Fav quotes for MY story...gasp.

So I was browsing Amazon.com and checking my sales rank for my ebook, The Stillburrow Crush.

Yeah, yeah, I know. I need to get a life.

But seriously, my young adult story has actually been selling copies there. In fact, I did a little keyword search on Amazon for my publishing house and sorted their books by bestseller. For a while, The Stillburrow Crush waffled between number one and two. As I write this post, it's currently #6 (I'm not lying!).

So this morning, I checked my bestselling rank like I always do. It was just under 4,000. Woot! My other stories usually rank around 100-200K, so YES 4K is totally awesome in my book--pun intended. And as I leisurely scrolled down the screen I noticed a section called popular highlights.

Huh? I paused. What's This? I pushed the "what's this?" button (imagine that) and here's what Amazon told me:

Amazon displays Popular Highlights by combining the highlights of all Kindle customers and identifying the passages with the most highlights. The resulting Popular Highlights help readers focus on passages that are meaningful to the greatest number of people. Some books don't have enough highlighting in them to have Popular Highlights...

Can you totally believe that? Some readers actually LIKE some of my lines enough to freaking HIGHLIGHT them. So, now I simple must share some of my fans' favorite quotes in The Stillburrow Crush (wow, I have fans--still can't believe that).


============================================

TSC Popular Highlights on Kindle
“Sometimes, the Lord just takes blessed people because they’ve filled their purpose early. Everyone plays their own song. They sing their story to the world and leave behind a melody of memories. Sometimes…their song is cut short and ends too early. But that doesn’t mean their music was any less sweet or that they left any less of an impression.” highlighted by 30 Kindle users

“Be careful,” I said, closing my eyes. “If you get too close, you might slip and fall for me.” highlighted by 16 Kindle users

I’d just given a part of my soul away to Luke Carter, whether he knew or wanted it, or not. highlighted by 10 Kindle users

I wanted to throw my arms around him and kiss him all over his face, but being me of course, I had to tease him first. highlighted by 8 Kindle users

"Every other girl in school thinks you’re the hottest thing since the microwave.” highlighted by 7 Kindle users


============================================

From now on, I'm so going to highlight my favorite quotes in the books I read just so I can pass along the love. Thanks to all those wonderful highlighters out there. You totally made my day.

Start the week with PAMELA HEARON

**Warning...hot topic following.**

“What you need, Chickie-boom, is a good old-fashioned, head-banging, sheet-fisting, toe-curling orgasm.” Gram snatched up the journal with the worn, floral cover and waved it toward the nightstand. “And by old-fashioned, I mean one that involves a man, not one that requires a battery-pack and a warranty.”

Jade closed her laptop on the Regency she was editing. “What I need is a job with a great publisher, so I can quit sponging off my precious-but-nosey grandmother.” With her toe, she nudged her closet door closed before Gram could see the empty spaces that once housed her vast collection of Pradas and Guccis. She slid the check from the consignment shop into her desk drawer and raised a questioning eyebrow toward Gram. “How did you know where I keep my, um, toys?”

Gram shrugged. “Lucky guess. And it’s the same place I keep mine.”

********************BLURB********************
You just read an excerpt from:
HIS HOTNESS
by
Pamela Hearon

Buy Link: The Wild Rose Press
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Today, we're here with published romance author, Pamela Hearon. Hi, Pamela! Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Pamela: I’ve been writing for several years, cutting my teeth on poetry and short stories before moving into novels. I write several different sub-genres—all with elements of romance. I’m published in romantic fantasy and romantic comedy, but my work-in-progress is straight romance. I belong to the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and several of its chapters.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Pamela: My first book is The Timestone Key, a romantic fantasy. It was released by Lyrical Press in October 2009 in ebook format and is still available at their website and retail websites like Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com for both Kindle and Nook.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Pamela: I don’t have a backlist yet as both of my books are currently available. I’m working on a single-title contemporary series , which is with my agent. Keep your fingers crossed that she’ll find the right home for it soon!

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Pamela: His Hotness is a romantic comedy. Jade Bartholomew has worked for ten years to develop a one-hundred point scale that will help her find the ideal man for her—His Hotness. But scales have been known to lie … and so have men!
His Hotness was released a year ago this month by The Wild Rose Press in both ebook and print. It’s available at their website as well as the on-line distributors such as Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com.

