Didi Lawson exchanged her town car for a pick-up truck and learned to operate a tractor when she and her husband moved from Arizona to a farm inMissouri where she now weaves her tales. Her love for writing started early inlife whenshe entertained her friends with her stories, won prizes for he essays in high school and wrote road shows and poems for the youth group in her church. She enjoys the outdoors, her children and ten grandchildren, and keeps an active social calendar.
It was supposed to be simple traveling to Germany to find her roots. But nothing turns out the way Tracy had planned.
She meets a man who professes to be her half-brother and is less than happy with her visit. The villagers treat her with contempt for her father’s presumed infamous past.
Trying to solve the mystery, she uncovers secrets that had been hidden for over two decades. Wanting to clear her father’s name, she realizes that by doing so she will ruin her chances of a happy life with the man who had captured her heart.
1.Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?
a.I like people, associate with them. I also love nature and traveling.
2.When did you first realize you were an author?
a.In my 40’s
3.Have you done anything writing-related, but besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?
a.I won prizes for my essays in High School, wrote road shows and limericks for the youth group in my Church, and worked as assistant editor for a trade magazine
4.What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?
a.There are actually 2 things: writer’s block (write anyway even if you have to erase it the next day), and remembering to show rather than tell the story. This one is a hard one for me. I just have to be cognizant of that flaw and correct it when editing
5.What is the “message” of your writing?
a.I’m trying to promote old-fashioned values, see the good in people, write for the heart and give the reader an escape from everyday life. My stories try to make the reader feel good.
6.Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?
a.Sometimes
7.What are your future projects?
a.I’m working on a Christmas story, a fairytale and sequels to some of my existing books.
Raymond Hegsted was Born in Juneau, Alaska and raised by a truck driving Dad. Joined the Army on voluntary draft and served with 4th infantry Regimental Intelligence and Reconnaissance reaching the rank of corporal.
He spent time living and working in Italy where he also got the chance to travel to many other European countries. After returning to America he helped develop a computerized scheduling system for the Oklahoma Scheduling Department.
After ten years of marriage ended in divorce he was sent to Ohio to head up corporate scheduling. Here he married second wife, Dr. Glena Louise Hegstad (A Montessori teacher). He then took early retirement, started and managed 5 different Montessori Daycare Schools (three of them in Flagstaff, Arizona under the name of The GlenMar Corporation).
Raymond wrote his first book at the age of sixty-one. His wife got her Doctorate in education and he wrote books. He love writing! One of the reasons he decided to write was “I got tired of seeing ever one else on TV; I was vicariously living their life and not my own. Everyone had a story…share yours.” He and his wife and have enjoyed many years with their four+one children…one child adopted them. They have been happily married for many years.
Obsessed with finding a serial killer whom he has chased for years, Salem Grey has moved to a small town in Littleton, Washington.
Operating as a police chief and from his compound home, he is finally closing in. With the help of his lady forensic M.E., A dangerous and shocking reality is being unveiled.
Dr. Riva Parker Grey, Md and Chief of Police Salem Grey go to Las Vegas where Riva is to be the Keynote Speaker at a forensic conference. They meet old friends, but quickly get drawn into a strange series of murders.
As the bodies begin piling up the twists and turns fueled by lies, deceit and unruly children make the investigators feel as though they keep making unneeded or wrong turns in a giant maze.
When mass graves are discovered in a glacier and also in the south-west desert of California, Salem Grey is called in to track down the killer or killers.
One of the victims is a woman whom Salem had once dated. Back at home trouble ignite when jewel hunters arrive in Littleton, Washington. Salem’s half brother and his new bride become deeply involved. Faithful dogs, Otto, Fritz and Sarg stand ever ready to protect their friends.
At first, the meeting with Gordon Brown had gone okay; not great, but as well as Doctor Cecily Windgate had expected it would be. After his last stint in prison, ‘Gordy’ wasn’t the enthusiastic lover he once was. When it was early in the morning, they left the motel and Cecily took him to her penthouse. She had hoped being at her home would relax the x-convict, it didn’t.
The pool was not large, but it overlooked the city. The ornamented city lit up the entire panorama while the edge of the pool looked as if it were a waterfall whose stream would nourish the desert city below. Gordon rested his arms on the edge of the pool and allowed the tepid water to soothe his weary body. “So, Doc, what’s this job you got for me; I hope it’s not one of those casino security things. Nope; no siree, I just don’t take well to those stuffed shirts and bow ties…not my style.”
