Amber is the heroine in Debra's This Feels Like Home
When I set out to write my Corral series, I knew one of my heroes would be Jake. And I always knew his book would be the third and last installment in the series. I knew Jake. I knew what his story was going to be about. In the letter to the reader at the beginning of the book it says this about Jake:
Jake was the guy always there for his friends, and who often helped them find their way down true love's path but planned on steering clear of love for himself, so he could focus on his rodeo career. But of course, we all know it takes just the right woman to come along and change a hero's mind, so I brought Amber into Jake's life.
Phrased like that, it seems simple. But actually bringing Amber into Jake's life was a lot harder than it sounds. I had a really difficult time finding someone who was good enough for Jake. I'd gotten to know Jake pretty well during the first two books, and I also knew whoever would ultimately be his heroine had to be pretty darn special. Worthy of my Jake.
Even coming up with a name for her wasn't easy. I went through oodles and oodles of lists and nothing sounded right. I wanted something with at least two syllables to off-set the single syllable of Jake. Finally while driving from here to there at some point, we passed a road called 'Winfield'. I liked the sound of it, and at least now I had a last name. Eventually, her first name came to me, and Amber Winfield was born.
Amber started out as a lawyer from Chicago. She'd be visiting her cousin and come across small town country boy Jake. The crux of their conflict would be the country boy/city girl lifestyle. A bit cliche, but I figured I could make it work.
Or not. I got a 'rejection' the first time I submitted. More of a...if you want to make some changes I'd love to look at this again type deal. One of the things the editor (not my usual one) said was definitely not working was Amber's job.
Okaaaaay.....
Since it was the third in a series, I wasn't going to give up on it, but changing her job was a HUGE deal. It wasn't just substituting another career for every time I mentioned the word 'lawyer'. There were pages and pages and entire scenes that had to be cut, revisited, changed. One suggestion the editor made was to shorten the book. Instead of making it a full-length, why not go with a novella?
Well, for several reasons. One, I'd still need to do something about her job, so shortening it didn't help there, and two, the first two books in the series were full-length available in print stories, and I wanted a matching set. Yes, I'm a bit OCD when it comes to stuff like that.
So eventually Amber wound up as a Certified Accessibility Consultant and Counselor. (Don't ask me how I got there. I seriously have no idea.) To quote Jake, "Now that's a mouthful." What it basically boils down to is Amber works with recently disabled people to help them try and cope with their new circumstances. Not only was this much, much less mundane than a lawyer, it helped add a layer of conflict to the story. Many of Amber's clients are people who have been injured doing extreme sports gone wrong. Jake, as a bull rider, is virtually addicted to the danger that has changed her clients' lives forever.
And thus a tag line was born: Can a danger-addicted cowboy and a safety-conscious urbanite ever see eye to eye?
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
P.S. As an interesting aside, I was asked if I wanted this book to be part of Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program, which basically means Kindle would have the exclusive rights to the e-book version of this story. In turn, they publicize the heck out of it as part of the program, which ultimately should lead to more sales. I was torn. Seeing that it was part of a series and I wanted readers to be able to get all three books no matter where they shopped, I eventually declined. Through a mix up with my publisher, the title did wind up as a Kindle Unlimited. The owner of TWRP called me in person to apologize for the mix up. In the long term, however, it's been a good thing. When I got my royalty statement just this last week, I had sold over 100 copies of This Feels Like Home during the first quarter of the year. Now, granted, that won't get me on any best seller lists, however, it's a big jump from where sales had been before. AND this is a book that is three years old. MAYBE (or not) I've sold 100 copies total in the last three years, so that many all in one quarter is huge. And very exciting.
Now for this month, the book is part of Kindle's summer promotion and is on sale for the entire month of July. I'll be very curious to look at my sale's numbers for the second and third quarters of the year.
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Showing posts with label The Corral Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Corral Series. Show all posts
Thursday, July 7, 2016
Thursday, November 5, 2015
R is for Rodeo
The rodeo features prominently in Debra's Corral series.
