Three Steps, No Failure

Posted on May 25, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

When asked about her extraordinary success, recording artist and motivational performer Jana Stanfield said, “I believe in the power of small steps to create great changes.”

Jana left a lucrative career as a broadcast journalist and moved to Nashville to pursue her dream of securing a recording contract. While waiting for her breakthrough, she signed up for voice lessons and took classes in song-writing, stand-up comedy and dance. She took advantage of Open-Mic nights and sang for free in the evenings. With the help of a small producer, she made a few recordings.

None of the record companies were interested.

Continue reading on the Soul Mate Author Group blog.

A Late Bloomer’s Story

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Soul Mate author Brenda Stinnett sharing insights and advice gleaned from her writing journey.

Here’s Brenda!

I graduated from California State Univ. Stanislaus with a BA in psychology. I taught kindergarten for twenty-one years in California, but I’m now a Florida transplant and a full-time writer. I have to admit that I’m a late bloomer. I didn’t get my teaching degree until my mid-thirties. However, I started writing after my daughter was born in my mid-twenties. Once I started teaching though, I got distracted from my writing and focused mainly on my family and my teaching career. Of course, I don’t think this was a bad thing.

Once my daughter started the Air Force Academy, I found more time to focus on my writing, so I took Writer’s Digest classes and went to some conferences. I also subscribed to Writer’s Digest and Romantic Writers Report. Both of these magazines have helped me tremendously in my goal to a writing career.

In my mid-fifties, I retired from teaching and focused more on my writing. It seems once I reach midway in a decade that I decide to try a new direction. My favorite pastime has been traveling and I’m fascinated by history and the paranormal, so I combined those interests into my passion for writing.

I submitted my paranormal romance, “The King’s Vampire,” to Soul Mate Publishing and I was fortunate enough to get a contract with this great publishing organization. My latest novel, “Tenth Degree of the Paranormal,” veered off into strictly paranormal suspense, so I decided to try the Indie route with it.

Second acts in life are scary and I think persistence and courage are major factors when we want to change our lives. It’s important to avoid people who send out negative vibes and seek out supportive groups who encourage us in our endeavors. I’ve found the authors at Soul Mate Publishing to be some of the most helpful, generous people around. I think we just have to hang on to our dreams and make sure we actually know what it is we want to do. We need to break down our goals into small steps. If we take five small steps every day to achieve our long-term goal, I think we have a good chance of fulfilling our dreams. We need to take joy in every step of the process and enjoy the journey as well.

Blurb

Whether a hunch, intuition, or something more sinister, Barbara knew she had no choice. Self-deception was no longer an option—comfortable but not an option. She knew each denial she’d ever made left a scar on her soul, each more painful than the last.

An epic battle between good and evil pits a mother who struggles to deny her paranormal powers against a megalomaniac intent on world destruction.

Barbara Stevens has always struggled with her inexplicable powers. Her unwillingness to acknowledge her pent-up abilities has not stopped her young daughter Tiffany from exercising her own powers.

Recruited by a group intent on honing and harvesting these paranormal powers to create a super race, Barbara and Tiffany are soon kidnapped and held on an island off the coast of Russia.

Suspicion soon grows that Tiffany may, in fact, manifest the ten highest paranormal abilities of astral projection, aura reading, bio-energy transference, levitation, past life regression, precognition, spontaneous healing, telekinesis, and telepathy.

If proven true, Tiffany’s abilities will trigger an opening to the gates of hell. But can this descent into evil be stopped in time?

Where to find Brenda…

Website | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Joanne here!

A fellow teacher and late bloomer, I found myself nodding in agreement as I read your post. Your advice is spot on. Thank you, Brenda, for sharing your inspiring story.

Beyond Seven-Year Itches…

Posted on May 16, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Soul Mate author Anne B. Cole chatting about seven-year itches and her debut novel Souls Entwined.

Here’s Anne!

My First Act is similar to many other women.

• Married my high school sweetheart after 7 years of dating
• Taught Elementary school for 7 years
• Stayed home to raise three children for 7 years
• Taught preschool for 10 years.

Whoa! What happened to the seven year itch my life seemed to be following?

It happened…I just didn’t know it…

Seven years into my preschool teaching I found myself at the pool where my children were competing in a very long swim meet. Swimmer parents know these things can take up to six hours for one session. I had kids swimming in both sessions, so I was parked at the pool for over ten hours.

