ROMANCE AUTHOR LYZ KELLEY CREATES A FICTIONAL TOWN FOR HER CHARACTERS

Elkridge Spreadsheet

Lyz Kelley describes herself as a total disaster in the kitchen, a compulsive neat freak, a tea snob, and someone who adores writing about and falling in love with everyday heroes. A healing love is at the heart of all her books. Learn more about Lyz and her books at her website. 

Readers often ask me where I get my story ideas or how I create my fictional worlds.  

I’ll let you in on a secret…

I stole many of the features of my small fictional town from my childhood and places I visited around Colorado. Elkridge is pieced together with all the Colorado elements I love. 

I started with the main street in Estes Park. It's a charming town nestled in the Rocky Mountains. Then I continued by adding my favorite family-owned restaurant from Idaho Springs. When walking in the door of this café, the first thing you smell is the buttery cinnamon rolls and freshly brewed coffee. Yum. The local pub I added from Evergreen. It has a lively crowd most nights of the week, karaoke on Tuesdays, and local bands on Saturdays. If you want to find anyone from the mayor to the beauty shop stylist, go there. From Denver, I combined a special little flower store and the art gallery next door that exists just on the fringe of the city. Next, I added a post office, schools, parks and government buildings. The streets I named in alphabetical order after trees: Ash, Birch, Cherry, and so on. 

I kept on adding all the features a picturesque mountain town needs in an Excel spreadsheet to make sure if my character turned left, they were heading in the correct direction. 

Once I had the place in my mind, I created Maggie, the cafe owner, and Jake, who runs the bar, and Mara, the blind flower shop owner. Mara is the heroine in the first book of this award-winning series. 

Of course, I’m following the same process for my Silver Fox, over forty series set in beautiful coastal California. (Look for the new series this fall.). 

The feel of these stories is different because the culture and setting and themes are different, but all of my books are filled with hope, happiness, and everyday heroes. 

The Elkridge Series are available as individual books or in two box set that include bonus material as well as through Kindle Unlimited. 

Elkridge Series 1

BlindedMara’s lost everything: her parents, her sister, her sight. Now, someone’s stalking her.
She can feel him taunting her. He must be the one who killed the sheriff. She’s afraid, but who can she trust? Joey. He’s stable as a rock and too good looking to ignore. But she must guard her heart. He’s only here for his brother’s funeral. The mayor is saying the sheriff’s death was an accident. Thankfully, her old high school crush has returned from the big city back to her small town. Will Joey, the high-profile detective, believe a poacher shot his brother or can she convince him there’s more to it? She must convince him the mayor is lying. Her life depends on it.

AbandonedHe’s a smokin’ hot, hard-body Marine. The type Ashley’s sworn to avoid.
Wartime heroes put service to country before family, and she wants to avoid setting herself up for another heartbreak. Besides, she’s got bigger problems to worry about. Her mom’s dead and she has less than thirty-days to figure out her life. She’s homeless, penniless, and a woman who hasn’t had sex in years. She’ll figure things out and just needs time. Time she doesn't have. Unfortunately, the Marine, the one person she want to go away, wants to help.

OrphanedJenna’s on a mission to find her missing sister. 
She’s all the family Jenna has left. Unfortunately, she’s falling for the guy who last saw her sister. Caitlyn is still alive.  If she were here, she’d scold Jenna for allowing Grant into her life.  Yet, she need to stay close to him. Her  instincts tell her Grant holds the clues to her sister’s disappearance. Besides, the rich lawyer is fascinating and beguiling. It’s not his fault he was born into the wrong family. She’s doing her best to avoid his persistent advances and easygoing charms. He’s making me forget why she moved to this small town. She needs a reminder: Grant’s the enemy.

RescuedKyle swore never speak to the hot-headed, uber sexy guy again. Even if he was her first.
But she can’t refuse her brother anything. She promised to check on Thad even though he left town without a word. Ten years she’s waited for him to tell me why he just disappeared. He owes her an explanation. Heck, he owes her period. Maybe, he’ll train a couple of the dogs in her kennel so she can pay the rent.   Then again, if he ever finds out her secret, He’ll never speak to her again. Maybe that can of worms needs to remain sealed.

Plus Two Bonus Books: Spurned and Exposed 

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AUTHOR CAROLINE CLEMMONS EXPLAINS MAPS (NOT THE KIND THAT TAKE YOU FROM ONE PLACE TO ANOTHER!)

Today we're joined by bestselling and award-winning author of romance, time travel, and mystery, Caroline Clemmons, here to talk about her two recent holiday MAP projects. Don't know what a MAP is? Read on to find out. Learn more about her and her books at her website.

