Welcome, Kim Ligon

VOICES IN MY HEAD 

 

Thank you Jennifer for allowing me to opine a few moments on your blog. First, a little about me. My debut novel, “Polly’s List”, came out in August 2022. My second novel with The Wild Rose Press was published this week—“Landing On Her Feet.”

 

I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I got the idea for my latest book. With great frequency the voices in my head hijacked my hands. I used to be worried about hearing them, but I’ve seen other authors allude to the same thing. If I’m crazy, I’m not alone. When the voices are humming, I take on the role of the medium at a séance. We’re all around a table holding hands and I’m possessed by the character who has something they have to say. Then I move to my keyboard and I type whatever they tell me to. 

 

Sometimes it’s the pure drivel of a jealous character who thinks they haven’t had enough attention in the story so far. Usually, they’re simply being impatient. But often it is wonderful. Spot on. And it gets me over the latest snag in my story or introduces a new intriguing element to the unfolding plot. 

 

Some characters prefer to approach when my defenses are down. They appear in my dreams. In this book, the main evil character went through many iterations as “Danny Mercer”. He appeared one night demanding, “I want a new name. What is menacing about a Danny?” In the final draft he became Dirk Crowe and it must have suited him because he didn’t return to complain and believe me, he’s not the type to go quietly into the good night!

 

The biggest change in this novel came not from inside my head, but from the one on the pillow next to mine—my husband’s. He liked the story but thought the male good guy was entirely too wimpy. He took the time to help me strengthen Chase’s character and made the story better. For a long time, I’d dubbed the novel “Saving Chase.” I’m lucky my mate didn’t insist on co-authorship.

 

If you liked my debut novel, you’ll find some familiar friends in this story. It is not a sequel, but a standalone set in the same fictional small town of Lansdale, Wisconsin. It is a rated G suspenseful romance with a generous splash of faith. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

 

The voices are growing impatient to work on story three. Gotta go! Thanks again, Jennifer. Have a marvelous summer!

Blurb

Kat Russell narrowly escaped death at Dirk Crowe’s hands six years ago. He’s out of prison. To protect her family, she must flee Philadelphia—the only home she’s ever known—with her five-year-old son, Timmy. Is Wisconsin far enough away to escape evil? 

 

Chase Merrick, father of Timmy’s new best friend, wants to help. What is Kat hiding? Why does she insist she must face whatever it is alone? 

 

When Can Kat stop constantly looking back over her shoulder? Will secrets and shame stop her from accepting Chase’s protection? Or unite them in the face of danger to keep their sons safe? 

Excerpt

 

The unmistakable roar of a motorcycle echoed  through the diner. Kat stopped where she stood. Her  lungs wouldn’t refill. She gripped the counter to steady  her trembling legs. Out the front window she saw a red- helmeted rider atop a motorcycle pull out of a space in front of the diner and drive away.  

Impossible. Not here. He couldn’t know she’s gone. Not yet. Other people with red helmets ride motorcycles. Get a grip, girl! People are staring. Stop  scowling. She wiped away the tear that slipped down  her cheek, plastered on what she hoped was a pleasant  smile, and resumed pouring coffee. She needed to make a good impression. She had to keep this job.

Links

 

Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Landing-Her-Feet-Janine-Ligon/dp/15092497337/

 

Barnes and Noble:

https://barnesandnoble.com/w/landing-on-her-feet-kim-janine-ligon/1143205488

 

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123737915-landing-on-her-feet/

 

Bookbub:

www.bookbub.com/books/landing-on-her-feet-by-kim-janine-ligon

Bio

Kim Ligon has been writing stories for most of her life—some on paper and some only in her head. She has lots of source material growing up as the oldest child in a large family in a small town in Wisconsin. Her father was a veterinarian so there were not only lots of children around, but all manner of house pets and farm animals too. Her love of reading comes from her mother who was seldom seen sitting down without a book in her hand. After a demanding career in healthcare information technology, she is now getting to do all the creative things she loves which includes writing her stories to share with you. She lives with her chief encourager and personal romantic hero, her husband of almost forever, in Alabama. Please follow her further adventures at www.spinningromance.com

 

My Books Arrived!

