She fancied herself a writer...

Wake Up Your Muse Book Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:47:00 +0000

Just in time for NaNoWriMo!

Wake Up Your Muse Book Launch Celebration

Looking for some inspiration for your NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Novel?

Look no further.

I'm excited to announce that my latest book...

Wake Up Your Muse
1001 Story Starters for Fiction Writers

is now available at both Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com!

To kick off our book launch, we will be giving away a Wake Up Your Muse coffee mug and a copy of Wake Up Your Muse - hot off the presses!

To participate, just submit a story to our Flash Fiction Challenge at WakeUpYourMuse.com

If you'd like a signed copy of Wake Up Your Muse, just drop me an EMAIL.

Need some inspiration while waiting for your copy to arrive? Check out the prompt generator at http://www.wakeupyourmuse.com and have fun!

Happy Writing,
Jan

Calling all Readers

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 01:03:00 +0000

"So what are those magic ingredients that make a novel a page-turner? What sustains the interest of the reader? What makes the reader care about what happens? What gives the reader a sense of involvement? What makes you buy a novel?"

I saw these questions on a writing forum today and they really grabbed my attention. I'm a writer, but before I was a writer, I was a reader. It just makes sense that if I answer these questions as a reader, I will be a better writer...right?

So, I'm curious...as a reader, how would you answer these questions? I would love to hear your answers, because your opinion will make me a better writer, too.

Jan

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Alive and Kickin'

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:24:00 +0000

Bet you all thought I'd fell off the face of the earth. Nope, I'm still here.

My last post was August 12th - a week before I started back to work at Camelback Academy, then just as I was getting used to my new schedule, my brother's car broke down and I started driving him to work every day (2 hours in the morning and 2 hours at night). So, you can see that I haven't had much time to write lately.

The good news is that my brother got his car back today, so starting tomorrow, I get 4 hours added back into my day...plenty of time to write, but I just couldn't wait until tomorrow to post, so I'm doing it now!

Lots of fun things coming up for me. My book, Wake Up Your Muse - 1001 Story Starters for Fiction Writers is due out the first week of October and a devotional I wrote is being published in Gary Chapman's Love is a Verb Devotional, also due out the first of October.

I'm attending the American Christian Writer's conference in Phoenix at the end of October and will be participating in NaNoWriMo in November (writing a 50,000 word novel in 30 days). I'm really excited about NaNoWriMo this year because my publisher, Written World Communications has arranged for Wake Up Your Muse to be a sponsor of NaNoWriMo this year.

As you can see - I've got a busy couple of months ahead of me, but I'm excited about what God's doing in my life and looking forward to all the fun.

So, what have YOU been up to lately? Leave me a comment so we can catch up with one another.

Jan

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Out Stealing Horses

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:11:00 +0000

As a writer, I've read many, many books on the writing process. I also love to read for the sheer enjoyment of it, but since the writing bug bit me several years ago, I read with a writer's eye, that is...as I read, I pay attention to how the author coins a phrase so that it evokes an emotion from me, how they describe the setting so I feel as if Im been there, how they plot the action so I feel like I'm right in the thick of it.

Today I read an excerpt from Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson that made me stop and think about the process of writing...

What I do, which I have never let anyone know, is I close my eyes every time I have to do something practical apart from the daily chores everyone has, and then I picture how my father would have done it or how he actually did do it while I was watching him, and then I copy that until I fall into the proper rhythm, and the task reveals itself and grows visible, and that’s what I have done for as long as I can remember, as if the secret lies in how the body behaves towards the task at hand, in a certain balance when you start, like hitting the board in a long jump and the early calculation of how much you need, or how little, and the mechanism that is always there in every kind of job; first one thing and then the other, in a context that is buried in each piece of work, in fact as if what you are going to do already exists in its finished form, and what the body has to do when it starts to move is to draw aside the veil so it all can be read by the person observing.

Per Petterson (2003/2007). Out Stealing Horses. Minneapolis: Graywolf Press.

I thought about the character and how he watched his father for clues when tackling a task he was unsure of and how taking those first steps the task seemed to reveal itself to him, so that he knew which step - which direction to take next. I liked the idea of treating the piece of work as if it already exists in its finished form and then letting yourself be lead to the completion of the work.

It's like stepping out in faith, trusting that God will direct my writing as I go - seeing the finished product, then allowing God to take me there.

