Saturday, June 30, 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample - June 30, 2012

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples! Today I'm sharing the first part of a scene I excerpted back in May. Bill Henry and Chico Henderson are the characters speaking.
~~~
Bill awoke before dawn with an uneasy feeling. As he sat on the edge of his bunk, he paused before pulling on his second shoe. What was bothering him? It didn't take much pondering to know that the path he had planned for his life had gone terribly wrong: Marie Owen was promised to that wretched farm boy, Tom Morgan. That was enough to bother anyone.
 
"Tom," he growled, yanking on his shoe. "What a puny excuse for a man!"

 
He tied the brogan, rose, and slammed his hat onto his head. Why did she choose Tom Morgan? Doesn't she know how I feel about her? Anger battled grief in his body, his heart pounding like galloping hooves on a hardpan road. He took several deep breaths, trying to get the emotions under control so he could get about his day, but the sense of wrong, the sense of foreboding wouldn't leave him. Maybe something else was gnawing at him.

 
Try as he would to shake off the feeling of disaster that lingered like a bitter aftertaste in the mouth, Bill went to breakfast without any relief from the sensation. Even three spoonsful of sugar mixed into his coffee didn't take away the dread.

 
A heavy hand came down on his shoulder from behind, startling him. Immediately the hoarse sound of Chico Henderson's morning voice cut through what remained of his reflective fog.

 
"Sorry I was a porcupine last evenin'," Chico said. "You don't usually take my money so handily."

 
Bill attempted to add a light tone to his reply. "You're a sore loser, Henderson." He failed. His voice grated in his ears as though he were drawing a rasp over a tin washboard. He clamped his jaw shut.

 
"I ain't so much, old son. You were on a winning streak the likes of which I ain't seen before." Chico sat in the chair next to Bill's and lifted his mug toward his mouth. "It took me by surprise, I got to say." After a slurp or two, he cut his eyes toward Bill. "What's tuggin' on your brainpan?"

 
Bill shrugged.

 
"Somethin' has you befogged. Out with it."

 
"I can't say." He shrugged again. "I don't know." He chewed on his lip for a moment, then blurted out, "How could she up and get herself promised to that lump?"

 
Chico wiped the last sip of coffee from his moustache. "Was you makin' plans with her?"

 
Bill hesitated. Then, acknowledging that Chico was the closest thing to a good friend that he had in this country, he said, "It didn't get that far along. I was hoping, but--" He stopped short when the cook, Sourdough Smith, slapped a plate of eggs and beans onto the table before him.

 
Chico waited until Sourdough stepped back to the stove before he spoke again. "Uh-huh?"

 
"I had no chance to speak to the girl."

 
"Why's that?"

 
"She went on that little expedition with her pa and the boys."

 
"She come back."

 
"Maybe so, but she's mighty changed. She's put up a wall the size of the Guadalupes."

 
"You sayin' you ain't much of a mountain climber?"

 
Bill snorted derisively. "Chico, you trying to make me smile? I'm not in a smiling mood."

 
"I'll say you ain't!" Chico took a plate from Sourdough's hand and shoveled a mouthful of eggs beneath his moustache. Then he mumbled through the food, "You oughta talk to her. Speak your mind."

 
"You think Rod Owen would stand for that?"

 
"The ol' man don't got to know."

 
"Humph."


~~~
Thank you for visiting. Come back every Saturday for more samples. Now, use this list to go to other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors enjoy comments as much as I do, so don't be shy.

Copyright 2012 Marsha Ward

Monday, June 25, 2012

Word Verification

I don't like to have to enable word verification, but spammers have become annoying, so I've put it in place again. I'm so sorry.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

The cover is progressing

Although I'm not ready to do a "reveal" yet, I'm delighted at the progress of the cover for Spinster's Folly. It won't be too much longer before I can show it off.

Sweet Saturday Sample - June 23, 2012

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples! I didn't participate last week due to being absent at a writers' convention. Time simply ran out.