I love to watch my kids BUT there is gobs of wait time in between their events. I grabbed my bag at the beginning of warms up and found that I forgot to pack my library book. Darn! For someone who is constantly on the go I have a hard time sitting still with nothing to do. Knowing that I was too far away from home to get my book, I turned the heat sheet over and started to jot down ideas. That outline became the foundation of my Second Act.

I began to carry composition books around with me so I could write in the car, at the pool, anywhere I could find a minute or two. What started out as a hobby became an obsession. Two years later, I finished writing my novel and found two wonderful critique partners. One pitched my story in a contest last year. A month later I found myself with a contract with Soul Mate Publishing.

On April 30th I became an author.

During last minute edits two weeks ago I saw a quote that inspired me;

“No Pressure. No Diamonds.”

My Second Act is a little more frantic since I remain a wife, mother of three teenagers, and a preschool teacher. Add to that; learning social media, writing a sequel, and promoting the release of my novel.

My advice to anyone with a seven year itch? It’s never too late to do something new.

Thanks, Joanne for having me here on your Second Act Series!

Blurb

When a cursed family heirloom sends Gretta Dobbs back in time, a hunky construction worker, Sam Daggett, suddenly finds himself love struck and joins her adventure. Their souls entwine within the bodies of young lovers on a Greek island in 1829, where they begin to unravel the mysteries behind Gretta’s ring all while avoiding a bloodthirsty pirate who is determined to seek revenge. Gretta and Sam must find the secrets needed to save her and her relatives from an afterlife in purgatory and return to their own lives—or risk becoming prisoners of the past, continuing the evil cycle of the ring’s curse.

Where to find Anne…

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Joanne here!

Anne, Thanks for sharing your inspiring story. I’ve just started reading Souls Entwined and am enjoying it immensely. Best of luck with sales.

Connecting Purposefully and Passionately

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Smiljana Orlic sharing the struggles and strong sense of commitment that shaped her life.

Here’s Smiljana!

I have been an individual with many interests. The truth was not the fact that I could not focus but I saw much excitement and fulfillment in life. I have always been passionate and I have always followed my heart.

Hence, this made it difficult growing up and in a society where I was told it was not possible, I needed to figure out my one purpose, get a safe job or just told it can’t be so. This created doubt, lack of confidence and consistently being hard on myself. At the time, I closed down and found it easier to be “normal” and more “like” other people. This consistent battle within myself caused me much pain and robbed me of complete fulfillment.

After much experience in the corporate world, I was tired of chasing the power and fulfillment I sought. I no longer could divide myself in two between my Divine self and the Power I knew was within to the superficial power that comes when we look for the answers outside of ourselves. Hence, I created my own business that incorporated the strong spiritual principles inherit within me and I intertwined them with strong business strategies to help others build their dreams. I have a process that I take individuals through and together we create systems that they can walk away with and incorporate to get the goals they desire in their business and/or lives. I love sharing the true ‘secret sauce’ of life, connecting them with their passions, empowering others and seeing them succeed in living their unlimited potential of themselves!

The advice I would share to professionals alike is not to ignore the voice of your spiritual soul, your uniqueness or your passions, as they are the nuggets that will lead you to building and creating a life of purpose. There is always a way without compromising your true authentic nature.

Success to me can be measured in many ways, beyond living the life I desire, living in the state of flow and having the things that make me happy, I rate my success on how many others I can help bring passion back in their lives and in their businesses. Seeing them truly free themselves in becoming all they can be and deserving of the business and life they desire brings a great smile to my face. Living a life that is thriving and not just surviving is what truly invigorates my core being and purpose!

Where to find Smiljana…

Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Pinterest

Joanne here!

Smiljana, Thank you for sharing your journey and insights. You are an excellent role model for your clients. Best of luck with all your future endeavours.

A Satisfying Life

Posted on May 9, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Soul Mate author Janis Lane sharing a lifetime of experiences.

Here’s Janis!

Growing up: It’s an interesting thought to consider life having first, second, third, etc. acts. They’re the early days when I was growing up which included schools, proms, first kisses, learning to drive a car and a standard shift in a pick up, and skinny dipping once with my girlfriends. College and that sort of thing. Those were big changes as I left home really for good, only visiting after that. I wrote letters home and made them amusing.

