~ This Book Will Be BETTER Than Your Last! ~

Please welcome guest blogger author Melanie Jaynes!

WHILE I STOOD BY

By Melanie Jayne

Many years ago, I met my friend at a reader’s con. We were both there to meet one of the authors and became immediate friends. I thought she was full of life and so bubbly. I swore that I could hear a giggle in her voice whenever she spoke. We continued our connection after the con, sharing life’s ups and downs.

I noticed over time that she didn’t seem as bubbly and her sunny outlook had become greyer. I hoped that she would confide in me what was troubling her, if something was troubling her. This past spring I received a text saying that her husband was leaving her and their two children for another woman. He didn’t love her anymore.

I was worried, and she was devastated. I knew that many times couples separate and get back together so I was very careful about my comments. If the couple reconciled then I didn’t want to be the friend who said terrible things about him. I spent hours listening and hurting for my friend. I held countless conversations with my husband about whether or not I should book a flight to see her.

I listened as she went through the various phases of grief. Being a confidant as she began to examine how her life had been in the recent past, how she had given up so much of herself in order to appease her husband’s needs. She became the smoother, if she could keep things the way he liked it then their life ran better. If he became upset, then everybody paid.

I cannot begin to fathom how difficult that life must have been. I was a part of her life, I considered myself her friend and yet, I had no idea how badly things were going, how trapped she must have felt, if she had the spare moment to feel. It physically hurt to know that I had been clueless.

Throughout the summer, she shared more and more about what their marriage had been. How mental illness and addiction had stolen the man she had fallen in love with. The worst part was that she still loved that man, but she was starting to accept that he was no more.

Slowly there were little signs that my old friend was returning. One Friday night she sent me a text. She was enraged over a Facebook post, and I knew that she was hurting, but I was happy to hear her anger. No more hoping for his return, no thoughts on how she could change things so that their love could be rekindled. She then started to slowly make plans for her future. Changes small and large were itemized and she decided that their marriage was over.

I’m proud to say that as I stood by, I watched my friend be torn down, broken, and then build herself up. She is not only responsible for her life, but that of her two teens. She is the epitome of the Mama Lion, a protector and proud. Today the divorce papers were served upon him. I hope that she gets everything that she deserves, especially happiness and self-worth, because she is truly a phoenix.

Blurb~

I should have known better. Women like me, average and unseen, don't have our dreams come true. And the one chance I had for my dreams, I watched die in our doorway while I hid on the stairs.

Now I spend my days terrified for my life and my nights resigned to the fact that I'll be dead soon.

He can protect me. Forde has the reputation for handling cases that blur the line between right and wrong. Yes, he can help me, but he's asking for too much from me – my trust, my body and for the chance to make my dreams come true.

If I could… everything would be Better.

Goodreads:

(Link forthcoming)Links ~ 

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2dwWgSD

Author Bio ~ 

I live on a grain farm southeast of Indianapolis, Indiana with my very patient husband of twenty-five years and our two English Mastiffs, Buster Brown and Ginger. I graduated from Indiana University when it was the #1 party school in the country and I took great pride in helping the school achieve that ranking.

I haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up. I change careers every decade. I have worked in retail, a federal courtroom, travelled across the state closing loans, and behind the scenes in a casino.

I've always had an active imagination so when a good friend suggested that I try writing a book, I thought why not, it should be fun. It has, but I have had to work very hard to learn how to do it. I am so lucky for the outpouring of advice and education from so many in the industry, plus the hand-holding and cheerleading from My Gurls. I also have an incredible Ad-man-istrative Assistant, who tries to keep me under control. He rolls his eyes so much that I worry about a permanent condition.

When I ‘m not working or writing type stuff, I sleep, watch courtroom TV shows, and sports. I was a competitive pro-am ballroom dancer for ten years and I read as many books as I can.

I love to attend Author-Reader Conventions and look forward to meeting you.



