Wednesday, May 27, 2015

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Rita Lee Chapman, Author

Rita Lee Chapman, Author
DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS
MISSING IN EGYPT
WINSTON - A HORSE'S TALE
Australian author Rita Lee Chapman brings us her latest novel, DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS, described as a crime mystery thriller about “a woman whose first husband's exploits are wreaking havoc with her new life.” The author of a romantic travel mystery and a book for horse lovers, Chapman wanted to appeal to both male and female readers so turned to crime fiction.

Chapman is spending her retirement writing novels. Besides writing and reading, she enjoys playing tennis, socializing with friends, and walking around Australia’s beaches, rivers, and lakes.

Don't miss the short excerpt from DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS following the interview.


Q: You’ve written a romantic travel mystery and a book for horse lovers. What drew you to write your latest book, a crime mystery, DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS?

Rita Lee Chapman: I wanted to write something that could appeal to both male and female readers.  WINSTON – A HORSE’S TALE was very definitely targeted at horse lovers and I felt that MISSING IN EGYPT probably appealed to women more than men.  Actually it’s very hard to write for men as most seem to prefer very straight-forward, down-to-earth writing, without the frills and romance!  I thought J.K.Rowling achieved it well with her book, The Silkworm, written under the pen-name of Robert Galbraith, as I really did think it was written by a man.

I enjoy reading crime mysteries and watch quite a few crime shows on TV, so I thought it would make an interesting change.  Also, you get to kill some of your characters off!

Q: How do you create compelling characters that engage readers? When writing in different genres such as you’ve done, do you find that you create characters in a similar manner? Or, do you reveal unique characteristics differently depending on the genre?

Rita Lee Chapman: Creating characters is similar in any genre.  Possibly my female lead characters may display similar characteristics as, so far, they have always been nice people!  In DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS Cathy’s husband, Geoffrey, was born in the East End of London and his speech and expressions were fun to write.  I could hear Dennis Waterman’s voice (from The Minder and New Tricks) speaking to me as I wrote.  I also enjoyed writing the Sargeant’s character.

Q: Reviewers tout DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS as “chilling.” How do you create a “chilling” story? How relevant is suspense toward a compelling read?

Rita Lee Chapman: I think readers expect suspense in a mystery or crime novel.  You have to be a bit ruthless and try to add some shock value.  I must say I was surprised by the use of the word “chilling” in a review of DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS, but then I knew what was going to happen!  I do think what one reader would find chilling, another might not. 

Q: Why did you choose to write DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS in first person? Did you find it helpful or restrictive?

Rita Lee Chapman: I like writing in the first person; I think it is easier to portray what your characters are thinking and feeling.  I overcame any restrictiveness by switching characters.

Q: Do you find the concept of heroes vs villains useful in developing a compelling plot?

Rita Lee Chapman: Definitely.  I think every crime mystery has to have at least one hero and a villain.           

Q: Do you write your books strictly to entertain readers or do you try to deliver a message or educate as well?

Rita Lee Chapman: DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS was just for entertainment, but I did try to deliver a message in WINSTON – A HORSE’S TALE.  So much cruelty to animals is caused by well-meaning people not knowing any better.  When I wrote MISSING IN EGYPT, I had recently visited Egypt and been amazed – it is so different to anywhere else in the world.  So many of their temples are in such great condition that it is not hard to imagine how they must have been in their heyday.  I wanted to try and capture the essence of Egypt for those who had been unable to visit and those who wanted to relive the experience.

Q: You selected Egypt as the setting for your romantic travel mystery, MISSING IN EGYPT, because it is “a mysterious and intriguing country,” ideal for a mystery. What about the setting for DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS? Did it help define the backstory for your crime mystery?

Rita Lee Chapman: My books, so far, have all been based partly in Australia, because that’s where I live it’s the most familiar to me.  It’s also beautiful, by the way.  I have also been lucky enough to have travelled to several different countries and I like to include those experiences in my stories.

Q: Do you like to mix romance and mystery? What about humor? Does it help to flesh out your characters and engage readers?

Rita Lee Chapman: Yes, I love to mix romance and mystery.   Romance makes the world go around!  Most people have a love interest in their lives so I think it makes the characters more engaging.  As for humour – I’d love to write comedy but the best I can manage is a few one liners.

Q: What’s next?

Rita Lee Chapman:  At the moment I’m busy promoting DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS but I am thinking about writing another book in the MISSING IN….  series.  I’d like to follow up on Anna’s later life and see what else she gets up to.  I think we’ve both learned a lot since MISSING IN EGYPT!

