Monday, March 27, 2017

An Excerpt from My Book -- From Marcus, With Love???

Marcus may be sexy, but he can also be heartless...


Below you'll find my two favorite segments with Marcus. The first one takes places over the phone and the second over the computer. I chose these two scenes because the first shows Marcus's motive (get Katie out) and the second his manipulation (keep Katie dangling).

I don't know about you, but the bad boys I came across in my past certainly knew how to string a girl along. One smile, one touch and our hearts were right back where they wanted them.

Enjoy...

SCENE ONE

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“Hello?”

“Hey. It’s me.” Marcus’s emotionless voice felt like a stab to Katie’s heart. Her face immediately dropped.

“What do you want?”

“I just wanted to check on you. How’s the packing going?”

“It’s done.”

“You’re done?”

“I didn’t have that much to pack thanks to you.”

“I just thought you might be tired from your trip.”

“Nope,” she answered coolly.

“Well, I just wanted to make sure you’re OK.”

“I’m fine, and now I’d like to get back to what I was doing.”

“What are you doing?”

“That’s none of your business anymore.”

“Katie, don’t be like that. Is someone there with you?”

“Jay’s here.”

“I should’ve figured. That guy’s always around,” Marcus said with annoyance.

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Hey, wait. What about the movers? Where are you going?”

“I’m moving home. Where else would I go?” Katie fumed. “Ms. Fitzhugh has your house key and she’s going to let the movers in. Everything should be in perfect order when you and Amie get back from Vegas.”

“I didn’t mean it like that, and who told you Amie was with me?”

“No one had to tell me, Marcus! There’s no way you’re company would send you there. Come on!”

Marcus was stunned into silence.

“Goodbye, Marcus.”

“ … Bye.”

Katie could’ve sworn he sounded a bit sad. No, she quickly decided, just guilty.




SCENE TWO

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Katie was beginning to savor her alone time in the morning. She loved the simple things like heading downstairs in her pajamas and drinking coffee on the back porch. This morning was no different from the others until she decided to check her email.
Katie firmly set her mind to not get upset if Marcus hadn’t written. Humorously, his was the first email she spotted. She shook her head in amazement. “Just when I decide to not care, he writes.” Despite the shock, she still couldn’t resist opening his message.
                 Hey Katie,
                I wanted to make sure you made it back in one
                piece. I checked with the movers and they said
                they’d completed the job. I guess everything went
                OK. I found some of your clothes in the dryer so
                I’ll mail them to your mom’s. I’ve been thinking
                about you and I hope you’re doing well. Everyone
                here says to tell you hi. Stay in touch.
                Marcus
Immediately Katie felt flustered. Marcus had been so heartless when he wanted her out of his life. Now he wants her to stay in touch? “What is he thinking?” She fumed. “If he thinks I’m going to crawl right back to him he’s crazy.”
Katie got up from the porch rocker and stormed into the kitchen. She slammed down her mug in the sink as the hot tears welled up in her eyes. Furiously she wiped them away and stared out the window towards the hills in the distance.
I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth...  Katie couldn’t remember where she’d heard this, but the memory of the verse sent her thoughts heavenward.
“Jesus, what do I do? Marcus makes me so mad. I’m sick of feeling manipulated by him. I’m starting to see things differently and I can honestly say I don’t want him back in my life. But Lord, how do I repay him good when I can’t even trust him?”
The tears rolled over onto her cheeks. “Ugh! And I’m so sick of crying about this. God, please help me.”
Quietly, as if a voice were speaking from behind, Katie heard the word, “Love.”
“But I don’t want to love him anymore! I want to forgive him, but I don’t want to waste any more love on him.”
“Love.”
“OK, Lord. Have it Your way. But You’re going to have to show me what You want me to do.”
Katie headed out to the back porch to grab her Bible. She flipped to the concordance at the back and scanned through the “L” words until she found the word, “Love.” She looked through the list of shortened verses for something to jump out at her. Nothing grabbed Katie’s attention until her eyes hit one particular line: “L your neighbor and hate your enemies … Mt 5:43.”
Katie knew the ‘L’ signified love, but what intrigued her was the part about hating one’s enemies. She figured it wasn’t what the passage would say, but she wanted to read it anyway. Katie turned to the book of Matthew and read the reddened words of Jesus, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemies,’ but I tell you: Love your enemies and pray …” Katie stopped reading as the word pray practically jumped off the page.
“You want me to pray! Praying is how I can love Marcus. OK Lord, if that’s what You want I’ll give it my best.”
Katie closed her eyes, took and deep breath, and quieted her heart. “Lord, please be with Marcus. Help him see his need for You. Help him see that he needs a Savior. I pray You’ll also be with Amie. I pray You will … uh … I pray for Your love to rest on them both. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Katie began to laugh. She knew her prayer was pretty basic, but she didn’t care. She did it, and that was all that mattered.
“Lord, what should I do about his email? Ignore it?” Something within her said no. “Then I’ll write him back, but Lord please protect me from his games.”
Several minutes later her response was complete.
                Marcus,
                The move went fine. It’s been great to be home.
                My brother is the reigning football star of
                last week’s game, and my mom’s business is
                booming. They seem happier than ever and it’s
                good to be back in their lives. Thanks for mailing
                back my clothes. I should’ve checked there, so
                sorry about that.  I wish you the absolute best in your life.
                God bless you,
                Katie

