Maria Michaels's Blog
January 23, 2015
Release Day!
I honestly wasn't certain Jack and Maggie's story would ever be told. It has had more than one re-write (the I lost count amount) but the story wound up exactly where it needed to be. And the answer was a dog. Who knew?
What happens when you move three thousand miles away but still can’t outrun the nightmare?
Fleeing from haunting memories, former U.S. Marshal Jack Butler winds up next door to his biggest nightmare: an attractive widow and her troubled daughter—a teen who reminds him of a past he’s yet to make peace with.
Maggie Bradshaw is struggling to raise a rebellious teen and to forgive in-laws who betrayed her in her time of greatest need…but her new neighbor is a godsend. Her daughter Lexi needs a positive influence in her life, and a law enforcement officer is the perfect choice.
Unfortunately, Jack isn’t interested in helping...until a stray dog walks into all their lives.
Can God use a grieving daughter and a stray dog with an ulterior motive to bring healing to all?
October 26, 2014
October 23, 2014
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face ...
I'm excited that the sequel to Harte's Peak will release on January 23, 2015. It feels like it's been a long time coming. Jack and Maggie's story was actually the first book that I ever finished writing so it feels like a first born child.
No, really.
It took me 14 months to write the first version. It was submitted through the slush pile and turned down by Harlequin Love Inspired about three months later. By then I had started writing Vera and Ryan's story. I participated in a fast track submission with Harlequin and got a request for the synopsis, followed by a request for the partial, followed by a request for the full. Sounded pretty good, right? But in the end, it was rejected again. Cue the violins.
But then I subbed to White Rose Publishing and they offered me a contract. By that time I realized why Jack and Maggie's story had been rejected. It had many problems, most of them first book problems, including a lack of emotion due to weak POV. I worked hard to make it better and wouldn't sub to WRP until I felt it was good enough. They accepted the much better version of it earlier this year.
Sometimes the journey is worth the wait. I feel much better about having my name on this finished story. I would never want to put anything out that isn't the best I can do.
Here's an excerpt:
"That’s not a dog. That’s a walking furry garbage can." Ryan frowned.
"If you clean him up, I bet he’ll look like a dog again," Mrs. Jones said with a finger wag.
"That’s mighty optimistic of you, Mrs. Jones." Ryan walked to the other side of the office, holding his nose.
"It’s under control," Jack said.
Surely Calhoun would take pity on the dog. Man of God and all. How could he turn this poor animal down?
"I’ll be going home now." Mrs. Jones rose to leave, and both Jack and Ryan moved in her direction, but she held up a hand. "And I don’t need any help."
It took Mrs. Jones several long minutes to make her way to the door, during which Jack stared alternatively at the mutt and at Ryan, who stood, body wound tight as a new guitar cord. He wanted to open that door, but he also knew better.
"What will you do with that?" Ryan frowned in the direction of the dog after Mrs. Jones left.
"I thought you loved dogs." The mutt stared at him. Jack stared back.
"I love dogs. That thing isn’t a dog."
"Oh c’mon, stop exaggerating."
"We’ll need to have the station fumigated now." Ryan went around the office opening windows.
"Take him home, and tomorrow Calhoun will take pity on him," Jack said.
"I can’t take him home. I live in an apartment. At least you live in a house."
"I can’t have a dog." He stopped short of saying that he didn’t want any attachments even though it was the truth.
"Like you told me. It’s just for one night."
He lived in a house with no lease, a month to month arrangement with a landlord so desperate to fill the vacancy that she didn’t mind a short timer.
Because that’s what Jack was around here, and no amount of pitiable dogs, elderly ladies, troubled teens, or beautiful mothers would change that.
September 11, 2014
Goodreads Give-away - three print books
Harte's Peak by Maria Michaels Giveaway ends September 30, 2014.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.
Enter to winSeptember 5, 2014
Excerpt from All of Me ...
“No, it’s not a good idea. I need wide open spaces when I’m around you,” she added.
“It’s not like you have a lot of choices.”