Q: Tell us about Rita Lee Chapman. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Rita Lee Chapman: Like most writers, I’m a prolific reader.  Some of my favourite authors are Kate Morton, Bryce Courtenay, Barbara Bradford Taylor, Colleen McCullough, Dick Francis, Mary Higgins Clark, Jeffrey Archer, Fiona Walker and Rebecca Bryn.

I also like playing tennis (enthusiastically, but not very well), walking around our lovely rivers, lakes and beaches and socialising.   We have made some lovely friends since we retired to Queensland and share some great lunches and dinners.

Thank you for having me on your blog, Joyce, it’s been fun.

About Rita Lee Chapman

Rita Lee Chapman was born in London and moved to Australia in her early twenties.  It was only when she retired that she wrote her first novel, MISSING IN EGYPT, a romantic travel mystery. 

WINSTON – A HORSE’S TALE followed, written for horse lovers like herself.  “It was the book I had to write.” 

Her latest book, DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS, is her first foray into crime mystery.


An ex-husband, a new love, a stalker.  Cathy Thompson’s link to her ex-husband fills her life with threats and intimidation.  She must either trap her stalker or find Geoffrey to put an end to her life of fear. 


Chapter 3 Love Calls Again

I remember turning the radio dial to my favourite station as I went up the hill towards work.  As I coasted down the other side I touched the brakes lightly to steady the car as I approached the sharp left-hand turn.  It was a bad corner, where trucks often misjudged the angle and spilt their load across the road.  I remembered the feeling of fear as I pushed the brake pedal harder, still without any response.  I pumped the brake a couple of times but my foot was flat to the floor and the car was out of control and heading towards the safety barrier.  I knew there was at least a fifteen foot drop on the other side.  I was told afterwards by the police that the driver of the car behind me said the car flew over the guardrail, landed half way down the hill, rolled and landed on its side at the bottom.  I remember the sound of metal against metal as the car hit the guardrail, but I was going too fast for it to stop us.  I could recall the feeling of flying through the air and the thud as the car landed but  I was unconscious when they pulled me out. 



MISSING IN EGYPT will intrigue you with its twists and turns, romance and adventure as well as its insights into Australian and Egyptian cultures.  Australian Anna Davies travels to Egypt with her lover to help him search for his brother, who disappeared whilst on holiday.  The Valley of the Kings, Abu Simbel and the Temple of Karnak are amongst the settings for their search.  Will they be able to track him down and find him alive - or is Ramy already dead?  What tragedies await Anna and Kareem as they come closer to retracing his footsteps?  This fast-paced action plot will keep you guessing until the end.




One for horse lovers!  Winston is a good-looking palomino horse whose life involves several different owners and many adventures.  As you read his story, told by Winston himself, you will appreciate horse ownership from the horse’s point of view.  Born on a country property in Australia, Winston
tells of his breaking-in and education and the different people he encounters – good, bad and ignorant.  As well as his own story, Winston includes the experiences of other horses he meets along life’s way. 

Whether it’s jumping, eventing, hunting or just hacking, Winston tries hard to please his rider. Follow his successes and his failures from his breaking-in to his show jumping win. It is an eventful life – the story of one Australian horse out of thousands, but one that you will remember.


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Monday, May 18, 2015

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Erin Zarro, Author, SciFi, Fantasy, Horror


Erin Zarro, Author
GRAVE TOUCHED
FEY TOUCHED
Erin Zarro likes SciFi and Fantasy because “anything goes.” She places her latest novel GRAVE TOUCHED, the second of the Fey Touched Books, in the science fantasy genre. Reviewers tout her “ability to write with such emotion and feeling” and appreciate her characters, which Zarro attributes to the “distinct voice” she gives each one.

Zarro is working on the third Fey Touched book in addition to the next novella in a series about women rescuing men. She also loves horror and believes it “speaks to the very core of a person.” She lives in Michigan with her husband and cat and, when not reading or writing, enjoys photography and camping and hopes to re-learn French.



Q: What draws you to write in the genres of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror? And in which genre would you place your newest novel, GRAVE TOUCHED (FEY TOUCHED BOOK 2)?

Erin Zarro: I'm drawn to sci-fi and fantasy because anything goes. You can make up your own world, or create a futuristic version of our world (which is what I did with the Fey Touched series) and there are no limits and no rules. As for horror, I think it has a lot to do with the horror novels I'd read throughout my life – horror speaks to the very core of a person in different ways. Everyone has a bit of darkness within. And, I'm on a mission to scare myself. ;)

I'd place my Fey Touched series in the science fantasy genre. There's genetic engineering and time travel mixed with alchemy (magic) and healing. The series is firmly in both, not one or the other.