This week's snippet is intended to show chaos, despite Bill's assessment. I hope it succeeds.
~~~

When Bill arrived at the Owen cabin with his horse, his gear, and the cowhands in tow, Rod Owen had affairs well in hand. The Morgans had showed up, Mr. Bates was in the yard tightening his cinch, and two other men who had volunteered for the search party sat their horses nearby.
 
Bertie Owen led up three horses from the stable and threw himself aboard a buckskin. Mr. Owen came out of the house, followed by his son Clay, Mrs. Owen, and the little girl. The crippled-up son, Carl, hobbled into the doorway, aided by a hand-fashioned crutch. His wife, Mr. Bates's daughter, appeared to have a firm grip under his elbow. She shielded her eyes from the rising sun with her other hand.

One of the Morgan's horses raised its tail and did its business, forcing Mr. Morgan to dance out of the way. Chico's rude comment resulted in a retort from Tom.

Bill pulled up his bandana to cover his nose against the heavy smell. We're off to a good start, he thought, his mood as rank as the odor.

~~~
Thank you for visiting. Come back every Saturday for more samples. Now, use this list to go to other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors enjoy comments as much as I do, so don't be shy.

Copyright 2012 Marsha Ward

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Blog Tour: Interview with YA Author Tamara Hart Heiner

Today's stop on the Altercation Blog Tour features my interview with Tamara Hart Heiner, an up-and-coming author of Young Adult fiction.

Tamara lives in Arkansas with her husband and three children. She graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English. She is also the author of Perilous, the prequel to Altercation. Besides writing, she enjoys all things food, especially baking. Perhaps someday she'll own a bakery and sell her own books inside. That sounds like an ideal mix of two passions!

Here's the summary of Altercation:
 

The FBI promises Jacinta Rivera and her friends that they are safe. Jaci wants desperately to believe them but weeks of hiding from their kidnapper, alias "The Hand," have left her wary. Hidden from the public eye in an FBI safe house, Jaci must reconcile both the mysterious disappearance of her father and the murder of her best friend.

A betrayal lands Jaci back in the grasp of The Hand, shattering her ability to trust and leaving her to wonder if she will ever piece together her broken life.

~~~

That sounds so intriguing! Let's get to our interview with Tamara. 


Welcome. Thank you for coming. How long have you been writing? What made you start?

I started writing when I was twelve. My motivation: boredom. I had too much free time. I finished my first book when I fourteen, and then took a ten-year break. :)
 

That's an interesting beginning. I wouldn't have thought boredom could motivate a writer. I guess life happened afterward, as it does so often with us all.Tamara, why did you choose to write in the YA genre?

It's the genre I read. I can't imagine writing anything else!
 

Hmm. So many adults read YA now, that you'd think someone would catch on and write books for adults that are attractive and exciting, too. What type of writer are you? Do you plan ahead and plot, simply fly by the seat of your pants, or something in between? 

I have to outline. I didn't with my first book, and the story went all over the place! It's like getting in the car to go somewhere. I have to know where I'm going or I might never get there! But my outlines are basic. I leave lots of room for creativity.
 

I agree that you need to know where you're going, although I don't do a hard-and-fast outline. We all write in such individual ways! Do you write best at a certain time of the day? 

When everything's quiet! This usually means nap time and bedtime. :) My goal is 30 minutes a day.
 

Good for you for setting a time goal for your writing. What food or snack keeps the words flowing? 

None. I absolutely cannot eat when writing.
 

LOL! I don't have children in the house, so I write or work on the computer all day. I need food nearby or my blood sugar crashes. But with your stricter time limitations, I can see where you don't want to stop everything to snack. What fictional character do you wish you had created? 

Katniss
 

Don't we all have that wish, to write a great character? What author(s) do you look to as a role model and inspiration? 

All mom-authors who write in crazy hours and sporadic moments, like Stephenie Meyer.
 

And they are myriad. That's a nice tribute to them. What's the best writing advice you ever received? 

Write every day.

Yes. That's good advice. Now tell me about the Giveaway you have going on.

Since this is a blog tour, EVERY DAY I will randomly select one person who made a comment on that day's blog. The winner will then get to decide if they would like an ebook copy of Perilous or Altercation. That means I'm giving away 21 ebooks! And all you have to do is leave a comment! There's just one catch: there must be AT LEAST ten comments on that day for me to do the giveaway.

But if that's not enough, leaving a comment also gets you entered into the PRIZE DRAWINGS. This won't be random; it's cumulative. Every comment you leave counts as 1 point. If you are a follower on my blog, you get 1 point. Every time you tweet or share on Facebook about the tour, it's one point. I'll even add it up for you; just include me in on the tweet @tamaraheiner or on Facebook @tamarahartheiner (unless you don't trust my math, and then feel free to tally it up and send it to me).

THIRD PRIZE: 50-page critique of something of your choice (if you're not a writer, a $5 amazon.com gift card)
SECOND PRIZE: lot of five YA books
FIRST PRIZE: $20 gift card to Amazon.com

That's a generous Giveaway, Tamara. I'm glad I don't have to do the math. Is there anything else you want to add?


Yes, you can find out more about what I'm writing and catch deleted scenes from my books on my blog at http://tamarahartheiner.blogspot.com. My website is at http://tamarahartheiner.com. And of course, you may buy Altercation as a print book on Amazon at this link: http://www.amazon.com/Altercation-Tamara-Hart-Heiner/dp/1937178218
and for Kindle here: http://www.amazon.com/Altercation-YA-Suspense-ebook/dp/B0085AJQEI

Deleted scenes? I'm so there. Thank you for coming on so I could interview you, Tamara.


Thanks for doing it for the Tour.