She wanted to respond by asking him if ‘prison grey’ was more his style, but she refrained. Cecily looked at him, he had really changed, no longer was he the devil may care guy she knew; for the first time since she met Gordon Brown, she was a bit frightened of him. “I’ve got a patient who is terminally ill, Gordy, she wants to commit suicide, but she is too scared to do it.”
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An avid gardener, artist, musician and writer, Emily-Jane Hills Orford has fond memories and lots of stories that evolved from a childhood growing up in a haunted Victorian mansion. Told she had a ‘vivid imagination’, the author used this talent to create stories in her head to pass tedious hours while sick, waiting in a doctor’s office, listening to a teacher drone on about something she already knew, or enduring the long, stuffy family car rides. The author lived her stories in her head, allowing her imagination to lead her into a different world, one of her own making.
As the author grew up, these stories, imaginings and fantasies took to the written form and, over the years, she developed a reputation for telling a good story. Emily-Jane can now boast that she is an award-winning author of several books, including Mrs. Murray’s Ghost (Telltale Publishing 2018), Queen Mary’s Daughter (Clean Reads 2018), Gerlinda (CFA 2016) which received an Honorable Mention in the 2016 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, To Be a Duke (CFA 2014) which was named Finalist and Silver Medalist in the 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards and received an Honorable Mention in the 2015 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards and several other books. A retired teacher of music and creative writing, she writes about the extra-ordinary in life and the fantasies of dreams combined with memories.
There are so many possibilities that affect the course of history. One change, one small item overlooked, can make a world of difference, not only in a person’s life, but in the history and well-being of an entire nation. And then there are those multiple scenarios of what if? What if King James VI of Scotland didn’t succeed in amalgamating Scotland with England? Would Scotland have remained free and independent and a nation of its own well into the twenty-first century? And would Scotland, this independent version, make its own decision to join the European Union when its southern neighbor was choosing to pull away? And, what if there was another heir to the Scottish throne?
In Queen Mary’s Daughter (Clean Reads Publisher), author Emily-Jane Hills Orford presents another plausible timeline, one that incorporates both historical fact and fiction with the endless possibilities of time travel.
Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?
I guess spending time with my family and my dog would be top of the list. I also have a passion for reading. I love books, the real kind, and I read both for pleasure and to write reviews (but in so many ways, that’s reading for pleasure as well). I love my music, playing the piano, composing. I’m also an artist – needle-art and collage acrylics. And I love to garden, which I do outdoors three seasons of the year and indoors during the cold winter months.
When did you first realize you were an author?
As soon as I could hold a pencil in my hand and write some words on paper (about 5 or 6 years old). I came from a long line of storytellers. We would share our stories around the dinner table – every night. Much better than what families do today on their so-called smart phones. As the youngest, I didn’t have much luck in being heard, but I could listen and I could write my stories. So I did.
Have you done anything writing-related, but besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?
Teaching. I taught music for many years, but I also taught (and continue to teach) creative writing to aspiring authors of all ages, some as young as 8 years old. The enthusiasm of my students was very inspiring. They loved my classes and I loved working with them.
What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?
Finding uninterrupted time to write. This was particularly difficult while I was teaching full-time and my family was younger. Now, semi-retired, I have more time and I’m able to manage my time more effectively. I write first thing in the morning every day. And, if I’m lucky, I have time later in the day to write as well. So, making writing a part of my morning routine, I don’t miss a day. And, I always carry a notebook with me (the paper kind), so that I’m not stuck waiting at the doctor’s office (for example) with nothing to do. I write as I wait.
What is the “message” of your writing? (For example, is your purpose to encourage old-fashioned values, encourage romance, or do you have different purposes in different books?)
I think I have different ‘messages’ for different books. Perhaps one of the main ‘messages’ is that there are stories everywhere – in our lives and in our imaginations. And I write all kinds of stories, real and imagined. Stories are important because we (all of us) are important.
Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?
Real life – mine and those people I know well – as well as my ‘vivid imagination’.
What are your future projects?
I always have new projects in the works. I currently have perhaps six novels awaiting various stages of publication, so there’s a wealth of my stories coming soon. And, I just started writing another fantasy/time travel novel for young adults. I love the infinite story possibilities presented by the possibility of time travel. As always, I continue to write my creative nonfiction short stories – little snippets of memories from my life.
For as long as she can remember, Bethany Swafford has loved reading books. That love of words extended to writing as she grew older and when it became more difficult to find a ‘clean’ book, she determined to write her own. Among her favorite authors are Jane Austen, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and Georgette Heyer.
