Guest Blogger, Marie Force

Please join me in welcoming author Marie Force as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Marie is the author of FATAL AFFAIR, a romantic suspense that was just released yesterday by Carina Press. Marie is joining us today to share her thoughts on crime and romance and she might just have a surprise.

What is it about crime stories that capture our attention and holds us riveted to shows on CNN and Fox News that rehash every sordid detail? I’m not really sure what it says about our collective psyche that shows such as Law & Order are among the most successful franchises in T.V. history.

I can only tell you that I find the subject endlessly fascinating. What

drives someone to commit a heinous crime? What makes a person with absolutely no criminal history suddenly decide to kill someone else? Is it a slow burn or a moment of madness?

My fascination with every aspect of crime, from commission through to sentencing, along with a lifelong love of romance made romantic suspense a natural fit for me as a writer. My first suspense, FATAL AFFAIR, hit the digital shelves yesterday at Carina Press. It opens with the murder of a U.S. senator who is found dead in his bed by his chief of staff, Nick Cappuano.

The detective investigating the case is none other than Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, Sgt. Sam Holland. Set in Washington, D.C., FATAL AFFAIR, combines suspense, romance and politics for a fast-paced murder mystery that will hopefully keep you guessing until the very end. Book 2 in the Fatal Series, FATAL JUSTICE, out in January, will continue Sam and Nick’s story.

I’m curious about your thoughts on crime stories. Do you watch fascinated by every detail or do you tend to avoid such unpleasant

realities? I’ll give a copy of FATAL AFFAIR to one respondent. I won’t blame you if you say you avoid the crime stories. Believe me, sometimes I wish I had stayed away from the realities because some of these stories are just too horrible to be believed and the details stay with me long after the case is closed. Thanks for having me today, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

Marie, thanks so much for guest blogging here today. I think we are all drawn to crime details even if we can’t explain why.

Here’s a short synopsis of FATAL AFFAIR:
On the morning of the most important vote of Senator John O’Connor’s career he is late—again. His best friend and chief of staff, Nick Cappuano sets off to O'Connor’s apartment expecting to roust him from bed and hoping he is alone. But what Nick finds is that O’Connor, the handsome, amiable Senator from Virginia, has been brutally murdered, and Nick’s world comes crashing down around him. Complicating the disaster, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Sam Holland, Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, the woman who broke his heart and haunts his dreams. With six years worth of unfinished business hanging between them and more than a few scores to settle personally and professionally, Nick and Sam set out to find the senator's killer while trying—and failing—to resist the overwhelming attraction between them that seems to have only grown over the years.

It soon becomes clear that the senator’s past holds secrets that not only led to his death but now endanger Nick and Sam as well. Working together to find a killer and to rediscover the love they thought they lost long ago, they must put the past behind them and build a future that offers a world of new opportunities for both of them—including an offer from the Virginia Democrats for Nick to finish the last year of John’s term.

Now for a little background on Marie. Besides her FATAL Series, she is also the author of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE and LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT. Of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, Booklist said, “With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans.” Wild on Books said, “LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT by Marie Force is most definitely a keeper. It is an astounding book. I loved every single word!”

A third contemporary, EVERYBODY LOVES A HERO, is due out Feb. 1, 2011. Since 1996, Marie has been the communications director for a national organization similar to the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of RWA’s New England, From the Heart and Published Author Special Interest Chapters. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two children and a feisty dog named Brandy. Find her at www.mariesullivanforce.com, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Force/248130827909 and on Twitter at twitter.com/MarieForce. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com.

Don’t forgot to leave your thoughts on crime stories for a chance to win a copy of FATAL AFFAIR.

Guest Blogger, Donna Lea Simpson

It’s my pleasure to welcome author Donna Lea Simpson as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Donna’s current book, LOVE & SCANDAL, releases today and I’m thrilled to have her here to celebrate that occasion and tell us how the publication came about. In addition, Donna has a surprise from her book’s heroine, Collette, to share with us.

~::~

I’ve been with a few publishers over the years, with varying experiences. I’ve had run-ins with copy editors and line editors; I’ve felt the sting of rejection; I have wailed into the vastness of space, ‘Why no promotion? Why?’

But I was publisherless last fall (Autumn 2009) for the first time in many years. I was taking time to rethink my career, making some serious changes, and I was even kind of between agents; we hadn’t officially broken up yet, but we weren’t exactly ‘seeing each other’ any more. Then I made the momentous decision to send my book, Love & Scandal (a Victorian-set historical romance) to this new eBook start-up I had heard buzz about.

This was on the heels of sending it to another new eBook start-up that never got off the ground; the other publishers folded up their tents and slipped quietly into the night before they even published their first book. Those around me were skeptical about yet another eBook company, let me tell you, but I was not hesitant. Not in the slightest.

Why no hesitation? eBook companies are notoriously poorly planned, right? Few sell many books, and even those that do, have shaky accounting at best. So goes the common wisdom anyway. I know differently; I know there are many eBook companies with solid sales models and professional accounting practices. But the real reason I had absolutely no hesitation over the new eBook start-up was that ‘Carina Press’ was to be the all-digital imprint of Harlequin Enterprises, and Harlequin is as solid as they come, in the publishing world. They are proactive and ahead of their times, but never enter any venue without due deliberation. And they give their imprints a chance to succeed.

So I sent Love & Scandal to Carina and kind of forgot about it. I had a lot on my plate, and I was busy with other things. And then I got a wonderful letter from the acquisitions editor, Angela James, and she told me those words that every writer longs to hear; ‘Love the book… we want it!’

Then the real fun started. I must say, never, in all my years, have I been through such a thorough editing, proofing, planning and advertising process! They have every detail nailed down tight, and though they demand a lot of their writers, they also give a lot in the way of feedback, editorial support, advertising support and a deep well of knowledge about the romance publishing industry from which the author is encouraged to dip.

