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 Blurb
When the FBI brings Laura Roberts - a quiet, reserved bookkeeper - in for questioning regarding activities at the warehouse where she works, an uneasy Laura resigns her job - only to be attacked by thugs. Chase Donovan intends to spend a few peaceful days on his boat getting his head together - and finds a woman being assaulted by two men who say his father told them to do it. Chase doesn't want to believe his father could hurt anyone. Laura doesn't understand why she's a target. Can they learn to work together to discover the truth - before someone dies? Buy Link http://www.amazon.com/Magic-Moment-Angela-Adams-ebook/dp/B012E7RI1U/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1454463538&sr=1-1&keywords=magic+moment+by+angela+adams Excerpt Caught up their new-found passion for each other, Chase and Laura almost forget that they are on the run from some dangerous characters. “Time for this later,” she breathed into his ear. “First, I want to see our new window.” He rolled off her and flipped over on his back. “You sure can kill a mood.” “I’ll be back.” She slid off the bed. “I want to see our window.” “No, too late.” He propped himself up on elbows and looked down at his pelvis. “You ruined it.” “I can fix that easily.” She knelt on the window seat, staring out the casement. Chase loved hearing her say our window, jointly, together, like regular, sharing, married people. It felt right. Her divorce notion…He had gone along with her because it was the easiest thing to do. But Chase was convinced he and Laura were good for each other. He had at least nine long months to convince her. “Chase,” she said, her voice wary. “What? Did I forget a nut or bolt?” He swung off the bed and stood beside her. She whirled and looked at him, her previously amused green eyes now alarmingly wide. “Chase, there’s a man watching us.” Author Bio Writing and reviewing contemporary romances, Angela’s work has appeared in Romance at Heart,Oysters and Chocolate, Whipped Cream Reviews and Long and Short Reviews. Her short story, “Burgers and Hot Chocolate” was included in the anthology, Winter Wonders, published by Whimsical Publications. Magic Moment was previously published by Crimson Romance, featured in the romance suspense bundle, Running to Love, and is now part of Amazon Encore. Angela also writes under the pen name, Angela Raye, and was a finalist in the 2011 Hook Line and Sinker Contest sponsored by Hudson Valley Romance Writers, and a 2014 finalist in The Shelia Contest sponsored by Valley Forge Romance Writers. Reviews "Magic Moment by Angela Adams draws you in from page one. Not only is this an addictive romantic suspense, but Chase Donovan is such an incredibly sexy character. Watching the two characters grow closer together as they work to find out the truth about Chase's father is excellent. If you love romantic suspense, you'll love this book." --A Girl and Her Kindle "If you enjoy romantic suspense, then Magic Moment should be at the top of your list! Traveling with Chase and Laura from Philly to Magic Lake Island to Sea Tower, MD really ramps up the intrigue. Throw in the FBI and some thugs and you're hooked! The ending comes with a twist that I didn't see coming. All in all, it's a fun read!" --The Romance Reviews
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 What is your greatest temptation: In women: (chuckles) Apparently, tall blonde fillies from Virginia. I didn’t know that until Becca McQuaid waltzed into my life. Needless to say, women who love horses have a very definite advantage. If that is the case, then why isn’t she with you? Becca is beautiful, rich…and spoiled. That isn’t the problem. In fact, I could use a few pence to restock the family fortune. I have the castle, so to speak, the title, and the status that comes with those. Becca is shopping for a title to go with her money and she is determined to buy my horse. I’m not willing to sell either. Game over. In food: I suppose my childhood dictated my taste in food. Our cook prepared traditional English dishes. I’m quite partial to lamb, mint jelly, peas and roasted potatoes, but Yorkshire pudding is high on my list of favorites as well. In clothes: I spend most of my days—and some nights—in riding gear. To keep us both fit, I work Gambler’s Choice every day with Sundays off for rest, so, I wear riding breeches, mostly beige, with a polo shirt or sweater in cooler weather. I must whisper in confidence that I enjoy donning my tuxedo. What is your greatest weakness (example: like mine cars)? Horses, hands down. I’m an avid 3-day eventer and extremely competitive by nature. I relish the preciseness of dressage but the thills of the cross-country phase really get the adrenaline flowing. If you could have any kind of car, what would it be? A sterling gray BMW Z3 roadster. When they hit the market, they were called Land Sharks because of the long hood. I find the lines and the performance spot-on. Your dream home - mountains or ocean? I’m quite content in my little village in Somerset, UK. I sense a story in your relationship with Becca. How did you meet her? At an event hosted by my neighbor, but quite prestigious. Becca was horse shopping. The problem became…she set her mind and very strong will on my stallion. As circumstances would have it, I suffered an accident—but that is the story of the book, aptly titled Gambler’s Choice, not only my horse’s name but also a class in a horse show, singularly appropriate in our contest. In the class, riders ride to the clock, only those with clean rounds (no faults) go on to the next one. The fences are raised with each round, jumping higher and racing time, until the final pair is left to take the blue ribbon.  Born in South Carolina, Linda has lived in England, Canada, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta and Houston. She’s seen a lot of this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer, having bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses for many years.