Website: http://www.readmelaniejayne.com/

Newsletter: http://www.readmelaniejayne.com/contact-us.html

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13547924.Melanie_Jayne

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2dqlOU5

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mjsmut




Previous/Other books in the A Change Series




A Change For the GoodBlurb ~ 

Two people starting over, making much needed changes in their lives.




Zoe Crawford has moved to a new city after being humiliated by her ex-husband. She is going to put her wants and needs first.




Tony Alessi has returned to his hometown to rehab his body and his soul, leaving his ATF career behind.




When Tony meets Zoe, he likes what he sees. Zoe is flattered but doesn’t want to pursue a cougar challenge. As she grows to trust Tony, she tells him some odd happenings about cars following her, call hang-ups, and a break-in.




When Zoe’s life is threatened, the couple hides in Tony’s cabin. They soon grow closer as they learn who they are and who they hope to be.




Will Zoe’s past ruin her chance to change her life for the good?

Goodreads:


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25671007-a-change-for-the-goodLinks ~ 



Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/2dsNMLs

~ You'll be Happy You Stumbled Upon STUMBLE STONES! ~

Please welcome Marilyn Baron, author of STUMBLE STONES, a novel released today by The Wild Rose Press! Let's find out a little more about her...


What is the best thing you’ve learned about writing and/or the publishing business? 

Of all the authors I’ve interviewed, the best and most universal advice I’ve ever received is “Finish the book.” You can always revise and improve a manuscript but you can’t fix a blank page. I also recommend joining a writer’s group. I’m in Georgia Romance Writers and the friendships and support you receive are invaluable.

Yes! Or as an English friend of mine would say, "Finish the damn book!" What is something you struggle with when you write? 

I’m great at beginnings and endings. The “sagging middle” often poses a problem. I love to write dialogue, I love setting and description but “show, don’t tell,” is a skill I need to improve. I also like to change POV within a scene, which is a no-no, although Nora Roberts does it successfully.

Oh, yes. Nora Roberts Syndrome. I suffer from that, too. Give us a brief glimpse at your road to publication. 

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. I started out writing humorous paranormal short stories for a small press specializing in science fiction, supernatural, horror & urban fantasy, thriller and mainstream. My stories are about angels and devils, love and death, weddings and funerals—happy endings guaranteed. Then I self-published a women’s fiction novel, a shopping-related suspense tale and a musical about Alzheimer’s called Memory Lane with my sister, a Florida artist. I submitted a manuscript to The Wild Rose Press, and my novel, Under the Moon Gate, was published in 2013. My new novel, Stumble Stones, which will be released August 19, will be my 11th book with that publisher. AmazonEncore re-released Sixth Sense, Book 1 of my psychic suspense series, last September. I write in a variety of genres, from humorous coming-of-middle-age women’s fiction to historical romantic thrillers and suspense to paranormal. You can find out more about what I write on my Web site at www.marilynbaron.com.

Do you have a job outside of writing? What is it and how does it mesh with your writing? 

I majored in Journalism (Public Relations sequence) and minored in English (Creative Writing) in college and I have been a corporate writer and editor my entire career, first with AT&T and then as head of my own PR agency, so fiction is just a different kind of writing.

Share with us a little about your family. Married? Kids? Pets? 

I live in Roswell, Georgia, a suburb north of Atlanta, with my husband and we have two daughters and a son-in-law who also live in Atlanta. We had a Bichon Frise named Doogie, and she lived for about 19 years. I feature her a lot in my books because I miss her. I love to travel, and often feature destinations I’ve visited in my books. I lived in Florence, Italy, for six months so I use Florence as a setting in a number of my books. Under the Moon Gate was set in contemporary and WW II Bermuda because I love Bermuda and have been there about 10 times. I wrote Sixth Sense, which is partially set in Sydney, Australia, after I traveled to Australia and New Zealand. Stumble Stones is set in Rome, Berlin and on a Scandinavian cruise, all places I’ve visited or experiences I’ve had. The Widows’ Gallery and Killer Cruise are set on a Mediterranean cruise, which I recently took. I set some of my books in Florida since I’m from Miami, went to college at University of Florida and have a beach condo in Florida.