Q: Can you explain your title, GRAVE TOUCHED – without spoiling the plot for future readers?

Erin Zarro: Grave Touched came along when I thought about the Hunters' afterlife, and what would happen if something went wrong. Except the Hunters don't bury their dead. So it was a challenge to come up with something that fit within the FT world because I really liked the name Grave Touched.

Q: How do you make your story believable? How important is credibility to readers of your genre?

Erin Zarro: Very important. I try to use actual scientific things that could be plausible in a few hundred years, such as telepathy, time travel using virtual reality, and...some other stuff I can't reveal. I try to build from what could happen and go from there. I hope I succeeded. ;) But yes, to tell a good story, it must be believable within the constraints of our world and future.

Q: A reviewer of the first FEY TOUCHED book praises your characters as “fascinating, their motivations clear and their storylines are compelling.” How do you engage your readers to care about your characters in a make-believe world?

Erin Zarro: I think voice had a lot to do with it. When I write characters, they all have a very distinct voice and way of looking at things. I try to go deep into the character's psyche and figure out what makes him or her tick. It's always an organic process – I never plan on those details ahead of time.

There is also my characters' motivations. I gave them some pretty heavy stuff. And that's what drove the story and their character progression.

Q: How helpful was the use of humor either to create your characters or tell your story?

Erin Zarro: I had a lot of humorous moments in FEY TOUCHED, and some in GRAVE TOUCHED. It goes back to a character's voice. Some characters use humor to cope with things. Others are just funny. I like having a bit of comedic relief, especially in tense scenes.

Q: Did you write GRAVE TOUCHED strictly to entertain or did you want to deliver a message or educate your readers?

Erin Zarro: Probably a bit of both. I wrote it primarily to answer a question I had that intrigued me. But I did want to show how important love is, how it can change absolutely everything.

Q: Does the concept of villains vs heroes apply to GRAVE TOUCHED? What makes a good villain? 

Erin Zarro: There were two main villains, and I had a blast writing them. There was a definite line in the sand with my Hunters and the villains. I think a good villain must have a driving force – something he or she wants so badly, he or she will do anything to get it. But I also learned that there was a human side to both villains, and that made them more real to me. So I think they need both a driving force and a human side to be a good villain.

Q: In addition to writing novels, you also have written and published books of your poetry. Do you still write poetry? What can you say in poetry better than in prose? Do you prefer one over the other?

Erin Zarro: I do write poetry sometimes, though not as much as I used to. Poetry is a different form of expression, and there are fewer words to express what you're feeling or thinking, so it's very challenging. I don't typically write formal poetry, but I will occasionally, and that's even more challenging to say what I need to say and follow the rules.

I think some things can be said better in poetry, if they are handled right. I love using metaphor to express myself, and I think it's a bit easier in a poem.

I prefer novel writing, simply because I am long winded. ;)

Q: What’s next?

Erin Zarro: Well, I have a novella in the works that continues the story I started in UNDER HER PROTECTION, an anthology about women rescuing men. I'm also working on Fey Touched book #3, Ever Touched, figuring out plot and character stuff (although I do very little planning ahead), and I have an older project I'm rewriting on Sundays.

Q: Tell us about Erin Zarro. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Erin Zarro: Reading mostly. ;) Photography, watching TV (I have a few series I'm addicted to, such as Game of Thrones and Bones), camping in the summer, and relearning French.

About Erin Zarro

Erin Zarro is a poet and novelist living in Michigan. She's married to her Prince Charming, and they have a cat, Hailey, who she believes is part vampire.

To pay the bills, Erin works as an office manager for a small marketing firm. In her spare time (what's that?), she writes madly. She also enjoys photography, music, website design, and, of course, reading!

