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

On the Road Again - Fort Stockton and Houston

My husband and I lived in Fort Stockton for five years. We'd still be there today if his job hadn't been
too stressful. The climate, the people and the terrain are beautiful. I taught school there for four years and must stay they were some of my happiest 30 teaching years.

Paisano Pete greets you as you enter the downtown area.

We moved away in February of 2002. Of course back then we didn't have E-readers. Cell phones were available but they certainly were not smart phones, ones you could read books on. We still have Larry's old bag phone somewhere. During the summers, I spent many hours in the Fort Stockton Library browsing and checking out their new books.

On Facebook, a teaching friend from Fort Stockton and renewed our acquaintance and I learned about their writer's group the Critique Cafe. Ideas progressed and I was invited to speak to their group. Their meetings are held in the conference room of the library and I felt right at home. As part of the engagement, I offered to critique 10 pages from each member. What fun to see their different interests and styles.

We left Fort Stockton on Tuesday morning, just in time to pick up Molly. As usual she was excited to see us.

The following Friday I drove to Houston for the Houston Indie Book Festival. Thank goodness for OnStar or I'd still be looking for the hotel where we'd booked a room. I was born in Houston, but that is my only claim on the town. I'd much rather drive in Dallas.

It's a pretty big event held at Menil Park under the overhangs at the Menil Museum. It's a great place as if it rains most everyone can stay dry. The weather was beautiful except for a cool breeze and there was a big turnout. I sold several books, traded for one and met some interesting people.

Here is a young woman in costume for the children's book she wrote. I can't read the title but obviously it's about butterflies. Many children attended the event and had room to run and play on the beautiful lawn as well as take a look at books for their age group.

Fellow author Ciara Gold and I shared a table and represented our publisher Champagne Group Books. Several people were interested in the new drop card, a method of buying an Ebook at a book signing. The customer buys the card, goes to the website on back, enters the customer code and downloads the format they prefer--Kindle, Nook, or etc.

 Later at the hotel Ciara and I had a fun time sharing story ideas and enjoying a wonderful dinner in the hotel of crab cakes, dinner salad and dessert. Yum! 

I may have a negative attitude about Houston traffic, but it wouldn't let it keep me home if I had the chance to attend the Indie Festival again.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
www.lindalaroque.com

Champagne Group Books will be represented at the Houston Indie Book Festival

If you're in the Houston area, come and visit with Ciara Gold and myself. Jamie writes both historical westerns and fantasy/sci-fi. I write contemporary westerns, time travel and futuristic stories. Come sit a spell and visit! We'd love to see you.

HOUSTON INDIE BOOK FESTIVAL, APRIL 20, 2013
The Sixth Annual Houston Indie Book Fest Celebrates Small Presses, Magazines, and Independent Bookstores in Houston, Austin, and beyond.

[Houston, TX] – Celebrate the sixth annual Houston Indie Book Festival along with dozens of locally- and nationally-distributed literary journals, local booksellers, publishers, small presses, literary organizations, and writers at Menil Park on Saturday, April 20th from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Founded through collaboration between NANO Fiction and Gulf Coast in 2008, this year’s festival is sponsored by Gulf Coast and The Menil Community Arts Festival. The event functions as a spotlight on the writers, artists, journals, presses, independent bookstores, and organizations that are committed to preserving and promoting the arts and humanities within Houston, Austin, Louisiana, and the entire Gulf Coast region.

The festival is free and open to the public, and is scheduled to correspond with the Menil Community Arts Festival, allowing visitors to enjoy a wide variety of panels, workshops, outdoor art exhibits, tours of the Menil, live music, food trucks, and more. In addition, Inprint and Gulf Coast will host a reading every hour from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., featuring University of Houston students Sophie Klahr, Adam Peterson, and Austin Tremblay; nationally-recognized Houston writer and graphic novelist Mat Johnson; Austin-based poets Derrick Brown and Jason Bayani; and a special performance by BooTown Theater.

Since its inception, the festival has grown from a small gathering of local bookstores and journals to a full-scale regional event. In 2012, over seventy vendors from all over the Gulf Coast area exhibited to over 2,500 people throughout the course of the day.

More information about the Houston Indie Book Festival may be found online at www.indiebookfest.org.

The Houston Indie Book Festival is supported by New Leaf Real Estate, the Sicardi Gallery, the Texas Commission on the Arts, and Texas Tea. 

I hope to see you there.

Linda LaRoque

Hill Country Book Fair in Georgetown, Texas

Saturday, August 20, 2011, I particpated in a book fair in Georgetown, Texas, at the San Gabriel Community Center. Authors from Texas and Oklahoma gathered with books and displays to attract visitor's interest. Organizers had activities for children, young muscians, and art displays. It was a fun day. Here are a few pictures.

To the left in this photo is my Champage Books writing buddy Ciara Gold. She writes historicals, fantasy, and time travels.