I've sort of been stuck at the beginning of my novel, afraid to take the next step because I'm not sure of the right direction. I think that's because I've been trying to get there on my own, instead of allowing my Father to show me the way.

Over the next several days, I want to form a mental picture of my book, finished and doing well. Blessing those who read it - a work I can be proud of - one that agents and publishers would be proud to represent. Then, I'm going to start again, allowing Father, God to direct my writing.

It won't matter how long it takes or how many times I have to revise it, because each step of the journey will be revealed to me.

At least that's my plan...and it's a better plan than any I've had before, so we'll see what happens.

What do you think about this excerpt? Does it resonate with you like it did with me? Feel free to leave your comments. I'd love to hear what you think.

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Sleep Come Quickly

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 07:55:00 +0000

Sleep come quickly, come deeply, come soon

Let me drift off to Netherlands where my spirit is free.

Let me run with the angels on streets made of gold.

Let me bow with the saints as we worship our Lord.

Let me sit with my Father, who's gone on before

as we speak words of love that we couldn't before.

Sleep come quickly.

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Wake Up Your Muse

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 19:19:00 +0000

Need a little something to jumpstart your writing? How about a fun summer writing challenge and a chance to win a Wake Up Your Muse coffee mug?

In celebration of my upcoming release of Wake Up Your Muse - 1001 Story Starters for Fiction Writers, due out in October 2011, I'm is hosting a short story challenge.

Just hop on over to http://www.wakeupyourmuse.com, select one of five writing prompts from my book and enter to win.

You can also check out the Wake Up Your Muse writing prompt generator on the site.

Have fun and keep writing!

Jan

Starbucks Search Week

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 05:30:00 +0000

You all know that since my Borders is closing that I am in need of a new "Cheers" to do my away from home writing. Thanks to LindaLou, who suggested I try Starbucks, I'm declaring this week Starbucks Search Week!

I know of at least 3 close to me and I'll bet I can find 2 more fairly close, so I'll go to one each day this week to see which one has the best atmosphere and friendliest staff.

If that doesn't work...I'll be trying other places close to me. Gotta find someplace I can run to when the house starts closing in on me.

There is a Barnes & Noble nearby and I like the idea of being surrounded by books while I write, so maybe I'll give that a whirl, too. Wish there was a little Mom/Pop Cafe that serves great (and cheaper) coffee (preferably lattes) that wouldn't mind if I hung out there, but again, I wouldn't be surrounded by books. Could do the library, but...no coffee.

Feel free to suggest other places you think might work.

Wish me luck!

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Who's Watching the Children?

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 05:32:00 +0000

Flash Fiction based on an experience I witnessed at McDonalds this evening...

"Do you like cookies and ketchup?"

I looked down to see a little girl about 5 years old pumping ketchup into a white paper cup. She lined it up with five other filled cups on the counter, licked some excess ketchup off her fingers and then reached for another cup.

"I like cookies and ketchup," she said pumping the next cup full.

"Alicia! Come here now!" called a woman standing in line to place her order.

She looked at me as if I were some kind of pervert who had enticed her daughter into a conversation.

I finished filling my cup with Diet Coke as the child reached for another cup and began pumping. "Do you want some ketchup?" she asked.

"Alicia! I said come here," called her mother again.

Alicia ignored her and continued filling the cup. "You want some ketchup?" she asked again, setting one of the white cups on my tray.

"Thank you," I said.

Alicia's mother stepped out of line, stormed across the room and snatched her daughter away, leaving 7 little white paper cups filled with ketchup sitting in a neat row on the stainless steel counter.

As she passed, the woman gave me a dirty look.

So, I guess it was my fault that her daughter talking to a strange man.

Wake up people!

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Got my critique back!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 01:43:00 +0000

I won a 1st Five Pages critique from the nice folks at Seekerville. Submitted them last week and got my review back this week. They said...

"Thanks for the opportunity to read your pages. I’ll tell you right now you have a very unique story idea which comes with its own built in conflict. You nailed the hard part.

Now the easy part is tweaking this story..."

There was lots more helpful critique and encouragement, so I'm excited about continuing on with my novel, Zoey's Quest, thought not so sure that writing the entire novel is "the easy part!"

Love the gals at Seekerville. Drop by if you get a chance and say hello to them.
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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

God is up to something!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:44:00 +0000

After writing my last post about Borders closing, I moped around for a couple of hours, wondering what I was going to do, now. No more "I'm running up to Borders." It was a real pity party until I heard God's small, still voice inside me whisper a scripture...