Okay. Now, just for fun-

If you owned a CB radio what would your "handle" be? 

My handle was “The Baronness,” when I used to broadcast the audio news to AT&T employees and my promotional poster featured me with a CB radio and a hard hat.

Awesome handle! What CD is in your CD player right now? 

The CD I listen to in the car is the soundtrack to our musical Memory Lane. The songs are catchy so I can’t get the music out of my head. My sister and I hope that one day it will be produced on stage. I love music from the ’40s because I’m fascinated by World War II and it’s a theme I often use in my books.

Name your favorite children's story. 

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder was what inspired me to become a writer.

It's amazing how many writers say that! What was your nickname growing up or now? 

Perry. My father called me Perry after Perry Como because he liked that singer and he sang like Perry Como.

What one thing (modern convenience) you could not live without? 

A hair dryer.

I hear you! I don't know how pioneer women lived without them! What are your three favorite smells? 

That’s a funny question, because I was born without a sense of smell, although I do have a sense of taste. I discovered this when my sisters and brother and I came home from school one day and they said, “Oh, we’re having XXXX for dinner,” and I asked how they could tell. They could smell the food, but I couldn’t. I can’t smell anything. I’ve never smelled perfume or flowers. It came in handy when I was changing diapers while my kids were babies. Once my kitchen caught on fire and I was standing there in the smoke-filled room looking the other way and I couldn’t smell the smoke so luckily someone was home and told me to get out of the kitchen. When I went to a factory outside of Denver where they make tea, I walked into a room where they stored the peppermint. Everyone else had to leave immediately because the smell was so overpowering. For the first and only time I could smell it and I wanted to stay in there. Peppermint is one of my favorite flavors. 

Very interesting! I've never had that answer before! Now that we've found out a little bit about you, let's find out more about Stumble Stones... 

Blurb ~

Hallelujah Weiss, writer for the steamy sudser As the Planet Spins, gets a second chance at love when she flees to Italy to get over her recent divorce, courtesy of her cheating ex-husband’s credit card. A woman scorned, Hallelujah has sworn off men and is determined to reinvent herself. The new Hallelujah is eager to live life on the edge, more like Polly, a character she writes and idolizes.

Lonely Berlin hedge fund manager Alexander Stone, a number cruncher who puts his faith in numerical data, still believes in destiny, despite the fact his fiancée just dumped him. Always a man with a plan, Alexander did not plan on Hallelujah.

After a chance encounter on a flight to Rome, the unlikely pair faces danger when they team up to return to their rightful owner a stash of WW II vintage jewels. The hidden diamonds hold the key to an unsolved mystery and a promise of love. 

Excerpt ~

Life was better in Business Class, especially when your cheating ex-husband was paying for it. Hallelujah couldn’t wait until Lloyd got the bill—for the airline ticket, the set of top-of-the-line TUMI luggage, the fashionable, Italian-worthy wardrobe, a two-week stay at a first-class hotel in Florence, an expensive day of pampering at the hotel spa, dinner in the city’s finest restaurant, and front row seats to the Il Volo concert. It’s not like Lloyd Evans couldn’t afford it. It would hardly make a dent in the bastard’s bank account.



Her short-term plan was to spend as much of Lloyd’s money as she could before his skanky secretary/fiancée Olivia Brewster got her greedy little hands on it. Polly would be proud of me.



But she wasn’t Polly. Polly lived life on the wild side, and she had a vindictive streak. Hallie Evans was practical. She believed in playing it safe and paying her own way. But she deserved this final fling. She had scraped together the last of her savings, and she would use those funds when Lloyd’s credit card was tapped out. Then she would go back to the single life and the single paycheck and try not to dwell on how much her ex had hurt and humiliated her. But right now, Polly was in the pilot’s seat. And, from now on, Hallie was determined to live life on the edge, just like Polly.



