10.1.15 - 7 Minutes With... Barbara Freethy + a giveaway!

I had the honor of meeting Barbara Freethy at one of Catherine’s awesome author lunches, and we hit it off. She’s incredibly smart, incredibly dedicated, a take-no-prisoners business woman, and a wildly creative writer—talk about the whole package. When Barbara talks, I listen, and I’m not the only one. From her groundbreaking self-publishing career to discussions of love and life, she always has the right thing to say. And her books are fantastic—for all my romance, romantic-suspense and women’s fiction reader peeps, Barbara’s your writer. With multiple series and titles and sagas, there’s enough of her work to keep you busy for ages! I can’t wait to sit down with her and get all the insider scoop on independent publishing. At least we’ll get a sneak peek today. 

Oh, and she’s agreed to give away three copies (print or digital—winners’ choice!) of her latest book, BEAUTIFUL STORM, which comes out today! Contest details are below.

Barbara, take it away! 

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Set your music to shuffle and hit play. What’s the first song that comes up?

“Blank Space” by Taylor Swift
 

Now that we’ve set the mood, what are you working on today?

I'm writing LIGHTNING LINGERS (Book #2) in my Lightning Strikes Trilogy.

What’s your latest book about?

BEAUTIFUL STORM (Book #1 in my Lightning Strikes Trilogy) begins a three-book overarching romantic suspense trilogy. The heroine, Alicia Monroe, is a news photographer by day and photographs lightning storms at night. She's obsessed with lightning after her father's plane went down in an electrical storm ten years earlier. When the book begins, Alicia sees what appears to be a murder in the flashes of lightning. She finds a military ID tag on the ground that belongs to a missing woman, and soon Alicia is on a dangerous search for truth and justice.
 

Where do you write, and what tools do you use?

I write on a laptop, and I often sit in a big, comfortable chair with an ottoman. I have one in my bedroom and another in my office. I also write some afternoons with two writing friends at Starbucks.
 

What was your favorite book as a child?

That's a difficult question. I was a voracious reader as a kid. I probably read every single Nancy Drew adventure, so I'd have to put that series high on the list of favorites.
 

What’s your secret talent?

I'm a really good tennis player.
 

What book are you reading now?

I'm reading THE HARBOR by Carla Neggers.
 

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Probably in college, but I didn't realize I could actually make that a career until years later. But eventually I sat down and wrote that first book, and that started the fantastic journey I've been on for quite a few years now.  
 

Who is your writing idol? Have you met him/her? If so, did you completely nerd out or keep your cool? 

I really love Nora Roberts. I respect her writing philosophies and love her books. I've never met her personally, so that would be fun. I have met Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Catherine Coulter, and Debbie Macomber, and each was amazingly wonderful and charming.
 

 What’s your favorite bit of writing advice?

Don't worry about writing a bad first draft. I always find that once I start digging into my story, wonderful things come out that I never imagined. For me the experience of writing is about telling myself the story, so I try to give myself permission not to be perfect during the draft stage. There is always time for revision!
 

What do you do if the words aren’t flowing?

I look in the refrigerator a lot for inspiration—LOL! But I rarely find it there. I do find that taking a shower sometimes loosens up the jam in my head. But ultimately when there is no time for writer's block, I just push myself to write something—anything—and that usually gets me going.
 

 Are you creatively satisfied?

Yes, I love being a writer. I can't think of a better job. Even when it's difficult and the words don't come or the story doesn't seem to work, there's nothing more fun that creating a story and a world out of nothing. 
 

What would you like to be remembered for?

I'd like to be thought of as a good storyteller.
 

Alright, now for the really important questions:

• Beach or mountains? Beach! Love the crashing waves.
• Coffee or tea? Tea, but my real vice is Diet Coke.
• Skydive or bungee jump? Neither—I am definitely not a thrill seeker when it comes to heights.
• Chocolate or vanilla? Chocolate!
• Winter or summer? Summer—I grew up in Southern California. I love the summer heat.
• Cake or pie? Cake
• Cats or dogs? Both but currently have two kitties—so I have to say cats!
• Pens or pencils? Pens, unless it's a cool automatic pencil. But I rarely write with anything these days. It's all about the keyboard.
• Truth or dare? Truth.
• Print or ebook? Ebook—except at the beach. Then I still love print. 