Katie felt good about her email. Weird, but good.

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Order your very own copy by clicking here: Finding Forever

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Marcus...Tall, Dark & Dangerous

Marcus Spencer - a man who exists to please himself.


Meet Marcus Spencer. He's the cliché bad boy who leaves a horde of broken hearts in his wake - including my Finding Forever's heroine, Katie Kaufmann.

When writing about Marcus, I wanted him to encompass everything enticing that women can't resist. I wanted him to be overly confident yet charming, self-centered yet sexy. He's the type of man who, when he enters a room, the ladies notice and the guys grimace. 

I imagine Marcus as a man who rarely considers other's feelings. Readers certainly won't find him asking for permission or seeking anyone's approval. He's a man who knows what he wants, and when he sees something he likes he goes after it...hard.

So when Marcus decides he prefers the bubbly, redheaded barmaid to his current, live-in girlfriend, Katie, he doesn't look back. He callously kicks Katie to the curb, and his new love interest quickly fills her place. He only begins to regret his decision when his new partner becomes inconveniently pregnant.

Stay tuned for a Finding Forever excerpt featuring my favorite bad boy, Marcus Spencer...


If you'd like to order your very own copy, please click here: Finding Forever

Monday, March 6, 2017

An Excerpt From My Book - My Favorite Time with Katie

This is how I picture Katie Kaufmann (Carrie Underwood-esque)


My favorite scene with Katie (the heroin of  my novel, Finding Forever) takes place in a barn. The section itself was quite moving for me to write. To give you some background... For the past year Katie has been sharing a house with her college boyfriend in Colorado. When his wandering eye lands and stays on a pretty redhead, she's quickly kicked out and forced to move home to small-town Texas. Now she finds herself living back at home with her mom and brother, and without a very missed, recently deceased father.

I loved writing this scene because of the fact that it takes place in a barn. Some of my fondest childhood  memories were from my time goofing around on my grandparent's farm in Corsicana, TX. From walking the pastures, throwing rocks in the stocked pond, or looking for treasures in the dilapidated barn, I filled many an hour or two on various adventures.

This chapter tells of Katie embracing her memories, and her feeling welcomed home by her father despite his passing. Personally, I like to think that our loved ones send whispers of their love from the other side. My hope was for this scene to do just that.

I hope you enjoy a wee piece of Katie's story...


Dad’s Old Truck
Katie awoke to the pit pattering of rain on the house’s metal rooftop. The gentle, calming sound brought a smile to her face. She stretched and inhaled a deep breath of air. It felt good to be home. Turning over, she looked at her clock and was surprised to see it was almost noon.
She got up and entered her bathroom. As she studied her bedraggled reflection, something occurred to her. She was twenty-four, single, and alone. At first she felt the familiar insecurity wanting to press in, but today she decided to resist its pull.

She looked into the mirror resolutely. “You know what? Maybe this is exactly what you need. Is it really that hard to live without Marcus? Mom lives without Dad, and she does it like a champ. You don’t need him to feel secure. And besides, look what he did to you. Look how he’s still controlling you. Stop it! Stop letting him win.” A funny smile crept across her face. “And stop talking to yourself. You’re not eighty!”

After a long, hot shower, Katie emerged refreshed and revived. She put on a clean pair of shorts and a t-shirt and headed downstairs. The house was peaceful and quiet. She made herself some lunch and went to sit out on the enclosed back porch. The rain had stopped and every tree and blade of grass looked green with health and replenishment.

