Holiday Romance

 This is that time of the year when we begin looking at those holiday stories that warm our hearts and get us ready for the holiday season and the beginning of a new year. Today's guest in My Writing Corner has a new book out that sounds perfect for this season and is a part of The Wild Rose Press His and Hers Christmas Series.

My guest is J.J. Ranson (Julie) and says she  didn’t call herself a writer until she was in her 50s. The event happened suddenly and quite organically. After experiencing a searing personal crisis, she pondered writing that story one day. She wasn't ready to write it quite yet though. 

J.J. tells us that she loves a good story. As a voracious reader, she says she usually knows a terrific book within the first few pages. (Don’t you?) She spent the bulk of her work life in education -- public schools, community college, and university. Besides her work, Julie reads, gardens, hikes, and drinks wine in Virginia. Her favorite destination is the beach or anywhere there's lots of water. She’s the mother of three adult children she says she thoroughly enjoys hanging out with. Julie is a widow and lives in Virginia with two elderly rescue dogs. Her alma mater is Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned three degrees. 

J.J., what is your book that you will feature today and how did you come up with the idea to write it?

My second novel, His Christmas Muse, is a contemporary Christmas romance. I absolutely love Christmas and Hallmark Christmas movies. Yes, the movies are predictable, but romances always have a happily-ever-after, so what’s all the griping about? Haha! I wrote His Christmas Muse because I wanted to explore how two lonely, hurting people find their way to love. I also love dogs, and have two rescue dogs of my own, so I truly enjoyed using the dog to bring these two people together. Riley, that rascal dog, is occasionally the star, and I love that he has such power. 

Let's get a blurb:

Sylvie is a lonely southern girl looking for love. She finds herself on a dating site, and the fun is supposed to begin. Then Pete, divorced and just fine being alone, accidentally meets Sylvie after a blind date doesn't show. When they bump into each other again, he is smitten. She unlocks his writer's block, so he plots to keep her in his orbit. Pete is wrong for her, Sylvie's certain, even though she doesn't know who he really is. Riley the rescue dog keeps bringing them together. Sylvie discovers the magic of Christmas in Virginia where love lights up her holiday. Both Pete and Sylvie learn some lessons about misjudging others and healing from past wounds.

Want to know more? How about a book excerpt:

Timothy Alan Jones hadn’t been very social as a high school junior. But I, Anna Sylvester, plucked him out of the football lineup and pulled him into my busy, social world. As a majorette in the marching band, I had swarms of friends who longed only to date a handsome football player. I lived every teen girl’s dream in the hot, sunny South where one’s family lineage meant everything. Timmy tagged along, seemingly in awe of my family’s lifestyle. 

We weren’t rich. Let me make that clear—painfully clear. 

When I was about ten years old and noticing the differences in things my inner circle of friends had— clothes, fancy lunchboxes and their contents—I asked Momma if we were rich.

“Not rich, dah-lin’. Just comf-table,” she’d drawled, not lifting her yellow-haired head from her romance novel. A long, drawn-out emphasis on the “comf” was how her deep Alabama accent infected her words. We had been comfortable because of Momma’s family. Daddy did his dead-level best to keep us on the edge of broke, or so it seemed to my younger self. I didn’t always understand what Momma and Daddy were fighting about, so I read books on my bedroom window seat, waiting for their angry voices to stop.

There are lots of railroad tracks in Birmingham. Though Timmy wasn’t from the other side of them, he might as well have been, according to the whispered words I overheard at home. My parents and their annoying focus on social class. Sigh. But even I wasn’t prepared for how awkward he acted around my folks and their friends at the country club. His head had swiveled around like a possessed girl in a scary movie, taking in all the high fashion, the smoke-tinged laughter of rich old men, and the sashay of women in hose and heels even on humid summer nights. 

I’d watched Timmy out of the corner of my eye, occasionally touching his thigh with my hand to reassure him. I’m not a touchy-feely person at all, but he had brought out a kindness in me. A smattering of empathy, too, I suppose. 

Birmingham Acres Country Club hadn’t been my scene either, but my parents had a monthly reservation which required the attendance of me and my sister Constance Miller. Her middle name was Daddy’s great-grandmother’s surname. Mine belonged to my maternal grandmother. Often, we got to bring a friend, which eased the tension that coiled inside my gut like a snake. I had preferred to ignore Momma’s embarrassing conversations with her friends.

