CHARACTER BLOWOUT. Derek's Turn! HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Last Chance to Win!!!

Welcome  to day two of Caroline Clemmons’ END OF WEEK CHARACTER BLOWOUT. Ever heard of The Newlywed Game? Well, this event is sort of like that. Yesterday I interviewed Courtney Madison from HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Today, I have over hero, Derek Corrigan. I’ll be asking him the same questions I asked Courtney so we can see how well they know one another. Total blast!

As always, I’ll add little snippets of Courtney’s responses from yesterday but I highly recommend that you check out COURTNEY’S INTERVIEW to really ‘hear’ her voice.

Also, Caroline has graciously offered to host a contest. One lucky commenter will win a PDF of HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME!

Alright, let’s get started…

SKY: Tell us a little bit about yourself, Derek.

DEREK: I’m thirty-two now, and from the age eight I was raised by the kindest couple in the world, Maggie and Sam Warren, on a large farm near Sweet Springs, Texas. Those two are why I named my kids Meg and Warren. I haven’t trusted women for a long time, well, not until I got to know Courtney. I own a ranch as well as various other enterprises. I seem to be able to make any proposition I enter into make a profit. Courtney says people call me King Midas. Believe me, I’m not complaining about my “golden touch.” My financial security allows me to spend more time with my kids while I work most days from my home office.

(Courtney’s response… I’m twenty-five and grew up in Dallas, Texas)

SKY: Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Courtney, what thoughts come to mind?

DEREK: Whoa! Who is that beauty whirling my way like a Texas tornado? Courtney wore this old gray dress like it was the best Neiman Marcus had to offer, and her golden hair looked like a crown. I’m telling you, I stood there like I’d been frozen to the spot. Even though I saw her heading my way, I just stared. She was lost in thought and hurrying, and ran smack into me. Like a jerk, I just stood there and let her. I even dropped my hat and the books I’d been carrying. .

(Courtney’s response… Dear heavens! He was the handsomest man I’d ever seen.)

SKY: She has one trait you adored from the start. What is it? Hands down, she appreciates one of your traits…what do you think that is?

DEREK: She would not back down! Still won’t as a matter of fact. Ha ha, she does what she thinks is right, and she always keeps a promise. You can take that to the bank.

Hmm, maybe she likes that I always put my kids first. Courtney’s really big on family responsibility. You know, she’s the legal guardian for her brother, Jimmy. Practically raised him herself. Jimmy hit a rough patch, but he’s a fine kid now.

(Courtney’s response… His eyes. Oh yes, you mean a trait, but you shouldn’t have made me think about his eyes. They are this amazing shade of blue and they twinkle when he’s mischievous. Of course, they also ignite sparks when he’s angry. Sigh, where was I? Oh, yes, you want a trait. Right away I noticed he’s an amazing father and had been a wonderful son to his adopted father, the man who left me my fortune.

What he seems to like about me is that I always get nervous around him and do odd things. Drat! I always do something outrageous when he’s around and embarrass myself something awful. It’s as if just looking at Derek subtracts IQ points from my brain.)

SKY: She has one trait you’d change if you could. What is it? You figure there’s probably a trait she might want to change about you… care to share?

DEREK: If she would stop and think of the consequences before she does something, I’d be happier. Not that she does stupid stuff, mind you, at least not unless you count getting stuck in a window or losing her purse in a restaurant or....No, better not go there. Ha ha. She always has the best of intentions and things usually turn out well in the end, but she creates a few bumps for herself. And that means for me, too.

About me, hmm, have to think about that. Not that I’m perfect, mind you. No, I guess she’d say I’m stubborn, and maybe she’d be right. Ha ha. Plenty of people may have mentioned that to me, especially my best friend, Rusty McCullough.

(Courtney’s response… If I could change one thing about him, it would be to make him more trusting and realize what a wonderful and lovable man he is. Sigh. I told you how he’s the best father ever, but I didn’t mention how much he helps people in the Sweet Springs community. Everyone admires him. I mean everyone!

About me, well, he’d probably like it if I weren’t so impulsive. He thinks things through very slowly and analytically, you know? I do analyze, but not slowly, then tend to jump in.)

SKY: Ah, love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing you’ve done for her?

DEREK: Probably taking her to the Midwinter Ball at the country club. Man, you should have seen her! Meg told us Courtney looked like Cinderella. She did, too. Never saw any woman look more beautiful in my life. She wore this take-no-prisoner’s dress the same color as her eyes.