Marriage and Babies: I had a few memorable adventures in my early marriage days. We moved around a lot initially, which I was eager to do. Life was a constant surprise and I was up for it. Hubby bought an airplane. Then came the beautiful baby girl and I wanted instant stability. I remember how puzzled my hubby was at the change in me. I thought he was weird not to understand. We planted ourselves in Western NY and there we welcomed a sturdy baby boy to go with our gorgeous little girl.

Years of Mothering: At the time they seemed to go on forever, but now it seems they were too fleeting. I wrote a bit. Seems I meant to do that when I majored in a few courses in college, but life was too interesting and I just couldn’t settle. The muse was knocking, but “…I hear ya knocking, but you can’t come in…” I painted, learned all about wild flowers, birds, nature, and how to be a Blue Bird leader and that seemed to subdue the urge to create. In between, I read tons of books from all sorts of genres and played an excessive amount of tennis. I earned this bum knee quite honestly.

Empty Nest: You think I’d sit down and write, don’t you? Nope. Freedom meant I could go with hubby and travel became an intense hobby. We made it a habit to “collect” art museums all over the country and quite a few out.

Beginning to Write: Then one day I sat down and started to write. I always meant to and the time seemed right. And I wrote, and I wrote, and I finished a novel. It was satisfying. I joined a local writers group and that was satisfying and illuminating. There were people like me!

I don’t know how long this writing bug will continue. So far I have more ideas than I can possibly get written and I have a lovely office all my own. I do know there is a deep urge in me to continue, some call it the muse, and some call it a creative talent. I call it having fun and living a satisfying life, which runs with hills and valleys but always interesting.

Blurb

MURDER IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD is the first of handsome Detective Kevin Fowler Mysteries. MURDER IN THE JUNKYARD and THE GLASS CAT (a short story) are due out sometime in May.

Life in a peaceful neighborhood is turned upside down when middle-aged women are found dead on their front steps. Detective Fowler races the clock searching for the identity of a madman and is aided by that beautiful, home town, princess reporter, Beverly Hampton.

Where to find Janis…

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Joanne here!

What a rich and colorful life! Thank for sharing, Janis and best of luck with all your releases.

Carpe Diem

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Lori Anding King talking about her personal challenges and sharing remarkable insights and advice.

Here’s Lori!

I’m happy that I got a degree in something I enjoy: biology. I was grateful to land a job at a biotech company founded by Jonas Salk working on a Phase III study to boost the immune system of HIV infected people.

The same year I started, Magic Johnson announced he was HIV positive and HIV was thrown into the spotlight. I worked hard for a great cause and played hard too. I traveled all over Europe with a backpack on my back, biked through Northern Italy and traveled solo down under for 3 months when I decided to leave the company. I earned the nickname of “Indiana Lori” for my adventurous spirit and lack of fear for traveling to the unknown.

Then, I got serious, and took a partner position in a translation agency. All work and no play. This provided the foundation to venture out on my own to create AXIOM Translations with a business partner. I learned more in the 9 years as a small business owner than I did in my whole life. It was exciting, painful, fun and arduous. Towards the end of my 1st Act, I realized that I was recruited into this line of work recruited into someone else’s dream. Wake up, Lori, it’s time to live your dream. What is your passion?

What woke me up?

As I was walking on the treadmill of life, I didn’t even notice the pace was picking up to the point that I was running until signs of stress began to set in. A full blown breakdown occurred with my husband after dropping off the kids at school: “I just can’t handle all this juggling anymore!” With the relief of letting off some steam, I jumped back on. Next, my neck gave out. I was in a brace but could still function so I kept on running. Then, my neck gave out again, this time I could barely move it. “What, I can’t drive!” Flashes of my responsibilities run before my eyes. “I can’t drive the kids to school or pick them up? Who else is going to do it?”

I lose it.

Then, I remember, I need to let go. I am not in control. This is the way it is.

B R E A T H E

Months later, I found out a fellow alumna of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program unexpectedly and suddenly died while 9 months pregnant. The news of Sandra Huerta’s death rocked my world. She was a beautiful spirit who lived life to the fullest and I asked myself: “What are you doing with your life?” Subsequently, I read an article asking: which one would you pick 1. A raise or 2. Time off. Hands down, TIME OFF! I tell this story to my business partner who takes it as “Lori is going to take a few months off.” Cool. I go with it. And that is how I took the summer of 2013 off of work. I couldn’t bring myself to get back on the treadmill. I resigned as an active partner in the business in December 2013.

