Lena Matthews: Totally Epic!

On 09 July, 2012, author Lena Matthews was a guest on the BTP Slumber Party. Jeanie and Jayha have publically disavowed any knowledge of any shenanigans (of which there were too many to count) that might have gone on, because Jayha was busy shining her halo and The Jeanie was busy doing something with a machete that probably involved slicing bacon. 

Ergo, we can’t personally tell you what happened, but the seven hundred peeps who listened in could…if we hadn’t made them sign the disclaimer. Wink. You should go to the archives and listen to it as it was absolutely epic.  NB: Listening to the episode while at work might not be such a good idea unless you want to explain samurai sword wielding, cowboy ninja chefs amongst other things.

Listen here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/beautifultroublepublishing

In case you have been traveling Deep Space for the past decade in an attempt to escape justice, and don’t know who Lena is, check it:

Lena Matthews spends her days dreaming about handsome heroes and her nights with her own personal hero. Married to her college sweetheart, she is the proud mother of two children, three evil dogs, and a mess of ants that she can't seem to get rid of.

When not writing she can be found reading, watching movies, lifting up the cushions on the couch to look for batteries for the remote control and plotting different ways to bring Buffy back on the air.

Website: www.lenamatthews.com

If you’re interested in helping us convince Lena to write more, drop a comment.

In the Beginning...

Ironically, that is one of my favorite phrases from the Bible. The Book also features one of my favorite characters in the Bible—John the Baptist. John is weird. Additionally, John is unapologetic. Regardless of how challenging it may be to understand and/or accept the context in which they lived during the time the book was supposedly written, it is not difficult to understand what it is to be labeled (especially when it is “other”). Nor is it difficult to understand what it means to believe in something so whole-heartedly that one will risk being labeled, risk being ostracized, risk being alone.

I am not insinuating that either The Jeanie or I have lives anything like the biblical John. I am saying however that if I’d been the one who baptized Jesus there would be some t-shirts and such proclaiming that. But I digress.

When we first went solo (as authors) it was due to our experiences with a particular publisher. While we are quite different in temperament, neither of us likes it when we are not treated decently. We might’ve both been born at night, but it wasn’t last night. We might both rock spectacles, but we can both spot shenanigans. Instead of raising a ruckus, we raised possibilities with each other. “What if we just left? And then a moment later, we decided, “Let’s just go.” We didn't have a particular destination in mind, but we left the plantation regardless.

Our readers on the Jeanie and Jayha boards were fab. They scoured the internet for options for two authors who wrote in niche markets, who raised too many “whys”, voiced too many “why nots” and not only didn't sit at the cool table, but didn't care that we didn't sit at the cool table. One day, Alcira (one of our readers) found Lulu for us and we were off and running. Okay, maybe not running per se, but walking real swift like.

Authors who enjoyed the art of writing, we had plenty of tales but no editor. All we had was spell check and friends who loved us enough to pour over our manuscripts looking for errors. While all of us are talented in various areas, none of us are editors. We had hot stories but no cover art. Those days we used the default cover (plain brown wrapper) at Lulu. We lamented having no covers but we hoped our followers would be swayed by our prose rather than dismayed at the lack of a cover. Ah, but while we knew all the things we didn’t have, we forgot about everything that we did have: friends.

Author Shara Azod took her OWN money and precious time and not only made us covers, but took the time to ask us what we WANTED on a cover instead of simply giving us a cover that she had. If you have ever bought stock photos, you know that photos don’t come cheap. When our pride caused us to protest, she cussed us out. Author Camille Anthony offered to proof our books for free so we wouldn't go out there all exposed. As she put it, ‘putting a book out without editing is akin to wearing a dress outside without drawers...you know it's just a matter of time before a big gust of wind comes along and blows up your dress and exposes you.' Our friends bought our books and forgave us our bad editing and non-existent proofing. Our readers took their time and talked us up to any and every one who would listen. “Hey, have you read that new J and J joint?” was the saying on our boards. Some unknown reader told Rhonda Scales (badazz librarian extraordinaire) about us and she invited us to come speak at the Malloy Jordan East Winston Heritage Center.