********************BLURB********************
HIS HOTNESS
by
Pamela Hearon

Jade Bartholomew spent ten years perfecting her 100-point scale that will determine the ideal man for her — His Hotness. Although reality has her re-evaluating some of her dreams, she refuses to give up on two: financial independence and the existence of His Hotness.
Kai Malone lives the American dream. From a middle-class upbringing, he has reached the pinnacle of success as the CEO of a software company which is about to sell for millions. But success has a downside that brings out Kai’s greatest faults: he’s too honest, gives too much of himself, and is too indulgent with the women in his life. Things have got to change; Techtron’s sale may depend on it.

Jade and Kai meet when she shanks a golf ball into his most vulnerable spot. Not the ideal way to start a relationship — but no one ever said attaining the title His Hotness would be easy.
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Pamela: His Hotness would be rated R if it were a movie. It’s a modern story about a contemporary relationship..

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Pamela: Well, I’ve mentioned that it’s a romantic comedy. It might also be classified as a comedy of errors. Jade has to learn (the hard way) that love can’t be experienced in an objective model. In its best form, love breaks down our defenses and makes us look at it (and ourselves) in new ways.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit HIS HOTNESS under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Pamela: The secondary characters in His Hotness give the book its unique flair. Romances guarantee a HEA, so the reader knows that the hero and heroine are going to get together eventually. But two conniving exes and an over-sexed grandmother send things in this book unexpected directions. I love when an author surprises me, and I hope my readers do, too!

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Pamela: The characters were the easiest part to write because they all came alive for me as soon as I started putting them on paper. Their dialogue flowed; I could hear their conversations in my head and each character had a unique voice. I almost felt like I was eavesdropping at times.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Pamela: Jade Bartholomew comes from a well-to-do family, so it was very hard to make her sympathetic. What I adore about Jade is that she doesn’t want to rely on her family’s money. She wants to make her own way in this world and be an independent woman. And then she falls for a wealthy guy who is used to taking care of the people he loves right at the time in her life when she doesn’t want to be taken care of. In order to make the money-can’t-buy-happiness theme ring true, I had to come up with believable, deep conflicts and yet keep the light, humorous touch I wanted the book to have. That was a challenge and it stretched me as a writer and made me grow in my skill.

Kage: Pamela, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Pamela: I’d like to thank you for sharing your space with me. I hope the readers will check out both of my books and continue to follow my writing.

If you're still curious about Pamela, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website: http://www.pamelahearon.com/

The Timestone Key Buy Link: Lyrical Press

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pamelahearon


Goodreads: Pamela Hearon

Friday Forwards - #20

A NEW GROCERY STORE CONCEPT


A new supermarket opened.

It has an automatic water mister to keep the produce fresh. Just before it goes on, you hear the distant sound of thunder and the smell of fresh rain.

When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and you experience the scent of fresh cut hay.

In the meat department there is the aroma of charcoal-grilled steaks.

In the liquor department, the fresh, clean, crisp smell of tapped beer.

When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying.

The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread and cookies.



I don't buy toilet paper there anymore. . .

Start the week with AMBER LEIGH WILLIAMS

Swimming out of the sluggish black took more effort than Charles counted on. He almost sank back into the comfort of gloom, but the voice wafting down the long, snug tunnel urged him to paddle back toward the light. Prying his lids open, he squinted at the blurry face above him.

So the angel hadn’t been a dream.

“Can you hear me?” she murmured, gilded curls falling around her face.

“Reading you loud and clear, babe.” He tried grinning though the result was meager at best. Voice raw against his throat, he tried again. “Ciao, bella.”

She beamed, and his heart’s dull pulse strengthened into a pounding anvil. “Hello,” she replied. “I am here to help you.”
Glancing down at the sullied rag in her hand, he frowned. “You’re a nurse.”

“I know a bit about nursing, si,” she replied, voice light and a bit breathy. “But mostly I am here to translate.”

Oh, yeah. Because this is Veneto. And I’m in serious trouble. “You don’t work for the Germans, do you?” he asked wearily.

Another smile bloomed. This time his heart simply hammered to a halt then flipped over and rebounded, banging with renewed vigor. “There are no Germans here. You are safe.”

