A Great Big Texas Welcome to Romance Author, Celia Yeary!

This week we are visiting with Western romance author Celia Yeary, who shares with us her ideas on inspiration, imagination and the art of writing. Celia is a prolific author of historical and contemporary romances, most of which are set in Texas.  One of the nicest people you'll ever meet, Celia is talented, enthusiastic and very supportive of aspiring new authors. Welcome, Celia!

How I Tackle Writing

Celia Yeary

Did you know you can find numerous articles on the internet about how to write a novel? Most of them begin with “think of a good story.” Now that, in my opinion, is the most fascinating bit of advice I’ve ever read. “Think of a good story.” I've wondered if Margaret Mitchell said that to herself as she sat down at her typewriter. She certainly had a good story; I’ll admit that.

Recently, I learned from another blog that Margaret Mitchell actually did sit down at her typewriter in her small apartment to "see if she could write a book." She began with the last chapter, which I found to be of great interest, and when she finished Gone With the Wind, she was reluctant to allow anyone to read it. Amazing, isn't it? And that was the one and only book she ever wrote.

If I could be so lucky. But I'm not.

First, for me to think up a good story I need time to DAYDREAM. That’s step number one —time to stare into space and let my mind wander, imagining a scene or a character. This might occur while I’m watching mind-numbing television, or while we’re on a long road trip and I have time to stare at the highway in front of me, or best of all, if the house is quiet and I’m all alone. 

Second, I need A PROMPT of some kind. This might be an old weathered gray house on the side of the road, and I wonder who lived there and why. Maybe I see unique person walking along the sidewalk, and I wonder who she is and where is she going. Perhaps I read a news article, and something in it turns into a scene with people acting out the story in the article. 

Third, I need to ENVISION a character, male or female, doesn’t matter. Who is this character? What is her story?

I needed to write a 25,000 word Christmas story, and I thought of a couple I know who recently married. She is a nurse, very tall, and she married a doctor who was even taller. They worked together on a medical mission team in Guatemala and fell in love. So, my story is based on a young woman who is to be maid of honor to her brother’s best man. She worries about her height, but when she meets him, he stands even taller than she. And of course, he’s a hunk. In my story, my heroine is a pediatric nurse and my hero is an ex-Army medic. A Christmas Wedding was born.

Of all the things that might make me think of a story, the PROMPT is the most important.

For The Stars at Night,  the PROMPT was an officer on a motorcycle who passed us on the highway to stop a big black SUV in the Central Texas Hill Country. At the time, I wondered--who was driving that vehicle? A woman? Where is she going in such a hurry? As we passed, I noticed the SUV had New York license plates. Aha! The story began.

The PROMPT for Addie and the Gunslinger actually came from a publisher's description of novellas they were seeking for a series. A story immediately came to me, about an outlaw who had gone straight but landed in jail anyway. A beautiful woman arrived to save him, and through his bewilderment at her claiming he was her long lost sorry husband, he played along to get out of jail. This novella has become my all-time best-selling story--and it was a reject from the publisher.

I'll bet many authors write stories based on something unexpected. Not many of us can sit down like Margaret Mitchell with the thought, "I'll see if I can write a book." On the other hand, maybe she had a prompt that we don't know about. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know what that was?

My most recent releases are Western Contemporary Romance novellas: "Rodeo Man" and "Truck Stop Paradise." I call these companion stories, as both are set in West Texas and Dallas. This was purely coincidental on my part. However, the novellas are stand-alone stories. I asked Karen Michelle Nutt, the artist, to create covers that resembled each other, and she did a great job.

BLURB for Rodeo Man

Celia Yeary

Marla Ellington inherits an abandoned town on ranchland near Arrowhead, Texas. When she arrives to claim her property, and finds Cody Matheson sitting on the porch of the dilapidated honky-tonk, her temper flares hotter than her pistol. Anger blazing, she settles in for a showdown.

Cody’s only goal for the week is to win the bull-riding event at the Saturday night rodeo. But when Marla receives an anonymous threat that forces her to leave town, Cody finds himself smack-dab in the middle of a mystery. ’Course, catching a criminal and lasting eight seconds on a bull are easy compared to winning the love of the feisty, strawberry-blonde beauty who wants

nothing to do with him.

Now it's his turn for a showdown.