When we got this crazy dream about starting our own publishing company, all of those same people supported us. It wasn't the editing or the proofing or the cover art...it was the passion in our stories that they held onto even with the mistakes.

While we enjoyed writing, and wanted to be publishers, first there must be books. When we confided in our friends, they circled the wagons. Our Posse took a chance and wrote for us (Shara Azod, Dréa Riley, Laura Guevara, RaeLynn Blue, and them) when all we had was a freaking dream. We didn’t even have our own website, we simply had a storefront on the Lulu website. These authors had EVERYTHING to lose. They'd already written books. They already had reader bases. They didn't need Beautiful Trouble Publishing but Beautiful Trouble Publishing sure enough needed them.

The former owner of Wicked Women Press offered us her contracts (which are copyrighted as attorneys generally write them meaning you also have to pay your attorney) so we wouldn’t have to start from scratch. Author Savannah J. Frierson edited for us and gave us a STEEP discount. Jim and Zetta spent A LOT of their limited time answering our MANY questions and worked with us to come up with a package that would work for both of us.

Jeanie and I wrote for two years to save for our own website. The web guys at Ed Kemp and Associates launched our website (on Mardi Gras of all days) even though we hadn't finished paying them. "We know you're good for it they told us." And we were because we had so many readers out there buying our books.

While we hoped to be the best publisher ever, we had so much to learn (and still do). We learned that even the best editor needed a proofreader. We learned that there was nothing stagnant about the publishing business. We learned that even a good contract could be made better. We learned that we would take a good story riddled with errors (as long as the author was willing to work) over a beautifully-edited story that had no passion. We also learned that people take sides.

I have been closed mouth about many things, not because I don't care but because saying something would make me seem like a complainer. It seemed that we had (and still have) an awful lot of haters. Authors stopped speaking to us. Certain individuals in the publishing industry blackballed us. Other publishing houses have written us emails explaining how things we do look bad and thus serve to make the entire epublishing industry look bad. For real? You say that to us and yet you KNOW of publishers out there who don’t pay their authors and staff but you’re all in our face. We’ve even had publishers email us to point out a typo. Again, there are publishers with posted excerpts riddled with errors but no one says anything because no one wants to get into it with that particular publisher. We’ve even had a porn star tell us off via email and end with a P.S. letting us know her breasts were real.

Each day, it seems that the definition of what constitutes a publisher changes. One of the newer tweaks in the definition involved the percentage of books written by the owners. We were told in so many words that we were simply a thinly-veiled vanity press because such a large percentage of the books on the website were books that we authored. There was a reason for that: authors are reluctant to test the waters of a new and unproven publisher.

Each day, we invited authors to write for us and received a bunch of 'thank you but no thanks.’ While we expected that from veteran authors, many of the authors we asked were out there writing for free. They were interested in finding a publisher; however, they let it be known that they did not consider us a real publisher. It was in their rights to decline our invitation. However, I personally wondered how it was they thought so highly of publishers who by numerous accounts do not pay their authors, editors, cover artists, etc.

Sometimes, we did not ask authors to write for us; we simply asked them to do an interview for our newsletter. We interview authors from various houses because in addition to being publishers and authors, we are first and foremost readers. Both Jeanie and I enjoy a finely-woven tale.

Many of invitations were met with queries along the lines of ‘show me what you have.’ When we asked individuals to do an interview for our newsletter, many held back until after they saw our newsletter. When they saw our newsletter it was as if they were surprised we had a “real” newsletter.

Individuals let us know in myriad ways that just because we had a website and a few books didn’t make us a publisher. Even as our catalog grew, doubts were raised. People questioned our authors even as they tried to woo them. Variations of “Why would you waste your time with Beautiful Trouble Publishing?” echoed all over the place. Even reviewers write reviews stating that the author probably needs another publisher.

