Special Guest Interview with Mike Harris about New Release “It Never Was You”

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Juliette Hill

A Clue for Adrianna (Captain’s Point Stories) a romantic women’s fiction novel written by Annie Acorn and Juliette Hill writing as Charlotte Kent

Also available in the UK and on NOOK!

 

I am very pleased and excited to welcome back today’s guest Mike Harris to One Vintage Heart as part of his current Blog Tour for his recent release It Never Was You, the second book of the Cypress Branches Trilogy comprising the writings of his grandfather William E. Thomas. 

Special Guest Interview with Mike Harris:

For readers and visitors that are new to my website, would you refresh us on a few important details about your incredible journey of publishing the Cypress Branches trilogy based on the writings of your grandfather, William E. Thomas?

Firstly, I’d like to say thank you, Juliette, for inviting me back to your blog for this interview – I loved the last one we did back in September, and I’m very excited about being back.

To cut a long story short, I took on the task of publishing my grandfather’s writings after he started to become ill from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease. He wrote the Cypress Branches as one volume when he retired in the early 1990s, but soon started showing signs of confusion and memory loss. It was devastating for us as a family to watch as his illness began to take away his ability to undertake the everyday activities he enjoyed so much – reading, writing, theatre, cinema, cooking, completing cryptic crosswords…

His illness also meant that he was unable to pursue publication of the book he’d spent so long crafting, and his attempts soon fell by the wayside. But I wasn’t prepared to see the story end there, and decided to publish it as a hardback on his behalf. 100 copies were printed in 2009 and were distributed to friends and family, who loved it, and asked if I had plans to publish a paperback.

The book is huge – at 350,000 words long, it just about worked as a large hardback, but wouldn’t have worked as a paperback, so I started on a project to edit it into a series. It took three years to get the first part of the trilogy – Pegasus Falling – ready, and it was released last March.

The reaction to Pegasus Falling was better than I could ever have imagined. Although readership is still small, those who have read it have, without exception, loved it. The reviews have been glowing, and it was even named as a finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Indie Books contest last year.

It has taken another year for me to prepare part two of the trilogy. Titled It Never Was You, it was finally released last month on Kindle and in paperback. I think that brings us up to date!

Having read Pegasus Falling, Part One of the trilogy and loving it, I’m so excited about It Never Was You!  Did you find in the process of working on Part Two any unexpected challenges or surprises in preparing this volume for publication, or was it smooth sailing?

I’m so pleased that you’re excited about the new book, Juliette. And to be honest, so am I! I loved putting the book together, and for the most part, it was quite smooth sailing. That’s not to say there weren’t challenges, though.

As with the first part, the main challenge has been adapting what was written as one volume into a trilogy of smaller works without the input of the author. Alzheimer’s has left William unable to communicate effectively with us, so I’ve had to make decisions on his behalf. Luckily, William wrote the novel in an episodic format, and there are several clear storylines which run through which helped me make the decisions as to what would go in each book. At every step in the process I have had to ask myself “would William have been happy with that decision?” And if the answer was ever no, or I wasn’t less than 100% sure, I’d revise my idea.

What you read in the new books is all William’s work. There are the very rare exceptions where, as an editor, I have needed to delete a scene or two, or added the occasional sentence to make the story flow, but it is still William’s story, and they’re still his words. The best analogy I can make is restoring an old building. The original design is intact, but the builders may have had to plaster over a few cracks and restore some of the woodwork to bring out the building’s best attributes.

I was lucky that it was fairly obvious how the three parts of the trilogy would fit together. I was able to put Pegasus Falling together in rough form within a day or two! It Never Was You presented a few more challenges though, because I had a couple of important questions to answer.

Firstly, there was the matter of the prologue. This was written as an introduction to the whole work. I didn’t include it in Pegasus Falling because the characters who appear or are mentioned in the prologue don’t appear in that part of the story, so it would have been very confusing for the reader. But It Never Was You features a new set of characters, and the prologue is a great introduction to them. (It also gives us some clues as to why we are now following new characters, rather than continuing the story where we left off, which I’m sure some readers would have expected!)

The action in what will be Part Three of the trilogy does continue where It Never Was You ends, and I questioned for a long time where to leave the story. I’m happy with where the break point occurs, but readers may not be so happy, as it does leave us with another major cliff hanger!

What would you like readers to know about your grandfather that would give them a deeper insight into the writer’s point of view?

It’s quite well known now that William is in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease – a horrifying illness which has reduced him to a mere shadow of his former self. It’s heartbreaking for us to know that he is unable to enjoy the success his books are finally having.

But it’s important to remember that The Cypress Branches is the product of a very intelligent and active mind that, for the first 75 years at least, enjoyed a very productive and action-packed life.

Like the main character in It Never Was You, William spent time in the merchant navy. In some respects, the character of Harry is very similar to William himself. They’re both lovers of the arts and visited the many cultural highlights of the cities and countries their job took them to, eschewing the usual pursuits of men in the merchant service.

He has always had a keen interest in literature. His library is a joy to behold, filled with special edition hardbacks of the classics as well as popular paperbacks, new writing and non-fiction. History and politics fascinate him, and that is reflected in the extensive research he undertook when writing his novel.

But despite his interest in all things literary and artistic, like Harry, William is an engineer by trade. He worked in the automotive and aircraft industry (I believe he was involved in the design of a small element of Concorde!) before ending his career as a lab technician at the Open University, where he also studied for two degrees (he is both a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts!)

What has been the general reader response or feedback so far on It Never Was You, and especially from readers, like myself, who fell in love with Part One, Pegasus Falling?

There have been so many readers waiting patiently for part two of the trilogy, and it’s so exciting to finally be able to let them read it! It’s still very early days, but the readers and reviewers I have spoken to have all been magnanimous and universal in their praise.

It’s a relief, because I had many questions as to how readers would react to the second book. Would they be disappointed that the action doesn’t continue straight on from Pegasus Falling? Would they like the new characters, Harry and Mary? Would they like the new setting? The storyline? Or the ending?

But I needn’t have worried, because without exception, everyone has loved the new book. Some have even gone as far as saying that they enjoyed it more than the first part!

Unlike many other series, you can read and enjoy It Never Was You without having read Pegasus Falling first, although I would recommend doing so, as you’ll get more out of it, I think. But it does mean that you can jump in to the trilogy with either book, which is great.

Finally, what do you have in store for the readers with Part Three of the trilogy?