She’d said that, hadn’t she? While he’d drifted. She’d pulled him out of the black, aimless sea with that breathy voice. Glancing down between them, he saw the hand covering his and turned his over to return the hold. “What’s your name, miss?”

“Lucille,” she murmured, intriguing green eyes dancing down to their joined fingers before they rose back to his. He detected the deepening color in her cheeks, but she didn’t let go. “My name is Lucille Renaldi.”

“Lucille Renaldi.” As names went, it was pretty damn perfect. “Miss or missus?”

Her brow creased in confusion. “Scusa?”

“Are you married?”

Surprise trickled over her face and even as her lips twitched in humor, her face’s rosy glow darkened farther. “No, I am not married.”

Jesus, how was this not a dream?

“Can you tell me what ails you?”

At the moment, it happened to be his groin—typically ahead of his brain after surfacing from a good, long nap. He doubted her nursing would go as far as that part of the anatomy though the image entertained all the same. “Well, my head’s drumming a good bit. But it’s the arm that’s worrying me.”

“Your arm?” Pursing her lips, she reached for his limp right hand. “May I?”

Yes. Please. Touch me. “Sure,” he said after studiously clearing his throat.
As she leaned across the bed, he noticed that the satin gown that made her look so angelic was stained with blood. He’d put his head in her lap, he remembered with a grimace, just before he’d conked out practically in her arms.

The image did nothing to salve his banged-up ego.

She smelled like peaches and roses, a heady combination he inhaled heartily as her gentle hand felt along his injured arm. American women didn’t smell this amazing. At least, he didn’t remember them that way.

Currently, calling up any face but Lucille Renaldi’s was a wasted effort. Even his dear mother’s face, a memory he usually had no trouble procuring, seemed farther than the long miles that separated him from the family farm near the Atlantic Coast.

“I should remove your jacket,” she explained, meeting his eyes again.
Better and better. “Sorry?”

“Your jacket,” she reiterated, a worry bar forming between her eyes as if she feared for his mind. “I’m afraid I can’t feel much through it. I’ll have to remove it to see if your arm is broken or not.”

“Sure.” He shifted to rear up but stopped when those sheened curls fell around him as she curled an arm underneath his shoulders to help him rise. Hell, when in Rome… The lightheadedness crawled back…though that might’ve been the effects of her perfume.

She helped him into a sitting position. Before his hand could lift an inch, her fingers latched onto the first button of his jacket.

A sharp voice called out in alarm behind her and her hands fumbled to a halt. They both looked around, and Charles saw the crowd filling the small bedroom. He frowned. None present looked approving. Two men in expensive suits and an older woman with eyes like cold, gleaming daggers aimed right at his traitorous heart.

Here to translate, Lucille had said. That would make the strangers the welcome wagon.

He cleared his throat and lifted his good hand in lame greeting. “Ciao.”

Lucille hammered out a stream of Italian. Raising his brow, he watched her Cupid’s bow mouth move and admired both the speed of her words and the romantic rhythm of her language.

Dennis had been dead on. Angels lived in Italy. And it looked like Lucille Renaldi was his.

********************BLURB********************
You just read an excerpt from:
Forever Amore
by
Amber Leigh Williams

Buy Link: Black Lyon Publishing
Readers can buy it now at Black Lyon Publishing. It is also available for Kindle, Nook, and Kobo!
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Amber: Hi Linda! Thanks for having me! I’m published in several sub-genres of romance under the pen name Amber Leigh Williams – romantic suspense, romantic adventure, western romance, and historical romance. I’m currently working on the latter half of my paranormal romance series and revising the first book in my contemporary romance saga based in my hometown on the Gulf Coast of Alabama.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Amber: I began writing my historical romance, then titled “Love Among the Ruins” when I was sixteen. I completed work on it in 2004 and began submitting it the following year. As with most first books, it wasn’t ready for publication or representation so it went through a battery of revisions and edits before I was satisfied with it. The hard work paid off and it was published as FOREVER AMORE by Black Lyon Publishing in September 2009. The story is special not just because it was my first manuscript; it takes place during World War II and is dedicated to those who survived insurmountable odds and found love during that era. Those are the people who inspired Charles and Lucille’s extraordinary journey.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Amber: DENIED ORIGIN is my romantic suspense, published with The Wild Rose Press. It’s available now in ebook and paperback. Similarly, my historical romance, FOREVER AMORE, which was nominated by Long & Short Reviews for Best Book of 2009 is available now in ebook and paperback from Black Lyon Publishing. My western romance trilogy, which was first published in ebook from The Wild Rose Press is now available as an audio book collection from AudioLark. The first book in the trilogy, BLACKEST HEART, which was the 1st Place Novella in 2009’s More Than Magic Contest is featured in the paperback anthology, THE WAY BACK HOME.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Amber: Here’s a peak into FOREVER AMORE…

