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Sunday, May 27, 2012

WELCOME TO THE PBRJV & WTB BLOG! GLAD YOU'RE HERE!



Hey everyone! I wanted to introduce myself to fellow authors and readers in this first post at our PBRJVWTB blog and tell you a little about me, my stories, and the blog itself.

I was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, in 1957. I had two “way older” sisters (10 and 12 when I came along) and I was a Tomboy–with a capital “T” for sure! Although I loved Barbie, I’d much rather have been playing cowboys and Indians–probably why I chose to write western historical, for the most part.

I finally got to go to a rodeo when I was about 9 with my cousin, and Larry Mahan was there! I was in love. After that, I wanted to be a barrel racer, thinking that would be a great way to get those handsome cowboys to notice me when I was older…of course, that was a huge pipe dream since my family was NOT into rodeoing at all. But my first “serious” little story I wrote in elementary school had a guy in it named “Larry” and girl named “Cherry” (original, huh?)

My dad was an oilfield hand–a chemical engineer, on call 24/7 for as long as I can remember. Mom was the “June Cleaver” type, and both of them were appalled when I told them I wanted to write books for a living. As they predicted, that dream had to be placed on hold for many years–enough time for me to marry and raise my two kids–with a myriad of “real jobs” (as others called them) in between.

But I was writing all the time, every spare minute I got. I started out with an idea for a western romance, and the more I wrote, the bigger the story became, until I had a 1000 page manuscript! Of course, it’s still unsold (go figure!) but it’s the book of my heart–and I know each of you authors out there has written a book that holds that special place in your heart, as well. That was what I needed to “get me going.” Ideas flowed, and so did the words.

Although that first “tome” is still as yet unpublished, the third book I wrote, FIRE EYES, was

first published with The Wild Rose Press in May 2009, and went on to become an EPIC Award finalist. Since then, that story has been re-released through WESTERN TRAIL BLAZER just this past month, and is enjoying a fabulous new JIMMY THOMAS cover (created by Karen M. Nutt) and a new lease on life, since I was able to add back in much of what had had to be cut before with TWRP.


The fourth book I wrote, TIME PLAINS DRIFTER, was published through another smaller press. After a few short months, we parted ways, and TIME PLAINS DRIFTER found a great home at WTB. With a wonderful 4 ½ star review from Romantic Times, I’m very happy to have this great story back out there with such a wonderful company. My daughter designed my cover for this book so it’s very special to me. It also garnered me the award of Honorable Mention for Best New Paranormal Author in PNR’s PEARL Awards for 2010.

I live in Oklahoma City with my “transplanted” (from West Virginia) husband, Gary, who is retired

from the FAA. My daughter, Jessica, is 25 and works at an actors’ casting agency here. My son, Casey, is 22 and just graduated with a bachelors’ degree in math and an associates’ degree in physics (and believe me, those math and science genes did not come from me!) Along with my business partner, I teach writing classes for all ages, and have done lots of work with the Indian Education Program for one of the major school systems here in OK City. And I’m FINALLY getting to actually write!


My other releases with VICTORY TALES PRESS and WESTERN TRAIL BLAZER are available on their websites and here on the blog as soon as the links go live. This is a brand new blog and we are still adding, revising and “tweaking” it, so it will only get better and better as time goes by.
I’m offering a giveaway today for my newest release with WESTERN TRAIL BLAZER publishing, FIRE EYES. All you have to do is leave a comment. You can find all my releases from The Wild Rose Press, Western Trail Blazer, and Victory Tales Press at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and many other fine e-book and print booksellers.

Cheryl's Amazon Author Page:
Thanks to everyone who stopped by today to read. Please don’t forget to comment! I’ll leave you with a blurb and excerpt from Fire Eyes:

BLURB:
Marshal Kaed Turner is given a rare second chance at love with the mysterious woman the Choctaw call “Fire Eyes.” But can he quiet the ghosts from his past and protect the love that was stolen from him once before? There’s only one way: Kill outlaw Andrew Fallon, along with the murdering band of men he leads.

EXCERPT FROM FIRE EYES:
THE SET UP: Marshal Kaed Turner has been deposited on widow Jessica Monroe's front porch by a band of Choctaw Indians with orders from the chieftain: "Do not let him die." But can she save him? He's been severely beaten by a band of renegades that run the borderlands between Arkansas and Indian Territory. The last man they brought to her doorstep died. What will become of Marshal Turner? Can she save him?

FROM FIRE EYES:
The bath could be put off no longer. Kaed lay quietly, watching Jessica's nervousness.
"Jessi." When she looked at him, his bones liquefied. She wanted him. All question of how the night would end were answered as their eyes met and held over an achingly sweet moment.

Jessica sank her teeth into her lower lip, her fingers moving to the tiny row of buttons at the front of her day dress. She slowly began to work them open. "Kaed, would you, um, I mean, well, I need to get my bath now."

"I suppose that means I need to at least turn my head." His mouth was dry. It was hot in the cabin all of a sudden.

"Uh-huh." She kept right on unbuttoning the buttons, caught in his gaze. "And close your eyes."

Yeah, well it wouldn't matter if he did. He'd still see the picture she burned in his mind as she stood there opening those buttonholes.

Her fingers hesitated at the button just above the rich swell of her breasts. Kaed wet his lips, not turning his head or closing his eyes.

"Kaed?" Her voice was a husky whisper. That made him close his eyes. The sound of his name on her lips had him imagining doing all the things that a man did with a woman. All the things that were soon to come.

God. The heat was unbearable.