Recently I have joined several multi-author projects (MAPs). In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, that’s when several authors each a book within the guidelines of the series organizer. Each book is a stand-alone but reading the entire series enhances the pleasure.  I’ve enjoyed these MAPs and want to share two with you today.

Melody

Angel Creek Christmas Brides, Book 7

This series is set just after the Civil War when most of Charleston, South Carolina was in ruins and no marriageable young men were to be found. The year before—the fall after the war—five women answered an advertisement for mail-order brides to a small Montana town. That turned out well and many of the remaining bachelors prevailed upon the brides to recruit more Southern Belles to come to Angel Creek. Six more agree to travel there by train to St. Louis, then by riverboat up the Missouri River, then by stage to Angel Creek.

These young women knew each other from school before the war and have remained friends. Melody Fraser is twenty-two and fears remaining a spinster. In addition, she has threats against her fueled by vicious rumors. She is happy to escape Charleston’s destruction and peril for a chance at life in a place untouched by the war. The problem is, she might have stretched the truth a tiny bit. 

Nicholas Walker is the new doctor in Angel Creek. He has big, big plans for his clinic and practice as the town grows. He is very efficient and expects to combine a skilled nurse with a wife.  When he learns Melody has only nursed an elderly grandmother, he feels cheated. 

They’re in for adventure and excitement. But, will the two grow fond of one another before Christmas or will they apply for an annulment?

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Christmas Wishes: Wishes Do Come True

Available for pre-order now and releasing November 13^th, this is a limited-time offer of only .99 cents for a 15-author box set comprised of all new stories. With a combination of historical and contemporary stories set in small town Hopeful, Colorado and ranging from sweet to sensual, there’s something for everyone’s taste. 

Legend says the wishing well in the center of Hopeful makes wishes come true if the wish is made under a full moon. What could making a wish hurt? 

Be careful what you wish for!

My story is the first one, Winter Wish. Serena Winters longs for a man who makes her feel loved. She yearns for her own home and children. Until a couple of months ago she had nursed her mother, who had consumption. She lives with her aunt and uncle above their mercantile store. In spite of what her aunt says about wishes being foolish, Serena wishes for a special man.

Brent Adams slips into town hoping no one saw him deliver the load he’d packed in on his mule. He has to wait in Hopeful until he receives funds from the bank. When he meets Serena, he longs to take her with him when he leaves town. But, what will she think when she learns his secrets?

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#CRAFTS WITH ANASTASIA--AUTHOR VICKI BATMAN AND NECKTIE QUILTS

Award-winning and bestselling author Vicki Batman recently stopped by to share her grandmother's recipe for fruitcake made with tomato soup. Today she’s here to talk about the quilts made from her husband’s tie collection.

Vicki has written numerous romantic comedies and two humorous romantic mysteries. She describes herself as an avid Jazzerciser, handbag lover, Mahjong player, Yoga practitioner, movie fan, book devourer, chocaholic, and Best Mom ever. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking, "What if?" Learn more about her and her stories at her website/blog. 

A lot of you know I call my husband Handsome. When we first married, he gave me a card signed with Handsome Husband. I shortened it. (And Handsome is a pretty nice looking guy.)

I grew up when working men wore suits to their job and to church, to shows, etc. I like the look. Handsome’s career began at a large accounting firm and he wore the “uniform”, too. He especially liked ties and for a long time, never threw any away.

An employee at his company makes quilts. After a chat, he decided to have some of his ties made into a quilt. (featured above)

He had her put on the back his philosophy about ties: 

 

The good news is he culled through his ties again and had a second quilt made,

 and a third. 

Creativity abounds in the holiday anthology, the Whispers of Winter, featuring my romantic comedy short story, “The Great Fruitcake Bake-off”. 

The Great Fruitcake Bake-off

When five-time champion Samantha Greene teams up with her new neighbor, Dixon Roberts, for The Great Fruitcake Bake-off, they discover baking a prize-winning entry is complicated, bad guys are plotting to take the crown, and first prize isn't just about a ribbon.

Other authors in the Whispers of Winter anthology are: Nicole Morgan, Stephanie Morris, Caitlyn Lynch, Maya Bailey, Krista Ames, Sharon Coady, Donna R. Mercer, Jan Springer, Carma Haley Shoemaker, Livia Quinn, Amber Skyze, Rebecca Fairfax, Jane Blythe, Suzanne Jenkins, Stacy Eaton, Rene Webb, Marie Mason, Joann Baker & Patricia Mason, Karen Cino

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR ANGELA ADAMS' HERO CHASE DONOVAN

Today we sit down to chat with Chase Donovan, hero from Magic Moment by author Angela Adams and featured in the Cruising for Love: 4 Ship-Shape Romances set.

What was your life like before your author started pulling your strings?

