Sunday Coffee Time Chat with Author Christine Warner

Welcome to Sunday morning Coffee Chat time!

Today’s guest is Christine Warner!

SE: Another great Sunday, and for many of us, the fall season is converging quickly upon us! I’m excited to have a new friend on my blog today! Welcome Christine!

CW: Hi Stacy! Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I?m excited to meet your readers?so let?s do this!!!

SE: It’s great to have you. Routine first question I ask, Coffee or Tea??

CW: I used to love coffee, and I miss it. But I?ve always enjoyed tea?hot or cold. But more than either of those I admit to being a total water junkie. Ice cold, I carry around a travel mug filled to the brim everywhere I go J

?SE: I drink a lot of water too, but I don’t like it cold. So, of course you are an author, but do you work another job when you are not writing?

CW: Although writing is my passion and what I hope to do full time, at the moment I work for a large hospital about 30 miles from me. I work part time and at the beginning of the summer I transferred from Hospice to the Imaging Department. I love it there. Great people, and a fun place to be.

SE: Hospitals, where people tell you things you really don’t want to know about. Kind of like police work, lol… So what is your favorite thing to do when you aren?t writing or working?

CW: I?m a total addict to the Investigation Discovery channel. Lol Other than that I enjoy taking walks and trying out new paths, photographer (which I admit I need lots of work at?lol), and light gardening, as well as being with my family. Now that the kids are older, that?s rare occasion though.

SE: Oh!! Photography, we need to talk more about that! I love taking pictures. What is your favorite color?

CW: I love the color red. It?s vibrant and happy and just makes me feel good.

SE: And very bold and daring! Love it!? What is your favorite season?

CW: I?m a person that enjoys cooler weather. So Fall has always been my favorite season. I love the crisp air, the cool breezes at night, and the warm sunshine during the day?and you can?t beat all that color filling the trees! There?s just something exciting about Fall.

SE: So, this time of year is right up your alley! Perfect! If you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be?

CW: I always imagine living in Hawaii, that?s my dream locale. But I?ve never actually been there. So I?d have to visit it first to know for sure. Lol

SE: Hawaii is very pretty. I was there for seven weeks. It is very, very expensive though. Other than writing, what do you have a passion for?

CW: There?s something other than writing? Lol I don?t know, I?ve always written, won awards as a kid in school?it?s always been my passion and my dream. Other than that I wanted to have a family, and I have that?so all is good J I?m a happy girl.

SE: Easy to please you are! Okay, let’s get into the writing now! How long have your been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby?

CW: I?ve been seriously writing for close to 6 years I think. I?ve learned a lot. That?s the fun part about writing, you can continually learn and improve and you?ll never get bored. And, it?s definitely been a lifelong dream. I?ve talked about it for years, but life got in the way with family, jobs?just life. About six years ago my sister kicked me in the butt and told me to quit daydreaming about it and go for it. So, here I am JSE:

SE: I love your sister! Go her! How many hours a day do you devote to writing?

CW: That depends on the day. If it?s a workday I am lucky if I get some promotion done, or maybe write out a synopsis or rough draft of a scene. If I can devote an entire day to it, I shoot for at least six to eight hours.

SE: Very good. Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes?

CW: I like to write in the morning, first thing when my mind is uncluttered and the world is quiet. As the day progresses, I find it harder and harder to write and concentrate.

SE: I love morning for just that reason! I get so much accomplished then. Is there some place special you like to be when you write?

CW: In the summer I enjoy writing outside on the front porch. I live in the country and it?s full of sounds of nature and very peaceful. In the winter I write in the living room, nestled into my big comfy chair with my feet up. And, yes, I do have an office, but it?s small with one little window and just isn?t a very inspirational space. Lol

SE: Have to have the inspiration! Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write?

CW: I wish I could listen to music, but I prefer quiet J

SE: Try playing classical music – it helps inspire creativity. Okay, now, let’s talk about your book!? What is the name of it and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel?

CW: I?m really excited about Secret Love. This is my first novella and it was a fun challenge to pack a lot into a short story, but I think I managed it. I had originally started this as a stand alone, but decided it would be fun to make it into a series. I have 2 more books planned. The second in the series is titled A Basket Full of Love and the third in the series is No Other Love. If any more ideas for other short stories that are related pop into my head, I might just add to the series.

