You wouldn't think that it could be so wonderful just to look at the stars. When I was in NC I spent my evenings looking at stars. I'd walk around and try to find the best view through the trees.

Little silver point flashed across the sky as I watched. My sister and I decided they had to be satellites. The dogs even seemed to stare up and wonder what the heck I was looking at. It's amazing to see so many stars in the sky for me, because I live in West Palm Beach, and there are so many lights you cannot see the stars. What has the world come to when you can't go out and see the stars. We've blocked out one of the beauties nature shares with us. I think about the Indians who lived there. How they were forced from their homes and some hid in the Great Smokies. Where they would be very hard to find. My heart resonates with their plight and when I visit Cherokee, I realize they have done the best they could with what they were given. Heck, Casinos make big money.
Anyhow, one nite I was wandering about the yard. I saw a strange shape sneaking through the bushes. It glared at me and I could see the reflection of it's eyes staring at me. I got a little nervous and backed up a bit. It finally came out and I saw that it was a deer. An albino deer. Id' never seen anything so exotic or thrilling in my life. Then it approached me. I didn't move a muscle and thanked the Lord I had left the dogs inside.

• 

Slowly it came up to me and I extended my hand to touch it's soft white muzzle. It looked me right in the eyes and then jumped up in the air. I swear it jumped three feet before it ran with the wind.
I fell back with shock and tripped over a fire pit I'd forgotten was there. While I was falling I knew it would hurt. Flailing my arms I fell back and hit my head on a rock. Then let me tell you about stars. They were everywhere, silvery little flecks filled my vision and I lay there thinking. For every beautiful thing there is a cost and I wanted stars, I saw stars. Finally my DH came out and stared at me as I lay sprawled in the fire pit. "What the hell are you doing?" He asked. Well all I could say was, "watching the stars." Knowing better then to even ask, since he has heard some of my ideas for stories, he just helped me up and went back inside. I limped over to the deck, walked up the steps, and turned one last time. Beside the fire pit stood my white deer. I think he was laughing.

• 

First off, I’d like to thank the lovely ladies of Pink Fuzzy Slippers for letting me visit and blog today.


One of the things I wish I’d known before I started writing, and especially as I
got closer to publication, was how much of the promo for a book would fall on the writer’s shoulders. Basically, ALL OF IT! Readers may or  

may not know how many of us writers are introverts, so it might surprise you that we are uncomfortable tooting our own horns. Believe me, we do feel awkward about it, and it is a process I would compare to standing naked in front of a crowded room. I suffer from cringe attacks on a regular basis, while visiting blogs and promoting my latest book, ONE FOR THE ROAD.

I’ll start by telling you a little about myself. I’m a published author of a dozen books, most with Harlequin, Mills & Boon in the Medical Romance line. I love to write category romance, but I also love to write bigger stories with more secondary characters. I was fortunate to find a home for this story of my heart, One for the Road, at The Wild Rose Press a small, independent e-book and print publisher. This book is a contemporary story featuring an over-forty romance. That’s a hard sell in today’s market, and I am so grateful to the Last Rose of Summer line for giving this book a chance.

So far, I’ve received 4 stars from Romantic Times Reviews, and 4 books from The Long and Short reviews, and a bunch of satisfied reader reviews at Amazon, so, as you can imagine, I’m happy as a kid with hiccups caused by giggles.

Now back to the tough part.

Consider me sufficiently cringing as I offer up a quick blurb about my current release – ONE FOR THE ROAD – and since the heroine of the book, D’Anne Palmer, is a list maker, I’d like to follow up with a list of my own about ten things you may not know about One for the Road.

I’d also like to know what makes you cringe? What things do you occasionally have to do that make you feel like you’re naked as a jay bird (heck at least they have feathers!) Do share in the comments section!

Here’s the blurb:

D’Anne Palmer and her husband had a life others dream of–traveling the US in a luxury forty-foot motor coach, going where they wanted. Suddenly, D’Anne finds herself a widow with her only asset being the motor home. Without funds to return to California, she decides to hire out the RV.

Tyler White was a “one-hit wonder” ten years ago. At a crossroads, he plans a comeback. He’s hoping the three-week tour he’s put together will reignite his career. All he needs now is some cheap transportation and the widow with the RV might just fit the bill.

D’Anne and Tyler discover a lot about themselves—and each other—as they journey from Nashville to Las Vegas, via Texas with the band and Tyler’s dog. Can close quarters really help a has-been singer on the comeback trail and a widow with California style fine love?

Now, as you read the list of ten below, please know that I’m feeling as if I’m wearing nothing but Pink Fuzzy Slippers!

Ten Things You May Not Know About ONE FOR THE ROAD by Lynne Marshall

1. A wacky license plate is a cross D’Anne must bear daily when she drives her VW.

2. D’Anne makes a list for the band to abide by while traveling with her, then breaks the biggest no-no herself.

3. One of the band, Bear, is a fount of trivia.

4. As the author, I got to write two songs for the book. (Yup, I even have tunes for them.)

5. There’s a southern Barbie Bimbo in the story who may just steal your heart and become your hero.

6. Tyler’s mother was named after my mother, and I dedicate the book to my mom.

7. A young journalist comes up with a headline after an interview with Tyler that just might change his life.

8. The heartbreaker of the band, J.T., gets his comeuppance.

9. D’Anne does something in the desert she’d never ever do back home.

10. Dexter, Tyler’s dog, helps save the day!

And here’s a bonus tidbit: Anyone who has read the book and would like to receive a free epilogue of One for the Road, which doesn’t appear in the book, contact me at my website (http://www.lynnemarshall.com/)and I’ll send you a pdf.