Ordinary. I got out of bed, drank my coffee, went to work at my father’s produce warehouse…drank more coffee…My job consisted of “shmoozing” the clients. I have a very gregarious personality. To get away from the tediousness of the warehouse business, I’d head to Atlantic City and the casinos. I’m pretty good at the Black Jack tables. Whenever I felt the need to just relax, I’d drive up the coast to Magic Lake Island where I keep a boat. One night, after a round of gambling with my college buddies, I headed to Magic Lake for some quiet, peaceful soul-searching. Thanks to Angela Adams what I found when I got to my boat was anything but tranquil and relaxing.

What’s the one trait you like most about yourself?

I couldn’t think of anything…so, I asked Laura, the heroine in Magic Moment. She said, “Chase cares about people, and always wants to help someone.” I said, “Really? Nah. You think so?” Laura replied, “Chase is too humble, and his humility sometimes gets on my nerves.”

What do you like least about yourself?

After Laura and I got involved in Angela’s drama, I was forced into admitting that I sometimes turn a blind eye to the negative characteristics of others. Kind of if I pretended undesirable aspects didn’t exist, then they weren’t there. It was while getting to know Laura better, and going through our dangerous adventure, that forced me to acknowledge this trait in myself.

What is the strangest thing your author has had you do or had happen to you?

Finding Laura involved in a vicious assault, coming up with a quick plan to stop it, and going on the run with her.

Do you argue with your author? If so, what do you argue about?

Well, here I was…minding my own business, leading a quiet, passive life, and this Angela Author Person drops me into the middle of this chaos. Well, once I admitted my true feelings for Laura, I had to see the situation through to the end and make sure we stayed safe. Not to mention that in writing her story, Angela forced me to admit some things that I had ignored about my past and people in my life.

What is your greatest fear?

That Laura will be physically harmed. These guys are after her, and we can’t figure out why. We’re on the run to keep her safe and get to the bottom of this mystery.

What makes you happy?

I didn’t know it until Laura and I were trying to stay one step ahead of the bad guys, but being with her makes me happy. Although, I truly wish Angela had found a less dangerous way for me to discover how much I love being with Laura.

If you could rewrite a part of your story, what would it be? Why?

First of all, finding Laura on my boat with those creeps wouldn’t have been part of the deal. I still don’t know how I came up with that quick idea that saved her life. Then, the meeting I had in my father’s office with my father, and his business partner, Oliver Daniels. It pains me to think about that day…I would have hoped to have had a different, more peaceful, less tragic outcome.

Of the other characters in your book, which one bugs you the most? Why?

Oliver Daniels is a ruthless, brutal slimeball. He created this mess, involved my father, Laura, and me…and the jerk doesn’t care who gets hurt…or worse…

Of the other characters in your book, which one would you love to trade places with? Why?

My college buddy, Ned. He’s got the life I want…

Tell us a little something about your author. Where can readers find her website/blog?

Writing and reviewing contemporary romances, Angela Adams’ work has appeared in Romance at Heart, Oysters and Chocolate, Whipped Cream Reviews, Long and Short Reviews. Her short story, “Burgers and Hot Chocolate,” was featured in the anthology, Winter Wonders published by Whimsical Publications. Her romantic suspense novel, Magic Moment, was published by Crimson Romance.

Angela is a member of Romance Writers of America. Growing up in Philadelphia, PA, her passions are reading, strolling through Philadelphia’s Historic District, and cheering for the Philadelphia Phillies.

You can find Angela at www.authorangela.blogspot.com

What's next for you?

With summer on the horizon, I’m getting my boat ready for another adventure. Hopefully, a serene and quiet one.

Cruising for Love: 4 Shipshape Romances

Set a course for adventure with these four couples as they take to the high seas only to find new romance.

Little White Lies by R. C. Matthews

Attorney Madalyn Russell may have dumped her fiancé at the altar, but no way is she rejecting the honeymoon cruise. Unfortunately, she didn’t cancel the newlywed package, and now she’s stuck as a single in a lovebird world. That is, until a devilishly handsome man with a secret, Royce Spencer, offers a deliciously indecent proposal: He’ll pose as her husband in exchange for companionship during the cruise. She can’t deny their attraction, but will their little white lies make too many waves when Royce’s past finally catches up with him?

Romancing the Seas by Cait O’ Sullivan

When a relationship gone bad sinks sous-chef Pippa Renshaw’s plans, she swaps her job in a prestigious London restaurant to become the head chef on a cruise ship sailing around New Zealand. It’s a great escape plan until a mix-up means she has to share a suite with her new boss, the delectable Jonathon Eagleton, who is no happier about the circumstances. These two can handle the simmer… but when the heat turns up, is it a recipe for true love?

