine

 Award-Winning Author

RED RIVER CROSSING: Men of the Double K 2019 IDA Winner—Historical Novel

ELIZABETH: Widows of Blessings Valley 2019 IDA Finalist--Inspirational

THE MARSHAL’S BRIDE 2017 IDA Finalist—Short Historical

 

AUDIOBOOKS: Audiobook Cinema / Amazon / Kobo / Chirp

NEW RELEASE: HANNAH’S DISCOVERY

COMING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON: GINGERBREAD INN

GENTRY AND THE MAIL ORDER BRIDE

Welcome Caroline Clemmons to

Book Treasure Tuesday!

 

Introduction

 

Thank you for asking, Maxine. After seven years in Southern California as a small child, my family moved back to Texas, and eventually settled at Lubbock. Around the dinner table, my father told fascinating stories about growing up in and near Denison, Texas, and about his family. I think that is what first sparked my love of history, especially Texas history. The interest has grown over the years as I’ve read and/or researched for books. I write books set in other states, too, but most are set in Texas.

My Hero and I live in Fort Worth, Texas, with our two cats and a dog. Hero and I both love reading, but we also enjoy watching a movie on TV each evening. In the past we loved travel, but Hero has Parkinson’s now and—except for dining out—he prefers staying home. Our youngest daughter and I still find time to get into mischief for various interests. 

Sneak Peek 

My current release is Gentry and the Mail Order Bride, Book 1 Texas Hill Country Mail Order Brides. It’s available as an ebook or in print. Of course, it’s free in KU. 

Genre: Historical western romance

Heat Level: Sweet/clean/kisses up to Subtle/implied lovemaking, but no details, PG rating. 

Sometimes the perfect match is one you didn’t want. Nothing much riles Gentry McRae. He works hard on the ranch he co-owns with his immigrant best friend, and is content with his life. He’s proud of all they’ve accomplished in the ten years since the war. That is, until his partner dies and leaves a fourth of the ranch to his mail-order bride—and wills the bride to Gentry.       “Now just a doggone minute, I don’t plan to marry for years!”

But, a single woman can’t reside on a ranch where four men live without ruining her reputation. What’s a good man to do, except marry the woman when she arrives?       Heidi Roth has been spurned for being too plainspoken and too tall. In addition, her sister constantly makes fun of her for those reasons. That’s why—with many doubts—she’s willing to travel for months from Germany to Texas to marry a man who once lived in her town. When she arrives, she learns her prospective groom is dead, but left her a fourth share of a ranch. She has serious doubts, but agrees to wed Gentry to protect her reputation. Sure enough, from the next day, one event after the other happens to complicate her life and her husband’s.

 Excerpt

 The comments from her sister and cousin fueled her actions. She strode from the house toward the matchmaker’s home. Though she did not want to risk the matchmaker again, Heidi longed to get away from the people who belittled her. Something must change.

Being ten inches over five feet meant she towered over most people. Being tall did not mean she had no feelings. She wanted her own husband and children. She was tired of her sister and cousins making snide remarks about her height and lack of a husband or children. Each of the matches Mrs. Heinz suggested was a man Heidi had known all her life. Each disliked that he was several inches shorter than she. She had no control over her height. Each wanted a younger wife, not someone nearly twenty-five. Neither liked a woman who spoke her mind, but she would not pretend to be what she was not.

Their town was simply too small to have many bachelors. Mrs. Heinz relied on word of mouth for her matchmaking business. Heidi wanted to run into the forest and never return. Instead, she held her head high and walked the half-mile to the home of Mrs. Heinz. 

Gentry and the Mail Order Bride is available in eBook and Print

♥ Amazon

 

Research Tidbits

 

In Gentry, I researched Bavaria and how a young woman would travel from there to Bandera, Texas. I’m so glad I didn’t have to travel like she did!

