Thursday, June 24, 2021

My Story BEFORE The Story ~ Jessica Thompson ~ in ~ THE PROPOSAL ~ by ~ Tanya Eavenson

Hello, friends of Joy! My name is Jessica Thompson. It feels mighty unusual being here with you today, since I’d never heard of a “blog” until a few weeks ago. However, Joy assures me ya’ll are quite friendly and wanted to hear about my predicament.

Well, see, I was living in Oklahoma where my father was the town’s sheriff … when ... it’s still hard to talk about. It’s about my father. He warned me not to go to the orphanage. I couldn’t understand why, so I did.

Cliff was there. And—it’s my fault my father is dead, and I’ve been on the run from Cliff’s gang ever since.

Until my stage coach was robbed near the town of Graham. Who knew that the man pretending to be one of the robbers was the town’s sheriff? After all, he didn’t have a star on his chest and kept talking about marrying me. I did the only thing a woman could do in that situation... I shoved my gun in his back at the first chance the good Lord gave me.

Oh, once I discovered who he was, I was embarrassed for sure. Felt the heat flame my insides the more him and his deputy continued to stare at my confusion. Let’s just say from that point on, I tried to stay as clear from Blake … um, the sheriff, as much as possible being stuck in this small town. I’ve purchased a horse from the town livery owner, and it will arrive on the train in three weeks. I just pray Cliff and his gang don’t catch up with me.

Until my horse comes in on the train, I’ve been helping Mrs. Briggen with cooking at the boardinghouse. If you’re ever in Graham, Texas, stop on in. I’d love to bake you my little breads.

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Tanya Eavenson is willing to gift a reader an Ebook copy of The PROPOSAL after next Wednesday evening's (June 30, 2021) drawing ~ Leave a comment to be entered into the drawing.

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My Story Title:   The PROPOSAL

        My Story Genre:  Historical Romance

   My Story Released:   June 15, 2021

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The Author of My Story:    Tanya Eavenson


Tanya Eavenson is an award-winning Christian romance novelist. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book.

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Get Connected:

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WHERE can the book be purchased?

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Thursday, June 17, 2021

This week ~ Characters will NOT be Telling Their Story BEFORE The Story ~ The Author will be telling HER Story BEFORE The Story

MEET THIS WEEK'S AUTHOR 
&
Her Story BEFORE Her Story

The Proposal


Tanya Eavenson is an award-winning Christian romance novelist. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book. 
You can find her at her website http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/

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TANYA'S SERIES ~ All Roads Lead Home To Texas
Book 1 ~ The Rescue
Book 2 ~ The Proposal ~ Released June 15th ~ Brand new!



Genre ~ Christian Historical Romance  
Before you get a sneak-peek at the story's blurb - I'd like you to see Tanya's Story BEFORE The Story
Her style of research to write a story is thrilling on its own!

Read Her Story below ~ In Tanya's own words

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After an American Christian Writers Conference (ACFW) in St. Louis, Missouri, I visited the Museum of Westward Expansion. All the exhibits were wonderful, but my favorite was seeing an actual stagecoach. I was so fascinated; I took over 20 pictures and let my imagination run wild. In the early stages of writing, the stagecoach was originally the main way of transportation in The Rescue, but while I was there, I decided to use the coach in my second book, The Proposal.

There were many other things I researched, but one especially was horses. I knew little about horses so I contacted a stable and asked if I could visit once a week. The owner agreed and every Friday I would help him feed the horses, muck the stalls, spread out the hay--really whatever he showed me to do, I did it. I’d pelt him with questions about anything and everything that dealt with horses and caring for them. He was the one who suggested I use colic for one of my scenes in The Rescue. I learned so much, I was able to use that same knowledge throughout The Proposal.
 


My research for The Rescue led me to eBay on several occasions in search of books to better help me understand and visualize people, places, and things. I asked my husband in passing to find me a mid to late 1800’s book on eBay. I didn’t care what it was, but something having to do with Boston since this is where the first of the series begins. To my surprise, not only did he buy one, but he also purchased three McGuffey books, the Eclectic Primer (Copyright 1867), Eclectic Spelling Book (Copyright 1865), and Second Eclectic Reader (Copyright 1867). You’ll also find a description of these readers in the next novel in the series, The Bargain, set to release in 2023.

