Spotlight on Leanna Sain

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

I’m thrilled to welcome The Wild Rose Press author Leanna Sain. Today, Leanna shares her story seeds and her new release, Red Curtains.

Here’s Leanna!

leannasainMy writing journey started with a gate.

A gate?

Yes. Let me explain.

We were invited to a friend’s house for a Halloween party and after dinner, we gathered up the kids, grabbed flashlights and glow sticks, and hiked out to a spooky old cemetery, with a fat yellow moon helping to light the way. Perfect for a Halloween night. You could practically see the ghosts swooshing about.

On the way back to the house, my flashlight glanced to the right of the trail and spotlighted a rough wooden gate. It struck me as odd. “Why?” you ask. After all, we were on a farm. Gates were usually a part of the package. Yes, but fences are also a part of the package and this one didn’t have that. It was just the gate, sitting there at the edge of a pasture, looking very out of place.

“What’s up with your gate?” I asked my friend. “No fence?”

She shrugged. “It was like that when we bought the place.”

I decided to ham it up a bit. “Dum, dum, DUM,” I was trying for spooky background music, for effect. “The gate to nowhere…”
She laughed and said, “Sounds like the name of a book. Why don’t you write it?”

Hmmm. “Maybe I will.”

That was the beginning; a seed that burrowed down in my brain and started growing. The result was my first novel (which turned into a trilogy.) Since then, the ideas have kept coming, and it doesn’t look like they’re going to stop any time within the next hundred years.

I got the ‘story seed’ for Red Curtains from a trip my husband and I made to Savannah, Georgia for our 26th anniversary. We were waiting for a tour bus when a homeless person, sporting an outlandish court jester hat, strolled by. He walked right up to a nearby mailbox, and proceeded to sprinkle some invisible substance around its base, all the while chanting words I couldn’t understand. I glanced sideways at my husband and murmured, “Fairy dust?” He just shrugged, too intent on watching what would happen next.

That’s when the bus arrived and I hurried aboard, finding a seat and scrambling through my purse for paper and a pen. The ideas hurtled out of the end of the pen, practically faster than I could write them. The seed planted in my brain and grew, and grew. One of the main characters would be a homeless woman (I needed her to be a woman, not a man), but what did I really know about that subject? Time for research! The results were staggering. I felt like I had to help, but what could I do? Well, Red Curtains—aside from being a good read—has another purpose: to bring awareness for this terrible crisis that continues to grow in spite of the unemployment rate shrinking. And also, I’ve decided to donate a portion of my book sales to the “Stand Down” program that I mention in the story. It might not be much, but at least it’s something. And if everyone does a little “something,” it’ll all add together to equal something significant.

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Blurb

Dead bodies, fake money and falling in love were NOT part of the assignment.

Cleo Davis must find a model for her senior art project or she won’t graduate. When she discovers Lily Telfair-Gordon, she gets more than just an eccentric old woman who spouts famous quotes, talks to ghosts, and wears a weird hat. Lily has unwittingly stumbled upon a counterfeiting ring, and Cleo gets dragged right into the middle of it.

Jonas Holmes, an investigative reporter for the local paper, is asking the question: why do bodies of homeless men keep showing up in the river? But the homeless are scared and won’t talk to him. When he finds Cleo and Lily, he thinks his problems are solved; he doesn’t realize that they’re just beginning.

While romance blossoms between Cleo and Jonas, they work together to see how the two things are connected, but will they find out before it’s too late?

Buy Links

Amazon | The Wild Rose Press | iTunes | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

Bio

North Carolina native, Leanna Sain, earned her BA from the University of South Carolina, then moved back to her beloved mountains of western NC with her husband. Her “Gate” books have stacked up numerous awards, from Foreword Magazine’s Book-of-the-Year to the Clark Cox Historical Fiction Award from the North Carolina Society of Historians. Sain’s fourth novel, WISH, is a stand-alone, YA crossover.

Her Southern romantic suspense or “GRIT-lit,” showcases her plot-driven method of writing that successfully rolls the styles of best-selling authors Mary Kay Andrews, Nicholas Sparks, and Jan Karon into a delightfully hybrid style that is all her own. Regional fiction lovers and readers who enjoy suspense with a magical twist will want her books.

She loves leading discussion groups and book clubs. For more information or to contact her, visit her website.

Where to find Leanna…

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


Inspired by Emma Donoghue

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

emmadonaghueOn Wednesday evening, I attended Emma Donoghue’s reading at Lakeside Hope House in downtown Guelph. This Cafe Philosophique event, organized by the Bookshelf Cafe, was well attended by fans of the prolific author of several novels, short stories, and plays, among them the international bestseller Room (her screen adaptation was nominated for four Oscars). Her recent release, The Wonder, was shortlisted for this year’s Scotia Giller Prize.