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About Barbara Freethy

Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 45 novels ranging from contemporary romance to romantic suspense and women's fiction. Traditionally published for many years, Barbara opened her own publishing company in 2011 and has since sold over 5 million books! Twenty of her titles have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.

Known for her emotional and compelling stories of love, family, mystery and romance, Barbara enjoys writing about ordinary people caught up in extraordinary adventures. Barbara is launching a new romantic mystery trilogy in 2015 with BEAUTIFUL STORM, the first book in the Lightning Strikes trilogy.

If you like lighthearted family series and romance, check out Barbara's ongoing Callaway Series. 

For information, visit Barbara's website or follow Barbara on Facebook.
 

And here's a little more about BEAUTIFUL STORM, which is out TODAY!

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Barbara Freethy comes the first book in a new romantic suspense trilogy, Lightning Strikes. In these connected novels, lightning leads to love, danger, and the unraveling of long-buried secrets that will change not only the past but also the future . . . 

When her father's plane mysteriously disappeared in the middle of an electrical storm, Alicia Monroe became obsessed with lightning. Now a news photographer in Miami, Alicia covers local stories by day and chases storms at night. In a flash of lightning, she sees what appears to be a murder, but when she gets to the scene, there is no body, only a military tag belonging to Liliana Valdez, a woman who has been missing for two months. 

While the police use the tag to jump-start their stalled investigation, Alicia sets off on her own to find the missing woman. Her search takes her into the heart of Miami's Cuban-American community, where she meets the attractive but brooding Michael Cordero, who has his own demons to vanquish.

Soon Alicia and Michael are not just trying to save Liliana's life but also their own, as someone will do anything to protect a dark secret . . . 
 

Like I mentioned earlier, Barbara is giving away three copies of BEAUTIFUL STORM to you, my lucky chickens! To enter, leave a comment below answering this question: 
 

Have you ever seen anything that gave you the creeps during a storm?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

9.28.15 - Taylor Jackson and Sam Owens get a new look + a TJ box set!

Chickens, some exciting news on the Taylor Jackson front: we have a digital box set coming out October 19 (with another coming November 1)! AND brand new covers for the digital books, which, I must say, are spectacular. I’m quite taken with the new direction my publisher has put together. Here's where you can pre-order, and the books will magically appear on your device on October 19:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

If you’ve already read the series, I hope you’ll send a link to a friend and tell them to give Taylor a shot. The first two Sam books (A Deeper Darkness and Edge of Black) have gotten a digital refresh as well, so now everything is branded, as we marketing types like to call it. Aren’t they pretty???

9.27.15 - Sunday Smatterings

Happy Sunday, chickens! How was your week? I spent mine finishing up copyedits for my new standalone NO ONE KNOWS, and ramped up writing on Nicholas Drummond #4. No rest for the weary, I’ll tell ya.

I love writing for you guys, and I especially enjoy getting feedback from my readers. One of my favorite things is when you tell me you've liked something (think of it as a Sally Field-type reaction!). And clearly, by THE END GAME'S placements on three New York Times Best Seller lists, (and keeping THE LOST KEY on the paperback list at #6 for the fourth week running) you've sent the message loud and clear that you like Nick and Mike!! I'm so grateful to you for making that happen! Thank you, thank you, thank you for reading along. Y'all are the best.

And now, to our regularly scheduled programing—what I found on the Internets this week:

If you don’t read Laura Benedict, you should. My BFF has written such a lovely essay on the Romantic Imperative blog about her muse. If you like this essay, then check out Laura's books—trust me on this one! 

Aspiring indie authors, listen up! Here are 9 lessons to be learned in self-publishing, and the founder Reedsy (a self-publishing start-up) discusses how we should create and publish books in the 21st century. Good stuff to keep in mind if you're kicking around writing that book (And what are you waiting for!? Carpe diem, baby!).

How many of you dread waking up in the morning, knowing that bleary-eyed, just-five-more-minutes feeling is waiting for you all over again? Let's kick zombie mornings to the curb. This Navy SEAL revisualizes your morning routine in 6 steps that'll help you stay focused and feel great all day.

With so many things vying for my attention, I needed this essay (and I suspect I'm not the only one): "I'm Returning to Single-Tasking."