She is terribly hard to scare, loves a damn good story, and wants to be a full time novelist when she grows up. She self-published her first novel, FEY TOUCHED, through Turtleduck Press in 2012.  Currently she is working on Fey Touched book #3, Ever Touched, as well as a few other projects.
FEY TOUCHED – humans, genetically engineered for immortality and flight, tasked with protecting the rest of the world from rogue Fey...
GRAVE TOUCHED – dead souls in search of living bodies to possess, especially those who’ve had a brush with death...
When Fey Touched Hunter Emily wakes up in a hospital, she doesn’t know that she was in fact dead. Nor does she know that her lover, Nick, broke all kinds of rules to bring her back. But the grave touched do.
Fey Touched Healer Asha does know that her mate, Joe, saved her when her abilities nearly killed her. And she knows the voices in her head are the grave touched trying to stake their claim. Asha needs Joe’s help again, but unfortunately she’s the only one who believes the grave touched exist.
The grave touched are plotting to take over the corporeal world, and they’re gaining strength. Only Emily and Asha stand in their way – and both are about to be possessed.
Grave Touched.
Asha is the Queen of the Fey, genetically engineered immortal humans who feed on human souls to survive. But she's running from her people. When she is found by her enemy, one of the Hunters of the Fey, she expects to die. Yet he's oddly intrigued by her, and Asha finds herself falling in love with him, hoping she can find safety and the home she's been seeking. Then she's kidnapped, and everything changes.
Fallon is a Hunter. She's looking for her long-lost sister, using an addictive drug to search through the stream of time. Her addiction leaves her dangerously exposed to her enemies but, consumed by her search, she doesn't care...until her fellow Hunters start dying from a mysterious illness. She is torn between duty and desire, and must find an answer before they all die.
What Fallon doesn't know is that Asha might just be the key to saving them all, if only she can find her.
And time is running out.
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Wednesday, May 13, 2015

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Tom Reitze, Author

Who is Tom Reitze? What kinds of  stories does he write?

Tom Reitze wants to tantalize us by easing us into his writings one short story at a time in a collection he calls STORIES OF A DIFFERENT NATURE. He at least lets us know that he doesn’t write in a specific genre. Rather he says his “genre is somewhat like a tossed salad.”

He has written a book, but he’s holding that back, too. For now, he just wants to let you know about his first short story in his new collection, just published, titled DATE WITH A CHAIR. He’s only telling us that he didn't write it "to produce joy and happiness", but it might stir some controversy.

When he’s ready, he’ll let us know about his next story in our series of interviews. Until then, he’s revealing himself by responding to one question at a time. 

Q: Before I ask you specifically about your first short story, can you tell us what caused you to decide to write and release a series of short stories? Are they related to each other? What can you tell us about them in general? What genre are they?

Tom Reitze: About five or six years ago I wrote a full-length book that I desperately want to publish. I wanted to present my personal beliefs, which are based on logic and those developed by simply living, as a contrast against those that people have by accepting unbending doctrine. I hope I did a good job because it took four years to complete the book. But I will say it was no task of fatigue. I loved every minute writing it. It would take a big effort to publish it though, so as a first foray into the business I thought I would start with something smaller. I’ve found writing short stories to be very enjoyable. So once I started I kept going.

The stories are not really related. But many of them do have a common thread of the supernatural. But they vary in nature from the series to the comical.

There are different styles of writing that I use, and I cross a wide range of subject matter. I think you will see that as more of the stories are released. I enjoy writing humorous material, but sometimes I’m pulled towards darker side of things. I think it depends on my mood, or perhaps some gray event that stirs my thought process .

Ha! As to genre, they’re splattered all over the place. I think I would get bored not letting my mind wander to any place it wants to. I think my genre is somewhat like a tossed salad.

Q: Do you believe paranormal fiction offers a useful vehicle to both tell your story and to deliver message or educate your readers? Or do you use it basically to make your story entertaining?

Tom Reitze: Yes I think that is true, paranormal fiction is a good method for conveying information. I’m not sure I believe in it, but I do think it is a good way to put some of my ideas out in the open. Many people are interested in the subject; maybe it will draw them to my work. Let the reader decide if what is presented is viable. I never want to present myself as understanding everything. I believe everyone’s opinion counts.

I think the entertainment value is what most people are looking for in these types of work. I also believe you can use the element of the paranormal to capture peoples attention and have them pay a little bit more attention to the details of the story. That way you can convey some ideas people would overlook otherwise. I think that goes for writing humorous pieces as well. Don't get me wrong, I'm not out to present some great insight I think I have. The stories are often presented as nothing more than what you see. Then there are times I will present some that are more serious. The intent then is to have the reader continue to contemplate the story after the last page is turned. You'll have to wait some time for one of those though. They are somewhat rare.

Q: What can you tell us about your first story, DATE WITH A CHAIR? Will it scare us? Amuse us? Make us happy?

