AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Caroline Clemmons + BONUS + Giveaway!

UNDER A MULBERRY MOON is a beautifully crafted anthology compiled by talented authors. 

Each day for the next nine days, each author will have a turn letting us get to know them. But first... the ladies have a gift for EVERYONE who stops by... a free download of MEDLEYS & MUSINGS - a sampling of every story from Under the Mulberry Moon.  Go HERE to download your copy

But that's not all!!!!   Three of the participating authors will each be giving away a copy of UNDER A MULBERRY MOON to lucky visitors who leave a comment. You MUST leave a comment ABOUT THE ANTHOLOGY to qualify. So comment about one or all of the stories the authors share. Each comment will be assigned a number. Then on Thursday July 26th, I will select 3 winners using Random.org

We first met Caroline Clemmons HERE.

Today she is back as part of the Under A Mulberry Moon Anthology. Let's see what she has to share this time:

Welcome back, Caroline!

BIO:

Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To make up for this tragic error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a small office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their rescued cats and dogs. The books she creates there have made her an Amazon bestselling author and won several awards

Subscribe to Caroline’s newsletter here to receive a FREE novella of HAPPY IS THE BRIDE, a humorous historical wedding disaster that ends happily—but you knew it would, didn’t you?

Here's My Five:

I’m always asked ‘where do you get your ideas’. So, where do you get yours?

Everywhere!  A newscast may spark an idea, an article in a historical journal, research for one book may lead me to an idea for another, there is always something popping into my mind. Finding ideas is not a problem—finding the time to write each of them is. I have ideas to last if I live to be two hundred.

Which comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting?

The characters if it’s for my story. If I’m part of a series orchestrated by another author, then I have to follow her parameters of the setting and story. When the book is for me, I have characters visit me in my mind and I see the scene they’re in. This is not always the first scene of the book but it lets me know the hero and heroine. (I’m not crazy, as other authors have this same experience.)

Which of your heroines most represent you, or the ‘you’ you’d like to be? Why?

Each of my heroines has a part of me but parts of my imagination and of other people I’ve met. I guess the heroine who is most me is Rosalyn in BLUEBONNET BRIDE. That’s a really difficult question because I love all of my heroines.

What is the single most important part of writing for you?

Creating a believable set of characters. If the reader doesn’t believe the characters would act the way I write them, then I’ve failed.

What’s the most romantic thing a guy can do (or has done) for you?

My husband cooks meals and cleans up the kitchen so I have more time to write. How can I not love this guy? You see why I call him Hero.

Here's Caroline's Three:

How much of your personality and life experiences are in your writing?

A lot! We are each the sum of our life’s experiences—of everything we’ve read or seen or heard and how our personality interprets it. There is no way I could separate these from my writing. Why would I want to?

What is your writing routine once you start a book?

I keep the outline handy and write in a linear style starting with Chapter One and going to the end. Usually I write a series, so I also keep a bible document on the computer. I aim for 3,000 words a day, but don’t always achieve my goal. Life often gets in the way. I don’t like Scrivner or any of the writing programs so I use Word. However, I do use voice recognition software to save wear and tear on my wrists and arms.

Who, if anyone, has influenced your writing?

My dad first of all. His stories of his family coming to Texas from Georgia after the Civil War and forward ignited my love for Texas history. In addition, he encouraged me to read and to write. My husband has encouraged me continually and made certain I have the tools I need. I had only written for newspapers until my mother-in-law brought me a grocery sack of romance novels and told me I could write those because of the long letters I wrote filled with stories and anecdotes of our family. She planted the idea in my head and I came up with a plot and tried. It was nothing great, but I was on my way. Then, once I joined a local RWA chapter, I heard programs on craft that helped me immensely and I met authors who mentored newbies.

Let's talk about the book. Your story is A FAMILY FOR MERRY.