Some authors have complained about us. We are too demanding. Yes, we are but it says that on our website. We want things our way. Um yeah, because it is OUR spot. I don’t understand why it is so wrong for us to want things our way, when other publishers also want things their way. It must be because we’re new. How dare we have expectations? We have had authors straight out tell us what they weren’t going to do in editing (and we let them go). We have had authors fight us every step of the way in the drafting, editing and proofing process. We will not apologize for rejecting SOPPING WET F*CKHOLE as a descriptor for a vagina. We will not apologize for rejecting manuscripts that don’t meet our expectations. We will not apologize for demanding the best an author has. But therein lies the issue: we won’t apologize, we won’t approach this business with a ‘hat in hand’ mentality, we won’t simply accept everything just to say we have books.

And people hate us for that. Fine. Hate us. Send your homies to amazon and other third party websites to write bad reviews for the books we publish. But can you at least tell them to read the book BEFORE they post such classic reviews as “yuck.” Oh, we’ve noticed that books at our house frequently receive ridiculous reviews. We’ve noticed the disproportionate number of our titles posted on pirate websites. We’ve noticed the silences. We’ve noticed the subtle digs. We’ve noticed the bald-faced cut-downs. We’ve also noticed many other things. While haters are out there hating, consider why it is that you have so much free time to bash us online, bash us to other publishers, and to other authors. Why not let your author friends decide on their own if they want to come to a company that will pay them what they’re owed in a timely fashion.

We might be little but we would put our authors against authors anywhere…and that’s not dissing the other authors, that’s just telling the truth. Hollywood and the small screen should come knocking on the doors of our authors. Why? Because their stories are just that good. Our authors write with just as much passion as any bestselling author; they simply haven’t sold as many books—yet.

They don’t simply repackage the same old story with a new title and new names. Their stories make readers want to fist pump, shout Hallelujah, roar WTF and in the end, they leave you wanting more. They “put their foot in it” every time because they are passionate about their stories and respectful of the readers who give their stories a chance.

While our authors are passionate about their stories, we are passionate about our authors. How could we not be? They have shown such patience and integrity and perseverance.

We are a family at Beautiful Trouble Publishing…and while small, we’re okay with that. And so far, so are our authors. Our authors know that we’re not here to kiss author a*s and feed author ego and yet they still step up and take the challenge. In the end, we’re all better for it.

Author Greet & Eat

BEAUTIFUL TROUBLE PUBLISHING AND FRIENDS
AUTHOR GREET & EAT
We apologize in advance...for everything


Welcome to our inaugural Author Greet & Eat where authors from various publishing houses and readers from all over can meet, eat, and participate in some good old fashioned face-to-face mayhem. This is a chance for readers to meet some of their favorite authors, for authors to meet their readers, and for everyone to have the kind of good time that is spoken about decades later with reverence (because stuff might still be pending). Word on the street is there might be a dance off.


Saturday, February 25, 2012

Venue

HILTON GARDEN INN WINSTON-SALEM/HANES MALL  1325 CREEKSHIRE WAY, WINSTON-SALEM, NC 27103
PHONE: 1-336-765-1298  FAX: 1-336-765-1299


TO GET IN ON THE SPECIAL RATE, REQUEST THE “AUTHOR MEET & GREET” RATE WHEN RESERVING ROOMS. SPECIAL RATE ENDS DECEMBER 25, 2011

For information on the rooms, visit:
http://hiltongardeninn.hilton.com/en/gi/groups/personalized/I/INTWSGI-AMGR-20120225/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

The Cost of Admission

Cost per ticket: $35.00* (INCLUDES LUNCH, LIGHT SNACKS)
*ALL PROCEEDS GO TO MALLOY-JORDAN EAST WINSTON HERITAGE CENTER LIBRARY
AVAILABLE OCTOBER 20, 2011 - JANUARY 15, 2012
LAST DAY TO REQUEST A REFUND IS JANUARY 31, 2012

Schedule of Events:


9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

TOUR OF MALLOY-JORDAN LIBRARY AND TALK WITH LIBRARIANS (FOR AUTHORS)
1110 East Seventh St.
Winston-Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-2950

10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.