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:18-19

At once I felt a little tickle of excitement rising up inside. I love it when God is up to something new in my life! I don't know what it is and I'm sure it will mean that He has to sand off a few more of my rough edges, but I'm in!

That was Sunday - the past couple of days have been fun. I've had this air of expectancy and joy about me and a heightened awareness of God working in my life. What could be better than that???

Bring it on, God - I'm ready!

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Goodbye Old Friend

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:12:00 +0000

This is ridiculous! I am sitting here sobbing because a bookstore is closing.

Thought I would pop up to Borders to check out the sales, now that the store is closing. Never dreamed I would have this reaction.

I was just there on Tuesday with my friend Joy, as we normally do on Tuesdays. Talked with some of the employees about the store closing and how sad it is, but didn't really expect things to happen so quickly. Kristy, my sweet little barista made me a latte as usual, browsed through the store, then Joy and I settled down at the reference table for a rousing game of Bananagrams. We've been doing this for several years, now, and I love it.

I've written 2 books while sipping lattes in that Borders and Lee and I have had many date nights that end at Borders for a latte nightcap. In fact, Lee and I have been going to Borders for over 17 years! It's the place I go when I'm bored, when I need to get out of the house, when I need to write without distraction...when I want a good latte. It's my place!

When I walked in today, I headed for the cafe for a last latte and it was roped off, dark and deserted...closed forever. all the gals and guys that made me lattes over the years are now out of work. The place was crawling with scavengers - where were they when the store was struggling to stay open?

I'm sure I'll get over this, but for now, a big part of me is gone. Isn't that silly...crying over a bookstore???

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Side-Tracked by a Man and a Sock Monkey

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:24:00 +0000

Whew! It's been a busy time around the old homestead the past couple of weeks. LeeMan was off work for a week, so I got nothin' done, except for the couple of days he went fishing. He had a blast as you can see from the big smile on his face.

I also got side-tracked from my writing by an order for a custom sock monkey. For those of you who don't know, I run Sock Monkey Ranch, creating custom one-of-a-kind sock monkeys. This week I had a request for a pirate, so I created Scurvy Sam the Peg Leg Sock Monkey. You can see more pictures of him here.

I've done pirate sock monkeys before, but this is my first one with a peg leg....what a challenge! If you'd like to take a look at some more monkeys I've created, hop on over to the site and look through the Monkey Gallery.

On the writing front, I'm excited about winning a First Five Pages Critique from Seekerville. I'm polishing the first five pages of Zoey's Quest to send in...crossing my fingers that they tell me it's good.

It looks as if all this side-tracking has derailed my Camp NaNoWriMo goal of finishing the book in 30 days, but I'm going to sign up for next month, too and try to complete it by the end of August. Hopefully, there will be less distraction for me.

Til next time....ta-ta!

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Camp Pests

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 16:22:00 +0000

Spent the past 2 days (except for going to the camp chapel meeting on Sunday morning ) pouring through my new book, Writing the Christian Novel, and now I'm ready to really tackle this thing!

My dear sweet husband is on vacation this week and since I'm at camp, he had decided to join me. Of course he doesn't write, so I will have to find some errands for him to do and activities to keep him busy and out of my hair while I work on this book.

Just kidding...just kidding...I love having him ~~underfoot~~ around when I'm trying to write. He often does ~~annoying~~ cute little things that I can use in my books. You might say he's my inspiration...my muse...

Yeah, you might say that...but you'd be WRONG!

He's taking a shower right now, then we're headed for Borders so I can work on my book and he can read some books about guns (mostly pictures). I'm pretty sure that if he keeps looking at those same books every time we go there, they are going to make him buy them because he's worn them out!

Am I being snarky?

I really love him, but why did he decide to take a vacation this week?????

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(Copyright© 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Thrift Store Blessing!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 01:46:00 +0000

I'm sooooo excited! I've been looking at Gail Gaymer Martin's book, Writing the Christian Romance for a while now, wishing I could buy it. Not that it's so expensive, but we are really tight on money right now. I've never been able to take a writing course, so everything I know about writing has come from books. Since I'm just starting my first inspirational romance, I thought this book could really help.

Today my hubby was off work, so he dragged me away from Camp to go to lunch, which turned into a trip to Borders and 2 thrift stores. You'll never guess what I found in the second thrift store.

Oh, you did guess...good for you!