 Links:

Amazon--

http://www.amazon.com/Rodeo-Man-ebook/dp/B00B14S4X4/ref=sr_1_21?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358284697&sr=1-21&keywords=celia+yeary

Barnes and Noble--

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rodeo-man-celia-yeary/1114304192?ean=2940044251304 

BLURB for Truck Stop Paradise

 Leigh Anne McClintock has spent her adult life shielding her addictive sister Crissy. But when Crissy abandons a horse, Leigh Anne borrows a pick-up and trailer and takes the horse from North Texas to the Panhandle ranch owned by a childhood friend, Chad Rogers.

Chad has wondered for years why his best friend Leigh Anne betrayed him and her sister Crissy on the night of their ten-year high school reunion. When Leigh Anne arrives, he willingly takes in the animal, and he cautiously tries to make peace with Leigh Anne. They feel the old attraction, but neither can let go of the past.

When Crissy makes a disturbing appearance, will Chad and Leigh Anne finally learn to put themselves first ... and find the love that had been there all along.

Links:

Amazon--

http://www.amazon.com/Truck-Stop-Paradise-ebook/dp/B00CD38BEO/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366115197&sr=1-1&keywords=celia+yeary

Barnes and Noble-

 http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Truck-Stop-Paradise?keyword=Truck+Stop+Paradise&store=book

~*~

***I'd love to give away a copy of each novella. If you have a Kindle or a Nook, if I choose your name, I'll Gift both to you. If I choose your name and you've already read these stories, please feel free to find my Author Page on Amazon--or Barnes and Noble--and find two other books you'd like to have.

Thank you all for visiting and reading How I Tackle Writing.

~*~

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/celiayeary

My Website

My Blog

Sweethearts of the West-Blog

My Facebook Page 

Celia, thank you so much for visiting! Best wishes for continued success with your writing.  I hope you will come back again soon.  :-)

A Writer's Sense of Place: Welcome, Author Kelley Heckart

What a thrill to visit with historical romance fantasy author Kelley Heckart this week. Kelley has chosen a fascinating topic to explore: the writer's sense of place. How does a setting call to a writer? How does a writer choose a setting for their work? This week we will explore all this and more with Kelley - a great writer and a wonderful friend. Leave a comment and you will be eligible to win a PDF of Kelley's short story, THE ENCHANTED MEADOW and a $!0 Amazon gift card. Welcome, all! 

What is your favorite place in the whole world?

Since I don’t travel much outside the United States, my world is kind of small. This didn’t stop me from finding a place I love to re-visit any chance I can. I fell in love with Sedona, AZ, an enchanting place with red-painted rock formations that create a stunning sight in the changing light of the sun. In Sedona, Oak Creek Canyon cuts through lush greenery where dapples of sunlight peek through the archway of trees, glittering and dancing on the water.

Sedona is a unique blend of desert and mountain regions—red sand looks striking against dark green conifers. It’s no wonder this place, touched by the Creator, has vortexes. I have had more than one spiritual awakening here. And I’ve often wondered why I haven’t set one of my stories here.

So, as I was researching Daughter of Night, set in the mountain regions of Anatolia (modern Turkey), I came across a place similar to Sedona. It was a delightful discovery and, of course, this place is used as a setting in my book.

Yazilikaya is a rock sanctuary that was used as a holy sight by the Hittites, an ancient Anatolian people who established an empire in north-central Anatolia around 18th century BC, lasting until about 1200 BC. The Hittites play an important part in Daughter of Night.

Some of the rock formations at Yazilikaya even have a reddish color. The Hittites saw the beauty of this place and used it as a dedication to their gods with sculptural decorations and hieroglyphic inscriptions. A spring of fresh water once flowed through this sanctuary.

Here is an excerpt from Daughter of Night of a scene near the rock sanctuary. Becuille, a vengeance goddess, has been made mortal by Rhea and is now Inaras, a slave to the Hatti (Hittite) royal house. Callileon is a prince of the Hatti.

At the base of a range of craggy hills appeared a paradise of towering red rocks and pine trees in a pleasing blend of red and green. A clear spring sparkled and bubbled beneath the stalwart giants framed by regal pines. Becuille sensed the power of the ancient shrine vibrating through her veins.

He halted the horse, tugging gently on the reins. “This is an open air chamber, a shrine to our gods and goddesses. Someday there will be temples here.” He pointed to the inner chamber.

She wondered why humans wanted to destroy the natural beauty of a place by building manmade temples. “It is beautiful as it stands, untouched by human hands.”