After a short introduction, Emma proceeded to give a dramatic reading from The Wonder, a fictionalized tale based on real life cases of fasting girls during the Victorian era. I would have loved listening to a much longer reading.

An armchair conversation with author and creative writing professor Michael Winter followed.

Throughout the conversation, Emma referred to her children (Finn and Una) and commented on how useful they have been to her writing career. She uses anecdotes from her children’s lives and enlists their help with research. Her daughter selected the riddles used in The Wonder.

the-wonderHaving read the book recently, I was fascinated to learn more about the back story and Emma’s writing process.

Emma applied a dark twist to Hillary Clinton’s famous saying—“It takes a village to raise a child”—and came up with “It takes a village to kill a child.” Throughout the novel, there are many instances of well-meaning professionals (priest, doctor, nun, town elders) behaving passively and not stepping up to save the eleven-year-old child who is slowly starving herself to death. In short, The Wonder can be described as a crime story where a crime has not taken place yet.

When asked about her weaknesses, Emma commented, “I suck at plot. My first books were shapeless.” To correct this problem, she learned to plan the plot in advance and outline what happens in each chapter before beginning to write. But she made it clear that she does not follow a linear path and write “x” words per day or produce one novel each year. Instead, she muddles along and researches in a generous spirit, following her curiosity and taking as long as it takes to write the novel.

With no set schedule in place, she often steals time to write during her children’s activities. She also writes in cars, trains, planes…anywhere she can bring her laptop.

Interesting Quotes…

My children have infected my writing.

I’m surprised at how strange and heroic parenting can be.

I like putting my readers through the ringer.

I’ve made money from writing about people suffering.

I’ve emigrated twice (Ireland to England to Canada) and it was the best thing I ever did. It is splendid training for writers. We can become too smug and comfortable if we say in one place.

Where to find Emma Donoghue…

Website | Amazon | Twitter | Facebook


Spotlight on Maggie’s Montana

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

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About the Book

Maggie Abernathy, best friend Judy, and Judy’s two young sons travel cross country to visit John McIntyre and daughter Chloe at their Montana ranch. Maggie’s convinced herself that she’s only making the trip to fulfill her promise to visit Chloe, but once there she can’t help but fall in love with the horses, the land, the ranch, and the Montana ways of life. With Chloe’s loving antics, Winston’s gift, and a handful of wranglers showing her the ropes, will Maggie have the heart to say goodbye?

Excerpt from Chapter 20

I squeezed my eyes tight as chills ran down my spine. A gentle hand rested on the nape of my neck. The touch grounded me and for a split second, I thought maybe it was my father. Tears welled and I pressed the palms of my hands into my eyes, trying to stop the longing I felt for my dad who’d left me years ago. I saw Chloe perched on John’s hip with her arms around his neck in my mind. It seemed like eons since I was that little girl in my own father’s arms.

Through the tears, I stared at my dusty boots. John ran his fingers up my neck and into my hair. I squeezed my eyes tighter, hoping this wasn’t a dream.

John knelt beside me, his hand on my knee, and his finger under my chin. “Saw you leave. Wondered if you were all right?”

I shrugged. Cocoa ran past, and then nestled in the straw at my feet and stretched out, letting her kittens suckle. “No, guess not,” I said.

“Anything I can do to help?”

I scooted over on the bench and John sat beside me. “I don’t think so.” I tucked my hair behind my ears.

“Well I think there is, but I’m going to let you solve your own dilemma.”

I wiped the corners of my eyes and watched the kittens nuzzle up to their momma’s belly, safe from the world around them until she went out to hunt. “Probably best.” Locking my elbows, I rested my hands on my knees. I liked the feel of worn blue jeans, inside, and out.

“Dinner is almost ready,” John said.

Our gazes met. My stomach wasn’t the only thing growling. “I don’t know if I want dinner. I kind of like it out here.” The barn truly was a sanctuary.

“Well, you’ve got to eat, darlin’.” John wrapped his arm around my shoulder and drew me close, his green eyes trying to hide his own disappointments.

I couldn’t help but think I was one of them.

“A girl your age can’t live on s’mores and beer, ’cause that’s what we’re having later.”

“I beg to differ.”

John’s breath brushed up against my neck. His lips followed. Tension oozed from my shoulders like dripping wax, my guard giving way to the heat. He whispered in my ear, “Let me love you.”

I swallowed the temptation, but it stuck in my throat and lingered at the back of my tongue like bitter sweetness. “I don’t know how.”