~~~

Here are the other stops on Tamara's Blog Tour. Go check them out, but be sure to make a comment here TODAY to enter the GIVEAWAY!

June 1: Lydia Kang
June 4: Rashelle Workman
June 5: David West
June 6: Tristi Pinkston
June 7: Shannon O'Donnell
June 8: Kate Hart
June 11: Jennifer Shirk
June 12: Saumya
June 13: Justine Dell
June 14: Laurel Garver
June 15: Diana Miezcan
June 18: Elizabeth Mueller
June 19: Bonnie Harris
June 20: Nichole Giles
June 21: Marsha Ward
June 22: Jo Ramsey
June 25: Arlee Bird
June 26: Laura Bingham
June 27: Carrie Harris
June 28: Jenni James
June 29: Deborah Davis

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Something more to enjoy from Spinster's Folly

The course of writing a novel doesn't always progress on one continuous, straight path. Sometimes, you might be running along, working on Chapter 14, and a character speaks up with a tidbit of information that has to go into Chapter 2. That means a detour is in order, so you must jog over to a trail that takes you back to that place in the story so you can put it in. Then, while you're returning to the place where you left off, you might notice a character waving his arms at you to get your attention for a scene that has to be written in Chapter 9.

It doesn't always happen this way, even to the same author writing another novel, but it happens often enough that one has to be prepared to accept the delay, instead of being dismayed when such a thing does occur.