I've always loved the rodeo. I don't know specifically how my interest began, it's just always kind of been there in my life. So it was a no brainer that when I started writing my first book, I knew it would feature the rodeo in some way. In fact, the rodeo plays a role in all three books in the series.
In This Time for Always we're first introduced to the rodeo in town when Sharlie and her buddy Zach attend the annual event. Here's how the MC describes it:
“Rodeo is America’s favorite sport. We say this ‘cause it comes from the heart of America, right here on her soil. Rodeo isn’t derived from any other sport or from any other country. These boys are America, and the sport is from her land.”
In This Can't Be Love, the rodeo is more in the background, but Sharlie's conversation with Jessica clues us (and her) in on Zach's growing feelings.
“Zach’s never brought someone to the rodeo before.”
“What?” The comment was unexpected.
Sharlie nodded. “Before Logan moved back, Zach and I came to the rodeo every year together. Now it’s been the three of us. But he’s never made it a foursome.” She looked down at the stroller she pushed in front of her. “Well, a fivesome, I guess.”
Jessica hid her shock. “I find that hard to believe.”
Sharlie shrugged.
“Never?”
“Never.”
“But, he’s had women in his life, right? I mean girlfriends?”
“Some,” Sharlie admitted. “But I’ve never seen him like this before.”
Jessica swallowed. “What do you mean?”
“He’s happy. Don’t get me wrong,” the other woman laughed, “I’m not saying he was miserable before. But now, it’s different.” She glanced over at Jessica. “It’s good.”
Jessica didn’t comment. What could she say? She sipped her drink, hoping the cold beverage would dissolve the huge lump in her throat.
“I think he’s falling in love with you.”
Jessica choked. The soda burned as it went down the wrong way. “What?” Her heart sped.
Sharlie smiled. “I’ve known Zach a long time. He’s never been like this with anyone else. I can tell by looking at him. By the way he looks at you.”
Jessica forced down the panic rising in her throat. Zach couldn’t be falling in love with her. Their relationship was about sex, not love.
And finally in This Feels Like Home, Jake is a bullrider, so naturally lots of the action takes place at the rodeo. Here's how Amber, a certified disability counselor, feels the first time she watches Jake ride.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our bull is Hot Tamale and we’ve got Jake Hawkins on top of him.”
The crowd’s anticipation thickened at the mention of Jake’s name. Amber held her breath.
“This bull tips the scales at well over two thousand pounds. He’s literally a ton of fun.”
She glared in the direction of the announcer’s box but then quickly returned her gaze to Jake.
Inside the chute, he sat atop the enormous beast. The animal snorted and tossed its head. Its curved horns clanked against the metal bars.
Her heart lurched and dropped into her stomach.
Jake moved forward on the bull. He nodded. The cowboy in the ring pulled the chute gate open with a rope. With a twist of its massive head the giant bull jumped out into the ring. As it turned in a tight circle, it kicked its strong legs out behind. Its front hooves pounded the dirt again and again.
Time froze. Amber couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Eight seconds lasted a lifetime as Jake fought to stay balanced on the monster. He sat tall upon its back. One hand gripped the bull rope. The other stayed above his head as the wildly thrashing animal tried to unseat him. His body bowed and flexed like a rag doll as the creature jerked him about.
Finally the buzzer sounded.
Jake dismounted, landing on his feet as the crowd screamed its approval. The bullfighters rushed in to guide the still-kicking bull back to the large, middle chute. With one final toss of its head, it cantered down the center alley. The gate swung shut behind it.
Jake took off his hat and dropped to one knee. He bowed his head. His lips moved as he murmured a prayer. Then he stood and waved at the cheering crowd, before he gathered his bull rope and exited the arena.
Amber’s breath whooshed out as the tension drained from her body. Her fingers trembled, and she fumbled to unscrew the cap on her water bottle. With greedy gulps, she chugged the cool, refreshing liquid
into her parched throat. Around her the crowd went wild as Jake’s score was announced.
“No one should be able to beat that.” Sharlie fairly glowed with pride.
Amber merely nodded. She didn’t care about his score. All that mattered was Jake was safe.