Linda has won several writing awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers Magnolia Award. She is the mother of two wonderful sons, a retired legal assistant, member of the Houston Symphony League, and enjoys events with her car club. Among her favorite things are her snazzy black convertible and her parlor grand piano. She loves to dress up and host formal dinner parties. Twitter: @LNightingale Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaNightingaleAuthor Buy Link: Web Site: http://www.lindanightingale.com – Visit and look around. There’s a free continuing vampire story. Blog: https://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/ - Lots of interesting guests & prizes  Emily Bradshaw waited over twenty years to see Connor again…
When her childhood friend, Connor Walsh, returns home to see his ailing father, Emily is elated to be reunited with the handsome man who moved to London so many years ago. But excitement fades to disappointment when he doesn’t remember her—or their first kiss. With her crush on Connor still in full swing, she’s determined to enjoy the short time he’s in Fermosa Bay, even though she knows her heart will break when he returns to his life in London. When Connor receives news that his biological father is terminally ill, he returns to Fermosa Bay, Australia. With memories of his childhood tucked fondly in the back of his mind, returning to the small, coastal town leaves him to wonder how life would have been if his mother had never taken him away. Would he have been married and had children? Perhaps with Emily Bradshaw… Secrets from long ago begin to unfold… As Connor and his father grow closer, Connor learns his parents have a broken love story of their own. Will the echoes of the past lure him into staying, maybe for good? Or will he relive his parents’ tragic story and flee to London? Walking away from a real chance at true love… Purchase links: AMAZON US: http://amzn.to/23ZYPS5 AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/23ZYVJw AMAZON AU: http://bit.ly/23ZZ27R MEET THE AUTHOR: Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion. Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters. Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrisBlobel Twitter: https://twitter.com/_iris_b Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel  Today I'm interviewing Elizabeth Camden, the main character in Colleen Myers's book Musts Remember. Please introduce yourself for those who haven’t met you in your author’s other books. “My name is Elizabeth Camden. I was kidnapped by alien’s. Wow does that feel freaky to say. I live in Solum right now.” Tell us about your family. “My parents are Mary and Zachary Camden. I grew up with them, but I am closest to my mom. My dad, lets just say he found a new family. I haven’t seen him for years. Not that I need him. Ass.” How did your upbringing influence who you are today? “My mom showed me the type of person I want to be.” What was your first thought when you met the hero/heroine? “Zing.” Why did you fall for him/her? “When he let me fight my own battle.” Why did you choose your occupation? “Well it really chose me. There are not many occupational options on Solum. What are your strengths? Weaknesses? Determination I guess. Stubborness would be what Marin would say. What is the biggest hurdle you had to overcome? “Not remembering the past.” If your story was made into a movie, who would you want to play you? “Hrm. Emma Stone.” Do you have any hobbies? “Killing E’mani or growing plants.” How would you spend a free day? "Cuddling and pretending the world hadn't changed." Blurb Nineteen-year-old Elizabeth ‘Beta’ Camden is a survivor. When the E’mani—those pale alien freaks—destroy Earth with a plague of madness and scoop up the remains, Beta is one of the ‘lucky’ ones. For years, she endures their tortures, experiments and games. Then one day, she manages to escape their ship with her life, and no memory of her time with them. Stranded on their world, Beta