********************BLURB********************
FOREVER AMOREby
Amber Leigh Williams

Was their love destined to last forever…

Engaged in a brutal dogfight, dashing American Lieutenant Charles Tyler crashes his broken plane into the Italian countryside. He prays for divine intervention—and is certain he’s found an angel from the very moment he looks up at Lucille Renaldi’s lovely face. Yet how can he be with her when his sense of duty tells him to stay away?

…or become another casualty of war?

Lucille’s attraction to the American is forbidden, her obligation to her family’s safety overwhelming. At great peril the Renaldis carry Charles from the crash site and disguise him as just another worker in their vineyard. Hidden there inside the ugliness of World War II is the beauty of a growing love, and a danger that could end their lives any day—when all they want is…forever.
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Amber: Most of my books would be rated PG-13, but FOREVER AMORE might be a bit sexier. Once Charles and Lucille’s romance really gets going, they steam things up quite a bit ;) .

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Amber: FOREVER AMORE is most definitely a forbidden love story and secret romance. She’s the daughter of an aristocratic winemaker and sympathetic to the Allied cause who begs her father to take in an injured pilot at great risk to the Renaldi family because the region is on the verge of Axis control. Though Charles is eager to rejoin the Allied front so the Renaldis are no longer endangered by his presence, she insists on teaching him Italian and giving him time to heal. In the process, they are unable to ignore their attraction to one another and fall deeply in love.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit FOREVER AMORE under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Amber: FOREVER AMORE is set in 1944-45 Italy. It starts out in Veneto and continues on to Milan and, finally, Florence. It’s unique because I feel like it’s hard to find World War II romances, much less WWII stories based in Italy. When I first began writing FOREVER AMORE almost ten years ago now, it was very difficult to find historical details on the region of Veneto, in particular – almost to a discouraging degree. Thankfully, over the years factual material and historical data became easier to find, which shaped the pieces of the story born out of the long revision process. For example, a scene in which the American hero is working as a spy in Milan would never have found the page if I had given up on research. In addition, I learned the horrible lengths the people of Italy – men in particular – treated Italian women who married or befriended Allied soldiers, which my heroine experiences as a result of her forbidden romance with Charles.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Amber: As always, the part of any story that comes most naturally to me is the dialogue, especially if I know the characters. Before I begin writing any story, I like to know my major plot points and where I want my characters to wind up, all of which will likely shine a light on their GMC (Goal/Motivation/Conflict). Dialogue is really the only part of the story that I do write by the seat of my pants anymore because by the time I get to the scene, I’m already familiar with the characters and their situation. Despite my pre-plotting tendencies, I absolutely love when a character gives me a dialogue challenge. For example, with FOREVER AMORE based in Italy, I had to learn a good deal of Italian.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Amber: With FOREVER AMORE in particular, I learned a fundamental lesson in character development. Over the course of six revisions, Charles went from a cardboard-cutout hero to a layered and motivated alpha. It was incredibly rewarding to watch him grow and evolve into the man that Lucille deserves from the moment he steps onto the page. It’s one of the many reasons I’m so proud of the book as a whole.

Kage: Amber, thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Amber: The Baker City Herald describes FOREVER AMORE as

“A beautiful love story woven with suspense to make you race through the page!” Coffee Time Romance adds, “The setting of Italy during World War II is an exciting one filled with political intrigue and danger from all sides. The author has brought the era to life and filled it with some memorable characters…from the first page to the last one.”

