Mac Rome, Author with Midnight Frost Books!

Today on the blog, I'd like to welcome fellow Crimson Frost/Midnight Frost author, Mac Rome!

Mac's written several short stories, one of which I have the privilege to read, 11th Month Inn. 

It was a great take on the months of the year! My review can be found here.

Thanks for being today Mac!

Thanks to Lillie for giving me the chance to share this blog post.

“Where do your characters come from?”

“Are your characters based on anybody in your life?”

“What is the inspiration for your characters?”

I’m never entirely sure how to answer such questions. I never set out to base characters on anyone, although I sometimes find I’ve written aspects of a person into them. (That’s especially true of my wife. Pieces of her personality or elements of her mannerisms have a way of getting written into my work without my realizing it.)

“Who’s your favorite character in this book?”

You might as well ask, “Who’s your favorite child?” I’m sure my children wouldn’t want me to answer that, and how would I choose between them to do it?

But some characters are easier to let go than others. Some live while I write them, in my mind and heart and on the digital page. But others won’t let go.

I had that experience in writing Eve’s Thieves, my novel coming out in November from Midnight Frost Books.

There’s a character in the book called BeBe in Eve’s Thieves. In my original outline for the book, BeBe was going to appear in one chapter, early on. But BeBe captured my imagination at some level.

When I needed a means for Peri, one of the lead characters, to accomplish something, BeBe simply made logical sense. But then she just kept cropping back up.

It was as if I could hear BeBe, with her Appalachian foothills dialect, whispering in my ear, “Hey, Mac, you really need me here, y’know.” “Hey, Mac, you need someone to fill this function in the book, and, hon, you know I’m perfect for the job.” “Hey, Mac ...”

(Thankfully, I wasn’t literally hearing BeBe. If I had, I would have sought medical attention!) 

(*snort* I've been there Mac!)

The story is written now, but BeBe is one of several characters to stay with me from Eve’s Thieves. She’s also the one I’ve had rumbling through my mind the most. As I understand her more and more, I realize her hopes and dreams, as well as her strengths and shortcomings. All those things were always there, but they were buried inside me, waiting to come out ... kind of like BeBe herself.

Where do characters come from? From unplumbed, uncharted places in the heart, the soul, and the imagination. And the best find ways to stay with you, regardless of whether they’re heroes, villains or somewhere in between.

Eve’s Thieves tells the story of a group of six women, victimized by magical thieves who’ve stolen aspects of the women’s physical beings, rather than money or property. The women find the means to band together and restore what was stolen, but it comes at a price. Little is as it seems. Not everyone can be trusted. A loss can mean death, but each victory brings them closer to an inevitable confrontation with an ancient and powerful evil.

Thanks again, Lillie!

Mac Rome

Thanks again for being here today Mac! Can't wait to read Eve's Thieves!

Author Guest Post: Hildie McQueen! Author of: Where The Four Winds Collide

Today on the blog, I'd like to welcome fellow author and friend, Hildie McQeen, author of the awesome new romance, Where The Four Winds Collide!

Welcome Hildie!

 Where The Four Winds Collide

Adeline Buckley escapes her abusive father only to find herself in a brothel, on a stagecoach to the untamed west and married to a stranger, all in that order. Plotting another escape becomes harder, the more she gets to know her new husband.

 Jackson Pruitt didn’t expect a secretive mail order bride to show up the same week cattle rustlers absconded with a large part of his herd. The bigger surprise was the loveliness of the woman. Why would a beauty like her need to travel so far to marry?

 Jackson and Adeline learn that secrets and marriage do not go hand-in-hand when both of their pasts comes knocking and both have to come to grips with the reality, that sometimes trust comes only after you lose it all.

 Purchase Now On 

Kindle

 ~Excerpt and Giveaway~

 Excerpt:

This is your home now, Adeline," Jackson told her, watching her closely for a reaction. "We were married earlier this afternoon. You are my wife." 

The color drained from her face and she froze, her spoon halfway to her mouth. He feared she'd faint again so he jumped up and went to her. The action startled the woman, who yelped and leaned away from him, only to topple over. Both she and the chair landed on their sides on the floor. 

When Jackson tried to help her up, she scrambled to her feet and moved away from his reach. 

"Married?" The shock in her voice made him wonder if the woman was mad. Surely she remembered signing the documents before the judge? 

"Yes, Adeline, the judge explained it all to you before you signed the papers at the hotel. Do you not remember?" 

"I..." her widened eyes met his and he fought the urge to reach out to reassure her. "I thought it was a dream."

Enter for a $20 Amazon Giftcard w/ Rafflecopter at: a Rafflecopter giveaway

 Hildie McQueen

Hildie McQueen loves storytelling and unusual settings, pair that with humor and you’ve got an idea of what her writing is like. 

She makes sure action, intrigue, and sizzling romance add up to a story, her readers won’t soon forget.  Her favorite past-times are traveling, shopping and reading. She resides in beautiful small town Georgia with her super-hero husband Kurt and two unruly Chihuahuas. 

Visit her blog at www.hildiemcqueen.com

Thanks for being here today, Hildie! And, everyone, remember to check out Where The Four Winds Collide on Amazon.