I know the title of this post seems a bit odd, but I’m not sure how else to say it. My brain is not in a creative mood and I seem to be running on auto-pilot.
This is not a typical Sunday Salon. I had two wonderful books I wanted to tell you about - THE GLASS WIVES by Amy Sue Nathan and THE APPLE ORCHARD by Susan Wiggs, but I’ll share my thoughts on them later. You see sadness surrounded our family Friday night (June 21) about 9:35 p.m. and continues to encircle us -- we lost our English Shepherd dog, Rocky’s Little Brisco.
I know for some this my seem strange, but for those who are animal lovers I think will understand. Brisco wasn’t just a dog or pet to us. We have no children so we pampered him. We got him when he was only 6 weeks old and he would have been 11 in August.
The vet told us last night that he probably had a stroke or blood clot. He had a seizure and I believe was dead before we ever left the driveway going to the vet’s office. He had been sick for a little over a month, but it had been with stomach problems. The vet had changed his feed and we were doctoring him for that. He was having one of his spells where his stomach was bothering him and seemed to be getting over it. He started to get up, fell over, barked and yelped, jerked a couple of times and was gone.
What adds to the hurt for us is that the dog he was named after - Rocky - will have been dead 11 years tomorrow Monday, June 24.
Thank you for bearing with me on this issue. I do have some brighter news as I have a book and a Blu-ray DVD comb pack to giveaway.
IF THE SHOE FITS
In anticipation of Megan Mulry’s new release, IF THE SHOE FITS!, Sourcebooks is hosting a fun contest. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only, but everyone can play along.
It’s time to play A Royal Pain Baby Name Game! To
celebrate Megan’s upcoming July release, If the Shoe Fits, Sourcebooks would like to know what you think the name of Will and Kate’s new addition will be! Comment below with your boy name and girl name prediction. One winner will be selected and will receive a print copy of Megan’s first book A Royal Pain! The deadline to enter the contest is 8 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, June 30.
Here’s a brief synopsis of If the Shoe Fits: The only thing worse than being in the spotlight is being kept in the dark... With paparazzi nipping at his heels, Devon Heyworth, rakish brother of the Duke of Northrop, spends his whole life hiding his intelligence and flaunting his playboy persona. Fast cars and faster women give the tabloids plenty to talk about. American entrepreneur Sarah James is singularly unimpressed with "The Earl" when she meets him at a wedding. But she's made quite an impression on him. When he pursues her all the way across the pond, he discovers that Miss James has no intention of being won over by glitz and glamor—she's got real issues to deal with, and the last thing she needs is larger-than-life royalty mucking about her business...
JACK THE GIANT SLAYER
Jack the Giant Slayer was released on DVD & Blu-ray last week by Warner Bros. Unleashed on the Earth for the first time in centuries, the giants strive to reclaim the land they once lost, forcing Jack (Nicholas Hoult), into the battle of this life to stop them. Fighting for a kingdom and its people, and the love of a brave princess, he comes face to face with the unstoppable warriors he thought only existed in legend... and gets the chance to become a legend himself! Directed by Brian Singer (X-Men, Superman Returns).
The movie stars Nicholas Hoult (About a Boy), Ewan McGregor (Star Wars, Moulin Rouge!), and Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones).
The question is... are you courageous enough to rescue the princess? Are you brave like Jack? Take the quiz to find out! Check out the blog app below to find out. Celebrate this classic story with new content exclusive to the JACK THE GIANT SLAYER Blog App.
Thanks to Warner Bros. and PartnersHub Family, I have one JACK THE GIANT SLAYER Combo Pack (Blu-Ray + DVD + Ultraviolet) to giveaway. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no P.O. Box addresses can be accepted. Entry details at the end.
Why you’ll love the blog app: Control the Action! - Move your mouse across the GIFS and take control of action-packed scenes from Jack the Giant Slayer. YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF THE ACTION! How Brave Are You? QUIZ - Are you brave like Jack? Do beanstalks and "giant" challenges make you afraid or courageous? Take the quiz to find out! Giant Soundboard - Jack the Giant Slayer is filled with epic giant stomps, sword slashes and thunderous sounds! Play with official sound effects from the movie and compose your own "giant hit song"!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS: To enter this giveaway, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Jack the Giant Slayer.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. Remember, the contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only and no post office box addresses can be accepted. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win the Combo Pack is 8 p.m. (EDT) on Monday, July 1.
FTC Full Disclosure - I am working with Warner Bros. in making this announcement. Warner Bros., through PartnersHub Family, is supplying the Blu-ray Combo Pack as a promotional giveaway. I am hosting the giveaway without compensation solely for the purpose of providing visitors to my blog the opportunity to win this DVD.
Thanks so much for stopping by today. Remember to spend some time with those you love today.
What do you get when you take the roguish leading man in Richard Sheridan’s comedy The Rivals and throw in a stirring of Bond, a dash of Hawkeye, a pinch of Aubrey?
The intriguing Jack Absolute – re-imagined as the title character in author C.C. Humphreys’ first novel of a three-book series set during the American Revolution. I’m delighted to welcome C.C. here today to talk about this daring new series and his writing.
First let me share a few interesting facts about C.C. and Jack Absolute: * C.C. portrayed Jack Absolute, the leading character of Richard Sheridan’s play The Rivals, on the London stage and loved it so much, he dedicated a three-book series to the character when he began writing. * The cover image of JACK ABSOLUTE is actually a photo of C.C.! * C.C. is a former actor whose roles have included Hamlet and the voice of Salem the Cat in “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”. * C.C. is a fight choreographer and an accomplished swordsman.
