Taking a Sneak Peek…

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

It’s official – The Wild Rose Press will release A Different Kind of Reunion on Monday, April 23, 2018. In the meantime, I will provide sneak peaks on several days leading up to the release.

In today’s excerpt, protagonist Gilda Greco learns of the tragic death of a former student.

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One missed email. While I couldn’t be one hundred percent certain it was the only one I had ever overlooked, I knew this omission would haunt me. And matters weren’t helped when the cantankerous constable on the telephone said, “If you had read that email, Sarah McHenry might still be alive.”

Leaning back in my recliner, I closed my eyes and tried to recall Sarah’s face. But all I could see were curtains of blond hair or, more precisely, three sets of curtains of blond hair. The Barbies—Mean Barbie, Mellow Barbie, Moody Barbie—came to mind. How I had detested those nicknames and some of the more cruel ones the students tossed about like puffs of cotton candy, oblivious to the pain and potential scarring that could linger for decades and even lifetimes. I spent the first two weeks of my teaching stint calling out the children whenever they used those nicknames and giving detentions to anyone who persisted.

Moody Barbie. That had been Sarah’s moniker. Prone to tears and bouts of the silent treatment, she often retreated into her own world. A budding artist, she would take out her sketch pad and draw whenever she finished her work or needed to separate herself from the others. Had she decided life was much too difficult and retreated even farther? That had been my first thought when Constable Mulligan read the infamous email: We need your help. But the use of the first person, plural pronoun conjured up another meaning, one even more sinister.

Who was in danger? Family members? The Barbies? Other classmates? Why reach out to me after over two decades of silence? And how did she find my workplace email address? All these questions swirled through my mind, and I longed to ask for details. But I didn’t want to anger the grief-stricken constable who was bemoaning the senseless way Sarah had died, alone and exposed to the cool autumn evening. A shocking occurrence, but even more so in Parry Sound.

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The Swan by Mary Oliver

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

This month, I’m sharing my favorite poems by Mary Oliver. Her creativity is stirred by nature, and her poems are filled with imagery from her daily walks near her home. In an interview, she commented. “I go off to my woods, my ponds, my sun-filled harbor, no more than a blue comma on the map of the world but, to me, the emblem of everything.”

The Swan

Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?
Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air –
An armful of white blossoms,
A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned
into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,
Biting the air with its black beak?
Did you hear it, fluting and whistling
A shrill dark music – like the rain pelting the trees – like a waterfall
Knifing down the black ledges?
And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds –
A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet
Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?
And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?
And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?
And have you changed your life?


Spotlight on Can’t Stand the Heat

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m happy to welcome award-winning author Peggy Jaeger. Today, Peggy shares her new release, Can’t Stand the Heat.

Blurb

With three successful TV series under her belt, including her cousin Kandy’s, executive producer Stacy Peters is ready to helm her own show. But to make that happen, she has to do her network boss one favor first—spend two months on a ranch in Montana wrangling the notoriously difficult director of Beef Battles. Apparently, he eats producers for breakfast. Yet all Stacy can think when she meets the lean, rugged man is how hungry he makes her . . .

Dominic Stamp—Nikko to his very few friends—has had enough interference from TV newbies. And when Stacy climbs out of the car in Montana, he’s not convinced she’s even old enough to drive, much less produce his show. But he can’t deny that the long-legged blonde with the stubborn will and the dazzling smile whets his appetite. And as Stacy proves her talent with the crew and the budget alike, Nikko vows to prove to her that love is on the menu for both of them . . .

Excerpt

This couldn’t be the new executive producer.

She looked like an intern, barely out of college, not the seasoned television producer Teddy Davis had emailed him about.

The one he’d emailed back saying he neither wanted nor needed.

Hair the color of champagne fell just below her shoulders in a soft cascade of waves and ripples. Even in the heat and humidity engulfing them it looked fresh. Her face was a perfect heart, a tiny dip in the center of the hairline bifurcating her brow into two perfectly aligned sections, her flawless chin falling into a delicate point. She had one hand out to shake his, the other shading her eyes from the strong and harsh afternoon sun, but underneath her fingers he was able to make out a pair of sloe-shaped eyes in a deep, forest green.