I was so excited, I did a little happy dance right in the store, then called my husband, who was on the opposite side of the store and squealed in his ear! Isn't God good?????

This should be a tremendous help. Off to read it now.

Oh, and no words added to my novel yet today (hubby's fault), but I did put an awesome blog post on Refreshed by the Word this morning.

Broke through that brick wall!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:07:00 +0000

Whew! I feel much better today. Got some much needed encouragement from my friends and some invaluable writing advice from a "pro" (thank you, AJ) and I'm back on track.

Figured out an outlining method that works for me, so now I have a plan that will help when (if) I get stuck again. I had to do a little re-writing, kick a character out of the book (she was the fly in the ointment) and introduced another character. Everyone's playing together fine, now.

They served stew in the mess hall tonight...really? Stew in the middle of summer? Would much rather have had something lighter. I'm thinking about sneaking off the grounds for a trip to Dairy Queen tonight. Wonder if I would get caught?

5623 word count and a brand new lease on my writing life!

PS - Still wearing my Nano Shirt!

(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Hitting a Brick Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 04:42:00 +0000

I'm really struggling today. Have revised the first 3 chapters again, but having trouble moving on. Wonder if this happens to "real" writers?

On a brighter note, I received my Camp NaNoWriMo t-shirt! (Oh, and I got a sun-burn while swimming.)

Maybe my nifty shirt will inspire me tomorrow.

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(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Camp NaNoWriMo Day Five

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 01:54:00 +0000

Took a break from writing yesterday to spend the holiday with the family. They all drove out to Camp NaNoWriMo for family day. We had a big BBQ and canoe races down at the lake. Bubba tipped our cano and we all fell in. Lucky I didn't have my laptop with me!

Can you see the smiley face in my latte?

Anyway, they've all gone home now and I'm back at the keyboard. Had a special delivery latte from my favorite barista, Kristy today. She made a cute little smiley face in the foam to cheer me on, which was good because I had to write the scene where Zoey's grandfather died...so sad. I don't know which of us took it harder, Zoey or me.

Okay, true confession time. I don't have a laptop. When I'm at home I write on my PC, but when I'm out in the woods (or at Borders) I use my handy-dandy little Alpha-Smart word processor. It's a light weight gadget that woks on Palm Pilot software. I can upload my documents from it to my PC with one keystroke and I never have to worry about a dead battery. It can run 25 hours on one charge or a set of AA batteries.

1485 words so far today, but I'm hoping to get back to it this evening after everyone else hits their bunks. (4566 words total.)

Thanks to all my online friends who are cheering me on. It sure helps to have so much encouragement! S'mores for everyone!

(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Camp NaNoWriMo Day Three

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 09:28:00 +0000

Shhhhhh - It's 2:15 AM and I'm hiding under the covers typing away at my manuscript. My cabin mates are fast asleep, but not me. My characters are keeping me awake. They've been apart for six years, but Zoey has come back to Carter's Creek because her Grandfather is dying. Of course, she runs into the one person she had hoped to avoid...Jack Matthews.

It was awkward, but they both felt the old chemistry...I could tell. I just don't know if Zoey will be able to forgive Jack for the way he....

Oh, no - I'm not giving away any of their secrets tonight. In fact, I think I'm just going to let them both cool their heels until tomorrow.

Shutting down the old laptop. Good night all!

Total word count: 3081 (Did a lot of revisions today on chapters 1 & 2)

(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Camp NaNoWriMo Day Two

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 02:47:00 +0000

Greetings from Day 2 of Camp NaNoWriMo! As some of you who are my friends on Facebook know, the counselors gave us some free time, so I'm spent it in the woods, sitting on a big flat rock near the stream with my lap top. (At least that's where I was in my head.) I was actually sitting at home in front of the computer, but I was enjoying the fantasy!

Got another chapter done today before my knight in shining armor came home and whisked me off to dinner and a movie. What a guy! My word count is up to 2822, which is just a little over 400 words short of my target for day two, so I might write more after my knight falls asleep on the couch in front of the TV. It's a nightly (knightly) phenomenon.

Snapped a picture of our camp cabin.

It's rustic, but cozy. I like it, but the, uh..."facilities"...not so much!

Until tomorrow - keep praying for me that my writing will be directed by God's hand and that I survive that outhouse!

Jan
PS - Send more marshmallows & chocolate bars!

