Linda LaRoque's Musings: World Blog Tour

I'm honored to be invited to this World Blog Tour by Jody Day. Her debut novel, Washout Express, was released by Harborlight Books which is part of the Pelican Group. Jody writes inspirational romance, devotionals, poems, and articles that encourage folks to look at life through love colored glasses. Visit Jody at her blog at  http://jodysdevotionaljournal.blogspot.com.

This blog tour answers four questions:

1. What am I working on?

At present I'm working on a novella to be part of a boxed set. I can't tell you much about it as the theme is being kept quiet for now. I just finished a Women's Inspirational Fiction, Shattered Vows, that I'm shopping with several publishers. It's the first Inspirational for me and I'm rather proud of it. It took a lot out of me emotionally and I hope it will mean as much to readers as it does to me.

Seems I've been genre hopping, but I'm ready to get back to my major love, Western Historical Romances, most of which are time travels. However, a Contemporary Western Romance sounds appealing to me right now too.

2. How does my work differ from others in the genre?

I'd say that mine differ in that my heroine and hero are adults who are established in their careers. The stories revolve around conflicts that life throws their way—divorce, death of a spouse, infidelity, loss of a parent, and/or a secret that's been hidden away being revealed. Many of my couples are already married and face issues unusual for young dating couples.

3. Why do I write what I do?

That's a tough question, but I guess I'd have to say I write what I like to read. And I read a variety of genres which has led me to write in several genres—Western Contemporary Romance, Western Historical Time Travel Romance, Futuristic Romantic Suspense, a Contemporary Suspense, and a Women's Inspirational. I enjoy research so the stories I write usually require a bit. For example, I love native American lore and while writing Flames on the Sky, I visited New Mexico, Chaco Canyon, and the Zuni Reservation. Some of the travel was after the book was written, but it gave me the opportunity to see if I'd gotten details right from facts obtained from the Internet.

4. How does my writing process work?

Unfortunately I'm a procrastinator. Since I'm retired, I don't stick to a set routine. I get up in the mornings and while having my coffee, check my emails and take care of daily obligations that deal with promotion. Often it's not until after noon when I start on my WIP. I seem to be able to do my best writing at night. If a story is falling together quickly and smoothly, I may work for hours, afraid that if I don't I'll forget something.

I do not use an outline or any type of plotting device. I get an idea in my head, decide where I'm going to take it and what the conflicts will be, and start writing. Some of my best scenes have just dropped in my lap when I needed them. For example, the endings of both My Heart Will Find Yours and Birdie's Nest, and several of the novellas in A Time of Their Own worked that way. A Time of Their Own is available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobel and other online book stores.


I've selected several authors to tag, but won't post their names until tomorrow. So, please check back.

I'm pleased to have Judith Leger, Debra Jupe, and Ciara Gold join the World Blog Tour.

Judith and I have been friends forever, but we've never met in person. We started out in an online critique group probably 9-10 years ago and have stayed in touch ever since. She lives in Louisiana, so is almost a Texan and one of the sweetest people I know. Plus, she writes great stories. I'll let he tell you about those. Judith's blog is http://judithleger.blogspot.com

Debra and I met at our local chapter Heart of Texas RWA. She hadn't written much when she joined, but she hit the ground running and now has one published, one waiting for a publication date, and another one contracted. And she most likely has another one in the works. I hope I haven't missed any Deb. I'm sure she'll share details with you readers. Deb's blog is http://debrajupe.wordpress.com/

Ciara is another one of my online friends, but she lives here in Texas so we've met on several occasions. We've shared a table at several books signings and she invited me to attend a small town celebration and signing that is known for being a stop for the Orphan Trains. She wrote the play about the Orphan Train that local high school students performed. Like myself, she loves to write Western Historical but has ventured into other genres as I have. She writes about dragons, vikings, and children who were passengers on the Orphan Trains. Her blog is http://ciaragold.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for stopping by. Please check out Judith, Debra, and Ciara's blogs.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
www.lindalaroque

A Time of Their Own is Out! And it's on Sale. Three novellas for $2.50

And I let the day slip by me!