Bottom line, I would recommend Carina Press highly for any author who is thinking about sending out their baby to a publishing company. Once you’re accepted, you won’t be sorry! And they publish more than romance; they are up for paranormal, suspense, mystery… you name it.

Soooo, what about Love & Scandal my June 21st release from Carina Press? Well, I’ve always been interested in Victorian literature--I’ve read quite a bit of it—and I find female authors (Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters) most in tune with my reading likes, so a novel about both seemed a no-brainer, even though Love & Scandal is the only book I have ever written set in the Victorian era!

Love & Scandal is a romance. Set in 1855, London, England, the heroine is Collette Jardiniere, a female author who has written a scandalous bestseller using a male pseudonym. But an infamous gossip rag has speculated that ‘Colin Jenkins’, ostensibly the author of The Last Days of a Rake, is the well known man-about-town Charles Jameson.

When she learns about this, Collette takes the train to London (she meets a handsome and intriguing man on the train and they share a passionate kiss) and confronts her publisher, but he refuses to do anything about it, since Last Days is selling again like hotcakes. So Collette vows to find Charles Jameson and make him admit to the world that he is not the author. But when she meets him face to face she’s in for a surprise; Charles is the mysterious man on the train, the very same one who left her breathless from his expert kiss.

Will she tell him she is Colin Jenkins, author of The Last Days of a Rake? Will he believe that this slip of a young woman, to whom he is fiercely attracted, has written the book he is so enamored of?

Love & Scandal is being released today, June 21st, 2010, and readers can download FREE The Last Days of a Rake, the scandalous novel by ‘Colin Jenkins’!

Hope you enjoy both books! Best regards, Donna Lea Simpson.

Donna, thanks so much for guest blogging here today. It’s interesting to see how LOVE & SCANDAL came about and that you wrote a novel for your novel. How neat.

For more information on Donna and her writing, visit her at http://www.donnaleasimpson.com  She plans to have a link on her site where visitors will be able to buy Carina Press eBooks directly! In addition, visitors can read Chapter One of Love & Scandal at: http://donnaleasimpson.wordpress.com/love-scandal-chapter-one/

Guest Blogger, Alison Strobel

Please join me in welcoming author Alison Strobel as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress on her current blog tour.

Alison is the author of THE WEIGHT OF SHADOWS. I have one copy of the book to offer as a giveaway and Alison also has a special book giveaway. Please see the end of the post for both contest guidelines.

Alison is answering some questions for me today about her new book and her writing.

First could you give a brief description of your latest book?

The Weight of Shadows looks at how guilt has affected three different people, and the various ways in which they each seek relief from it. The main story line is about Kim, a young woman who has built a successful life for herself after a difficult childhood, but who is plagued by guilt over a tragic mistake she made years ago. She finally finds the love she's always craved--as well as a way to pay for her sins--when she begins to date Rick and he starts to hit her. But when their baby daughter begins to experience his wrath, she must choose between her own relief from guilt and the safety of her innocent child. It's a book about redemption, forgiveness, and what real love looks like--and how all three are found in Christ.

What inspired you to begin writing?

I started writing stories when I was in first grade and just never stopped. Writing is in my blood. My father is a prolific writer, and even my brother has a book out! We're a very wordy family. :) Also, I was a voracious reader as a child, and still would be if I had the time! The books I read inspired me to try writing my own stories, and the rest as they say is history.

What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

Research. I haaaaaaate to research. I just want to write! But a good story requires knowing the subject matter, so it's a necessary part of the process. The last few steps of my outlining process are frustrating, too, because by the time I get to that point I'm soooo ready to just start writing. But those last few steps are the most important ones, so I can't let myself skimp on the time that I spend on them, otherwise the story suffers for it. It takes a lot of discipline to not just blow through it.

What element of writing do you enjoy the most and why?

Finally starting the first draft. My outlining process--I use Randy

Ingermanson's Snowflake Method--takes about a month to finish, and by the time it's done I'm really chomping on the bit to get going. The day that I finally open up that blank document in Scrivener (the writing program I use) is always a very exciting one for me. :)

When writing, do you have a routine that you follow or is each day different?

I work in the afternoons, after I've put my girls down for a nap, so I usually grab the second half of my lunch, bring it up to my office, and answer emails while I eat. After that, I take care of whatever little things *need* to be done that day--phone calls or placing book orders or whatever--and then I get to work on whatever step in the process I'm at: working on my snowflake outline, writing the draft, working on edits, etc. Lately it's been a little dicey because I'm having to not only work on outlining a new book, but also on marketing for The Weight of Shadows, as well as the proposal for another book since I'm nearly done with my current contracts and I need to start "shopping" for another one. So it's been interesting trying to juggle all of those. I also should have edits coming back soon on my Spring 2011 release, so that will make things even more 'exciting'!

What is next for you? Any other books you’re currently working on?

REINVENTING RACHEL will come out this September from David C. Cook. It's about what happens when a young woman decides to give up Christianity after experiencing a series of tragedies that she thinks God should have protected her from. That one is almost completed; just tidying up a couple little editing issues. Next spring MEMORY OF THE HEART will release with Zondervan; that one is about what happens when a famous Bible study writer and speaker becomes an atheist against her will. I've finished the main draft of that and am waiting to get the edits back from my publisher. And the outline I'm working on right now is for a book tentatively titled TROUBLE CHILD; it's about a young pastor's wife who develops bipolar disorder and how it threatens both her marriage and her husband's ministry. That one will release in fall of 2011 with Cook.

Any information you’d like readers to know about you or your books?

One of my most favorite things to do is to chat with book clubs who have read my books--or even talk to clubs who haven't read my books but are interested in hearing about the writing life and publishing process. If you're part of a book club, please consider one of my novels for your next selection, and then contact me at alison@alisonstrobel.com to schedule me to speak to your group either in person (for those in central Colorado), on the phone, or via the Internet on Skype or Google Chat.