For two years, Timmy and I were quite an item, until college pulled us apart. I wandered a mere hour southwest to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, enjoying dorm life and all that a huge university offered. Timmy got a football scholarship to play at a private college, Birmingham Southern College. I figured he’d never leave town. I can’t remember exactly how we broke up, but I recall thinking once that I didn’t want to be stuck in Birmingham my whole life. We didn’t move on to other people; we just stopped talking. Isn’t that what usually happens when two people have little in common anymore? 

Seeing him right in front of me—both of us away from the familiarity of our old lives—made my hand shake as I took a sip of water. I don’t know whether I felt excitement or disappointment. I mean, really, I’m starting a new dating life and the first guy out of the gate is an old beau? Silently, I told God I didn’t appreciate his sense of humor. So not funny. 

What’s your next project?

The Wild Rose Press offered me a contract for my third novel, a contemporary Christmas romance part two of the His and Hers Christmas series. It follows Angie Caruso, the best friend of the main character, Sylvie, in His Christmas Muse.  I’m finishing that story now.

Congratulations! That's something for readers to look forward to! Here are the buy links for His Christmas Muse and social contact information for J.J.

Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/His-Christmas-Muse-Hers/dp/1509258396/

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/his-christmas-muse-j-j-ranson/1146305820?ean=9781509258390

BooksAMillion: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/His-Christmas-Muse/J-Ranson/9781509258390

https://www.juliejranson.com/published-work/

Social Contact Info:

Website: www.juliejranson.com

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

X: https://x.com/JulieJRanson

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

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliejranson/

LinkTree (all the links): https://linktr.ee/jjranson

Thank you, J.J., for being my guest today. Any questions or comments for J.J.?

Tapping into the Creative Spirit

Perhaps the best part of being an author is that you get to travel to far away places or familiar places that you get to create yourself. That's part of the allure of being a writer, and today's guest in My Writing Corner says that's just what attracts her.

My guest is author Dena Weigel who grew up in Western Kansas, where, she says,  she dreamed of faraway places. Known as a "daydreamer" by her teachers, she admits that she loves finding the rhythm and emotional punch of a great sentence. After graduating with a Bachelors of Fine Arts, she studied art and culture in over thirty countries before settling int he beautiful Pacific Northwest and building a career writing for businesses and organizations around the world.

Dena says she enjoys hiking with her husband and daughter, painting, and relaxing on her deck with a cup of coffee and a great book. She is currently working on the next Sarah Kraft novel, The Argentinian Affair. Let's find out more about Dena and her new book.

What do you enjoy about being an author?

Creating stories is such a fun way to escape into another world! It’s all of my own choosing—I get to learn about topics I am interested in and get to be in the characters’ heads I create. I can be a capable, determined woman on a mission, or a horrible, disgusting brute at any moment I choose. When I look back through my life, I realize I’ve been inhabiting characters inside my imagination since I was a kid. Something called “daydreaming” by all my teachers!

What do you find is the most challenging part of being an author?

The most challenging part of being an author for me is the editing process. My mind doesn’t work with details well and finding those little mistakes becomes nearly impossible after I’ve read and reread the manuscript several times. Likewise, sometimes it’s hard for me to spot issues with the plot. Now that I understand the process better, I’ll be more strategic in how and when to use outside editors. 

Tell us about your road to publication.

It’s been a long and winding road to publication! 

The idea for my novel came from my love of adventure, and boredom brought it forth. I was on a bus trip in Italy with my husband when I outlined the plot as a way to kill time. My husband thought it was good and encouraged me to continue. When we returned home, I started writing the manuscript. It was fun, but I felt like I was fumbling around in the dark, not really knowing if anyone other than my husband and I would think my writing was any good. 

When my circle of friends and family learned I was writing they asked me to blog for their businesses and organizations. I began with a women’s shelter in Somalia, which had very compelling stories to tell. I went into the business sector after that, writing for tech companies, PR and marketing firms, and government agencies. This really made my search engine history interesting, but it kept me from writing my novel. So, during the pandemic, I made the move to a job that required less writing. I hired a developmental editor to help me finish my novel and, once the manuscript was completed, I pitched it at a writing conference and landed a publishing deal! 

How do you develop characters?

I have read several books about female spies and journalists in World War II, and the adventurous women who have explored the world. For my leading man, I wanted to create someone who was an equal to my leading lady, but always allowed her to lead. And for my villains, I created one who used intelligence against Sarah, one who used brute force against her, and the last one was a paranormal entity that would be unpredictable and unexpected. I felt this was a good balance for the plot, gave me a lot of room to let the characters grow as I wrote them, and made them different enough that each would stand out. 

My main goal as far as the character go, was to make sure that I didn’t diminish the men in the story as I kept Sarah up front as the hero. 

What is your book that you will feature today and how did you come up with the idea to write it? 