Until next time,
Cowboy Up!
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
I've always loved the rodeo. I don't know specifically how my interest began, it's just always kind of been there in my life. So it was a no brainer that when I started writing my first book, I knew it would feature the rodeo in some way. In fact, the rodeo plays a role in all three books in the series.
In This Time for Always we're first introduced to the rodeo in town when Sharlie and her buddy Zach attend the annual event. Here's how the MC describes it:
“Rodeo is America’s favorite sport. We say this ‘cause it comes from the heart of America, right here on her soil. Rodeo isn’t derived from any other sport or from any other country. These boys are America, and the sport is from her land.”
In This Can't Be Love, the rodeo is more in the background, but Sharlie's conversation with Jessica clues us (and her) in on Zach's growing feelings.
“Zach’s never brought someone to the rodeo before.”
“What?” The comment was unexpected.
Sharlie nodded. “Before Logan moved back, Zach and I came to the rodeo every year together. Now it’s been the three of us. But he’s never made it a foursome.” She looked down at the stroller she pushed in front of her. “Well, a fivesome, I guess.”
Jessica hid her shock. “I find that hard to believe.”
Sharlie shrugged.
“Never?”
“Never.”
“But, he’s had women in his life, right? I mean girlfriends?”
“Some,” Sharlie admitted. “But I’ve never seen him like this before.”
Jessica swallowed. “What do you mean?”
“He’s happy. Don’t get me wrong,” the other woman laughed, “I’m not saying he was miserable before. But now, it’s different.” She glanced over at Jessica. “It’s good.”
Jessica didn’t comment. What could she say? She sipped her drink, hoping the cold beverage would dissolve the huge lump in her throat.
“I think he’s falling in love with you.”
Jessica choked. The soda burned as it went down the wrong way. “What?” Her heart sped.
Sharlie smiled. “I’ve known Zach a long time. He’s never been like this with anyone else. I can tell by looking at him. By the way he looks at you.”
Jessica forced down the panic rising in her throat. Zach couldn’t be falling in love with her. Their relationship was about sex, not love.
And finally in This Feels Like Home, Jake is a bullrider, so naturally lots of the action takes place at the rodeo. Here's how Amber, a certified disability counselor, feels the first time she watches Jake ride.
“Ladies and gentlemen, our bull is Hot Tamale and we’ve got Jake Hawkins on top of him.”
The crowd’s anticipation thickened at the mention of Jake’s name. Amber held her breath.
“This bull tips the scales at well over two thousand pounds. He’s literally a ton of fun.”
She glared in the direction of the announcer’s box but then quickly returned her gaze to Jake.
Inside the chute, he sat atop the enormous beast. The animal snorted and tossed its head. Its curved horns clanked against the metal bars.
Her heart lurched and dropped into her stomach.
Jake moved forward on the bull. He nodded. The cowboy in the ring pulled the chute gate open with a rope. With a twist of its massive head the giant bull jumped out into the ring. As it turned in a tight circle, it kicked its strong legs out behind. Its front hooves pounded the dirt again and again.
Time froze. Amber couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. Eight seconds lasted a lifetime as Jake fought to stay balanced on the monster. He sat tall upon its back. One hand gripped the bull rope. The other stayed above his head as the wildly thrashing animal tried to unseat him. His body bowed and flexed like a rag doll as the creature jerked him about.
Finally the buzzer sounded.
Jake dismounted, landing on his feet as the crowd screamed its approval. The bullfighters rushed in to guide the still-kicking bull back to the large, middle chute. With one final toss of its head, it cantered down the center alley. The gate swung shut behind it.
Jake took off his hat and dropped to one knee. He bowed his head. His lips moved as he murmured a prayer. Then he stood and waved at the cheering crowd, before he gathered his bull rope and exited the arena.
Amber’s breath whooshed out as the tension drained from her body. Her fingers trembled, and she fumbled to unscrew the cap on her water bottle. With greedy gulps, she chugged the cool, refreshing liquid
into her parched throat. Around her the crowd went wild as Jake’s score was announced.