Part three will pick up the action where It Never Was You left off, albeit several years later. Whereas the first two parts of the trilogy explore aspects of the war and how it affected the lives of everyday people, part three moves on to the middle part of the twentieth century. We explore the cold war, the social, political and economic changes which were a direct consequence of the war and continued to rumble on for decades afterwards.

The action moves to London and Germany, and we discover how Harry comes to settle down into the comfortable life of a businessman and starts a family. Slowly, but surely, the questions posed by his grieving family at the prologue of It Never Was You are answered, and all the pieces of the puzzle finally come together.

What I can promise is that if you enjoyed the first two parts of the story, you’ll love the final instalment.

Do you have any projections right now for Part Three’s probable release date?

I’ve got a funny feeling that I’m going to have a lot of readers on my back begging me to release Part Three, and it is my intention to get it released as soon as possible. I’m hoping to release it by the end of this year, but at the moment I can’t make any promises. This is, after all, a part time project, and I am not prepared to rush the job. I’d rather wait and make sure the book is up to the same high standards I set for parts one and two, and I’m sure readers will appreciate that sentiment.

But having said that, I’m just as impatient to finish the trilogy as the readers are, so it won’t be too long a wait, I assure you!

This has been a labour of love for me over the past 5 years, and it will be quite a feeling of accomplishment when the trilogy is finally finished. From then on, it will be in readers’ hands what happens next. I believe the books are worthy of great success, and I’d love to give him the opportunity to achieve that success that his illness took away from him.

Connect with Mike and the Cypress Branches trilogy online:

Twitter: @CypressBranches

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CypressBranches

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/129cxiu

Amazon Author page: http://amzn.to/15TL4sD

Pegasus Falling and It Never Was You are both available to buy in paperback and ebook now!

Where to buy Pegasus Falling:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/PXbf5X

Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/R4IdCG

B&N Nook: http://bit.ly/Sytq6Y

Kobo: http://bit.ly/PXbf5W

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/PXbf5V

Where to buy It Never Was You:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/12HSoE5

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/11BS6gO

(Other retailers coming soon)

Thank you again, Mike, for being my guest today on One Vintage Heart and for the awesome interview about your new release!

Happy Reading,

Juliette

 

Posted in May Blog | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

One Vintage Heart Welcomes “A Heart at Home” Author Sara Barnard

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Juliette Hill

A Clue for Adrianna (Captain’s Point Stories) a romantic women’s fiction novel written by Annie Acorn and Juliette Hill writing as Charlotte Kent

Also available in the UK and on NOOK!

Featured today is Author Sara Barnard!  Learn more about A Heart at Home, Book Three in her “An Everlasting Heart” Series.

A Heart at Home

Book Three in An Everlasting Heart Series

Sara Barnard

Available from 5 Prince Publishing www.5princebooks.com  books@5princebooks.com

Genre: FICTION / Romance / Historical

Release Date:

Digital ISBN: 10:193921744X  ISBN:13:978-1-939217-44-8

Print ISBN 13: 978-1-939217-45-5  ISBN 10:1-939217-45-8

Purchase link : www.5princebooks.com/buy.htm

A Heart at Home:

Can a love already tested to the limit survive on the trail to the wilds of California to their new home?  After bidding farewell to her despondent family, newly-pregnant Charlotte drops everything to follow Sanderson to a promised job out west. The journey proves more difficult than any of them could have ever imagined. Wild animals, natural disasters, and a heavy Indian presence test not only Sanderson and Charlotte’s strength and endurance, but their faith in each other as well. Meanwhile, Minerva packs up the little rock cottage to journey west in the company of infant Jay Jay and Cotton just as peace Sanderson is trying to bridge between the Army and the Snake River Indians begins to fall apart.

About Sara Barnard:

Sara Barnard is a mother of four beautiful children and author of the children’s nonfiction book THE ABC’S OF OKLAHOMA PLANTS and the historical romance series AN EVERLASTING HEART. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, hiking with her family, or tackling the ever-growing pile of laundry produced by her family of six! Sara holds her B.A. in history and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Fish and Wildlife Management. Along with their four children, Sara’s family consists of a plethora of rescue animals, each with a story of their own. Sara and her family currently make their home in the beautiful, historic hills of Oklahoma.

Where to find Sara:

Web Site: www.sarabarnardbooks.com

facebook.com/sarabarnardbooks

Twitter: @TheSaraBarnard

Email: sarathreesuns@gmail.com

Excerpt from A Heart at Home:

“Shall we ride into town and say goodbye to George and Cotton, Charlotte?” Sanderson’s honey-sweet voice was thick in the early summer air. The sun had just begun to peek over the eastern horizon, tinting the sky a soft baby pink.

Morning had always been Charlotte’s favorite time of day, when everything was new and the pace was slow and sleepy. It was as if they all had another chance, a fresh start, the gift of a new day. Back during the War Between the States, when Sanderson was gone and nothing made sense, she would sit out in front of the little sod-roofed house she had shared with her father. There she could just be, with her steaming cup of coffee, one with the night birds in the darkness as the sun prepared to make its daily climb into the sky. But today was different.

She and Sanderson had taken their coffee in haste while packing their belongings for the long, overland journey that lay between them and California Territory. Jerry Thomas was already outside. It was no secret that he wished Minerva, her sister-in-law, and baby Jackson Junior, would come with them. Well, with him.

“Yes, I can’t leave without seeing Pa.” She glanced at Achilles, who Jerry had saddled. The old Gray stood swishing his tail absent-mindedly as Charlotte shouldered her bedroll. The adventure that awaited them on the long trail between Arkansas and California, where the job of Indian Agent was promised to Sanderson, was all consuming. Well, almost. “And I am sure going to miss Cotton.”

Just the thought of the bright, gapped-tooth grin of her former-student-turned-adoptive-brother and his sunny disposition was enough to dampen her resolve to head west. The adventuresome spark that had flared moments before flickered as the thin, sallow face of her Pa and the bronzed, shining one belonging to Cotton flashed through her mind. The bedroll that had seemed so light suddenly felt as though it contained lead bricks. She eased it to the ground, casting a glance back at her rock house.

The sign Cotton and George had made in secret, while building the house for them as a wedding present, caught her eye. S.C. REDDING     Q. “Q was Cotton’s favorite letter.”

Emotion surged from the depths of Charlotte’s soul. “Don’t know if I can leave them, Sanderson.”

