The Good Years Are So Good
I’m happy to welcome best-selling author Liz Flaherty. Today, Liz shares the two acts of her life and her new release, A Year of Firsts.
Here’s Liz!
My first act was my life’s dream. I had a family I loved, a job I liked a lot, a house, and friends. It was, like everyone else’s dream-come-true, if one likes roller coasters. Fortunately, I do—or did then. Although the years were happy, there were also the days of being overwhelmed, of sitting alone in the bathroom wondering what to do, of having three teenagers in the house. In the middle of it was a year of “can this marriage be saved?” (It could.) I had months of hating the job and wept a gazillion tears over the kids. I couldn’t wait for it all to be over.
Until it was. Act One, Scene Two came with the empty nest. It was okay, much less hectic. Not nearly as much fun, but I had more writing time. I had a book published. Then a few more.
Then I retired, and Act Two happened because Act One ended.
It’s been such a surprise. Writing fulltime doesn’t mean I get more written—it means I waste more time. Marriage in retirement age isn’t easy—it’s hard! Losing friends no matter how you lose them, with death, dementia, and lack of interest taking center stage, is painful.
But those are the bad days. The good ones…no, the good years… are so good they’re hard to describe. The marriage is more fun, as is traveling, having remarkable grandchildren, and laughing with friends and family until your stomach hurts. The good days are most of them.
And then there’s the writing… And that’s where I am now. I’ve never been one to keep count of things, so I’m not sure how many books and novellas (and rejections) there have been, but, like I said before, they’ve been good years.
A Year of Firsts, Book One in the Second Chances series for Magnolia Blossom Publishing, is the story of Syd and Clay, whose own Act Twos are up the air and—for Clay at least—might be doubtful. I had so much joy and not a little angst writing this story. I hope you have that much pleasure in the reading, too.
Blurb
Widow Syd Cavanaugh is beginning a “year of firsts” with the road trip she’d promised her husband she’d take after his death. An unplanned detour lands her in Fallen Soldier, Pennsylvania, where she meets the interesting and intelligent editor of the local paper.
Television journalist Clay McAlister’s life took an unexpected turn when a heart attack forced him to give up his hectic lifestyle. He’s still learning how to live in a small town when meeting a pretty traveler in the local coffee shop suddenly makes it all much more interesting.
While neither of them is interested in a romantic relationship, their serious case of being “in like” seems to push them that way. However, Clay’s heart condition doesn’t harbinger a very secure future, and Syd’s already lost one man she loved to a devastating illness—she isn’t about to lose another. Where can this relationship possibly go?
Excerpt
If I fall in love again, this will be how it happens.
The thought came from nowhere she could identify, although she knew deep in her soul that it had to do with the tall man in shorts and a polo shirt walking up the incline of her yard to meet her. The man whose heart would likely not last as long as her own, whose every wince made her fear he was having a heart attack. His attitude toward exercise and diet was that of the middle-aged man in perfect health he appeared to be, not one who had a zipper-like scar up the center of his chest.
But just the sight of him, with his light brown hair that needed cutting blowing into his eyes even though his graying beard was as always short and neat, made her heart beat harder and faster. She smiled, remembering his explanation of why he had a beard.
At first he’d said it was because he had a weak chin he didn’t want anyone to notice, but then he’d admitted it had been an ongoing struggle between him and a producer of his show. “He was pushy and I was usually compliant. It was a great gig and I knew it. But it got to where he wanted to…create the brand he wanted me to be, I guess. I mostly went along because he was a pretty smart guy who knew his stuff, but when I came back from vacation with a beard and he gave the order to have it gone before I went on the air, it became the proverbial last straw.”
Everyone had last straws sometimes, she thought abstractedly, stopping and waiting for him to join her. “Rehearsal was okay, wasn’t it?” she said, thinking her voice sounded horrifyingly breathy. It went along with the movie scenario. “I didn’t make a complete idiot of myself, did I? Or mess things up for other people? I never want to do that. Where’s Toby?”
Of course, she didn’t. People who were pocket protectors protected not only themselves, but others from themselves.
During all the long months of his illness, Paul had never seen her angry. She’d confined that to times alone. She’d hidden her anger to protect him, yet it had probably created a chasm between them. She should have let him see her last straws sometimes.