I wish I could say I have it all figured out; but I don’t. My mother always said, “Do what makes your heart sing.” That is exactly what I am doing, delving into the world of social media. My passion is for empowering people and small business owners to thrive. As a small business owner, I know how all-consuming it can be and how easy it is to lose sight of what is truly precious – family.

What I’ve learned:
– I will honor my passion.
– I will frequently check-in to be sure I’m not consumed by work.
– I will seize the day!

If you are pondering a 2nd Act, I have a few questions for you.

1. Are YOU happy?
2. Is what you are doing resonating with YOU?
3. Are YOU listening? Take time to really L I S T E N

I couldn’t hear on that treadmill; the wind in my ears prevented me from really listening. A mother’s death woke me up. Now, every day, I practice listening because I have time.

Life is too short to ignore your heart.

This is dedicated to Sandra Huerta, a much loved daughter, sister, mother, friend who was taken from this lifetime much too soon. She touched many souls with her kindness, love, zest for life and generosity of heart. Carpe Diem

Where to find Lori…

LinkedIn | Google Plus | Twitter

Joanne here!

Lori, Thank you for sharing your story and posing the difficult questions. I invite everyone to follow Lori’s progress online.

Everything Happens for a Reason

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

I am pleased to welcome Soul Mate author and editor Char Chaffin. She will be sharing her insights on tempting fate (or not) and chatting about her latest release, Jesse’s Girl.

Here’s Char!

Everybody knows what ‘tempting fate’ means. Change this, fix that. Remain stubborn when a certain path is the better way. Do your best to trod a different road even if it goes against every other instinct you might have.

“If I had it all to do over again, I’d do . . .” And then you start listing stuff that in reality probably wouldn’t have made a difference. Some call it fate, a kind of karma, a set journey; that no matter how you progressed in your life, nothing would alter certain truths. Up to a point, I agree.

Some of it is obvious: after all, that ‘left turn at Albuquerque’ made all the difference to Bugs Bunny. He lost his way to Pismo Beach (and all the clams he could eat) because he went right. Then again, he ended up in Aladdin’s Cave, dripping in diamonds and swimming in solid gold coins. Not too bad of an alternative for a wascally wabbit.

I was recently asked what I would change in my life if I could go back. It took but a moment to respond with, “Nothing.” Because sometimes the smallest changes mean everything.

In 1968, my widowed mother had the chance to move us to California. I was thrilled at the thought. At loose ends, we could technically live anywhere, and cousins on my father’s side wanted us to move to Anaheim to be near them. My older brothers were married and settled; nothing was really holding us in our little home town. My fourteen-year-old head was packed tightly with all the marvels of the “Golden State” ever since I’d first heard The Beach Boys and then The Mamas and the Papas sing about it. I had actually started packing up my room when she came to me with the sad news: we wouldn’t be leaving New York after all. It broke my heart. Well, at the time, that is. I mourned the loss of California for a lot of years, even after I met the most amazing man in the world, and married him.

Then, I got to thinking one day: what if? Sure, I believe in fate. But there are things even fate can’t necessarily beat against. If, at age fourteen I had moved to California, I wouldn’t have been in the right place at the right time, to meet the guy who changed my entire life. In this case, Fate wouldn’t have had an opportunity to intervene. Everything that came after would have been affected. Here’s why: I walked into a honky tonk bar, late in the evening, just as my future man was walking out. One minute later and I’d have missed him. But he saw me, decided he liked what he saw, chose to turn and walk back in, sit down and wait to see if I was meeting someone. Then he made his move on me. Boy, did he ever. ::le fond sigh::

None of that would have happened, even if Fate had found a way to wrangle me back to New York at that time in my life. Because I’d have returned an entirely different person and probably wouldn’t have walked into a honky tonk on a bet. And because he already had an off-again, on-again relationship going on, there’s every indication that had we not met, my love would have married someone else shortly after that night. It just so happened that we met when he was on the ‘off.’

The chances of me even going to that bar that night were ridiculously slim, too. The friend I was with wanted to go there, but I was tired and longed for home. She talked me into one more stop. Not only that, but I personally hated country music, so it took some convincing on her part to coax an, “Oh, all right” out of me.

Everything happens for a reason.

All the places my husband and I have lived, each small or big milestone or event, both good and bad, have led us to this very moment in our life together. They link tightly like the precious metal of a necklace; the “gold” of California that I never got to experience back when I was fourteen and about as sharp as a sack of wet mice. Alter a link, alter a path. Change an event, change it all.

