I Enjoyed Reading Nancy Fraser's Novella So Much, I'd DO It AGAIN!

Hey, all! Have I got a treat for you! Romance Gems author Nancy Fraser has joined us today with her new release I DO...AGAIN, a Return to Last Chance Beach novella. I had the good fortune to read this one and Nancy gives you smart writing that pulls you in and flows so smoothly it just carries you on to the end. Truly a pleasure to read! She was nice enough to answer a few questions for me...

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

That a writer needs to develop a thick skin. And, while you should take your craft seriously, the opinion of others only matter if they control your career (e.g., editor, publisher, agent). If you learn how to handle both criticism and rejection early, it will make your writing journey much easier.


I may or may not still be working on that... ;) That's something that transfers over to everyday life, too. What is something you struggle with when you write?

It may seem trite ... but the writing. I always wonder if my current book will be my last. Will I run out of ideas? Let’s face it, romance follows a formula. There are not that many tropes that haven’t been done to death. As well, if you write in one particular genre, how do you keep from repeating yourself over and over again? That’s probably why I genre jump. It helps me from getting stale and – hopefully – there will be at least one more book in there somewhere.


Where do you live? Where would you love to live?

I live in Atlantic Canada, in New Brunswick, along the beautiful St. John River. If I were going to move, I wouldn’t go far. Just one province over to Nova Scotia, specifically Cape Breton Island. Or ... if I had the money, Las Vegas. Something tells me I’d be broke quickly.


Yes. Always that possibility in Vegas. Share with us a little about your family. Married? Kids? Pets?

I am divorced and, as of this past September, divorced as long as I was married. I’ve been blessed with two wonderful sons who were both smart enough to marry equally wonderful women. Between them, they’ve given me five grandchildren. And, given we live within twenty minutes from the farthest points, we’re very close. As for pets, I have grandpets. One rescue husky, two cats, and four guinea pigs.


Grandpets are the best! What was one of the best Christmas presents you ever received?

That’s easy. Christmas of 1970 (well, a couple days early). My first son. Nothing will ever top that.

What CD is in your CD player right now? Or what was the last song you listened to in your digital library?

Surprisingly, I still have CDs. On both my phone and in CD player, Pentatonix latest album, The Lucky Ones. Of course, I do occasionally swap out the PTX CD for the Elvis 75.


Name your favorite children's story.

I was hooked on the Nancy Drew mysteries growing up. However, as a Grandmother, I have to say Robert Munich’s “Love You Forever”. I’ve read it to all five and I’m moved every time.


It's amazing how many writers were Nancy Drew fans! What is your concept of a fruitful day?

At my age – just waking up. Getting out of bed is a great bonus. Of course, after one or two cups of coffee, my writing day begins. At that point, it’s all about the words. I write full time, Monday through Friday, three weeks of every month. My goal is always 3-5K, depending on the complexity of the book. In the fourth week, I do extensive edits and catch up on other tasks. Weekends are split between family and updating my website and blog.

That sounds like a great schedule! Thanks for sharing yourself with us. Now let's share a little bit about I DO...AGAIN...

Blurb ~

Thirty-five years earlier, Lily Abbott and Mitch Colby exchanged wedding vows in a quaint ceremony attended by a small crowd consisting of four Micronauts, a one-eyed pet rock, two special-edition Barbies, and an assortment of stuffed animals. Officiated by Stretch Armstrong, it was the social event of their 8^th summer.

 

Lily never forgot the childhood ceremony. Or the fact her best friend and first love had left her behind and relocated to Boston to pursue an Ivy-League education. Now a divorcee, with college-bound twin daughters, Lily’s moved on and put the foolishness of first crushes and the childish dream of true love behind her.

 

At eighteen, Mitch had never wanted the expensive education his father mapped out for him. He’d have been perfectly happy to stay in Summerville, marry the love of his life, and settle down. However, when push came to shove, he’d not wanted to upset his ailing mother, and had left everything...and everyone...that he’d wanted behind.

 

The 25^th reunion of the graduating class of Summerville High has brought Lily and Mitch back together at The Sands, a seaside resort on Last Chance Beach. Will one weekend together be enough? Or, is there a possibility for more?

Excerpt ~

The soles of her sandals skittering across the wet surface, Lily Abbott landed on the weather-worn dock with a loud thump, her backside slapping against the damp slats in the same way a fish flops around on the ground after being pulled from the lake.
 
So much for a graceful entry.


She glanced from side-to-side, wondering if any of her former classmates had seen her awkward faux pas. Gracie Potts and Shep Warren stood off to the side, more engrossed in each other than those around them. Ellie Cabot was stoking the campfire, poking at it with angry jabs and then letting loose a string of curse words when the embers jabbed back.


