Winter by J. S. Marlo

 

Wounded Hearts

"Love & Sacrifice #2"

is now available  

click here 

 

 

  

J. S. Marlo's BWL Books

     Before I published my first novel, I wrote stories for fun and posted them on a fanfic website. Many of these early stories took place in winter. Why winter? Because I'm Canadian and I live in the north. I have four seasons: Spring (lasts 1 month), Summer (lasts 3 months), Fall (last 2 months), and Winter (last 6 months). So, I spend half the year in the snow and the cold.

In one of these fun stories, my character was forced to drive in a snowstorm without winter tires. Needless to say, he ended up in a ditch. After reading that story, a reader sent me a message asking me what were winter tires, and why we didn't put 'normal' tires on our cars in Canada. I told her that winter tires look like 'normal' tires but they have a higher natural rubber content to keep them supple in cold weather and deeper & thicker treads, allowing for better grip and handling on snow and ice.

She lived in a part of the world where it's always warm, so she didn't understand how snow, ice, and cold could affect our lives differently. It was the start of a long conversation about car accessories: winter tires, studs, chains, winter wipers, block heaters, battery blankets... then houses: triple windows, insulated attics, basements, furnaces...

Looking back, I learned a lot from the exchange. I realized just because I knew about certain things didn't mean everyone else did. Sentences like "it's cold out" or "there are northern lights in the sky" doesn't mean anything to someone who'd never felt cold or seen northern lights.

As a result, I learned to become more descriptive, to look at a scene through my characters' eyes as if they were seeing it for the first time, and to assume that at least one of my readers will never have experienced what my characters see, hear, feel, sense, or smell.

Happy Reading & Stay Safe! J.S.

 

 

J. S. Marlo's Website

All the Furs and Feathers by Eileen O'Finlan

 

Click here for purchase information

I am super excited to annouce the release of my new novel, All the Furs and Feathers Book 1 in the Cat Tales series!

All the Furs and Feathers is the story of two cat sisters, Smokey and Autumn Amelia. Smokey is an architect working for Fluffington ArCATechture. Autumn Amelia is a chef savant. When Smokey get the assignment of her dreams to design Faunaburg's first ever cat park, she quickly realizes it could turn into her worst nightmare. The land parcel for the park is adjacent to Rodent Way. Given the long-standing animosity between felines and rodents this can only spell trouble. She'll need the help of her adorably quirky sister to convince the rodents that the cats' good intentions are for real.

I'm often asked what age group best suits All the Furs and Feathers. Middle graders and up would certainly understand and enjoy it. However, I actually wrote it with adults in mind. Several years ago I was a member of an online community where all participants were cats. Each member's cat had its own page with pictures and a link to that cat's diary if they chose to keep one. The cats could all friend each other, send each other virtual gifts, and message each other. Very popular were the threads in which cats got together for virtual parties, trips, games, and weddings. Most of the humans behind the cats were adults. And we had a blast! Some folks who were good at photoshop would put the cats in clothes and include pictures of them in the threads. My Smokey even got married on the site. It was these people I had in mind as I wrote the story. So, while I will be thrilled to hear that kids are enjoying the book, I am also very gratified by the many adults I've heard from who are delighting in it as well.

If you're wondering what a cat wedding is like, here's a picture of Smokey's:

A newspaper article inspired the protagonist in Deadly Ties by Jay Lang

Deadly Ties

Jay Lang

Click this link to purchase book

http://bookswelove.net/lang-jay/

     I was inspired to create the protagonist, Mila, after reading a newspaper article about a woman who was an adult child of an alcoholic and her challenging journey to find closure.

Chapter One

      Opening the door in the dead of night, I felt a rush of icy wind seconds before the killers appeared from the darkness

* * * 

A chilly morning wind gusts through the open car deck, almost causing me to lose my balance. Just as I reach the bottom of the metal stairwell, a distorted voice breaks through the overhead speakers. It’s the captain, informing passengers that a pod of Orca has been spotted off the starboard side.

Pushing against the wind, I make my way to the railing and look over the churning, grey water just in time to spot a large dorsal fin breaching the surface. Tourists quickly gather and shove to get the best vantage point for taking pictures.

After a few quick moments, the whales disappear and the onlookers slowly disperse. I lean over the railing and watch the whitecaps on the growing swells while we head into rougher seas. As the shorelines disappear, the wind picks up and mists of seawater spray over me. I continue to look out over the water, entranced by the pattern of the rolling waves. Though I get cold and wet from the saltwater spray, I don’t return to my car until the Departure Bay dock comes into view.

The farther the ship gets from the mainland, the more apprehensive and resentful I feel about going back to a place I fought so hard to leave.

I haven’t been home for a long time. I couldn’t bear the thought of seeing him again, especially since Mom died. She was the go-between, the mediator between him and me. Over the years, I opted for self preservation. Instead of visiting, I sent the obligatory card whenever a holiday or birthday rolled around. Yet, here I am in my late twenties, subjecting myself once more to the bullshit I escaped from.

The ferry docks, and as I drive over the noisy metal ramp onto solid ground, there’s a sinking feeling in the pit of my gut.