(Courtney’s response… So many things, but the first thing was, Derek took me to Dallas when he went on business. Oh, I should add he also took his children and my brother, and that my brother and I stayed in one suite while he and his children stayed in another. But he took me to a lovely dinner atop Reunion Tower and then sightseeing the next day. Sigh. I’d lived in Dallas all my life, but had never seen the places we went--except the natural science museum. I couldn’t believe the luxury of the hotel or the restaurant. Secretly, I pretended that we were married and the kids were ours. But something so embarrassing happened at the restaurant. You know it revolves, don’t you? Yes, the entire restaurant moves slowly around so diners see the entire city by the time they’ve finished their meal. Oh, I can’t even talk about my “event,” as Derek calls it. He says I’m “event prone” and he’s right.)

SKY: She has a feature that draws your eye every time. Care to share? She can’t stare at you enough… but where is she staring? Now’s the time to gloat about your thick head of hair. *Sky sniggers* Truth! Do you think it’s your eyes? Chest? Etc.

DEREK: Courtney is one of those people who always looks at you when you’re talking with her. I can’t help looking at her eyes. Maybe they are the window to the soul. I’ll confess to you, Courtney had better stay away from playing poker--her eyes telegraph her thoughts and moods.

Since she always looks at me head on, maybe she’s looking at my eyes, too. Don’t know. Maybe she likes my hair. By the way, Miss Sky, my hair is thick.

(Courtney’s response… I can’t keep from looking at his eyes, did I mention that he has gorgeous cobalt blue eyes? Sigh. He also has the most kissable mouth of any man in the world. I mean the world! Totally! So, I guess I’d better say his face, so that I can use his eyes and mouth. He is so handsome, and he’s interested in ME. Really, I have to pinch myself sometimes to believe I’m so lucky.)

SKY: How do you think Courtney would answer the following… Our favorite thing to do together is…?

DEREK: Just spend time together, us and the kids. Might sound pathetic, but anytime I’m with Courtney is a favorite time.

(Courtney’s response… Just spending time together. Whatever we do is better if we’re together.)

SKY: You and Courtney don’t see eye to eye on what issue?

DEREK: Well, I have to admit I was against her coming to Sweet Springs. I apologized to her and admitted she was right. Then I was against her building new apartments and homes in Sweet Springs. Who knew people would like to live in Sweet Springs if there were decent places to live? Damn, Sam Warren knew, of course. That’s why he asked Courtney to move here and why he left her part of his estate.

(Courtney’s response… Well, at first, it was me coming to West Texas.)

SKY: She said one thing to you that you’ll never forget. What was it?

DEREK: She loves me, not my fortune. You have no idea how many women...no, make that people want to be around me because they want something from me. Courtney wants me for who I am and not for what I can buy her. Believe me, that’s a damn good feeling!

(Courtney’s response… Before he even said he was attracted to me, he said I was a good businesswoman. You have no idea how much that meant, and still means, to me.)

SKY: Thanks for joining me today, Derek. Sounds like you and Courtney are a winning pair!

Read a bit more about HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME…

Two million dollars? What a fortune to inherit! Coutney Madison has battled poverty her entire twenty-five years but is determined to make a safe and happy home for her teenaged brother after the death of their mom. She thinks her inheritance in West Texas is the answer to her prayers--but Courtney's problems are definitely not over yet.

Derek Corrigan suspects the worst of his new neighbor and vows to fight his attraction for her. He knows what women do to him--they always leave and take chunks of his heart with them. He's been there, done that, had the vaccination and is cured. Isn't he?

Caroline’s Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Blog (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

Contact address: caroline@carolineclemmons.com

Don’t forget that there’s a contest running. One lucky commenter wins a PDF of HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Contest ends Saturday, July 16th, 12 AM EST.

Best Always,

~Sky

CHARACTER BLOWOUT. Caroline Clemmons', HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Chance to WIN!!!

Welcome! We’ve arrived once more at A Writer’s Mind, End of Week Character Blowout. For those of you unfamiliar, this particular blog event is sort of like The Newlywed Game. On Thursdays, I invite over the heroine from some of your favorite tales. On Friday, the hero. It’s all about seeing how well they really know one another when asked the same questions.

Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over Courtney Madison from Caroline Clemmons’, HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Caroline joined me last week for A Writer’s Mind, Monday Covers It feature to chat a bit about the ‘story’ behind the cover for HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Click HERE to check it out.

CONTEST! One lucky commenter will win an Ecopy of HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME! Those who commented on Caroline’s Monday Covers it feature are also in the race.

Before I begin the interview, let’s learn a bit about this fabulous book…

Two million dollars? What a fortune to inherit! Coutney Madison has battled poverty her entire twenty-five years but is determined to make a safe and happy home for her teenaged brother after the death of their mom. She thinks her inheritance in West Texas is the answer to her prayers--but Courtney's problems are definitely not over yet.

Derek Corrigan suspects the worst of his new neighbor and vows to fight his attraction for her. He knows what women do to him--they always leave and take chunks of his heart with them. He's been there, done that, had the vaccination and is cured. Isn't he?