“I agree with you, Inaras. I always wonder if the gods really care for all the temples built in their honor.”

“Some do, I suppose, but here I feel the awesome nature of the gods without the help of manmade temples.” A sense of serenity rippled through her body.

“I have a surprise for you and I think you will like it.” He urged the horse forward past the rock shrines and into a secret grove of oak and alder tucked away beneath a range of barren rock. Green grass and bright yellow flowers found life beneath the sheltering trees. He dismounted and helped her down. She adjusted to standing again, her legs buckling at first. His strong arms held on to her so she would not fall. She felt like she was living a dream and wondered when she would awake.

Callileon left the horse to graze. He escorted her to a seat on soft grass underneath a wide branched oak. Fresh smelling grass, along with the fragrant leaves and flowers, filled the air. The pleasing scents put a smile on her face. She enjoyed being away from the city and all the unpleasant smells associated with a crowded town.

He watched her, arching his thick brow. A crooked smile lit up his face. “You are a complex woman, Inaras, such a mystery.”

“And you are a complex man,” she said with an easy smile.

His expression grew serious, his eyes somber. “If I confess something about myself will you tell me why you were crying?”

“Agreed. You confess first,” she said, hoping he would tell her why it was hard for him to feel love.

“I will tell you something I have never talked about with anyone. You probably wonder why I would tell you, someone I barely know. The truth is since that day in the stables, I can think of no one else but you.”

His gaze appeared truthful, but her heart wrenched with so much deceit.

“I was in love once. At the end of the summer season two years past, we traveled to a nearby settlement. It should have been a safe journey, only in my youthful arrogance I failed to pay attention to our surroundings. We were attacked by a band of Mitanni warriors. She was raped and killed, and I could not save her. I blame myself for her horrible death.” He took her hand and placed it underneath his tunic near his shoulder.

The puckered scar rose like a mountainous ridge beneath her fingertips, the painful memories stored there.

His expression turned somber. “This ugly scar is my constant reminder of that day, the day I failed to save the one I loved.”

Her heart throbbed with pain for him. Her problems seemed so benign next to his. “Is that why you find it so hard to love?”

“Yes.” He held her hand. “Now tell me why you were crying as if your heart would break.”

She hesitated, collecting her thoughts. “I have lost all that I know, the life I had before now,” she said, drawing on her past. “I felt lost and alone. I have no idea why I ended up in the stables, but for some reason it was comforting to me and the tears just fell.”

“We have much in common, you and I.” He gently squeezed her hand. “You were taken from your people and sold into slavery in a strange land. I, too, lost all that I knew. The king was close to my father, one of his vassal kings. They were hearth friends and so he adopted me as a child, but I do not feel like I belong here sometimes.”

“Perhaps we can comfort one another.” The barriers dropped between them. Becuille touched his cheek now clothed in a fine layer of golden beard. She kissed his mouth. Tenderness and passion surged through her body, her heart echoing in her chest in a thrilling tempo.

His hands grasped the back of her neck, pulling her into his arms.

All of the feelings she kept pent up rushed out, and she became lost in his loving embrace. They were no longer master and slave, but two people lost and in need of something to hold on to.

****

Blurb from Daughter of Night:

Their destiny began in the ancient land of Anatolia.

In 1326 BC, Crete is the last remaining sacred place for the Great Goddess, but changes began to threaten the old gods, the Titans. Forced to become an ally to the power hungry Olympian gods, Rhea hangs on to the secret of the star metal, the one key that would make Zeus and the other young gods invincible. When this secret is stolen, Rhea must find the Dactyl and the goddess who betrayed Her before Zeus does.

Becuille is a daughter of Night, a servant of the Great Goddess created to impart Her vengeance on mortal and immortal wrongdoers. Made mortal by Rhea, she is sent to find the ones who betrayed the Great Goddess. In the land of Hatti, she meets a proud and handsome prince. When love binds her to him, her loyalties are torn.

Callileon, a prince of the Hatti, has closed off his heart to love only to rediscover it in the arms of the mysterious and fiery slave girl he has purchased. He is caught up in a dangerous world of power hungry gods, jealous goddesses and potent magic, which even the Fates cannot steer him away from.

Can two mortals fight the will of the gods?