In addition to a Best Book of 2009 nomination, Long & Short Reviews awarded FOREVER AMORE with a “Best Book” review:

“A dynamic war-time romance novel. The love of the two main characters is wonderful, frank, and exciting. It is the age-old story of forbidden love. We feel very clearly the terror of invasion, the potential loss of family or home. The events here make the people who lived and struggled in World War II seem a finer sort than ordinary humanity. This makes this story, this lovely romance, all the more moving. There are so many scenes worth noting, that I fear this would become novel in its discussion. Suffice to say this features everything from dogfights to intimacy, love to desperation. Williams has a particularly poetic turn of phrase and has brought the romantic back to romance.”

If you're still curious about Amber, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website: http://amberleighwilliams.com/

Blog: http://amberleighwilliams.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/amberleighwilliams

Twitter: http://twitter.com/ALeighWilliams

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2713894.Amber_Leigh_Williams

Goodreads: Amber Leigh Williams

New Covey Book Trailer Awards

My book trailer for HOT COMMODITY is competing in the New Covey Book Trailer awards contest. Voting has started if you want to...well, you know. But you don't gotta! I'm entry number 25 if you do want to though! Polls close March 30th.

Voting takes place here: http://thenewcoveytrailerawards.blogspot.com/

Do you want to share a towel too?

Want to know why I've become obsessed with PRETTY LITTLE LIARS, a teen hit series on ABCFamily?

Oh, well...besides all the murder, intrigue, forbidden romances, mounting mysteries, and fascinating plot twists, this little scene should pretty much sum it up for you!

"Do you want to share a towel too? "

Seriously. Best line EVER! I'm so glad they brought bad-boy Caleb into the series. I utterly heart him.

'Kay, my Linda Kage crazy fan moment is over...

Start the week with...Bernadine Darcy

I stopped breathing as he knelt down before me and cleaned the dirt from my face. It stung like crazy, but I gritted my teeth and bore the pain. He held my chin with one hand as he worked. I could feel his eyes on my face. I stared at the wall as tears leaked from my eyes.


“Hey,” he gently turned my face to his, “I’m sorry I’m hurting you.”


“Men have a tendency to do that,” I replied with a nervous laugh. He was too close again, his breath rushed over my skin like a breeze.


“I feel your pain. Women are the bane of my existence.” He wiped away my tears with a thumb.


“And elusive men are the bane of mine.” I tried to smile back, but I could only think about kissing him.


“Adam might eventually be available. You could hang out for ten years and wait for him.” He dragged his eyes away from mine and rinsed the hand towel. He turned my face away and cleaned my wound one more time, then dabbed Neosporin over it.


“You think I’m talking about Adam? I told you it was a one time thing and it’s over.” I laughed bitterly. How stupid was he?


“That’s what they all say.” He sat back on his heels, his face a tight mask.


“Are you jealous?” I finally completed the sentence that had been lost in my humiliating display of lack of coordination.


He laughed as if my words were outrageous. “Why would I be jealous? Okay, let’s see the other one.” He reached for the hem of my shirt. I couldn’t move a muscle as he slowly lifted my shirt. I wondered if he could hear my heart pounding in my chest, and I thanked all that was good and holy for steering me toward my pink lace bra that morning. My nipples hardened as his knuckles brushed over the flesh on my stomach. His face remained impassive as he tried to peer under my shirt without seeing any of my goods.

********************BLURB********************
You just read an excerpt from:
My Love Life & Other Disasters
by
Bernadine Darcy

Buy Link: Champagne Books
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Today we're here with published author, BERNADINE DARCY. Hi, Bernadine! Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Bernadine Darcy:I have a great life. I am the mother of a wonderful girl who is growing up way too fast. I have been writing since I was a little girl. I have always wanted to be a published novelist, but didn't really try to achieve this goal until recently. I have been told by several agents that I don't fit into a certain genre. I love to write in the contemporary romantic / comedy genre with some chick lit thrown in. As a reader, I get the most pleasure from books that make me laugh and I enjoy feeling like I dropped in on someone's life for a short while. I try to write the same way.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Bernadine Darcy: The first book I ever wrote is in a closet among my many journals. I cringe every time I take it out. It's really, really bad.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Bernadine Darcy: My backlist is a small group of mediocre novels that should never see the light of day. I have developed and strengthened my skills as a writer with those mediocre novels. My newest work is tentatively titled, Temporary Insanity. It is original and very funny. Renee is a single mother working for an environmental contractor, which is a male dominated field of employment. She's dealing with things like, the death of a close friend, an attraction to a co-worker, sewage and diesel fuel spills, and a sister who's losing her mind.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Bernadine Darcy: My Love Life and Other Disasters. It was released in July in electronic format and is soon to be released in paperback. This novel is about Shawn, a thirty-one year old woman who is struggling to break free from three over-protective brothers while falling in love with the best friend of one of her brothers.