CHECK IN- (FOR READERS) *
Lobby at Hilton Garden Inn Winston-Salem/Hanes Mall
1325 Creekshire Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
*Please bring your identification as you must be at least 18 to attend

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

KICKING OFF OUR SHINDIG

THE HEY Y’ALL
JEANIE JOHNSON WELCOMES ALL

INCLUSIVE PRAYER OF BEGINNING/WELL WISHES FOR A SAFE AND FUN EVENT
MARIA JONES

KICK OFF
JEANIE JOHNSON RECOGNIZES AUTHORS, BOOK CLUBS, LIBRARIANS AND PUBLISHERS IN ATTENDANCE

PANELS
“IF LOVING YOU IS WRONG, I DON'T WANT TO BE RIGHT” (THE RISE OF THE ANTI-HERO/BAD BOY)
QUESTION: WHEN DID THE BAD BOY BECOME SO GOOD?
• FEATURING LATRIVIA S. NELSON (MEDLOV CRIME SERIES) AND BILLY LONDON (ITALIAN KNIGHTS)
MODERATED BY RHONDA B. SCALES

LGBT PORTRAYALS IN MEDIA AND ROMANCE
QUESTION: DOES THE MONEY GRAB FOR THE LGBT AUDIENCE LEAD TO COMPROMISES ON THE AUTHORS’ END AND DOES THE NEW EXPOSURE HONOR THE LGBT LIFESTYLE OR COMPROMISE ADVANCES?
• FEATURING: REV. TEMEICKA MEEKS, MARIA JONES, AND PASTOR ROGER HAYES
MODERATED BY ZURI DAVENPORT

1:00 p.m. – 1:20 p.m.
BREAK

1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
MEETING & EATING

ONE CHOICE OF:
• MEAT AND THREE-CHEESE LASAGNA
• VEGETABLE LASAGNA
• GRILLED CHICKEN FETTUCCINI TOSSED IN ALFREDO SAUCE
EACH MEAL COMES WITH A HOUSE SALAD (CHOICE OF RANCH, THOUSAND ISLAND, VINAIGRETTE, OR ITALIAN DRESSING), AND A “CHEF'S CHOICE” DESSERT.
BEVERAGE: COFFEE, DECAF COFFEE, WATER, SWEETENED ICED TEA OR UNSWEETENED ICED TEA

3:00-3:30
BREAK

3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

PANELS

PARANORMAL ROMANCE
QUESTION: WHEN DID “OTHER” BECOME SO SEXY?
• FEATURING DAHLIA ROSE (ARMY BEASTS) AND OTHERS
MODERATED BY ELLE D. HAYES

AUTHORS DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES (GOING SOLO):
• FEATURING EROSA KNOWLES,
MODERATED BY: GWENDOLYN RICKS

5:30 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.

EAR-GASM
READING OF “COMING HOME” BY GABRIEL ESSEX


6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
PANELS

THE NEW HEROINE—PART I: (OF COLOR, PLUS-SIZED, INTELLIGENT AND PROUD OF IT):
QUESTION: IS THE ARCHETYPE HEROINE DEAD?
• FEATURING JEANIE JOHNSON, JANET ECKFORD, REANA MALORI
MODERATED BY RAELYNN BLUE

THE NEW HEROINE—PART II: (EXPERIENCED, BOLD, AND UNASHAMED):
CHALLENGE: CONSTRUCTING THE NEW HEROINE:
• FEATURING: SHARA AZOD, MARTEEKA KARLAND, BRIDGET MIDWAY
MODERATED BY ?