SE: Sounds great! Where did the idea come from?

CW: I love the 50s and thought it?d be fun to set a story in that era. So I did.

SE: lol… What is it about?

CW: here is the blurb for it:

Saranac, Michigan 1955

Lizzie Tarleton has always done things her own way?including the time at the tender age of thirteen when she confessed to her brother?s best friend she loved him. But now she?s a new teacher at the local high school, and independent enough to know that you can?t force love. She?ll find love when the time is right?even though her parents are adamant the time is now. The only downfall to her idyllic life is the fact that her childhood crush?who broke her heart?is now her boss. If only she could stop daydreaming about him.

Wayne Whitmore grew up on the wrong side of the tracks and worked hard to get where he?s at in life. Even though he enjoys being principal at the small town high school, he dreams of coaching baseball. When his best friend asks him to watch over his little sister at her new job at Wayne?s school, he agrees. What he doesn?t count on is how she?s grown from the pig tailed kid who told him she loved him, to the woman who breaks his concentration with her beauty and smile. Unable to get over his fascination, and afraid he?ll ruin his friend?s trust, Wayne applies for his dream job?one that will take him far away.

One night while decorating the school gymnasium for an upcoming sock hop, Lizzie and Wayne find themselves alone. They share a kiss and Lizzie realizes her childhood crush for Wayne has never died. Wayne decides he doesn?t want to let Lizzie get away.

Can they come to terms with their secret love and then overcome the other secrets they are hiding in order to get what they each want? Or is their timing for love still off?

SE: That sounds so good! What about what’s coming up next?

CW: I have a ton of projects in the works besides the 2 other novellas planned. I have a couple of contemporary novels in various stages of being written. As for other books, I have 3 others published besides Secret Love. The first book I ever wrote is titled Some Like it in Handcuffs and is a suspense with humor, my second book is titled Two-Timing the Boss and is about an office romance, twins, and a little deception, and my third book is Bachelor?s Special and involves a chef, a millionaire, a mansion and a kitchen full of ?romance and attraction J

Oh I didn’t know about those last two! I need to go look for those! Thank you so much for coming to visit today!!!

CW: Thanks again for having me Stacy! I had a great time. I hope you and your readers enjoy my blurb and excerpt for Secret Love J

Christine was nice enough to include a small blurb from her book: Check it out!

EXCERPT:

She blinked away the heat of tears forming at the back of her eyes. Their conversation had grown too serious. She needed to lighten things up a bit. ?Remember when we used to play ?What if???

He laughed. ?What if Lizzie wore a dress??

?Either she was going to church, or her mom was having a ladies? social.? Lizzie giggled. ?Ricky hated that game.?

?He?d get so mad when you?d start it.? He made the final cut on a small snowflake and added it to the pile before him.

?What if Wayne couldn?t throw his famous curve ball??

?The school trophy case would be one trophy short. What if Lizzie wasn?t teaching here??

She pouted. ?She?d be sad. I have no idea what I?d be doing if I hadn?t found a job here. What does Lizzie have to do to show Wayne she thanks him?? She winked, enjoying their fun.

He cleared his throat. ?What if Wayne said Lizzie owed him a kiss??

Her belly trembled. What if?

?What if he stole one?? His voice lowered and he leaned in.

?Why don?t you find out?? she whispered.

To Find out more about Christine Warner:

Website: http://christine-warner.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristinesWords

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5763713.Christine_Warner

 

To Purchase books by Christine Warner:

?Amazon

Barnes and Noble

All books are available on Nook!

Sunday Coffee Time Chat with Author Marie Godley

Welcome to Sunday morning Coffee Chat time!

Today’s guest is Marie Godley!

Good Morning everyone!? Welcome to Sunday Morning Coffee Time Chat!!? I’m excited to have another author here for you today, and she is a special one to me. Marie Godley is part of my Beta Team. She’s one of those wonderful people who gets to read my stories before they even see my editor.? Now, it’s my turn to help her get the word out! So… let’s get started!