Tom Reitze: This first story is not one I created to produce joy and happiness. Those are coming; don’t worry—along with tales of mystery, the supernatural, sheer craziness, and the power of love and kindness. I think this one will capture your attention in that it’s presented in an unusual location, with a strange juxtaposition between the main characters. A third character enters the scene and muddles the situation even further.

This story may present some controversy. I’m waiting myself to see the reaction to a few of the concepts it presents. Will it scare you? It’s not a deep thriller if that’s what you mean. But I think it is somewhat captivating and I hope people read it freely and with an open mind. I hope people capture the basic proposal that is the support of the story, and it makes them think a bit.

Q: What’s next? Or do you prefer to keep it a secret until it’s ready for release?

Tom Reitze: Well, I like to keep the specifics of what’s next locked in my closet. However, I will say again, my stories cover a wide range of topics. You could find any kind of tale popping up next. There are silly ones, and some I hope that might make the reader sit back and think about things a little differently. I hope people appreciate them, and maybe even allow their minds to be opened by a few of them.

About Tom Reitze by Tom Reitze

“I am a very opinionated individual and was sure I knew what was wrong with society and how to fix it. I planned to write a series of editorials and bind them into a book. Before I started, I realized no one in the world would give a damn about what this unknown writer had to say. I decided to expose my feelings in the form of fictional stories, something people would be more likely to read.

"My 22 lb. cat, Horus agrees. He is very opinionated as well. 

"I am contradictory. I will present one idea at one time, and then write another story that presents the opposite concepts. I like to believe I am a person willing to listen to and consider both sides of an issue. Some of my writing is serious, some of it is supernatural in nature, and some of it is humorous (I hope).”

About STORIES OF A DIFFERENT NATURE by Tom Reitze

“STORIES OF A DIFFERENT NATURE is my first foray into eBooks. One at a time they will sneak out and onto Amazon over the next several months. There is a novella ready to make a surprise appearance “between the stories” as well. Watch for them. Give them a try. Let me know what you think at dragonflybooksandart.com  and review them on Amazon.

"Horus and I are ready for you to read the stories. I hope you like them.”

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Monday, May 11, 2015

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY: Jaimie Hope, Author

Jaimie Hope, Author
THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO HOME:
THE SARA RHEA CHRONICLES
Jaimie Hope brings us a novel, THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO HOME: THE SARA RHEA CHRONICLES, based on her own experiences. Reviewers say there were “times when I laughed out loud and other times…my eyes were blurred with tears.” Hope admits it is a mixture of romance, new adult, and even suspense. She believes her characters become real when she puts them in “real-life” situations.

Hope also writes children’s books and has published a new adult novel along with her autobiobraphy, and she runs her own business, Back To Basics Publishing and Author Services. She is working on Book 2 of THE SARA RHEA CHRONICLES, along with many other works. When she’s not writing, she likes music, movies, and sports.

Don't miss the excerpt following the interview.

Q: You have based your book, THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO HOME: THE SARA RHEA CHRONICLES, on a true story. What inspired you to write it? Is it about your life?

Jaimie Hope: While I took a lot of creative licenses writing it, this story is based on real-life experience I had after moving back to New York from Florida.

Q: How would you characterize THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO HOME? Is it contemporary women’s fiction? New adult? Memoir? Suspense? Romance?

Jaimie Hope: Honestly, I would describe it as all of the above. Well, maybe not Memoir since I did add fiction to facts. However, it is definitely a Romance and a New Adult book. I didn’t realize it was Suspense until I started getting messages from readers asking if I was going to write a sequel so they could find out what happened.

Q: Your reviewers say the book caused them to feel deep emotions and that your characters were “easy to relate to.” How did you enable your readers to embrace your characters so that they cared so much what happened to them? Were your characters based on real people?

Jaimie Hope: The main characters were based on real people that I know well. While I think knowing their personalities helped, I think putting characters in real life situations gave them their relatability.

Q: How helpful is humor to telling your story and/or creating your characters?

Jaimie Hope: Humor is a key element to character development and plot for me. It helps the reader get out of their own heads and into the story when they can feel they are having fun along with the characters. Also, humor in a character helps make them relatable since most of the humor is by way of sarcastic interaction.

Q: Did you write THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO HOME primarily to entertain or were you trying to educate or deliver a message?

Jaimie Hope: I started out writing this book with the goal of entertaining, but there is most definitely messages in it.

Q: You have also written children and young adult books and your autobiography. Which do you enjoy more—writing a book for adult, child or youth readers? How do you approach one over the other?