“No one should be able to beat that.” Sharlie fairly glowed with pride.
Amber merely nodded. She didn’t care about his score. All that mattered was Jake was safe.
Until next time,
Cowboy Up!
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Q is for Quaint
Debra fell in love with the quaint town she created for her series.
The Corral is the setting for my series. It's a bar based on the actual place my hubby and I met. In the first book (This Time for Always) the majority of the action takes place at the bar or at the hero's home. There are a few other small scenes, but the characters do spend the majority of their time at The Corral. In the second book (This Can't Be Love) the majority of the action takes place away from the bar itself at the heroine's grandfather's house. The hero works at The Corral, so that's our tie-in. In the third book (This Feels Like Home), some of the action takes place at The Corral, but I really started expanding the universe of it so to speak and the town around The Corral began to take shape. It's here we really get a glimpse of what Main Street looks like. We meet Kelly, the proprietress of the dry cleaners. We spend a bit of time at the park at the edge of town. We find out The Corral itself sits on the edge of a field bordering the woods. We spend a bit more time at Bubba's Diner (the other eatery in town). And we spend quite a bit of time at the rodeo ring with our bull rider hero.
When I was done with the series, I wasn't ready to leave my setting behind. So I came up with a spin-off series of holiday stories based at The Corral and in the town. Kelly will be the heroine in my Halloween story. Through Scott's eyes (the hero in the Valentine's Day story) we learn there's a town square and a clock tower. Maggie shows us what the town looks like decorated for Christmas. And in the Fourth of July story we find out how the community comes together to honor those who have served our country.
With each and every story I fall deeper in love with the small town I've created. Two of the holiday stories are contracted. Another is almost ready for submission. And I'm planning two more after that to complete the spin-off series.
But I can't help but wonder, even when those books are done, am I going to be able to let my quaint town go? There's so much more to learn about it. For instance, I'm sure there's a bookstore. (g) And maybe a crafty/house decorating kind of store. What are the teachers like at the high school? A couple of my heroines have gotten or used flowers in their stories...so, there's obviously a florist. Even though it's a small town, the possibilities for its growth are endless.
It will be interesting to see what happens when I write 'the end' for the New Year's Eve story. Will my little town be put to rest? Or will it show up again as the setting for another set of stories? Only time will tell I guess.
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
The Corral is the setting for my series. It's a bar based on the actual place my hubby and I met. In the first book (This Time for Always) the majority of the action takes place at the bar or at the hero's home. There are a few other small scenes, but the characters do spend the majority of their time at The Corral. In the second book (This Can't Be Love) the majority of the action takes place away from the bar itself at the heroine's grandfather's house. The hero works at The Corral, so that's our tie-in. In the third book (This Feels Like Home), some of the action takes place at The Corral, but I really started expanding the universe of it so to speak and the town around The Corral began to take shape. It's here we really get a glimpse of what Main Street looks like. We meet Kelly, the proprietress of the dry cleaners. We spend a bit of time at the park at the edge of town. We find out The Corral itself sits on the edge of a field bordering the woods. We spend a bit more time at Bubba's Diner (the other eatery in town). And we spend quite a bit of time at the rodeo ring with our bull rider hero.
When I was done with the series, I wasn't ready to leave my setting behind. So I came up with a spin-off series of holiday stories based at The Corral and in the town. Kelly will be the heroine in my Halloween story. Through Scott's eyes (the hero in the Valentine's Day story) we learn there's a town square and a clock tower. Maggie shows us what the town looks like decorated for Christmas. And in the Fourth of July story we find out how the community comes together to honor those who have served our country.
With each and every story I fall deeper in love with the small town I've created. Two of the holiday stories are contracted. Another is almost ready for submission. And I'm planning two more after that to complete the spin-off series.
But I can't help but wonder, even when those books are done, am I going to be able to let my quaint town go? There's so much more to learn about it. For instance, I'm sure there's a bookstore. (g) And maybe a crafty/house decorating kind of store. What are the teachers like at the high school? A couple of my heroines have gotten or used flowers in their stories...so, there's obviously a florist. Even though it's a small town, the possibilities for its growth are endless.