My box of paperbacks from Harlequin arrived this past weekend. Forty-five copies of my book, Home for the Challah Days, and I was more excited than I thought possible.

I’ve written romances before. And I’ve ordered copies of my books before. In fact, I have a whole bookcase filled with my copies that I take with me to bookstores, reader conferences, and festivals. So, you’d think receiving a box of books in the mail would be no big deal.

 

You’d be wrong. 

 

For one, the boxes I’ve received in the past have been ones I’ve ordered. For a discount, but ordered, nonetheless. This box of books was given to me by my publisher as per my contract, and although I’m not allowed to sell these copies (also per my contract), I can keep them, give them away, use them for swag, etc.

 

For another, the actual books are different, too, and no, I don’t mean because they have a different title. They’re smaller—mass-market paperback size (think the size you see in Walmart). The cover is matte. And they even have the inserts in the middle of the book that all/most Harlequins have—truth be told, those inserts annoy me as a reader, but as an author? It means the book is real (to me, at least)!

 

And finally, it means that it’s almost publication day. August 22 will be here before I know it, and my book will be out in the world. This book that I never thought would see the light of day after so many rejections will finally get into readers’ hands. 

 

So, my excitement is real and different from before. If you haven’t seen it, here it is: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorwilckjz/video/7250579556933963050?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7239728539854030379

It Pays to Answer Your Phone.

I got some good news this week, and the moral of the story is this: sometimes it does pay to answer those random phone calls.

 

If you’re like me, you never answer calls from numbers you don’t recognize. I’ve gotten too many telemarketers and scammers, so I’m always cautious about answering my phone with a number I don’t recognize. I also have phone security apps that weed out a lot of the spam calls.

 

So, on Sunday, when my phone rang from a number in Atlanta, and I knew I didn’t recognize it, I let it go to voicemail. And forgot about it, especially when my phone didn’t alert me to a voicemail. Later in the day, I was scrolling on my phone and noticed an alert on my voicemail screener. Usually, those calls are spam, but if I get an alert, I check it. 

 

The cool thing about that app is it transcribes the voice mail so I can get a hint at least about the type of voicemail it is. This time, the app couldn’t transcribe the message. I was positive that meant it was a scam. But I listened to it anyway.

 

Good thing I did, because it was from the contest chair for the Maggie Awards, a contest run by the Georgia Romance Writers. Although it only asked me to call them back, I knew it would be good news of some sort, since you never get calls that you LOST a contest.

 

I called back immediately, left a voicemail, and unblocked the strange Atlanta number that I’d blocked before. Oops. She called me right back and let me know I’m a finalist in the contest for my book Unlock My Heart. Winners will be announced at their conference in October. 

It's Real

It’s been a while since I last blogged. In fact, probably long enough that maybe there are three of you who still read my blog. Oh well, I’ll write for the four of us. Invite your friends if want.

I’ve been working on the third book in my Harlequin Special Edition series, and like most writers, I’m plagued by, “what if.” What if the book isn’t as good as the other two? What if my editor hates it? What if I can’t make my deadline? But to be honest, those what ifs aren’t going away. Ever. I’m pretty sure they’re just part of my writing process.

 

Even after returning from my lunch with my editor—the first time I felt like a real writer with a worthwhile profession—I still looked at my manuscript, gulped, and thought, “Oh, God.” And I think I’m going to feel that way for the foreseeable future.

 

When I first started writing, and there was nowhere to go but up, of course I was excited. I was inspired and had ideas pouring out of my head. I had the freedom to play with them, to do anything I wanted with them because no one was looking for them. Once I turned this into a business and had deadlines, and requirements, and readers, well, I have to admit, some of my inspiration disappeared. 

