A New Muse & My New Friend

by Iona Morrison | May 1, 2016

My guest today is Author Susan Jean Ricci. I invited her to my blog to tell you about her new book Falling for Niagara.

     A New Muse & My New Best Friend

            When my publisher Annie Acorn recently asked if I’d like to write a short story for her Romance anthology, I did a mental roll call for a hidden muse lurking around, who might be interested in this project.

After all, the muse usually inhabiting my persona is a mischievous vixen, not to mention a tad naughty. Surely, a softer substitute would be needed for me to achieve a sweet romance story.

Since there was a deadline involved, the muse I usually rely on cried, “Foul,” and decided it needed a vacation pronto, especially when she realized she had to be replaced.

Gah! Naturally, Annie soon called me, looking for an update. She asked me how the work was going, but I wasn’t about to say, “No where.”

So I faked it. Told her it was humming along. She asked me what the working title was, but this I couldn’t fudge.

Then, bam, all of a sudden, a tiny voice suggested, “Tell her it’s called Falling For Niagara.”

My publisher told me she LOVED the title – so there I was, stuck with it, for better or worse.

I had a great title, but no story.

I did, however, have a new, albeit shy muse.

Just wondering if this has ever happened to anyone else? 

            Anyway, I’m deep into sleepy time a few days later, when afore-mentioned muse woke me up with a knock-knock and a great idea.

It was caffeine time for me even though it was 3AM.

The story progressed nicely, even though my vixen muse stood on the sidelines giving my romance muse obscene gestures, which thankfully went unnoticed.

Soon Falling For Niagara was about to be finished, but the story didn’t have an appropriate ending, or not one I was satisfied with.

I tried to get strict with my new muse, but she was tougher than me.

She shared I should dig deeper within the story, flesh it out a bit more, and the answer would come.

She was right!

            It’s nice to know that, as an author, you can call upon unused resources when you’re stuck out in left field, with no hope of catching a fly ball.

             Great to realize, too, you can make a new best friend with another muse you’re unfamiliar with, or didn’t even know existed.

Thank you, Iona, for allowing me to share my new journey. Falling For Niagara is one of the sweetest stories I’ve ever written, and I’m happy with it.

The blurb:

Niagara Falls – a lovers’ destination if ever there was one, but keep in mind that the world in the award-winning, Cindy’s Crusades series is always a bit topsy-turvy. Given the odds, even the iconic romantic setting may fail to work its magic, as an alpha male who hasn’t bothered to date seriously and a talented young woman who believes she has already seen it all are thrown together in this warm-hearted, stand-alone story.  A pair of binoculars, a chance meeting, and an accommodating waiter all conspire to create a bit of Heaven on Earth as the beloved, From Women’s Pens author Susan Jean Ricci weaves her delightful tale, filled with the love and humor for which this wonderful series is noted.  So grab your raincoat and find a place on one of the fall’s many observation decks. You won’t want to miss this one!

The buy links  – Falling For Niagara:

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1pwscen

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1MRBv40

Nook:  http://bit.ly/234f9xX

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DinosaursCherryStems/

My website: http://www.susanjeanricci.com/blog.php

Author page on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PxE4ab

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Susanjeanricci

The Game Changer

by Iona Morrison | Mar 26, 2016

Coming Soon: The Game Changer (A Blue Cove Mystery)

Jessie is busy getting her new bookstore ready for its grand opening when deliveryman Evan Foster arrives with an order of books. To her shock, the suddenly distraught Evan tells her that he has seen her in a dream. She is the only person who can help him find his missing wife. Jessie calls her boyfriend Matt, the chief of police, and almost immediately, a picture of the abduction forms in her mind. Jessie is once more involved in a case. Missing files, strange fetishes, and general chaos worry Matt, but when a note shows up in Jessie’s mail, they are off and running following the new clues. Three separate cases merge into one, which takes them from Blue Cove to Palm Springs. A kidnapping, a stalker, and illegal weapons converge with the dark arts of voodoo, pushing Matt and Jessie to their limits. They are running out of time as the dark perpetrator stalks Jessie.

A Visit With Author Nancy Walker

by Iona Morrison | Mar 8, 2016

I would like to introduce Nancy Walker to you. She is an author friend that I met through another mutual friend and social media. I’ve asker her to tell you about herself and her book. I read ‘ANYTHING For Anna!’ and enjoyed it very much.