Alison, thank you so much for answering all these questions. It’s always interesting to find out what a writer’s routine is like and what parts of writing they enjoy most.

Now for the giveaway contest. To enter the contest (open to residents of the U.S. and Canada) from this blog, just leave a comment on Alison’s post between now and 8 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, June 27. Be sure to leave your e-mail if it’s not included in your profile. Alison will also be mailing a signed bookplate with the book so it can be signed to the winner or someone they’d like to give it to. As an extra bonus, on July 18th, which is one week after the blog tour ends, Alison will choose one commenter from a randomly selected blog (participating in the tour) to receive either autographed copies of her first three books or a gift card to the winner’s favorite bookstore.

Be sure to check out Alison's blog for a complete calendar of her tour and the blogs she will be visiting. Her book can be found on Amazon and on Christianbook.com

Bits and Pieces

Are there days you have 15 things going on at once, but can’t help but think you’re forgetting something?

I think we all feel overwhelmed from time to time trying to keep everything going. We’re like the guy (or the ladies in the photo) that is spinning all the plates on sticks at one time. If we slow down the least little bit, one may fall.

I’m taking a bit of a breather today and slowing down to say thanks to Sia at Sia McKye’s Thoughts,,,OVER COFFEE for awarding me the Meat and Potatoes Award this past week. She explained that the award tells you that the blog content is more than fluff but offers some solid information. I'm honored that she feels this blog offers more than just fluff.

This is what Sia posted about the award and bloggers she pasted the

award on to: “This prestigious award goes to a particular group of wise and experienced bloggers who have proven themselves over the course of time, trials, and tribulations. If you’re looking to follow someone’s guidance for writing, publishing, promotion and thought provoking articles, then I suggest you look at this group.”

If you haven’t stopped by Sia’s site, please do so. She blogs three times a week and offers wonderful interviews, reviews and thoughts on the writing profession.

Now I’m to pass this on to five bloggers. There are so many wonderful blogs that I visit it’s hard to select. I’d like to pass this on to:
Margot at Confessions of a Mystery Novelist...
Lynnette at Chatterbox Chit Chat
All the editors at The Blood-Red Pencil
The group at The Writing Bug
The ladies at Women of Mystery

Each one of these blogs provides thought provoking posts chalked full of informative, helpful and entertaining elements. If you don’t visit these blogs already, be sure to check them out. You won’t be disappointed. A special shout out to Stephen at Breakthrough Blogs who got this award started.

Now I have winners to announce. Congratulations goes to Christy H. of Utah and Julia H. of Minnesota for winning the two-book set of Patricia Batta’s books. Thanks to everyone who stopped by and commented on Patricia’s post.

A quick reminder that tomorrow at 8 p.m. is the deadline for submitting a comment on Monday’s post for a chance to win a $60 gift certificate from csnstore.com. Just finish the sentence and be sure to include your e-mail address if it’s not included in your profile.

I have a line-up of great authors slated for the coming week. Be sure to drop by and say hi to each.

I'm trying a different font and size for this post. Please let me know if this is easier to read than what I was using.  This is Times Large. What I was using was Verdana normal. Which do you like?

Now, are your plates still spinning all at one time or have you broken half of them and decided to take a breather today too?

I Love This Bar by Carolyn Brown

I LOVE THIS BAR shows a great example of don’t judge a book or a person by what you first see.

Looking at this great book cover some readers might assume it’s all about bars, brawls, and cowboys. Well, there are plenty of sexy cowboys, a couple of minor brawls, and one great bar. What they might not get at first glance is the terrific story of friendship, family ties and true love mixed in with a big dose of laugh-out-loud, down-home humor.

Author Carolyn Brown has captured small town America and reminds readers what it’s like to know your neighbors and be there for each other when times get bad.

The story is about Daisy O’Dell, the owner and bartender of the Honky Tonk in a small Texas town. Daisy has sworn off men after she got away from her abusive ex-almost husband seven years earlier. She found herself at the Honky Tonk under the care of its owner, Ruby Lee. When Ruby died, she left the Honky Tonk to Daisy with a few rules Daisy doesn’t intend to break.

Meanwhile, Jarod McElroy comes to town to help his ailing uncle run his ranch during this final days. Jarod’s been burned three times when proposing so he’s not looking for anyone new.

When Daisy and Jarod literally collide at the Honky Tonk, sparks fly and fires ignite. Daisy reminds herself of Ruby’s rules and Jarod doesn’t want to get mixed up with a bartender from a beer joint. Trying to fight his attraction to Daisy, Jarod begins to learn there so much more to her than he first thought.

Throw in an eclectic group of Honky Tonk patrons - Chigger, a flamboyant hairdresser; the red-headed Walker triplets (Billy Bob, Jim Bob and Joe Bob), one of which constantly proposes to Daisy; and Merle Avery, Ruby’s best friend and pool playing queen of the Honky Tonk; and you’ve got a load of fun. Add in Jarod’s uncle, Emmett, with his mischief interfering and Tinker, the bouncer, and you’ll be longing to visit to the bar for a an evening of country music and a beer from a mason jar.

Author Carolyn Brown paints a wonderful landscape of the countryside with her descriptions. She creates characters you would swear you know or wish you did. She sprinkles in an array of country music songs of both old and new artists that will have you searching for a country music station to hum along with.

I will admit I put this book down with two chapters left and didn’t pick it up for several days. I knew the end was close. Problem was I didn’t want these characters to go away. I wanted to keep reading about them and all their crazy stunts and funny adventures. Ms. Brown had pulled me into Daisy and Jarod’s world and I wasn’t ready to leave.

Then I remembered I LOVE THIS BAR is the first book in the Honky Tonk series. So I finished reading the book and found a few surprises I wasn’t expecting.

Never judge on first sight, first impressions or first meetings. I LOVE THIS BAR shows there’s always more to uncover and you might just be amazed at what you find.