********************BLURB********************
My Love Life & Other Disasters
by
Bernadine Darcy

Payback is the only thing on Shawn’s mind when she takes a baseball bat to her ex-fiancé’s brand new Mustang. He deserves it after leaving her standing at the altar before pulling a two-year disappearing act. To complicate matters, her high school sweetheart, Adam, is the arresting officer; and Bryan, her adolescent crush, turns up in time to spring her from jail.


Life has never been easy for Shawn. Three domineering older brothers block her at every turn, and Bryan still treats her like his own pesky little sister. Armed with her shock jock personality and dubious advice from her best friend Suzie, Shawn sets her sights on Bryan’s elusive heart.
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Bernadine Darcy: My Love Life and Other Disasters would definitely be rated R, maybe even NC 17. I love the bawdy and crude things in life.

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Bernadine Darcy:

If I had to fit this into a cliche, I think it would be more of a Cinderella story where the brothers are the evil stepsisters.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit My Love Life & Other Disasters under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Bernadine: The dialogue is something that sets the story apart. I also have a very strong and likable heroine that my readers seem to identify with.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Bernadine Darcy: The dialogue is always the easiest thing to write for me. It's difficult for me to go back and flesh out a scene, giving my characters stage directions and actions. I'll pace back and forth across my house, trying to get one scene written.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Bernadine Darcy: I like Shawn a great deal. She's down to earth, funny, and strong. The thing I like least about her is how long it took for her to take control over her life. But I guess we all get to that point in our own time.

Kage:Bernadine, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Bernadine Darcy: Writing is something I really love to do and its great to hear back from happy readers. It has been a long journey with many missteps along the way, but I am very proud of how far I've come.

If you're still curious about Bernadine Darcy, here are other places to find her on the web:

Website: http://www.bernadinedarcy.com/

Facebook: Bernadine Darcy

Amazon: Bernadine Darcy

Posting on the Twelves

I'm blogging today at both

Romance Books "R" Us (adult romance blogsite)

&

The Climbing Roses of the Wild Rose Press (YA romance blogsite).

@ The Writers Vineyard

You are most cordially invited to visit me at THE WRITERS VINEYARD (http://thewritersvineyard.com/) today. It's my turn to guest post and I'm talking about Setting.

I'll confess now: I cheated. I used a post I'd written two years ago (hey, my baby's been sick with the flu; I haven't had a lot of free time on my hands--she's okay now though). But that was back when I only had one follower so it's probably not something any of you have read.

------------------------------------------
Before you go, I'd like to wish a quick CONGRATULATIONS to Carol Kilgore, whose short flash-fiction story was nominated for a Derringer Award for Best Flash Story by the Short Mystery Fiction Society. Go, Carol!!
------------------------------------------

Hope you have a happy Wednesday!

Start the week with...KAYLIN McFARREN

Bile rose in Kate’s throat. Her eyelids became as heavy as velvet curtains preparing to drop at the end of a show. Holding the edge of her dresser to steady her balance, she focused on the necklace she’d laid out before showering. She picked up the thin gold chain and clasped the locket in her hand, tighter and tighter, as if meshing the keepsake into her skin could bring her mother back to help her through this.

“Kate?”

She heard Drew calling, his voice distant, searching for her in a deep mineshaft. Her mouth opened to answer, but no sound followed. Perhaps she didn’t want to be found.

She tried again to speak, but the sensation of hot tears streaking her face intruded on her effort. The protective wall surrounding her soul had split in two. A lifetime of denied emotion had broken through the dam, and there was no holding back the flood.