“He’s asleep. Braxton is staying the night.” Clay didn’t hesitate as he joined her, just put his arms around her and led her into a dance. “You were great.”
Syd wasn’t a good dancer, by any means. When friends used to tell her to “listen for the beat,” she always said, “what beat?” because she could never hear it. But she’d loved to dance anyway. It was emotion in motion, and sometimes…sometimes after Paul got sick it had been better than running screaming into the woods behind the house, which had been both an alternative and a temptation. Abba and Billy Joel and Journey had often brought some semblance of peace to the crashing cacophony of her anger.
She couldn’t remember the last time she’d danced in a man’s arms—probably at the girls’ weddings, when Paul was already having trouble moving but had been determined to dance not only with Haley and Shiloh but with Syd as well. It had been excruciating, the fear that he would fall and be injured or become so exhausted he couldn’t stay to enjoy the receptions.
The memory was fleeting, and of happy times, and then it was just Clay McAlister. Taller and more muscled than Paul had been, his arms creating a circle of light for just the two of them as they danced across the grass.
When he kissed her in the shade of the willow tree, she wasn’t sure where the stars came from, only that they filled her eyes and, for a long and tender moment, her heart. She’d been so tired when she came outside, but weariness gave way to the magic of the clear night and being in Clay McAlister’s arms. She’d set her glass down somewhere, or he had, leaving her arms free to go around him.
It couldn’t go anywhere, whatever “it,” this meeting of hearts and minds, was. She couldn’t go through it again, the caring for and ultimate losing of a man she loved. She didn’t think Clay wanted to settle into a committed relationship, either, and she didn’t know how to have any other kind.
“Boat ride?” he said quietly, meeting her gaze in the dim lights from the deck.
She nodded. That much, she could do. Saying no never even occurred to her.
Buy Links
Amazon (US) | Amazon (CA) | Amazon (UK) | Amazon (AU)
Bio
Retired from the Logansport post office, Liz Flaherty spends non-writing time sewing, quilting, and doing whatever else she wants to. She and her husband Duane live in the old farmhouse in North Central Indiana they moved to in 1977. They’ve talked about moving, but really…40-plus years’ worth of stuff? It’s not happening. It would require removing old baseball trophies from the attic and dusting the pictures of the Magnificent Seven, their grandchildren.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Amazon | Goodreads
Virtual Book Tour: Secrets of a River Swimmer
I’m happy to welcome author S.S. Turner. Today, he shares his favorite films and new release, Secrets of a River Swimmer.
My top ten favorite films (it will become very clear who my favorite director is from this list!):
1. Vertigo
2. North by Northwest
3. To Catch A Thief
4. Rear Window
5. In Bruges
6. Lord of the Rings trilogy
7. Being John Malkovich
8. Hot Fuzz
9. Man Up
10. Notting Hill
Blurb
As Freddy gazes at the majestic river gushing past him in the depths of a Scottish winter, he’s ready to jump in and end his life. But what happens next is not what Freddy expects. From the moment he enters the river, Freddy starts a journey which is more beautiful, funny, and mysterious than he could have imagined. And through this journey Freddy’s story becomes interweaved with a cast of unforgettable characters who are equally lost and in search of answers. Eventually they all unite in their quest for an answer to the biggest question of them all: will the river take them where they want to go?
In the tradition of inspirational works of fiction like The Alchemist and Life of Pi, Secrets of a River Swimmer is at once a profound exploration into living with meaning and an affecting story of people on the cusp of change.
Excerpt
From Page 21-22
My thoughts drift to picture what life as a gillie must be like. I imagine you start the day by carrying all the fishing equipment your fat and wealthy clients will need for a day of luxurious and fully-catered fishing. You carry everything while they take it easy, and you locate the best spot to fish for the largest possible salmon. Your local knowledge about fishing spots has to be extraordinary. You then set up the fishing rod, position your client in the right spot, and talk them through what they need to do to catch that magic fish they’re all searching for. Of course, your clients are always searching for the largest catch of the season, so they can go home and brag to their friends and family about what skilled fishermen they are. It’s obvious to you, if not to them, that the subtext is being able to sing to the world that they have massive willies, bigger than everyone else’s.