It will be interesting to see what happens when I write 'the end' for the New Year's Eve story. Will my little town be put to rest? Or will it show up again as the setting for another set of stories? Only time will tell I guess.
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Sunday Snippet - A Peek at Debra's "This Feels Like Home"
This Feels Like Home is the third book in Debra's The Corral series.
Chapter One
Jake Hawkins spotted the newcomer right away.
Her fancy clothes made her look as out of place as boots on a chicken. No one in the entire state of Texas would wear a fancy sweater and dress slacks to the Corral. Not to mention heels so thin they looked like they’d snap if she tried to walk on them.
But his gaze didn’t linger too long on her attire. Instead, he studied her as best he could from across the bar. She leaned toward her friend, elbow on the table, chin resting in her hand. Her legs were crossed. One foot waved in the air. She wore her dark hair up in some kind of twist. As she gestured, her features settled into a frown. He wished he could tell what color her
eyes were.
“Order, please.”
He swiveled in his seat to face one of the waitresses. “Hey, sugar, what’s up?”
She blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. “Not much. Busy night.”
He nodded. “Glad I don’t have door duty tonight.”
The bartender approached. “What do you need, Tina?”
“Hey, Nick.” She consulted her notes. “I need four regulars, three lites, a cola, and a cosmopolitan.”
Jake frowned. “A what?”
She rolled her eyes. “Table twenty-two.” She jerked her head toward the back of the bar. “Out of towner wants a cosmopolitan.”
Jake didn’t need to glance in the direction she indicated. He could have guessed anyone dressed like that wouldn’t order anything as mundane as a beer. “Do you know how to make one of those?” he asked.
“Of course. I can make anything,” Nick said.
“What’s in it?”
“Vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and a splash of lime. If I want to be really fancy, I’ll garnish it with a lime wedge.” He grinned. “Want to try one?”
Jake grimaced. “No, thanks.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Do you think she wants a little umbrella in it too?”
“Nope. Those are only for tropical drinks. Margaritas. Daiquiris.”
“Of course they are.”
“So you’re part of the big auction tonight, huh?” Nick opened a cooler behind the bar and took out the beer.
Jake ducked his head. “Yeah.” He shifted in his seat.
“You don’t sound so thrilled.”
“I prefer to get my own dates, thanks. But it’s for a good cause. I couldn’t say no to Sharlie.”
“I thought maybe you were hard up and this was the only way you could get a date.”
“Yeah, right. I can get a date with anyone in this place.”
“How about that guy over there?” Nick pointed. “He looks lonely.”
“Ha-ha.”
“Seriously though, you have dated almost every female in this place. In fact, I’ve never seen you with the same girl twice.”
“And you never will.” Love ’em and leave ’em was his motto. And he made damn sure he was the one who did the leaving.
“You ever going to settle down with one woman?”
“Nope.” He’d come close once. Once had been enough. “Where’s the fun in that?” He forced a note of levity into his voice to dispel the unwanted reminder of the past.
Nick’s gaze roamed around the bar as he rocked a silver shaker in his hand. He poured the pink mixture into a stemmed glass. “So, you can get a date with anyone in the bar, hey? Care to make it interesting?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Fifty bucks says you can’t get a date…hell, make it a dance…with Ms. Cosmo.” He held up the drink.
Jake snorted. “I thought you were going to make it something difficult.” He stood.
“She’s not your usual type. Think you can handle it?”
Jake grinned. “It’s going to be a pleasure taking your money.” He adjusted his hat, settling it into position. “I prefer cash, by the way.”
Nick held out his fist and Jake bumped his own against it. “Break a leg.”
Jake chuckled. “I hope not. I’m riding next weekend.” Anticipation curled in the pit of his stomach. Adrenaline coursed through him as if he were in the ring instead of the bar. There was nothing in the world like facing off against a ton of muscled flesh and sinew.
But for now, a more immediate challenge claimed his interest.
This Feels Like Home is available through The Wild Rose Press and other major book markets.