When she doesn’t have pen to paper (or fingertips to laptop keyboard), she can generally be found with a book in hand.
Twenty-year-old Diana Forester, a country-bred young woman, fears that her inexperience and uncertainties have discouraged the charming Mr. John Richfield.
On arriving back home from London, she learns that he has already arrived, ready to continue their acquaintance and explore whether they are suited for each other.
If Diana thought that deciding her future marriage mate was difficult in London, courting takes on a whole new aspect when Diana’s younger siblings become involved. She finds herself dealing with her own feelings, her sister, her younger brother, jealous members of a house party, a jilted suitor, and a highwayman as she falls in love with the charming Mr. Richfield.
1.Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?
a.I love movies. As with books I read, I have a rather eclectic taste: Star Trek, Jane Austen adaptations, Disney, How to Train Your Dragon, etc. I love going to a theater, having a bucket of popcorn and just ignore everything going on outside the theater.
2.When did you first realize you were an author?
a.I just realized I was an author when I had A Chaotic Courtship published. The majority of my writing before this point had been for myself or for my sister. A Chaotic Courtship was a book I knew I wanted to share with others.
3.Have you done anything writing-related, but besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?
a.Nothing really comes to mind for this question.
4.What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?
a.I struggle with staying focused. It is so easy for me to be distracted by a new idea, or a new release from a favorite author, or even a random article that comes up on my feed. The best way for me to defeat this is to set a timer, write for 10-15 minutes, and then take a break. This trains my brain to recognize that when the timer is going, it’s time to write.
5.What is the “message” of your writing?
a.I suppose I would have to say I’d like for my books to show that “old-fashioned values” doesn’t mean a lack of romance. For me, a sweet and clean story makes my heart flutter more than any detailed sex scene ever could.
6.Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?
a.When she read the first draft of A Chaotic Courtship, my sister accused me of having written it when I was angry with her. I definitely pulled the family relationship of the Forrester family from my own family.
7.What are your future projects?
a.I am in the middle of a Regency Mystery Trilogy. I have all the books written and I am hoping to release the first book of The Lady’s Maid Trilogy, Keeping the Past, late this spring.
E. C. Jackson began her writing career with the full-length play Pajama Party. For three and a half years she published the Confidence in Life newsletter for Alpha Production Ministries, in addition to writing tracts and devotionals.
Teaching a women’s Bible study at her church for eleven years naturally led to her current endeavor of writing inspirational romance novels and teen and young adult fiction. Her mission: spiritual maturity in the body of Christ through fiction.
But Tara Simpkins is finding out it’s not as easy as it seems. Is this truly the man God sent to be her husband, or is she just desperate to escape her loneliness? The recent loss of both parents has left her reeling, and close friends don’t think she’s in any position to make major life decisions.
She and her new-found love are convinced they can live happily ever after in the home of their dreams. His family thinks he’s moving way too fast and might disappoint the kind-hearted woman he’s fallen head over heels for. And then there’s Leah. Leah is supposed to be part of his past, but what if she decides she’s his future?
Tara’s match made in Heaven may be over before it truly begins.
1.Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?
a.I am an avid reader and enjoy doing jigsaw puzzles. Contrary to upcoming answers, I like a lot of alone time.
2.When did you first realize you were an author?
a.I’ve enjoyed penning stories since elementary school. The spark to write grew along with me, and unlike other ideas I’ve had, no obstacle I encountered quenched the desire.
3.Have you done anything writing-related, but besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?
a.Years ago, I wrote and produced the play Pajama Party, which was adapted into the young adult book Pajama Party: The Story, a companion book to A Living Hope. Knowing that people enjoyed what I wrote kept hope alive. There is something heartening in other people appreciating what you do.
Also, The Certain Hope audiobook and hardcover version are due in March. Audiobooks on my other books will come in spring. It seems that each item I added to my repertoire encouraged me to branch out further. When I added hardcover versions to my book format is a prime example.
4.What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?
a.I read a lot of regency romances and have to resist the urge to have my contemporary characters speak with formal dialogue. Each character draws me into their story and stymies writer’s block. I haven’t ever experienced it. May it never come.
5.What is the “message” of your writing? (For example, is your purpose to encourage old-fashioned values, encourage romance, or do you have different purposes in different books?)
a.“The Write Way: A Real Slice of Life” is the slogan on my website and Facebook author page. If every person reading my book feels connected to the characters, my job is done.