The FREEBIE you've provided definitely has me wanting to read the full anthology.   Remember to download the Free teaser then purchase your full anthology.. I mean - you can't just have one- right? LOL

AMAZON USA           AMAZON INDIA        AMAZON CANADA   

AMAZON AUSTRALIA       AMAZON UK 

To connect with Caroline Clemmons:

Website   Blog   Twitter   Facebook  Pinterest   Goodreads   AmazonAuthorPage

MAKE-UP MONDAY - Review & Winner!

Okay.. so I'm on the slow side today. I got so caught up in creative business stuff - which is my official day job, I failed to get a review posted for Caroline Clemmons' Texas Lightning and to officially announce the winners of her giveaway last week.

Let's start with congratulating:

JUDY ANN DAVIS

SHEILA MAST

Judy, please contact me via the contact for on my sidebar or connect with Caroline via her website. Enjoy your copy of Texas Lighting! I know I have.

 REVIEW!

I fell in love with Texas Lightning the moment Penelope Terry rode like the wind, shooting her daddy's colt over her shoulder at her cousin Charlie. Caroline Clemmons didn't waste any time dropping us into the action and sending us from 1896 to 2017 right along with the heroine.. and into the arms of hero Jake Knight. 

As Jake and his family come to terms with the fact that Penny has time-traveled, they are fighting to save their ranch... Penny's ranch... just as she had been doing when she began her journey.  Penny's not having much of a picnic either. She finds her ranch no longer belongs to her and she isn't sure where she fits in.

Like all good hero's, Jake discovers he'll believe anything to keep this woman in his life. But will being her savior cost him the ranch they both love? 

Descendants from both families create for a gripping read and a sweet romance you won't want to put down. 

I look forward to the rest of the Texas Time Travel series from Caroline Clemmons!

Follow any of the links below to purchase your copy:

AmazonUSA    Amazon UK    AmazonCanada   AmazonAustralia  

You can visit Caroline on various social media platforms:

Website   Blog   Twitter   Facebook  Pinterest   Goodreads   AmazonAuthorPage

WRITER'S TIP THURSDAY - Caroline Clemmons

Caroline Clemmons offers up stellar advice this week:
Don’t let negative people discourage you. Hone your craft and write what you enjoy reading.

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT - Caroline Clemmons + Giveaway!

This week we shine the spotlight on author Caroline Clemmons

BIO

Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To make up for this tragic error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a small office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their rescued cats and dogs. The books she creates there have made her an Amazon bestselling author and won several awards

Subscribe to Caroline’s newsletter here to receive a FREE novella of HAPPY IS THE BRIDE, a humorous historical wedding disaster that ends happily—but you knew it would, didn’t you?

Thank you for joining us today, Caroline! Let's find out a bit more about you!

I ask our guest 5 questions. Then I give them a list of more questions for them to select 3 of their own.

Here's My Five:

I’m always asked ‘where do you get your ideas’. So, where do you get yours?

They spring up from everywhere—a snatch of conversation, a news story, a bit of history I’ve read, the recesses of my subconscious. A friend says she buys hers from a small factory in Ohio. Wish I could think of an answer that clever.

 Which comes first, the story, the characters, or the setting?

That depends on the story. Usually, the characters come first and play like a movie in my head, which also means they’re in the setting.  What they’re doing/saying ignites the plot. Once in a while, I come up with an idea for a series and start with a different angle. For instance, I decided to write a series about seven women who came to North Central Texas as guests of a widow and called it the Bride Brigade. After the concept, then I created the characters. 

Which of your heroines most represent you, or the ‘you’ you’d like to be? Why?

Each of them represents a tiny part of me, just as each character does—including the villain. In my opinion, everything that happens to us and how we react becomes a part of our core. We can’t keep from using that in our writing. Why would we want to?

What is the single most important part of writing for you?

Keeping in mind that writers are entertainers! We can’t have an axe to grind or preach to readers.

What’s the most romantic thing a guy can do (or has done) for you?