She didn’t realize she was trembling until her beloved’s hand fell gently on her shoulder, drawing her watery gaze from their first home to him. He was still handsome, he always would be, but in a more aged way since escaping from prison. Sparkles from the sunrise accented the brown flecks in his hazel eyes. A slow smile spread wide across his full lips, revealing those dimples that made her knees turn to water and her stomach turn up in knots. Everything will be alright, it seemed to promise, cloaking her fears in warmth. As long as we’re together, everything will be alright. Achilles nickered, breaking Charlotte from her trance.

“It’s not set in stone, Charlotte. We can stay.” A chilled summer breeze tousled his hair, swirling the thick, sandy locks this way and that. “I can find work around here…” Sanderson’s words trailed off as he tried to hide the hopeless note in his voice. He averted his eyes, focusing on Charlotte’s ear instead of her face. “I’m sure there’s plenty, what with most of the guys heading west with gold fever.”

Charlotte felt her shoulders rise and fall. Altrose had survived the war only to become little more than a ghost town as the south struggled to thrive as an integral part of the United States of America. Apparently, the promise of adventure and riches west of the Rockies proved more suitable a venture than staying to work in disgrace amongst the haughty carpetbaggers. Most of the shops along Main Street had closed, their boarded-up windows all boasting the same selfish farewell on splintery boards: GONE WEST FOR GOLD. The stage had taken to running only three times a week instead of everyday. Even then, it seemed to carry more and more of Altrose’s citizens away and never brought them back.

“Let’s go on and go if we’re going,” Charlotte whispered. Minerva’s soft sobs tore at her tender heart. “No use forcing them to keep saying goodbye.”

Her sister-in-law’s face was pressed on Jerry’s shoulder, his arm draped loosely around her. Tearstains soaked the fabric of his shirt in a giant halo around Minerva’s face. Charlotte knew the pain she was feeling. She had felt it at every one of Sanderson’s many impromptu absences during their courtship and marriage. How odd it was not to be feeling the old, familiar sadness herself, not to be the woman ripped from the promise of happiness in her beloved’s arms. I wish she’d come with us, her and Jay Jay. We’re family…

Before Charlotte could utter those very words, Minerva straightened her back and shrugged Jerry’s arm from around her.

“Perhaps I will—” She wiped her purple velvet housecoat sleeve across her nose. “Perhaps after.” Charlotte watched Minerva’s eyes glisten as she searched her English vocabulary for the very words that wouldn’t hurt Jerry Thomas while, at the same time, would explain her heart. Words they all wanted to hear.

Jerry held a finger to her lips. His chestnut eyes gazed into Minerva’s. Neither pain nor suspicion clouded them. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, Minerva Dika Glasgus.” His thumb trailed lightly across her cheek. “I know a thing or two about women, and I understand that you need that paper from Dr. Jernigan. Life has dealt you many blows, and none of us are certain of the future. Should we marry—”

Minerva’s cream complexion deepened until it was scarlet. “Go on.”

Jerry’s lips twisted into a seductive smile. Charlotte felt her own insides quake at the intensity of the moment.

“Should we marry and tragedy strike, you need to be able to make it in a white man’s world and provide for yourself and Jay Jay…and whoever else may have come along at that point.”

Minerva clasped both of her hands over his, holding them to her lips as the tears—no doubt, welcome ones—ran in rivulets down her cheeks. “Thank God, you understand.” Her voice was breathy.

“I’ll be in California, Camp Bidwell. Send word when you have your paper in hand, and I’ll send the funds for your travel.”

Minerva nodded, her eyes squeezed shut. Charlotte’s hand tightened around Sanderson’s.

“I love you, Minerva.”

Minerva’s sobs came harder, faster. She nodded, sending the tendrils of soft, inky hair flouncing about their hands. “I love you, Jerry.”

He kissed their hands. “Just promise me one thing.”

With a lone sniffle, Minerva sobered. Charlotte knew in her soul that Minerva didn’t have any more promises to give, what with having herself and baby Jay Jay to care for. “A promise?”

“Promise me that you won’t even consider coming west until you have that paper in your hand.” He kissed their hands again. “Promise?”

Minerva exhaled. “Promise.”

Jerry mounted his horse with the special saddle. She laid her hand on his wooden leg. The tears of love, relief, and understanding shimmered in tiny pools on her pockmarked face.

“No more tears,” Jerry instructed, cupping Minerva’s chin in a hand. “Now, give me a smile and go on inside so you don’t have to see us leave.”

After allowing a smile to tease her lips, Minerva scooped up Jay Jay and turned to comply. As she neared where Charlotte and Sanderson stood, she turned back to Jerry.

Jerry waved her unspoken words away with a smile. “Not a moment before.”

Minerva nodded in agreement before turning back to Charlotte.

Jerry’s voice broke through the quiet. “Hey, Minerva.”

Ever silent, she turned back to face him, Jay Jay balanced on her hip in all his three-month-old glory. Her voice box useless, she could only stare at the man who smiled at her so sweetly from atop the horse.

A distant roll of thunder sent a shudder down Charlotte’s spine.

“I love you, Minerva.” With a mischievous wink, Jerry turned and galloped off towards town.

Minerva sniffled again and shifted Jay Jay from one hip to the other. “He said if I wanted a rock cottage like this of my own, then he will make me one out west.”

Charlotte extended an arm to her sister-in-law. “You can have this one as long as you are of a mind to stay, Minerva,” she whispered.

“I know,” Minerva said, giving Charlotte a little squeeze. “I will watch over your home as though it were my own. When I get my paper, I will come.”

“We—your family—will be there waiting for you and baby Jay.”

With a smile and quick flick of her housedress, Minerva disappeared into the house. Charlotte thought she heard a sob resonate from one of the open windows.

“There, got it,” Sanderson exclaimed as he heaved the giant board upon his shoulder. He carried it to the wagon and stuck it over a wheel. S C REDDING     Q. “Now we can take a little bit of home with us wherever we go.”

Happy Reading!

Juliette

 

Posted in April Blog | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Have No Shame” Author Melissa Foster Visits One Vintage Heart

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Juliette Hill

A Clue for Adrianna (Captain’s Point Stories) a romantic women’s fiction novel written by Annie Acorn and Juliette Hill writing as Charlotte Kent

Also available in the UK and on NOOK!

“HAVE NO SHAME” IS MELISSA FOSTER’S NEWEST RELEASE!  I’M PLEASED TO PROVIDE THIS FEATURE TODAY ON MY BLOG!