So I stayed in New York and swung into a smoky bar in the fall of 1974, late at night. One dance and three months later, I married my guy, a military man. We lived a kind of nomadic existence until the day we ended up in the state where our daughter grew and flourished, then met her soul mate and settled happily. One tiny, small alteration in our plans along the way would have affected so much for her.

Most sobering of all: if I had moved to California, I wouldn’t have had her. Just thinking about it makes me shaky.

Therefore, when asked what I’d have changed if I’d been afforded the opportunity to go back and do anything over, my response was a loud, definitive, “NOTHING.” I wouldn’t change a single second. Not a breath.

Coincidentally, the question of tempting fate also came up when I was writing Jesse’s Girl, my latest release. The story of Tim and Dorothy hinged firmly on the events of a nightmarish time in their lives that changed everything. Tim has his moments of pondering, thinking that if only he’d never left town; if only he’d fought harder, that he’d have gotten his Dorothy a heck of a lot sooner. But that’s not really true, because Tim needed seven years away from Skitter Lake, and Dorothy wouldn’t have abandoned her mother, Jesse’s parents, or his memory. Seven years had to happen just as it did, for everything else to align into the platform that brought Tim back to town, ready to fight for his love. For the scales of impotent misery to tip just enough to push Dorothy into Tim’s arms when she needed him most.

Everything happens for a reason, better believe it.

My current novel, Jesse’s Girl, is set in 1965 Ohio, in a small town called Skitter Lake.

Here’s the blurb:

In 1965, Tim O’Malley returns to his home town of Skitter Lake, Ohio, to clear his name and get the girl: Dorothy Whitaker, the love of his life since eighth grade. Blamed for a destructive fire he didn’t set, only Tim and Dorothy know the truth; that Jesse Prescott, Tim’s best friend and Dorothy’s boyfriend, did the deed that changed an entire town. But Jesse died in that tragedy and seven years later, Skitter Lake still honors him as a hero, rather than Tim, the boy from the seedy side of town whose father was a drunk . . . and whose quick actions saved six people from perishing in that horrendous fire.

In trying to set the record straight and finally claim Dorothy as his own, Tim—and Dorothy, too—will discover that in some small towns the legend often outweighs the truth . . . and their family and friends will forever see Dorothy as “Jesse’s girl.”

Bio

Char Chaffin writes mainstream and contemporary romance filled with family, rich characters and engaging plots. For her, it all comes back to the love.

From crafting Victorian-style poetry to writing short stories and novellas, Char finally settled on romance novels as her true passion. Over the years she worked a variety of jobs, from farm hand to costume designer to fiscal accountant, before deciding a writing career was her desired focus.

In addition to writing, Char is also an Acquisitions Editor for Soul Mate Publishing.

A displaced Alaskan, Char currently divides her time between Fairbanks, Alaska and an Upstate NY, sixty-acre farm with husband Don. Their extended family is scattered all over the Lower Forty-Eight and Alaska.

When she’s not pounding away at her keyboard, sneaking away to the Last Frontier or burying her nose in books and her beloved Kindle, she edits manuscripts and helps Don
maintain their farm.

Where to find Char…

Website | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Joanne here!

Thanks for dropping by, Char. BTW…I enjoyed reading Jesse’s Girl.

How Katie O’Boyle Got Her Wings

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, we have Soul Mate author Katie O’Boyle talking about the perfect storm that inspired her second act and her debut novel Stepping Up to Love.

Here’s Katie!

As a young teen I passionately wanted to teach English, because I loved language, loved writing and wanted everyone to love literature. My first three years teaching in a tough public school convinced me I was a failure as a teacher, so I searched for a more practical, promising career. It was the early 1970s and women were making inroads in the new field of computers. I picked up degrees in Library Science and Computer Science and worked for fifteen years as a software engineer. The deeper I got into technology, the farther away I was from the users—schools, libraries, people. When my company offered an “Engineers into Education” deal, I jumped at the chance to get my doctorate in Education with an emphasis on technology.

Unfortunately, I leapt into the perfect storm. The stress and uncertainly of a career change precipitated a health crisis which forced me to stop working entirely, and I had to spend my entire life’s savings to get back on my feet. When the flood waters receded I had: my doctorate; a chronic health problem; the beginnings of a second career as a professor, consultant and technology planner; and an entirely new network of professional colleagues. I worked as hard as I could in my new field for twenty years and enjoyed every aspect of my work—teaching teachers, consulting with schools and colleges, and writing and speaking at conferences everywhere. And I still enjoy it, but in smaller and smaller assignments.