wanders the mountains, looking for a way home. She stumbles onto the Fost—the E’mani’s ancient enemy. Their war with the Imani is old and rooted in magic that the Fost once had and the Imani crave. Magic Beta soon discovers she’s developing along with strange tattoos and disturbing glimpses of her past. The Fost take her in and train her in their ways. As she spends more time with them, she falls in love with their culture and with Marin—he of the hot hands and slit eyes. But the E’mani took her for a reason and they want her back—dead or alive. If Beta doesn’t remember that reason soon, they’re all going to die. Excerpt: Oy. No more weekday frat parties for me, no matter how noble the cause, especially when I have a test the next day. What was I thinking? And last minute cramming with a headache was not a good idea either. Forget it. My eyes drifted to the clock. And now I was late. Damn it. With a sigh, I threw down my pencil and scrambled up, my head throbbing. I traded my Eeyore jammies for skinny jeans and a fitted white t-shirt. Shoes, where were my shoes? Gah. I ducked and rooted around in the deep, dark spaces under my bed. Hmm, the green dress I borrowed from Sarah. Mental note: I need to return that. English book, various dust bunnies of uncertain lineage…there. Sketchers on, I grabbed my backpack, turned up my iPod, and ran out the door. No time to primp. Good thing the campus I lived on was small. There was a big central courtyard--the quad--filled with towering oak trees and wide--open spaces surrounded by squat school buildings and classrooms. If I hurried, I’d make it… I raced into the quad out of breath and slowed, turning in a complete circle. Huh. No one around. Unease skittered through me on soft paws. The courtyard was always busy. I pulled my headphones out of my ears. Was there some sort of event I didn’t know about going on? The unnatural silence pressed in on me for a second as the echoes of my steps faded. Then screams--men’s and women’s--poured from Main Street. I broke into a run and shot between the buildings toward the sound. Cars littered the intersection. Some guy rear--ended someone else, causing a chain reaction down the road. A horn blared nearby and a faint breeze blew the smell of gasoline, smoke, and copper my way. Clusters of people stood among the wreckage. In the closest group, a short dude around my own age, nineteen, twenty maybe, bellowed at a huge, hairy bear of a man with a too tight grungy white t--shirt with his belly hanging out. The short dude wore a ton of bling, pants hanging low. He rushed toward his opponent with his fists out. Though why the hell was he fighting that behemoth? Talk about lose lose. The bear didn’t hesitate. He hammered a punch to the dude’s temple and knocked him out cold. One hit. Bam. Holy shit! My stomach dropped. I covered my mouth and backed up until my butt hit brick. Buy links: Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016ST45VQ/?tag=colsmyeautpag-20 Barnes and Nobles – http://tinyurl.com/BN-must-remember Kobo – https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/must-remember All Romance/ARE café – http://tinyurl.com/ocfgdm3 Champagne books – http://tinyurl.com/champagneMustr Social links FB - https://www.facebook.com/ColleenSMyers/ Twitter. https://twitter.com/ColleenSMyers Goog + https://plus.google.com/u/0/114862374558510360435/posts pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/csmyers3637/  Colleen S. Myers grew up on Harlequin teen romances and stories from her mother’s days as a paramedic. A native of Pittsburgh, she attended Allegheny College majoring in Biology and English. After college, she spent a year in the AmeriCorps before attending Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine on a military scholarship. Colleen did her residency at Andrews Air Force Base and was on base during 9/11. After seven years of active duty and three meritorious service awards, she landed a position with the VA to provide primary care to fellow veterans.