Time for the interview!

SKY: Tell us a little bit about you, Courtney.

COURTNEY: I’m twenty-five and grew up in Dallas, Texas. My dad died was a policeman. My mom had two miscarriages before my brother Jimmy was born, and we were so happy when he arrived when I was ten. When Jimmy was only an infant, my dad stopped to help a motorist change a tire, and a drunk driver hit him. Dad and the woman he stopped to help were killed. My mom had never worked and didn’t even know how to balance a checkbook. She went to work in the school cafeteria, and I sort of took over the finances. Then, when I was starting high school, she was diagnosed with ALS and became increasingly ill and difficult. Poor Jimmy hardly remembers the wonderful Mom she was before Dad died and before she became ill. I worked part-time in high school for an independent book store in downtown Dallas, and eventually became the store’s manager.

SKY: Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Derek, what thoughts come to mind?

COURTNEY: Dear heavens! He was the handsomest man I’d ever seen. His cobalt eyes and dark hair, his height and regal bearing--a prince couldn’t have looked more impressive. He wore a western cut dark gray suit and carried a light gray Stetson. Honestly, people stare at him he’s so handsome. And I was in such a hurry I ran right into him. What a horrid first impression of me he must have had.

SKY: He has one trait you adored from the start. What is it? You know without doubt he appreciates one of your traits. Share what you think that is.

COURTNEY: His eyes. Oh yes, you mean a trait, but you shouldn’t have made me think about his eyes. They are this amazing shade of blue and they twinkle when he’s mischievous. Of course, they also ignite sparks when he’s angry. Sigh, where was I? Oh, yes, you want a trait. Right away I noticed he’s an amazing father and had been a wonderful son to his adopted father, the man who left me my fortune.

What he seems to like about me is that I always get nervous around him and do odd things. Drat! I always do something outrageous when he’s around and embarrass myself something awful. It’s as if just looking at Derek subtracts IQ points from my brain.

SKY: He has one trait you’d change if you could. What is it? Oh yeah, there’s a trait you know he’d change about you…fess up!

COURTNEY: If I could change one thing about him, it would be to make him more trusting and realize what a wonderful and lovable man he is. Sigh. I told you how he’s the best father ever, but I didn’t mention how much he helps people in the Sweet Springs community. Everyone admires him. I mean everyone!

About me, well, he’d probably like it if I weren’t so impulsive. He thinks things through very slowly and analytically, you know? I do analyze, but not slowly, then tend to jump in.

SKY: Ah, love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing he’s done for you?

COURTNEY: So many things, but the first thing was, Derek took me to Dallas when he went on business. Oh, I should add he also took his children and my brother, and that my brother and I stayed in one suite while he and his children stayed in another. But he took me to a lovely dinner atop Reunion Tower and then sightseeing the next day. Sigh. I’d lived in Dallas all my life, but had never seen the places we went--except the natural science museum. I couldn’t believe the luxury of the hotel or the restaurant. Secretly, I pretended that we were married and the kids were ours. But something so embarrassing happened at the restaurant. You know it revolves, don’t you? Yes, the entire restaurant moves slowly around so diners see the entire city by the time they’ve finished their meal. Oh, I can’t even talk about my “event,” as Derek calls it. He says I’m “event prone” and he’s right.

SKY: He has a feature that draws your eye every time. Care to share? His eye constantly roams to a particular part of your person. Tell, tell!

COURTNEY: I can’t keep from looking at his eyes, did I mention that he has gorgeous cobalt blue eyes? Sigh. He also has the most kissable mouth of any man in the world. I mean the world! Totally! So, I guess I’d better say his face, so that I can use his eyes and mouth. He is so handsome, and he’s interested in ME. Really, I have to pinch myself sometimes to believe I’m so lucky.

SKY: How do you think Derek would answer the following… Our favorite thing to do together is…?

COURTNEY: Just spending time together. Whatever we do is better if we’re together. We try not to overdo leaving the kids, but Jimmy babysits Meg and Warren whenever we ask. Most times the five of us go places together, though.

SKY: You and Derek just don’t see eye to eye on what issue?

COURTNEY: Well, at first, it was me coming to West Texas. Derek thought I should just sell out to him for all cash, but I desperately needed a reason to get Jimmy away from his awful new friends who encouraged him to cut classes--and who knows what else? Besides, Sam Warren left me the estate because he wanted me to live there. In exchange for two million, the least I could do was go along with Sam’s wishes.

SKY: He said one thing to you that you’ll never forget. What was it?

COURTNEY: Before he even said he was attracted to me, he said I was a good businesswoman. You have no idea how much that meant, and still means, to me.

SKY: Courtney, it was great having you over today. Can’t wait to chat with Derek tomorrow!

