Friday, June 10, 2016

~ This Book Will Cause Readers to FILL THE STADIUM and Stand Up and Cheer! ~






Please welcome the dynamic duo to the spotlight today, the team of Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare, writing as K.M. Daughters. And as a special treat, Pat and Kathie have brought along NFL quarterback Ramsey Delaney!



Ramsey, please tell us a little bit about yourself? Why did you become a quarterback? What are your strengths & weaknesses?

Good morning, M.J. Since I’m on injured reserve for the Massachusetts Dragons I have extra time to focus on the kids at The Good Sports Club I founded. Of course, I’m ready whenever Coach Beltzer needs me to quarterback for him. I’d say I’m strong in pass completion and I don’t want to jinx myself, but I haven’t thrown an interception in 20 games. Weaknesses? Can’t think of any… Well, maybe for a beautiful woman and her two small boys.



Ahh... Well, Ram, what is your earliest childhood memory?

Believe it or not I was kind of a puny kid. I remember that I was always the last one chosen for teams and was frequently knocked down on the playground. The Good Sports Club was born out of those memories. It’s a place where kids can participate on their level without worrying about ridicule.



Sounds wonderful! How did you meet Nikki? What was your first impression of her?

She came storming into my office like a Mama bear protecting her cub. It was all a misunderstanding. I thought she was a little spitfire and I also couldn’t get her out of my mind.


Now for a toughie...what is it that you want out of life?

A cure for ALD.



Yes! Wouldn't that be something. For those of you who aren't familiar with this disease, 
"Adrenoleukodystrophy, or ALD, is a deadly genetic disease that affects 1 in 18 000 people. It most severely affects boys and men. This brain disorder destroys myelin, the protective sheath that surrounds the brain's neurons -- the nerve cells that allow us to think and to control our muscles. It knows no racial, ethnic or geographic barriers.

The most devastating form of ALD appears in childhood, generally between the ages of four and ten years old. Normal, healthy boys suddenly begin to regress. At first, they simply show behavioral problems, such as withdrawal or difficulty concentrating. Gradually, as the disease ravages their brain, their symptoms grow worse, including blindness and deafness, seizures, loss of muscle control, and progressive dementia. This relentless downward spiral leads to either death or permanent disability, usually within 2 to 5 years from diagnosis." (http://www.stopald.org/what-is-ald/)
 Truly a cruel disease. 

How about we lighten things up a bit. If you owned a CB radio what would your "handle" be? 

It would be “Enginee” from my Highland U quarterbacking days.


There's a story in there somewhere, but we're all out of time. Thank you for joining us, Ram. It was a delight spending time with you. Not let's find out a little bit more about FILL THE STADIUM...



Blurb ~


Nikki Lambert’s husband purposely stalls his truck in the path of the midnight freight on the same day her eldest son, Jack, is diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder.
Injured NFL quarterback, Ramsey Delaney is benched from his starting position leaving him ample time for more hands-on involvement in The Good Sports Club, a community center he established where Nikki’s sons, Jack and Rocky are enrolled.


Jack’s deteriorating motor skills concern Ram’s employees who bar Jack from attending the club without Ram’s knowledge. Nikki wants nothing but normalcy for Jack and she heatedly confronts Ram for depriving her son of a beloved activity. Ram immediately reinstates Jack forging the fateful bond between Nikki and her boys’ number-one sports hero.

Ram is instantly attracted to Nikki. He wants to win her heart more than he’s ever wanted to win a game. But after her husband’s terrible abandonment will Nikki trust Ram’s motives and open her heart to love again?





Excerpt ~


"It’s not funny Ram. How dare you hire people to tear up my house without my knowledge? What the hell were you thinking?"

Shrugging his shoulders he replied, "I don't know. That I'm helping you?"

She dragged her fingers through her hair. His stomach tightened yearning to thread his fingers through her silky hair, too. In the next second he questioned his motives once more, something he had done repeatedly since she had stormed his office the first time. Ram still remained satisfied that he wasn't trying to buy or to manipulate her affections. Whether or not she'd ever see him the way that he saw her, Ram had to help Jack. The compulsion had become near obsession. He'd spend his last dime and would have fought anyone who had tried to stop him, including Nikki.