“Daddy, please, not yet,” she whispered then crumpled to the floor, wilting like a rose in her mother’s forsaken garden.
********************BLURB********************
You just read an excerpt from:
FLAHERTY'S CROSSING
by
Kaylin McFarren

Buy Link: Champagne Books
*********************************************

Linda Kage: Today, we're visiting with publishing author, Kaylin McFarren. Hey, Kaylin! Why don't you tell us a little about you and what you write please.

Kaylin: Thanks for asking, Linda. I've had many career opportunities and adventures - modeling, interior design, real estate sales, business and personal writing projects - even the role of director for a fine art gallery, where I assisted many visual artists in furthering their careers and gaining recognition. But after spending many years in public relations and fulfilling the needs of my growing children, I decided it was time to focus my creative energy toward writing inspirational and romantic suspense novels, and in the process assumed the name of Kaylin McFarren.

Kage: What happened to the first book you ever wrote?

Kaylin: Well fortunately, Flaherty's Crossing was published...but not without an upward battle. It crossed a few genres – making it a difficult book to place with a large house. At first I took the rejections as reflections on my writing skills, then I realized although they didn’t accept it, I was receiving a great deal of praise from publishers via personal notes and emails.

Rather than hold back to see what might happen way down the road or completely reinvent the novel based on suggestions I didn’t feel were true to the core of my story, my daughter Kristina McMorris encouraged me to take hold of the reins. I pursued smaller houses, where they are more open to books that are out-of-the-box. Fortunately, Flaherty’s Crossing found a wonderful home at Champagne Books.

Kage:What’s your backlist and coming soon bookshelf look like?

Kaylin: My most recent release is titled Flaherty's Crossing - a highly-acclaimed, roller-coaster kind of story with fun twists and turns and the most-unexpected ending.

I'm also completing an action-filled trilogy with the first book titled Severed Threads, and should anyone be interested, here's the jest of this story: Believing herself responsible for her father's fatal diving accident, Rachel Lyons has withdrawn from the world and assumed a safe position at a foundation office. When called upon by a museum director to assist her former love interest with the recovery of a priceless artifact from a sunken galleon, she has no intention of cooperating - until her brother is kidnapped by a drug-dealing gangster. In order to save him and gain control over her own life, Rachel must not only overcome her greatest fears, but also relive the circumstances that lead to her father's death.

Kage: Which story are we going to talk about today?

Kaylin: Flaherty's Crossing, which was published by Champagne Books in February 2010, is about a woman's journey to find faith and forgiveness. In short, an estranged father's dying confession opens a vault of dark family secrets, shocking revelations that threaten all his daughter holds dear.

This book has earned more than a dozen literary awards and was a 2008 finalist in the prestigious RWA® Golden Heart contest. In addition, all proceeds earned from the sale of this book go directly to cancer research at Providence Medical Center. So anyone can make a difference.

********************BLURB********************
FLAHERTY'S CROSSING
by
Kaylin McFarren

Successful yet emotionally stifled artist Kate Flaherty stands at the deathbed of her estranged father, conflicted by his morphine-induced confession of his part in her mother’s death. While racing home, Kate’s car mishap leads her to a soul-searching discussion with a lone diner employee, prompting Kate to confront the true reasons her marriage hangs in the balance. When her night takes an expected turn, however, she flees for her life, a life desperate for faith that can only be found through her ability to forgive.
*********************************************

Kage: What would the story be rated if it were a movie?

Kaylin: I would venture to say PG-13, although Hollywood could easily turn it into an R. :D And by the way, a great screenplay for Flaherty's Crossing has already been completed by an award-winning screenwriter in L.A. Several producers have expressed interest, so fingers crossed....

Kage: If you HAD to fit this story into a cliché, which one would it be?

Kaylin: Hmm...Flaherty's Crossing is a bit unusual, so I guess I'd have to take a stab in the dark and say secret romance meets whodunit.

Kage:Okay, now that we have a general idea which class to fit FLAHERTY'S CROSSING under, what makes this book so unique from every other book out there?

Kaylin: In actuality, Flaherty's Crossing was based on my personal account. Eighteen years ago, following my father’s death, I found myself obsessed with sitting in front of a typewriter, coming to terms with unresolved issues by banging on keys. This silent venting became a sort of “therapy through writing” exercise. However, this exercise slowly evolved, taking on a life of its own. I began creating a related fictional story about a woman’s personal journey, and in the process of exploring my main character’s growth, I found myself learning and growing as well.