(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Letter from Camp-Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 04:02:00 +0000

My first day of Camp NaNoWriMo got off to a slow start. I was so excited about my new book that I stayed up way too late last night, working on the story line. I had to work on it under the covers with a flashlight because the other girls in my cabin were sleeping. By 4:00 AM, I felt reasonably certain that I had all the kinks worked out and fell into a deep sleep.

Completely missed my wake-up call which is a huge clanging metal bell in the center of the campground. Well, actually, it was so loud and annoying that I couldn't miss hearing it, but once I pulled the pillow over my head to block out the sound, I fell right back asleep.

The camp counselors were none too happy with me, so they gave me KP duty and a few extra chores to do this morning, which meant I got a late start on writing my novel.

Still, I was able to pound out a little over 1200 words this evening. I'm happy with the beginning chapter, but I think I'll turn in early so I can get a head start on writing in the morning. Just going to run over to the campfire and roast a few mallows before I turn in.

I'll let you know how things go tomorrow.

So long for now from Camp NaNoWriMo,
Jan

(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Camp NaNoWriMo Day One

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 09:33:00 +0000

Well, this is it - day one of Camp NaNoWriMo and the day I start my novel!

If you've never heard of NaNoWriMo (which stands for National Novel Writing Month), let me explain. It's crazy! You sit down on the first day of the month and start writing. You need to have a 50,000 word novel written by the last day of the month to be considered a NaNoWriMo winner. See, I told you it was crazy!

NaNoWriMo is usually held each year in November, but this year they're running two summer camps. You can start on July 1st or August 1st and finish up your novel by the end of the month. I'm going with July.

Here's the synopsis for my story...Zoey's Quest

Zoey Braxton grew up in Carter's Creek, but her past was a mystery-one her grandfather refused to discuss. When he died, all he left was his tattered Bible and a parting message. "You'll find everything you need in this book."

She isn't interested. Zoey is tired of her grandfather's religion with all its rules and restrictions. She's ready to live life on her own terms until she discovers a secret pocket cut into the cover of the old man's Bible and its contents turn her world upside down.

Zoey sets out to find the truth about her past and the twin sister she never knew existed, totally unaware that this quest might just cost her life and the newly rekindled love of her high school sweetheart, Jack Matthews.

Follow my letters home from camp here on my blog as I chronicle my way through writing Zoey's Quest. Let's see how much trouble I can get my characters into and then watch to see how they get themselves out of each sticky situation I throw at them.

I've checked into my cabin and so far I'm alone. Sure hope some other campers show up, cause I'm all stocked up on coffee, chocolate, marshmallows, potato chips and soda - everything a camper needs to survive, and I'm ready to have some FUN at Camp NaNoWriMo!

Let the writing begin!

(If you're doing Camp NaNoWriMo, too, leave a comment. Maybe we can share a cabin.)

(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)

Guest post by Susan Sleeman

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 06:59:00 +0000

Enter to win a copy of Susan Sleeman's Behind the Badge and a $50 Amazon gift card!

Susan Sleeman here. Behind the Badge, my second romantic suspense book for Love Inspired Suspense will release on June 6th and in honor of all of you, the readers, I am hosting a special contest on my website for the month of June.

Let’s face it. Without you, the wonderful readers, books would not exist and I wouldn’t be able to wake up looking forward to a job that is fresh and exciting each and every day. Praise God for this incredible opportunity!

Now back to the contest. All you have to do is read the excerpt below then go to my WEBSITE and answer the following question. That's it. You're entered to win.

If you'd like to sign up for my mailing list to learn of other contests in the future you can do that at the same time, too. Full contest rules are on the entry page. Remember only one entry per person.

QUESTION: What item let Russ know the bike was street legal?

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.

Her books include Nipped in the Bud, High-Stakes Inheritance, Behind the Badge, and The Christmas Witness. Also watch for the first two romantic suspense books in her Justice Agency series coming from Love Inspired suspense in 2012 and featuring a private investigations firm specializing in helping those who traditional law enforcement has failed.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan visit her website, Facebook , or Twitter.

"YOUR SISTER IS NEXT!"

A killer is threatening the life of rookie cop Sydney Tucker's sister-unless Sydney turns over evidence from a drug bust. But she doesn't have the evidence. Not that the thug believes her. Now she and the sibling in her care are under the watchful eye of Logan Lake police chief Russ Morgan…but will his protection be enough?