 


One of the stumbling blocks to writing The Rescue was I couldn’t visualize the grandness of the Easton’s estate in Boston. I needed to see the type of home they possibly lived in so I took a trip to North Carolina to see the Biltmore. The visit certainly helped me to understand the time period.



This is a drawing of the Easton Ranch I had made by a wonderful illustrator, Morgan Gardner, to help me visualize difference scenes. It’s wonderful to see their ranch come alive! 




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Hope you enjoyed this small look behind the All Roads Lead to Texas series! Thank you to Joy for allowing me to share with you! The characters will be back with Their Story BEFORE The Story next week!

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Here is an introduction to The Proposal by way of the Back Cover Blurb ~ 

When the sheriff’s daughter goes into hiding from her father’s killer, her life isn’t the only thing in danger.
 
The day Jessica Thompson’s father was murdered, she swore to never love another sheriff. Now, she’s fleeing his killer. When her stagecoach is robbed and her rescuer declares she will be his wife, she does the only thing she knows to do—shove her revolver in his back. Never would she have expected he wore a star on his chest.

Sheriff Blake McKenny prides himself on protecting his town’s people from danger, but his efforts don’t include a headstrong woman bent on putting herself in harm’s way. When outlaws threaten his town and put Jessica’s life in danger, Blake’s failure to save his late wife haunts him. Can Jessica and Blake forgive themselves for the past and break down the protective walls?

 


Download your copy of the second book in the All Roads Lead to Texas series today! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YR4JWK1/

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Thursday, June 10, 2021

Our Story BEFORE The Story ~ ~ in ~ COLD CASE TRAIL ~ by ~ Sharee Stover

I’m Trey Jackson, Nebraska State Trooper and K-9 handler for my Belgian Malanois, Magnum. He’s the best partner in the world. He knows all my secrets and limitations and still accepts me. Dogs are amazing that way.

But sometimes those secrets resurface, and we’re forced to remember.

The night Kayla called, Magnum and I were working a manhunt in the middle of nowhere Nebraska. Miles of cornfields, cows, and open land make for difficult work, but it was our very first assignment together and we were up to the challenge. My training as a trooper solidified the call on my life to help people. It’s what I was meant to do, and I love it. So that night, we knew the community wouldn’t be safe until we found the perpetrator.

I wasn’t oblivious to the urgency in Kayla’s voice, but she had a knack for drama and considering I’d recently told her about my feelings for her best friend, Justine Stark, I assumed she was plying for attention. I couldn’t have been more wrong. For the record, I didn’t ignore Kayla. I asked my older brother, also a trooper, Slade, to go to her apartment and help her. But she slammed the door in his face. Literally. The action really had me wondering what her motive was. If she’d been in danger, why not accept Slade’s help?

How was I to know that night would change everything? How could I have known Kayla would fall victim to her stalker? And that Justine would hate me.

I’m Justine Stark. I never imagined I’d see Trey Jackson again after Kayla’s funeral. It would’ve been so much better to have his friendship to lean on after losing my best friend, but I knew she’d called him for help, and he hadn’t been there for her.

Just like I hadn’t been. I’m not ignoring my role in her fate.

Kayla was everything I wanted to be, lively, fun, charismatic. And she was in love with Trey so how could I possibly tell her that I cared for him too? Easy, I couldn’t. So, I didn’t. Best friends don’t cross that line—even after they’re gone.

I guess if I’m analyzing myself, I’d say I live in a perpetual state of making atonement. I wanted to help others because I wasn’t there the night Kayla needed me.

I promised Kayla’s death wouldn’t be in vain and allowed the loss of my best friend to propel my career. That’s why I chose psychology. I’ve testified in numerous cases, cared for the victims and sought justice for them. All because I couldn’t offer that justice to Kayla. Blaming Trey was easier than accepting Kayla’s stalker had taken her life. And it wasn’t until that same killer hunted me, that I realized just how much I needed Trey’s help.