 

I’m still writing. I’m still coming up with new ideas, and I still love what I do. Really. Even more so now that I’ve been exposed to people—editors, support staff, marketing people—who depend on me for their business to run. They take me seriously. They’ve given me a necessary piece of support that no one else can, no matter how hard they try. And I’m forever grateful, especially since I didn’t know I was missing it. 

 

But it doesn’t make sitting down at my computer any easier. I know what I need to write. I know where I am and where I want to get to in my manuscript. It’s the process of actually going from point A to point B that’s giving me fits right now. But I’m not giving up. As I say all the time, writing is a muscle, and you need to use it every day if you want to keep it in shape. So I’m writing, getting to know my characters, discovering new things about them two thirds of the way through the book that I didn’t know about them in the beginning (and making notes to go back and fix that beginning when I’m finally finished.).

 

In the meantime, book one—Home for the Challah Days—comes out in two months. It’s actually up for preorder now if you’re interested. I’m ramping up my marketing again, both for that new book and for my backlist—you can see some book recommendations here that I’ve made that will hopefully entice you to buy some of my books. And I’m doing lots of in-person events, including RomantiConn in July, which you can see here.

Order of the Dragon Knights Series Anniversary Celebration and Sale by Mary Morgan

Hello Jennifer! Thank you for hosting me on your fabulous blog to celebrate my 10-year anniversary with The Wild Rose Press! What an epic adventure since I signed my first contract for Dragon Knight’s Sword (Order of the Dragon Knights, Book 1) all those years ago.  

 

Through the Looking Glass with my Writing Career 

 

When I signed my first contract in May 2013, little did I fathom the dedication, time, and energy involved with promoting and marketing my book. By the time Dragon Knight’s Sword entered the world in June 2014, I was almost finished writing the fourth story in a five-book series. My much wiser and knowledgeable author friends kept warning me of the dangers of letting the business side interfere with my creative writing. In recollection, I recall laughing. Yes, I laughed at these friends. I kept saying, “I’m eager and looking forward to marketing my book! I can do it without any assistants. Bring it on!” What a silly woman I was and should have paid a wee bit more attention to their kind words of wisdom.

 

I used my vast administrative background to become an efficient task-master. I set a rigorous schedule Monday - Saturday: 5:00am wake-up call, breakfast at the computer to work on all business matters, exercise regime between 9:00-10:00, lunch at noon, and back in my writing cave around 12:30-1:00pm to write until 5:00pm. Saturday was more flexible, but I was sitting in front of my computer screen around 1:00pm until after 5:00. If my day became interrupted by family or emergencies, I made up the writing loss later in the evening. And yes, I worked on those research travel trips, too. 

 

What about Sundays? Should I take this day off? Well maybe… On Sunday mornings, I’d print out what I had worked on during the week. I considered this a day of rest while I did line edits for a couple hours on the couch. My daughters laughed and scolded me. “This is not resting from work, Mom!”

 

My routine required a shake-up. When the pandemic hit, you would have thought I’d be in my glory with all this quiet time. Quite the opposite. My knight (aka the husband) required surgeries, and I struggled with what was happening in the world. I slowed down but still continued a slightly modified schedule. Eventually, I became burnt out and needed a break. Those wise words of wisdom from my friends came rushing back to me in late 2021 and 2022. In addition, I had several health issues which were a major signal for me to quit putting this pressure on my shoulders. I called it my “Stress Demon” and she had to leave! 

 

Looking back through this lovely rose-colored looking glass, I honestly can say I would not have done anything differently. Why? Because I’m a firm believer in learning lessons on my journey in life. Nothing is perfect. I’ve had a successful, illuminating career. Yet if I hadn’t pushed on through those early years, I might have gone in another direction or stopped writing. I continue to grow, learn, and now enjoy every single moment of my day. 

 

And if I want to take the day off or scale back on my word count, I no longer scold myself anymore.  Nope! A wiser Mary Morgan Author has emerged, and I’m eager to see how the next 10 years evolve. Psst, there’ll definitely be more Dragon Knights.   