“Wow. I’ve waited all my life to hear a guy tell me that.”
“C’mon, Ivey. Let me help. Just stay the night and we’ll figure things out in the morning. You don’t have much time to decide, because this offer is going to be rescinded in about ten seconds. And then what will you do?”
“I’ll figure something out!” But she took another pointed look in the direction of the FBI. One thing you could say about those men was that they didn’t look friendly.
“Yeah, and there is the park. Of course, the bench isn’t very comfortable, and Burt won’t let you sleep on it. I tried once.”
“Look, I don’t want to be any trouble.”
“Ten, nine, eight, seven . . . ” He began the countdown.
“Would you stop counting?”
“Five, four, three . . . ”
“Fine! If it will get you to shut up, I’ll stay with you. Temporarily.”
August 28, 2014
Welcome Author LoRee Peery!
Pelican Book Group author LoRee Peery has graciously agreed to my interview today. Her new release, Creighton’s Hideawawy, releases August 29th. Needing to finish her thesis in order to keep her job working with youth in a residential treatment center, Shana Arnold sequesters herself on Creighton Rice’s Nebraska ranch. She expects the secluded hideaway to provide a peaceful environment. What she doesn't expect is to become the victim of identity theft and a crazed home invader.
Creighton Rice has been content to live alone with his God--until he meets Shana. He's drawn to her, but must fight the attraction. Getting close makes him face a lifetime's accumulation of scars. Plus, Shana doesn’t share his faith. But when Shana's life is threatened, Creighton must protect her--even if it means letting her in.
Will Shana discover that even when a woman loses everything, she can regain courage and strength through faith in God, and can Creighton allow God to heal scars and open the door to a lifetime with Shana?
Welcome to Romancing the Writer, LoRee. I’d love to hear a little bit about your journey to publication.
It’s been a long road. Ups and downs and curves and road blocks. Redirected routes and blessings.
How long have you been submitting your work to editors and/or agents?
The first embarrassing endeavors were twenty years ago. I had so much to learn and should have never sent a thing. Looking back, of course, it was all part of my learning curve.
How many years have you been writing?
Around thirty. I started with journals and a few classes and it took some time to find my niche is romance.
Which, so far, is your favorite character from one of your own books?
During the creative process my favorite has to be the heroine whose story I’m working on. I see the world through “her” eyes. There is something special about each one as she faces and overcomes the obstacles before her. One name did pop into my head when I read the question and that’s Geneva Carson from Rain on My Parade. I often giggled over her discoveries.
Do you have any advice for authors as yet unpublished?
Write. Write. And write some more. Read everything that catches your interest. Learn your craft. Study your favorite authors’ works. And don’t forget to pray.
What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
Never give up if you believe in what you’re doing.
As long as you love it, keep at it.
What does your typical writing day look like?
It depends on what stage of the writing and what day it is. I’m fortunate to have one unbroken day a week with no appointments or obligations. My dream day would be (and it worked this way for six months after I retired): I wake up with coffee and a devotion or Bible study lesson. I walk. I write from 10 am to 2 pm (my peak productive hours of the day)
If you had to do it over again, what would you do differently, if anything?
I honestly couldn’t come up with an answer for this. God’s timing is what I cling to. We each grow at specific rates designed for us as individuals. I believe the struggles and the rewards come when He wants them to, and they are all part of what we face and what we learn from.
What are you working on now?
Oh, I’m excited to say I’ve just submitted a time travel story that is so different from anything I’ve ever written. I mentioned a learning curve, this story is the first I ever wrote without editing until I typed The End. I’m looking forward to complete the brainstorming and plan to write another rough, unedited draft during the month of September. No details because I am reluctant to talk much about any WIP.
Thank you for being here today, LoRee. Here's where you can find Loree:
August 5, 2014
Almost Done!
Self-publishing means I have full control. I'm in charge of covers, final edits, titles, galleys, formatting, cover reveals, blog tours, Facebook parties, and anything else I've forgotten.
But the best thing about self-publishing is dipping my toes in the Indie world, where I have many author friends who claim the water is fine.