To the right is Thomas Nelson author,

Golden Keyes Parsons. She writes

inspirational historicals and her

historical time travel about Waco,

A Watch in Time, is being featured

in Waco Today.

Jami Bevens, art director for Flair Magazine also attended and had
copies of their beautiful magazine.


 This is my good high school girl friend, Donna Arnold. I was thrilled to see a familiar face and so pleased she came to offer her support. Thanks, Donna!


Their will be another Hill County Book Fair February 11, 2012. I'm hoping to attend it also. I hope to see you there!


Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

Bremond Library Fund Raiser

The Bremond Public Library Fund Raiser was a great success. The theme was The Orphan Train as the train stopped in Bremond and several members of the community are direct descendants of those who found a home in the small town. Before the play, we enjoyed a delicious mean of cowboy stew, cornbread, and dessert.

School Students performed in a silent play depicting what it was like for children as they traveled from city to city until they were chosen by a family. Many were selected for their ability to work on the farm and were little more than servants. Others were treated as well-loved children. Regardless, their fate was, in most cases, was better than starving on the streets of New York or living out their lives in an over-crowded orphanage.

Ciara Gold, in period dress on the right, narrated the play. Her book, Once Jilted, is one in a series of books about the orphan train available from Champagne Books. With Ciara are several library patrons and members of Bremond's community.

Here are pictures of the cowboy cooks demonstrating their skills. They prepared peach cobbler, cherry cobbler and biscuits baked in Dutch ovens over an open fire. Ciara sampled the peach and I tasted the cherry and a biscuit. They were delicious!

In my book When the Ocotillo Bloom, Lynn Devry learns to cook outside over an open flame when she accompanies the children on a trail drive.

Here is a picture of me and Ciara with big smiles. I sold 12 books and I think Ciara sold more than I did. The most rewarding aspect of the library event was meeting many wonderful people and enjoying their small town enthusiasm.

Thank you for stopping by. If you have any orphan train experiences or have enjoyed a meal cooked out on an open fire (other than hamburgers or hotdogs), please share with us. Or leave a comment on whatever comes into your mind about the post. All comments will be entered into my monthly ebook drawing.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

http://www.lindalaroque.com/

Bremond Public Library Fundraiser

My friend Ciara Gold and I, along with Dr. Tim Mason, will be signing books at the Bremond Public Library on February 6, 2010. Details are below. Please join us if you can.

The Friends of the Bremond

Public Library

Present

Step Back in Time…

with Books…

A special fundraising event

featuring three authors

and their stories…brought to life!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

St. Mary’s Recreation Center

Bremond, Texas

An Evening of Entertainment, Good Food and Storytelling

Doors Open @ 6:30pm

with Local Cowboys Demonstrating Their Skills

~

Homemade Cowboy Stew, Cornbread and Dessert

Served @ 7:30pm

~

Silent Play with Local Youth as Main Characters

Narrated by Author Ciara Gold Begins @ 8pm

~

Introduction of Authors Presented @ 8:30pm

~

Meet the Authors with Book Signings, Sales and Discussions

Starts @ 9pm

~

Silent Auction Ends @ 9:15pm

Tickets ($10) on Sale at the Library or Call 746-7752 to Reserve Yours

Winner of Ebook Drawing for August

The winner of the drawing for an ebook of their choice for the month of August is Ciara Gold. Congratulations, Ciara. Email me at linda@lindalaroque.com to tell which book you'd like to have and I'll get your copy to you.

Thanks to all who left comments during August. New comments started coming in September 1st.

Happy reading and writing!

Linda
www.lindalaroque.com

One Lovely Blog Award

Thank you Chiron for bestowing this award on my blog.

Here are the rules:

1) Accept the award, and don’t forget to post a link back to the awarding person.

2) Pass the award on.

3) Notify the award winners.

Here are my recipients for The One Lovely Blog Award.

1. Ciara Gold's Treasures. Ciara writes both western historical and sci-fi/fantasy romances. She has a new Viking time travel out at Champagne Books.

2. Sandra K. Marshall's Blog tackles issues about life and writing we can all relate to.

3. Ella Blackhart is a new writer friend of mine and I just know we're going to be seeing great things from her in the near future.

4. Linda Kage has some interesting posts on her blog we can all enjoy. Check it out.

5. If you enjoy history, you'll enjoy Laura Hogg's Travel Through the Ages.

6. And last, but not at all least, is my good friend, Judith Leger.

Okay, guys, follow the rules and pass this on.

Happy Reading and Writing, folks!

Linda

Linda LaRoque ~Western Romance with a Twist in Time~ A Law of Her Own, Desires of the Heart, My Heart Will Find Yours, Flames on the Sky10-9, Forever Faithful, Investment of the Heart, When the Ocotillo Bloom
www.lindalaroque.com/ www.lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com/