With that explanation, let me offer part of a scene that Julia Owen demanded that I write for Chapter 2.
~~~

Feeling the overwhelming fatigue brought on by two days of mourning, Julia Owen only half listened to her husband tell her his plan to leave early Thursday morning on a three-day journey to sell beeves. Getting to sleep was of higher importance than staying awake until Rod ran out of steam, turned on his side, and began to snore. She hoped this was not a night when Rod felt amorous. She had barely been able to go through the motions of her chores today, and had no strength left to spare for her husband's needs.

Then a question worked its way into the forefront of her mind. She opened one eye, waited for Rod to take a breath, and asked, "Why are you herding cows down to Chester Bates this week? I recall his letter made an offer to trade them for wheat. He won't be harvestin' for a month or more."

"I have a pressing matter to take up in that country, and I reckon it won't wait until then." Rod scratched his chest above the neck of his nightshirt. "I figure I may as well make one trip as two. Chester will bring us the wheat."

She whispered, "If you're goin' after James, that's entirely the wrong direction." Pain at the unexpected loss of her son made her body quiver.

"I know that, woman." Rod's voice had taken on the soft gruff tone he used in tender moments when he felt vulnerable.

Annoyance that he didn't expand his answer drove Julia to shift her weight, rise on her elbow, and open both eyes to stare down at him. "What aren't you tellin' me?"

After a long moment, Rod turned his eyes away and said, "I have an errand."

"Roderick Owen, don't you be speakin' nonsense to me. What errand takes you away from work at this season?"

When his hand flew to his head, she barked at him, "Don't be a-worryin' that scab or it won't never heal. What's the truth?"

"It's a little errand for Marie," he admitted, tucking his hand under the covers.

"Marie?" Surprised, Julia almost missed Rod's failure to explain himself further. When she had gathered her wits sufficiently to notice his silence, she poked him in the ribs. "What business does the girl have in the Cuchara country?"

Rod sighed. "She accused me of neglecting her welfare. She wants a husband."

"No!" Julia sat up.

"She made it plain she's woman-grown and expects me to get her one."

She looked at Rod. "You're not--"

Rod cut her off. "She said young Tom is twenty. I had no notion he'd got to that age."

Julia shook her head and sighed in turn. "Your matchmaking has an ill reputation." She sank back onto the bed. "Does she have her cap set for Tom Morgan?"

Rod shifted one of his legs. "I've had him in mind for years."

"I asked does Marie want him?"

He shifted the other leg. "She didn't say me nay." After another long pause, he continued, "I'll know more when I get the two in the same room."

"What?" Julia sat up again, her back stiff.

"Julie, shh."

"You're takin' my daughter down country with a passel of cows?"
~~~


Copyright 2012 Marsha Ward

I hope you enjoyed this little digression. The novel is coming along well, with over 75% written. I'm lining up "beta readers," who will each give the finished manuscript the once over, and offer me suggestions for places that need beefing up, or toning down, or deleting altogether. In the meantime, I have a cover designer working with me on the novel's cover, which is going to be spectacular. When it's all put together, I'll launch Spinster's Folly with a Book Blog Tour and other fun stuff.

Thank you for visiting. If you wish, please leave me a comment. Every writer needs feedback!

Saturday, June 09, 2012

Sweet Saturday Samples - June 9, 2012

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples! Here's a piece of a new scene I wrote this week. Part of the writing process is to go back and fill in information or character involvement that is missing from the first draft efforts. This is such a scene, and is located in Chapter 2.
~~~


Feeling the overwhelming fatigue brought on by two days of mourning, Julia Owen only half listened to her husband tell her his plan to leave early Thursday morning on a three-day journey to sell beeves. Getting to sleep was of higher importance than staying awake until Rod ran out of steam, turned on his side, and began to snore. She hoped this was not a night when Rod felt amorous. She had barely been able to go through the motions of her chores today, and had no strength left to spare for her husband's needs.

Then a question worked its way into the forefront of her mind. She opened one eye, waited for Rod to take a breath, and asked, "Why are you herding cows down to Chester Bates this week? I recall his letter made an offer to trade them for wheat. He won't be harvestin' for a month or more."

"I have a pressing matter to take up in that country, and I reckon it won't wait until then." Rod scratched his chest above the neck of his nightshirt. "I figure I may as well make one trip as two. Chester will bring us the wheat."

She whispered, "If you're goin' after James, that's entirely the wrong direction." Pain at the unexpected loss of her son made her body quiver.

"I know that, woman." Rod's voice had taken on the soft gruff tone he used in tender moments when he felt vulnerable.

Annoyance that he didn't expand his answer drove Julia to shift her weight, rise on her elbow, and open both eyes to stare down at him. "What aren't you tellin' me?"

After a long moment, Rod turned his eyes away and said, "I have an errand."

"Roderick Owen, don't you be speakin' nonsense to me. What errand takes you away from work at this season?"

When his hand flew to his head, she barked at him, "Don't be a-worryin' that scab or it won't never heal. What's the truth?"

"It's a little errand for Marie," he admitted, tucking his hand under the covers.

"Marie?" Surprised, Julia almost missed Rod's failure to explain himself further. When she had gathered her wits sufficiently to notice his silence, she poked him in the ribs. "What business does the girl have in the Cuchara country?"

Rod sighed. "She accused me of neglecting her welfare. She wants a husband."

"No!" Julia sat up.

"She made it plain she's woman-grown and expects me to get her one."

She looked at Rod. "You're not--"

Rod cut her off. "She said young Tom is twenty. I had no notion."

Julia shook her head and sighed in turn. "Your matchmaking has an ill reputation." She sank back onto the bed. "Does she have her cap set for Tom Morgan?"

Rod shifted one of his legs. "I've had him in mind for years."

"I asked does Marie want him?"

He shifted the other leg. "She didn't say me nay." After another long pause, he continued, "I'll know more when I get the two in the same room."

"What?" Julia sat up again, her back stiff.

"Julie, shh."

"You're takin' my daughter down country with a passel of cows?"
~~~