Afraid, I prayed again. From under my lashes, I saw a man earnest and true, his eyes fixed on me yet not demanding, something I wasn’t used to. Flecks of passion danced in his irises.

“How the hell do you know what you want?” I asked.

“Because I know,” he said.
His strong hands held my face. His thumbs stroked my cheeks like he was settling a skittish filly. “Let me ask you this, neighbor lady . . .”

“Why do you keep calling that?”


“Does there have to be a reason?” he asked.


“Isn’t there a reason for everything?”

“No. Sometimes things just feel right.” John kissed me as I took in his words, his breath in sync with mine. My stomach rolled over and I let myself kiss him back as if it were the very first time.

Buy Links

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Other Books in the Series

Maggie’s Way | Maggie’s Fork in the Road

Tour Schedule

November 7 – Chick Lit Plus – Excerpt
November 8 – Love Chick Lit – Q&A & Excerpt
November 9 – Silver Dagger Scriptorium – Excerpt
November 9 – Joanne Guidoccio – Excerpt
November 11 – Writer’s Treasure Chest – Excerpt
November 17 – Authors and Readers Book Corner – Excerpt
November 17 – Book Lover in Florida – Review & Excerpt
November 17 – Coffeeholic Bookworm – Excerpt
November 18 – Granny Loves to Read – Review
November 21 – Ryan Jo Summers – Q&A

Author Bio

lindabradleyLinda’s inspiration comes from her favorite authors and life itself. Her women’s fiction highlights characters that peel away outer layers of life to discover the heart of their dreams with some unexpected twists and turns along the way. Her writing integrates humor found in everyday situations, as well as touching moments, thus creating avenues for readers to connect with her characters.

Linda has an Associates Degree in Interior Design and a Master’s Degree in Reading and Language Arts with undergraduate work in Elementary Education and Fine Arts. She wrote and illustrated a children’s book titled, The Hunter for her Master’s Degree. Linda is a member of RWA, as well as the Greater Detroit Chapter of WA.

Linda has two grown sons, lives with her husband, and rescue dog in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Where to find Linda…

Website | Facebook | Twitter


If Students Wrote the Bible…

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

bible1

Instead of God creating the world in six days and resting on the seventh, He would have put it off until the night before and pull an all-nighter.

The Last Supper would have been eaten the next morning–cold.

The Ten Commandments would actually be only five–double-spaced and written in a large font.

To limit reselling, a new edition would be published every two years.

Forbidden fruit would have been eaten because it wasn’t cafeteria food.

Paul’s letter to the Romans would become Paul’s email to abuse@romans.gov.

Reason Cain killed Abel: They were roommates.

Reason why Moses and followers walked in the desert for 40 years: They didn’t want to ask directions and look like freshmen.

Source: Inspirational Jokes


Spectacular #NaNoWriMo Success Stories

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

nanowrimocrestCompleting 50,000 words in 30 days is a major achievement, one that hundreds of thousands of NaNoWriMo participants have set as their November goal for the past seventeen years. While the end result will be part unreadable, part unfinished, and more than likely, error-ridden, the process often continues well beyond November. Many published books–including some very successful ones–started off as NaNoWriMo projects.

Here are four spectacular success stories:

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Sara Gruen devoted two separate NaNos to writing Water for Elephants and then sold her work to Algonquin Publishers for $55,000. In 2007, the book topped the New York Times Best Seller list and hit the big screen with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson in 2011.

Erin Morgenstern began writing The Night Circus in November of 2004. That first year, Erin ended up with 50,000 words of unconnected scenes and imagery. She then spent the next two NaNos adding to the story. In 2008, she took the 100,000+ words and formed them into an actual plot. She didn’t have a workable draft until 2009. In 2011, she received a six-figure deal from Knopf Doubleday Publishers. The movie rights were snapped up by the producers of the Harry Potter films.

Rainbow Rowell had already published two novels when she sat down to write Fangirl during NaNo 2011. While writing, she moved away from her usual pattern of rewriting the previous day’s work and kept moving forward. She considers the book her “bravest writing”…New York Times agreed and designated Fangirl a 2013 Notable Children’s Book.

Hugh Howey wrote three of the novellas that later made up Wool in November 2011. When he self-published the book, he sold 1000 copies the first month. After selling tens of thousands of ebooks directly to readers, he signed a six-figure deal with a major publisher. The movie rights have been purchased by 20th Century Fox.

ONWARD ♦ AVANTI ♦ EN AVANT ♦ WEITER ♦ ADELANTE ♦ AVANTE


Remembering Dave Broadfoot

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

davebroadfoot1Earlier today, Canadian comedy pioneer Dave Broadfoot passed away at the age of ninety. An officer of the Order of Canada, Dave played to audiences that included Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, and President Ronald Reagan.