Chapter One
Jake Hawkins spotted the newcomer right away.
Her fancy clothes made her look as out of place as boots on a chicken. No one in the entire state of Texas would wear a fancy sweater and dress slacks to the Corral. Not to mention heels so thin they looked like they’d snap if she tried to walk on them.
But his gaze didn’t linger too long on her attire. Instead, he studied her as best he could from across the bar. She leaned toward her friend, elbow on the table, chin resting in her hand. Her legs were crossed. One foot waved in the air. She wore her dark hair up in some kind of twist. As she gestured, her features settled into a frown. He wished he could tell what color her
eyes were.
“Order, please.”
He swiveled in his seat to face one of the waitresses. “Hey, sugar, what’s up?”
She blew a strand of hair out of her eyes. “Not much. Busy night.”
He nodded. “Glad I don’t have door duty tonight.”
The bartender approached. “What do you need, Tina?”
“Hey, Nick.” She consulted her notes. “I need four regulars, three lites, a cola, and a cosmopolitan.”
Jake frowned. “A what?”
She rolled her eyes. “Table twenty-two.” She jerked her head toward the back of the bar. “Out of towner wants a cosmopolitan.”
Jake didn’t need to glance in the direction she indicated. He could have guessed anyone dressed like that wouldn’t order anything as mundane as a beer. “Do you know how to make one of those?” he asked.
“Of course. I can make anything,” Nick said.
“What’s in it?”
“Vodka, triple sec, cranberry juice, and a splash of lime. If I want to be really fancy, I’ll garnish it with a lime wedge.” He grinned. “Want to try one?”
Jake grimaced. “No, thanks.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Do you think she wants a little umbrella in it too?”
“Nope. Those are only for tropical drinks. Margaritas. Daiquiris.”
“Of course they are.”
“So you’re part of the big auction tonight, huh?” Nick opened a cooler behind the bar and took out the beer.
Jake ducked his head. “Yeah.” He shifted in his seat.
“You don’t sound so thrilled.”
“I prefer to get my own dates, thanks. But it’s for a good cause. I couldn’t say no to Sharlie.”
“I thought maybe you were hard up and this was the only way you could get a date.”
“Yeah, right. I can get a date with anyone in this place.”
“How about that guy over there?” Nick pointed. “He looks lonely.”
“Ha-ha.”
“Seriously though, you have dated almost every female in this place. In fact, I’ve never seen you with the same girl twice.”
“And you never will.” Love ’em and leave ’em was his motto. And he made damn sure he was the one who did the leaving.
“You ever going to settle down with one woman?”
“Nope.” He’d come close once. Once had been enough. “Where’s the fun in that?” He forced a note of levity into his voice to dispel the unwanted reminder of the past.
Nick’s gaze roamed around the bar as he rocked a silver shaker in his hand. He poured the pink mixture into a stemmed glass. “So, you can get a date with anyone in the bar, hey? Care to make it interesting?”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Fifty bucks says you can’t get a date…hell, make it a dance…with Ms. Cosmo.” He held up the drink.
Jake snorted. “I thought you were going to make it something difficult.” He stood.
“She’s not your usual type. Think you can handle it?”
Jake grinned. “It’s going to be a pleasure taking your money.” He adjusted his hat, settling it into position. “I prefer cash, by the way.”
Nick held out his fist and Jake bumped his own against it. “Break a leg.”
Jake chuckled. “I hope not. I’m riding next weekend.” Anticipation curled in the pit of his stomach. Adrenaline coursed through him as if he were in the ring instead of the bar. There was nothing in the world like facing off against a ton of muscled flesh and sinew.
But for now, a more immediate challenge claimed his interest.
This Feels Like Home is available through The Wild Rose Press and other major book markets.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
Sunday Snippet - A Peek at Debra's "This Can't Be Love"
This Can't Be Love is the second book in Debra's The Corral Series.
Chapter One
There was a naked man in her grandfather’s bathtub.