Settling into her roomy Magnifica seat, she signaled the Alitalia flight attendant for another amaretto sour before the plane took off. Getting properly sloshed mid-air was a strategic and recent addendum to the plan. Oh, and part of her plan was to swear off men.



What are Stumble Stones?

Stumble Stones is a real project. German artist Gunter Demnig has placed five thousand of these brass plaques—known as Stolpersteine or “stumble stones,” cobblestone-sized Holocaust memorial stones—in Berlin and some fifty thousand of them in eighteen countries in Europe. 

Author Bio ~

Marilyn Baron writes in a variety of genres, from humorous coming-of-middle age women’s fiction to historical romantic thrillers and romantic suspense to paranormal/fantasy. Stumble Stones will be her 11th novel published with The Wild Rose Press. She’s also published five short stories with TWB Press and self-published three books, including a musical about Alzheimer’s called Memory Lane. AmazonEncore republished her book Sixth Sense on September 15, 2015. She’s received writing awards in Single Title, Suspense Romance, Novel With Strong Romantic Elements and Paranormal//Fantasy Romance. She is a Georgia Romance Writers (GRW) Maggie Award winner, a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and GRW and winner of the GRW 2009 Chapter Service Award. A public relations consultant in Atlanta, Marilyn graduated with a BS in Journalism and a minor in Creative Writing from the University of Florida. She worked in Public Relations for AT&T in Atlanta for 13 years before starting her own PR firm. She serves on the 2015 and 2016 Roswell Reads Steering Committee. She was selected as a featured author in the 2015 Atlanta Authors Series. She presented on two panels at the AJC-Decatur Book Festival (the largest independent book festival in the country) on September 6, 2015. She was a 2016 Nominee for the 52nd Georgia Author of the Year Awards (books published in 2015) in two categories—Detective/Mystery for Landlocked and Romance for The Widows’ Gallery. She’s a member of two book clubs. Read more about Marilyn at www.marilynbaron.com. 

Links ~

Amazon Pre-Order E Book

https://www.amazon.com/Stumble-Stones-Novel-Marilyn-Baron-ebook/dp/B01HLSSXSY/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1467292613&sr=1-1&keywords=stumble+stones+baron+kindle#navbar

Stumble Stones E Book The Wild Rose Press

http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/4473-stumble-stones-a-novel.html



Stumble Stones Paperback The Wild Rose Press

http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/paperback-books/4433-stumble-stones-a-novel-paperback.html?search_query=Stumble+Stones+Paperback&results=1

Barnes & Noble Nook

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stumble-stones-marilyn-baron/1124055735?ean=2940158118838

Author Media Links

Website www.marilynbaron.com

Twitter https://twitter.com/MarilynBaron

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marilyn-Baron/286807714666748

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4722647.Marilyn_Baron

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_ebooks_1?ie=UTF8&text=Marilyn+Baron&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Marilyn+Baron&sort=relevancerank


Book Trailer for Stumble Stones:

https://youtu.be/-3Jjo1ASiDY





Stumble Stones: A Novel by Marilyn Baron is a multilayered, dark and humorous Romancing the Stone-style suspense about a cache of priceless diamonds hidden in World War II that sparks a hasty wedding on the high seas and a dangerous chase through Europe that holds the key to an unsolved mystery and a promise of lost love.



Praise for STUMBLE STONES



“Modern characters find themselves thrown into a mystery that spans generations, and to discover the answers, they have to look to the past. Marilyn Baron perfectly blends that laugh-out-loud humor of a new romance with the heartbreaking story of a family torn apart by the Holocaust. Touching and beautifully written with marvelous attention to setting and history.”

~Jennifer Moore, Author of Change of Heart