I Love This Bar by Carolyn Brown, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2010, ISBN: 978-1-4022-3926-7, Paperback, 384 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Cara Elliott, Guest Blogging

I’d like to welcome author Cara Elliott who is touring the blogsphere this week and makes a stop here today at Thoughts in Progress as the special guest blogger.

Cara’s latest book is SURRENDER TO A ROGUE, the second in the Circle of Sin trilogy. Thanks to Cara, Anna and the folks at Hachette Book Group I have 5 copies of her book to giveaway. Please see the giveaway guidelines at the end of this post.

Here’s a brief synopsis of SURRENDER TO A ROGUE: “An expert in antiquities, Lady Alessandra della Giamatti arrives in Bath to excavate newly discovered Roman ruins-only to find herself caught in a web of evil intrigue by a blackmailer threatening to expose her scandalous past. The one man who can help her is Lord James "Black Jack" Pierson, a fellow member of the expedition and a sinfully handsome rogue whose tempting presence ignites a different sort of danger.

Jack has clashed with Alessandra in the past, so when she suddenly surrenders her body he can't help being suspicious. Is she a scheming temptress? Or is she truly a lady in trouble? As desire and deceptions swirl around them, Alessandra and Jack must find a way to win each other's trust. For if they don't work together to uncover a shocking truth, their enemy-and their own simmering passions-may destroy them and everything they cherish.”

I’ve asked Cara to explain why she decided to write about antiquities as Lady Alessandra’s line of work, to talk about her research and why she chose Bath.

I’ve been a history geek since I was little—it must have been all those great PBS specials on The Tudors and the secrets of the ancient Pyramids! And after seeing a show on the discovery of a Viking treasure trove in northern England, I became enamored with archeology. (My parents were not amused at the large holes that began appearing in the backyard, and I was told that Norse warriors had never, ever lived in suburban Connecticut.)

Alas, I was hopeless in science and math, so decided to pursue a different career path. However I’ve always remained fascinated by the subject. So when I conceived of my circle of scholarly ladies (The Circle of Sin) I knew right away that one of them would specialize in antiquities. And hey, I got to write an Indiana Jones-type hero! (Jack is a pretty dashing rogue! He doesn’t have a fedora but he does wear skin tight leather breeches.)

The city of Bath made a perfect setting for the book, because it’s been a “spa” town since ancient times. The Roman established a magnificent temple and underground thermal baths over two thousand years ago, which can still be visited today. It was really fun to research the history of the city and discover all the interesting people who spent time there. In the Regency era, it was a very popular watering hole. Jane Austen lived there for a bit, and it as the setting for Northanger Abbey (though she thought the city “a place of vapor, shadow, smoke and confusion.”) It also features prominently in Georgette Heyer’s romances.
 
In my book, I use the marvelous Roman ruins as part of the plot. Alessandra comes to Bath to help with an excavation, only to find that someone is threatening to dig up a dark secret from her past. She is not sure whether to trust Jack, and so . . .
 
Oh, but that would spoiling all the fun! I hope you’ll read their story and let me know what you think!

Cara, thanks so much for guest blogging here today. Now I understand why antiquities had to be Lady Alessandra’s line of work and Bath is an exciting setting.

For a little background on Cara, she started creating books at the age of five, or so her mother tells her. And she has the proof — a neatly penciled story, the pages lavishly illustrated with full color crayon drawings of horses and bound with staples — to back up her claim. She has since moved on from Westerns to writing about Regency England, a time and place that has captured her imagination ever since she opened the covers of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. 
 
Cara has a BA and an MFA in Graphic Design from Yale University and now work as the creative director of a lifestyle sporting magazine, a job which lets her combine her love of the printed word with her love of art. Cara said, “I’m very fortunate in that my work allows me to travel to interesting destinations around the world — however, my favorite spot is London, where the funky antique markets and used book stores offer a wealth of inspiration for my stories.” For more information, check out her website at www.caraelliott.com and she blogs at WordWenches.com

Now for the giveaway guidelines. I have 5 copies of SURRENDER TO A ROGUE to giveaway. To enter the giveaway, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the “Win Surrender” in the subject line and be sure to include your name and mailing address in the body of the e-mail. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. The giveaway ends at 8 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday, June 30.  


To listen to an interview with Cara, click here.

Guest Blogger, Margot Kinberg

Please join me in welcoming author Margot Kinberg as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Margot is not only a talented author, but a fellow blogger. Her blog, Confessions of a Mystery Novelist...., is always informative, entertaining, and thought-provoking. If you haven’t stop by, be sure to do so. You’ll enjoy the visit and make it a regular stop.

Margot latest release is B VERT FLAT. Since her protagonist has a connect to campus life, she joins us today to discuss campuses and murder.

Thanks so much, Mason, for hosting me! I’m excited to be here. I’m blogging today about campuses partly because I love college campuses. Very often, they’re worlds unto themselves. Even in towns that are known as “college towns,” where the life of the town seems to revolve around the campus, the campus itself is still what you might call a world apart. In a way, that makes a lot of sense.

After all, colleges and universities are unique social communities. They have their own social structure and hierarchy, many have their own places to eat and shop, and very often, they have their own security/police. Many college and university campuses are also home to a rich diversity of people with all sorts of histories, and all sorts of personal issues, and all sorts of different personalities. Many campuses are beautiful places with lots of history. Even newer campuses are often beautiful, and there’s often a sort of mystique about a college campus. With all of that beauty and mystique, history and groups of disparate people, it’s no wonder that the college campus is the setting for so much crime fiction. That’s part of the reason I’ve chosen the college campus as the setting for my Joel Williams mysteries. I’m in good company, too.