Since he retired, my Hero cooks, cleans the kitchen, mops, and does his laundry. You can see why I call him Hero!

Caroline's Three:

What is your writing routine once you start a book?

I do background research, make a loose outline/premise sketch, open a Word document, and start putting down words. Recently, I’ve added Dragon Speech Recognition Software. So far, my Southwestern twang is sometimes a puzzle for Dragon but we’re both learning. J I am not a morning person, so I check social media in the morning, stagger around looking for my hot tea or a Dr Pepper, and do little chores like my laundry or play with the pets.  Sometime in early afternoon I focus on my story. If I’m not too tired, I go back to my office when Hero goes to bed after we’ve spent the evening together. (He’s one of those who wakes cheerful and energetic but turns in at a reasonable time.) I’m most productive from eight or nine in the evening until about three in the morning and those hours don’t mesh well with most of the population’s time schedule.

If money were not an object, where would you most like to travel?

Hero and I have wished the next time we go to Ireland/the UK we could rent a one-story cottage for a month or two, get a rail pass, and travel to the places we haven’t seen.

City Girl or Country Girl

I prefer city life, although Hero and I lived in a rural area for many years. Doesn’t even have to be a city--could be a small town as long as there are stores, paved streets, city services, etc.

Now, let's talk about your book:

Blurb

How can two people from different eras own the same ranch?

Penelope Jane Terry is determined to send to jail the rustlers who believe they can steal what is hers… until she is caught spying on their dirty works and must ride for her life. What Penny doesn’t count on is being hurtled over a 120 years into the future.

Jake Knight believes the attractive woman who stumbled into his home one rainy evening either has amnesia or is certifiably insane. Unless, that is, she is in league with whoever is trying to drive him out of business. Someone is trying to force him to sell his ranch by staging a string of damaging incidents. Even if he were stupid enough to wish to sell, the ranch is so firmly entailed that no one can break the conditions.

Jake gradually learns Penny is who she claims, no matter that time travel is supposed to be impossible. They’re locked into a clash that it seems only one of them can win. If an outsider weren’t trying to kill Jake as well as bankrupt him, perhaps he and Penny might be able to reach an agreement. Then, there is that mythical treasure… or is it real?

Excerpt

She should have gone around to the back door, but she couldn’t walk another step. Weariness and sore muscles overwhelmed her and she wanted nothing more than to shuck out of her wet things and lie in her nice bed—if she could summon the energy to walk upstairs. She heard footsteps approaching and raised one foot. Eyes closed, she leaned back against the stairs.

“Had me a passel of trouble, Jake. Help me get these danged boots off, would you? Then I’ll tell you all about it.” A dog’s cold nose pressed against her cheek. She jumped and pushed her hair out of her eyes. A black and white dog stared at her. “Who are you?”

“His name’s Rascal.” An unfamiliar baritone said, “He’s mine.”

She looked up.

Whoa! The man who faced her wasn’t Jake. In spite of her wariness, her mouth dropped open in awe. Instead of her arthritic middle-aged cook, this man was young and tall and definitely fit. And handsome. Unbelievably, mesmerizingly handsome.

He might be as comely as a fairy tale prince, but the regal disapproval on his face appeared anything but friendly.

Energized by fear, she jumped to her feet and grabbed her rifle. “Who the heck are you?”

He crossed his arms and ignored the Winchester pointed at his middle. His dark hair glistened in light that seemed too bright. Dark blue eyes had tiny creases at the corners, as if he laughed a lot.

He sure wasn’t laughing now. 

Two lucky visitors today will WIN an eBook copy of TEXAS LIGHTNING

You may purchase your copy at any of the following links:

AmazonUSA     AmazonUK     AmazonCanada        

To connect with Caroline, you'll find her at the following Social Media locations:

Website   Blog   Twitter   Facebook  Pinterest   Goodreads   AmazonAuthorPage