Welcome! Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over wonderfully talented author, Brenda Whiteside, who will be chatting about her latest release, The Art of Love and Murder. So sit back, relax and enjoy!
Brenda, the floor's all yours…
Thanks so much for having me today, Sky. I’m excited to have your readers learn about my latest release and the first book in my series. I also hope everyone enters my rafflecopter drawing for a $25 Amazon gift certificate. The more you enter, the more you win. Click HERE to view all the blogs on my tour.
Before I begin a novel, a character study evolves. My favorite part of writing is building characterizations. Some of what I know about my characters never makes the book.
For instance, Lacy’s adoptive parents, Arlo and Sarah, are deceased when the book begins. What you won’t find out is that Arlo and Sarah Dahl were hippies in their younger days. They settled down in Scottsdale, Arizona but did volunteer work on the reservations near Flagstaff, Arizona. During one stay up north a small plane crashed killing everyone on board including Lacy’s parents. You will read that the baby girl, Lacy survived.
Chance Meadowlark, Lacy’s romantic interest, is a sheriff. What doesn’t come out in the book is the upcoming election has him worried. The man running against him plays dirty. Chance had enough trouble with Lacy, a pushy sometimes girlfriend and murder. I decided to leave out his election problems.
Blurb
Lacy Dahl never questioned her past until the deaths of her adoptive parents and her husband. A husband who wasn't what he seemed. Her research uncovers secrets about the mother she never knew; secrets that dispute the identity of her father and threaten her life.
Sheriff Chance Meadowlark is still haunted by the murder of his wife and the revenge he unleashed in the name of justice. When he meets Lacy he is determined not to become involved, but their pasts may make that impossible. As they move closer to the truth, saving Lacy may be his only salvation.
Lacy begins to think the present is more important than her past...until Chance's connection to her mother and a murder spin her deeper into danger and further from love. Will the truth destroy Lacy and Chance or will it be the answer that frees them?
Excerpt
Momentarily struck dumb by his eye color, she stared back. Why hadn’t she noticed until now? Although not as light as hers or her father’s, the professor’s eyes were a startling green shade.
His hand nudged her arm. “Lacy?”
She jumped. “Oh, yes.” She slipped the tissue from the half-carved wolf. Another glance at his eyes and goose bumps riddled her arms.
He lifted the wood close to his face, using both hands as if handling a delicate hummingbird. His thumb traced the neck of the creature to the juncture of where it emerged from the wood. When he brought the piece to his nose, closing his eyes and breathing deeply, Lacy wanted to turn away from the oddly erotic gesture.
He swallowed, opened his eyes and set the wolf back on the tissue. His attention shifted to the photograph of the chest. He touched the photo, a smile on his lips. “Where is the chest?”
The chest. Like he knew it, had seen it before. “I’m having it sent. You’ve seen it before?”
He didn’t move, stared out the window as if deep in thought. “I’d like to show you something, Lacy.”
“All right.” She waited, watching his profile.
He turned and stared into her face a moment. “You’re so very lovely. A creation full of life and passion, surpassing any art form.”
His hypnotic voice floated on the classical strains drifting from the living room. She couldn’t speak. Didn’t know what to say. She’d been lifted upon a pedestal of admiration. With any other man, she might consider his words a means to a sexual end. The professor’s intentions, however, were crystal. He admired her like a work of art.
Purchase The Art of Love and Murder at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon and All Romance eBooks.
About the Author
Although I didn’t start out to write romance, I’ve found all good stories have to involve complicated human relationships. I’ve also learned, no matter a person’s age, a new discovery is right around every corner. Whether humorous or serious, straight contemporary or suspense, all my books revolve around those two facts.
Visit Brenda Whiteside
She blogs on the 9th and 24th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com
She blogs about prairie life and writing at http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/
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12 comments:
Good morning! Glad to be here.
How you keep all these stories straight in your head amazes me!! Hearing more details that did not make final copy was just a bonus!! Thanks as always Brenda :)
Love reading your books, and THE ART OF LOVE AND MURDER sounds like a winner!
Thanks!
Rebecca
I like seeing what didn't 'make the cut' Nice job! Barb Bettis
Sorry. My first post appeared twice, so I deleted one.
It's always fun to read the background behind the book.
Nancy, we writers are considered a little crazy to have all these characters and stories bouncing around in our head. LOL
Thanks, Rebecca.
Barbara and Karen - yeah, kind of fun when I looked over my rough notes and character sketches and saw what didn't make the final cut.
Thanks Brenda, I'm working on the characters for my new book and am trying to figure out their background. This glimpse into your process was very helpful
Your welcome, Marlow. Thanks for stopping by.
Every post I read about this book makes me just want the book right now!!! Am putting it on my wish list!
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