MD: Hi Stacy. Thanks for having me on here. I hope you and your readers ? good morning to you too ? have their tea or coffee ready for our chat.

SE: Morning Marie – I have my coffee – which do you prefer, Coffee or Tea?

MD: Tea ? it? s one of the few things I drink ? even on a hot day. I do like my tea quite weak though which is the cause for much hilarity between my daughter and my Mum ? comments like ?scaring the cup with the teabag? that sort of thing ? I don?t know why I put up with them.

For those of you who don’t know, Marie lives in the United Kingdom, hence the use of the word ‘mum’, I think that is so cute. Let’s just into some questions that will allow the reader to get to know you better. We know you?re an author, but do you work another job when you are not writing? What is your favorite thing to do when you aren?t writing or working?

MD: I am a housewife ? or should that be ? child minder, chef, accountant, chauffeur, maid, ok let?s not dwell on that too long. When not doing those things or scribbling away I love to read. I always have. I was the child with the book and torch under the covers when I was supposed to be sleeping.? I read different books depending on my mood but I don?t read horror. I love Christmas books and have been known to read them in the summer. Also because we live near the sea and a National Park I love to walk, in either of those places ? preferably away from others. It?s so peaceful and just a short time watching the waves or being amongst the trees can restore my sanity.

SE: I always feel at peace when I am near the ocean! I know exactly how you feel.? Do you have a favorite color?

MD: I don?t really have a favourite colour.

SE: Alright, what about a favorite season?

MD: I love Spring because of all the bulbs flowering and the new shoots, also because you get some warm days. But I also love the autumn. The different coloured leaves look beautiful and I still love to stamp on crisp leaves so they crunch underfoot ? my husband despairs of me. Winter frosts are beautiful too but I don?t like being cold.

SE: I’m not much of a cold person either. If you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be? Why?

MD: Here in Dorset, UK. We always wanted to live here and were fortunate enough to be able to move when our children were little. Our town has historical buildings, rivers, the beach and we?re an easy drive away from the New Forest with its wild horses.

SE: Sounds beautiful! Other than writing, what do you have a passion for?

MD: Nature. I love animals too, although sadly I?m allergic to some, but I can spend hours staring out to sea or walking in the forest. I get angry when I see people disrespecting our world.

SE: Many of my readers are here in the US and I know you are over in the UK. Have you ever come over here to visit? And if so, what was your favorite place to visit?

MD: I haven?t been to the US, although some of my in-laws live over there.

SE: I hope you come over and visit us someday. Let’s talk about your writing Marie, how long have your been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby?

MD: I?ve been writing for about 7 years. When I wrote my first children?s story I had no thought to getting it published, I was just writing at the same time as my daughter was doing homework. Now it?s my life and I would love to get one of my Young Adult stories published.

SE: I hope that you do. How many hours a day do you devote to writing? Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes? Is there some place special you like to be when you write? Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write?

MD: I write whenever I can ? that depends a lot on whether my family is around, so I don?t get much done during school holidays. I like to write when the mood strikes but sometimes I just have to take advantage of alone time and pick my pen up. Surprisingly I?ve found that once I get going I wonder what had been stopping me from starting earlier. Sometimes though I have to admit that writing ?just isn?t going to happen? and do something else. I write wherever I can, sometimes in the garden but normally on the sofa. My favourite place to write is actually snuggled up in bed. I think I like the feeling of being cozy and warm. Recently I?ve taken my note pad to the train station ?Whilst I sit and wait for my daughter?s train to come in I rest my note pad against the steering wheel and write ? the only trouble with that is when I forget not to press ?down too hard and I blare my horn! I find that using the few minutes of what would have been wasted time is quite affective, although it?s annoying when the train pulls in just when I?m in the middle of a good bit. I don?t listen to music whilst I write because I start writing the lyrics down or sing along. Occasionally I will put an instrumental, nature inspired cd on and it becomes background noise.

SE: I love that you write and hit the horn – I have done that myself! So tell us about your book, what is the name of it and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel? Where did the idea come from?