 

Order of the Dragon Knights ~

 

They were an ancient order, descended from the great Tuatha Dé Danann, the Sidhe, or in simpler terms: the Fae. Half-human and half-fae, each knight blessed with mystical powers. Given to them were holy relics from the Fae and guardianship over their Dragons.

 

They were known as the Dragon Knights.

 

However, some believed the Order had too much power and they tried to possess it for themselves. They were evil and twisted, and their plan succeeded one fateful night. The brothers of the Clan MacKay—Dragon Knights, fought a battle. Blood spilled onto holy ground, bringing forth the wrath of the Fae. Their relics were taken, and the Order was banished—each name stricken from the hallowed halls of the Fae.

 

The Clan MacKay is no longer.

 

The Dragon Knights have scattered across the land.

 

Yet out of the darkness, they will each fight for redemption, and the women they love.

 

For a limited time, Dragon Knight’s Sword is on sale for 99¢ from Amazon. Grab your copy today or collect them all! 

Sale dates: 5.11.23 – 6.2.23

Available at AMAZON

 

(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F7QR2T3 )

 

Book Trailer for Dragon Knights: https://youtu.be/iEruV9P6PtU

 

About the Author: 

Multi award-winning romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Northern California with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

 

Mary's passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic and Norse mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

 

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of fantasy, then travel back in time within the pages of her books.

 

Connect with Mary here ~

Website/Blog:  https://www.marymorganauthor.com/

Amazon Author:  http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaryMorganAuthor/

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/m_morganauthor

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan

Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marymorgan2/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-morgan

Audible: https://www.audible.com/author/Mary-Morgan/B00KPE3NWI

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-morgan-2634a77a/  

 

 

The End of the Empty Nest

It’s my last full week of an empty nest. My youngest graduates from college in 10 days. After that, she’s coming home to live here while she works in New York City. It’ll be a temporary move, until she can find an apartment. But until that time, my husband and I will once again have a kid living under our roof.

I’m not upset. I miss both my girls when they’re away, and I’m thrilled she’ll be coming back home for a while. But it will be an adjustment having another body in the house. I’m still getting used to the quirks of having my husband working from home full time. And while Banana Girl will be employed in a hybrid situation, I suspect my working areas will be limited somewhat due to our working styles.

 

Eating will also change, as she has a much more creative palate than we do. It makes lunches fun, since she’s constantly suggesting food I never would make or order myself but am happy to share when she’s willing. And I’m not going to argue about having an extra “honey” for my “honey-do” list—Oh, you’re going to the dry cleaner? Great, can you take my stuff, too?

 

So, this week I’m focusing on getting all my work done ahead of time, meeting my deadlines, and preparing for her “college junk invasion.” 

 

One of the things I’m looking ahead to is my book signing at Barnes & Noble in Easton, PA. I’ll be there on May 6 from 11-4 with several other romance authors. We’ll talk about our books, sign them, and lead panels on topics of interest to readers and writers. I’d love you to stop by—it’s a great way to prepare for the reading mothers in your lives!

Welcome Back, Debby Grahl

 Jennifer, thank you so much for having me today.

My inspiration for writing is a little different than most. I have a disease
of the retina called Retinitis Pigmentosa which causes gradual vision loss.
I lost the ability to read in my early twenties, but even when I had sight,
seeing the printed word was always difficult for me. Reading a book would
take me twice as long as a person with normal sight. I became frustrated
with this and began to make up my own stories. I used to entertain my
girlfriends with these as we walked to school. They were kind enough to
listen, and today they’re some of my biggest fans. It wasn’t until the
invention of screen-reading software that I was able to put my stories into
print. Everything I write is read back to me, but I still have difficulty
with some postings. For instance, Facebook. I'm unable to tell if my book
cover is upside-down or sideways. This is where my wonderful seeing-eye
husband comes in.

I can now look back and laugh at my first attempt in getting published, but
at the time I was devastated. An editor was offering a free critique of your
first twenty-five pages. I happily sent this in, just knowing she'd love it.
Well, when she sent her remarks back, my confidence was shattered. She said
she marked everything I'd done wrong in red. Which as far as I could tell,
covered the entire twenty-five pages. And to rub  salt into my writers ego,
she also said, "You have a good story if you could write it." Yikes! I took
some writing classes and my new release Island Heat, will be my sixth
published novel.