Here’s a brief synopsis of JACK ABSOLUTE: It’s 1777 when Captain Jack Absolute becomes a sensation throughout London. This news comes as a shock to the real Jack Absolute when he arrives in England after four months at sea. But there’s little time for outrage before he finds himself dueling for his life. Right when he thinks he’s finally won, he is forced to flee London by the quickest means possible, becoming a spy in the American Revolution. From the streets of London, to the pivotal battle of Saratoga, to a hunt for a double agent in Philadelphia, Jack Absolute marks the exhilarating beginning of an epic historical series and a character you won’t soon forget.
Now C.C. has graciously answered some questions for me about this adventurous new protagonist and series.
Mason - As readers, we always wonder where book ideas come from. What inspired you to write this book?
C.C.: It was the desire to ‘be’ Jack again. When I played the role (in Sheridan’s 18th century comedy, The Rivals) it was one of the parts I played in my life that I felt I truly got. I loved being Jack – the rogue, the conspirator, the swordsman. So I thought I could live him again and expand on all that in novels.
Mason - What makes the American Revolution so intriguing to write about?
C.C.: It’s just such a fascinating period, with such conflicting characters and motivations. Though it all seems much more clear cut now, there are shades of opinion within the conflict. I like looking at it from the English/Loyalist point of view, not as often considered. Also from an Iroquois perspective. Jack is adopted Mohawk because I am intrigued by First Nations stories. I believe the Iroquois were one of the big losers in the war – not much written about that.
Mason - Tell us some things about Jack Absolute that aren’t included in the book.
C.C.: Well, there’s two prequels coming out within the next year, in which you learn much more. ‘THE BLOODING OF JACKABSOLUTE’where, as 16-year-old soldier, he fights at the battle of Quebec and gets enslaved by the Abenaki. And in ‘ABSOLUTE HONOR’ I tell the story of ‘The Rivals’ from Jack’s POV. So though all that is hinted at in ‘JACK ABSOLUTE – The Novel’ its much expanded upon. But other back story not mentioned? He talks about his time in India, books I have yet to write. But I know he will have got involved in the Opium Trade, not sure how yet. And will fall I love with an Indian princess.
Mason - How did it come to be a three book series? How is Jack’s story divided among the books?
C.C.: These three are only the beginning of the story. So much more to write! But I wanted to start in 1777 and do the Revolution because I then set up the fact that the playwright stole Jack’s identity and put his youthful follies into a comedy. Then we go back to his early days, see what forces shaped the later Jack. Mason - I understand you are actually the model for the book’s cover. Please tell us what that experience was like and will you be modeling for the other covers as well?
C.C.: I was! My publisher wanted a Jack model and knew I would do it for free! My wonderful designer was Henry Steadman, son of the great artist Ralph Steadman (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas). We actually shot the cover in Ralph’s 18th century house in Kent, UK. It was a little strange, donning the redcoat as Jack again after 15 years. Gives me a kick though whenever I see it! No more covers though – in the others he is much younger. Maybe I can play him again when he’s quite old!
Mason - What can readers look forward to next from you?
C.C.: My great publishers in the US, Sourcebooks, are bringing out my whole backlist, twice a year, which seems almost like too much Humphreys! So you’ll see the next two Jacks, then they will do my very first novel, ‘THE FRENCH EXECUTIONER’ about the man who killed Anne Boleyn. (Recently optioned for a movie, cross fingers!)
C.C., thanks so much for giving us a behind-the-scenes look at Jack. You did great as a cover model. We’ll definitely be keeping our fingers crossed for the movie option.
We’ve covered some of the highlights of C.C.’s background, but they bear repeating. C.C. is a novelist, fight choreographer, and actor who played Jack Absolute in The Rivals for a six-month run in London in the mid-1980s. When he became a full-time writer a decade ago, he decided to transform his leading man into a title character.
C.C. has written seven historical fiction novels including The French Executioner, which was runner-up for the CWA Steel Dagger for Thrillers 2002. The Jack Absolute series will feature three books: Jack Absolute, The Blooding of Jack Absolute, and Absolute Honour.
Here’s what others are saying about JACK ABSOLUTE: “An absolute delight! Swashbuckling adventure, eighteenth-century wit, hugely entertaining plots, and one of the most appealing military gentlemen ever to wear a sword.” - Diana Gabaldon – Author of the Outlander and Lord John Grey series “The author’s affectionate, theatrical tale sets up his dashing hero and faithful sidekick for a long series. Much derring-do, told with panache.” - Kirkus "Humphreys combines historical detail, a larger-than-life hero, clever plotting and fast pacing to craft a thoroughly entertaining historical adventure."-Publishers Weekly "Although full of intrigue and accurate historical detail, the novel is ultimately a straightforward adventure story that sends readers racing through the pages of Absolute's improbable but exciting captures, escapes, and fight scenes." - School Library Journal “A great introduction to what will surely become a long-lasting series.” – Library Journal
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. Does the American Revolution intrigue you? Are you drawn to books because of their covers?
As a special treat, Josh Fulton - the protagonist from THE FULTON INCIDENT has graciously agreed to guest post today. In addition, we
have the first chapter excerpt for your enjoyment. First let me give you a brief synopsis of the book, we’ll find out what Josh has to say and then you can read the first chapter.