MD: Time Slide is a fantasy book for children aged 10 or over, although I know of one mother who read it to her 8yr old ? a chapter a night as a bed time story and he loved it. It isn?t part of a series and is a short story, so ideal if a child only wants to read for a short length of time. I know my son used to be put off if the book was too thick ? even if he was capable of reading it. I was thinking about the some of the great books published for kids that incorporated Ancient Egypt or Greek mythology and thought it would be great to do something about China ? I?ve always loved Chinese ornaments etc. One day an opening for a story came to me ? it was just the first paragraph and decided that was perfect for turning into a book connected with China. I did some research on Beijing and the Mongol society and had great fun weaving fact and fiction together into a story.

SE: That sounds great! I will have to show my daughter! What is it about? (You can use your own words or your blurb)

MD: Put yourself in Jerry’s shoes… His parents have been invited to China to take part in an archaeological dig. Because it is the summer holiday, he and his sister Sammy are going along. Jerry and Sammy meet some interesting people, and they find a beautiful hair slide. All seems great, but things are already starting to go wrong. Suddenly, Sammy thinks she is having visions from the past. They soon discover that the hair slide is linked to an old portrait in the museum and an old Mongolian tale. Jerry’s summer is about to get very complicated…

SE: That sounds so cool! Do you have any upcoming projects in the works or other books that have been published ? Tell us about them?

MD: My first two books were a Christmas book for the under 5?s called The Special Christmas Bear. Teddy loves travelling around Santa’s workshop on the big blue wagon! There is so much to look at and he has lots of elf friends. But Santa has a special task for Teddy – will Teddy take it on? and a first chapter, fantasy book called The Guardian of the Globe. After buying a beautiful snow globe, Phoebe finds herself pulled inside! Zoozer the unicorn has been kidnapped by a troll and is being taken to the evil wizard Mishra who wants to steal his powers. Summoned by the sorceress Vivien, Phoebe must find a way to stop him. How will she trick the troll? Will she succeed? Join Phoebe and her new friends Capstan the stag and Skimpish the wood elf as they hurry to catch up with the troll and save Zoozer.

As you can see all my stories have a fantasy element about them.

I?m also part of a group of authors called Authors For Charity. We write stories to be made into an anthology and any profits we make go to a charity ? we change the charity each year. Last year we published Tales of an Old Wizard for 9+ readers and later in 2014 we will be publishing Paranormal Love for YA readers.

For myself, I am working on stories for Young Adults. I have one finished which I?m trying to get representation for, one I?m editing and one that I?m writing (when I?m not leaning on my horn and scaring myself)

SE: hahahaha – That is so precious!! I love that you write YA and for children – we need more awesome books for them so they keep reading pages instead of texts! So glad you came to visit today Marie! It’s been a true pleasure!

If you’d like to learn more about Marie Godley, please check out the following links:

Website: www.mariegodley.moonfruit.com

Blog: http://marie-mariegodleybooks.blogspot.co.uk

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MarieGodley

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4151284.Marie_Godley

Google +:? https://plus.google.com/u/0/100536610935786913639/about/p/pub

Video Trailers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2tWfNz2qDw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx8UcH7J6-0

Pinterest:

To purchase books by Marie Godley:

Amazon US:

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=marie%20 ?

 

 

Sunday Coffee Time Chat with Author Brooke Williams

Welcome to Sunday morning Coffee Chat time!

Today’s guest is Brooke Williams!

Welcome – Welcome – Welcome Brooke!!! So glad you could make it here today!

BW: Hello everyone and thank you so much for taking the time to visit Stacy?s blog and read more about my work today.? It?s an honor to have your attention for a few moments.

Our honor too!? So as always I must ask, Coffee or Tea?

BW: Tea, hands down.? And only iced, never hot.

Oh boy! We have a rebel on our hands!? Alright, calm down my friends, we will still allow her to stay! Everyone is allowed to have different favorites, even if they don’t include coffee. So, Brooke, tells us a little bit about you, we know you?re an author, but do you work another job when you are not writing?