At least she assumed he was naked. She didn’t plan on getting any closer to verify the fact. Jessica Hart stood in the doorway and worried her bottom lip with her teeth. The man had one well-defined arm slung lazily over the side of the clawfoot tub, fingers trailing on the floor. His head tilted back against the edge, eyes closed. Dark, damp hair curled over his forehead. A day’s worth of stubble shadowed his strong jaw. Her gaze drifted lower to his chest, visible above the water in the tub.
It definitely wasn’t Pops. So who the hell was he?
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The last thing she’d expected when she walked into the bathroom was to find a strange man in the tub. She’d come to the creek looking for some peace and quiet. After the events of the past year she needed it. Desperately. The cabin at the creek had seemed like the perfect retreat. Spending time with Pops would help her gain some perspective and feel human again.
So where was her grandfather? The door to the cabin had been open, which wasn’t unusual, but Pops was nowhere around. She’d checked his favorite places before heading upstairs. A nice long soak in his antique tub would be the perfect way to while away the time until he returned. Unfortunately the tub was already occupied. Well, that wouldn’t do.
She cleared her throat.
The man opened his eyes and turned toward her. His irises were a rich brown, reminding her of hot, strong coffee with just a touch of cream. His gaze swept over her before returning to her own. He raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” He seemed completely unfazed to see her standing there.
Jessica placed her hands on her hips. “Who the hell are you?”
“Zach Rawlings.” He inclined his head.
“And you are?”
“Jessica.”
“Ah, Ben’s granddaughter.”
“You know me?”
“He talks about you all the time.”
“Oh.” She paused. “What are you doing here?”
His mouth quirked up at the corners. “Taking a bath.”
All of Debra's books are available through The Wild Rose Press and other major book sites.
Chapter One
There was a naked man in her grandfather’s bathtub.
At least she assumed he was naked. She didn’t plan on getting any closer to verify the fact. Jessica Hart stood in the doorway and worried her bottom lip with her teeth. The man had one well-defined arm slung lazily over the side of the clawfoot tub, fingers trailing on the floor. His head tilted back against the edge, eyes closed. Dark, damp hair curled over his forehead. A day’s worth of stubble shadowed his strong jaw. Her gaze drifted lower to his chest, visible above the water in the tub.
It definitely wasn’t Pops. So who the hell was he?
She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. The last thing she’d expected when she walked into the bathroom was to find a strange man in the tub. She’d come to the creek looking for some peace and quiet. After the events of the past year she needed it. Desperately. The cabin at the creek had seemed like the perfect retreat. Spending time with Pops would help her gain some perspective and feel human again.
So where was her grandfather? The door to the cabin had been open, which wasn’t unusual, but Pops was nowhere around. She’d checked his favorite places before heading upstairs. A nice long soak in his antique tub would be the perfect way to while away the time until he returned. Unfortunately the tub was already occupied. Well, that wouldn’t do.
She cleared her throat.
The man opened his eyes and turned toward her. His irises were a rich brown, reminding her of hot, strong coffee with just a touch of cream. His gaze swept over her before returning to her own. He raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” He seemed completely unfazed to see her standing there.
Jessica placed her hands on her hips. “Who the hell are you?”
“Zach Rawlings.” He inclined his head.
“And you are?”
“Jessica.”
“Ah, Ben’s granddaughter.”
“You know me?”
“He talks about you all the time.”
“Oh.” She paused. “What are you doing here?”
His mouth quirked up at the corners. “Taking a bath.”
All of Debra's books are available through The Wild Rose Press and other major book sites.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
S is for Series
Debra loves a good series.
I've always been a fan of series. I love being able to follow characters throughout the course of more than one book. Which is probably why I enjoyed writing my own series so much.
When I first set out to write This Time for Always, I always envisioned it as the first book of a three-part series. I've said it before, but it was truly a dream come true to complete the series with This Can't Be Love and This Feels Like Home. Each subsequent story allowed me to not only tell about a new hero and heroine's journey to true love, but to peek back at the previous characters and let readers know what happened after their happily ever afters. For my series, each book is a stand alone read with its own hero and heroine, but the three original characters (Sharlie, Zach, and Jake) make an appearance in all three books and their stories are intertwined with the new leads. I will admit, there are probably a few minor spoilers if you read them in the wrong order, but nothing major. I mean, after all, we all know a romance is going to have a HEA and our characters will wind up together in the end.