Island Heat blurb: 

When bookstore owner Suzanna Shay and writer Austen Kincade meet on a Who Done It mystery cruise, their instant attraction has them more interested in romance than searching for clues.  But when the leading actress in the shipboard murder skit, Austen’s publisher’s wife, throws herself at Austen, she’s furious when he rejects her advances and vows to have Austen no matter what it takes.

After the ship docks, with plans for a future together, Suzanna and Austen part, unaware vindictive lies will soon test their newfound love and entangle them in a real mystery that proves deadly.

Island Heat Excerpt

“There’s a full moon. How about a stroll out on the deck?”

Suzanna, you don’t know him. Think about what you’re doing. Her mother’s voice rang through her head. But as she gazed into Austen’s face, careful was the last thing she wanted to be. She stood. “Let’s go.”

They said goodbye to the Paiges and headed for the doors leading onto the deck. The night was warm with a gentle breeze. Stars filled the velvet sky as moonlight sparkled upon the water.

Suzanna breathed in the salty air. Right now, my life in Charlotte might as well be a million miles away, and I haven’t a care in the world.

“There’s Orion,” Austen pointed. “Studying the constellations is a hobby of mine.”

“I find the stars fascinating. And I love having my fortune told.”

“I can tell you what your future will bring,” Austen replied. 

“What’s that?”

He took her into his arms. “This.” His lips covered hers.

The warmth of his mouth made Suzanna’s skin tingle. This moment came right off the pages of the romance novels she so loved — a moonlit night, a handsome man, and the faint sound of a piano in the distance. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. 

He held her close. His kiss, gentle at first, his lips moving slowly across hers, skillfully coaxed her lips apart. Their tongues met, and Suzanna let out a low moan as the kiss deepened. Her body molded to his. She slid her fingers through the hair on the nape of his neck. His hand glided up and down her back. His hard erection rubbed against her, and Suzanna’s passion soared.

Austen broke their kiss and gazed into her eyes. In a husky voice he said, “I want you.”

Suzanna, never one to jump into bed with a man she’d just met, hesitated. Again, for a second, her mother’s disapproving scowl flashed through her mind. She defiantly brushed it aside. There’s no one here to question your actions.Don’t let this perfect night pass you by. Besides,  who would ever know? the adventurous part of her brain screamed drowning out any misgivings. Who was she kidding? Nothing would keep her from having sex with Austen. “Yes.” she whispered.

“I suggest we get off this deck before we go any further. Your cabin or mine?” 

Struggling to gather her wits, Suzanna nodded. “Mine.” 

Buy links

Amazon Author Page -- https://www.amazon.com/Debby-Grahl/e/B00B34HM26

B&N --https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Debby+Grahl?_requestid=5525094

Bio

Award-winning author Debby Grahl lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband David. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach, and a glass of wine at sunset. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. 

Rue Toulouse, a contemporary romance set in the French Quarter, medalled as second place in the Readers’ Favorite international competition, and was awarded first place in the Top Shelf Fiction for the Romance category. His Magic Touch, a paranormal romance, is also set in New Orleans. Her latest book, Island Heat, will be released May 1, 2023, and will be the second book in her three-part Carolina series. The first, Mountain Blaze, released November 2, 2020, has received a five-star review from Readers’ Favorite. 

 

You can find Debby at the following:

Website -- www.debbygrahl.com
Facebook -- https://www.facebook.com/debbygrahlauthor?ref=br_rs

Bookbub -- https://www.bookbub.com/search/authors?search=debby%20grahl
Twitter -- https://twitter.com/DebbyGrahl

 

Buy links

Amazon Author Page -- https://www.amazon.com/Debby-Grahl/e/B00B34HM26

B&N --https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Debby+Grahl?_requestid=5525094