And back at base, I hosted my buddy Lee Mossel on another edition of 7 Minutes. And I also updated my Events page—I've got a lot of stuff going on this fall I want you to join me for (book fests, signings, Q&A's and more), and I'd love to say hi!

And don’t forget to stop by my new venture, The Wine Vixen, for delectable vino recommendations (most of it is under $20, people), and follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Alright, peeps, that's all I've got this week. I leave with you the immortal words of one of my muses, J.K. Rowling. Be good!

Xoxo,
JT

9.25.15 - THE END GAME Hits the NYT Bestseller List!

WAHOO!!!!!

Look what you guys did: THE END GAME is on multiple New York Times lists, baby! Thanks for loving Nick and Mike as much as Catherine Coulter and I do!

9.24.15 - 7 Minutes With . . . Lee Mossel

Hello there! I hope everyone has been doing well whilst I was away. I'm super excited about today's guest. Lee Mossel is a personal favorite of mine. We met through my dad, with whom Lee plays golf. Knowing we had a love of literature, we were paired for a match several years ago, and a friendship was kindled. But Lee isn't just a writer: he's a standup comedian, and anyone who's tried to play golf with him happily rides along to the dulcet tones of some seriously funny (and sometimes off-color) jokes. Lee's a geologist by trade and came to writing as a second career. (He's also father to the wonderful Eric Mossel, who you will see thanked in the credits of WHAT LIES BEHIND - I owe all the Mossels drinks the next time I'm in Colorado.) He's been tearing it up in the indie world, and I highly recommend you check him out. (See what I did there, Lee? Check him out??? Hahahahaha!) 

Yeah. I'm not a comedian. But maybe Lee will leave us a funny in the comments today. Please welcome my buddy to the blog!

_________

Set your music to shuffle and hit play. What’s the first song that comes up?

Following your instructions, I hit shuffle (from Pandora) and am greeted with “My Brother Works for the CIA” by progressive blue grass band, Trampled By Turtles. I have totally eclectic tastes in music: 40’s Big Band; 50’s rock and roll; Classic Country; easy listening, etc. 

Now that we’ve set the mood, what are you working on today?

Today, and for the foreseeable future (ha, ha), I’m working on the rewrite of BED OF THORNS.  Following two exhaustive editorial reviews, I’ve decided maybe, just maybe, my editors make some good points.  As ego-deflating as it might be, editing is going to make this book!

What’s your latest book about?

In a departure from my Cortlandt Scott crime thriller series, BED OF THORNS is a standalone novel about a turn-of-the-(20th)-century woman who makes bad choices in love and life.  Although fiction, there are some elements of this book that may relate to my paternal grandmother who died in 1936 . . . woman of apparently “questionable repute.”  The book plays out from Ohio and Kentucky to Montana and features hard times, hard people, and hard choices.

Where do you write, and what tools do you use?

I write at a desktop computer in my office in our home in Parker, Colorado.  Our house backs up to open space and a 70-acre regional park, so I have continual “interruptions” for wildlife sightings.  Deer, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, hawks, and (best of all) a family of Great Horned Owls provide year around “moments of nature.”

I use Microsoft Word; a ROGET’S THESAURUS; and A WRITER’S REFERENCE.  Since I’m self-published, I use Createspace.com (an Amazon.com company) for print books and Smashwords.com for e-books.

What was your favorite book as a child?

As a child? Hmm, probably HUCKLEBERRY FINN.

 What’s your secret talent?

I’m a fair hand in the kitchen and at the grill.  Although mostly simple “man fare” (steaks, lamb chops, pork tenderloins), I like to prepare and cook things like veal piccata and spaghetti with meat sauce.  My real specialty is pork green chile, which is simmering even as I write this.

Hopefully, it isn’t/wasn’t a secret, but I had a successful, 35-year career as a petroleum geologist.  I discovered and developed oil and gas reserves in nine states, plus Canada.

What book are you reading now?

PAST REASON HATED by Peter Robinson

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

It was a “late in life” decision. While reading a particularly bad novel, I said, “I can write a better book than this.”  But talk is cheap . . . when you say something like that, you’d better back it up.  I found it’s harder than it looks, but I’ve published one book per year since 2012.

Who is your writing idol? Have you met him/her? If so, did you completely nerd out or keep your cool?