Lots of famous college campuses have become, you might say, characters in crime fiction novels. One of the most famous is the U.K.’s Oxford University, which poet Mathew Arnold referred to as “dreaming spires.” That beautiful campus features heavily in Colin Dexter’s Inspector Morse novels. Morse visits campus frequently and gets to know several of the dons and other campus faculty and staff members, as well as several students. What’s particularly interesting about the Morse novels is that they contrast the world of the campus with the world of the surrounding town of Oxford. Traditionally, there’s a disconnect, sometimes even an animosity, between people who live and work on campus and people who live and work in the town. That “town/gown” conflict is a part of many of the Morse novels, especially when he looks into the private lives of the some of the university people he investigates.

Oxford is also the setting for many of Veronica Stallwood’s Kate Ivory mysteries. Kate is a very popular historical novelist who lives and works in Oxford. Since she’s an amateur sleuth, she isn’t assigned to investigate crimes. Rather, she’s drawn into them through her relationships with victims, suspects, etc. For instance, in Oxford Exit, Kate’s friend and former lover, Andrew Grove, is on the security committee for the Bodleian Library. He’s concerned about a series of thefts from the library, and thinks that a computer hacker has been tampering with the records to cover up a series of thefts of rare materials. Andrew offers Kate the job of tracking the thief, and she agrees, since the fee will help her make ends meet while she finishes her current manuscript. As Kate’s working to solve the riddle of the thefts, she finds that the disturbed writing of a student in her friend Emma’s writing class begins to mirror Kate’s search for the truth about the thefts. More than that, the writing suggests a connection between these thefts and the unexplained death of a librarian a year earlier. In this novel, we get a real feel for Oxford’s famous Bodleian Library.

We also get a look at Oxford’s campuses and traditions in Dorothy Sayers’ Gaudy Night, in which Harriet Vane, an alumna of Shrewsbury College, Oxford, returns to her alma mater for its Gaudy Dinner and festivities. A few months later, she receives a letter from the Warden of Shrewsbury, asking her to investigate a series of disturbing events at the college. Vane’s reluctant to do so, but eventually agrees and goes back to Shrewsbury, using the “cover” of doing research for a book. While she’s there, she and (later) Lord Peter Wimsey, find out who’s behind some threatening anonymous letters, vandalism, and other frightening occurrences.

Pamela Thomas-Graham’s Ivy League series highlights some of the U.S.’s more famous college campuses. In A Darker Shade of Crimson, Harvard economics professor Nikki Chase discovers the murderer of her friend, Rosezella “Ella” Maynette Fisher, Harvard’s new Dean of Students. In this novel, we get a sense of the Harvard campus, and certainly of Harvard history. The same thing happens in Blue Blood, in which Chase investigates murder at Yale University. In that novel, Gary Fox, a Yale Dean and a friend of Chase’s, calls her in a panic when his wife, Amanda, is found brutally stabbed in the streets of New Haven. Because of his recent (and public) disputes with his wife, Fox himself becomes a suspect in her murder, and Chase resolves to clear his name. Here, we not only get a sense of the beautiful Yale campus, but also of the “town/gown” relationship with New Haven itself. And then there’s Orange Crushed, in which Chase visits Princeton University to attend a conference and to visit her brother, Erik. While she’s there, she also visits her mentor, Professor Earl Stokes, who’s head of the African-American Studies Department. Stokes has all but decided to accept a very attractive offer from Harvard, but has decided to stay at Princeton until the department’s new building has been completed. One night, the new building goes up in flames and Stokes himself is killed. When Chase finds out what’s happened, she resolves to discover who killed her mentor and destroyed the new building.

In Yrsa Sigurðardóttir’s Last Rituals, we get a sense of the campus of the University of Iceland in Reykjavík. That’s the story of the death of Harald Guntlieb, a young German who was studying history, in particular, witchcraft and mysticism. One day, Trygvvi, who’s the head caretaker at the university, finds Gunnar Gestvik, head of the history department, in a desperate and frantic state. It seems that Gunnar opened the door to the building’s printer alcove, only to have Guntlieb’s brutally-murdered body fall on him. Immediately, the police are called, and before long, Guntlieb’s former friend is in custody for his murder, but Guntlieb’s family doesn’t believe he’s guilty. They contact attorney Thóra Gudmundsdóttir, asking her to investigate the case. To assist Thóra in her search for the truth, the Guntlieb family also sends their own representative, Matthew Reich. Together, the two of them begin to search for answers. Along the way, we get an “inside look” at the university campus. We get a perspective on how the students live, how the faculty members interact with students and staff and, of course, on the campus itself.

University and college campuses have changed quite a lot in the last decades. That’s what makes it also interesting to get a look at campuses from earlier times. One of the most eventful eras on campuses was the era of student activism during the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. We get a sense of that in John Alexander Graham’s The Involvement of Arnold Weschler. That’s the story of Hewes College Classics professor Arnold Weschler. One day, he’s called mysteriously into the office of college president Wintrhop Dohrn. Dohrn’s concerned about a radical student group that’s been protesting and creating unrest on campus. He believes that Weschler’s estranged brother, David, is one of the leaders of the group, and wants Weschler to intervene with his brother and get the group to stop its activities. Weschler’s reluctant, but agrees for the sake of his career. He contacts his brother and slowly gets to know the student group. Then, Dohrn’s grand-daughter is kidnapped. Next, a bomb goes off at the president’s home, destroying it and killing the president. Someone in the student group has gone too far, and Weschler takes on the task of finding out who’s responsible for these tragedies. In this novel, we get to see much of the Hewes College campus, and we get a look at the interactions among the various groups on campus (faculty, administrators, etc...). Admittedly, it’s a look from a by-gone time, but it’s an interesting historical “snapshot.”

My own Joel Williams novels are set on the campus of fictional Tilton University in rural Pennsylvania. I chose a small college town and campus as the setting for these novels because campuses are often beautiful, outwardly peaceful, and often full of secrets. Little wonder they make such an effective setting for a mystery!! Do you like campuses as much as I do? Which “campus mysteries” have you enjoyed?

Thanks again, Mason, for your hospitality!

Margot, thanks to you for guest blogging here today. Usually when one thinks of campus life, students learning and having a good time comes to mind. You’ve given us a different outlook and how deadly campus life can be.