The killer is closing in, picking off the people and places that mean the most to Sydney. A list that now includes Russ. To protect her loved ones, will she pay the ultimate price-her life?

The Morgan Brothers - Bk 2

Love Inspired Suspense June 6, 2011

ISBN-10: 0373444478

ISBN-13: 978-0373444472

READ AN EXCERPT:

Chapter One

Gunshots split the inky darkness.
Deputy Sydney Tucker hit the cold ground, a jagged rock slashing into her forehead on the way down. She reached for her service weapon. Came up empty handed. She'd stopped after work to check on the construction of her townhouse and left her gun and cell phone in the car.
Dumb, Sydney. Really dumb. Now what're you gonna do?
Inching her head above knee-high grass, she listened. The keening whistle of the wind died, leaving the air damp and heavy with tension but silence reigned.
Had she overreacted? Could be target practice. But at night? Maybe. Hunters did crazy things sometimes.
Footfalls pounded from below like someone charging through the brush. No. Two people. Maybe a chase. One person after another. A loud crash, branches snapping.
"What're you doin', man," a panicked male voice traveled through the night. "No! Don't shoot! We can work this out."
Three more gunshots rang out. A moan drifted up the hill.
Not target practice. Someone had been shot.
Sydney lurched to her feet, dizziness swirling around her. Blood dripped into her eyes. She wiped it away, blinked hard and steadied herself on a large rock while peering into the wall of darkness for the best escape route.
Heavy footfalls crunched up the gravel path.
"I know you're here, Deputy Tucker," a male voice, disguised with a high nasally pitch, called out. "We need to talk about this. C'mon out."
Yeah, right. Come out and die. Not hardly.
Praying, pleading for safety, she scrambled deeper into the scrub. Over rocks. Through grass tangling her feet. Her heart pounded in her head, drowning the prayers with fear.
"I'm losing patience, Deputy," he called again in that strange voice. "You're not like Dixon. He had it coming. You don't."
Dixon? Did he mean the man she arrested for providing alcohol to her teenage sister and for selling drugs? Was that what this was about?
Rocks skittered down the incline. The shooter was on the move again. No time to think. She had to go. Now!
Blindly she felt her way past shrubs, over uneven ground. Dried leaves crunched underfoot. Branches slapped her face and clawed at her arms, but she stifled her cries of pain.
"I hear you, Deputy."
She wrenched around to determine his location. A protruding rock caught her foot, catapulting her forward. She somersaulted through the air. Her knee slammed into the packed earth and she crashed down the hill. Wrapping arms around her head for protection, she came to a stop, breath knocked out of her chest, lying flat on her back in a thick stand of weeds.
"So you want to play it that way, do you Deputy? Fine. Just remember, you can run, but you can't hide. I will find you. This will be resolved one way or another." His disembodied laugh swirled into the night.
The darkness pressed closer. Blinding. Overwhelming. Terrifying.
She was easy prey. Even with her bulletproof vest, a few rounds fired in her direction would take her out. She had to get up.
She rose to her knees, but pain knifed into her knee, keeping her anchored to the ground.
Lord, please don't let me die like this. Give me the strength to move. I need to live for Nikki. She's only seventeen. She has no one.
Sydney uncurled and came to a standing position. Taking a few halting steps, she tested the pain. Nearly unbearable. But she could-no she had to do this for her sister.
Thinking of Nikki, she gritted her teeth and set off, moving slowly, taking care not to make a sound.
Out of the darkness, a hand shot out. Clamped over her mouth.
Screams tore from her throat, but died behind fingers pressed hard against her lips.
A muscled arm jerked her against a solid chest and dragged her deep into the brush.
God, please, no.
She twisted, arched her back, pushing against arms like iron bands.
She dug her heels into the ground, but he was too strong. He kept going deeper into the brush before settling them both on the ground behind a large boulder.
"Relax Sydney, it's Russ Morgan," Logan Lake's Police Chief whispered, his lips close to her ear.
Russ Morgan? What was he doing here?
"Sorry about the hand." His tone said she was nothing more than a stranger instead of someone she'd known for years. "I didn't want you to alert the shooter with a scream. I'm gonna remove my hand now. Nod if you understand me."
She let all of her relief escape in a sharp jerk of her head. His fingers dropped away.
"Once the shooter rounded that curve, you would've been a goner," he whispered while still firmly holding her. "Good thing a neighbor reported gunshots."
Sydney started to shiver and breathed deep to steady her galloping pulse. Air rushed into her lungs. She was alive, but barely. No thanks to her own skills.
"You okay?" he asked, his breath stirring her hair.
