Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Author Laura Browning

Laura Browning stopped by to share a few intimate details of her life, as well as her latest release. Her book, Special Delivery is a small town contemporary romance from Kensington’s Lyrical imprint and was released on May12, 2015. Please tell my readers a little bit about your book. 

Laura- Special Delivery is the beginning of a series called Mountain Meadow Homecomings. The story is really two romances in one. The primary story is about Holly Morgan, an expectant mom fleeing from an abusive fiancé. She and her younger brother end up in the town of Mountain Meadow in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. From past experience she is mistrustful of police, yet it is one of the town’s cops who ends up coming to her rescue when she goes into labor in the midst of a winter ice storm. The other romance deals with the town’s prosecuting attorney and the local doctor. They are high school sweethearts who were torn apart by their parents. While both couples are trying to figure things out, Holly’s ex-fiancé takes off with her baby.

Nancy- Describe the genre of this particular title, and is it the only genre you write in? 

Laura- A small town contemporary romance usually incorporates settings that function almost as characters. In this case, Mountain Meadow has a few characters to give it life, like gossipy church ladies and some mysterious thieves taking off with nativity scene pieces from the town’s two rival churches. I do write primarily contemporary stories, though my first two books were paranormals.  

Nancy- When did you start writing toward publication? 

Laura- My first book, The Silkie’s Call, came out in 2010. I had been seriously writing for about five years, but without the nerve to send anything out. My husband challenged me to take a chance. I did, and it’s worked out well.

Nancy- Do you have any rejection stories to share? 

Laura- I suppose the most important rejection story I should share is the one that stopped me writing fiction for more than a decade. I’m sure the editor, who looked at my manuscript as a favor because his mother knew my mother was probably just trying to be helpful—at least I hope that was the motivation—but he overwhelmed me with what was wrong with my manuscript, so I said “screw it” and returned solely to the journalistic writing that was my primary career. By the time I began writing fiction again, I had grown a thicker skin along with more confidence in my abilities. I had numerous awards, including a regional EMMY that backed up that confidence. While I had several completed manuscripts already, The Silkie’s Call was the first one I submitted. The Wild Rose Press picked it up.

Nancy- I happen to know you are a member of writing organizations. Do you feel they have helped? 

Laura- Like you, I am a member of Romance Writers of America and the Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, a chapter of RWA.  Both have been a tremendous help to me. I am a loner at heart, so HCRW has really given me the opportunity to meet and network with other writers. Writing is such a solitary endeavor, I think the opportunity to socialize with other people who share your craft is essential.

Nancy- We sat next to each other during the last HCRW meeting, and listened to Virginia Kantra's presentation. We are multi-published authors, but are always open to learning more! Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 

Laura- In the words of Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never give up.” If you have stories you want to tell, keep working at your craft; keep trying to get better. I teach students how to write these days, and one of the things I stress to them is that writing is not something you learn and master. All writers continue learning, changing, and evolving. So even if you’re not ready to be published right now, it doesn’t mean you might not be next month or next year.

Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know. 

1) I have a pet lizard.

2) I can shoot golf balls with my rifle at 100 yards.

3) I make a carrot cake from scratch that’s so good, it’s now the only birthday cake my husband and son ever want.

Nancy- What’s next for you? 

Laura- I’m really excited to be able to say that Kensington has contracted for books two and three in my series. They’re tentatively scheduled to come out next year.

BOOK BLURB   All Holly Morgan wants is a safe place to have her baby. Nestled deep within the Blue Ridge Mountains, miles away from her abusive ex-fiancé, Spence, Mountain Meadow seems perfect. Holly can manage a few meddling church matrons if it means Spence can’t find her. Harder to handle is Jake Allred. He may be a dark-haired hunk, but he’s also someone Holly can’t trust: a cop.

Since his time in the military, Lieutenant Jake Allred has lived to protect and serve. And if anyone needs protection, it’s Holly. Having been let down by the law before, she’s wary of letting Jake into her life. But when an unexpected snow storm strands them together, their attraction is hot enough to melt the mounting ice. Just when Jake thinks he’s finally warmed Holly’s heart, Spence strikes. Now it’s up to Jake to save Holly’s baby and bring their fledgling family back together.

Excerpt link HERE  

Nancy- How can my readers buy your book? 