HAVE NO SHAME When civil rights and forbidden love collide

“This book will resonate with readers who enjoyed Kathryn Stockett’s, THE HELP, Julie Kibler’s, CALLING ME HOME, John Grisham’s, A TIME TO KILL, Sue Monk Kidd’s, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES, and Kathleen Grissom’s, THE KITCHEN HOUSE.”

Buy it Now on Amazon: http://amzn.to/16TaOSZ

Buy it Now on B&N: http://bit.ly/12WGCYD

 

 “Within moments of starting to read, you will be transported back to the Arkansas of 1967 – hot, dusty, utterly rural and edgy. Poor white farmers dependent upon cheap black labor who, due to their superior numbers, are constantly suppressed, living on the wrong side of town, ghettoised and terrified. You will remember scenes from `In the Heat of the Night’ and `Easy Rider’; you will remember that, less than fifty years ago, if you were black, you could be beaten for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And if you died at the hands of a white youth, justice would almost certainly be denied you.” Author Roderick Craig Low

SUMMARY

Alison Tillman has called Forrest Town, Arkansas home for the past eighteen years. Her mother’s Blue Bonnet meetings, her father toiling night and day on the family farm, and the division of life between the whites and the blacks are all Alison knows. The winter of 1967, just a few months before marrying her high school sweetheart, Alison finds the body of a black man floating in the river, and she begins to view her existence with new perspective. The oppression and hate of the south, the ugliness she once was able to avert her eyes from, now demands her attention.

When a secretive friendship with a young black man takes an unexpected romantic turn, Alison is forced to choose between her predetermined future, and the dangerous path that her heart yearns for.

****

“A gripping and poignant novel dealing with a subject once taboo in American society.” Hagerstown Magazine

“Have No Shame is a powerful testimony to love and the progressive, logical evolution of social consciousness, with an outcome that readers will find engrossing, unexpected, and ultimately eye-opening.” Midwest Book Review

“A historical novel of love and its triumph, told with a unique and compelling voice.” Bestselling Author Kathleen Shoop

“Have No Shame is a delightful eye opener and a rather poignant book that everyone everywhere should put on their must-read list.” Readers’ Favorite

“A dynamic and heartwarming tale of young love, giving testament to those who struggled so we can live in an integrated society.” Author Rachelle Ayala

“[HAVE NO SHAME] Perfectly catches the South at the dawning of the Civil Rights Movement. Melissa Foster takes us on an adventure that twists and turns unpredictably to a tense climax that renders this novel a true page-turner. This is undoubtedly the best novel I have read in a long time.”  Roderick Craig Low, Author of ‘Promises of Love and Good Behaviour’

“This book is not just a story; it’s an experience.” Author G.E. Johnson

Buy HAVE NO SHAME on Amazon: http://amzn.to/16TaOSZ
Buy HAVE NO SHAME on B&N: http://bit.ly/12WGCYD

 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Melissa Foster

Melissa Foster is the award-winning author of four International bestselling novels. Her books have been recommended by USA Today’s book blog, Hagerstown Magazine, The Patriot, and several other print venues. She is the founder of the Women’s Nest, a social and support community for women, the World Literary Café. When she’s not writing, Melissa helps authors navigate the publishing industry through her author training programs on Fostering Success. Melissa is also a community builder for the Alliance for Independent Authors. She has been published in Calgary’s Child Magazine, the Huffington Post, and Women Business Owners magazine.

Melissa hosts an annual Aspiring Authors contest for children and has painted and donated several murals to The Hospital for Sick Children in Washington, DC. Melissa lives in Maryland with her family.

Visit Melissa on The Women’s Nest, Fostering Success, or World Lit Cafe. Melissa enjoys discussing her books with book clubs and reader groups, and welcomes an invitation to your event.

Awards

Megan’s Way
2011 Beach Book Award Winner (Spirituality)
2011 Readers Favorite Awards, Winner (Fiction/Drama), Finalist (Women’s Fiction)
2010 Next Generation Indie Book Award, Finalist (Spirituality)
2011 New England Book Festival, Honorable Mention (Spirituality)

Chasing Amanda

2011 Readers Favorite Awards, Winner (Paranormal), Finalist, (Women’s Fiction, Mystery)
2011 Dan Poynter’s Global eBook Awards, Winner, (Paranormal)
Top 10 Books of 2011, Pixel of Ink
Amazon Top 100 75+ Days running
Indie Reader’s Bestselling List That Counts (8 weeks)
Top Books of 2011, The Write Agenda

Come Back To Me

2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Finalist,

2012 Readers Favorite Awards, Finalist

2012 Kindle Book Review Best Indie Books Award, Finalist

2011 Dan Poynter’s Global Ebook Awards, Finalist

Top 5 Must Read Books of 2011, IndieReader
Top Ten Books of 2011, Tea Time With Marce
IndieReader Best Reviewed Books of 2011, Huffington Post

Website: http://www.MelissaFoster.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Melissa-Foster/240064542695303

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Melissa_Foster

The Women’s Nest, women’s social network: http://www.TheWomensNest.com

World Literary Café: http://www.worldliterarycafe.com

Fostering Success: http://www.fostering-success.com

Facebook Melissa Foster: http://www.facebook.com/MelissaFosterAuthor (Fanpage)

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3023973.Melissa_Foster

Thanks so much to Melissa Foster for this incredible guest post and the opportunity to learn more about Have No Shame, her latest release.  You won’t want to miss reading this powerful story!

Happy Reading!

Juliette Hill

Posted in April Blog | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Interview with Annie Acorn, Co-author and editor of “A Clue for Adrianna”

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Juliette Hill

A Clue for Adrianna (Captain’s Point Stories) a romantic women’s fiction novel written by Annie Acorn and Juliette Hill writing as Charlotte Kent

Also available in the UK and on NOOK!

As many of my readers, Twitter followers and Facebook friends know, I have been working with the fabulous and talented Annie Acorn on a collaborative effort, creating a new Contemporary Romance Women’s Fiction series of novels under our joint pseudonym of Charlotte Kent.

The first in our Captain’s Point Stories series, A Clue for Adrianna was just released.  The second book in the series, following close behind, has a projected release date of August 1, 2013.  Annie and I have set out to create an enriching environment and inspiring cast of character that will entertain, enlighten and inspire our readers to grab hold of life’s opportunities, work out life’s challenges and struggles, and enjoy falling in love!