"Yes." She willed her body to stop shaking and eased out a hiss of disappointment in her performance as a deputy. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough to hear the shooter claim he's hit Dixon and is coming after you next," he whispered again, but urgency lit his voice and rekindled her fear. "This have to do with your arrest of Carl Dixon the other day?"
"I don't know," she whispered back. "I just stopped to check on the construction of my townhouse on my way home from work."
"Off duty, huh? Explains why you don't have your weapon drawn."
"I left my duty belt in my car." She waited for his reaction to not carrying, but he simply gave a quick nod as footfalls grated against gravel.
"Shh, he's about to pass us." Russ leaned forward and drew his gun with his free hand, but didn't release his hold on her.
Crunching steps came within a few feet of their location. Halted.
"Can you feel me breathing down your neck, Deputy? I'm inches from finding you." He didn't know the accuracy of his words.
She felt Russ's breathing speed up, upping her concern and washing away the brief blanket of security his arms provided. Adrenaline urged her to move. To keep from panicking, she focused on Russ's unwavering weapon.
The shooter took a few steps closer. Her heart thumped, threatening to leave her chest. Russ tightened his hold as if he knew she wanted to bolt.
The shooter spun sending gravel flying then headed up the path.
As his footsteps receded, she tried to relax taut muscles. The warmth from Russ's body helped chase out her fear and the chill of the night. Thank God Russ was here. If he hadn't come.
She refused to go there. God had watched over her. Provided rescue, just not in the form she'd have chosen.
Not only was Russ an officer from the city police force-a team often in competition with the county sheriff's department where she worked-but a man she'd had a crazy crush on in high school. A man whose rugged good looks still turned women's heads.
She let out a long sigh.
"I know this's awkward," he whispered, "but hang tight for a few more minutes. We need to wait for him to head back down the hill."
She wanted to protest and suggest they flee now, but not Russ. He thought clearly. Taking off now gave the killer the advantage of higher ground, making them moving targets. They'd have to sit like this until he passed them again.
If they made it out of here, which the approaching footfalls told her wasn't at all certain.
They pounded closer. The shooter moved at a quick clip this time as if he thought she'd gotten away and he was fleeing. Or maybe he was heading to her car to lay in wait for her.
As the footsteps receded again, she felt Russ's arm slacken.
"Time to roll," he whispered. "Stay here."
"But I-"
"You have a backup?" He referred to a back up gun officers often carry.
She shook her head.
"Then wait here." He gave her the hard stare that'd made him famous around town and crept toward the path.
She leaned against the boulder and wrapped her arms around the warm circle on her waist where he'd held her. Without his warmth, she couldn't quit shaking. The reality of the night froze her inner core.
She should listen to Russ. Lay low. Wait until he apprehended the killer.
That was the safe thing to do.
The easy thing to do.
The wrong thing to do.
Not for everyone, but for an officer of the law, letting a shooter escape without trying to stop him wasn't an option. Even if that shooter had her in his sights, she'd make her way to her car for her gun and help Russ stop this maniac before he hurt anyone else.
*****
Near the ditch, Russ came to a stop and fought to catch his breath. Taillights on a mud splattered dirt bike roared up the trail. He'd warned the suspect to stop, but short of shooting him in the back, Russ couldn't stop him from fleeing into the dark.
At least he'd accomplished his primary objective. To protect Sydney and keep her alive. Now he needed to alert his men and the sheriff's office to the suspect's whereabouts.
He lifted his shoulder mic and ordered a unit from his office to stake out the end of the trail for the motorcycle and an ambulance in case Dixon survived. Then he asked dispatch to patch him through to the county sheriff's department to make sure they knew he'd taken charge of the scene so none of their hotshot deputies arrived with the hope of usurping control.
He turned on his Maglight and headed up the hill. The beam of light skipped over gravel and lush plants lining the winding path. Midway up, rustling brush stopped him cold. He'd left Sydney higher up. Nearer the lake.
Was a second shooter hoping to ambush him?
He flipped off his light and sought protection behind a tree. His breath came in little pulses in the unusually cold air for a typical Oregon fall. Adrenaline with little time to ebb away came roaring back, but even as the noise grew louder, he resisted the urge to take action.
Maybe it was Sydney. The Sydney he used to know wouldn't have listened to his directive and stayed put. She'd trounce down the hill, her chin tilted at the same insolent angle as when he told her he didn't return her crazy crush her freshman year of high school. Not that he'd wanted to send a beautiful, lively girl like her away. He could easily have dated her, but he was four years older, in college. With their age difference, it wouldn't have been right.