THE FULTON INCIDENT: International intrigue rooted in a secret history. Mysterious and unlikely allies. The memory of a lost love. A race against time. Josh Fulton is enjoying his 15 minutes of fame after catching a charismatic leader in an act of infidelity. But when he finds himself alone and hunted through the dark streets of a foreign city, he is forced to face the truth that he has found himself embroiled in a far deeper conspiracy than he'd ever imagined. As his search for truth takes him across continents, he will be forced to confront inner demons that have been locked away for years.
Here’s Josh…….
Listen Rudy, I'm not even kidding about these tacos. They're incredible. I mean, they're not to die for, or anything. But it's the small things, you know.
Dennis was the one who showed them to me. I told you about Dennis right? If I did, I'm sure I mentioned how serious he is about his foods. And he's usually pretty reliable, (though, ever since I got the runs from that filthy little Chinese place, I've taken all his recommendations with a grain of salt).
Where was I? Oh yeah, the tacos. I hope I'm not overstating how good they are, it's just, you asked where to eat when you're in town, and I promise, you aren't going to get any more of the authentic Southern California experience than this right here. It's not even just the tacos, it's the whole experience. This place is right on the beach. You get the sand, the waves, the salty air, all of it, for a dollar per taco. Oh, and my advice? Go for the Al Pastor. It's perfect. And get extra napkins.
The best part is, you'll be down the street from my auto shop, so I can come out and meet you anytime. Of course, don't get me wrong, I'm keeping busy there. Like, really busy. We have a lot of clients, all the time, you know. But, I'm the boss, so I can take some time off if I want to! Am I right? Ha ha.
It'll be perfect, we can walk the pier and catch up. I'm sorry I haven't really kept in touch since graduation, and that was, what, six, seven years ago? You'll have to tell me all about your business. It sounds like things are going just great. I'm excited for you, my friend. You've really got it all, haven't you? The estate, the wife, and two kids already! I think I should have studied international business instead of poli-sci!
Okay, one other thing. Just for you to think about before you get here. I know you're doing really well financially. And like I said, I'm really excited. Really. But see, the thing is, I could really use some money right now. Not a lot! Just a few thousand. And I'm not talking about charity here, just a loan. It's not like the shop is about to shut down or anything crazy... I just need a little cash boost, and I swear I'll pay you back as soon as I can. You know I'm good for it. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.
Honestly, think about it, and I'll see you next week buddy. And don't even worry about those tacos, they'll be my treat. You'll love em! -Josh F
P.S. Listen man, even if you decide you can't really help me right now, I'd really appreciate if you would keep all this to yourself. If word got out that I was struggling it would be like blood in the water for some folks, if you know what I mean
Sounds like Josh could be in a bit of trouble. So let’s talk about Jordan Ekeroth. He is a young man with a clear voice, wisdom beyond his years, and always a story to tell. From a young age, you could find him either buried in books or bearing the adventure of his imagination into the great outdoors.
He’s met some people and seen some things that have given him a radical desire to impact the world in a positive way. A person of deep faith, his dream in writing is to take people along on the adventure of a lifetime, while simultaneously creating a space for them to learn about themselves and the world around them.
THE FIRST CHAPTER REVEAL: Title of Book: THE FULTON INCIDENT Genre: Suspense Author: Jordan Ekeroth Website: www.jordanekeroth.com Publisher: Amazon Digital Services Available: Here
FIRST CHAPTER:
Long Beach, California 1:27 PM, Friday Instead of cutting across the asphalt parking lot, Josh Fulton took the long way back from lunch at the greasy beachfront taco joint. How could he have known that doing so would change his life? All he knew was that it was the cheapest food in a mile, and the salty ocean air and infinite horizon were free, even if he was paying through the nose to live and work so near to it. Friday afternoons were slow at his small auto shop, and Josh was in no hurry to get back. He hesitated at the door of the office, taking one last moment to savor the baking California sun, when a glossy black limo pulled into view, rousing his curiosity. It pulled conspicuously up to the small hotel across the street. The man who stepped out was almost unrecognizable; totally unaccompanied by security, wearing khakis, a plaid button-up, and sunglasses. But Josh never forgot a face. How could he forget one like George Mzwenga’s? It was more than the face of a man - it was the face of “Africa’s Hope” and it had been plastered all over every newspaper and magazine for weeks during Mzwenga’s incredibly rapid rise to prominence last December. Josh didn’t recognize the curvy blonde figure that emerged after him. Whoever it was, it was certainly not Mrs. Mzwenga. This mysterious “she” hurried inside, clad in a deep purple track suit, all velvet and faux luxury. Josh immediately thought of the camera that was gathering dust in his office. He wasn’t a paparazzo by trade, but he wasn’t about to lose the chance to make a quick buck. Whatever scandalous activity these two were about to engage in, he imagined that there would be someone willing to pay a good deal of money to have photographic proof of it, or perhaps to keep such proof in the dark. “Yo Dennis,” Josh hollered, walking into the shop. “What do you say we finish up? I’m about ready to call it a day.” “Already?” came the stout reply. “Yeah go for it. It’s damn hot out, and we’re not doing anything that can’t wait ‘til tomorrow.” Josh popped open the door to the garage and walked in just as Dennis hauled himself out from beneath a pick-up he’d been working on. The two men regarded each other in silence for a moment. Dennis was a tree-trunk of a man, with tattoos on his forearms and grease on his hands. He wiped most of the grease onto his black t-shirt, a memento of some recent metal concert, before wiping the rest through his short, brown, recently buzzed hair. He liked the feel of the stubble. If they hadn’t been friends for so many years, Josh would have felt intimidated, cutting a much less impressive figure. He was average height, with the sort of face