In the past two years I’ve resurrected my love of writing fiction and begun to publish the Lakeside Porches romance novels. I’m not so much “Dr. Kate” anymore, as “Katie O’Boyle,” and I’m loving my new act as an author. Writing is the most important work that I do now, and it doesn’t feel like work.

Looking back, that perfect storm that engulfed me as I jumped from “heavy techie” to Dr. Kate taught me a lesson that I practice to this day: value your network and keep it strong and current. My transition from Dr. Kate to Katie O’Boyle has taken two years and I continually work at my personal friendships, my connections to the colleagues who will be part of my network after retirement and to the wonderful new colleagues and friends I’m making as an author.

When I was struggling terribly to recover from illness and get my second act off the ground, I saw an inspiring bookmark that said:

Sometimes you have to take a leap and build your wings on the way down.

Scary job! But I wasn’t doing it alone. Faith and Hope were working along with me, insuring success. And my friends were cheering me on. With that change of perspective, the hard work became less of a nightmare and more of a thrill.

Blurb

When her boss Joel Cushman catches her using the spa shower at The Manse, junior accountant and graduating college senior Manda Doughty comes clean about the alcoholic drinking that has led her into a disastrous relationship with a predatory professor. Joel, who is also a trustee of the college, is faced with more problems than a beautiful, naked woman in his shower. While he’d rather make love all night with funny, brainy Manda, Joel knows his desire for her has no future if Manda cannot stay sober, grow up, and face her problems. While Manda immerses herself in AA, Joel uncovers harassment and embezzlement that threaten the existence of the college his ancestors founded. Can he fix the problems at the college without exposing Manda to public humiliation? Can Manda clean up her mess and trust the love she feels for Joel? The odds may not be in their favor, but miracles happen for those who are willing to change their lives and open their hearts.

Where to Find Katie…

Amazon | Website | Twitter | Facebook

Joanne here!

I am in awe of your strength and courage, Katie. And I can easily visualize you flying higher each day. I enjoyed reading Stepping Up to Love and look forward to the next book in the series.

Claiming Fantasy Hen Lit

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

It’s officially mine.

After Googling “fantasy hen lit” and discovering my picture, the book cover of Between Land and Sea, and several images from my website on the first page of search results, I claimed the new sub-genre as my own.

A bit of history…

I never intended to write fantasy. I avoided books that featured werewolves, vampires, witches and other dark creatures and am probably one of the few people on this planet who could not read past Chapter 1 of the first Harry Potter novel. But after participating in a series of science fiction workshops, I decided to try my hand at light and breezy fantasy with inspirational elements. Whenever I described my work to other writers in the workshop, they would frown and ask, “But what genre is that?”

Continue reading on Katie Teller’s blog.

Happily Ever After: In Fiction and In Life

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Joanne Guidoccio

Welcome to my Second Acts Series!

Today, I am thrilled to feature a couple, Catherine and Donald Hersh, aka Soul Mate author C.D. Hersh.

Here’s C.D.

FIRST ACT

Our first act has always had writing in it, both personally and professionally, just not in the same manner as it has now. Over the years at work, Donald had become proficient at writing instructional manuals and documents for the technical work he did and was recognized for his writing by a national organization in his field. Winning the Blanche Witte Award – a highly prestigious award in his career field – was one of the highlights of his career. The award included a paid trip to Fort Worth, TX for the presentation in front of a national gathering of his peers. Catherine got to go, too.

During this time Catherine was becoming skilled at writing for the local papers with non-fiction news stories, interviews and advertorials. She branched out from the paper and started writing articles and stories published in the Cincinnati Magazine, and writing for children at Standard Publishing.

We were both involved in the drama group at church, even contributing a few short skits that were performed. One year the drama director came to us with a request to write a Christmas play they were developing as a re-creation of Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth. We took a go at it, writing the play as an interactive, living diorama with the audience walking through the set as travelers looking for a place to stay. The church put the play on four out of five years running at Christmas with thousands of people coming through by the end of the run. We were even able to sell the script to churches across the country.

From this we learned we could work together (without killing each other), create a good story, and even have fun while writing. Another play we have finished is currently in the Ohio Community Theater library waiting for a local community theater to discover. We also have several more WIPs plays and musicals that, due to our second act, may never get finished.