My book, a historical thriller, is called The Byzantine Cross (released on November 11). It is an action/adventure story set in 1950 as the Cold War is beginning to heat up. My main character, Sarah Kraft, is a former World War II spy who now finds herself living a less than exciting life as a fine art appraiser. When her old contact from the war department, now the CIA, entices her back into service, she’s off on a wild chase to find the legendary Byzantine Cross, an ancient Biblical relic with mysterious powers. It’s kept inside the Kremlin, and with the help of a Russian double agent named Nicolai working for the British MI6 agency, they infiltrate the compound and steal it. But when they run into a guard during the theft they must run for the border before Stalin’s men can catch up to them. 

Sarah and Nicolai escape to Ukraine where they find out more about the cross’s powers, then to Istanbul where they think they are safe, but Sarah doesn’t realize she’s being watched. Two dangerous men are also after the cross, and Sarah must fight her way out of the Grand Bazaar to get the cross to safety. When questions arise about the CIA’s intentions for the cross, Sarah decides to take it back to where it was first created, the only place she feels it will be safe—an ancient archeology site that has been lost to history. 

Lots of adventure, lots of action—and a little romance to balance it all out! 

Let's get a blurb: 

Former OSS spy, Sarah Kraft, thought she'd left her dangerous past behind in 1950s New York City. But when her former boss tracks her down and convinces her to accept a new mission-steal the ancient Byzantine Cross from inside the Kremlin for the CIA-she's dragged back into the world of espionage. Once in Moscow, she's promised the aid of a Russian double agent, Nicolai Rodzyanko, but things aren't as they seem. Someone hired a hitman to eliminate Sarah, and she and Nicolai realize they're not the only ones after the mysterious cross. As the two dig deeper into the history behind the oldest known biblical relic, they discover it's far more than a simple artifact. Sarah starts questioning the motives of her former boss and the agency she once trusted, and when supernatural forces come into play, she must make a decision that could change the course of history.

Want to know more? How about an excerpt: 

        “Here you go,” he said, removing the box through the hole and handing it to Sarah. She didn’t respond. Instead, she blew a layer of dust off its lid and ran her finger over the double-headed eagle to see the rubies flash red in the light. She lifted the lid and lying inside on a cushion made of purple silk was the Byzantine Cross.

        No decoration, no jewels—just a simple wooden cross.

        “That’s what you’re after?” Nicolai glanced over her shoulder. “Rather plain, isn’t it? The box is worth more.”

        “You would think so, wouldn’t you?” Sarah murmured.

        Nicolai glanced at his watch again and said, “We should get going. The power will be back on in nine minutes.” He took the box from Sarah and carefully put it back on the shelf. “Hopefully, this will go unnoticed until you’re back in Rome.”

        Sarah tucked the cross into the waistband of her trousers and pulled her sweater down as she jogged back through the galleries behind Nicolai. When they got to the main hall, they rushed toward the stairwell but stopped when she heard the click of a gun behind them.

        “Kremlin Garrison!” a deep voice yelled again a few feet behind them. “Stop where you are, or I’ll shoot!”

        Sarah sucked in a breath and held it. No! Not now!

        “Pizdets!” Nicolai swore next to her as he raised his hands above his head. “Follow my lead,” he whispered as they pivoted to face the man.

        “Stay where you are.” The guard stalked them, his gun aimed at Nicolai’s chest. He appeared twenty years younger than Nicolai, and bigger in size.

        This won’t be easy.

        “What are you doing here?” the guard asked in Russian.

        “I can assure you there is no need for weapons,” Nicolai replied with feigned confidence.

        “What’s your name?” the guard barked.

        “Nicolai Rodzyanko, secretary to the chairman of defense. I have my credentials in my pocket if you’ll allow me.” He moved to reach inside his dinner jacket but froze when the guard took a step forward.

        “Keep your hands up!”

        The guard closed the short distance between them in three steps and reached out to search Nicolai for weapons.

        “I work in the intelligence office,” Nicolai said. “We’re guests at the ball tonight. My date wanted a tour of the museum.” He waved his hand dismissively. “It has all been authorized.”

        “By whom?”

        “The director of intelligence. He arranged for the alarms to be turned off.”

        The guard waved the gun at Sarah. “What about her? Why is she dressed that way if you’re coming from the party?”

        “She’s...she’s,” he stammered and glanced helplessly at Sarah.

        “I’m an American spy,” Sarah blurted out in English. “Here to steal the Kremlin’s treasures.”

How do you come up with your plots?