BW: First and foremost I?m a full time mom.? I have two little girls, Kaelyn who is 5 and Sadie who is 16 months.? I was in radio full time for 10 years before Kaelyn was born, but once she hit the world running (almost literally!) I left that career to stay home with her.? Being a mom is a job that transcends the normal work hours, goes into weekends, overnights and so on.? When I am able to get both of my girls sleeping at the same time, that?s when I write.? It?s usually only an hour or two a day, but it?s all I have and I cling to it!? I?m an author and I enjoy that portion of the career the most, but I am also a freelance writer.? I write articles for a number of clients on nearly any topic you can imagine.

You are a busy woman! And I give you props! Being a stay at home mom is a hard job, but so very worth it! What is your favorite thing to do when you aren?t writing or working?

BW: I love to read, actually!? I do a lot of book reviews for other authors simply because I love to read and want to help them out.? I also like to take walks, which sounds simple, but it?s not something I get to do very often with my two girls running around constantly!? Before they were born, my husband and I golfed.? As in he golfed and I rode along in the cart and read.? Best of both worlds for us!? We got to chat some, be outside, and both have entertainment we enjoyed!? We?ll get back to that again someday.

Hahahaha – that is so funny! I love that you rode around with him and read while he played golf. Wish I could do that while my husband cycled.? So what is your favorite color? Why?

BW: Blue.? A light blue.? It?s a calm, cool, collected color.? And it?s not stereotypical girl, just like me!

Somehow I never expected you to be typical! We get along to well, except you don’t like coffee. What is your favorite season? Why?

BW: Fall.? After a long, hot summer, it?s nice to have cooler temperatures.? And the colors can be really gorgeous.? I love the jeans and t-shirt type of weather.? Though not the impending doom of the upcoming winter?

Wait – did I saw we got along? You like Fall? (shaking my head) Alright, I will admit it is nice to climb into jeans and hiking boots and not sweat, but I gotta go for the spring where I know the temps will warm up.? I’m nervous to ask you the next question. If you could live anyplace on earth, where would it be? Why?

BW: I really love Colorado.? If I stayed in the US, I?d try there.? The mountains are gorgeous and there?s no humidity in the summer.? Outside of the US, I?ve always wanted to go to Australia.? They still speak English (though I know it?s slightly different then here!) so I wouldn?t be completely lost.? Though I might be able to stumble through a Spanish speaking country a bit.?

Colorado is beautiful!? Okay one more fun question…? If you could have any car, what would it be?

BW: Gosh, I?m thrilled with a working vehicle that?s reliable and safely gets us around.? Whatever that is is what I want!? Ha.? Other than that, I really don?t care!

Wow.. that’s simple!? Okay – let’s get into your writing. How long have your been writing? Was it a dream, a goal or is it just a hobby?

BW: I?ve been writing for as long as I could write.? I remember as a child I used to cut pictures out of magazines, tape them to blank paper, and write new stories to go along with them.? Then I?d sell my ?newspapers? to my parents for a nickel.? They probably bought them so they could see the picture that went along with the story they read in the real magazine!?

lol… that’s priceless!

I wrote lots of little books growing up as well and once I hit high school then college, writing papers was the best part of school.? I don?t think I ever dreamed that I could actually make it as a writer so I never really made it a goal until recent years.? When I left radio, I wanted to find something I could do from home and since I?ve always loved to write, it seemed like a perfect fit.? Once my freelance writing took off, I realized that maybe I could actually be a published author as well.? Or at least I could dream of it and strive for it!

Dreams are made to be achieved!? You can do it!? So, how many hours a day do you devote to writing?

BW: As many as I can get, but usually only 1-2 due to my daughter?s nap schedule.? Once the youngest is in school, which will be another 4 years, I?m sure I?ll ramp that up quite a bit!

It is hard to write with kids. I get up at 4:30 in the morning so I can deal with things before I have to leave for work at 6:30. So I get it! Do you have a set routine or do you write when the mood strikes?

BW: My routine is to write when my daughters are napping in the afternoon.? I have to make the mood strike at that time!? I have no other choice!? I?m almost always in the mood to write something.? Whether it?s an article for a client or fiction writing.

Is there some place special you like to be when you write?