Here’s the synopsis of the B VERY FLAT:
Is anyone really safe? Not necessarily. At nineteen years old, Serena Brinkman, an undergraduate violin major at Tilton University, seems to have a very secure future; she's got good looks, money, people who love her, and rare musical talent. She's also got a coveted Amati violin, a musical rival, friends whose secrets she knows, and an obsessed fan.

Serena's dreams are shattered when she suddenly dies on the night of a major music competition. Serena's partner, sure that her death was not an accident, asks for help from Dr. Joel Williams of Tilton's Department of Criminal Justice.

Williams, a former detective, becomes convinced that Serena was murdered, when he learns how unsafe her world really was. As he works with the Tilton Police Department to uncover the truth, Williams finds that Serena's looks, money, and talent, far from securing her future, made her a target

Guest Blogger, Ashlyn Chase

It’s my pleasure to welcome award-winning author Ashlyn Chase as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.

Ashlyn’s latest book, STRANGE NEIGHBORS, was just released earlier this month. Thanks to Ashlyn and Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have two copies of this book to giveaway to 2 lucky visitors who comment on this post between today and 8 p.m. (EST) on Tuesday, June 22. Be sure to include your e-mail address with your comment if it’s not included in your profile.

Ashlyn joins us today to talk about her writing and why she select to write the genre she does.

I was asked why, with my background as a psychiatric nurse, I decided to write light paranormal romances instead of something grittier, like murder mysteries…

Well, the easy answer is—because writers like to escape as much as readers do. I worked in the psychiatric field for fifteen years. When I left, I was jaded and burned out. It took a while to get back to my old self, but I finally did. Sure, I have stories to tell, but I don’t want to. Simple as that.

I’m not sure it wouldn’t violate the confidentiality aspect. I heard intimate secrets that would make your skin crawl…and I was told those things because my patients knew they could trust me. Sure, they might never read one of my books, but can you imagine doing so and recognizing your story? Patients want to forget about grim reality too—especially theirs!

However, all that experience contributed to my writing in one important way. With a degree in behavioral studies (a psychiatry-sociology combo) and having observed people for most of my life, I “just know” how my characters are going to behave. I can skip the exhaustive character sketches that some writers have to begin with.

Writing paranormal characters can be a challenge, because you have to put yourself in someone else’s paws, never mind shoes! Or you need to think like a vampire who’s technically dead, only comes out at night, and needs blood to survive. And ghosts! You don’t realize how much writers require body language and facial expressions to communicate until you can’t use it. But, I like a challenge.   

Fantasy can be great fun to write. You’re only limited by your imagination. If you need a motorcycle to fly, you simply have your motorcycle-riding witch cast a spell, and voila, the motorcycle leaves the ground and soars over traffic (like in Wonder Witch.) If you need a hero to disappear before the heroine’s eyes, you simply send a Greek God to zap him out of her life (as in Oh My God.)

And I love a good laugh—more than anything. I think this world needs more laughter and love. I’m fortunate. I have a wonderful marriage. My man makes me laugh regularly, challenges me intellectually, and still—even after sixteen years of marriage (twenty years of togetherness) turns me on. Who wouldn’t want that?

Sometimes I think of my writing as a public service. Seriously. I’ve worked hard to hone my craft and put a smile on your face. Since reading works for me when I need a lift, I imagine it works for others.

When both of my parents were terminally ill at the same time, the stress showed. A friend and fellow nurse shoved a book in my hands and said, “Here. Read this.” She didn’t tell me anything about it, and I didn’t recognize it as a romance novel from the cover. It’s a good thing or I might not have read it.

The book was the first in Diana Gabeldon’s Outlander time travel series. I ate it up. During those hours, I was transported to another world. I forgot my sorrows for a time and experienced a mini mental vacation. A desperately needed, healthy escape. 

When I turned to writing I realized that for me, it was more than a job. It was a privilege. And it still is. I’m grateful to have an audience with whom I can share my creative outlet. I hope my series Strange Neighbors transports readers into my wild imagination and allows them to have some fun there—whether they need it or not.

Ashlyn, thanks so much for stopping by and guest blogging. STRANGE NEIGHBORS does provide great laughs for the reader.

Here’s a brief blurb about STRANGE NEIGBORS: “He’s looking for peace, quiet, and a little romance…
There’s never a dull moment when hunky all-star pitcher and shapeshifter Jason Falco invests in an old Boston brownstone apartment building full of supernatural creatures. But when Merry MacKenzie moves into the ground floor apartment, the playboy pitcher decides he might just be done playing the field…

A girl just wants to have fun…
Sexy Jason seems like the perfect fling, but newly independent nurse Merry’s not sure she’s ready to trust him with her heart…especially when the tabloids start trumpeting his playboy lifestyle.

Then pandemonium breaks loose and Merry and Jason will never get it together without a little help from the vampire who lives in the basement and the werewolf from upstairs…

For a bit of background on Ashlyn, who is a multi-published author, she specializes in characters who reinvent themselves, having reinvented herself numerous times. Among her many day jobs, she has worked as a psychiatric nurse, run blood drives for the Red Cross, and now uses her degree in behavioral sciences to avoid writing exhaustive character sketches. Ashlyn lives with her true-life hero husband in beautiful New Hampshire. For more information, please visit her website at http://ashlynchase.com/.

What to Select?

Today’s focus is on you (the readers of this blog) and a chance to win a gift certificate from an online store that features everything from bookcases to lights to cookware to pet supplies to jewelry to, well you get the picture.

Alexandria at csnstore.com contacted me recently about doing a giveaway. That’s when I posted a question about it here and for the most part, everyone liked the idea of a gift certificate over a specific item being won.

So here’s the deal: I have a $60 gift certificate that will go to one lucky winner (sorry, only residents of the U.S. and Canada). The certificate can be used at csnstores.com with the winner selecting what they really want.