The Wild Rose Press has published my three western historical time travel novellas into an anthology titled A Time of Their Own. Diana Carlile designed the beautiful cover that depicts the small town of Prairie, Texas. And today A Time of Their Own is on sale at The Wild Rose Press for $2.50. I don't know how long the sale will last so grab your copy today.

Saturday I will be in the Author Spotlight at Story Finds and am also part of the release party at TRS. Stop by for drawings for books.

Here are short blurbs for the three novellas.

A Law of Her Own

 Lawyer Charity Dawson finds herself in 1888 in the middle of a murder trial. Turner Reardon is on trial for killing his mistress. He's innocent and Charity can prove it, but her testimony is thrown out and he's sentenced to hang. She has only one chance to save his life and find the real killer.

A Marshal of Her Own 

Dessa Wade rents a cabin rumored to have "strange doings" going on and ends up in 1890 in the company of bank robbers. Before Marshal Cole Jeffers can prove her innocence, Zeke Faraday kidnaps her. Cole will risk all to save her and make her his own—only if she'll commit to the past.

A Love of His Own

Bull Dawson learns his daughter's fate and will join her in 1892 or die trying. Shunned for her past, Widow Dipsey Thackson scratches out a living farming until her evil brother-in-law arrives. Her dilemma will take more than a knowledge of the law, but Bull vows to protect her and her boy.

If you haven't read these, I hope you'll pick up a copy,

Many thanks!

Linda

Linda LaRoque

~Romance with a Twist in Time~

http://www.lindalaroque.com

http://www.lindlaroqueauthor.blogspot.com

Continued—The Gift of the Gab—Our trip to Ireland

Day 5 of Ireland Trip—Dingle Peninsula and Blasket Centre—a beautiful part of Ireland showcased in two movies, "Ryan''s Daughter" and "Far and Away." The scenery is wonderful. 

                                                    

We stopped at a lady's house known as "Old Mary." Her home overlooked the peninsula and there were old ruins and one of the Christian monastic beehive huts. (You can see one to the right of the house.) Their exact date of being built is not known, but it is believed they were tied to the Early Christian Period. Mary charges two euros to walk the land around her home and tour the ruins. She uses the money to visit her daughter in the states once a year.

Dingle Peninsula

Blasket Islands

Blasket Islands can be seen from the peninsula and have an interesting history. Two miles from land, they were inhabited until 1953. Check out this website to read the history of the inhabitants.
http://www.kerryholiday.co.uk/blaskets.html
After a lunch of fish and chips, we had time to shop and sample Murphey's Ice cream shop. I had Bailey's Coffee and Cream. Delish! Our guide said they had an oatmeal flavor that was very popular. I took a sample and it was very good, but coffee is my favorite.

The Yankee Clipper

Day 6 of our Ireland Trip—We visited the Foynes Flying Boat Museum and toured the Yankee Clipper, a flying boat that made trips from Europe to the States and other countries. I was amazed, didn't know such a mode of travel existed in the 1930s and early 1940s. It was here the first true Irish Coffee originated. After our tour, we learned the correct method (see earlier posting on recipe) and were treated to a glass. Google Foynes Flying Boat Museum and take a tour by viewing the pictures. They even had a honeymoon suite.

Irish Coffee—Cheers

Larry in the Pilots chair of the Yankee Clipper

After a scenic drive through Limerick to Ennis, we checked into The Temple Gate Hotel and at 2:30 departed for the Cliffs of Moher, a majestic wall of rock that plunges to the Atlantic Ocean. What beauty nature bestows on us. It's hard to imagine spots such as this exist.

We ended our tour with a banquet at Knappogue Castle with a fun medieval-style banquet. The lords and ladies, in full period dress, served and entertained us with spoofs, song, and dance.

We boarded our bus for home at 9:00 the next morning. It was much smoother sailing on our return trip.

Unfortunately, the few pictures we got at the castle were not good or nonexistent, but I'm getting some from a friend and will fill in as soon as possible.

Larry wearing his Tam

It was a wonderful trip, one of a lifetime, and now I want to see northern Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales. I know—want, want want!

 

For a recipe to make authentic Irish Coffee, visit

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/original-irish-coffee-recipe.html

Thanks for stopping by.

Linda

www.lindalaroque.com