Beyond fishing, you’re forced to listen to whatever the hell it is your clients want to talk about for the eight long hours you’re on the river. Your clients are all obscenely wealthy, so it’s more than likely you’ll hear a lot of moaning about all the small things in life they’d like changed. Many of them will complain about local wind farm developments, council plans to develop their neighborhood, and, of course, the big one: immigration. They all believe immigrants are responsible for all the problems in the world. These people are your quintessential NIMBYs, and will always complain about progress if it affects them in any way, no matter how minor. You do whatever you can to bring the conversation back to fishing because it’s an easier conversation for you, and less productive grounds for their complaining. They’re slowly sucking the life out of you with their negativity, so you carefully select your words to bring the conversation onto a more positive pathway. And, of course, your ultimate back-up plan, as it is for many British people, is to pull out the ultimate conversation filler when you’re at rock bottom: the weather. Yes, it’s a desperate move and the equivalent of holding up a white flag, but needs must.
Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | AppleBooks | Indigo | Kobo
Author Bio
S.S. Turner has been an avid reader, writer, and explorer of the natural world throughout his life which has been spent in England, Scotland and Australia. Just like Freddy in his first novel, Secrets of a River Swimmer, he worked in the global fund management sector for many years but realized it didn’t align with his values. In recent years, he’s been focused on inspiring positive change through his writing as well as trying not to laugh in unfortunate situations. He now lives in Australia with his wife, daughter, two dogs, two cats, and ten chickens.
Website: https://www.thestoryplant.com/secrets-of-a-river-swimmer
Giveaway
One randomly chosen winner will win a $50 Amazon/Barnes & Noble gift card via Rafflecopter. Find out more here.
Follow S.S. Turner on the rest of his Goddess Fish tour here.
Develop Your Compassion
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.
One of my go-to books for inspiration is Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. Here’s one of my favorite passages:
Nothing helps us build our perspective more than developing compassion for others. Compassion is a sympathetic feeling. It involves the willingness to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, to take the focus off yourself and to imagine what it’s like to be in someone else’s predicament, and simultaneously, to feel love for that person. It’s the recognition that other people’s problems, their pain and frustrations, are every bit as real as our own—often far worse. In recognizing this fact and trying to offer some assistance, we open our own hearts and greatly enhance our sense of gratitude.
Compassion is something you can develop with practice. It involves two things: intention and action. Intention simply means you remember to open your heart to others; you expand what and who matters, from yourself to other people. Action is simply the “what you do about it.” You might donate a little money or time (or both) on a regular basis to a cause near to your heart. Or perhaps you’ll offer a beautiful smile and genuine “hello” to the people you meet on the street. It’s not so important what you do, just that you do something. As Mother Teresa reminds us, “We cannot do great things on this earth. We can only do small things with great love.”
Compassion develops your sense of gratitude by taking your attention off all the little things that most of us have learned to take too seriously. When you take time, often, to reflect on the miracle of life—the miracle that you are even able to read this book—the gift of sight, of love, and all the rest, it can help to remind you that many of the things that you think of as “big stuff” are really just “small stuff” that your are turning into big stuff.
Source: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson, pp. 17-18.
Interview with Bentley Turner
I’m happy to welcome back author Bentley Turner. Today, Bentley chats about his writing journey and shares his new release, The Prize Winners and Other Stories.
Q. Are any of your characters inspired by real people?
A. In The Prize Winners and Other Stories, there are a few characters in two or three stories that have been inspired by actual people. In other words, I pictured these individuals when I created the characters. However, their actions or thoughts were mine, not theirs.
Q. What is the best part of being an author?
A. The best part of being an author is having a reader tell me s/he enjoyed what I wrote.
Q. What is the worst part of being an author?
A. For me, the worst part of being an author is the time I’ve wasted trying to come up with a plot that will interest readers.
Q. Describe your writing space.
A. My writing space includes several desks, a computer or two, two or three lamps, one or two dictionaries, and other reference books.
Q. Which authors have inspired you?
A. The authors who have inspired me include John O’Hara, Ernest Hemingway, James M. Cain, and several other writers who are no longer living.