Thank you for visiting. Come back every Saturday for more samples. Now, use this list to go to other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors enjoy comments as much as I do, so don't be shy.

Copyright 2012 Marsha Ward

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Coming soon: Interview with YA author Tamara Hart Heiner

On June 21, I'll post an interview with YA author Tamara Hart Heiner. Tamara's first book was Perilous, and the sequel, Altercation, was published on June 5. That's right, yesterday.


Because my interview is part of a Blog Tour for Tamara's new book, it's important that you know she has a Giveaway connected with this tour. Also, it's important that you comment on the interview so we'll have at least ten comments on her so you can qualify to enter her fun Giveaway.

Here is how Tamara told me it works:

"Since this is a blog tour, EVERY DAY I will randomly select one person who made a comment on that day's blog. The winner will then get to decide if they would like an ebook copy of PERILOUS or ALTERCATION. That means I'm giving away 21 ebooks! And all you have to do is leave a comment! There's just one catch: there must be AT LEAST ten comments on that day for me to do the giveaway.

"But if that's not enough, leaving a comment also gets you entered into the PRIZE DRAWINGS. This won't be random; it's cumulative. Every comment you leave counts as 1 point. If you are a follower on my blog, you get 1 point. Every time you tweet or share on Facebook about the tour, it's one point. I'll even add it up for you; just include me in on the tweet @tamaraheiner or on Facebook @tamarahartheiner (unless you don't trust my math, and then feel free to tally it up and send it to me).

"THIRD PRIZE: 50-page critique of something of your choice (if you're not a writer, a $5 amazon.com gift card)
SECOND PRIZE: lot of five YA books
FIRST PRIZE: $20 gift card to Amazon.com"

What a nice chance to win either Perilous or Altercation and get into the Prize Drawings, too! Click on this link to follow stops on the Blog Tour, make comments, and be counted.

Saturday, June 02, 2012

Sweet Saturday Samples - June 2, 2012

Welcome back to Sweet Saturday Samples! Today I'm offering merely a teensy little bit of a scene I wrote this week. This is because I inserted the names of a friend [and fellow author] and her husband in the story, and I don't want to spoil the surprise. She won the opportunity to have her name included, by bidding in a silent auction at a recent writers conference. The proceeds went to a charity benefitting the poor children of a village in another country. Thank you, Mysterious Friend! 

My second reason to keep this short is that I would reveal too many plot spoilers if I gave you everything.
~~~

Mr. Thorne [called out the man's name]. His cheerful voice gave little indication that he was aware that the male occupant of the buggy had a pistol trained upon him. "Put that away. It's me."

The man reined in the buggy horse with one hand while he gave the gun to his female companion. Then he said, "I thought you were up north, Thorne. What are you doing in my neck of the woods?"

"Having a bit of an adventure. . . . Meet my old friend [name redacted]. We worked together on the riverboats."
~~~

Thank you for visiting. Come back every Saturday for more samples. Now, use this list to go to other blogs for more Sweet Saturday Samples. I know the authors enjoy comments as much as I do, so don't be shy.
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