THE NEW READER: WHO IS S/HE?
• FEATURING: YOU THE READER (GRAB THE MIC AND TELL US WHO YOU ARE)
MODERATED BY: CAROLYN WOODS


7:50 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

AND ONE MORE THING

PIRACY: IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT SCURVY AND PARROTS
QUESTION: IS IT OKAY TO KARATE CHOP THIEVES IN THEIR WINDPIPES?
• FEATURING: AUTHORS
MODERATED BY DREA RILEY

8:30 p.m.
INCLUSIVE PRAYER OF CLOSING/WELL WISHES FOR A SAFE RETURN HOME
8:30 p.m. – 10:45 p.m.

MIXER
MINGLE WITH THE AUTHORS, BOOK CLUBS, LIBRARIANS, PUBLISHERS, & READERS


*INDEX CARDS WILL BE PROVIDED SO READERS CAN WRITE QUESTIONS FOR THE MODERATORS TO ADDRESS TO THE AUTHORS.



Authors Attending
• Billy London
• Bridget Midway
• Dahlia Rose
• Dréa Riley
• Elle D. Hayes
• Erosa Knowles
• Gabriel Essex
• Janet Eckford
• Jeanie Johnson and Jayha Leigh
• Latrivia Nelson
• Marteeka Karland
• Nikki Winter
• RaeLynn Blue
• Reana Malori
• Shara Azod
• Yvette Hines
• More authors to be added as they confirm

Book Clubs Attending
• Red Stiletto Book Club, of Winston-Salem, NC
• More book clubs to be added as they confirm


Publishers Attending
• Beautiful Trouble Publishing
• Shara Azod LLC
• Mochas Memoirs Press
• Riverhouse Publishing
• More publishers to be added as they confirm

Introducing Author Nikki Winter

Not Your Average Publishing Company by Nikki Winter


Let me start of by saying that I was volunteered for this lovely guest blog by none other than El Tyrant De Iron Fist a.k.a. Jayha Leigh and or the Fearless Leader. How does one get volunteered, you ask? Oh well it starts as an instant message where your tyrant asks you if you’ll do something for her then she answers it with ‘yes’ without your consent. Outraged? Yeah, me too dude but hey what am I supposed to do? On another note allow me to introduce myself…Er did I just hear the beat from Jay-Z’s “Public Service Announcement” come on? I probably did which means Jayha’s messing with instrumentals again to fit in her “I told you so” remix. Cut it out! I’m trying to tell a story here!

Okay back to you people. I’m Nikki Winter otherwise known as the Padawan and or the baby. My lovely big sister Dréa Riley also calls me her mini-me and ‘boo-boo’ but she’s the only one with that privilege and I’ll slice the back of anybody else’s ankles who tries. I joined BTP in May after being roped like a felled baby calf by Jayha in the yahoo group. How is one roped you ask? Oh well she lures you into a false sense of security then BAM! You’re in and doing her bidding. Am I complaining? NO! This has got to be the most awesome-kick ass-crazy-Alpha loving-Posse riding-action craving-arms bearing-war cry having group of women that I’ve ever met in my life and I love each and every one.

I had it in my mind that my reception would be a chilly one since I was the newbie but boy was I wrong. Joining BTP is like joining a sorority. Yes, there’s hazing that comes in the form of disturbing stories and facts that are liable to make you lose you intestines but I digress. These women are intelligent, hilarious, sweet, goofy, and just an all-around joy to interact with. I can remember sending out an SOS for my first MS because I was having a hard time with what Jayha calls the ‘Bow chica now now’ in my storyline and I had everyone from Marteeka Karland to Destiny Wallace answering back and trying to help. They probably don’t even remember this but I do and it’ll always be one of the best memories I’ve got.