Born in Vancouver on December 5, 1925, Dave served in the navy during World War II and began acting shortly afterward. During the 1950s and 1960s, he appeared on the “Wayne and Shuster Show,” “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Big Revue,” and “Comedy Café.”

In 1973, he began his 15-year run on “Air Force”, where he introduced two memorable characters: Sgt. Renfrew of the RCMP who “never gets his man” and a hockey-playing dunce named Big Bobby Clobber. Later, he donned the persona of David J. Broadfoot, the member of Parliament from Kicking Horse Pass.

Here are ten entertaining comments…

I came out of an extreme, fundamentalist, born-again-ist family. My three sisters are all missionaries. In my home we have pictures of all 12 apostles, all personally autographed.

We’re loose enough, liberal enough, accepting enough in this country, we’re mature enough that we can make fun of each other and still have great respect and honour each other.

I wasn’t good enough for TV–but I bugged them.

In order to have an act, you have to learn how to write. And you should probably be able to sing adequately, too. You have to learn how to do everything.

Here we’ve got to work harder because we compete with the best from England and the United States. I’m a nationalist–I’ve come to terms with myself and with my roots. I understand the rhythms of this crazy, wonderful country of ours.

I like to dwell on the therapeutic use of comedy. Whether it’s a group or a nation or an individual, in any crisis the first casualty, even before truth, is our sense of humour. And once that’s gone, we have lost our perspective on the crisis. To me, there is nothing more magnificent than a human being, who in a time of great crisis, can still maintain a sense of humour.

The only group that I dare to put down are Anglo-Saxons, because I am one. I feel I have a right to do that. For instance, there is new evidence that Adam, the first man who ever lived, was an Anglo-Saxon. Who else would stand in a perfect tropical garden, beside a perfect naked woman, and eat an apple?

Humour has to be pointed. It’s gotta be political. But it shouldn’t be ugly. It shouldn’t be malicious…It’s gotta be up-happy.

I never got over that sound of laughter. I felt for the first time that I belonged there . . . . It’s like the feeling of being away a long time and then coming home.

(In Canada) you can be the biggest success ever and still have a very, very small bank account because that’s the way we are.

Starting #NaNoWriMo

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

nanowrimoparticpant2Never say never.

For years, I’ve been shaking my head whenever the topic of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) came up. I couldn’t fathom the idea of writing 50,000 words in one month.

Madness…undue stress…why on earth would I subject myself to that kind of torture?

In a podcast with Stephen Campbell, I listed several reasons for not participating and assured him I would take my time writing any future novels.

All that changed when I started imagining the plot for A Different Kind of Reunion, Book 3 in the Gilda Greco Mystery Series. Determined to release the book within a year of Book 2, I knew I had to change my m.o. If I continued to work at my present speed, it would take at least two years to write, edit, and release the novel.

Continue reading on the Sisterhood of Suspense blog.


Kick-Off Party for Guelph NaNoWriMo

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

In July of this year, author Cindy Carroll lobbied to have a NaNoWriMo group in Guelph. In the past, writers had to join groups in nearby Kitchener, Hamilton, or Toronto. Not too far, but still far enough for those of us who do not like to spend hours commuting on major highways. Thanks to Cindy’s persistence and willingness to take on the M.L. role (Municipal Liaison), we now have a local group with 70+ members. Find out more about Guelph NaNoWriMo here.

Earlier today, fourteen of us gathered at Symposium Restaurant for the Kick-Off Party. We shared our NaNoWriMo handles, plans for the month, and other shop talk. A diverse group, we write in several genres, among them mystery, romance, urban fantasy, memoir, and inspirational literature.

Alpha Order - Maame Apenteng, Francis Bake, Cindy Carroll, Sarah Jean Devries, Amy Donkers, Jess Frey, A. Pearl Graham, Joanne Guidoccio, Kathleen Herbinson, Jo Kasunic, Pamela Simmonds, Michelle Summerfield, Tim Teece, Elizabeth Winfield

Alpha Order – Maame Apenteng, Francis Bake, Cindy Carroll, Sarah Jean Devries, Amy Donkers, Jess Frey, A. Pearl Graham, Joanne Guidoccio, Kathleen Herbinson, Jo Kasunic, Pamela Simmonds, Michelle Summerfield, Tim Teece, Elizabeth Winfield

ONWARD ♦ AVANTI ♦ EN AVANT ♦ WEITER ♦ ADELANTE ♦ AVANTE