Here are just a few items to browse:
* A bookshelf to hold all of your favorite books.
* A lamp to read by at night.
* A pet bed for that faithful four-legged companion.
* A baking dish so you can try out that new recipe.

Now to enter, just leave a comment on this post between now and 8 p.m. (EST) on Sunday, June 20, and complete this sentence, “The closet door ajar drew Lori’s attention causing her to scream when ……..”

By completing the sentence I’ll know you want to be enter in the contest. Be sure to leave your e-mail address if it’s not included in your profile. The winner will be selected using Random.org.

Today’s post is short, but my way of saying thanks for dropping by. Have a great Monday as it’s the start of a new week with lots of possibilities in store if you’re open to them.

Sunday Salon: Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase

All Merry MacKenzie wanted was to move to the city and be independent after caring for her father and younger brother since her mother’s death.

What Merry got was more than she ever imaged. Moving into her new apartment, Merry learns her landlord is hunky baseball superstar Jason Falco. The two seem to hit it off immediately.

Merry meets her neighbors and discovers each one of them has their own dark secrets they are hiding.

STRANGE NEIGHBORS has new meaning when it brings together a couple of witches who work from home as phone sex operators, a number of shape shifters, a ghost that haunts his old apartment, and a vampire that lives in the basement. Throw in a nosey alcoholic reporter looking for a juicy story, Jason’s busy-body aunt, and Jason’s own deep, dark secret and the mix gets zanier.

Author Ashlyn Chase puts a spin on all the craziness that will have you laughing from beginning to end. Along the way she peppers it was a little mystery (the ghost is looking for who murdered him), a good dose of romance, and a barrel of high jinx.

A bit of warning to those who are fainthearted when it comes to sex scenes. The intimacy between Merry and Jason is quite detailed at time, but tastefully done. Sparks fly between the couple and sizzle on the page.

With Jason in the limelight, Merry soon realizes she has to control the green-eyed monster of jealousy. She feels her self-doubt and self-confidence being tested. Searching to uncover the truth behind a newspaper article of Jason‘s misdeeds, Merry stumbles across a secret that could alter her life completely.

STRANGE NEIGHBORS combines romance, suspense, intrigue, and a lot of laughter to keep you spellbound from beginning to end. With each turn of the page, you’ll be drawn in a little more until you won’t be able to leave.

For more on Author Ashlyn Chase and her writing, check out her website and she also blogs occasionally at Casablanca Authors.

Strange Neighbors by Ashlyn Chase, Sourcebooks Casablanca, @2010, ISBN: 978-1-4022-3661-7, Paperback, 384 pages

FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

Talking to Yourself

Do you have a conversation with yourself inside your head where others can’t hear?

Ponder that for a minute while I share some happy information with you.

I’d like to thank Stephen at Breakthrough Blogs for awarding me the Aweomous Maximus Award this past week. Stephen has just revamped his awesome blog. If you haven’t visited him recently, be sure to do so he has very informative and entertaining posts
and his book, BEAKTHROUGH, will soon be re-released. Thanks so much Stephen.

Congratulations goes to J. E. of Ontario and Patricia S. of Colorado for winning a copy of Jill Mansell's RUMOR HAS IT. Thanks to everyone who commented on Jill's post.

Back to talking to yourself. I’m not talking about carrying on a conversation with yourself to the point that the men in the white suits are looking for you with a very special jacket of your own. I’m talking about a quiet discussion in your mind between the left and right side of your brain or the pro and con of a querry.

And you’re wondering where did this topic come from. Well, yesterday I was having a quiet conversation between pro and con in my brain when the middle of my brain thought that could be used as a blog post. The pro/con conversation was about a parasol.

When was the last time you saw a parasol? I can’t remember it’s been so long. I had taken my umbrella into work with me because we’ve been having pop-up showers every afternoon. Yesterday it didn’t rain, but as I was walking to my car with the umbrella in my hand I thought a parasol would be neat (kind of like the one Abby has used in NCIS).

A parasol would help keep the sun off of me and help some with the 90+

degree weather we’re having.

The con side spoke up and reminded me that no one carries a parasol anymore so I would be odd and definitely stand out in a crowd. Con also pointed out that since I normally have both hands full carrying bags I would need a third hand to hold the parasol.

Pro chimed back in with “oh, but it would be so cute.” The thought of carrying a parasol just seems “Southern” and brings to mind magnolia blossoms and sitting on a porch swing sipping sweet ice tea.

In the end neither side really won because there was no where to purchase a parasol yesterday even if I wanted to. Maybe I should do some online browsing, hmmm.

What about you? Do you have conversations with yourself? As a writer do you include these inner conversations in your stories?

I read a couple of books recently where the protagonist in each story did have conversations with herself. It enriched the reading in these books for me because given the same circumstance I would have been talking to myself too.

Now if you’re having conversation with yourself where others can hear, then we need to talk about that in another post. J I won’t say that I’ve never done that because as a young child I did have imaginary friends I played with. What about you?

When having those right and left brain conversations remember to let the middle brain have a say every once in a while. Now if I’ve made you smile or at least grin, be sure to pass it on it someone else today. Have a safe and happy Saturday.

Guest Blogger, Carolyn Brown

Please join me in welcoming award-winning author Carolyn Brown as the special guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress on her tour through the blogosphere.

Carolyn’s latest book, I LOVE THIS BAR, the first in the new Honky Tonk Series, has just hit the bookshelves. Thanks to Carolyn and Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have two copies of this great new book to giveaway to two lucky visitors who comment on Carolyn’s post between today and 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 17. Be sure to include your e-mail address in your comment if it isn’t included in your profile.

Here’s a brief blurb about the book: “She doesn’t need anything but her bar…
Daisy O’Dell has her hands full with hotheads and thirsty ranchers until the day one damn fine cowboy walks in and throws her whole life into turmoil…

He’s looking for a cold drink and a moment’s peace…
Instead, Jarod McElroy, finds one red hot woman. She’s just what he needs, if only he can convince her to come out from behind that bar, and come home with him…”

Carolyn has been kind enough to stop by and answer a few questions for me concerning her writing and her new series.