"Huh?" He slitted his still-swollen eyes open and saw she had released that button and moved down to the next one. He gritted his teeth.

"Turn…your…head." A teasing smile played about her mouth, as if she knew exactly what he was thinking, what he was imagining.

Turning away would be a good thing right about now. If he could only persuade his neck to cooperate.
"Yeah. Okay." He turned his face toward the window. Sort of.

"I'm trusting you."

Kaed sighed, frustrated. "I know." It was the one thing she might've said that would have kept him true to his word, that part about trusting. He couldn't betray that. "I've gotta move slow. Hurts."

"Don't—" The dress whispered to the floor.

"I won't," he gritted, the words bitter in his mouth.

OH MY! I wonder what happens after that bath? Please leave a comment. I love to hear from readers and other writers!

18 comments:

  1. Beautiful blog and book covers. Love the titles and covers. They sound like winners. I'll have to try one this summer :) Blessings for success, BJ Robinson

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  2. Okay, you beat me to it, but you're a heck of a lot younger. No fair! I move more slowly.
    However, I bow to your superior knowledge on how to write a hot, riveting, spine-tingling Western Romance, with a marshal to die for--he nearly does, doesn't he--and a sweet lovely young woman who just doesn't know the meaning of the word "give up."...on love, that is, as well as life, itself.

    I am thrilled you have Fire Eyes re-leased with all the added good stuff--now I'll have to read it again, but knowing that the villain, Falon (did I spell that right?) waits out there, I don't know if I can get through some of those tense scenes.

    Now, this makes me the first person to comment on our new group blog.
    Best of luck and good wishes!

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  3. Would you look at that? BJ beat me after all. Dang.

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  4. Hey B.J.! Thanks so much for coming over and commenting! Those covers were the work of one of our cover artists, Karen M. Nutt, who did a fantastic job.
    Cheryl

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  5. Celia! LOL girl, you crack me up! Are you the LEAST little bit...competitive? LOL Thanks so much for coming by to keep me from being lonely here on our first day, and for your very kind words about FIRE EYES. I appreciate it--you are a dear friend.
    Cheryl

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  6. Hi Cheryl,
    Fantastic post and giveaway for our first post here. I love your stories, but I if I had to choose a favorite, it would be Time Plains Drifter. Time travel, angels and cowboys- my kind of story!!

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  7. Hey Karen!
    Thank you so much! I loved that story too--and I don't know where it came from! LOLLOL But I've got a sequel in mind for it, and have had several people ask if there was going to be a sequel...so I guess I better get busy on it, right? Thanks so much for commenting!
    Cheryl

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  8. Hi Cheryl! I'll be releasing my first book with TWRP in two long months. Although I write contemporary romance, I love cowboys. I can't wait to read one of your books. Fire Eyes sounds intriguing. If Celia says it's good, I'm sold.

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  9. Hi Cheryl, I enjoyed your blog tonigiht. Love your covers. And I was pleased to learn more about you. I smiled with I read your comment about putting your TWRP book back together. I've got one of those, too, and I'm really looking forward to putting my subplots back in. This was a very powerful excerpt from Fire Eyes. I know it is a fantastic read. I wish you continued success with your work.

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  10. Hi Sandra,
    I have a couple of books with TWRP yet--my contemporary ones--one is called SWEET DANGER and the other one is a new one--don't have a release date for it yet, but everything else is set to go--the title is TEMPTATION'S TOUCH. SWEET DANGER is my fave of all my contemporary stuff. Congratulations on your new release! Celia is one of my staunchest supporters and a dear friend! I hope you enjoy Fire Eyes--I'll enter you in the drawing.
    Cheryl

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  11. Hi Linda,
    Oh, I was so relieved to be able to put FIRE EYES back together again. LOL It was a good story when it came out with TWRP, but I've always wished I could have published it like I wrote it, and Rebecca gave me the chance to do so. I'm so glad you came over and commented today--I know it was short notice for everyone. Thank you so much for your VERY kind words!
    Cheryl

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  12. Hey, Cheryl, so good to see the first post up on our brand-spanking-new blog. Fire Eyes is a great book and I'm glad you got to do it your way this time.

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  13. hey Miriam! I'm so glad you made it over here--glad you are feeling better! I'm thrilled you enjoyed Fire Eyes so much, and yes, I'm very excited that I got to do it the way it was written in the beginning. Thanks for commenting!
    Cheryl

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  14. Great post, Cheryl. I'm in awe of your 1000 page manuscript! And what a fabulous teaser of an except - in every sense!

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  15. Hey Paula!
    You know, I love that book so much, (the 1000 page one!) and I intend to get it saleable at some point. Glad you liked the excerpt for FIRE EYES!
    Cheryl

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  16. From Les Williams:

    Nice intro Cheryl.

    One piece of advise an author gave me when I bagan writing is never discard anything you've written. You never know when you might be able to use all or part of that piece or story. I've found this to be true.

    Les-"Certain things catch your eye. But pursue only those that capture your heart.( Old Indian Saying)

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  17. Hi Les! Thanks so much, I'm glad you enjoyed my intro--hope it wasn't too wordy. LOL Yes, I think that's true, too, about never discarding anything you've written. And although I love that 1000 page story, I realize that it's going to take some MAJOR reorganization, because when I wrote it, 'headhopping' was accepted and done all the time, but now...well, I'd be in big trouble. So I've gotta reorganize it at the very least. LOL But the parts I take out? They're going into a separate file. Because there just might be a sequel.
    Cheryl

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  18. Sandra, you are my winner! Please e-mail me at fabkat_edit@yahoo.com so I can send you your copy!
    Cheryl

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