I like to bring ancient history into the recent past, and I love archeology and learning about brave women in history. I’ve studied art history in college and traveled quite a bit, so I pull from all these sources and use some of my own experiences to create links that fill in the plot. 

I love when two seemingly random bits of a story connect and make perfect sense! This happened throughout the writing of The Byzantine Cross.

What’s your next project or what are you working on now?

I’ve started my next Sarah Kraft novel, with the outline and a few chapters started. It’ll take place in Argentina and brings together a mysterious vessel with the power to look into the future, a Sumerian high priestess, and a group of power-hungry Nazis who’ve escaped to South America after the war. 

I’ve also got a good start on a science fiction series about a man who has been plugged into a system but is liberated when the system shorts out. From there, he will be “reborn” and learns to live with a native tribe in the wild. 

What advice do you have for beginning writers?

Believe in yourself and let your intuition and mentors guide you. 

When I started writing I didn’t know if I would produce anything worth reading. I took a long time to learn by writing for my business and for myself. I also went to writing conferences where I met important contacts and learned from authors who have seen success with their own novels. 

One such author told me to surround myself with other authors, and that was great advice! I continue to learn from them and they are generous in helping me promote my debut novel!

Here are Dena's contact information and the buy links to The Byzantine Cross.

Amazon:

The Byzantine Cross

Barnes and Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-byzantine-cross-dena-weigel/1146196612?ean=9781509258284

Social contacts:

Website: http://www.denaweigel.com

Social Media: 

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

    Istanbul: https://www.instagram.com/denaweigelauthor/ 

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@denaweigel 

Thank you, Dena, for being my guest today. Any questions or comments for Dena?

Letting the Story Take Control

When I start writing a book or story, it usually begins with a single thought that seems to take on a life of its own. It develops itself as much as I develop it. Today's guest in My Writing Corner seems to be an author who does things much the same way. My guest today is Elaine Violette and she is here to tell us about her newest book, Blessings and the Thief which is a part of the Wild Rose Press Christmas in the Castle Series. It sounds like a perfect read during the long evenings of the winter season or when you need to take a break from the holiday hoopla.

Elaine writes British and American Historical Romances and has seven published novels to her credit. Part of the fun of writing historical romance fiction, she says, is doing research into the past and creating characters that live and love in these sometimes glorious and sometimes harrowing times. A veteran English teacher, Elaine holds a BS in English Education from the University of CT and an MS in Educational Leadership from Central CT State University. She presently teaches public speaking part time at a local community college. Residing on the Connecticut shoreline with her golfing husband, Drew, she delights in being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Other favorite activities, apart from reading and writing, are nature walks, kayaking, and baking yummy desserts.  Let's find out more about Elaine and her new book.

What do you find is the most challenging part of being an author?

Five hours pass like one, when I start writing, and there never seems enough time. Therefore, the most challenging part for me as an author is finding the time and sticking to a schedule. Life is full of distractions!

How do you come up with your plots? 

I admire writers who are able to keep story boards and character files, etc. I am most creative when I sit down and start writing. I create an initial plot but then it begins to develop on its own as I write. My characters take on personalities as if they were close friends. When I’m not at the computer, ideas generate on a walk, at the gym, or even in a dream. The fun part of creation is when a story takes on a life of its own, and the characters live and breathe in your mind. Their welfare and happiness depend on you, the author. What a responsibility and how great is that!

Tell us about your road to publication.

Oh, what a journey! My first Regency, Regal Reward, was traditionally published in 2007. Two more Regencies followed, A Convenient Pretense, and A Kiss of Promise. Unfortunately, the publisher went out of business. I was able to have my rights returned, and I chose the road of self-publishing.  A three-book Redemption series followed: Of Faith Under Fire and Hope Unshackled. Book three, “Love at War” is not yet completed. 

I have enjoyed a rewarding career as a self-published author, and, I admit, it took a long while to put my trust in another traditional publisher due to my first experience. After hearing great things about The Wild Rose Press, I decided to submit a manuscript. I am now a happy TWRP author with a great publisher and editor. My novel, Embracing Amelia, a Regency, was released by TWRP in April 2023, and now, a sweet novella, Blessings and the Thief, released November 6, 2024, is available to bring a bit of holiday spirit to my readers. 

What is your book that you will feature today and how did you come up with the idea to write it?

‘Tis the Season to embrace the holiday spirit with a novella, Blessings and the Thief, a story with mystery, whimsy, and love, and that leaves a message on the importance of friendship and heartfelt giving. I enjoy developing different personalities in my characters. In Blessings and the Thief, I found the opportunity to bring together a fun group of elders, each with unique personalities, that both grate on their peers as well as draw laughter and teasing. The jovial atmosphere brings comic relief as the main characters face their demons.  The elders’ wisdom and forgiveness draw out the true meaning of Christmas. My books always incorporate healing and redemption. Blessings and the Thief gave me the opportunity to create a holiday party atmosphere, draw a fun group of friends together, heal heartbreak, and nurture a budding romance. 