I have several writing “idols” including Robert B. Parker, Robert Crais, James Lee Burke, Elizabeth George, TJ Box, Larry McMurtry, P.D. James, Stephen White, and, of course, JT! 

Of these, I’ve only met JT.  After fawning at her feet and offering gifts of wine and books, we played 18 holes at awe-inspiring Perry Park CC in Larkspur, Colorado.

What’s your favorite bit of writing advice?

Listen to your editors . . . they really are trying to help!

What do you do if the words aren’t flowing?

Primal scream therapy!  Actually, I usually read something . . . whatever book I’m currently reading, the newspaper, or a magazine.  Often, a good night’s sleep helps; I usually wake up early with lots of new ideas for characters and plots.  Recently, I’ve discovered working on two books at once can be beneficial if they are different genres.  When I’m stuck on one, I’ll try writing a few pages on the other and it seems to help.  I haven’t tried working on two books of a series; that seems difficult.

Are you creatively satisfied?

An emphatic “YES!”  During the “finishing stages” of each book, I’m already thinking about the next one.  My books have been favorably reviewed and my last, MORE THAN 100% DEAD, was a finalist in genre fiction for the Colorado Authors’ League book awards.

(I’m not sure if it falls under the heading of being “creatively satisfied,” but I’m somewhat frustrated in not being able to attract an agent or publisher.)

What would you like to be remembered for?

Being a good companion and friend; I would love people to remember me as a modern day “Renaissance Man" -- someone who could tell a good story, recommend a good wine, cook a good meal, and carry on a good conversation on virtually any subject.

Alright, now for the really important questions:

• Beach or mountains? Mountains!
• Coffee or tea? Coffee
• Skydive or bungee jump? You’ve got to be kidding!  Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane?  And, although I might wish to be somewhat taller, I wouldn’t try bungee jumping to stretch my legs!
• Chocolate or vanilla?  Vanilla
• Winter or summer?  Summer(actually, Fall)
• Cake or pie?  Pie
• Cats or dogs?  Love dogs…own cats; go figure?
• Pens or pencils?  Pens
• Truth or dare?  Truth
• Print or ebook?  Print!!

_________

Lee Mossel was born in Eugene, Oregon, and raised in the small logging and mill town of Noti about twenty miles west.

He attended the University of Oregon, graduating with B.Sc. and M.Sc. degrees in geology, and spent thirty-five years as a petroleum geologist in Denver, Colorado, working for several oil companies.  He co-founded and managed two independent petroleum exploration companies.

Since retiring, he has served on various boards of directors, written numerous op-ed pieces and newspaper columns, given talks on the oil and gas business, and generally enjoyed life.

Beginning with THE MURDER PROSPECT in 2012; THE TALUS SCOPE in 2013, and MORE THAN 100% DEAD in 2014, Lee writes and self-publishes crime thrillers and mysteries inspired by the rough-and-tumble Denver oil and gas business.  MORE THAN 100% DEAD was a finalist in the genre fiction category for the Colorado Authors’ League 2014 Book Awards.

He enjoys world travel, sports, fine wines, good food, and golf . . . not necessarily in that order.  He lives in Parker, Colorado, a place featured in the Cort Scott series, with his wife, Jan, and two rather entertaining cats, Kosmo and Gracie.

And here's a little more about Lee's latest novel, BED OF THORNS!

A novel about bad decisions, tough times, and hard choices. 

Cincinnati in 1896: Rose Schirrack is pregnant, unmarried, and abandoned.  Having already made at least one bad choice, will she compound her problems with more?  BED OF THORNS plays out across Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Montana in the tumultuous times at the turn of the 20th century.  The Spanish-American War, the First World War, and America’s changing racial and ethnic attitudes all play roles.  In a rapidly evolving societal mosaic of farmers and townspeople, soldiers and immigrants, brothels and saloons, cowboys and Indians, and horses and automobiles, will Rose’s choices continue to take her toward the fringes of society . . . or over the edge?

BED OF THORNS will be available in late 2015.

The Cortlandt Scott Series

THE MURDER PROSPECT

THE TALUS SLOPE

MORE THAN 100% DEAD

Lee Mossel’s Cortlandt Scott series is available on Amazon.com and through Smashwords.com.