Laura- My book is available in digital and print on demand formats right now through all the usual places. This link will send you to all of them: http://www.laurabrowningbooks.com/my-books.html

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, Laura worked for more than two decades in television news, both on camera and behind the scenes. It's a fascinating, exciting business. However, she has always loved making up her own stories rather than reporting the stories of others. So, she changed gears and began teaching English. The altered pace allowed her to ramp up her love of writing fiction. In addition to holding a Bachelor of Journalism degree, Laura has a Master of Education degree as a reading specialist.

When she’s not writing or teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, baking, photography, and the menagerie of animals that help make North Carolina home.

You can find more information about Laura:

WEBSITE    BLOG    

Twitter @laurabrowning4

Facebook    Goodreads  

Julie Anne Lindsey visits with Nancy Lee Badger

Nancy: Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night, and she stopped by to share some helpful writing tips. 

Julie Anne Lindsey: About two years ago, I was in a bad place. I had a manuscript on submissions and it received wonderful compliments followed by things like: BUT we just picked up something too similar. Many. Many variations of that. It was an exhausting, infuriating time. I didn’t take it well.

Somehow my “intriguing”, “well-written,” “engaging” even “page turner” of a manuscript couldn’t find a home because I was late to the party. Well. I screamed. A lot. Eventually, I threw my hands up and quit writing. Forever. And I meant it. But it didn’t stick.

Soon, desperation took over.

I went back to the drawing board and I asked myself: What hasn’t been done a thousand times in YA? I came up with Vikings. Literally. I borrowed the term Vikings, deemed them demigods, and built a world of mythology to support them. Then, I took my hero, a boy who was mysterious because his family had mental issues circa Bates Motel and I made him a Viking instead.

Extreme. I know, but sometimes a supercharged, mega dose of creativity (or in this case a bit of a creative tantrum) helps.

Nancy: Sometimes an author needs to get out of their comfort zone.

Julie Anne Lindsey: I changed my “safe” storyline and went with something I loved, but had long been afraid to approach. I embraced my love of Thor and Loki, Odin and Zeus (Yeah, I like both Greek and Norse mythology) and I wrote my very first fantasy romance.

Vikings. Huzzah!

Plus there’s kissing. Always with the kissing.

Thanks to that act of writerly desperation, my debut YA fantasy, PROPHECY, arrived in September from Lyrical Press/Kensington, and I am one happy author, excited to share my enthusiasm for making mythology mainstream.

Fellow writers, I have to throw this out there: If you’re debating a crazy concept, I encourage you to go for it. Why not? What do you have to lose? Sure, writing outside your comfort zone can be scary, riddled with uncertainty and yes, intimidating, but if you’re not writing with passion and finding joy in the process, then maybe you’re doing it wrong (like I was) and maybe it’s time to start again. Then again, what do I know? I write about Vikings and sea nymphs in Ohio. It’s totally your call if you want to take advice from crazy o_0.

Nancy: Great advice! Now...please share Three things readers might not know about you:

Julie Anne Lindsey: Okay

1) I’m madly obsessed with Alice in Wonderland

2) I’m a shameless fangirl of about a zillion fandoms

3) My childhood dream was to marry the Goblin King from Labyrinth.

Prophecy, book 1, the Calypso series

On the other side of death, is destiny.

Callie Ingram is spending her senior year focused on one thing: swimming. Her skill as a competitive swimmer is going to secure a scholarship and her future, or so she hopes. She has big plans, and Liam Hale, her gorgeous new neighbor, isn’t going to affect them. But when Callie sees Liam beheading someone, she learns his family has a secret that will change everything. The Hales are Vikings, demi-gods who’ve been charged by The Fates to find their new destined leader.

Callie’s caught in the middle of a budding Norse apocalypse, in love with Liam Hale and desperate to protect her best friend—who the Hales believe is marked for transformation. Putting the clues together as fast as she can, Callie discovers she has the power to rewrite destiny, for herself and all humankind.

*Excerpt or excerpt link (optional: 300 words or less, no hotter than PG13) *optional

Readers can buy Prophecy at online retailers for $.99 through January 31^st!  

     Amazon    B&N               Kensington              iTunes

*What’s next for you?