From that research, I learned that Bavaria, before it became part of Germany, belonged to Prussia. That’s probably only interesting to history nerds like me. I also enjoyed researching the route for the heroine’s travel from Bavaria to Amsterdam, west toward the U.S.A., then south along the east coast and around Florida into the Gulf of Mexico to Indianola. Indianola was remarkably damaged in a hurricane on August 12, 1886, but at the time of this book, it was an important port. Galveston has replaced it in importance, even though Galveston had a devastating hurricane in 1900. I have to be careful when I’m researching for a book. Going off on an interesting tangent is tempting, but can devour writing time.

 

Interview Questions

 

Is there a genre of book you would like to write but haven't yet?

 

I have plotted a four-book contemporary women’s fiction series set in North Central Texas and called The Tanglewood Springs Series. I’ve even written over half of the first book. In the first one, the heroine’s youngest daughter is anorexic, her football player son is injured and loses his college scholarship, and she learns her husband has been cheating on her for some time. It’s so different from my historical western romances, that I’m not sure my fans would enjoy the series. The first one isn’t even a true romance, but a promise of happily-ever-after, which is okay with women’s fiction.

I wrote a couple of cozy mysteries earlier this year—published to the sound of crickets. People who read cozies really liked them, but not many people read them. My historical western romance fans did not cross over. The books are Death in the Perfect House, Book 1, and Death in the Grave Yard, Book 2, Zoe Wilder Cozy Series. I doubt I’ll write more of them.

When did you first decided to submit your work? Please, tell us what or who encouraged you to take this big step.

 

This was an involved process. I had written newspaper, genealogy journal, and newsletter articles for years. On one visit, my mother-in-law brought me a grocery bag of Harlequin novels. She said she could tell from my long letters filled with anecdotes that I could write this kind of book. I was surprised, but read and enjoyed several of the books. I decided to try, and wrote a pretty amateurish novel. I thought I had to have an agent, but my attempts to get one were unsuccessful. Then, I found RWA, joined a chapter that had wonderful workshops on writing. After a year of those and a community college class on Writing Fiction To Sell, I wrote a better book. 

I was at a monthly meeting of the North Texas chapter of RWA in 1998. Four members—Sylvia McDaniel, Carol Rose, Shayla Black, and Kathy Shaw—announced they had each sold to Kensington for the new Precious Gems line to compete with Harlequin. They said the editor was buying more. I submitted and sold Be My Guest, all because of the generosity of fellow writers who shared good news. The line didn’t last long (who can compete with Harlequin?), but I was published. I switched to historical romance, and wrote several other books for Kensington. I also wrote for The Wild Rose Press (very nice people), but an indie now. 

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated? 

I’m pretty sure it originated with my father, who was a voracious reader and gifted storyteller. He encouraged me to write stories as well as read them. My fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Huff, encouraged me to read more diversely, and gave me an Earle Stanley Gardner paperback for Christmas. (She chose a gift personalized for each student, reminding us that she had spent the same amount on each of us.) She told me she could tell I would be a writer, surprising and inspiring me. My eighth grade journalism teacher was a jewel named Mary Stewart—not the well known author, of course. She encouraged me to write and gave excellent classroom instruction. In the ninth grade, I was the school newspaper editor. Our newspaper won several state awards, one of which was for an editorial I wrote.

All through this, my father encouraged me to write. The stories he told of his family coming to Texas and their various adventures, plus his childhood exploits, fueled my imagination. Sadly, he died before I was published. My mom was not a reader until later in her life, but then she was very proud of my books and encouraged me. My family continues to encourage and support me in my writing. Now, I have about eighty titles published, all at Amazon. I love writing!

Maxine, thank you again for hosting me.

 

Social Media / Contact 

Readers can contact Caroline through her email! Which she welcomes gladly! New subscribers will receive a free copy of Happy is the Bride, a historical wedding disaster romance when signing up for Caroline’s newsletter. You can also find her on several social media outlets listed below.

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Thank you for spending time with Caroline and me today! Check your email next time on Book Treasure Tuesday! 

Hugs~

Maxine