I appreciate the opportunity given to me through this collaboration to stretch my abilities as a writer and work with one of my true role models in the field, Annie Acorn.  I’ve learned so much during this process that will enrich my future individual literary works as well as provide meaningful creative contributions and editorial talents going forward!  Thank you, Annie for this chance of a lifetime.

Today, I have a special surprise!  Finally, Annie Acorn has agreed to a rare interview.  We’re all in for an enlightening treat!

Question #1:  We were able to write and edit A Clue for Adrianna, the first novel in our Captain’s Point Stories series in the contemporary romantic fiction genre in approximately 90 days.  Besides churning out sometimes thousands of words a day, what do you feel was the secret to accomplishing such an ambitious goal?

Annie Acorn:  It isn’t only the number of words we produced each day that led us to accomplishing such a goal–the key to writing a good novel, which was our goal, is saying what you intend to say in a way that will be entertaining and helpful to the reader, if they should chose to learn from the experience of the characters presented.

I am personally proud of what came out of our daily collaboration, during which we continually reminded ourselves who these characters were, what their lives were like, what their hopes and dreams were and their baggage (or what they as individuals had to overcome) in order to become the best they could be.

We put ourselves in the position of our characters to truly understand their actions and individual growth.

Question #2:  Did you ever experience writer’s block while we were working on A Clue for Adrianna or while you were writing any of your prior literary works?  If so, how did you deal with this issue?

Annie Acorn:  I can honestly say that I have never experienced writers’ block.  Scenes will come to me unexpectedly like a gift but when writing a daily quota, what I do is reread the previous scene and ask which one of the characters would take the next step, or who might show up at the door–that sort of thing.

Question #3: How did you find the experience of our collaboration on such a large undertaking like A Clue for Adrianna?

Annie Acorn:  I have always had an overactive imagination and obviously you do, too, Juliette.  Every time I thought I had a story line, you brought just as much to the table.  By bringing our creative perspectives together in the book, we produced vastly better material than we could have on our own.

Saying that, there were three things that I found during my experience: (1) knowing I was checking in with you each day kept me writing; (2) having daily collaboration discussions helped me focus on characters’ motivations, dreams and goals; and (3) I often saw your role, Juliette, in collaborating as keeping me on track–true to the characters by insisting that a character had to do something or not do something.

Question #4:  How did you approach this undertaking, given that this novel is the first in the Captain’s Point Stories (romance) series, compared to any of your previous works such as your highly successful Chocolate Can Kill, the first in the Emily Harris Cozy Mystery series?

Annie Acorn:  First, in a mystery series, the author is constantly looking to move the sleuth from one environment or group of people to another so that the reader has a fresh suspect or set of suspects to chose from.  With a romance series, a writer wants to set up an environment and a broad group of strong characters that the reader will want follow as they move forward together in the series.

When writing a mystery, one usually wants to limit the number of characters to between 12 and 15.  While in an ongoing romance series, the more characters that are casually introduced the better, without confusing the reader.

Question #5:  What if any, surprises or unexpected challenges did you encounter during our collaborative effort?

Annie Acorn:  I was surprised by how much fun that it was!  At the start, I had carried around a setting for a series for 30 years–a young woman that inherits a large money pit property in a small town who meets a cast of characters who change, broaden and enrich each others lives.  On Jan. 10, 2013,  I had no plot, no characters, no message beyond the single woman and the house.  In point of fact, the town of Captain’s Point is small but the house is not at all what I had envisioned nor is the character of Adrianna.  After we started, Adrianna took on a life of her own.  When she became defined, she dictated how we would move forward imagining the people around her and who might be thrown in her path that we could draw upon for the story.

The second surprise would be how much fun it could be to write collaboratively with another author who’s voice and vision are so similar.  I found it stimulating working with another accomplished author such as yourself, Juliette.  Our brainstorming sessions were amazing.

Question #6:  Working with you on this endeavor has been a dream-come-true for me and I have learned so much about completing a full-length novel.  What would you say is the greatest lesson that you’ve learned from this experience?

Annie Acorn:  Having written for more decades than I care to reveal, after all, Annie Acorn writes blog posts as– A Tired Older Woman… , it was wonderful to reaffirm that you’re never too old to take on a new challenge and stretch your talents such that they may be.

Second lesson:  Annie Acorn really does need 8 hours sleep a night rather than 4!

Question #7:  Was there anything about the collaborative approach to writing this novel that has surprised you?

Annie Acorn:  At times, A Clue… poured out of me!  So many words wanted to come out that it would have been physically painful not to put pen to paper.

For days on end, I would go to bed, only to wake up three hours later having to complete one or two chapters that were ready to be borne.  Being A Tired Older Woman… this took its toll–flipping my days and nights, forgetting to eat–a slave to my words.  At the end of the day, reading A Clue for Adrianna–it was all worth it!

Question #8:  Since A Clue for Adrianna is your first novel which would be categorized primarily as a romance, what have you found to be the most appealing aspect of working in this genre?

Annie Acorn:  Having the opportunity to fall in love again.  I have occasionally on my blog annieacorn.com mentioned that I’ve been a widow for almost 20 years, writing this story of two, three-dimensional true to life young professionals, whose paths have met at a crucial time during which they fall in love, has allowed me to relive the time when I fell in love and married my soul mate.

We set out to write a romance and what we wrote was a romantic women’s fiction novel taking our work way beyond our initial expectations.  Our characters are so strong!

Question #9:  Which writers would you say have influenced your career?

Annie Acorn:  All my life, I have been a voracious reader so the list would be very long to be complete.  The authors who are among my favorites, and the ones I reread over and over again are:

(1) Jane Austen; (2) Agatha Christie; (3) Georgette Heyer; (4) Dorothy Sayers; (5) Margery Allingham; (6) Frances Burnett; (7) Debbie Macomber; (8) Deborah Crombie; (9) Madeleine L’engle; (10) Noel Coward; and (11) Oscar Wilde

These are authors who consistently produce works of such quality and diversity.

Question #10:  What do Charlotte Kent’s readers have in store for them in the near future?

Annie Acorn: Lots of fun and romance!  A Man for Susan, the second novel in our series has a projected launch date of August 1st!  Substantial writing has been completed on this work.  At the moment, we have five books in the works with others to come.  Romance and humor consistently flow through all five books as do a strong cast of characters experiencing and learning from life surrounded by friends and family at Captain’s Point.

Thank you so much, Annie, for spending this time with us and sharing your personal experiences, so that our readers and fellow authors have a better understanding of what motivates and influences you as a writer, as well as insights into our new collaborative undertaking, the Captain’s Point Stories series!