Prophecy’s sequel, Goddess, arrives in 2015. I’m extremely excited about this. Prophecy allowed me to set up the world, establish characters and dynamics as well as introduce my mythology in modern day Ohio. That done, Goddess allowed me to dive in with frost giants, epic battles and more mythological players from the very first page. It was a ton of fun and I’m giddy for readers to find it.

I’ve also contracted a new YA with Lyrical/Kensington for release in early 2016. I walked away from mythology for this one, tentatively titled, In Place of Never. This is a dark, issue driven romance about a troubled girl and a traveling side show. I love it.  (Of course, I’m somewhat biased).

Outside the YA realm, I have a three book contract with Carina Press for a set of quirky, upbeat mysteries, tentatively titled the Geek Girl Mysteries. They will release in 2015 and 2016.

I have some busy months ahead. I can’t wait!

A little bit about the author

Julie Anne Lindsey is a multi-genre author who writes the stories that keep her up at night. She’s a self-proclaimed nerd with a penchant for words and proclivity for fun. Julie lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three small children. Today, she hopes to make someone smile. One day she plans to change the world.

You can find more information about Julie Anne Lindsey and my book, Prophecy at:

Julieannelindsey.com

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Diana Cosby-a Passion for Writing And Helping our Veterans

Diana Cosby combines her passion for writing and charity work to help our troops with the release of An Oath Taken, the first book in The Oath Series.

Many of you know that I love volunteering my time and energy in helping to make a positive difference in others’ lives.  As a military brat, a retired Navy Chief, a former military wife, and a mom of three children who have served in the military—two in the Marines and one in the Army, all who have served in Afghanistan—I understand the demands on members of the military and the impact on their families. 

Upon return from combat duty, many Veterans face challenges including depression, PTSD, survivor’s guilt, suicidal thoughts, brain injury, as well as physical issues incurred during deployment. I wanted to do something that would make a difference and help these Veterans.  

So, I will be donating 100% of my proceeds from the first week of sales of 

An Oath Taken (8 December 2014 – 14 December 2014) 

to veterans’ charities and causes that support military service members and their families.

I shared my idea with my editor, and then asked if she could notify me of my royalties after the first week of sales for An Oath Taken. My editor’s response brought tears to my eyes. Kensington Publishing Corp. would gladly do as I asked — and make a matching donation.  I'm awed by my publisher’s generosity, more so that I know the money raised will go toward making a positive difference in military members’ lives.

It’s hard to deploy and leave ones family, friends, and miss the holidays, more so for those who are placed in harm’s way.  But, it’s also a tremendous challenge for the family members left at home wondering every single day if their loved one is alive.  And when the family is reunited with their soldier after a dangerous tour of duty, regular family difficulties may seem overwhelming.   Many military families need support to stay strong as their soldier receives proper treatment, which is one of the functions of the military charities I support.

Education, proper diagnosis, and treatment are the key to good physical and mental health.  I sincerely hope that my 100% donation from my first week of sales of An Oath Taken, combined with my publishers matching contribution, can help returning Veterans as they continue their on-going fight in overcoming personal battles on the home front.

Thank you all for your time, and may God bless our troops and their families!

Sincerely,

Diana Cosby

A retired Navy Chief, Diana Cosby is an international bestselling author of Scottish medieval romantic suspense.  Her award-winning MacGruder Brother books are available in five languages.  Diana has spoken at the Library of Congress, Lady Jane’s Salon in NYC, and appeared in Woman’s Day, on USA Today’s romance blog, “Happy Ever After,” MSN.com, Atlantic County Women Magazine, and Texoma Living Magazine.

After her career in the Navy, Diana dove into her passion – writing romance novels. With 34 moves behind her, she was anxious to create characters who reflected the amazing cultures and people she’s met throughout the world.   With the release of her 6^th book in the bestselling MacGruder Brothers series, she’s now preparing for the release of the 1^st book in her new Scottish medieval The Oath trilogy, “An Oath Taken,” which will be available on December 8^th, 2014.  In addition, she’s excited about the upcoming release of The MacGruder Brothers e-Boxed Set on February 24, 2015!

Nancy Lee: Thank you for stopping by and sharing this opportunity for readers to buy a great book AND help veterans. As the daughter of a Navy veteran and the mother of an Army veteran, I salute you!

Diana: You are very welcome! I look forward to the years of writing ahead and meeting the amazing people who will share this journey.

Learn more about Diana and her books at www.dianacosby.com