This experience has been in a word, AMAZING. To have people who’ll take time out of whatever they’re doing, stop and send you a little support means a lot. Jayha knows this because I say it all the time but I’m no longer the socially awkward dork with a vocabulary fetish who knows way too many facts about the wild kingdom. Mainly because now I’m a part of a group of socially awkward dorks who know way too many facts about everything. Calm down, that was a compliment…or at least it was supposed to be. I belong here. For once I’m not strange and my need for matches and a harpoon is understood despite the fact that nobody will get me one! Yeah, I’m still salty about that dammit!

I’ve talked about everyone else but now it’s time to get to one of the heads of this whole crazy operation—Jayha Leigh whom I have deemed the Guru and El Tyrant De Iron Fist. Don’t worry she likes both names. This chick is freaking awesome. Yes, I admitted that out loud with many public witnesses who will read this. Am I worried about feeding her megalomania? Of course I am! Will I concern myself with the repercussions of swelling her ego later? Yes because I’m trying to make a point here. Jayha’s the epitome of a teacher. I can work a nerve but chick seems to have many of them for me.

If I have a question she does her best to answer. If I need help I can always ask her and if I need somebody who’ll make me feel ten feet tall she’s good for that too. Jayha rules with an iron fist alongside none other than the kick ass chick that is THE Jeanie but she has a heart of gold. And no matter how many times she has tricked and trapped me into something I will forever be grateful to know her. Learning under her as a new writer…there is no description for it. Any and all success I’ve experienced can’t be totally accredited to me being awesome (although I am) because she’s been there to hold my hand every step of the way then she tells me she’s proud of me after every accomplishment. That is what makes me feel ten feet tall. The fact that I can do something that makes her stop and say, “I’m proud of you chica” makes my face do this leaking thing. I don’t really know what it is but it happens anytime she says those words. It’s starting to freak me out.

Despite the fact that she can turn me into a big blubbering baby with only one sentence I don’t hold it against her. Having the opportunity to be her most beloved of protégés (yeah, I said it) has been FREAKING AWESOME all in all. Yeah, I use those words a lot when dealing with BTP.

When you join BTP folks you join a sisterhood, a place to be yourself no matter how insane you are. You make life-long connections that you’ll always enjoy (even if you end up in a foreign prison if the authorities manage to catch you). I’ve got an extended family of Aunties, big sisters and adopted Mommies that I never knew I’d get to have and I thank God for that every day. BTP is definitely not the average publishing company but I can say that even with my limited experience it has to be one of the best.

Alright Jayha you can take the spiked boot off my back now. I said everything you told me to. Ah I’m just kidding…sorta. Now folks it’s time for me to go back to my corner before I get into trouble and the next word I hear is “Restriction!” I hate that word; makes me sad. In the infamous and gut busting words of THE Jeanie “Crotch grab” and the Padawan is out!

-Nikki Winter

Guest Blogger: Nevea Lane

The Golden Sentence

I was lounging in my chair, drinking apple cider, with my mp3 player plugged into my ears. I am jamming to Miles Davis and reading, when I read it: it made me pull the headphones out of ear and read it again. “Her scent was an aphrodisiac and mixed perfectly with the aroma from the ocean that breezed in through the opened sliding glass doors” Education of Simon Lane – Pat Cromwell. That is the sentence that made me stop.

There are certain sentences that will make a reader pause and re-read those lines over and over again. We see it in movies all the time, “You had me at ‘hello’” (Jerry Maguire) “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.” (Dead Poets Society)

Perhaps I’m a nerdy narcissist, but I believe that in every single work by an author you read should have that one sentence that makes you pause. I call it “the golden sentence.” These are the hooks, the lines, and the ‘one thing’ that’s kept you going or coming back for more—those sentences, to me you, aregolden. Some might not find “He could see himself coming home to her every day,” in Escape to Heaven by Reana Malori to be all that bold of a statement, but I love it because it breaks down the male psyche of ‘commitment’ and tells us that our hero is falling for the heroine. It lets us know he wants her. I bet you just thought that sentence was just filler huh?