that was easily lost in a crowd. His sagging brown hair hung ragged, covering straight eyebrows that always hovered high above his cloudy blue eyes in an expression of bewilderment. His strong, mechanic’s forearms gave him an initial impression of physicality, but his pencil legs and growing love handles quickly belied the fact that he had really begun to let himself go. There were plenty of excuses all right; plenty of reasons not to work out. There was the stress of running a failing business, the stress of paying off student loans for a useless degree in political science; and the stress of bearing all this weight with no one to talk to - especially not Dennis - because Josh was supposed to be the one holding it all together. His guilt was punctuated by an anxious interjection from Dennis. “Lissen man, I know things have been slow lately, but I just wanted to say, you’re doing a’right by me.” Josh stood nodding in silence, forcing himself to smile and look Dennis in the eye. He felt like a fraud, standing there acting like everything was alright. But he reminded himself that there was just a chance that if this bizarre opportunity paid off, then for once, things might actually work out. Leaving Dennis to clean up and clear out, Josh walked into his office to make sure he had his facts straight. Mzwenga was a hero on global scale, the President of the East African nation of Tawezi, and the type of man who gets nominated for Nobel Peace Prizes. Josh needed to be absolutely sure that something scandalous was really going on before trying to blow the whistle. The office was a mess, littered with paperwork, magazines, old newspapers, and far too many overdue bills. He hesitated for a moment as he uncovered and gently cradled that old Polaroid of Angelica. It was the only picture he had left of her. He forced himself to tuck it away. The sight was accompanied by the sound of two small televisions - both tuned to international news stations - that blared away in the corner. Giving them his attention for a moment, Josh checked to be sure he hadn’t missed any major developments. The US dollar was still strong against the British pound, an unusually short rainy season in Central America would be negatively impacting that region’s economy, and oh, Japan’s Prime Minister seemed to be recovering well from his recent stroke. None of this was news to Josh. He was always in the know. Josh quickly dug through the mess of papers on his desk until he found it- the glossy old issue of Time which featured Mzwenga on the cover alongside a headline “Africa’s Hope.” There was no mistaking it, it was him. There was the smooth, bald ebony head, the strong jaw, and that taut mouth, which always seemed to hint that Mzwenga had more to say, and the wisdom not to say it. Josh could only assume that behind the sunglasses that he saw lay those same brown eyes, dark and strong; always so hopeful, always so honest. Josh paused to wonder if Mzwenga’s wife, Evelyn, knew. Because if she didn’t already, she would soon. Certain that it was Mzwenga he’d seen, Josh went into full stakeout mode. Opening a dusty locker and looking over his collection of lenses, filters, and other photography paraphernalia, he was struck with a wave of nostalgia for those old high-school photojournalism days. He’d ditched it eventually; no money in that racket. Maybe there would be some in it now. To this day, Josh loved his gadgets; though he kept reminding himself to unsubscribe from that stupid Skymall catalog that he’d signed up for on a whim. Just hadn’t quite gotten around to it yet. He loved figuring out how things worked, but his administrative abilities were severely lacking. And that’s why this shop isn’t going to last much longer, he reminded himself. The auto shop was already set up with a CCTV security system that normally just recorded to a hard-drive, but could be plugged in directly to his small televisions. One of these cameras was on the roof. Normally it was directed at the small parking lot, but it was a simple matter of repositioning the camera to face the hotel entrance, in case Mzwenga decided to take his fancy lady love out on the town. Next, digging out his old telescope, Josh equipped it with a motion detector which would in turn trigger a notification on his smartphone whenever it detected movement. This was his surveillance piece de resistance - it would be ideal as a sort of long-distance alarm – perfect to alert him whenever Mzwenga slipped up and did something dumb, like open his blinds. Finally, Josh owned a good old-fashioned film camera. He had purchased it before the days of digital, but it was reliable, and the massive zoom lens that Josh picked up during his days of shooting high school football games would guarantee some great “action shots.” Putting on a fresh pot of coffee, Josh settled in for the long haul. His mini-fridge held enough hot pockets and energy drinks to last several days. He was prepared for anything. Except one thing. He realized his mistake and simultaneously burned his mouth on the first bite of scalding ham and cheese. The problem was that he would only be able to monitor a single room at a time. And he had no way of knowing which room he needed to watch. A cursory scan didn’t reveal George in any of them. Josh cursed himself up and down for this oversight. Left with no other choice, he prepared to go behind enemy lines. Popping a handful of Tic Tacs in his mouth and checking himself out in the mirror, Josh pushed his swoop of boring brown hair over to its proper place. He needed to look presentable for this next part. The hotel lay directly across the street from Josh’s shop. The place was old. A long, flat white building with faded brown trim, it had once been considered luxurious. Apparently some movie stars had stayed there back in the Golden Age of Hollywood. Whatever it once was, it now had a quaint bed and breakfast feel to it. It had two stories and every room had a window facing the ocean. Josh casually sauntered across the street to the hotel. Stepping into the comfortable, cool lobby, he was greeted by the scent of coconut air freshener and the muted rhythms of a vaguely tropical soundtrack, full of steel drums and ukuleles. An aging receptionist sat at the desk. She hadn’t greeted him, obviously distracted by the latest celebrity gossip jumping out of the cheap magazine she clutched in her leathery hands. And those hands. They had clearly spent far too many hours over the years applying suntan oil to her unnaturally darkened skin. She finally glanced up as Josh neared the desk and coughed politely, shooting him an exasperated look with her glazed blue eyes. Josh thought that each one