Count Down to June 8th with Debora Dennis

Ack! Seven Days. I said it would go fast! I just didn't realize how fast until it snuck up on me and bit me in the... *cough* uh, behind.

I'm excited though, because for a week, I'm going to celebrate my book release with my closest friends. You...and my wonderful writing friends from Passionate Critters. Years ago, when I joined PC, I met Debora Dennis. She's the mother figure in our group, always with an encouraging word or a firm reminder to do what's right.

...plus, she's from my corner of the world, and on my last visit there, I got to stop in and have coffee with her. :D And it was just like we'd  done it a dozen times before. When my husband poo-poos the idea of meeting and truly making friends online, I have proof through Deb and my friends at PC that it is possible.

Thanks for being here, Deb! I've got my virtual bakery open because in my house, a celebration doesn't go by that doesn't include Cake and Ice Cream. So, what'll you have?

DD: Ice cream cake - I'm a sucker for the Carvel cakes with those chocolate crunchies in the middle yummo!
Oh man! Do you know what i remember and love about Carvel? We'd go during the summer with my grandparents and if you ordered a cup of ice cream with sprinkles, they POURED the sprinkles on with a fairly generous hand. I love sprinkles!


My followers know that I love history. Which is the reason why I can't wait to get a hold of your new book, A Pirate in Her Dreams. What do you love that drew you towards writing a story about pirates?

DD: History has always been something I loved, it was always my favorite subject in school. But, true to my eclectic style, I can't say that there is any one particular time in history I love the most. When a hero pops into my mind, he usually shows up dressed in period clothing and I hear accents in my head - that's when I know where I'm taking my readers next. My next hero happens to be a pirate and it's truly been a fun adventure.



Your most recent book is your first Indie Published book. Of your four books, which was the most fun to create?

DD:Whatever I'm currently working on is always fun, because I'm going to someplace new (in case you're wondering, I am known in my house for not paying any attention to my GPS and making turns to the unknown. There's just something special about finding some place new!) Indie Publishing give me the opportunity to take my readers to new times and places, and I love that.

Which Hero/Heroine pair is your favorite? [Mine is still Fistful of Fate's William and Rebecca!] I love their story, a true ghost tale. You captured my attention with that one, Deb.

DD: William and Rebecca from A Fistful of Fate will always have a special place in my heart, probably because they were truly my first couple. Their bond across two hundred years still resonates with me, I'm so thrilled to hear that they touched you too, Bethanne!

When you made that first sale, how did you celebrate? 

DD: My husband brought me home flowers and a chocolate mousse cake (and I think I ate most of it myself!)

That does sound good, though...

If there was one book--of all the books and stories you've ever read--that you could live, which one would it be?

DD: Something Wonderful by Judith McNaught. Alexandra Lawrence is just an average country girl and when she first meets her hero, the Duke of Hawthorne, she has no idea who he is, only that he's a man being robbed at gunpoint by highway thieves - she rushed to his rescue dressed in armor astride her twenty year old horse. She's a heroine with moxy and I was instantly drawn to her. 

Tell me about your next project? Will you continue on with Indie Publishing?

DD: When my pirate story is done, my next project will take me to the old west! Right now I plan to write my adventures in whatever time period calls to me. I will continue to explore all my publishing options with each and every book.

Oh yes! I love that you feature stories from all different eras. I've read a few good westerns, too! :)

Thank you  for being here, Deb. I wouldn't have gotten this far without your help and the help I've received from all the gals at PC.

DD: Thanks Bethanne, for giving me the opportunity to join in the thrilling ride of celebrating your first release!

Deb is offering a copy of her book, A Knight in her Arms to one lucky commenter. :D It's a good one! A time travel, too.

Excerpt:

Hannah Falcon loves her job cataloging medieval artifacts and setting up the displays at the Natural History Museum in New York City. What she doesn’t love is her friends insisting she date more. When a man dressed as a medieval knight shows up in the museum, Hannah mistakes him for her friend’s latest attempt at a blind date.


Sir Gavin of Rogueforth is a battle-hardened twelfth century knight who expects nothing more from life than to live and die by his sword. Sent through time to protect a woman named Hannah and claim her as his own, he expects a reward. He doesn’t expect a woman who refuses to be protected.


Can one passionate night, ten days before Christmas, convince a twenty-first century woman to follow her heart and show a medieval knight there's more to life than being a protector?

What I wrote in August of 2007

PEN NAMES!

How had I really come up with all these names to call myself...???

I'd been writing for 3 years and liked the idea of writing under a name. The romance. The mystery.

I actually still use my email address for Morgan St. John.

1. Montana Grey, still my favorite alternative even if I don't write westerns.
2. Rose Matthews, a combo of children's names...
3. Bailey Morgan, apparently too modern or fadish. Besides, I like drinking Bailey's so I can only imagin someone calling me a getting a 'yes please!' in reply!
4. Dakota Morgan, Does it say stripper to you?
5. Cait(y) Madison, my sister is Kate...I don't think my DH would appreciate people walking around calling me that. Love the spelling though! and love the Madison.
6. Harley Matthews, okay...it is a little tiny bit too fadish, but it's like the me I'd love to have the balls to be.
7. Tracy Pearl - NO! I shiver just typing it and wonder how it ever got on the list!
8. Magnolia, no last name...now there's an idea.
9. Fiona Baker, I do love to bake and have considered opening a pie shop but that name on one of my books? Just isn't going to happen.
10. Magdalynne, I think I have a story started with this name as a character. Seems like the only reason is would end up on a pen name list. Like the name...but for characters only!
11. RoseLee Morgan, another family name combo, a little too southern for me. Not that I won't someday live in the south. It's just as likely as me living in the midwest or the west...or the north for that matter.
12. Morgan Matthews, PHEW, a mouthful.
13. finally, the WINNER, Morgan St. John - I really love this name. Family Combo and classy to boot.

For What it's Worth, it's been five years since I started this blog. I've got an anniversary coming up in July!! I can add one more name to that list. Penny Dune. 

And then, I finally decided it was too much work. :P 

So here I am, just me, Bethanne Strasser... a romance writer [and wife and mother and cook and baker and chauffeur and tv enthusiast and diabetic].

*Shrug*

*waves*

Hiya.

Stick with me as I sift through old posts and plan a celebration for later this year.

:D :D :D 

Merry Christmas

This weekend I celebrate the birth of my Lord, Jesus Christ. I'll head to church and receive him in the Eucharist. I'll stay up late Saturday night, putting gifts around the tree, our reminder to each other that we should be more like God who gave us the greatest gift of all. With my own family around me, we'll make a cake and sing Happy Birthday.

I'm going to think of all the pain Jesus' mother, Mary, went through, bringing him into this world. In my quietest moment, I'm going to be proud of my Catholic Faith, the ONLY one that holds a woman in the highest regard above any other human being [except Jesus :D].

When I look at my children this year, I'm going to thank God for each and every blessing--Virginia, Matt, Thomas, Sean and Darla. That he called me to be a mother to them over anyone else and that they came from the Love [of God] that my husband and I share. No one can take that power from me. God's way is the most powerful presence in my life.

I pray for all mothers as I start the New Year that they will understand the POWER of motherhood. Even in the bible, the only person who could turn Jesus' head, the only person who could make him perform miracles before his appointed time was his Mother. Today [the day of Jesus' birth], in history, more than 2000 years ago, women were given the Power of the Almighty God.

That is something worth celebrating.
With Love,
Bethanne

PS See you after the New Year!