Caroline's Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Blogspot  (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

Team blogs http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/ on the26th

http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com/ on the 20th

http://seducedbyhistory.blogspot.com/ on the 7th

Contact address: caroline@carolineclemmons.com

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win an Ecopy of HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME! Be sure to join as tomorrow as I welcome Derek Corrigan to A Writer’s Mind, End of Week Character Blowout.

Cheers,

~Sky

CHARACTER BLOWOUT. Harley Shares All. Ashlynn Monroe's, PRAY FOR ME. Chance to win!!!

Welcome! It’s time for A Writer’s Mind weekly CHARACTER BLOWOUT. Popping in for the first time? Here’s the scoop. This particular blog feature is designed to mimic the well known, The Newlywed Game save it’s done fresh, new and very much BLOG style. Thursdays we get to know the heroine from some of your favorite tales. Friday, the hero.

By Friday we’re all wide eyed as we compare their answers.

This week it’s my pleasure to welcome over Harley Kaelin and Gabriel Leleux from Ashlynn Monroe’s, PRAY FOR ME. I just ‘met’ Ashlyn via featuring her here at A Writer’s Mind but can tell already that she writes my kind of books. A lot of her tales cover the mind-bending excitement that comes when one combines good solid history with the untapped realm of the paranormal.

This just in... Ashlynn would like to host a contest. "One random lucky commenter that comments on both interviews will win a copy of Pray For Me.”

Nice! Thanks, Ashlynn.

Okay, before I begin the interview I thought we’d learn a bit about PRAY FOR ME…

Gabriel put his faith in his God and his king…That was centuries ago. Harley is proud of her heritage and when she has the chance to give her hometown historical society a boost by booking an eccentric Swiss expert, she has no idea she booked someone who actually lived the history. Immortality is a long time to have a broken heart. Unable to stop himself, Gabriel draws the brilliant historian into his life. Harley discovers far more than Gabriel ever expected about history, his history! A quest to give Gabriel an answer to an old question will introduce them to the danger of a new enemy. Is love enough when your love wants you body, soul and blood?

SKY: Harley, tell us a little bit about you.

HARLEY: Hi Sky, I’m a huge history buff. I love my job, with the state of Wisconsin preserving historical sights. I’m divorced, no brothers and sister, but my parents are great. I’m just a quiet average girl.

SKY: Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Gabriel, what thoughts come to mind?

HARLEY: OH-MY-GOD Gabriel is the hottest guy on Earth and I was expecting some old guy. Instead this sexy young mouth-watering piece of eye candy is standing there reminding me how I so needed to get laid. Hot and a history expert, I couldn’t have ordered a more appealing male to lust for.

SKY: He has one trait you adored from the start. What is it? You know without doubt he appreciates one of your traits. Share what you think that is.

HARLEY: Well…great question Sky, his brain. He might be delicious and buff, but I love a guy who can think. Umm, I think I’m blushing but I’m going to say my curves. He’s a bit old fashioned in what he sees as hot.

SKY: Have to agree, a guy with brains tends to lead the pack when it comes to potential ‘hotties.’ Gabriel has one trait you’d change if you could. What is it? Oh yeah, there’s a trait you know he’d change about you…fess up!

HARLEY: Ha, he’s going to kill me but I’d love to change how cold his feet get in bed, even under the covers. I’m perfect, and he’d totally agree.

SKY: I get that. Cold feet under the covers is a ‘brrr’ factor most of us would skip if we could. *grins* But love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing he’s done for you?

HARLEY: He died for me.

SKY: Wow! Can’t beat that! Gabriel has a feature that draws your eye every time. Care to share? His eye constantly roams to a particular part of your person. Tell, tell!

HARLEY: The man has the most soulful eyes. I’m blushing again and I don’t think I should tell.

SKY: How do you think Gabriel would answer the following… Our favorite thing to do together is…?

HARLEY: This is going so nerdy, but I’d say hangin’ in the library.

SKY: My kind of gal. You and Gabriel just don’t see eye to eye on what issue?

HARLEY: Who’s really to blame for the French Revolution. Read more on this at Wiki: French Revolution

SKY: I’d blame it on Louis XIV but I’m always one to go after the guy who made the ‘domino affect’ inevidable. Can’t wait to read PRAY FOR ME so I know who debated what between you and Gabriel! Okay, back to business. He said one thing to you that you’ll never forget. What was it?

HARLEY: “Thank you for enjoying my first sunrise in centuries with me. I love you Harley.”

SKY: Oh, so romantic! It was great having you over, Harley. Can't wait to interview Gabriel tomorrow! My type of guy. *winks*

Dying to read this? Purchase Pray For Me HERE.

Ashlynn Monroe's Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Blog

Be sure to swing in tomorrow as I welcome sexy-as-hell, Gabriel over to chat!

~Sky