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Sharee is offering one signed copy (US only)
Leave a comment - your name will be placed in drawing, which will take place
Wednesday evening, June 16, 2021

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Our Story Title:   Cold Case Trail

Our Story Genre:  Romantic Suspense

Our Story Released:   May 25, 2021

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The Author of Our Story:    Sharee Stover


Colorado native Sharee Stover lives in Nebraska with her real-life-hero husband, three too-good-to-be-true children, and a ridiculously spoiled dog.

A self-proclaimed word nerd, she loves the power of the written word to ignite, transform, and restore. She writes Christian romantic suspense combining heart-racing, nail-biting suspense and the delight of falling in love all in one.

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, Faith, Hope and Love, and Nebraska Writer’s Guild.

Sharee is a triple Daphne du Maurier finalist, winner of the 2017 Wisconsin Fabulous Five Silver Quill Award, and her debut, Secret Past, won Best First Book in the 2019 National Excellence in Romance Fiction Awards.

When she isn’t writing, Sharee enjoys reading, crocheting and long walks with her obnoxiously lovable German Shepherd.

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Get Connected:

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WHERE can the book be purchased?

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Thursday, June 03, 2021

My Story BEFORE The Story~ Dixie Lynn ~ in ~ ON SUGAR Hill ~ by ~ Ane Mulligan

Thank you, Miss Joy, for having me on your blog. My name is ... well my stage name is Dixie Lynn. I’ve worked hard and finally made the best circuit in vaudeville. I’m a ventriloquist and voice thrower. Voice throwers are rare. I’m even rarer, being a woman. And I’m one of the best.

My childhood was lonely. My father, the senator, never liked me. I wasn’t beautiful like Mama. I was plain. He had no time for me and made sure Mama’s time was tied up in Atlanta’s high society. I later learned about their arranged marriage, which benefitted him.

Nobody knows for sure where my strange “talent” came from, but by the time I was four years old, I could make my dolls talk. By six, I could throw my voice across the room. That’s how I entertained myself and the servants. But the senator beat me because it embarrassed him.

I learned to stay far away from him. Mama did her best to protect me. She and Pearl, our cook, often hid my dolls and me, for that matter. What helped me the most was my friends. When I started school, I met Martha Anne, Glenice Jo, Trudie and Millie. Our mamas were friends, and they were delighted when we became best friends too. When the senator’s temper raged against me, Mama would make a telephone call and Millie’s or Martha Anne’s mama would come pick me up for an overnight.

The senator stayed away from home as often as he could. There were rumors about women, but Mama never mentioned them. I think her friends helped her through any embarrassment. Watching their marriage, I learned that men aren’t trustworthy. They only cared about themselves.

Mama told me stories about the plain garden faerie named Sugar Pie who lived in our yard. She told me, “When the Michaelmas Daisies bloomed, the Sugar Pie became beautiful, just as you will. You aren’t plain, Cora. You simply haven’t bloomed yet.” After she told me that story, she began to call me Sugar-pie, to reinforce her words.

Unfortunately, the senator’s harsh criticism soon obliterated Mama’s.

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Ane is offering winner's choice of signed Paperback or Ebook in 
drawing Wednesday, June 9, 2021

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My Story Title:   ON SUGAR Hill

My Story Genre:  Historical Romance

My Story Released:      June 1, 2021
                                NEWLY RELEASED

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The Author of My Story:   Ane Mulligan


      
Ane Mulligan has been a voracious reader ever since her mom instilled within her a love of reading at age three, escaping into worlds otherwise unknown. But when Ane saw PETER PAN on stage, she was struck with a fever from which she never recovered—stage fever. She submerged herself in drama through high school and college. One day, her two loves collided, and a bestselling, award-winning novelist emerged. She lives in Sugar Hill, GA, with her artist husband and a rascally Rottweiler.

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  Get Connected:

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WHERE can the book be purchased?

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