Still an avid reader, Colleen’s was inspired her to hone her craft as a writer, focusing on romance and science fiction. Her background in medicine and the military became the basis of the Solum series and her debut book, Must Remember. The sequel, Can’t Forget, won the 2015 RWA New England Readers Award. Distant Memory will follow in 2016.
Today I'm interviewing Katherine Fleet and featuring her new novel, The Secret to Letting Go. Hi everyone! First I’d like to thank Connie for inviting me here. I’m Katherine Fleet, debut author of “The Secret to Letting Go” from Entangled Teen. It’s a YA contemporary set in a fictional town on the Gulf Coast of Florida during that magical summer after high school graduation where the whole world is out there waiting for you. It’s the story of two teens, Clover and Daniel, who are both dealing with tragedies from their past and discovering what it means to forgive themselves and truly move on. But while life keeps throwing them together, their secrets keep them apart. 1. What do you do when you're not writing? I have three kids and I live on a Caribbean island, so I have a pretty busy, but fun life. I spend a lot of time chauffeuring my kids, but I also like to do yoga, and to bake, cook and have adventures with an amazing group of ladies. Of course, I also love to read and binge watch my favorite TV shows! 2. What would your fans be surprised to know about you? Hmmm…I have two fun facts. First, I learned how to fly a glider and a plane before I finally learned how to drive a car. Second, I love over-the-top, Hollywood-explosive, kick-ass, cheesy-one-liner action movies. I don’t even care if they are bad. I will still go and see it, because then I get to make fun of it for years to come. 3. What inspired you to write your first book and how did you choose the genre you write in? I’ve always been an avid reader, and I’m a romantic at heart, so I love a good love story. Growing up in the 80s, there wasn’t much in the way of YA literature, so I graduated to my mom’s Harlequins pretty quickly. When I hit my 30s, I felt like I’d read the same tropes so many times and I was looking for something different. That’s when I first started thinking, “I should write my own book.” So, I tried writing an adult contemporary romance. I also tried writing an adult paranormal, but adult books were becoming steamier and darker, which wasn’t a great fit for my voice. Then I discovered YA and everything seemed to click. Authors like Rainbow Rowell and Gayle Forman were writing these beautiful, emotional stories, and I knew I wanted to do the same. 4. Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published? My road to publication was very long! I wrote my first novel in 2003, submitted it and was rejected. At that time, I was really busy with a career and young kids, so I put the writing on hold. In 2007, we moved to Curacao, and with more free time, I committed to the goal of becoming published. I wrote an adult paranormal, a YA paranormal, and then the contemporary YA that is debuting today. But even after finishing “The Secret to Letting Go” in early 2013, it took a solid two years of querying, rejections and revisions, before attracting the attention of my agent and Entangled Publishing in late 2014. 5. How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre? My book released last week, and so far, with the help of my publisher, I’ve done a blog tour, some giveaways, and several guest posts with various book bloggers. I’m not sure yet which of these avenues will work best, but I know that I enjoy connecting with readers through twitter and instagram. 6. Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published? My debut book is the third book I wrote, but I can honestly say that it was the first book that was ready to be published. So I feel lucky as a writer that so far I’ve been able to publish the first book I really believed in. 7. How did you come up with the title? The working title for the book was “Crimson and Clover.” I’d known it by that name for so long that it was really tough to agree on a new name when it was signed to Entangled Teen in early 2015. My editor and I probably went through ~30 options before finding a name we both loved! A main theme of the book is secrets and letting go of regrets, so the final choice is a play on both of these aspects. 8. Do you have any advice to give to aspiring writers? Writing is a craft and a skill, and like any other skill, it gets better with practice. Your first book probably won’t get published, but if you keep writing, you will succeed. Oh, and if you are serious about being a writer, tell people you are a writer. Saying these words out loud to family, friends and even strangers makes it real, and it makes you accountable. It will help you hang in there, even when you are feeling discouraged. 9. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? For me personally, there are several messages in The Secret to Letting Go, but I’d prefer readers to discover their own meaning in the story. I think for any writer, the best outcome is to write a story that sticks with readers even after they finish the last page. So, if this book makes a reader feel happy, sad, angry or emotional in any way and that emotion lingers, then I’ll feel successful. 10. Do you ever experience writer’s block? Not often, but at least once in each book. When I get in a writing slump, I usually step back from the book for a couple of days. Then I re-examine the conflict. If the story doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, it’s often because there’s not enough conflict. My final step is normally to talk to my daughter! She’s great at brainstorming ideas and helping me add in additional conflict or plot twists. 11. Do you work with an outline, or just write? I am an anti-plotter. Before I start writing, I’ll write a one-page summary that highlights the main plot points, the main characters and the main conflict. Then I start writing. I love letting the characters and their conflict tell me where they need to go next. For me, that’s part of the fun of writing. I tried plotting a book once. I took a plotting course and spent a few weeks figuring out all the scenes. When I was done, I realized I had no interest in writing the book anymore. It was like all the magic was gone, and it just felt like work. I still haven’t written that book! Hopefully one day I can go back and pick it up again. 