Thank you so much for let me stop by your site today on my blog tour. It's a delight to be here to visit with y'all about I Love This Bar. Isn't that cowboy on the cover absolutely yummy? Doesn't he make you want to put on your boots and hit the nearest Honky Tonk for some cold beer and two-steppin'? But whoa! Hold on a minute before you go rushing out the door and let's have a visit.

Please give us a brief description of your book and series for anyone not familiar with them.

Each of the four titles in the Honky Tonk series features the name of a hot country western song and centers around the Honky Tonk, a beer joint in Mingus, Texas.  Daisy O’Dell is the bartender in I Love This Bar and the Honky Tonk is the love of her life. She loves the job, her little apartment behind the bar and the bar patrons: Chigger, the woman who could be a hooker but says sex is too damn much fun to charge money for it; Merle, the seventy year old pool shark, who's free with advice; the red haired Walker triplets, Jim Bob, Joe Bob and Billy Bob; Amos, a oil baron who likes to dress in black leather and ride a Harley. But then she falls smack dab on the dance floor and brings Jarod McElroy down to land on top of her, knocking the wind out of her lungs and making her wish they were in a horizontal position anywhere but on a hardwood floor with a hundred people looking at them. Jarod McElroy knew he’d met his match the first time he saw Daisy with her hot looks and smart mouth. The heat between them sparkled from the moment he found himself tangled up with her after a tumble caused by a spilled beer. He came into the Honky Tonk for a cold beer and some peace away from his meddling great uncle. He got the beer but from the first time he saw Daisy there was no peace in his life.

Would you say your book and the Honky Tonk series falls under any one genre or does it cover several?

It's pure old romance. It's heat, passion and love rolled up into one book with obstacles getting in the way of happy-ever-after at every corner. Those things which we get too easy or without having to work at aren't ever as precious as the ones that we have to fight for.

What inspires you to write about cowboys and bars? Have you ever owned or worked in a honky tonk?

No, I've never worked in or owned a honky tonk. The real inspiration for this series came from an old bar in Ratliff City, Oklahoma called Ma Honey's Place. When my husband was in college his good friend, Drig, lived with us and used to entertain me for hours with stories about Ma Honey's which wasn't far from where he grew up. He'd go off on Saturday night and come back with all these tales about quirky people in the bar. I swear Toby Keith probably visited the same bar at sometime because his song mentions the same characters.

Do you think there is a new trend with more books aimed at cowboys and the West or just better publicized?

Publicized or not, I think it's here to stay. Cowboys are real in their tight fittin' jeans and boots; with their slow deep Texas drawls and sexy smiles. They make a woman feel special when they tip their hats, open pickup truck doors and tell them they are they most beautiful thing God ever put on the face of the earth. They love with their whole heart and they are honest and trustworthy. Put a cowboy in the middle of New York City or in Mingus, Texas and I guarantee you the women will turn and take a second glance. Take a look at the cover of I Love This Bar. No matter if you were at a black tie party where plates were five thousand dollars or at a country picnic where everyone brought their favorite casserole, wouldn't you stop and take a second look at him. So it is with western romance. Folks come back for more of what was real and I do believe it will be around for a long time.

How  do you go about researching for your book and the Honky Tonk series?

I did lots of research on the internet and took pages and pages of notes. I researched animal husbandry for Daisy since she is a vet tech. I had to make sure the dosage and the medicine was right for the goats when they ate too much and got bloated. Research took me to the oil fields for Cathy, to the Hyatt Regency in Dallas and to this fantastic little cafe in Italy where they serve the best Italian ice cream for Larissa and to Iraq for Sharlene. Most of it was computer research but I did make several trips to Mingus and the surrounding area. There really is a Smokestack restaurant in the town of Thurber which boasts a population of five. And they serve some almighty fine chicken fried steaks. I talked to folks and they were really friendly even if they couldn't believe I was going to write about Mingus, Texas with a population of 246. I didn't  pass a pickup truck on a back road without the driver waving and smiling. And there was an abundance of boots, hats and belt buckles so if you're ever in the mood to do a little dancing or to chase down a cowboy of your own, Mingus is less than two hours due west of Dallas. They'll make you feel right at home.

What would you say are the highs and lows of writing a series?

The biggest high would be knowing I could keep on writing when the first book was finished. It was great to keep opening the doors every evening at eight to the Honky Tonk for my quirky patrons to come on in for a cold beer, to line dance the Cotton Eyed Joe or shoot a game of pool with Merle, the seventy year old pool shark with ratted hair and designer shirts. If there is a low it would be keeping the momentum going in each book so the reader doesn't get bored with the series and seeing the series finish at the end of four books.

You write several genres, is one your favorite or does each inspire it's own special place?

Yes, ma'am, each inspires it's own special place. I like writing historical romance and love contemporary happy-ever-after but right now I'm enjoying writing cowboy romance and hope my readers continue to love to read westerns as much as I like writing them.
 
Anything else you'd like the readers to know about your books?

I Love This Bar will be followed by Hell, Yeah (August), My Give A Damn's Busted (October) and Honky Tonk Christmas (November). Each book has its own bar owner and cowboy who convinces her to come out from behind that bar even though she has no intentions of doing so. Tell me, If you were a bartender what kind of cowboy would it take to make you leave the Honky Tonk?

Carolyn, thanks so much for guest blogging here today. It’s always fun to find out background on the author’s writing.

Carolyn, who has published 36 romance novels for the library market, credits her eclectic family for her humor and writing ideas. She was born in Texas but grew up in southern Oklahoma where she and her husband, Charles, a retired English teacher, now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma. They have three grown children and enough grandchildren to keep them young. For more information on Carolyn and her writing, check out her website.