Hi, Iona and friends, and thanks for your interest!

Born in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, I’ve been living in Switzerland for many years now. After acquiring my diploma in radiological technology, my plan was to work in Switzerland for two years, and take advantage of being in Europe to travel.

I found a job in the town of Sion in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Using my knowledge of school French, conversing with colleagues and patients, I was fluent in about two months. I did indeed return to Canada after two years, but it was an impossible time to find a job. After six months of unemployment, I wrote to the Swiss employment agency. Their answer was positive, but my heart pounded when I read,  ‘If you can speak German, we have a job for you in Zürich.’  I had had taken one year of German in school . . . for fun! A week later, I was on a plane, frantically translating body parts from English to German in hopes of being able to know what it was I was supposed to be x-raying! It was the beginning of another great adventure.

Life happened . . . and I ended up staying here. I live in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, which I have grown fond of.  The town I live in is similar to where I grew up. It’s medium-sized, by a lake with a huge park and beach. In the winter, a half-hour drive (up and) away are snowshoeing paths and well-groomed cross-country ski trails. An hour and a half and I’m in the Alps! Switzerland, geologically speaking, is bit like a miniature Canada. Nothing is far away. And it’s wonderful to be able to visit a city like Rome or Vienna on a whim, for just a few days, at little cost.

Ah yes; I’m here to tell about my writing! Since I was very young, many of my school projects were written story-style. My sisters used to find my postcards entertaining. When I had children of my own, I invented a new story every night for them. Once my daughter asked me to retell a story, but I couldn’t recall it. She was only three, but she solemnly suggested that ‘it would be a good idea for Mama to write her stories, so she wouldn’t forget them.’ The idea stuck. I became a student at the Children’s Institute of Literature, which not only helped me to learn to write, but also how to handle the marketing aspects; essential if one wishes to be published. I have now published hundreds of stories for children’s magazines (my first story was published in 2000) and have had ten picture story books published, translated into different languages, under the name of Nancy E. Walker-Guye. If you read High Five, perhaps you are familiar with Harriet, Felix and Max. I am their Mommy. 🙂

I soon acquired a routine of working at my day job in the mornings, and writing in the afternoons. All these years later, I still try to stick to this schedule.

As my children grew, I had more time, and decided to take the course with the Long Ridge Writers Group to learn how to write a novel for adults. It was a huge challenge, and I absolutely loved it. The first result was ‘ANYTHING for Anna!’

It’s a story about Karyn, a young widow, who struggles to figure out and use her gift to save her dear friend’s life. My book is available on Amazon and the link is: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JSW11UY. (When writing for adults, my pen name is Nancy Ellen)

If you’d like to know more about the book, and my published works for children, please check out my website at http://nancyellenwalker-guye.com/

I am on FB: https://www.facebook.com/nancy.ellen.507, and I’d be thrilled if you’d like to visit, and perhaps ‘like’ my author’s page at: https://www.facebook.com/NancyEllenAuthor/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel.

Presently, I am completing a second novel; Ruby Love.

My novels do not fit easily into genre slots, such as mystery, romance, fantasy or women’s contemporary. There is a little bit of all those things in my stories. A golden ribbon of faith, love and magic ties them together.

Apart from writing, I enjoy piano playing, as I have since I was nine years old. I also have a lovable Bernese Mountain dog who takes me for walks every afternoon when I’m ready for a break!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Soon to be Three

by Iona Morrison | Feb 19, 2016

My first two books are soon to be joined by a third. I’m thankful for finding the joy of writing; for actually writing books, for risking my pride to send them to a publisher who took a chance on an unknown. (Thank you, Wild Rose Press) I’m so grateful for each of you who have supported me by reading them. There are more to come, just so you know. I have enjoyed this new phase in my life and all of the people I have met. I have new friends in so many places that I chat with on a daily basis. I’m grateful for this moment in my life.

You can find me on twitter at: https://twitter.com/ionacrv

If you haven’t joined me on FB yet please stop by check out my author’s page.
https://www.facebook.com/Iona-Morrison-Author-53431950662…/…

Some of my new book swag, mugs and a journal.

 

I’ve never been her before. A special moment for The Harvest Club (Bestseller on Kindle) and for me. October 2, 2015

Interview With Inderjit Kaur

by Iona Morrison | Feb 8, 2016

A living series talk-Iona Morrison