Taller than average but small boned, her legs took up most of the lissome body. With her lips held together in a tight line, she reached him.

“I’m Stacy Peters, Mr. Stamp.”

He stopped and planted his feet, his gaze shifting to her outstretched hand and then back up to her face without taking it. Her eyes narrowed into a determined glare and it looked as if she wasn’t going to back down until he shook it. With reluctance, he did.

Like the rest of her, her fingers were narrow and thin as they coiled around his.

A blast of heat instantly warmed and calmed his entire body like a few shots of his favorite Irish whiskey did after a rough and painful day. The subtle aroma of vanilla floated to him, filling his senses with the sweet fragrance. The persistent, throbbing ache in his left leg the liquor helped chase away was momentarily forgotten with his hand rooted in hers.

Having thoroughly enjoyed the previous two books in the Will Cook for Love series, I looked forward to reading this latest installment. An evening or two with Ms. Jaeger’s delightfully flawed characters and well-plotted storyline can be compared to a perfectly brewed cup of tea. Hot and sweet enough to satisfy the most discerning of tastes. After reading Can’t Stand the Heat, I would go one step further and add a delicious scone to the mix. Ms. Jaeger has surpassed all expectations and presented us with her best work to date.

I was captivated from the start and found myself rooting for both Stacy and Nikko as they struggled with their personal and professional challenges during a two-month television shoot on a hot, sweltering ranch in Montana. A seasoned health professional, Ms. Jaeger includes expert advice on dealing with excruciating pain, eating disorders, and lingering grief. And, with a nod to her foodie self, four mouth-watering recipes.

My only complaint…The series has ended.

Author Bio

Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.

Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.

Tying into her love of families, her children’s book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.

Peggy holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer’s Disease during her time running an Alzheimer’s in-patient care unit during the 1990s.

In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.

In 2017 she came in 3rd in the New England Reader’s Choice contest for A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and was a finalist in the 2017 STILETTO contest for the same title.

A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.

Links

Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/>

Twitter: https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger>

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-jaeger

Giveaway Information and Rafflecopter

One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card.

Enter to win a $50 Amazon/BN GC – a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow Peggy on the rest of her tour. Find out more here.


Spotlight on Linda Tillis

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I”m happy to welcome Wild Rose Press author Linda Tillis. Today, Linda shares her intriguing writing journey and latest release, A Heart for All Time.

Here’s Linda!

Many thanks to Joanne for hosting me today! My writing journey has been short, but I hope to continue to write for many years to come.

It never crossed my mind that one day I might become a published author. I’ve held three jobs in my life. I worked in a sewing factory for eighteen years, and then I went to work for the local police department. I started as a dispatcher, then applied for the position of non-sworn Crime Scene Investigator. I spent the next twenty years becoming old friends with death, mayhem and brutality. I then took a year off to acclimate myself to a “normal” life. During that time. I did some photography and sold a couple of articles, with photos, to the Florida Wildlife Magazine.

I was too young to fully retire, so I went back to work at the local sheriff offices as a 911 dispatcher. When I approached full retirement, my husband thought I should write a book. I thought the poor man was crazy. Imagine my surprise, when I sat at the computer and a book just started pouring out. I found it was easier to re-live some of the awful things I’d seen, if I placed them in a historical context. And the next thing I knew, I was joining a local writers group, signing up for RWA, and sending out synopses!

Since I still have a difficult time thinking of myself as an author, I would only give one piece of advice to anyone considering a career in writing. Do it now! Don’t wait for “someday”. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it is that life is fleeting, at best, and should never be wasted.

Blurb

Sarah Haskins’ last family member died months ago, and since then she’s put in way too much overtime at her job as a 911 dispatcher. Looking forward to a much-needed vacation ad some peace of mind, she has no way of knowing that buying a piece of antique Cherokee Indian jewelry will forever change her life.