Being an author, sometimes I find it tempting to lead the reader to find the same sentence I consider ‘golden’, but where is the fun in that. People are individuals and I wouldn’t want someone telling me that “You’ve never been just my friend.” in Windows by Billy London isn’t a golden sentence.

Crafting these sentences however can make you want to cry, yell, maim someone or burn a house down. It takes dedication and commitment to not water down your words, to make that sentence stand up to the editing process. When you finally craft that sentence that cannot be butchered and stripped down, you look at it and smile. You look at it and smile because the pain of birthing that sentence is worth it.

When I write, I start with that sentence. I’m a pantser to a fault, not to mention I have a technical writing background which likes the passive sentence so much, my first drafts usually read like a manual to build your own dirigible. So I start with that sentence, that one golden piece of prose that can set the whole story in motion and expand. Do you have any golden sentences? Go back and read them. Relive the memories with those words and realize that words are truly priceless.

**Nevea**

Guest Blogger: Latrivia S. Nelson

Writing The Grunt: Why This Volume of The Lonely Heart Series Hit Home
By: Latrivia S. Nelson
Submitted Exclusively to Beautiful Trouble Publishing

The Lonely Heart Series is supposed to be comprised of novelettes only, but The Grunt was 309 pages long. Why? It hit home. Being married to a Marine and having lived at Camp Lejeune for nearly four years, I took in a lot of experiences. So, when I sat down to write The Grunt, I found that what I wanted to say would not fit into my normal formula for a short book.

Just to give you a little background, here is the synopsis of The Grunt:

Staff Sergeant Brett Black has a bad feeling that something is going to go terribly wrong. And as a Recon Marine, he pays attention to his gut. Only nothing can prepare him for what he encounters when he arrives at home from the base. His wife is leaving him, and there is nothing he can do about it.

Abandoned with a kid, the super alpha-male has to become domesticated quickly or find a willing substitute to help him with his son. Only the substitute he finds is no substitution.

Courtney Lawless is a true wild card. The budding librarian loves the classics and carries herself like a lady by day. But she also is full of life and surfs the waves of the Atlantic Ocean by night. Since her parents won’t pay for college because of bad decisions in her past, the reformed bad-girl takes a job as Brett’s live-in nanny to finish paying for school.

Brett has never seen a woman of such complex duality. Used to a wife who won’t clean, cook or even talk to him, when he starts to live with Courtney, he realizes what he’s been missing his entire life. Educated, amazing and refreshingly honest, the only thing that that this transparent beauty hides from her new boss is that she’s also the Lieutenant Colonel’s daughter.

Faced with another deployment to Afghanistan soon, the brooding Marine is forced to come out his shell to fight for what he loves, only this time, the war is at home.

Back to the Conversation:

Adam and I started out our marriage as an active duty family in the Marine Corps. During that time, I witnessed a lot of different types of relationships. Some were the most beautiful that I’d ever seen and some were the most deceitful. Interracial couplings were normal too. It was one of the few places that no one ever stared at you because you were with someone different. And the children were so beautiful. Mine fit right in. It was great. Plus, the coast of North Carolina is beautiful. The sunsets will take your breath away and the beaches are some of the most peaceful that I’ve ever walked on.

I was always writing notes in my little book while I was there. And I promised one day to write a story about love in the Corps.

This surely won’t be my only one but it is my first. I’m happy about it. It was a joy to sit down and write about a sexy alpha male who was also a killing machine, but we all know how much I love that concept. I’ve been beating that dead horse for three years now and counting.

The Grunt hits home because love while serving the military is never easy. No matter what you do, your relationship will always be second to their responsibilities to our country. Now, they don’t want it that way. The men and women who sacrifice and serve the country are always torn. They feel horrible about being away from their loved ones, but they have a responsibility that is sworn by an oath. And we need them to fulfill that promise. It’s the only way that we stay safe (not to say that in a way that takes away from God’s unyielding protection that protects us all).