looked like a Fruit Loop, floating in a bowl of milk. Not wanting to come across as too eager, Josh contented himself with silently thumbing through a series of brochures, grimacing at the sound of the receptionist absently clacking her teeth together. Finally, she grated out two words. “Whaddaya want?” Casually glancing at her nametag (it read “Shirley”), Josh asked absentmindedly if he could find out which room his “large dark friend was in.” “Does ya friend have a name?” came the expected reply in an unidentifiable drawl. Half Brooklyn, half southern; Josh wondered if she was faking the accent. “Well, Shirley, I’m willing to bet you know who I’m talking about.” Josh replied with a wink. “And anyway, I want to surprise him, take him out to dinner. He’s only in town for the weekend isn’t he?” Change the question, catch her off-guard. “Ya know what hun, let me check on that.” She started pounding on the keyboard, which was far louder than a keyboard should be. “You said it hun,” she droned. “He paid fer his room ‘til Sunday.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially and gave Josh a knowing nod. “He paid in cash. Hundred dollar bills.” Josh had to keep her talking, had to keep her distracted from the fact that she wasn’t supposed to be telling him any of this information. “Say, do you know if he’s in right now? Maybe I’ll just run up and say hi.” “Well, I haven’t seen him leave this way, though I suppose he could have gone out the back. But listen here hun. Do you know that lady that was with him? I think she mighta been a real movie star, but I mean it’s always real tough to tell behind those big ol’ glasses.” She was a chatty one - wrinkly old Shirley. “Well I’ll just run up and check right now. And I’ll tell you what -“ Josh was ready to seal the deal. “If he’s with some real-life movie star, I will come right back and let you know who it is.” The lady let out a ghastly, gasping squeal of delight. Josh turned and strode purposefully around the corner towards the rooms before poking his head back out sheepishly a moment later. “Sorry, can you remind me of his room number?” he said, nonchalantly. She had bought the whole con: hook, line and sinker. “Didn’t I tell ya already? He’s up there in 217.” Josh walked down the hallway feeling like an international man of mystery; fantasizing about robbing banks and toppling government agencies. He was whistling to himself as he reached the back exit of the hotel and swaggered out into the baking heat and the coastal breeze. He took a deep breath of that salt-sprayed air, then strode confidently back to the shop. ------- He lasted a few hours before the stakeout excitement faded and the second guessing began. Have I even got the right room? Curtains are shut, lights are off. This is a waste of time. No one’s in there. The doubts came one at a time, each more convincing than the last. But Josh waited, and waited, and waited. The sun started setting in a particularly dramatic fashion and as it did someone flung open the drapery and stood prominently in the window, absorbing the colors of the sky. Josh knew immediately, before even looking through the camera viewfinder, that it was him, George Mzwenga. Who else could it have been? But he was alone. A single light was turned on next to the bed and all it revealed was that the room behind him seemed to be empty. Not that Josh could see it all from the angle of his current hideout, but no one else appeared to be in sight. Josh lowered his camera. This wouldn’t do. Mzwenga by himself meant nothing. Then a sliver of light shone quickly through the room, seeping from the slightly-opened bathroom door where a woman’s silhouette stood, not wearing much of anything. Josh dragged the camera up in a heartbeat, twisting the room into focus and simultaneously snapping a series of photos. As the figurative dust settled and Josh calmed his rapid breathing, he found himself gripping the body of his camera and staring at a wall of curtains, still swishing from the force with which Mzwenga had whipped them shut. Had Josh gotten anything? He couldn’t be sure. He would have to develop the photos first. But he didn’t have any equipment here in his shop and he couldn’t afford to take any chances. Josh decided to stay and wait for another opportunity. The sky darkened, no longer illuminated by the sun, but by the bright lights and sounds of the nearby city center. Josh waited. The midnight hours dragged into a grey dawn. The rising sun was a silver dollar and the early morning fog was a magician’s handkerchief; covering it, hiding, preparing for the grand reveal. Josh waited. The sun’s grand reveal came mid-morning when it finally burned through the clouds and cast dangerous shadows from everything it touched. Josh waited. Saturday passed, minute by aching minute, and still Josh waited. Sometimes he felt delirious; other times he caught himself just waking up. It was torture, but it would be worth it. These photos could be worth a small fortune, meaning he would finally be able to pay off those old debts. He would finally be able to make it through an entire day without having a panic attack about the future of the shop. This was his chance to make it; to maybe be normal again. He might even become rich. Then what? It was the million-dollar question. If he became rich overnight, what would change in his life? Would he travel? Would he move? Would he just start buying nicer things? Would he become a more interesting person? It always frustrated him that he couldn’t think of a good answer. “Snap out of it,” he said to himself. “You spend too much time daydreaming, not enough time doing things. That’s why you’ll never be rich.” Saturday passed uneventfully. He hadn’t noticed that he was falling asleep in his shop chair, but he did notice the rays of sunlight glaring in at him as his beeping phone woke him with a start on Sunday morning. A glance at the security feed on his TV showed two cars pulling up to the hotel and a glance out the window showed two people walking to meet them. Josh clumsily grabbed at his camera, which was lying on a nearby counter, nearly knocking it to the floor in the process. It was George Mzwenga and his mysterious lover, and Josh snapped an entire roll of them walking to the car with interlaced fingers, embracing and kissing passionately. Mzwenga and his companion each entered a vehicle and each vehicle drove its separate way. Josh couldn’t believe his luck. He smiled as he lowered the camera. He had photographic evidence that one of the most famous men in the world was having an affair. He knew someone who would pay a pretty penny for these. Josh Fulton’s life had just taken a turn for the better.