Nikki pinned him with a penetrating glare, tense and unsmiling.

"Say something," he said.

“I can take care of my son.”

“I never said you couldn’t. No one could give Jack better care than you. I just want you to let me help you."

She wagged her head, no. “It’s too much Ram. I can’t accept it.”

"I think it might be a little late to refuse.” He smiled but the dark stare she gave him had him back stepping, “Look,” he said, holding his palms up in supplication, "Let’s be honest. I have been paid an obscene amount of money to play football. More than I will ever need. I have the money to fix up your house for Jack, and you don't have money to spare. It's nothing. It's what friends do for each other."

“You’re out of your mind. It’s too much.” Her chest heaved.

She sighed and he detected a slight softening in her eyes and a minuscule slackening of her shoulders.

Encouraged Ram paced a step closer. “What can I say? I’m just a dumb jock.”



Author Bios ~


K.M. Daughters is the penname for team writers and sisters, Pat Casiello and Kathie Clare. The penname is dedicated to the memory of their parents, “K”ay and “M”ickey Lynch. K.M. Daughters is the author of 13 award winning romance genre novels. The “Daughters” are wives, mothers and grandmothers residing in the Chicago suburbs and on the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Visitors are most welcome at http://www.kmdaughters.com


You can buy FILL THE STADIUM here:

http://www.amazon.com/Fill-Stadium-K-Daughters-Team/dp/150920489X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1465263299&sr=1-1&keywords=fill+the+stadium



19 comments:

MJ Schiller said...

I love the whole premise of this book, Nikki's heartache, Ram's generous spirit in wanting to help her and her boys, a child suffering from a deadly disease, the sports theme... This book has it all! Thank you, Pat and Kathie, for joining us and sharing your talent here today!

K.M. Daughters said...

It's a pleasure to visit with you MJ. Hi all. Do you have any more questions for Ram or KM Daughters?

Anonymous said...

Great interview. The excerpt really drew me to the characters. Best of luck with your book.

K.M. Daughters said...

Thank you for commenting Marissa. Glad you enjoyed hearing from Ram. ☺️

Pamela S Thibodeaux said...

This is a really good book!
Good luck and God's blessings.
PamT

Leah St. James said...

Ramsey, I can't believe you mentioned your 20-game INT-free run. Risky....very risky. Not that I'm superstitious or anything. :-)

This sounds like such a heart-warming story, bUT heart-breaking too. I was not familiar with ALD. How awful. Wishing you much success.

MJ Schiller said...

It is a compelling excerpt. Sometimes it's hard to help someone without hurting their pride. Thanks for joining us, Marissa!

MJ Schiller said...

I appreciate you stopping by today, Pam! My best to you!

MJ Schiller said...

I wasn't either. So sad that people have to suffer like that. I hope they do find a cure. Thanks for popping in, Leah! Have a great weekend!

Kara O'Neal said...

Love your author name and adored this book. It was wonderful. Good luck to y'all.

Elizabeth Alsobrooks said...

Wonderful theme, and great interview! Thanks for taking time to share it with us!

Ashantay said...

A wonderful story concept and great excerpt! Best wishes for success with your books!

K.M. Daughters said...

Thank you all for visiting. And MJ thank you so much for hosting us.

Nightingale said...

Conrats on being able to write as a team

MJ Schiller said...

Yeah. I think it's so cool how they came up with that! And what a nice tribute for their parents. Thanks for joining us, Kara!

MJ Schiller said...

Thank you, Elizabeth, for stopping by and reading!

MJ Schiller said...

Agreed. Hugely sympathetic heroine! I appreciate you taking the time to read and comment, Ashantay!

MJ Schiller said...

Any time! Like maybe Wednesday...

MJ Schiller said...

Yes. I think that would be an interesting prospect. I don't know if I could do it. Thanks for popping in, Linda, and have a nice day!