Anyway, in the story Brett took that oath and is now bound to it. So, when he is widowed, he has the option of getting out of the Corps and watching his career flush its way down the toilet, or he can recruit someone to help him keep his family and his position in Recon, one of the hardest special operations units to get into.

Intro to Courtney: I loved writing her character. If you notice, she’s a normal person. True, she has her issues, one of them being the inability to follow through. How many of us can raise our hands on that one? But her endearing qualities far outweigh her issues and her capacity to love shines as bright as the sun.

The combination of the characters is supposed to give you hope. You see two people who need each other, who meet a need in each other’s life and ultimately find love because they are able to just be.

Speaking of people that fit that storyline…

I remember when Adam was hurt during the last tour to Iraq while he was in Light Armor Recon. I was nine months pregnant and had gone back to Memphis to give birth to our daughter when a phone call came telling me that Adam had been blown up. It was like the life had been sucked out of me. I remember the way the room seemed to spin around me, getting smaller and smaller with every evolution. I went into labor right then in a frantic hysteria that lasted a few days.

Ultimately, God blessed us. Adam survived, but men with him did not, some were so badly injured until all the surgeries in the world couldn’t make them whole again. Their sacrifice was and is huge. They do it every day, quietly, unnoticed and selflessly. It’s funny how you can walk around and see heroes every day and not know it.

I have a special place in my heart for anyone who has ever served and for every spouse, child and parent of a service member. We all play our role.

You can see the inner-workings of the family in The Grunt. Even if you’ve never known a military person before reading this story, I think that you’ll walk away with a greater appreciation for the Corps and for love at first sight.

What about you? What makes you tick when you write or read a story? Everyone has a thing. I’m always looking for new ideas.

Drop me a line and tell me what you think of The Grunt or send me a picture of your Grunt. I’m working on a book trailer right now for the book and we’ll release the paperback on August 30th, but I’d also like to put together a Grunt book trailer comprised strictly of military personnel from my readers.

Hope you enjoy and it’s always great to be on this blog. I love you guys and the way that you connect people together.

XoXo and all that jazz,

Latrivia S. Nelson

"If a butterfly flapped its wings..." by Shirelle Higgins

Have you heard of the butterfly effect? If a butterfly flaps its wings over here, will it cause some weather catastrophe or prevent one somewhere else? Can something so insignificant really have such a profound effect? I think so. At least in my life it’s happened. A little “butterfly” is why I chose to try my hand at writing novels.

I never used to read romance books. GASP! I know, right? But it’s true, I didn’t. My mother read them, and so, by default, they just weren’t cool. (Sorry mom!)

I used to read dark thrillers, or horror. Dean Koontz was my favorite author and I’ve read every vampire book Anne Rice ever wrote. Those were the kind of books I liked. Romance was just pretty, and flowery, and frivolous.

Then one day, my little butterfly said to me: “You like vampires, right?” Duh. Who doesn’t like a good vampire story?

Anyway, she loaned me the first book in The Circle Trilogy, by Nora Roberts. She did NOT tell me it was a romance book, and I did NOT know who Nora Roberts was. (Yes. Apparently I DO live under a rock!) I was halfway through the book before I realized what my sneaky friend had given me, and I was hooked!

After I read those, I read more. I read at least half of that author’s books before I started reading others. Now I can’t live without romance. Who knew my mother was right?

But inevitably it happened. I read two separate books, by two different authors, that disappointed me. OBVIOUSLY the heroine in these novels had chosen the wrong man! The stories may have had a happy ending but I was not happy! If I had written those books, I would have ended them properly. Can you see where I’m going with this?

It took me some time to work up the courage, and even longer to finally finish my little project, but eventually I wrote the story I wanted to read.

My dear friend with the butterfly wings passed away a few years ago. She is sorely missed and this story is for her. I think she would like it.

**Shirelle**