Katie studied the craggy hills in the distance and quickly decided that although this countryside couldn’t compare to the mountains of Colorado, the mystique of the rugged and hardy terrain would forever hold a special place in her heart.

Sitting back in the rocking chair, Katie watched as a lone hawk flew overhead in the distance. She pondered what to do with her day. She knew she didn’t want to sit at home, but she didn’t have a car. Suddenly, another option popped into her mind. “Hmmm, I wonder.”

Katie got up and headed inside to the key rack. Happily she found what she was looking for. The keys to her father’s truck were still dangling from the ugly, leather key chain she’d made years ago at summer camp. “Nothing ever changes around here.” Katie shook her head and found she was glad for the fact.

She grabbed her purse and headed out to the barn to find her dad’s truck sitting in its same old spot. Katie figured her mother wouldn’t mind if she took it out for a spin.

“Please let this hunk of junk work.” Katie crossed her fingers and put the key into the ignition. All of a sudden, a rush of memories gave her pause. She pulled her hand away as images of her father filled her mind. Just the smell of the old, long leather seat and the feel of the ancient steering wheel reminded her of him. She remembered sitting on his lap and steering this truck around the property. She giggled as she recalled herself believing she was actually driving.

Her father was a huge Willie Nelson fan and his music was constantly playing. Katie wondered if one of Willie’s old cassette tapes would still be in the tape player. She looked down at the stereo and pressed the eject button. Sure enough, his favorite tape popped out.

Katie turned to look back toward the truck’s bed and remembered riding back there with Keith. We used to love getting bounced around, Katie thought with a smile. I loved lying back there and watching the stars glisten in the night sky.

Like a dam being released, hot tears spilled down her cheeks. Katie missed her father terribly, but what she was feeling wasn’t grief. Rather, it was like a reunion of sorts. Strangely she could sense her father was pleased she was home. It was like he was smiling down from above. Katie closed her eyes and welcomed the feelings. Somehow this truck was awakening a joy she hadn’t felt in a long, long time.

“Dad, I miss you so much,” Katie said through her tears. “Now that I’m home it’s like everything’s new. Even this truck feels different.” Katie sat back smiling from ear to ear. “Dad, will you do me a favor?” She looked up at the shadowy lights dancing in the barn’s loft. “Please help this old truck work. You always did have complete faith in it, and I’d really love to get out of here for a while.”

Katie reached for the key. “Here goes nothing.” She turned the ignition, and instantly the truck roared to life. “Woohoo! Thank you, Daddy!” she cheered and steered the truck out of the barn.

She stopped and looked up at the sky. “I know you’re in heaven, but right now, Dad, it feels like you’re with me. I was just going to drive around today, but maybe you could...I don’t know...show me something new. Lead me to something you’d like me to see.” Katie felt foolish talking to the air but she didn’t care. Today she felt something different, something extraordinary.
At this very moment she knew her father was near.

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To order your very own copy of Finding Forever: Click Here

Thursday, March 2, 2017

Carrie is so.... Katie!

Readers and friends alike have asked me continuously for more information on my book characters. I've been asked all sorts of questions regarding how I created them, who I imagined them to look like, and how I decided upon their personalities. As promised, here is the rundown on the many charming and sometimes challenging characters in my novel, Finding Forever.


Carrie is so.... Katie!

Picturing my main character, Katie Kaufmann, was tough for me at first. But when I saw this adorable picture of Carrie Underwood I knew I had my girl! Katie quickly changed from a brunette to a blonde, and her original 5'7 frame was decidedly decreased a few inches.

I began to imagine her as a strikingly cute, petite woman that could capture a man's heart with one simple smile. But I didn't want Katie to just be a pretty face. I wanted her to be real; I wanted her to be relatable. Hopefully I achieved just that! Moreover, my biggest hope was for my audience to see a bit of themselves in Katie.

She isn't perfect, but she's a fighter. She isn't totally selfless, yet she's a giver.

Personally, I loved the raw emotion Katie made me feel as I authored her story. I appreciated her struggles with moving past heartache, her renewal of  faith, and her sincere, yet shaky, desire for purity. In many areas of her journey, her story was my story. And maybe her story is a bit of yours, as well. But one thing is for sure, like Katie I found my hope, my peace, and my fulfillment in the One who formed me in my mother's womb (Psalm 139). Only Jesus could fill the longings in my heart. Only He could free me from my messy mistakes and make me whole again.

If you can relate to Katie's story, I'd love to hear from you!
And please be sure to share what you learned on your way to finding your forever...