Book Synopsis:
One summer can change everything... Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble. Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after. BUY LINKS Entangled Page: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-secret-to-letting-go/ Goodreads Book Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26877648-the-secret-to-letting-go Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1682810704 Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-to-letting-go-kathleen-fleet/1123170247 iTunes Buy Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-secret-to-letting-go/id1073591332 Kobo Buy Link: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-secret-to-letting-go Amazon.co.uk: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Letting-Go-Katherine-Fleet/dp/1682810704 Amazon.ca: http://www.amazon.ca/Secret-Letting-Go-Katherine-Fleet/dp/1682810704 
Author Bio:
Originally from Newfoundland, Katherine Fleet gave up the cold winters of Eastern Canada for the year round warmth of the Caribbean. The slower pace of island life has given her time to pursue a long-time goal—becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids around, and having sun-filled adventures with her husband and wonderful friends in Curaçao. She is also a very thankful breast cancer survivor. In 2007, she joined RWA and has enjoyed the support and camaraderie of the YARWA and OIRWA writing communities. She’s participated in NaNoWriMo since 2012 and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her atwww.KatherineFleet.com.
BOOK INFORMATION:
Book Title: The Secret To Letting Go Author: Katherine Fleet Release Date: Feb. 1, 2016 Genre: YA Contemporary Author Website: www.KatherineFleet.com Author Twitter: @KatherineFleet Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKatherineFleet/ Author Instagram: @katherine_fleet Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14439407.Katherine_Fleet Newsletter: www.KatherineFleet.com  Hello Everyone!, Welcome to my Blog. Today I’m interviewing Melody from the book Fool Me Once.
Please introduce yourself for those who haven’t met you in your author’s other books. Greetings! I’m the title character in Melody Joy’s Personal Mystery trilogy (Fool Me Once, Love Me Twice, and Kiss Me One Last Time), by Malena Crockett. My mother named me Melody Joy because she was sure I would grow up to be a musician, like she was. My father’s family name is Provence, which makes sense I guess, since they originated in France – probably somewhere near Provence! The Bainbridge name came from Walter’s family. Tell us about your family. Both my parents are descendants of early Mormons – some were with Joseph Smith and the very early church, and many crossed the plains to move to Utah with Brigham Young after Joseph Smith was killed. I’ve heard some people refer to me as an across-the-plains Mormon, not because I crossed the plains but because my ancestors did. That makes me distinct, I guess, from Mormons whose families came into the church later. My great-great-grandfathers on both sides were polygamists (they had multiple wives and lots of kids). Mormons don’t practice polygamy any more (at least not the ones who follow the official Salt Lake City Church), but I’m only two generations removed from this very intimate, huge family perpetuating system. I have hundreds of second and third cousins, and I have a lot of siblings – mostly sisters in my case. That makes for very interesting family dynamics. How did your upbringing influence who you are today? How did it influence who I am? It influenced virtually every aspect of my life. That’s one of the reasons I wrote my memoir. I wanted to share the experience of what it’s like to be a “modern Mormon woman” – because there’s still a lot about that experience that people who are not LDS never hear about, and those who are in the church never think about – it’s just part of their reality, but it impacts everything they think, do, and say. Being a devout Mormon isn’t a Sunday-only kind of a thing. Dedicated Mormons eat, sleep, and breathe their religion. They teach their children all about the church and about the Mormon beliefs from the moment they are born, and spend a lot of time at church and doing church-related things even during the week. For me it was a pretty safe way to grow up – I was protected from a lot of the hazards facing kids my age. It kept me away from drugs and alcohol and sex and other potentially negative influences, but it also kept me in something of a bubble. When I finally did find out that the rest of the world could be both really cool and really harsh, it was a very difficult