I was crazy thrilled, happy, and proud when I finished my Corral series, but I soon realized I wasn't quite ready to let go of the world I'd built. So I've come up with a spin-off series featuring the same bar. This new sub-series also integrates some of my favorite themes to write about: holidays. The first book Christmas at The Corral will be released on November 4 of this year. I also have plans to write a Halloween, Fourth of July, New Year's Eve, and Valentine's Day story for the series.
The original titles in the series were all full-length novels, the spin-offs are novellas. In the new series, those original main characters may be mentioned, but they won't ever make an appearance. And there's not as much of a time line involved. I just want to hang around at The Corral for a little while longer.
I also have an idea for another series of three, or possibly four, new novels. The first will be based on an idea I've had for ages. I'd only intended it to be a stand-alone, but had one of Paula's lightbulb moments and decided I could use it as the first in a series. I've even got simple tag lines for two of the other books already too. The heroes in these stories will all be brothers.
That said, I haven't done much in the way of getting anything written for the first book. I know where I want the story to go, but I'm having trouble getting it started and set up in just the right way. I'm not worried. It will come to me.
In the meantime, I have Julie Ann Walker's latest Black Knights Inc. book sitting on my shelf waiting to be my first read of summer. She also has the first book in a new series coming out in July. And a few of my favorite cozies have new books out or coming soon as well. So even if I'm not writing a series, I'll still be immersed in (at least) one.
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
The Corral Series
available from The Wild Rose Press
I've always been a fan of series. I love being able to follow characters throughout the course of more than one book. Which is probably why I enjoyed writing my own series so much.
When I first set out to write This Time for Always, I always envisioned it as the first book of a three-part series. I've said it before, but it was truly a dream come true to complete the series with This Can't Be Love and This Feels Like Home. Each subsequent story allowed me to not only tell about a new hero and heroine's journey to true love, but to peek back at the previous characters and let readers know what happened after their happily ever afters. For my series, each book is a stand alone read with its own hero and heroine, but the three original characters (Sharlie, Zach, and Jake) make an appearance in all three books and their stories are intertwined with the new leads. I will admit, there are probably a few minor spoilers if you read them in the wrong order, but nothing major. I mean, after all, we all know a romance is going to have a HEA and our characters will wind up together in the end.
I was crazy thrilled, happy, and proud when I finished my Corral series, but I soon realized I wasn't quite ready to let go of the world I'd built. So I've come up with a spin-off series featuring the same bar. This new sub-series also integrates some of my favorite themes to write about: holidays. The first book Christmas at The Corral will be released on November 4 of this year. I also have plans to write a Halloween, Fourth of July, New Year's Eve, and Valentine's Day story for the series.
The original titles in the series were all full-length novels, the spin-offs are novellas. In the new series, those original main characters may be mentioned, but they won't ever make an appearance. And there's not as much of a time line involved. I just want to hang around at The Corral for a little while longer.
I also have an idea for another series of three, or possibly four, new novels. The first will be based on an idea I've had for ages. I'd only intended it to be a stand-alone, but had one of Paula's lightbulb moments and decided I could use it as the first in a series. I've even got simple tag lines for two of the other books already too. The heroes in these stories will all be brothers.
That said, I haven't done much in the way of getting anything written for the first book. I know where I want the story to go, but I'm having trouble getting it started and set up in just the right way. I'm not worried. It will come to me.
In the meantime, I have Julie Ann Walker's latest Black Knights Inc. book sitting on my shelf waiting to be my first read of summer. She also has the first book in a new series coming out in July. And a few of my favorite cozies have new books out or coming soon as well. So even if I'm not writing a series, I'll still be immersed in (at least) one.
Until next time,
Happy Reading!
Debra
www.debrastjohnromance.com
The Corral Series
available from The Wild Rose Press
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