Thanks for stopping by today. Do you enjoy reading guest posts from the characters, as well as the authors of your favorite books? We’ll end with a book trailer for your viewing pleasure.
I’m always thrilled when author Carolyn Brown comes to visit here at Thoughts in Progress. It means it will be a fun day of discussing sexy cowboys (and of course, writing). Plus it means Carolyn has a new book out, which is always a joy to read.
Known for her dreaming cowboys and spirited heroines turned cowgirls, Carolyn has a new series featuring just such characters - Cowboys and Brides - and the first installment is BILLION DOLLAR COWBOY. You can read my thoughts on this delightful story here.
Thanks to Carolyn and the lovely Danielle at Sourcebooks, I have a print copy of this charming book to giveaway. Please see the end of the post for the details.
Before I go any further, let me see if Carolyn is here and what she has to say on the subject. Carolyn, did I hear you come in?
Shut the doors! Pull the shades and don’t answer the door! It’s not the police or the FBI or any of those other alphabet government agencies. It’s cowboys and believe me they are as insistent as they are sexy as hell!
They found out that I was invited here to talk about why I love writing about cowboys and they’re afraid I’m going to give away some of their secrets or pick-up lines.
What’s that?
You’re going to let them in anyway. Well, dang it, Mason! How am I going to talk about them if they’re sitting right in front of us? Okay, okay, you win. I guess it would be a shame to leave them on the porch since they even shined up their boots and got out their best Stetson to come visit your site. Get out four extra beers and we’ll talk to them.
Everyone comfortable? (Breathe in, breathe out, Mason...that’s a girl)
Okay, the “on the air” light is on.
I’m Carolyn Brown and I’m here today at the wonderful Thoughts in Progress blog site with Mason Canyon to discuss why it is that I love writing about cowboys. I have brought along the four cowboys in my new series, Cowboys & Brides, with me.
Stop winking, Colton, you are breaking my thought pattern. Colton is the hero in the debut book, BILLION DOLLAR COWBOY. He’s…wait a minute…here comes a fifth cowboy. Dewar O’Donnell is joining us folks. He’s got the leading role in the last Spikes & Spurs book, COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE, which will arrive in August.
Mason, darlin’, lock that door, please. The cowboys that might or might not be in future books would sure enough crowd this small room. Five is enough to give us both hot flashes, don’t you think?
Now to get on with the show. I write about cowboys because they are downright respectful, they have big hearts and…yes, Colton?
Yes, you are right, Colton. After working with you 24/7 while we were writing BILLION DOLLAR COWBOY, I will be honest. I do like the way they tip their hats to the ladies and the way they strut when they walk. Yes, you do strut, Colton. All five of you have a distinct swagger. Heck, I bet the whole bunch of you even strut in your sleep. It’s probably got something to do with learning to walk in cowboy boots when you were about a year old. It’s perfected now and can’t be changed…but then who’d want to change your sexy swagger?
They have a sense of humor and can laugh at their mistakes. Yes, I’m talking about you, Greg. You thought the lady on your door step at the beginning of THE COWBOY’S MAIL ORDER BRIDE was a stripper, didn’t you? And you even kissed her before you knew her name or why she was even there; then later you laughed at your mistake.
Cowboys admit it when they’re wrong. Go ahead and admit it Lucas. You were pretty angry when you came home from Kuwait and there was Natalie in your back yard with a dead coyote at her feet, three pesky puppies at her heels, a pink pistol in one hand and cradling a baby with the other in THE COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS BABY. But you were man enough to admit you were wrong about that baby after you thought about it.
Why are you grinning at Lucas, Dewar? If I remember right in COWBOY SEEKS BRIDE, you weren’t too happy to find out that H. B. McKay was a woman. There you were ready to take off on a month long cattle drive, just like the old days, from Texas to Dodge City. Just cowboys, coyotes and the midnight moon and then suddenly you had to take a woman with you. But you did the right thing and admitted you were wrong, too, when Haley proved to be an asset to the trip.
Cowboys make wonderful fathers. Mason (not the girl Mason C. here in the room but the cowboy Mason Harper from HOW TO MARRY A COWBOY) has twin daughters who have asked for a mommy every year for their birthday. When they find a woman in a bride’s dress sleeping on the porch, they know they’ve found their birthday present. Trouble is that, you, Mason Harper, didn’t want a wife, and you still let the girls keep her for a little while, didn’t you?
Oh, dear, our time is up and I haven’t talked nearly enough about why I love to write about cowboys. But the cowboys and I’ll be around all day so if y’all have questions or comments, we’d just love to hear them. Now Mason C. where did we put those little cardboard fans last time I was here. I expect you and I could both use one with this much cowboy heat in the room with us.
By the way, why do you like reading about cowboys? Carolyn, here’s your fan and I’ve turned up the AC. Thanks for stopping by today and bringing these delightful cowboys with you. I can see while you enjoy writing about them. I’m so looking forward to finding out more about Mason Harper (for obvious reasons) and his twin daughters. :)
Now, let me share a brief synopsis of BILLION DOLLAR COWBOY: Colton Nelson was 28 when he won the Texas Lottery and went from ranch hand to ranch owner overnight. When people started lining up wanting some of his millions, he hired a friend, Andy Joe, to handle his affairs and find him a bride and buy her, no matter what the cost. Laura Baker and her sister, Emily, had been raised in foster homes. Though she was the younger of the two, Laura was always bailing Emily out of trouble. So when Andy Joe slid into her booth at a diner one night and made a proposition to Laura, it seemed the perfect solution...until Laura met Colton and realized she didn’t give a damn about his money and that her love was not for sale.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than 60 books published. Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma.