At least half of the varsity football team were huddled around two well-stocked coolers, chugging beers and laughing about past victories.


Off in the distance, laughter, mixed with strains of Meatloaf’s I’d Do Anything for Love, floated across the warm night air from the hotel’s patio. Nostalgic music from their senior year...as if time could be turned back, memories either revived or erased.


Settling more comfortably on the edge of the dock, Lily removed her sandals, and dangled her legs over the side, her toes flirting with the water. Closing her eyes, she welcomed the breeze wafting across her face.


“So, this is where you’ve been hiding.”


Lily startled at the sound of the deep, male voice. She didn’t need to look to know who was speaking. The intervening years weren’t nearly long enough to wipe away the familiar sound.


“I’m not hiding,” she insisted. “I’m relaxing.”


“If you say so,” he countered, the sarcastic tone of his comeback sinking into her senses.


Mitch Colby. Her best friend, her first love, the one that got away. Or, more precisely, the one who left her behind.


“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said truthfully.



Turning slightly and tilting her head, she met his gaze, then wished she hadn’t. He smiled down at her, his familiar smirk ratcheting up her heart rate. As her late Aunt Ethel had once observed, ‘The good Lord had surely taken his sweet time with Mitchell Colby’. Twenty-five years hadn’t altered Ethel’s keen observation one iota. He was still a breathtakingly handsome man.

Bio ~

NANCY FRASER—Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.

 

Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.

 

Published in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has published over thirty books in full-length, novella, and short format.

 

When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.

 

Find Nancy Fraser Online

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Bookbub

Amazon Author Page ~ Goodreads ~ Pinterest ~ YouTube

 

  

To purchase I DO...AGAIN:

Universal link ~ 

https://books2read.com/IDoA 

Thanks for sharing yourself with us here today, Nancy!

~ Bringing You a Little CAPER MAGIC for Halloween! ~

I'd like to welcome Annunciata [Nunie] Doyle to the blog. Nunie is from author Veronica Lynch's “Caper Magic” , a romantic novella, part of the Hauntings in the Garden Anthology out of the Wild Rose Press. Due for re-release in gift sets [along with other Hauntings novellas] in October 2015.

I hope you are comfortable, Nunie. Let's start off with an easy question. Annunciata is an unusual first name. Where are you from? 

I was born and raised in the north of Ireland, Belfast.

Wonderful! I just got back from the area. Now, please tell us about your childhood. What was it like growing up in Northern Ireland? 

 I suppose I was as happy as most Catholic girls, raised in the North midst poverty and religious bigotry, with no future except to marry an unemployed drunkard, then push out ten to twelve babes. I was ten when my parents were murdered after a faction of the UVF [Ulster Volunteer Force] bombed a local pub because they served Catholics. Thereafter, I was sent to live with my grandparents in Tuam, a cathedral city in the western part of the Irish Republic. Because I was a handful, they sent me to the local convent in hopes the nuns would teach me a skill. This was a situation which has come to be known as the Magdalene Laundries. The Tuam facility was in the news about a year ago when the remains of several young women and infants were discovered.


Oh, my! *Ahem.* Where do you live now? 

I've been in northern New York state in Cape Brendan, a small tourist town on the eastern most edge of Lake Ontario where it bleeds into the Saint Lawrence River. We are best known for two things: ship building and Caper Madness, a month long celebration of all things Halloween.

Ahh. What a perfect time to have you on then. What do you do for a living there? 

I am a retired social worker. At the height of my career I was Director of Crime Victim Services in Syracuse New York.


Do you enjoy retirement, or is there something you'd rather be doing? 

To supplement my rather meager retirement checks, I model for an agency, La Vrai Beaute, which is known for its older and large size models. Come winter, when the Cape is often as cold as a Mother Superior's heart, I like spending a few weeks in places where it never falls below 80 degrees, showing off fabulous clothes by talented designers.


Sounds fantastic! What's going on in your life right now? 

I am harboring a woman and her children while they wait for a judge to decide on permanent custody of these delightful kids. The husband and father . . . is less than upstanding shall I say. His attorney, a posturing, skeeving git if there ever was one, is arse deep in illegal machinations to ensure his client wins the suit to regain custody of his children. My fear is the judge might be having a bad hair day or is pre-menstrual and rules against the woman. If that happens, it will be my job as part of the underground movement to immediately move her and the children to a safe place. If this man, the husband I mean, is granted custody, he will kill her and the children, or worse.


Goodness! Maybe a safer question would be to ask if there is someone special in your life?