I knew this day would eventually come. Years ago, when Mom was still alive, Dad was diagnosed with a carcinoid tumor in his lower intestine. From what his care nurse tells me, the cancer has now spread to his stomach and lungs, and as gruff and emotionally arrested he is, I know my mom would’ve wanted me to help him in his final days.

Dark angry clouds hang overhead as a strong wind pushes against the body of my old Honda Accord, making it challenging to handle on the open highway. Despite this, the drive to Ladysmith goes by too quickly. Before I know it, I’m turning onto Brenton Page Road.

A few minutes down the road, I pull over so I can take a few steadying breaths. I remind myself that it’s better to sacrifice time now than live with the guilt of not helping the cantankerous old codger.

I listen to a couple of Neil Young songs while gripping the steering wheel. Then, feeling as mentally prepared as I can, I pull back onto the road.

After I pass the tall white inn, I turn down the narrow, winding road toward the beach. When I come to the clearing, I see the half-dozen row of waterfront cabins just up from the shore. I park, get out of the car and stand, looking out over the sea.

I wrote this paragraph after going on vacation and seeing this exact image and thinking it would be a great visual for this scene.

      When I was a child, I would wait until my mom was asleep, then I’d take off my clothes and tiptoe out to the beach. Standing naked under the stars by the glistening sea, the cool wind dancing around my body. It made me feel alive… a part of everything.

The Cinderella Princess. Anne Stuart Future Queen of England 1702-1714 Part Two by Rosemary Morris

 

To find out more about Rosemary's stories click on the cover.

Author’s Note. At heart I am a historian. Before I begin writing a #classi#historical#omance I research the background. I hope you will enjoy this month’s insider blog based on my notes.

Princess Anne was six years old when her mother died in 1671. Her father, James, Duke of York, had taken the unpopular decision to become a Roman Catholic. Her uncle, the childless King Charles II, knew politics demanded his heirs, Anne and her elder sister, Mary, were Protestants. He appointed Lady Frances Villiers, a committed Anglican, as their governess and leased Richmond Palace, where his nieces would live, to Frances and her husband.

The princesses benefited from country air and were privileged to live by the Thames at a time when, due to bad roads, the river was important.

Anne’s indulgent father visited his daughters regularly, showered them with gifts and often stayed for several nights at Richmond Palace. Yet all was not well with the family. In 1673, the Test Act excluded anyone who did not take communion in the Anglican Church from public office, James was forced to resign as Lord High Admiral and give up his other official positions. In an era with fervent religious allegiances, I wonder what effect religious controversy had on Anne, a stubborn child.

What did she think when her father married fifteen year old Mary of Braganza? History relates James was captivated by his bride. Looking at a copy of her portrait, I’m not surprised. She was tall with a good figure, jet black hair, a fair skin, and large eyes her contemporaries at court described as ‘full of sweetness and light’. The proud bridegroom introduced his new wife to his daughters as a ‘playmate’. Anne formed a bond, not with her stepmother, whose children would be raised in the Roman Catholic faith, but with vivacious Sarah Churchill, who would have a profound influence on Anne.

Granddaughter of tragic King Charles 1 how would her life develop?

* * *

Rosemary Morris’#classic#historical#romance fiction set in Queen Anne Stuart’s reign 1702-1714

 

Far Beyond Rubies

Tangled Love

The Captain and The Countess

The Viscount and The Orphan

 With firmly closed bedroom doors, the reader can relish the details of emerging romances.

 

* * *

To purchase my novels choose an online click onto the book cover to choose an online bookstore at https:bwlpublishing.ca/morris-rosemary.

Unlikely Love Lines by Julie Christen

Look for all the love lines in your life, as well as the ones you will read in Nokota Voices coming in April.

Check out my BWL Author page

Julie Christen Author Page 

Unlikely Love Lines by Julie Christen

  When I stop to think about it

       love lines surround me     every day. Appearing in 

unlikely places. They smack me in the face. Or go unnoticed. 

    All shapes and sizes. All intents and purposes. Soft and silent. 

  Laugh out loud or lamenting. Shy or certain.  

                       Quiet or clarion. Day in, day out.

                                 They all say love. 

If I listen.

From Nokota Voices:

  Hike up your big girl panties and quit the waterworks, said my dead grandma.

    

  Prairie’s patient, golden gaze said, “You are not alone.” 

  

 “Paisley, we try to live a simple life here. Sustain ourselves as best we can. 

 In the meantime, we attempt to do good things.” She looked at me square on. 

 “What are you good for?” (Aunt Bert)

From My Love:

  

   "Yes, Honey. I will build you an outhouse."

   "Thanks for not being a pain in the ass."

   "I'm not going anywhere."

From Me to My Love:

  

   A packed lunch every morning.  

   "Yes, Honey. Let's go to the hay auction, again."

   "Let me read to you."

From My Friends:

  

   "I miss you."

   Silence, together.

   Laughing 'til our faces hurt.

From My Pets:

  

   My little Paisley's amber eyes gazing up at me like I hung the moon.

   RainyDay's dark, soul-filling pools and snuffling, velvet muzzle.

   20 mini t-rex chickens running for joy straight to me, mobbing me for treats.

   "Purrr, prrr, prrrr ..."

Can you hear your love lines?