For more information on Carolyn and her writing, you can her online at www.carolynlbrown.com
GIVEAWAY DETAILS: To enter this giveaway, send me an e-mail (mcbookshelf@gmail.com) with the subject line, “Win Billion Dollar Cowboy.” Your message should include your name and mailing address. The contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only. And, just so you know, I don’t share this information with anyone other than the publisher nor use it for any other purpose. The deadline to enter this giveaway for a chance to win a copy of BILLION DOLLAR COWBOY is 8 p.m. (EST) on Saturday, June 29.
Thanks everyone for stopping by today. If you have any questions for Carolyn, she’ll be around throughout the day to answer them for you. What is it about cowboys that draws you to their stories?
I’m delighted today to welcome author Ruth Francisco here to talk about writing a World War II novel and her latest release, CAMP SUNSHINE: Volume One in the Sunshine Series. She also has some amazing photos to share.
Ruth: CAMP SUNSHINE is based on the true story of Camp Gordon Johnston, a WWII amphibious training camp on Florida's Gulf coast.
By the end of 1942, U.S. Generals had already committed themselves to invading the coast of France. They commissioned Anthony Higgins in New Orleans to come up with a boat, the “Higgins,” that could transport men and equipment onto shallow beaches. Then they had to train soldiers to use the boats. In three months, they built a training camp, Camp Gordon Johnston, in Carrabelle, Florida—a desolate area of swamps, alligators, biting insects, torrid summers, and tropical storms. A city rose from the jungle.
The story explores the intertwining lives of civilians and soldiers. Here, twenty thousand young recruits test themselves to the limit in love and combat; politicos and tycoons offer aid with one eye to profit; women patrol the coast on horseback, looking for German subs; a postmaster's daughter, the only child on base, inspires thousands with her radio broadcasts; and a determined woman bravely holds together her family and the emotional soul of the camp.
But when Commanding Officer Major Occam Goodwin discovers a murdered black family deep in the forest, he must dance delicately around military politics, and a race war that threatens the entire war effort. Amid tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the soldiers and their country hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to find his destiny.
What's the most important thing in writing an historical novel as opposed to other fiction?
Ruth: In a word, research. I did an incredible amount of research for this novel. The vastness of my ignorance when it came to WWII military history was epic, so I had to do epic amounts of reading. I interviewed WWII vets. I visited WWII museums, especially photo archives. I watched WWII Army training films. Camp Gordon Johnston had a newspaper written by the troops, called “The Amphibian,” and I spent a month reading every issue on microfiche.
I love the way research can surprise you and lead you in new directions. I learned of the Double V campaign, which was an African-American civil rights movement intent on integrating the armed services during WWII. Suddenly, I found myself with a subplot, which added depth to the novel. It made the story important.
What is the hardest thing for historical fiction writers?
Ruth: I think one of the most difficult things for any writer is how to incorporate the backstory—the histories of all the characters and places—into your narrative. If you start off giving too much information, you bore the reader, so you attempt to parcel out information as you go along. If you can do it in a way that surprises the reader, that's even better. For instance, having a character's behavior seem irrational, but later you learn why she reacted that way.
For a historical novel, it is even more challenging. After you've done all this research, how do you write an engaging narrative while piling in the information you want to add?
When writing historical fiction, how free can you be with historical fact? It is fiction, after all.
Ruth: Certain things you can't mess with. Big events. You can't have the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1940. If your characters talk about the song “White Christmas” in 1942, you better be sure that it was written by then. Your readers are smarter than you are. They know more history. They make sport of catching oxymorons.
With lesser known events you can use “artistic license,” especially for little known historic characters. For instance, I read that two twelve-year-old girls ran a radio station out of Panama City for WWII pilots in training. So I had my postmaster's daughter do the same thing, although the “real” postmaster's daughter was not a DJ. I changed the names of some of the officers who ran the camp because I wanted to involve them in a crime. You can make an historic character a murderer, but you have to be careful. It has to make sense.
In other words, with minor characters, motivations, thoughts, and feelings—let your imagination run wild. Historic events, details—stick to the facts.
Do you have any “tricks” for historical novel writing?
Ruth: I study photos. I study the clothes and hairstyles. I try to imagine what the people are thinking in the picture, what came before the picture was taken, what came after. When I wrote “The Secret Memoirs of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis,” I wrote almost exclusively from pictures. For instance, the famous picture of Jackie leaving the White House for the inaugural ball—I started with the event, then had her remember all the events that led up to that moment. One picture was an entire chapter.
In this book, I was particularly captured by the photos of WWII training maneuvers, and tried to imagine how an eighteen-year-old boy would react to having bombs explode all around him, waist-high in a swamp, stepping on creepy-crawly creatures. How frightened he must've been. There's a picture of civilian women sewing uniforms for the soldiers, and I get such a sense of dedication and sacrifice—so alien to our culture.
I also read a lot of fiction from the era, which is loads of fun, attentive to jargon, word usage, and attitudes. I listened to a lot of WWII era radio, G.I. Jill, Command Performance, all those great WWII shows. I also studied the pop culture of the era, the songs and dances. You cannot assume people in another era would behave as you might to a situation.