Nicholas Forrester came to Cape Brendan to assist Henri Pierpont, his elderly uncle, with the coordination of Caper Madness. After Hank's health takes a swan dive, he asks me to assist Nick with managing the events. Nick is having a significant amount of difficulty adjusting to me as well as the quirks and foibles of the Capers as the locals call themselves.

You don't say. Well, what's his family like? 

His uncle is Nick's only living relative. Henry and his deceased wife Genny cared for Nick and his sister after their parents took off for better pickings when the children were very young. Nick adores Henry and feels guilty for not spending quality time with Henry, and Genny while she was still alive. Neither of us had it easy growing up.

I'd say not! What is one thing could you do that would make you feel like the relationship will work out? 

Since Nick works for the skeeving git attorney I mentioned before, I suppose I could turn them over to him and the predator husband. That will never happen. Also, I'm not certain I want another relationship. Around here I'm known as the Black Mamba primarily for the four husbands or fiances I've buried either shortly before or right after the weddings. I'm not what they'd call a safe bet. Plus, I can't imagine any man in his right mind who would want me after learning my background.

Well, I'm sure that's not true, Nunie. Do you have any last comments for our readers? 

Caper Magic is the first in a series of stories set in Cape Brendan. Characters from previous novels of mine will come back to life and create new lives for themselves on The River.

Very good! Thank you for joining us! Now here's a blurb for CAPER MAGIC. 

Blurb ~ 

P.I. Nick Forrester comes to Cape Brendan ostensibly to assist with Caper Madness, a month long celebration of everything Halloween. In reality he is tracking a woman on the run. Within days he is confronted by Annunciata Doyle, a vivid reminder of a pain-filled past.

After retreating to Cape Brendan in defeat and humiliation, Nunie Doyle's only hope was to make the best of forced retirement. There, in this quaint tourist town on the shores of Lake Ontario, she earned the love and respect of new friends and neighbors—and put her talent for helping women to good use.

With the mutual goal of making Caper Madness the best ever, Nick and Nunie fight tooth and nail on the personal level, each discovering a new side to the other, sides that make them consider making drastic changes for the rest of their lives.

This attraction: complete madness—or sheer magic? 

Excerpt ~

Hank let out a holler just before a huge toothy grin spanned the borders of his gaunt cheeks. “Top o' the marnin' to ye, Missus!” he cackled to someone exiting the front door of the stone cottage next door.

Taking the concrete steps to the sidewalk in two lithe moves, a woman in a slinky dress the color of ripe tomatoes glanced their way and responded in a distinct Irish brogue. “And the ass end of the day to ye, Mistur Pierpont.”

Intrigued by rich tone of her voice, Nick craned his neck and found one of the witches from yesterday's parade—minus the droopy velvet hat—passing within steps of Hank's porch. A bulging garment bag hung over one arm; she looked headed in the direction of the pier at the end of Vincentian Lane. Damned if right then a wind didn't jump up off the lake and mold the filmy length of scarlet against each curve of her body. Long black hair—and there seemed to be a good ten pounds of it—flowed over her shoulders, caressing her body like a lover as she marched toward Dingle Pier. As his heart bumped into a trip hammer beat, Nick reminded himself to breathe.

“Ferget yer broom, Missus?” Hank called out to her retreating back.

“In the repair shop,” she replied over one shoulder, winging that glorious onyx hair away from lips painted to match her dress. “Gettin' fitted with a couple of those fancy turbo boosters, it is.”

Hank chuckled, then went back to his coffee. “Turbo boosters. That Nunie Doyle; sure is a pistol.”

An invisible fist reached down to grab Nick's gut in a vise. As recognition flared, long buried rage took a slow crawling path up his spine.


Ooh! Intriguing! Why is that Nick's reaction? I guess we'll have to read it to find out! 

Author Bio ~

Writing under 

the names Kat Henry Doran and Veronica Lynch, author Kathy Cottrell uses her experience as a nurse, victim advocate and insurance investigator for background in her award winning novels and novellas. Her stories are set in her favorite places to visit: the Catskill and Adirondack Mountains as well as the Saint Lawrence River in the historic Thousand Islands region of Upstate and Northern New York State.

When not writing, or chasing grandchildren, Kathy spends her time designing and making tote bags and aprons to custom order.

Visit her at: 

www.WildWomenAuthorsx2.blogspot.com and www.ApronsWithAttitude2.blogspot.com
Buy link: www.thewildrosepress.com 

(Click on Caper Magic OR Veronica Lynch, author. That will bring up prompts to purchase the story. ) 

And Veronica is giving away an apron from Aprons With Attitude to one lucky reader who comments below and leaves an email address so we can contact them! I am fortunate enough to own a couple of these aprons and I love them, so be sure to comment and leave an email!

Thanks for joining us, Veronica. Come back anytime!