For more information about Author Annie Acorn or her blog  visit her website at:

http://annieacorn.com/

Twitter: @Annie_Acorn or @CharlotteKent20

Facebook: Annie Acorn

e-mail:  annieacorn11@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

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Old Friends are Like Good Books!

Posted on April 8, 2013 by Juliette Hill

A Clue for Adrianna (Captain’s Point Stories) by Charlotte Kent

Also available in the UK and on NOOK!

A Clue for Adrianna  by Charlotte Kent (pseudonym used by Annie Acorn and Juliette Hill for their Captain’s Point Story series)  Coming Soon!

Recently, I have reconnected with one of my oldest and dearest friends that I grew up with, went all through school with (elementary through high school), and even kept in touch for years after that.  Inevitably life happens and we haven’t seen each other for at least twenty years.  But now, thanks to our wonderful high school class president and a dynamite class website, we have connected once again!  In a couple of weeks, she and I, along with a few other classmates and friends are planning a get-together to renew our friendships.

For me, old friends or friendships are like reader’s relationships with good books!   They are cherished when new, preserved through the years, and even when resting on a treasured book shelf for a time, one can years later select a favorite work from its designated spot and once again relish the story inside and the special bonds created by the author’s carefully chosen words.

The books of my youth still hold a special place in my heart!   Treasured classics like Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby are just a few that come to mind.  I can read and re-read these works over and over again, even years apart, and still feel the comfort and joy of an old friend.  No matter how old I get, I will always cherish Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie which was one of the first books of my own that I received as a gift from my parents.

As a writer and newly published author, I hope that my short stories, novellas and novels will be enjoyed and treasured much like wonderful friendships which stand the test of time.  My hope is that each year that passes will only strengthen the bonds that I’m forging with my readers and that like old friendships, my works might someday be out of sight, but never out of mind.

Happy Reading!

Juliette

Pink Lemonade Diary (Pink Lemonade Memories) by Juliette Hill

Also available in paperback, in the UK and for NOOK!

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Meet Consuelo Roland — Guest Author Interview

Posted on March 3, 2013 by Juliette Hill

Pink Lemonade Diary (Pink Lemonade Memories) by Juliette Hill

Also available on NOOK and in the UK!

TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF YOU’VE NEVER TOLD ANYONE:

I once kissed a total stranger on an empty night train making its way out of Frankfurt. He asked me to go to Paris with him for the weekend and I refused.  I’ve always wondered what would have happened if I’d said yes.

WHO’S ON THE COVER AND WHY IS SHE IN SUCH TROUBLE?

The perfect life… Or a beautiful lie? Forced to hunt down Lady Limbo, the ghost of a youthful love affair that ended in betrayal, Paola Dante risks everything and learns to trust no one in a race to find her missing husband. Lady Limbo leads her into dark territory she never knew existed, where she must question all she knows. What if the great love of your life committed the perfect crime?

GIVE US THE 140-CHARACTER STORY PITCH:

Here today, gone tomorrow. Paola Dante’s husband has disappeared. All she has is the Limbo files.  7 women 7 files. Which one is Lady Limbo?

YOUR CHARACTER, PAOLA DANTE, HAS TO COVER SEVERAL DIFFERENT ANGLES; FROM CAREER WOMAN TO COOL SEDUCTRESS TO RELUCTANT CHILD PROTECTOR. YOU’RE ITALIAN AND YOU’VE WORKED IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS. IS SHE MODELED ON YOURSELF?

Not at all. Paola knows how to stay one step ahead in the combat zone of corporate meetings; she treats bullying shark tactics with the disdain they deserve. On a personal level she is sassy, witty and smart  – this frightening mix of self-control and social maturity is totally unlike me. But of course there’s a very human side to her. Sometimes it makes sense to work with background knowledge you already have. I could just let her develop organically without too much over-thought.

IT’S AN UNUSUAL PREMISE FOR A PLOT; AN ORGANISATION THAT HIRES MEN OUT FOR COPULATION? DOES SUCH AN ORGANISATION EXIST? WHO IS YOUR SOURCE?

My  source is a ground hostess who told my mother a very sexy naughty story one long night at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Her name is forever lost in the torrential downpour of that stormy night. Real Man International (aka RMI) is an invented name, but the organisation exists; it’s details reside in a ground hostess’s little black book. It was fun to turn things around and evoke a world where men are  paid ridiculous stud fees to be at the beck and call of wilful women who can afford to be extravagant. Occasionally a perfectly ordinary independently-minded woman – such as  a ground hostess – will use their services.

ISN’T THE WHOLE IDEA OF A VIRGIN AUCTION ON THE INTERNET A BIT IMPROBABLE? IT’S A COMPELLING AND ORIGINAL STORY IDEA BUT DO SUCH THINGS ACTUALLY HAPPEN IN REAL LIFE?

A good thriller chills our blood, readying us for a mesmerising journey through the glowing portals of hell. Lady Limbo transports us into a parallel reality where humanity’s worst instincts are at play. The “dark web” (an invisible black hole of untraceable activity) is estimated to be an incredible 15 times larger than the web we know, with more than 900 billion pages. It is a world where the illegal is openly available, providing a hidden shop window for criminal gangs and sexual predators. On the dark web innocence is traded like any other commodity.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LADY LIMBO?

I love that it’s a thoroughly twenty-first century story full of enigmatic twists and turns. Just when you think the story is going one way then it suddenly gets even more interesting and ups the ante. The shocks and surprises keep on coming at the character like she’s in a shooting arcade, dodging a hidden shooter in a world of seduction and darkness. Paola has to think on her feet all the time, or the truth will find her before she finds the truth.

Stellalinkbooks (Joni Rodgers); Youtube Review of Lady Limbo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGp2dBYQRyg

Joni L. Rodgers; Amazon Review of Lady Limbo: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Limbo-ebook/product-reviews/B009N36A5Y

http://bit.ly/KillerThrillers

Christmas Shoppe Magic (Juliette Hill’s Christmas Shorts) by Juliette Hill

Also available on NOOK and in the UK!

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Coincidence or Conspiracy? Guest Post by Author Claude Bouchard

Posted on March 2, 2013 by Juliette Hill

Pink Lemonade Diary (Pink Lemonade Memories) by Juliette Hill

Also available on NOOK and in the UK!

Coincidence or Conspiracy?