I recall seeing the 1982 film “The Return of Martin Guerre,” set in 16th century France, how tense and wild the people seemed, and it struck me profoundly—if you lived in an environment where you were constantly challenged, constantly on guard for a knife, constantly suspicious, constantly hungry, of course it would make you different. Writers often get caught with their characters having the same values and feelings of contemporary people. But people ARE different. The lines they will not cross. Their values. Their expectations. You have to use all the resources available to put yourself there. Imagine with all five senses, how the air smells and tastes and feels on your skin.
Why did you add a mystery element to an historical novel?
Ruth: The reason I tend to stick to the mystery/thriller genre, even when I'm writing an historical novel, is that I think it really helps to focus storytelling. A mystery demands a certain pacing. It demands parceling out of clues and information. It forces you to reveal character through action. I feel it really helps me as a writer to have a structured genre.
Where did you get the idea for your WWII story? Ruth: When I first drove to the Florida Panhandle from Los Angeles five years ago, I was smitten by the unspoiled beauty of the place. Thousands of Monarch butterflies flitted around my car as I drove down to Alligator Point. The first morning I woke to mullet jumping in the canal and screeching great blue herons. I looked out the window and saw snowy egrets and bald eagles. White squirrels jumping between branches of the pine trees. I had to write about this area.
One day I met a fisherman throwing a cast net into the water and asked him to show me how. We got to talking. When he heard I was a writer, he told me a local story about several dozen soldiers who lost their lives during a WWII training exercise while at Camp Gordon Johnston, how the tragedy was covered up.
So a few weeks later, I visited the WWII museum in Carrabelle. I got completely sucked into the research. Everything fascinated me—especially the newspaper advertisements—from girdles to hair tonic. I started interviewing locals. Everyone had something to add.
I got overloaded with info, and had to step back for a few years. It wasn't until I interviewed Vivian Hess, who had been a little girl on the Army base, that I felt I had a hook. Her stories were enchanting. I had a story. How do you keep a book character driven when you have historical events that have to be covered?
Ruth: You almost have to approach your characters as if you were an actor, imaging how YOU would feel, how YOU would react to historical events.
Despite all the WWII coverage, CAMP SUNSHINE is definitely character driven—told from the voices of an officer, a soldier, a little girl, and the wife of the postmaster. However, there were some factual events—like the drowning of dozens of soldiers in a training incident—that I had to include in the plot. And there were other historical elements I wanted to include, like the Black Regiments, and the Higgins crafts. It was hard, but extremely enjoyable to figure a way to integrate them into the story. How do your characters “come” to you? How closely are they based on real characters or people you know?
Ruth: The character Vivian Thatcher is based on my interviews with Vivian Hess, the real postmaster's daughter. Yet, as I wrote about her, the character separated herself from the real person, becoming increasingly impish and inventive. I wanted Major Goodwin to be a man of absolute integrity, but as I wrote him, he took on depth, becoming a man of great sorrow and great compassion. Vivian's mother was somewhat based on my own mother, but soon she became this incredibly strong woman who'd made great sacrifices, yet still yearned to be adventurous and free.
In my experience, you have a vision for your characters, but then, as the story unfolds, they become their own person. Some take on characteristics of friends and family. The imagination works from what it knows. It is a little odd. Like giving birth to children—you don't really know how they'll turn out. Inevitably, they turn out more interesting than you could possibly imagine.
What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?
Ruth: I hope readers will feel as if they’ve time-traveled back to 1943. They'll hear the big band music and blues, and sense the incredible vitality of the whole country pulling together for the war effort. It inspires me how selfless people were. When I started the research, I didn't know that the Civil Rights Movement had its beginnings in WWII with soldiers agitating for an integrated military. I didn't know about jook joints. I didn't know about how the industrial war complex manipulated the war effort, how it all affected race relations in the South. So I hope readers will be as fascinated as I was with the history, as well as being entertained with the antics of the characters.
You have been traditionally published by two big publishers. Why did you decide to publish directly to Kindle?
Ruth: I got started publishing on Kindle several years ago. My publisher turned down my fourth book AMSTERDAM 2012 which was highly controversial. The fatwa against Salman Rushdie and his publishers was still fresh in their minds. So I published to Kindle and sold 1000 books the first weekend. I suddenly realized how quickly the whole publishing industry was changing.
At one time, agents discouraged writers from publishing on Kindle, thinking it would prevent the book from getting sold to a traditional publisher. But that is no longer true (FIFTY SHADES OF GREY case in point). Traditional publishers now routinely offer contracts to people who have published eBooks. I no longer have patience to wait for my agent to sell a book. That can take six months. Then a year to get published once you sign a contract.
I'd encourage all new writers not to wait for an agent. Don’t wait for a publisher. Write the best, most truthful book you can, then publish on Kindle. You can immediately make some money from your writing, which makes you feel like a writer. You get immediate feedback from readers, which is exciting, improves your work, and makes you realize that, yes, you are writing for an audience. You can make changes on your published material. Traditional publishing is on its way out: it is no longer economically sustainable for publishers; it is too slow to respond to the marketplace; and people are more mobile than ever—they don’t want to lug around a library of books every time they move.
Simply put, Kindle writing is the future of writing: exciting, dynamic, and very likely more profitable for writers. It makes literature suddenly relevant to readers in a new way.
Where can we go to buy your book?
Ruth: Amazon Ruth, thanks so much for visiting with us today. You have definitely put a lot of research into writing CAMP SUNSHINE and it shows.
Thanks everyone for dropping by today. Don’t you just love the old photos? I can see how one photo can tell a story all by itself. Have you ever looked at a photo and wondered what it’s history was?