Now that I’ve had my cringe for the day, let’s hear about your cringe-worthy moments in the comments section, okay? Thanks for reading!

Lynne Marshall lives in Southern California with her husband of thirty years and is the proud mother of two adult children. She is a retired RN, who loves to travel, see movies, read (of course) and eat a lot of things she really shouldn’t. You can visit Lynne at her website: http://www.lynnemarshall.com/

 

Signing my books BABIES IN THE BARGAIN and Rx FOR TRUST at the Literacy Autographing.

With my favorite regency bestselling author, Stephanie Laurens. She was only four tables away from me.

With Mary Marvella

With my granddaughters

With Dianne Drake, president of the Heartbeat chapter and Julie Rowe, vice-president, our hosts for the Heartbeat luncheon.

Janice Lynn and I with agent Michelle Grajkowski at the Heartbeat Luncheon.

With medical romance authors, Janice Lynn, Laura Iding, Mills&Boon editor Jenny Hutton, Australian author Tessa Radley and Dr. Amy Strnad at the Heartbeat Chapter luncheon.

Ellora's Cave publisher Raelene Gorlinski at the Ellora's Cave/Cerridwen Press coktail

.

A panel of Kensignton executives. Senior editor Alicia Condon is at the extreme right.

A panoramic view of the Dolphin hotel.

The entrance of the Dolphin hotel.

The gorgeous giant-sized pool with a waterfall. My granddaughters had a blast here every day while the temperature soared to 110.
With my granddaughters, Olivia and Madelyn, at the Swan hotel.
With Mary Marvella before the Golden Heart reception. That woman has gorgeous hair and enviable skin!!! she looks much younger than her thirties.

With Mary Marvella and Scarlett.

RWA with Beth Andrew winner of the Rita for Contemporary Romance.
RWA 2010: My all-time favorite picture: daydreaming in front of Beth Andrew's Rita.

Mona Risk is the author of two romantic suspense novels published by Cerridwen Press:
To Love A Hero and French Peril, have received many five stars reviews and are set in Russia and France where Mona traveled often.
She also writes medical romance novels published by The Wild Rose Press:
Babies in the Bargain, winner of 2009 Best Contemporary Romance at READERS FAVORITE and 2009 Best Romance Novel at Preditors & Editors Readers Poll.
Rx For Trust: 5 stars at Readers Favorite and HappyEverAfter Reviews
Rx in Russian, TWRP April, 2011.

I met Jeane Daly, a lovely lady and dear friend, through the Critique Loop of the on-line chapter, FTHRWA--From The Heart. We were a bunch of novice writers struggling to learn and write according to rules we learned from each other.

We didn't mind reading and critiquing three, or five or even ten submissions a week, while anxiously waiting for our own submission to come back with compliments! More often than not, it came back with a lot of blue or red suggestions, comments, corrections that prompted us to revise and edit and resubmit.

Those were the days, my friends, we thought would ne-e-ver end...

But they finally ended on a happy note for many of us.

Our guest for today, Jeane Daly is a mother of five grown children. Jeane and her husband live in the coastal town of Hingham, Massachusetts. A retired nurse, she has returned to her first love, writing. Jeane, an avid reader, says there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book or watching a Jimmy Stewart movie.

Jeane, I am so happy to welcome you on the Pink Fuszzy Slippers' blog as you await your first book, LOOKING FOR JIMMY STEWART, published by Wings-Press.

http://www.wings-press.com/Bookstore/LookingForJimmyStewart.htmpress.com/Bookstore/LookingForJimmyStewart.htm

Here are some questions for you to help our readers know you:

Q-Why did you choose this title?
A-Enjoyed all his movies - but after reading the biography of Jimmy Stewart, the husband, father, friend, decided he'd become the personality my heroine was searching for.

Q-Is the book really about James Stewart?
A-No. Only a character with his traits and gentle personality.

Q-What inspired your story?
A-A friend had been laid-off from airline for similar reasons that I'd written about. It took her almost a year to get a job. Sad to say, she's been laid-off again.

Q-How did you receive the Call?
A-Via an email.

Q-Tell us about your journey to publication.
A-I went into this as a real novice. I had taken creative writing courses in college - - but learned more from the online writing courses offered by FTH and other struggling authors. It took almost 4 yrs to complete after many revisions.

Q-Was Jimmy Stewart your favorite actor? Have you see all his movies?
A-Yes. He is my favorite actor. Such a versatile actor - a natural in every role he played.

Q- What is your favorite movie? your favorite book?
A-Sorry Jimmy, but I'd have to say, Gone With the Wind.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

Jack flattened his hands on the wall, one on each side of her head, leaned in and smiled down at her. “This may sound strange, but the last part of this evening was the most enjoyable.” His mouth, soft and warm, caught hers in an all too brief sweet kiss. Nothing passionate about it, but it reached every part of her body like an explosion.

Swimming through a haze of feelings and mixed emotions, she pushed him away.

“Why did you do that?” She struggled to catch her breath.

“I hadn’t planned on kissing you. It just happened.” He turned and opened the door.

She thought of Kimmie. “Let’s pretend it never happened, okay? I just want us to be friends, nothing more.”

“Friends it is. And I’m sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.”

She smiled, hoping she’d made herself clear. “Have a nice flight.”

Jeane, thank you for being with us today.