Magic Moment by Angela Adams

Shortly after the FBI brings in Laura Roberts for questioning regarding activities at the warehouse where she keeps the books, a gang of thugs snatch her off the street. Chase Donovan boarded his boat intending to spend a few peaceful days getting his head together, but instead he finds trouble when he interrupts two men assaulting a woman in his cabin. What’s more, they claim his father told them to do it. Chase doesn’t want to believe his father could hurt anyone. Laura doesn’t understand why she’s a target. Can they put their mutual attraction and time on his yacht to work to discover the truth before someone dies?

Reach for Tomorrow by Peggy Gaddis

Nurse Claire Frazier was devoted to her fiancé, until he threw that love back in her face. Disillusioned and burning with shame, she books passage on a world cruise, along with an intriguing collection of fellow passengers: an attractive second officer, a detective, and a confidence artist. Is love waiting once again at the next port of call?

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BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--CHRISTMAS BABIES ROMANCE BOX SET

The ebook box set has become a great marketing tool for authors and a way for readers to discover new favorite authors. Today Jill James shares the evolution of the Authors of Main Street, a group of romance writers who have come together to produce themed box sets. Learn more about the Authors of Main Street and their other books at their website/blog. 

Christmas Babies on Main Street

Christmas Babies on Main Street by the Authors of Main Street is our boxed set of 9 novellas for the 2017 Holiday season. Back when we formed in December of 2011 I never imagined we would not only still be doing boxed sets but have all become great friends and fellow writers. With our sixth set we are still going strong.

Our original group formed on the Indie Romance Ink Yahoo group. That group helped us find like writers and brought us together into subgenre groups. We decided to find our niche with contemporary romance in the cool-to-warm heat level of romance and start our own website and do joint projects. The original Authors of Main Street members were E. Ayers, Bella Street, Kelly Rae, Kristy Tate, Tori Scott, Susan R. Hughes, Leigh Morgan, Joan Reeves, Stephanie Queen, Carol DeVaney, Mona Risk, Pepper Phillips, and myself.

Over the years, we’ve lost members to life changes, different writing genres and heat levels, and to death in the case of Pepper Phillips, who was our organizing force and a wonderful lady and writer. We’ve also added members as we invite others to join the Authors of Main Street.

The boxed sets grew out of our wish to do a project together. We decide on a theme for the sets, one of us does the cover, another does the formatting, and together we market our sets.

This year’s set went with the theme of babies at Christmas. Not all our babies have plump fingers and cuddly toes; one has a tail and mane and four shiny hooves. Christmas doesn’t have to take place in December, either. Magic and miracles and true love happen all the time. But all the stories are contemporary romance in the cool-to-warm range and have a happily-ever-after.

Our latest set, Christmas Babies on Main Street includes the following novellas:

Baby Blue Christmas by Kristy Tate

As Christmas nears, Sophie and Luke’s love for baby Jamison draws them together, causing them to rethink their plans for the future and redefine their ideal family.

The Christmas Stocking by Carol DeVaney

While caring for an injured, recent widower and his two motherless children, Ellie discovers more than she bargained for. Does she dare dream of them becoming a family?

Baby Steps and Snowflakes by Jill James

After years of fostering, Krista dreams of being a forever mom to baby Max. When the father of the child shows up will he destroy her dreams or give her new ones?

A Sister’s Christmas Gift by E. Ayers

Brandy loved her fast-track life and her steady beau, but when her nonconformist twin sister dies, she leaves behind more than a box full of memories.

Once Upon a Vet School 7, Lena Takes a Foal by Lizzi Tremayne

She was a veterinary student.  He was a resident at her school. She needed help—he needed to stay away.

A Family Christmas by Jude Knight

She's hiding out. He's heading home. It'll be storms for Christmas.

Small Town Christmas Baby by Stephanie Queen

She was pregnant. He was patient. But their mothers-in-laws were impossible...

Christmas in Eastport by Susan R. Hughes

A holiday visit to her hometown brings Carly face to face with Mitch, the boy she loved and lost when they were seventeen. Can they make it work this time, or does Mitch have a secret that will tear them apart?

Christmas in July by Leigh Morgan

For Drew Selleck, Maddy’s return to Door County, Wisconsin, in July, after being away for twenty-five years, was just the Christmas present he needed.

Christmas Babies on Main Street

This year, The Authors of Main Street have combined their talent to bring you stories about love, the holidays, and babies from around the world. From the small hamlet of Eastport in Canada, to the gorgeous landscapes of New Zealand, to Main Street, USA... you'll find the Christmas spirit and warm love stories on every page. And not all of our babies have pudgy little fingers and adorable toes... one of them has hooves and a mane!

Snuggle up with your favorite blanket, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and let the Authors of Main Street help you celebrate the holiday season.

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