Q. Besides writing and reading, what are some of your hobbies?
A. Some of my hobbies besides reading and writing include walking or hiking, traveling (by car, train, or ship), and sightseeing.
Q. Any advice for aspiring writers?
A. Although aspiring writers have been told this, I’ll repeat it: don’t give up trying to get a poem, short story, article, novel, or whatever published. You may get one rejection after another, but, if you’re serious about your writing, you’ll stick to it.
Q. What are you working on next?
A. I have just submitted two novels to the publisher that is publishing my collection of stories. One of the novels is a mystery, which is what my first novel, The File on Thomas Marks, was. It concerns the murder of a successful businessman and the investigation for the culprit by his son, who is not a trained detective. The novel includes the trial of the accused, too. The other novel concerns an agent with the Central Intelligence Agency that becomes the head of a small department that investigates UFOs. Although he learns about unidentified flying objects, he also learns about another agent who he thought he knew but didn’t.
Blurb
The unique stories in the collection feature young people who have to deal with intolerant teachers, fickle girlfriends, unusual pets, and the deaths of loved ones. Other stories concern adults who have to confront loneliness, mental illness, rejection, and even murder.
The Prize Winners and Other Stories literally has something for everyone and will be available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Ingram, Smashwords, and other retailers.
Author Bio
Bentley Turner is the author of The File on Thomas Marks, a mystery that was published by the Global Publishing Group in 2021.
Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/Bentley-Turner/e/B08WQ9HNQ3
Help Make Guelph a Bird Friendly City
Plans are in the works to make Guelph a Bird Friendly City!
A bit of backstory…
There are three billion fewer birds in North America today than fifty years ago. Many of these losses have been caused by domestic cats, window and car collisions, and habitat loss.
Nature groups, municipal officials, and community groups are teaming up with Nature Canada to make our urban environments safer havens for birds.
A certification standard has been developed to certify cities as a “Bird Friendly City.” Certification is a badge of honor and a source of community pride. It helps raise awareness about local birds and inspires residents to take simple protective actions.
Nature Canada’s Goal for 2022: Certify at least thirty eligible Canadian cities as a Bird Friendly City by World Migratory Bird Day (Saturday, May 14, 2022).
To date, only four cities in Canada—Vancouver, London, Toronto, Calgary—have been designated a Bird Friendly City by Nature Canada.
Locally in Guelph…
City of Guelph staff teamed up with experts from two local groups—Bird Safe Guelph and Nature Guelph Bird Wing—to produce a list of eight birds that represent Guelph.
Residents are asked to vote for their favorite bird by Friday, March 11.
The three birds with the most votes will move to a second round of voting on Friday, April 1. The bird with the most votes by Friday, April 22 will become Guelph’s official bird for the Bird Friendly City designation. In the event of a tie, Bird Safe Canada will choose the winning bird.
Visit https://www.haveyoursay.guelph.ca/bird-city to place your vote. Take the survey or upload a photo to indicate which bird should represent Guelph.
Here are the birds (in alpha order)
Belted Kingfisher | Black-Capped Chickadee | Chimney Swift |
Common Merganser | Eastern Screech Owl | Green Heron | Peregrine Falcon | Pileated Woodpecker
Movie Review: House of Gucci
All the elements are there—glamour, greed, sex, betrayal, murder—in this sensational saga of a lethal family feud that spanned three decades. Add in a cast of A-list actors and actresses, who deliver over-the-top performances as the schemers and dreamers of the Gucci clan.
Lady Gaga plays Patrizia Reggiani, a vintage gold digger who brazenly pursues shy, gawky Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver). Despite the warnings of his father (Jeremy Irons), Maurizio stands by Patrizia and marries her, willingly giving up his share of the family fortune.
Determined to play the long game, Patrizia settles for a temporary modest life in Italy. All that changes when Uncle Aldo (Al Pacino) visits and gifts the young couple with a pair of Concorde tickets to New York.
Maurizio reluctantly agrees to resettle in New York and join the family business. Ecstatic, Patrizia helps herself to all the perks: free shopping sprees at the Gucci boutique in Manhattan, a company apartment, and an expanded social circle. With the help of a television psychic (Salma Hayek), Patrizia schemes to cut Aldo and his son Paolo (Jared Leto) out of the picture.