I’ve always been a stickler for accuracy in details and this certainly applies when I write. A realist by nature, even though I deal in fiction, if it exists, I don’t make it up. If it can’t be done, don’t expect any of my characters to do it. That said, roughly six months ago, while working on the seventh thriller of my Vigilante series entitled Femme Fatale, I wrote the following sentence:

The Boeing 777-300 came to a halt at Gate B59 of Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport’s Terminal 2A at 8:14 a.m. and Air Canada flight AC870 had arrived, sixteen minutes ahead of schedule.

The flight referred to in that sentence exists and the plane is really that particular model. Even the gate and terminal information are accurate. The sixteen minute thing, I made up just for fun.

By now, some of you are probably saying, “Whoop-Dee-Do. What’s your point?” To that, I say, “Hang on a second. That wasn’t the weird part. It’s coming. Chill.” Moving along…

About two months ago, friends from Australia informed me they would be vacationing in Vietnam come spring and suggested we might do the same and hook up with them. My wife and I found this to be a terrific idea and started looking into flight possibilities. From past experience, I knew that flights to Asia from Montreal generally involve connecting in NYC, Chicago or Vancouver then heading west for twelve to fourteen hours over the Pacific. The weird part is getting closer.

After looking at possible flights, effectively going through Vancouver to either Seoul or Tokyo then on to Hanoi, we decided to contact a travel agent to see what she could come up with in terms of flight plans and price. To our surprise, the agent proposed heading east, connecting with our flight to Vietnam in Europe. Flying time would be about the same but we would be waiting a lot less between flights and leaving home a half day later. The price was the same so we went ahead and booked our trip. Now for the weird part…

Recently, while working through a final edit run of Femme Fatale before its release in March, I came upon the above-mentioned sentence and felt a sudden chill… I realized my wife and I would be on Air Canada flight AC870 to Paris in May, on our way to Vietnam…

Coincidence or conspiracy? I’m going for coincidence for now, but when I get on that plane, if I see a gorgeous redhead in a second row Executive First Suite, I’m going to freak…

http://bit.ly/KillerThrillers

~ ~ ~ ~

 About Author Claude Bouchard: I was born in Montreal, Canada, where I still reside with my spouse, Joanne. I completed my studies in human resources, accounting and management at McGill University and worked in various management capacities in the fields of HR and finance for a handful of firms for what seemed like decades, because it was. I should also mention I love pizza, but who doesn’t and, in my opinion, nothing rocks more than cooking on the grill.

My first stab at writing was in 1995, the result being my first novel, Vigilante. This was subsequently followed by The Consultant (1996) and Mind Games (1997), all of the same series. Professional obligations and other creative interests led me away from writing for a number of years but I found myself busy at the keyboard in 2009 with The Homeless Killer after having finally published my first three novels. I then followed up with 6 Hours 42 Minutes in 2011, also part of the Vigilante series born from Vigilante. In July 2011, I released ASYLUM, my first stand-alone novel and Discreet Activities, my sixth Vigilante crime thriller was published in January 2012. In October 2012, I penned and released Something’s Cooking, a faux-erotica parody and cookbook under the pseudonyms Réal E. Hotte and Dasha Sugah. I think I’m really starting to like this writing thing. My eighth novel and seventh installment of the Vigilante series, Femme Fatale, has just been released.

Besides writing, editing and promoting my work, I also spend some artistic energy with my five guitars, oil paints and watercolours. Other passions include cooking (big time with fine wine to go with it, of course), reading, traveling and working out just enough to stay fit. It should also be noted that following several years of practice, I now excel at being cat furniture for Krystalle and Midnight, or so they tell me.

 Drop by for a visit anytime at http://www.claudebouchardbooks.com

Christmas Shoppe Magic (Juliette Hill’s Christmas Shorts) by Juliette Hill

Also available on NOOK and in the UK!

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“It Never Was You” Guest Blog — Mike Harris

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Juliette Hill

I am so pleased today to bring you a special guest post from an amazing person and friend, Mike Harris!  After connecting with him last year through an event for the Kindle Book Review’s Best Indie Books contest involving the first volume of his grandfather’s trilogy, Pegasus Falling, I immediately knew this work was something extraordinary.  The story is truly captivating, and I highly recommend reading it!  That’s why I’m so excited that he’s visiting my blog today via his guest post to discuss the upcoming release of the second work in the trilogy, It Never Was You.

I’m pleased to welcome Mike Harris, grandson of author William E. Thomas, and man responsible for the incredible task of getting his grandfather’s saga published in order to share it with readers worldwide!

Welcome, Mike!

When my grandfather, William E. Thomas, wrote his epic saga, The Cypress Branches, he never intended for it to go unread. Indeed, my grandmother, Sheila, was the first person to read his book, being handed the printouts each evening from that day’s labours at the keyboard. She became as besotted with William’s characters as he had. As he tapped away day after day, with the words seemingly streaming from him in an unstoppable flow, she became more and more hungry to find out what happened next.

When he finally finished his book, the printed manuscript made its way around a small group of family and friends, all of whom devoured its pages with the same gusto that Sheila had. It was obvious to all who read it that this was a work which deserved to be read by a wider audience and everyone pushed William to take steps to get it published.

Alas, fate was to get in the way of those plans. As William’s health started to deteriorate, and the cruel effects of Alzheimer’s disease began to rob him of all the things he’d held dear in his life, it became clear that he would not be able to follow that dream of being published himself.

It appeared that this was where the story might end, with only a handful of people having ever read his wonderful book.

But I was determined not to let the story end there. I was lucky enough to have been one of those early readers. Like the others, I too had fallen in love with William’s wonderful characters and had been transported into the emotional world which he had conjured up, drawing from both events in his past and his vivid imagination.

As we watched William become a shadow of his former self, I became determined that he would see his book in print, and took steps to make sure that it would happen.

Pegasus Falling, Part One of the Cypress Branches trilogy, was released as a paperback and ebook last year, and since then it has been garnering nothing but positive reviews from around the world and even becoming a finalist in the Kindle Book Review’s Best Indie Books contest.

What’s more, there’s now a growing legion of readers out there who have read and loved Pegasus Falling and are crying out for the release of part two of the trilogy.

And thankfully, they don’t have too much longer to wait, because Part Two is almost ready to launch. Titled It Never Was You, it follows the heartbreaking story of a middle class merchant seaman and his unexpected rollercoaster relationship with a beautiful, exuberant waitress from the Liverpool docks. Set against the backdrop of World War II and its aftermath, it continues the saga started in Pegasus Falling and packs a lot of emotion, drama and history into its pages.