awakening. I’m still learning about the world on “the outside,” and I’m still pretty conservative in my behavior most of the time (at least as compared to most of the rest of the people on the planet). On the other hand, I don’t go to church nearly as much as my mother would like me to anymore! I’m not sure how that’s going to work out. Women’s roles in the church appear to be expanding, gradually, but they’re still very rigidly proscribed and most Mormon women don’t see the limitations because it’s the only way of life they know. I wrote my story for them – for the women who start to see things differently and don’t feel like they fit, for the ones who want to try something else but don’t know how, for the ones who are afraid to change because they don’t know what that change will bring. My experience is proof positive that you can live through change, whether voluntary or not, and come out better and happier for it. What was your first thought when you met the hero/heroine? My first thought when I met Walter? I actually talk about that in my memoir – Fool Me Once. It’s the story of my life with Walter and all the turmoil we’ve been through together. The first time I ever laid eyes on him I nearly ran into him and knocked him down. I didn’t see him until I had actually bumped into him. It was mortifying. I just wanted to go hide, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of him because he was so beautiful to look at! Why did you fall for him/her? Oh – so many reasons. He was gorgeous, he had those gray eyes and fine features. He was smart, he was articulate, he had a slightly warped and sarcastic sense of humor – similar to mine. He had a very sexy singing voice and could play the guitar and sing at the same time. It was something I could do, too, so we spent time on our first few dates making actual music together. That’s about the most romantic thing you can do, really – singing together can be a deliciously sensual experience. We had a lot of common interests – music, books, hiking, sports, travel. We had a lot of fun playing together for a while there. Why did you choose your occupation? It kind of chose me, I think. There were so many things I could have chosen to do (architecture, music performance, veterinary medicine), but when I was at the point of making those choices I was hobbled by lack of confidence and lack of support. The church has long insisted that women should place their focus on their homes and families and leave the money earning to the men. This was certainly true when I was college age, and even though I went to college and was studying for a bachelor’s degree, there was always that inner conflict about whether I should be pursuing a profession. Plus we married pretty quickly – I was only twenty, and Walter was twenty-three. We needed money to pay bills with, and Walter was taking as many classes as he could handle so he could get done with his degree asap. So I dropped back to taking classes at night and went to work full time to cover the bills. I ended up doing all kinds of things over the years, but ultimately they led me to a paralegal job that was pretty cool, except for the fact that it was a financial and professional dead-end. The only way to advance within the profession was to go to law school and get a law degree. So that’s what I did... and then all hell broke loose. What are your strengths? I love this question! For much of my life, I might have responded with “I don’t have any” but I’ve learned how untrue that is. I have a number of idiosyncrasies that make me unique, and for me those are my strengths – those are the things that make me “own” who I am and use those traits to my own best advantage. Nobody else can be me nearly as well as I can! Specifically, I have the ability to step back from a situation and look at it “From a Distance” to try to get the whole picture. This is particularly useful when dealing with conflict or deception. I seem to have a sort of sixth sense that I can’t really explain to anyone, but it lets me see when people are lying to me. It comes in handy from time to time. I’m also a really good speller. Weaknesses? I can be indecisive. I don’t like giving up options, so sometimes I avoid making choices. That can be a problem if I’m not careful. I’m a sucker for a furry face. Usually that applies to animals, but sometimes it applies to humans. I like the look of a neatly trimmed beard and mustache – so lovely. I have to be careful not to let that sway my thinking. I swear a fair amount these days, but I try not to do it in public. I’m told that’s a weakness, but I’m not convinced. It takes some genuine linguistic talent to become