Eventually, I came to believe I had a meaningful story to tell, one through which I could possibly touch other people who shared the same complicated family relationships – and maybe even make a difference in their lives. Yet I still struggled with bringing this tale to a close. It wasn’t until my eldest daughter provided her amazing writing insight that I finally came to realize why I struggled with the ending, for both the book and my father’s passing: the true resolution didn’t rest in holding onto the past; it came from opening my mind to future possibilities and honoring him – not only by setting this story free, but by becoming the professional storyteller that had been hiding in my genes.

Kage:What was the easiest part to write?

Kaylin: I love voices, so I would have to say dialog. I love growing characters and bringing them to life and have discovered that personal exchanges and inner conversations often reveal more than the action taking place in the story.

Kage:What do you like most about the main character(s) and what do you like least? Did you learn anything from them?

Kaylin: Kate Flaherty is a complex character - an attractive 30ish artist, whose talent has brought her success and national acclaim. Her inner strength, determination and resilience are her greatest assets. In other words, her ability to hang on when everything in her life is falling apart. But Kate is also emotionally stunted and her damaged past is affecting her relationships and any future she hopes to have with her husband. Her personal journey in this book taught me to recognize that there are two sides to every story. That we can't move on in our lives unless we let go of the baggage we carry and finally, the importance of resolving issues before it’s too late.

Kage: Kaylin, Thank you so much for stopping by today and gracing us with your presence. Before we go, is there anything else you’d like to say to wrap things up?

Kaylin: It is my hope that anyone who has experienced relationship problems or has lost a loved one will consider picking up a copy of Flaherty's Crossing. I guarantee that this suspenseful story will touch your heart, and as USA Today best-selling author Joy Nash has written... ultimately soul-satisfying.

If you're still curious about Kaylin, here are other places to find heron the web:

Website: http://www.kaylinmcfarren.com/entry.php

Blog: http://kaylinmcfarren.wordpress.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kaylin.mcfarren

Twitter: http://twitter.com/4kaylin

Goodreads: Kaylin McFarren

Amazon: Kaylin McFarren's Amazon Author Page

Friday Forwards - #19

~~Not too clean, but still funny~~

The madam opened the brothel door in Winnipeg and saw a rather dignified, well-dressed, good-looking man in his late forties or early fifties.

"May I help you sir?" she asked.

The man replied, "I want to see Valerie."

"Sir, Valerie is one of our most expensive ladies. Perhaps you would prefer someone else," said the madam.

He replied, "No, I must see Valerie."

Just then, Valerie appeared and announced to the man she charged $5000 a visit.

Without hesitation, the man pulled out five thousand dollars and gave it to Valerie, and they went upstairs.

After an hour, the man calmly left.

The next night, the man appeared again, once more demanding to see Valerie.

Valerie explained that no one had ever come back two nights in a row as she was too expensive.

"There are no discounts. The price is still $5000."

Again, the man pulled out the money, gave it to Valerie, and they went upstairs.

After an hour, he left.

The following night the man was there yet again. Everyone was astounded that he had come for a third consecutive night, but he paid Valerie and they went upstairs.

After their session, Valerie said to the man, "No one has ever been with me
three nights in a row. Where are you from?"

The man replied, "New Brunswick."

"Really," she said. "I have family in New Brunswick."

"I know," the man said. "Your sister died, and I am her attorney. She asked me to give you your $15,000 inheritance."


~~You know what they say about lawyers; they'll screw you every time~~

Winners!!!

Congratulations to all the people who won...

From the TWRP Valentine's Blog Tour:
Week 1 - Marci (won $20 in gift cards)
Week 2 - Sherry Cahill ($25 in gift cards)
Week 3 - Ann Cory ($30 in gift cards)
Week 4 - Rebecca Booth ($35 in gift cards)
Grand Prize - Maria Yerton ($40 in gift cards plus Bath & Body Works goodies)


From Diane Estrella's Blog:
Lynne ( paperback copy of THE STILLBURROW CRUSH)

From my website "Cousins Contest":
Beth Clark (paperback copies of HOT COMMODITY and DELINQUENT DADDY)