But kind, shy Maurizio is slowly waking up to the ways of power. He begins to resent what Patrizia is doing to his family and is no longer willing to participate in her schemes. Adam Driver expertly demonstrates these shifts of character, allowing us to see the emergence of a new ruthlessness in Maurizio.
The implosion of their marriage, financial losses, and an execution-style murder follow.
For the most part, I enjoyed the film but struggled with the accents. Several accents sound Eastern European or Russian to me (I’m of Italian heritage). I believe the fake accents were unnecessary and succeeded only in jolting me out of the storyline.
The movie plays like a real-life Dynasty/Dallas/Falconcrest (popular soap operas from the 1980s). Other descriptors include “icepick docudrama,” “showcase of excess,” and “fashionista Godfather Lite.”
My advice: Prepare yourself for over 2.5 hours of melodrama set across the spectacular backdrops of St. Moritz, Lake Como, Milan, and New York City.
On Finding Passion
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.
A long-time fan of bestselling authors and coaches Marc and Angel Chernoff, I look forward to reading their emails and blog posts. Here’s an excerpt from a recent email:
Many of us are still hopelessly trying to “find our passion” – something we believe will ultimately lead us closer to happiness, success, or the life situation we ultimately want. And I say “hopelessly” primarily because passion can’t really be found. When we say we’re trying to find our passion, it implies that our passion is somehow hiding behind a tree or under a rock somewhere. But that’s far from the truth. The truth is, our passion comes from doing things right. If you’re waiting to somehow “find your passion” somewhere outside yourself, so you finally have a reason to put your whole heart and soul into your life and the changes you need to make, you’ll likely be waiting around for an eternity.
On the other hand, if you’re tired of waiting, and you’d rather live more passionately starting today and experience small positive changes, it’s time to proactively inject passion into the very next thing you do. Think about it:
When was the last time you sat down and had a conversation with someone nearby, with zero distractions and 100 percent focus?
When was the last time you exercised and put every bit of effort you could muster into it?
When was the last time you truly tried – truly tried – to do your very best?
Like most of us, you’re likely putting a half-hearted effort into most of the things you do on a daily basis. Because you’re still waiting. You’re still waiting to “find” something to be passionate about – some magical reason to step into the life you want to create for yourself. But you need to do the exact opposite!
Of course, we can’t do it all and we can’t have it all. Sometimes we have to say no to good things to be able to say yes to the most important things. Sometimes we have to take little risks with our time and energy. But in life, if you don’t risk anything, you risk everything.
So go ahead and take a little risk today.
Feel some passion.
Discover love.
Run free.
Note: I highly recommend subscribing to Marc & Angel’s website.
Blurb Blitz: Honor
I’m happy to welcome back author January Bain. Today, January shares her new release, Book 3 in the Sin City Wolf Series, Honor.
Blurb
Never run from a wolf!
Isadora Champagne is a witch on a dangerous mission to take down Lucius Luceres. That bad boy Alpha billionaire doesn’t deserve to have it all his way. Thinks he can dump her baby sister after a one-night stand and get away with it! But now that she’s met the shifter, keeping her heart safe from him is going to cost more than a curse to stop him, it just might cost her a pack with the devil himself.
Lucius of the House of Luceres is an alpha werewolf, secure in his bad-to-the-bone reputation. But when confronted by the beautiful Isadora one fateful night, even he can’t help but notice the extreme attraction that instantly ignites between them. But what he hadn’t counted on was how useful her magic gifts can be to the House of Luceres when one of their own goes missing.
Will he be able to set aside the centuries of mistrust that has existed between witches and shifters and allow her special brand of courage and caring heal even the most jaded heart?
Excerpt
Isadora
I placed an arm around Elena’s thin shoulders, my heart breaking for my younger sister who was the mirror image of me with her smooth fall of Titian hair, legs that didn’t quit and a bod that drew more than her fair share of attention. But she didn’t look like a goddess at the moment. She was sobbing as if her life were over. I’d never seen her this upset, not even when her first boyfriend had dropped her just before prom…though it had been fun enacting a spell to cause him to grow horns and a tail for the event.