really fluent at cursing. Just ask Spock; he never could get the knack of it. Chocolate. I have a huge weakness for chocolate. What is the biggest hurdle you had to overcome? That’s a really good question. Probably my biggest hurdle is my soft heart. I tend to be too willing to defer my own dreams in favor of helping someone else achieve theirs. This goes back to the confidence and support thing – it has been a pretty dominant theme in my life. If your story was made into a movie, who would you want to play you? Ha! Nobody has ever asked me that question before! I think this comes down to two Emmas – Emma Watson, to play me as my younger self, and Emma Thompson to play me as my older adult self. They both have the ability to play characters who are strong yet vulnerable, smart but uncertain, very capable but very human. That’s how I see myself. I like to hope that when necessary I’m the strong, smart, capable person, but there have been plenty of times when I’ve been the vulnerable, uncertain, very human person despite my best hopes. The combination of Hermione Granger and Elinor Dashwood would be a lot of fun to watch. Do you have any hobbies? I used to play a lot of racquetball and golf – both are great games. Racquetball is particularly useful for blowing off stress. Golf is more stress-inducing, but it’s a good excuse for being outside. I love watching birds and animals in their native habitat, and I like taking photographs. All of those things have kind of leveled off as I’ve gotten busier. Right now when I have a little bit of time I read, and play the piano and sing when I can get a few minutes to myself. And I’m really into researching my family genealogy. Those are some fascinating people….so many stories to tell. Now that I’m just about finished with my own memoir, I’m going to work on telling the stories of my female ancestors. Talk about badass women – they did some amazing things! Someone needs to tell their stories – usually we just hear about the husbands, when it’s the women who kept hearth and home together while the men were out rounding up new converts. Plus, that research will almost certainly take me to Scotland, Wales, England, France, and who knows where else. Any excuse will do! How would you spend a free day? A totally free day? NO worries? No bills to pay? No crazy spouses to deal with? In that case, a day at private beach, with a cabana and a non-stop supply of fruity drinks with little umbrellas in them (those umbrellas are so cute). I’ll need a pile of really good books to read and a dog or two to keep me company. Then I’m good. In fact, today’s a good day – I think I’ll go do that now! It’s been lovely chatting with you; let’s talk again soon! Bye! What an interesting character! I don't know about you, but I look forward to reading the story! Here's further information about the book and Malena Crockett. Buy link for Fool Me Once: http://smile.amazon.com/dp/B015ZB1548 Love Me Twice is in production and scheduled for release later this month. Kiss Me One Last Time will be out near the end of the year - October-ish. About Malena Crockett Malena Crockett is a recovering fairy tale princess and a story keeper. She collect records of Mormon women’s experiences from family histories, pioneer journals, and private and public sources, and weaves them into fictional narratives about the messy, complex and humorous human entanglements that can result from living a Latter-day Saint life. Her characters, like most humans, can be naïve, vulnerable and flawed, but they are more often strong, smart, and courageous, and have to rely on inspiration and heart to work through the challenges life presents. If you're a Mormon, you'll probably find yourself in familiar territory when you read her books. If you're not a Mormon, you'll get a taste of what it's like to be one, from various perspectives. When she's not writing, she likes to hang out at the beach, wiggling her toes in the sand and watching the birds and critters play in the water. Sometimes she takes their pictures when they're not looking. Malena has done time in both the Mormon corridor and the Bible belt, and now lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her beloved human, canine, and feline family. You can learn more about her and her books at www.malenacrockett.com, or follow her on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/malenacrockett.author.storykeeper/) or Twitter @malenacrockett. Thanks everyone, for joining us. I hope you enjoyed the interview as much as I did! Connie |
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February 2019
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