Let's get a blurb:

Damien Reeves grudgingly agrees to host his ailing Uncle Lionel’s Christmas party at the Blackmoor Inn, a restored castle famous for absurd ghost lore. When he learns of petty thefts that have occurred among his uncle’s elderly friends, he hopes discovering the culprit might keep him from reliving his own tragic holiday memories. When a beautiful young woman arrives, a more enticing challenge appears.

Tessia Bennington is relieved to spend the holidays at the reputed haunted inn with her aunt and uncle after the man she’d expected to marry begged off. She enjoys the frolicking escapades of the aged partiers while ignoring the handsome host’s flirtations. What she can’t ignore is a ghostly presence seeking her help.

Neither Tess nor Damien could have imagined the bizarre events and this most unusual holiday. Will they part with special memories or shed their defenses and find happiness in each other?

How about a book Excerpt?

        “It is a shame your uncle couldn’t come to be with his friends,” Tess said. “I met him last year when I visited with my aunt and uncle. He was a cheerful sort.”

        “Yes, though I would hardly use the word cheerful to describe Uncle Lionel. He does have an unusual sense of humor. Who else would send his friends out of the city during the coldest season to the Blackmoor of all places? London has enough hotels, just as comfortable.”

        “Perhaps he felt the inn’s reputation for ghost tales would add to the festivities.”

        “I suspect my uncle has been in collusion with Mr. Graves. The ghosts seem too appropriately chosen. Wouldn’t you agree?”

        “I admit that my uncle’s ornery bedroom spirit does seem too coincidental. What of your spirit, a thief?”

        Damien tossed his head back and laughed. “I am certain that my uncle doesn’t place me in the category of a thief unless he suspected that I might steal someone’s heart during my stay.” Did he say that? He had spent the night dreaming of Tess in the most intimate of ways.

        Tess’s mouth fell open before she clamped it shut and turned back toward the fire.

        “You do know that previous guests have been told many ghost tales,” Damien said, filling in the silence. “I suspect Mr. Graves and his staff have great fun creating stories to entertain guests or, perhaps, to rid themselves of difficult ones.”

        “Are you suggesting that your uncle may have helped to personalize the chosen bedroom spirits?”

        “I suspect just that. My ghostly thief might have been created merely because a petty thief has been pestering the group. My uncle informed me of the incidences before I arrived. I suspect that you’ve heard of the thievery?”

        “Why, yes. It’s a constant conversation between my aunt and uncle. Uncle Harold’s favorite quill pen disappeared months ago, and he still speaks of it. My aunt has told me of other unusual disappearances as well. The items are all quite inconsequential. I suspect a jokester is having fun with them.

        “Have they suspected anyone in their group?”

        “No. Why even if they did suspect someone, they wouldn’t tell me. A faultless person could be blamed.”

        Damien smiled. He was becoming more and more intrigued by Tessia Bennington.

What’s your next project or what are you working on now?

I hope to complete book three in my American Historical Romance series, “Love at War,” one that requires deeper research into a difficult period in our history. When I’m not working on that, I have a contemporary romance in the works, as well as organizing a poetry collection I hope to publish. Always something to keep my busy and never enough hours in the day! 

What advice do you have for beginning writers?

The most important advice I was given as a beginning writer was offered by a fellow author, and which has stayed with me all these years. “Write every day, even if you have time to write only one sentence.” It is amazing how one sentence turns into a paragraph and a whole page, and soon an entire manuscript. I admit I falter on this advice, but it has kept me writing.  My personal advice is not to get discouraged. Revision is as important as your first draft. Reread, revise, reread, revise. Ideas grow through revision. When I reread a few pages of one of my finished books, I find myself a bit surprised. Where did these words and ideas come from, formed, and penned? There will always be better writers, but never doubt yourself and your unique talent if you have a passion to write. Creating is a self-fulfilling gift as well as a gift to others.

That's good advice Elaine! Here are the buy links for Blessings and the Thief and Elaine's social contact information:

Buy links:

Amazon

BookBub  

Barnes and Noble

Social Media

Website: http://elaineviolette.com

Blog: http://elainevioletteblogs.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elaineviolette.author

Amazon Author Central: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008H5NKQQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/elaine_violette

Thank you, Elaine, for being my guest today.  Any comments or questions for Elaine?