How to find Kelley:

Kelley Heckart, Historical fantasy romance author

Captivating...Sensual...Otherworldly

http://www.kelleyheckart.com/

http://kelleysrealm.blogspot.com/

http://twitter.com/CelticChick

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kelley-Heckart/111838455604

Links to pictures of Yazilikaya:

http://www.pbase.com/dosseman/yazilikaya

http://www.hattuscha.de/English/yazilikaya.htm

Thank you for a wonderful visit, Kelley. Please come back and visit with us soon!

Friends, leave a comment and you will be eligible to win a PDF of Kelley's short story, THE ENCHANTED MEADOW and a $!0 Amazon gift card.

Welcome, Anne Patrick, Author of “Kill Shot”

Today I’m so happy to welcome award-winning author Anne Patrick, who has a new release from Desert Breeze Publishing entitled “Kill Shot”. Welcome, Anne!

About “Kill Shot”:

Former combat medic Kory Wagner has been in four war zones, served three tours in Iraq, survived countless firefights, RPG’s, IED’s and even a helicopter crash. Now she’s home and out of the Army for good and someone is trying to kill her in her own backyard. Just as disturbing is the handsome sheriff who’s on the case.

Sheriff Sean Harding doesn’t quite know what to think of the decorated veteran that managed to outsmart an entire search party. What bothers him more is the body of a PI, whom she hired to find her sister’s killer, was found dead in a building Kory owns. And Kory isn’t being very cooperative with helping him find the answers as to why someone would kill her sister and want her dead. Will he be able to keep her alive along enough to discover the truth?

Excerpt

The steel door creaked as she pushed it open, the sound echoing throughout the metal building. “Mr. Urlik?” She waited for her eyes to adjust to the change in lighting before stepping all the way inside. A wide stream of light from the door spread out in front of her. “Mr. Urlik. Are you in here?”

Kory heard a sound a few yards in front of her. She quickly scanned the area. Three rows of huge metal shelves lined the interior. She inched forward, peering around the corner of the second row. Mr. Urlik lay on his side, facing her, clutching his chest. His eyes were opened and his mouth moved, but no sound came out. A heart attack? She ran to him, knelt down on the cement floor, and took his hand. It was wet, slimy. She looked down and saw his hand covered in blood. Her eyes shifted to his chest. A large crimson stain spread across the width of his white shirt from a small hole near the center. He was breathing erratically. Experience told her a bullet had pierced at least one lung and he didn’t have much time. She immediately pressed the heel of her right hand against the wound.

“I’m sorry,” he murmured.

“Where’s your cell phone?” Hers was in her backpack but she didn’t want to waste valuable time digging it out.

“No time. Get out.”

“Who did this, Mr. Urlik?”

He grabbed her right hand and squeezed it tightly. “You were right — no accident.”

His hand went limp.

Kory felt something in the palm of her hand, looked down and saw it was a key. She shoved it into her jeans pocket. A whizzing sound buzzed past her, followed by the unmistakable clink of a bullet ricocheting off metal. She instinctively threw herself over his body as another bullet struck metal. Kory felt for a pulse. There was none. She lowered her hand to his chest and felt under both arms and along his waist. I thought all PIs carried guns. Just my luck this one didn’t.

She scrambled to her feet, as more shots ricocheted around her, and dove through an opening on the first row of shelves. A piercing pain sliced through her upper arm as she took cover behind some boxes. They wouldn’t shield her from the gunfire but they would conceal her presence while she figured out how she was going to get out of there. She paused long enough to grab her cell phone from her backpack, wishing she hadn’t when another bullet tore through a box beside her. She ducked lower to the floor.

Kory ignored the throbbing in her arm and slithered along the floor toward the back of the building. As a child, she and her sister, Callie, had often accompanied her grandfather to the warehouse where he worked on boats as a hobby. She remembered a back exit that led to the side parking lot and nearby woods. If she could reach the door, she had a chance of getting out of this alive. She looked down at the tear in her shirt, drenched with blood.
This isn’t good!

Kill Shot: Book One Wounded Heroes can be purchased at most online bookstores or from my publisher – Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-227/Wounded-Heros-Book-One/Detail.bok

Anne’s Bio: Anne Patrick is the author of more than a dozen novels of Romance, Mayhem & Faith, including the award-winning and best-selling Fire and Ash, Lethal Dreams and Sabotage. When she’s not killing off people or falling in love with dashing heroes, you can find her surfing the web or spending time with family and friends. Born and raised in Oklahoma, she now makes her home in Kansas.

To learn more about Anne, please visit her website: http://www.annepatrick.weebly.com or blog: http://www.suspensebyanne.blogspot.com