Jaimie Hope: Each genre is so different that it’s hard to say I like writing this genre more than that genre.

Children’s books are much harder to write than novels for adults. Trying to write a full story in the confines of a few pages is harder than it looks. Then there is the task of balancing the words of the manuscript. The words can’t be beyond the comprehension of the age group, but it also can’t be so simple that it seems like you’re talking down to them. It also has to teach them something while being entertaining. After that is done, there’s the illustration list to be created. It’s a lot of work, but very rewarding.

That’s not to say that writing for Young Adults or Adults is any easier, it’s not. However, you don’t have page number constraints, your story ends when it ends. You also don’t have to worry as much about your word choice to get your point across. It sounds easier when you look at it that way, but that’s not necessarily true. Being able to write a book filled with as many pages as you deem necessary and whatever words fly out of your fingertips as you strike the keyboard gives you more time for your story to unravel. It’s important to pay attention to the characters and how they’re developing. If they aren’t developing, the story probably isn’t moving. A story that isn’t moving isn’t one anyone wants to read.

Q: Does the concept of “heroes vs. villain” play a part in telling your story? How would you describe a villain? Do you need a villain to have a hero?

Jaimie Hope: I didn’t do the hero vs. villain thing in my story. Readers might disagree with me and argue they thought one character was a villain of sorts, but it wasn’t what I intended. I define a villain as someone who purposefully tries to foil the plot for the main characters. None of my characters did that.

No, I don’t think you need to have a villain to have a hero. All that is necessary for a character to be considered a hero is for them to grow and overcome something.

Q: Your biography says that you decided to become a writer in high school. What made you decide to be a writer? Have you enjoyed it?

Jaimie Hope: I’ve actually had an interest in writing and telling stories since I was very young. At that time, I also wanted to do a number of different things as well. Writing for the school newspaper really fanned the flames and re-stoked the flames of writing for me. Now more than eight years and eleven books later I can honestly say that I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any other way.

Q: What’s next? I assume since this is “Book 1” that there will be at least one more Sara Rhea Chronicle? Other books?

Jaimie Hope: There will always be another book! Book 2 is in the works, so is a new Children’s book and many other works.

Q: Tell us about Jaimie Hope. What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Jaimie Hope: When I’m not writing I am usually doing something else in the creative/literary realm. In addition to writing, I am also a business owner. I own and operate Back To Basics Publishing and Author Services, which offers everything from editing to marketing assistance to authors. I am also a blog host with a blog tour company and an Internet radio talk show host.

When I’m not working I enjoy all things music, watching movies and sports.

About Jaimie Hope

Jaimie Hope was born November 3, 1976, in New York. It wasn't until high school, where she joined the newspaper staff, that she decided she wanted to be a writer. After graduation, the author went to college and received an Associate's degree in 1999. In 2002, she moved to Florida where she was an active volunteer in the local historical society and the Deltona Regional Library. In 2006, she moved back to New York where she released her first Children's book, The Adventures of Baby Jaimie. She followed it with a Young Adult novel, Bless The Broken Road. She also published her autobiography, Roll With It. She is planning to re-release book one of her New Adult Romance/Paranormal trilogy, The Sara Rhea Chronicles: The Road That Leads To Home and a new Children's Book series, along with releasing all her other self-published titles under her new publishing company, Back To Basics Publishing and Author Services in the fall of 2014.


Based on a true story…

Sara's life was going along peacefully until she got the early morning phone call that changed everything. Now she finds herself heading back where she began, home. Not only does she have to deal with a difficult older sister and helping to keep the family’s inn afloat; Sara has to work alongside her high school sweetheart, who still looks as gorgeous as ever and her feelings that she saw all this coming. Her dreams and nightmares seem to come true right before her eyes. It has to all be a coincidence, doesn't it?

Excerpt

“He was with someone when I came home from college.”

“No, not really. He went out with her once. He wanted you to think he had someone since he told you he wouldn’t wait for you. He wanted you to be jealous. Guess it worked. He was crushed when you moved to Florida. He really thought you were going to stay, everyone did.”

“So did I. It just didn’t work out that way.” Reflectively she added, “It's funny how things turn out. When I was growing up, I didn’t think I’d ever leave this area. I never wanted to. Most kids I went to school with couldn’t wait to graduate so they could travel, but James and I just wanted to stay here.”

“What changed?”

“I thought when I came back I would take my place here at the inn, but when I got here, I found out there really wasn’t a place here for me anymore.”

“You’re a Rhea, you always have a place here.”

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