Spiritual maturity is the message. In my opinion, spiritual maturity teaches us how to weather life’s storms and thrive with the victory. Realistic characters with everyday problems is the goal with each book.
6.Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?
a.For me, observing human nature is a part of true living. So, fully developed characters have found a place inside each story. I love to write about everyday life. Those little decisions we overlook can have long-reaching consequences.
7.What are your future projects?
a.Finishing books four and five of the standalone hope-themed series is my top priority. Next is writing companion books for Pajama Party: The Story. And then, when one of my editors is ready, we will team up to write my first women’s fiction book. As always, I look forward to the process.
Arabella Sheraton grew up on a diet of Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and many other writers of that period. From Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer, Arabella has found both enjoyment and inspiration in sparkling, witty Regency novels. She also loves history and generally finds the past more fascinating than the future. Arabella wrote her first Regency romance to entertain her aged mom who loved the genre. Arabella is honoured to share the adventures of her heroes and heroines with readers.
In this charming traditional Regency romance novella, Patience Cherwell is resigned to a life of spinsterhood. Therefore, when her young friend, the lovely Lorna Hartley, comes to stay for a London season, she decides the eligible, handsome Lord Blackwood is the perfect match for Lorna. Granted, Lord Blackwood, at forty, is much older than the vivacious 20-year-old Lorna, but Patience is determined to help her young friend make a good match. So why isn’t she happy when his lordship and Lorna seem to like each other’s company? The problem is that Patience is already madly in love with his lordship!
An unexpected invitation arrives for Lorna and Patience to attend Lord Blackwood’s Valentine Ball. This is the perfect moment for him to propose to Lorna. Mysteriously, a corsage arrives from an anonymous admirer. Who is it for? And what will be the outcome for the wearer at Lord Blackwood’s Valentine Ball?
This novella is the prequel to The Lady’s Revenge.
1. Tell us about things you enjoy — what you do for fun or personal satisfaction besides writing?
Reading of course is top of the list! I enjoy living in the countryside rather than the city and I am fortunate so I can take long walks with my dogs. I love movies, especially BBC historical movies or book to movie adaptations. Art, music, theater, anything cultural appeals to me, and of course travel is important.
2. When did you first realize you were an author?
I have always scribbled a bit, writing comical poetry, and I wrote editorial articles for magazines for years, but when my mother asked me to write her a Regency romance, that was when I started to take the idea seriously.
3. Have you done anything writing-related, but besides actually writing your books, that seemed to get a lot of positive response? Something that encouraged you?
I worked for many years in magazine publishing, so I had my fair share of nonfiction writing. Now I also teach novel writing which is very rewarding. I am very proud when a student completes the course and has a finished manuscript in their hand.
4. What is the thing you struggle with the most while writing? And how do you defeat it?
The only thing I struggle with is finding the time to do my own writing. I am also an editor for a book review company and that as my day job and tutoring aspiring writers takes up time. I find making lists of time slots when I can squeeze in my own work really helps.
5. What is the “message” of your writing? (For example, is your purpose to encourage old-fashioned values, encourage romance, or do you have different purposes in different books?)
My books are historical romances, set in the Regency era, when a man courted a woman with serious intentions, and because of the social restrictions, and the impossibility of jumping into bed on the first date, the couple had to take the time to get to know each other as people. They also had to become friends first. So I do think the message is cultivating what people might think of as ‘old fashioned’ values, but actually these values are timeless and good. If a couple starts off becoming friends, finding the glue that will keep them together, they will still be together when the initial glow wears off and they settle down to the reality of making a life together. Proper courtship and romance are important.
6. Are your characters/stories/scenes, etc. based on anything in real life?
Again, I think that romance and real-life situations abound no matter what era one writes in. I might read about something in the news and that sparks an idea for a story.
7. What are your future projects?
I am busy with a (wait for it) completely different kind of Regency romance. This is a murder mystery/time travel romance called To Murder a Marquis. It is absolutely fascinating; still Regency but such fun! Here’s a teaser: When Jane Carstairs goes to Chelston Hall to complete the archival project her father had been commissioned to do, things turn very weird from the moment she gets there. Jane wakes up in the woods at Chelston Hall, only it’s no longer 2015 … it’s 1815, and she’s faced with the discovery of a possibly dead man, who is the spitting image of her current employer – the Marquis of Chelston – and the growing feeling that something is very wrong. Jane has somehow slipped back in time, but why? Is she the one destined to save the marquis so that the line can continue? And how can she stop falling in love with a man who is from another era? Can she go back to her own century? Does she want to, ultimately?
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