Of course, I wouldn’t do anything like that again. If I’d learned anything, it was the cost of being rash in such endeavors. Everything one does has a karma attached to it, like it or not. Good deeds attract good energy. It was the way of the witch—or a good witch, which was what I considered myself. Okay, I had to work on it at times. Nobody’s perfect, right? But hell yeah, I tried to stay in the good-witch zone.
Elena turned her tear-stained face toward me. Her beautiful hair was tangled, oily from needing a washing, her eyes were red-rimmed and I swore she had lost weight in the past few days. Was she even eating? My sister, who prided herself on being well-groomed and whom I loved for her big generous heart, was beyond devastated, her eyes hopeless pools of pain.
“I know I was stupid to care so much. But he was so kind to me, so handsome and romantic. I thought we’d made a real connection. I wouldn’t have gone with him otherwise. You know that, right? I’m not easy. I’ve only been with a few guys.”
I rubbed her back. “He’s a damn fool. And no, you’re definitely not easy. You’re the best he could ever imagine being with. It’s his loss.”
“I should have known better. He’s too good for me, being a Luceres and all.”
My ire heated. “You’re as good as any Luceres. In fact, this proves you’re better. Why, your little finger is more special than all of him put together.”
“Then why didn’t he think so?”
My stomach squeezed into a fist. “Which Luceres was it? I’ve got an idea. We’re not going to let him get away with this.”
Author Bio and Links
January Bain has wished on every falling star, every blown-out birthday candle, and every coin thrown in a fountain to be a storyteller. To share the tales of high adventure, mysteries, and full-blown thrillers she has dreamed of all her life. The story you now have in your hands is the compilation of a lot of things manifesting itself for this special series. Hundreds of hours spent researching the unusual and the mundane have come together to create books that features strong women who live life to the fullest, wild adventures full of twists and unforeseen turns, and hot complicated men who aren’t afraid to take risks. She can only hope her stories will capture your imagination.
If you are looking for January Bain, you can find her hard at work every morning without fail in her office with her furry baby, Ling Ling. And, of course, she’s married to the most romantic man! Who once famously remarked to her inquiry about buying fresh flowers for their home every week, “Give me one good reason why not?” Leaving her speechless and knocking her head against the proverbial wall for being so darn foolish. She loves flowers.
If you wish to connect in the virtual world she is easily found on Facebook. Oh, and she loves to talk books…
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon Buy Link
Giveaway
January Bain will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Find out more here.
Follow January on the rest of her Goddess Fish tour here
Go For It!
I’m happy to welcome back Wild Rose Press author Jennifer Wilck. Today, Jennifer shares her reinvention story and new release, Unlock My Heart.
Here’s Jennifer!
Reinvention is an awesome thing, and one I think many women find themselves doing at some point in their lives. I know I’ve done it, and for anyone who is considering reinventing themselves, my advice is GO FOR IT!
When I graduated college, I worked in public relations for several firms in New York City. I loved my job. I loved meeting people, finding out what messages they needed to convey, and figuring out ways to do that. It was exciting. I learned how to pitch story ideas to editors, how to translate complicated technology descriptions into common English that the average person could understand, and to help clients through product releases. I must confess, my favorite part was hiding behind my youth—sitting in a client meeting, quietly listening to what the men thought they wanted, and finally speaking up with an idea and watching their expressions turn from shock to acceptance to admiration. It was a nice ego boost.
Eventually, I realized I liked the writing part the best, and I moved over to the editorial side, where I worked for technology magazines. Again, I loved it. It was a bit of a reinvention, but more like flipping to the other side of the same coin. Now I sought out the companies, read the press releases, interviewed people who could have been former clients. I loved the writing, but there was less creativity involved. I had to stick to the facts, rather than coming up with marketing campaigns. My creative juices were less in demand, but I drew pride in writing for myself rather than for a client and seeing my byline rather than my clients’.
I took time off when I had children, lucky enough to be able to devote my time to them. But something was missing. I needed a creative outlet for everything that was whirring in my brain. And so, I reinvented myself again. I’d always been a romance reader. I read lots of different genres, but romance made me happy. I liked the happily ever after endings and the escapism. One day, when my girls were sleeping, I wrote down a story in my head. That story eventually turned into my first romance, A Heart of Little Faith. From then on, I was hooked. I learned everything I could about my craft—I’m still learning—as well as the business side. I entered contests, queried editors and agents, and eventually landed with my current publisher, The Wild Rose Press. I’m a hybrid author, so I also self-publish (that first romance, along with two more, Whispers in Washington and Better Together in Boston). And I was lucky enough to find an agent who I hope will help me find a home for a manuscript I’ve been working on for a long time.