Mostly, I hope that no one will see this little journey of mine as a slap in the face of traditional publishing. I still love that world, and will continue to be a part of it. This isn't an "us" versus "them" scenario. It's about choices. And funny, because this is a theme in All of Me and this is probably not a coincidence ... 
July 18, 2014
Cover Reveal - ALL OF ME
This is Ivey and Jeff's story.
I've been working on different versions of All of Me for years. Feels like many more than two years, but it actually has been "only" two years. Waaaay too long for most books.
COMING OCTOBER 2014
July 5, 2014
Reverie by Christina Yother
Orphaned at a young age Hetty is convinced that her circumstances make her unworthy of having a family of her own. When a job opportunity as a housekeeper presents itself Hetty accepts believing that working for Isaac Wheeler and his family is a welcome, if not temporary, surrogate for her own family dreams. As she’s faced with learning to trust she discovers that wanting a family and building a family are two very different things. Will she learn to see herself as worthy of God’s gifts? Or will she return to the solitary existence that defined so much of her life? Isaac Wheeler, successful furniture maker and dishonorable bachelor, finds Hetty’s presence in his home to be disturbing and a haunting reminder of his past sins. As he struggles with his growing and unwanted feelings, he can’t help but torment himself with mistakes from his past. Can he navigate the family tensions, infidelity, and sudden choices destined to keep them apart? Or can Isaac endure each struggle and seek forgiveness before discovering what truly makes a family?
Available NOW on Amazon!
About Christina:
Christina Yother is a historical and contemporary romance writer. She has been involved with writing, blogging, and social media for several years and earned a PhD in 2012 by writing one of the first dissertations to explore how women build community through writing online. She lives in small-town Georgia with her husband and three children.You can find her writing at christinayother.com or at projectunderblog.com where she runs a submission-based collaborative writing blog that celebrates the smaller voices in the blogging community.
Christina loves to connect with readers!
Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
CONTEST * CONTEST * CONTEST * CONTEST !
July 2, 2014
Return of the Rebel ~ ~ Jennifer Faye
Hi. I’m so happy to be here. :-)
It’s hard to believe that a year ago my debut was just hitting store shelves and now my fourth release is out. It’s terribly exciting to see a lifelong dream come true. It just goes to prove that no one should give up on their dreams. They do come true.
Now a little about THE RETURN OF THE REBEL…
Jax Monroe is a reformed bad boy with a good heart. Cleo is a good girl with a guilty conscience.
Reunited beneath the bright lights of Las Vegas, can this childhood crush turn into something more? Or will secrets and danger destroy their chance at real love?
TOP PICK! RT Book Reviews 4.5 Stars ~
"Faye's romance tugs at the heartstrings and the surprising element of suspense is the perfect addition to make this one fly off the shelves.
Here's a quick excerpt of Return of the Rebel ~
“You’ve got to trust me.”
Cleo arched a disbelieving brow. “Says who?”
Little Cleo had certainly gained some spunk. Well, good for her. It was also a relief to know she wasn’t still carrying that crazy torch for him. The last thing he needed at this critical juncture of his life was more complications.
Her finger poked his chest. “You’re up to something and I want to know what it is.”
Her tone brooked no room for debate. He wouldn’t be wiggling out of this confrontation with some flimsy story.
“You can start by explaining your need for an alias.”
“Just leave it be.”
She shook her head. “I can’t look the other way. We aren’t kids anymore. This is where I work and I can’t let you jeopardize my job.”
Cleo’s voice rose with every word. “But if you turn around and leave now, we can forget we ever saw each other.”
He doubted he’d ever be able to wipe her sexy image from his memory. Her polished persona stole his breath away. She may have been a cute kid, but she’d grown up to be a real knockout. And as for leaving here now, he wasn’t about to do it. He had as much right to be here as any- one else.
Cleo leveled her shoulders and tapped her foot. He hated to tell her but if she was angling for an intimidating pose, she’d missed her mark. She was more alluring than scary.
Get your copy today! Thanks for being here today, Jennifer!
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