When Aaron Kramer wakes on a beautiful August morning in 1890, there is nothing to warn him he is going to be hanged that day—hanged and them saved from death by a very confused woman. Beautiful but not quite right in the head, poor thing, she thinks she’s from the future.

While FBI Agent Frank Kramer investigates Sarah’s disappearance from the present, she must adjust to the farm life of a century earlier—and to the man who makes her skin tingle and her heart beat faster. If she returns to her own time, can she be happy there, longing for the only family she has left?

Excerpt

When she got to that part, she stuck her hand in her shirt, and drew out the rawhide ribbon. She held the piece out for Aaron to see. She was not prepared for what happened next.

Aaron’s eyes widened in shock. His knuckles whitened, as he gripped the edge of the bench. He slowly raised a hand to his throat and removed a rawhide ribbon from his shirt. There, on the end of the leather strip, hung an arrowhead, carved from a piece of Tennessee Paint Rock agate.

“Well, imagine that,” Sarah said sarcastically. “Where did you get yours? No, don’t tell me. Anna gave it to you, right?”

“Just before I left to go to Wilmington.”

Sarah had no words left. The whole set of circumstances was so bizarre; she was beginning to believe they were both crazy.

“Aaron, last night, when I asked you what the date was, you told me the year of our Lord, eighteen ninety, right?”

He still looked pale, when he nodded yes.

“Well, when I fell asleep night-before-last, it was the year of our Lord, two thousand sixteen. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

“Somehow, in a way that neither one of us can explain, I left my home, in my time, and arrived here to save you, in yours. Only one hundred twenty-six years lies somewhere between us.”

buynow

Where to find Linda…

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon


It’s OK to Fall Out of Love

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

We can all recall that magical moment when we typed the last words of our manuscript and lovingly glanced at the neatly piled pages on the desk. Head over heels in love, we could easily visualize literary agents and publishers emailing us within hours of receiving the manuscript.

That is the fantasy.

The reality is very different.

That first draft is never ready for publication. Some manuscripts require major surgeries such as changing POV and adding more sub-plots and characters. Longer manuscripts with over 100K words may need to be pared down. All manuscripts need to be checked for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Continue reading on the Sisterhood of Suspense blog.


Celebrating National Poetry Month

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

On Wednesdays, I share posts, fables, songs, poems, quotations, TEDx Talks, cartoons, and books that have inspired and motivated me on my writing journey. I hope these posts will give writers, artists, and other creatives a mid-week boost.

April is National Poetry Month, a month set aside to celebrate poetry and its vital place in our society. Today, and for the next three Wednesdays, I will be sharing my favorite poems by Mary Oliver. The winner of numerous awards, among them the Pulitzer Prize, she has been described as “far and away, this country’s best-selling poet.”(New York Times).

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice–
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
“Mend my life!”
each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do–
determined to save
the only life you could save.


On Erin Radio 91.7 FM

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Last month, I participated in an interview with Music Director and Producer Phil Taylor on Erin Radio 91.7 FM.

We chatted about my writing journey, cozy mysteries, and paranormal romances. I also shared excerpts from A Season for Killing Blondes, Too Many Women in the Room, and A Different Kind of Reunion.

The interview aired at 10 p.m. on Easter Sunday. You can listen here.

Note: There are two musical breaks during the 30-minute program.


Movie Review: I Can Only Imagine

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’ve always been fascinated with the back story behind creative endeavors—that initial spark, struggles on the journey, and the ultimate success. All three exist, along with stellar acting performances, in this riveting film about the inspiring story behind the most popular Christian music song in history.

The storyline follows the trajectory of MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard from his pre-teen years (played by Brody Rose) through high school and beyond (brilliantly played by Broadway performer J. Michael Finlay).

Growing up in Greenville, Texas, Bart had a tight bond with his gentle mother but steered clear of his angry, abusive father (expertly played by Dennis Quaid). Upon returning home from a week at church camp, Bart discovers that his mother has abandoned him, leaving him alone to suffer the emotional and physical abuse.