BW: At the computer. It?d be nice to have an inspirational place with an awesome view.? But at least if I turn around, I can see the trees out the back door.

Trees work! Do you listen to music or do you need a quiet place to write?

BW: I used to write to music back in college, but now I like quiet.? I think it?s because the rest of the day with my daughters is so noisy and hectic that I just want the peace when it?s available.? Plus, my older daughter doesn?t really ?nap? much anymore, but rather plays in her room so I already have that background noise and don?t really need any more!

That is very nice background noise! Let’s talk about your book! What is the name of it and is it part of a series or a stand alone novel?

BW: ?Someone Always Loved You is the first book I ever wrote.? It?s a stand alone novel, though several people have asked me to write a sequel somehow. ?I took about a ten year break between that novel and the others I have written and now that I?ve started up again, I can?t seem to stop!

Gotta love when that happens! It’s like someone turned the faucet on and broke the handle!? Where did the idea for Someone Always Loved You come from?

BW: I always wanted to write a book about someone in a coma.? I wondered if they could hear things, if they thought things, etc.? My grandmother was in a coma on two separate occasions so maybe that longing came from that.? I didn’t? know what else would happen in the book, I just wanted someone in a coma!? After a couple of years in radio, the first scene of a book came to me out of the blue one night.? It was the scene that would place someone into a coma.? I could NOT get the scene out of my head.? I simply HAD to write it down.? I mean, this thing was keeping me up at night!!? So I sat down and wrote it out one day.? Once it was out, I got goosebumps.? I knew.? I had to finish it.? I had to know what happened.? And at that point, I really had no idea what that would be.? I did no plotting, not outlining, no planning ahead.? I just wrote.? I feel like the book wrote itself and just used me as a vehicle to help it get onto the page.

I love when that happens, my last three books were just like that! Tell us what it’s about.

Someone Always Loved You is a story about love over time.? It starts when a man named Jay starts his career as an ambulance driver.? On his very first day, he hits a pedestrian.? The victim, Jordan, who was rushing to the hospital to be with her ailing husband, is thrown into a coma and Jay then keeps a near constant vigil by her side.? From that point on, their lives intertwine both past and present as the story unfolds.? Plenty of other characters get drawn in and everyone is connected in some way or another.

Wow… that sounds so very cool! Putting it on my kindle, no doubt about it! Do you have any upcoming projects in the works or other books that have been published?

BW: Boy do I!? Someone Always Loved You is the first book I ever wrote and somehow, it?s started to get attention online.? People are actually buying it!? When I realized that, I figured I should actually do some things to promote it.? It?s a story I don?t care about making money on, I just want it to be read because I love it so much and I want others to love it as well.? I also wanted to do promotional things as practice for the upcoming releases I have.? I now have several publishers behind me and a number of contracts awaiting completion.?

OMG!!! That is so awesome!! Give me a list!

Here?s a list for you!

December 2014: Wrong Place, Right Time from The Writer?s Coffee Shop Publishing House. This clean romance novella is about a woman who tries to interrupt her male best friend?s wedding, only she interrupts the wrong wedding?oops!

February 2015: Accept this Dandelion from Prism Book Group. This novel is a romantic comedy based on the Bachelor TV show.? The characters are on a local verion of The Bachelor and nothing goes right for one particular contestant.

August 2015: Mamarazzi from Prism Book Group. This novel is also a clean romantic comedy based on a female paparazzi.? When she is thrown onto a TV show unexpectedly, the tables turn and she?s the one having her picture taken.

February 2016: Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut from Wee Creek Press. This is a children?s book about, well, a baby sheep getting a haircut.? It?s a story I?ve told my daughter over and over again.? She thinks it?s funny and I hope other children do as well.

WOW!! You have a great list of things to come!? Brooke I know I wish you all the best – and I am sure other readers here will too!? Now, if you’ll excuse me – I have a book to go buy!

If you would like to find out more about Brooke Williams, please visit the links below.

Website: http://www.authorbrookewilliams.com/

Blog: http://www.authorbrookewilliams.com/blog

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

Twitter: @authorbrookewilliams

Where it can be purchased:

http://www.authorbrookewilliams.com/books.html

Amazon