ACT TWO

Act Two began when Catherine gave Donald a romance book to read while we were on vacation. She thought it was a good action romance he would enjoy. Well, Donald slogged through the book and when finished, he promptly threw it away. In Catherine’s presence, he declared the male characters were weak and that we could write better characters.

As Catherine was never one to turn down a challenge she said, “Let’s do it!”

So, on the trip home we cast around for ideas to base a story on and found one along the side of the road: A sign announcing an upcoming attraction at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in New York.

After bouncing several ideas off each other about what the meaning of “Turning Stone” might entail, we began to develop our world. The Turning Stone Society is a shape shifting group that lives among us. Members have a magical blood stone ring that changes them into other personas: male, female and animal, with a few twists the usual shape shifting worlds don’t have. From there on as the old saying goes is “the rest of the story,” which has developed into a five-book series called the Turning Stone Chronicles.

Currently, the first book in the series, The Promised One, is published in both Kindle and paperback. The second book, Blood Brothers, is due out this summer. Below is a cover reveal for Blood Brothers, the blurb, and an excerpt.

Blurb

When Delaney Ramsey is enlisted to help train two of the most powerful shape shifters the Turning Stone Society has seen in thousands of years, she suspects one of them is responsible for the disappearance of her daughter. To complicate matters, the man has a secret that could destroy them all. Bound by honor to protect the suspect, Delaney must prove his guilt without losing her life to his terrible powers or revealing to the police captain she’s falling for that she’s a shape shifter with more than one agenda.

The minute Captain Williams lays eyes on Delaney Ramsey, he knows she’s trouble. Uncooperative, secretive, and sexy, he can’t get her out of his mind. When he discovers she has a personal agenda for sifting through all the criminal records in his precinct, and secretly investigating his best detective, he can’t let her out of his sight. He must find out what she’s looking for before she does something illegal. If she steps over the line, he’s not certain he can look the other way for the sake of love.

Excerpt

Harry Williams paused at the entrance to Alexi’s ER room, hand hovering over the doorknob, uncertain when he heard the voices inside. Did she have company? He peeked in through a crack in the window curtain. The only people he recognized were Alexi and Rhys. He moved from the door, planning to return later.

“Captain,” Rhys called as he opened the door. “Come in.”

“I’m not intruding?”

“No. Alexi will be glad to see you.”

Harry stepped into the room. Going immediately to her bedside, he set the small vase of flowers he’d brought on the nightstand. “Didn’t know what kind you liked.”

Retrieving the vase, she held the flowers to her nose and inhaled. “These are gorgeous, Captain. Thank you.”

Tubes stuck into his favorite homicide detective’s arms. She seemed so helpless hooked to the equipment. Not at all like the fearless woman he knew. “You going to be okay?”

“I’ve got to stay in for a few days, but then I should be fine.”

He glared at Rhys. “How did you let her get mauled by a panther?”

“She ran in ahead of me … like she always does.”

“Headstrong woman,” Harry said to Alexi.

“That’s what makes me so good,” she replied with a smile that lit her drawn face. Alexi directed his attention toward the older man.

“This is Eli McCraigen, an old friend of Baron’s, and this,” she said, pointing to the woman, “is Delaney Ramsey. Our boss, Captain Harry Williams.”

Giving Eli a cursory nod, Harry then turned toward Delaney. A pair of turquoise eyes shown out of a china doll face, with the slightest hint of a middle age crease around her cupid bow mouth. A minute past before he found his voice. “Ms. Delaney, nice to meet you,” he said with a squeak. He hadn’t jumped octaves like that since his teenage acne cleared.

Smiling, her face lit. Amused, no doubt, by him. His gaze swept over her. She had a body a man could lose himself in. When she caught him enjoying the view, she blushed and returned the favor.

The once-over caused him to respond faster than he thought possible. A woman had not made him react like that in a long time. Women were a distraction. One he’d only dallied with occasionally since his wife left him. They all ran the minute they heard he was a career cop.

Bio

Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in true love and happily ever after.

Together they have co-authored a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. Their most recent collaborative writing efforts have been focused on romance. The first book of their paranormal romance series entitled The Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles) is available on Amazon. The second book in the series Blood Brothers is coming this summer.

Where to Find C.D. Hersh…

Joanne here!

Thank you Catherine and Donald for sharing your uplifting life story. I enjoyed reading The Promised One and look forward to the other books in the series. BTW…the storyline for Blood Brothers sounds intriguing.