Bart attempts to connect with his father—a former high school athlete—through football. Unfortunately, a leg injury derails Bart’s plans. His girlfriend Shannon (Madelaine Carroll) persuades him to join the Glee Club. Everyone—including Bart—is surprised by his singing talent.

Determined to be a success in the music industry, Bart leaves town upon graduation, abandoning his father and girlfriend. He joins a band that needs a singer and tours with them throughout Oklahoma and nearby states. They attract the attention of music producer Brickell (well-played by Trace Adkins). While Brickell isn’t impressed by their cover songs, he does show interest in Bart’s more heartfelt music.

The band is popular and well-received by audiences, but music executives are not ready to take them to the next level. The criticism stings: “You’re not good enough…Go home.”

Distraught, Bart wants to quit, but Brickwell persuades him to address the demons that are holding him back. His advice is spot-on: “Let that pain become your inspiration.”

Planning to confront his father, Bart returns to Greenville. But his anger is short-lived. The paternal monster has evolved into the father that Bart always hoped he would have. Inspired by this spiritual transformation, Bart pens the lyrics to “I Can Only Imagine.”

What follows are tear-jerking moments and the delivery of the song. During the credits, the real-life Bart Millard delivers his rendition of the chart-topping song that has brought hope into the lives of millions.

Definitely a movie for the Easter season. Don’t miss it!


Inspired by Lisa Genova

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Yesterday evening, I attended “An Evening with Lisa Genova” at the central branch of the Kitchener Public Library. This Imagine It Event was well-attended by fans of the best-selling author of Still Alice, Left Neglected, Love Anthony, and Inside the O’Briens. Her latest release, Every Note Played, achieved best-seller status yesterday!

In the armchair conversation with a Kitchener author, Lisa shared her extraordinary writing journey.

Growing up, Lisa had no desire to write. Her lifelong ambition was to become a scientist. Fascinated by the biology of the brain, she earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Harvard and went on to work as a strategy consultant for the health-care industry. She followed a linear path and married her childhood sweetheart and then had a child.

Soon afterward, her marriage started unraveling and eventually ended. Devastated and uncertain how to proceed with her life, she asked herself the following questions: “What do I want to do now? What do I want my life to look like? If I could do anything I wanted to do, what would that be?”

Her answer: Write a book.

Inspired by her grandmother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Lisa started writing Still Alice. She was determined to discover how people like her grandmother felt as their personal history slowly slipped away.

While writing, she also decided to take acting lessons. Her family and friends wondered: “What happened to Lisa?”

Upon completing the novel, Lisa sent out query letters to agents and received “tons of rejections.” She didn’t take these rejections too personally since the agents were only rejecting her queries, not her manuscript. Two of the three agents who read the manuscript turned it down, convinced that no one would want to read about such a depressing topic. The third agent suggested she write non-fiction instead.

Undaunted, Lisa decided to self-publish, ignoring the possible stigma that might be associated with the book. After much persistence and dogged determination (Lisa sold the book out of the trunk of her car), Still Alice garnered a glowing review in the Boston Sunday Globe. Simon and Schuster acquired the book that eventually sold more than 2 million copies and was translated into 37 languages. Julianne Moore received an Oscar for Best Actress in the film version of the book.

The popularity of Still Alice allowed Lisa to write full time.

Each of her books is extensively researched. Well aware that she has two separate audiences—those who know nothing about the diseases and those who have experienced the diseases first-hand—Lisa works hard to ensure that all details are correct.

Lisa interviewed twelve “real” experts—people who are living with ALS—before writing Every Note Played. She was moved by their ability to show their most vulnerable selves. In turn, she allowed herself to be permeable. She also interviewed concert and jazz musicians and took piano lessons.

The novel alternates between two POVs: Richard, the accomplished concert pianist who receives standing ovations from audiences all over the world, and his wife Karina, a woman stuck in an unfulfilling life as an after-school piano teacher. A diagnosis of ALS forces them to deal with their failed marriage.

Having read Lisa’s previous novels, I’m looking forward to reading this latest installment.