I can’t wait to get the book into the hands of readers who I know will love it, and I’m extremely excited about my grandfather’s novels reaching an ever wider audience. These books have been published by me, William’s grandson, without the aid of a huge publishing house or publicity machine, so in order to give It Never Was You the launch it deserves, I’ve set up a crowd funding campaign on Indiegogo. In exchange for a contribution to the campaign, backers can choose to receive a “perk” in return. One of the exciting perks of backing this campaign is that you can choose to receive a copy of It Never Was You ahead of its release!

Contribute just £5 (that’s just under $8), and you’ll receive a digital copy of It Never Was You in March, a month before it’s released! Make that contribution £10 (around $16), and you’ll get a paperback copy of the book, again sent to you well ahead of publication.

If you’d like to be one of the first to read It Never Was You, then head on over to the campaign page and make your contribution. Remember to select either the “It Never Was You advance ebook” or “It Never Was You paperback” option from the perks to make sure you get your copy.

If you’re not in a position to contribute directly, but would still like to help, then you can! There are some handy share tools on the campaign page which you can use to help us spread the word on Facebook and Twitter, by email or on your blog. Every post and tweet you can send will help us spread the word about William’s wonderful books even more.

Remember, every penny raised will go towards funding the initial print run of It Never Was You, and helping to get the book into the hands of readers who will love them. If we’re able to raise more than the £500 target, the extra money will go towards finishing the trilogy – something I hope to do before the end of this year.

These really are special books, and deserve to be read by as wide an audience as possible. Can you help make that happen, and help me make William’s dream of publication come true?

I couldn’t make this happen for William without the support of people like you, so thank you, everyone, for helping in whichever way you can.

(P.S. Don’t forget to let me know what you make of the books. I love talking to readers about William’s writing and finding out what they made of it, so feel free to drop me a line on Facebook or Twitter!)

LINKS

CAMPAIGN PAGE: http://igg.me/at/cypressbranches

BLOG: http://acuteanglebooks.blogspot.co.uk

BUY PEGASUS FALLING ON AMAZON: http://amazon.com/dp/B007K8QM8E

FACEBOOK: http://facebook.com/cypressbranches

TWITTER: @cypressbranches

BEST INDIE BOOKS CONTEST (linked to above): http://www.thekindlebookreview.net/2012-contest-winners/

Posted in February Blog | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Networking — Time Well Spent!

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Juliette Hill

Pink Lemonade Diary (Paperback Edition) by Juliette Hill

Also available from Barnes and Noble and in the UK!

This past weekend, I had the amazing opportunity of attending an event that allowed me to network with friends and colleagues, and also make new connections in the field.

I attended a fabulous writers’ symposium sponsored by the Historic Medley District, Inc.  http://www.historicmedley.org/ in Poolesville, Maryland.  Fellow author and friend Melissa Foster was a guest speaker on the subject of self publishing!

I’m so happy to have had the opportunity to meet Melissa and hear her speak in person!  It was a real honor.  I’m also proud to be a member of the World Literary Cafe as well as her Facebook group, Melissa Foster’s Awesome Support Team!, #GoTeamPIF.

I attended with author Beverly J. Crawford and met other fantastic authors like Lisa V. Proulx, Paul A. Stankus and Mary E. Kingsley!  It was such a wonderful opportunity to connect with local writers and learn about their work!

Several of those in attendance had written books about local Montgomery County history.  One of them, Margaret Coleman, has specifically highlighted the history of nearby Barnesville, Maryland and its connection to the Revolutionary War in her books.

I can’t wait to attend another event hosted by the Historic Medley District, Inc.!

Happy Networking!

Juliette

 

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2013 — New Projects, New Promise

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Juliette Hill

Pink Lemonade Diary by Juliette Hill

Paperback also available in Canada, the UK and through Barnes and Noble

E-book available for Kindle and NOOK!

I always enjoy the start of a new year, as it holds a world of possibilities for new projects and new goals for success.  This year in particular, I’m so excited about many prospects for creative writing projects as well as the completion of several that I began in 2012.

This new year, 2013, is getting off to a roaring start!  Many of my reviewers have commented that my stories are enjoyable but end to soon.  Expanding plot lines and developing multi-layered relationships are two aspects of my writing style that I’ll be concentrating on this year.  My intention is to write longer stories that will be even more satisfying to my readers.

I’ve almost completed my newest holiday romance, “Finding Christmas Love,” which embodies these improvements.  This love story revolves around the fate of a family-owned Christmas tree farm which was inspired by my love of the picturesque Vermont country side with it’s quaint towns and villages.

A new project in the works which I’m truly excited about is a collaborative effort with my publisher, Annie Acorn.  We’ll be bringing you a series of Charlotte Kent Romances!  Working with Annie on this is a great honor!  The Eastern Shore of Maryland provides the setting for the first story in the series.

Additionally, I will complete my first mystery/romance, which will possibly become a new series.  The story revolves around the central character, a young widow of a law enforcement professional, who enjoys interior design work and treasure/bargain hunting.  Soon after the death of her husband, she become involved in solving a cold case mystery which leads to adventure and romance.

The Pink Lemonade Memories Series will continue this year!  The second book takes Vicki Gray, her family and her best friend, Jess, on a fun-filled summer cruise as they all celebrate Vicki’s fourteenth birthday!  Vicki’s Great Aunt Mary will have some surprises for the family as the series progresses.  My short story, Two Beaux for Christmas, based on the series, provides a quick glimpse into Vicki’s winter break and holiday adventures with her friends and family.

Also in the works this year is Lilac Drive, a contemporary romance series.   Set in a small beachfront community with one main artery of shoppes and businesses, its owners and visitors providing plenty of inspirational romantic stories and enthralling adventures.

I plan to update, revise and expand some of my readers’ favorite stories of the last year, specifically, The Christmas Spirit of Starlight Cove and Christmas Shoppe Magic.  Each of these included characters that my readers wanted to learn more about.  Revised editions will fill in some back-story providing further insight into their lives!  Additionally, both of these stories have inspired related works, which will take several characters on an extended adventure and project one of them forward to a bright future.

There you have it –a glimpse into what the future holds for me, Juliette Hill!  Thanks to all again for your wonderful support and encouragement in 2012!  I look forward to all of your comments and thoughts on my works in 2013!

Happy Reading!

Juliette

 

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