Reinvention is scary. It’s easy to stay with what you know. But if you listen to your inner voice, you can do it. Talk to others. There are a lot of us out there who have done it. We’re happy to share our successes and failures.
Blurb
Abby Marlow, computer security expert, lands a job at the best IT security firm in the country. Her sole focus is financial independence so she never has to rely on others again, especially a man. But why does her boss make her wires short circuit?
Ted Endicott, CEO and founder of the IT security firm, is hard of hearing. Although an expert in his field, he’s still uncomfortable admitting his difficulty hearing to his clients or employees. So why is he willing to accept Abby’s help?
As Ted and Abby work together, barriers fall away, and soon the lines blur between colleagues and lovers. But a security glitch in a client’s system indicates one of his employees is the hacker, and all signs point to Abby. Can they get past the suspicion and find a future together?
Tagline: Can love break through their firewalls?
Excerpt
“You always run alone?”
She pointed to a nearby jogger. “I’m not alone.”
“But you’re not with anyone.”
Standing this close to him, she wished for things she shouldn’t. “No, I’m not.”
“How far are you going?”
“The end of the trail and back.” Or however long it
took to get him out of her mind.
He put his helmet on. “Come on, I’ll keep you company.”
“It’s not necessary.” Clearing her mind would be impossible with him next to her.
“It’s safer this way.” He looked down the trail. His desire to protect her sent warmth curling up and down her spine. It had been a long time since anyone was concerned about her. All of a sudden, the idea of company appealed to her. Touching his arm— and trying not to squeeze his bicep like you would if you tested the ripeness of a peach—she waited for him to turn. “You’re welcome to join me if you want. If you can keep up.” She winked and raced away, his bark of laughter a brief punch in the silence behind her.
She no longer kept an easy pace, easing into the morning. This time, she sprinted hard. The slight whir of his bike wheels warned her as he reached her a few moments later.
“You’re pretty fast, but I’d suggest you slow down.”
She turned toward him. “Out of pity for you?”
His lips twitched, and his nostrils flared, but he kept his humor reined tight. Instead, he cycled next to her, his head turned slightly toward her. “The only pity I ask for is please don’t make me carry you home when you’re too tired to continue.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, sir.” She made sure he could read her lips.
He grinned, and the last of her tension disappeared. He accepted her teasing.
“Oh, you’ll pay,” he said.
He rode ahead, and she thought for sure he would leave her in the dust. But he turned around, a gleam in his eye, and returned to her side. When they reached a part of the trail farther on, he pulled ahead a little and skidded in a puddle, splashing her legs.
She gasped and looked at her mud-spattered shins and ignored the twinkle in his eye. “You play dirty—literally.”
Ted stopped while she paused to clean her legs off. Given the opportunity—two could play this game—she took her mud-streaked hands and wiped them on his chest. She drew in a breath and realized her mistake. Sure, she’d repaid him for splattering her with mud, but a sudden awareness of his body overrode her satisfaction. His muscles were hard, and she wondered what the rest of him felt like. Her pulse pounded in her ears, and her gaze shifted to his lips. What would it be like to kiss them?
She jerked and pulled her hand away. No. She jumped at the strangled sound from the mouth she’d considered kissing and raised her glance to his eyes. His surprise mirrored her own.
Mistake, mistake, mistake! An internal voice blared a warning. She’d intended for it to be like when she and Max, her best friend from childhood, challenged each other as kids. In fact, when he teased her, Ted reminded her of Max—something about the glint in his eye and the “need to win” coupled with concern. But she hadn’t counted on the sexual component.
She closed her eyes. She was not like her mother. She wasn’t.
“Abby?”
She stilled. Maybe he couldn’t see her. Right, and maybe unicorns are real.
“Yes?”
“Open your eyes.” She opened them.
“Let’s get breakfast.”
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Author Bio and Links
Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.
In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.
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