Bushes at the path's edge shook then parted. Slowly, like a sleek panther, Sydney slipped out. He watched until she stood tall on those incredibly long legs he'd admired since she was sixteen before lowering his gun and aiming his flashlight at her.
She jumped. Peered up at him, an impudent look planted on her face. This was the Sydney he'd known as a teen and heaven help him, in less than thirty minutes, she'd sparked his interest again.
"Care to shine that somewhere other than my face." She perched her hand over her eyes, warding off the glare.
He moved the light but not before he caught a good look at a gaping wound running from her hairline to eyebrow, covered in congealed blood. He lifted his hand to check out her injury, but stopped. He wouldn't probe a wound on one of his men's faces. As a fellow LEO-law enforcement officer-he wouldn't treat Sydney any differently.
"I told you to stay put." He infused his words with authority.
"I wanted to help. Wish I'd listened. I tripped over the body." She held out blood-covered hands. Her eyes watered as if she might cry.
Man. Don't do that. Don't fall apart. He couldn't remain detached if she started crying. He'd have to empathize, maybe give her a reassuring pat on the arm. Maybe feel her pain and resurrect all the reasons he'd left his homicide job in Portland.
He changed his focus. Nodded at the brush. "Show me the body."
As a faint whine of sirens spiraled in the distance, she limped into tall grass, a grimace of pain marring her beautiful face. He followed, illuminating the area ahead of her. About ten feet in, she suddenly stopped. He shone his light a few feet ahead of her.
Diffused rays slid over a young male lying on his back. Russ swung the beam to the man's face landing on open eyes staring into the blackness above.
Sydney gasped and swung around him. She rushed toward the main path. Even though Russ knew it was a lost cause, he bent down to check for a pulse. No question, this man hadn't made it and no question about his identity. Carl Dixon, a man every LEO in the area knew from his frequent blips onto the police radar and the most recent arrest for selling drugs.
All that ended with three gunshots to the chest at close range from what Russ could see with his flashlight. Once they thoroughly processed the scene, he'd know better. But first, they needed to vacate the area before further contaminating the scene.
He found Sydney near the path, gaze fixed in the distance, hands clasped on her hips and exhaling long breaths as if trying to expel what she'd just seen.
Haunted eyes peered at him. "He's dead, right?"
"Yeah."
"And what about the killer?"
"Couldn't catch him. He took off on a dirt bike."
Disappointment crowded out the fear on her face. "Did you at least see him?"
"From the back. He was my height or a little taller, but lean. Wore a black stocking cap. The bike has a plate so it must be street legal. I caught the first few digits."
"That's something, then."
Russ didn't want to tell her it would do little for them in terms of searching DMV records as three digits would return thousands of bikes, but he didn't think she could take any more bad news so he kept quiet. "Let's head down to the parking lot."
He gave her the flashlight and urged her to take the lead down the steep hill. Once on solid concrete, she handed it back to him. Holding it overhead, he watched her closely for dizziness or other impairments from her fall. He saw nothing out of the ordinary, but a head injury could mean a concussion. He'd have the EMT's check her out when they got here.
He pointed at a rough-hewn bench. "Maybe you should sit down."
"I'm fine " Her voice cracked and she seemed embarrassed over reacting to the murder.
"It's okay to be upset, Syd. A horrible thing happened tonight."
"I'm fine really. I'll be back to a hundred percent by morning."

Text copyright © by Susan Sleeman
Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.

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Thank, you Susan for being a guest blogger today and for giving us a look at your new book. I can't wait to read it!

Jan

Camp NaNoWriMo

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 01:43:00 +0000

I'm getting ready for Camp NaNoWriMo!

Not familiar with NaNoWriMo?

According to Wikipedia,

National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo) is an annual internet-based creative writing project which challenges participants to write 50,000 words of a new novel in one month.

The project started in July 1999 with just 21 participants, but by the 2010 event over 200,000 people took part - writing a total of over 2.8 billion words.

Writers wishing to participate first register on the project's website, where they can post profiles and information about their novels, including synopsis and excerpts. Word counts are validated on the site, with writers submitting a copy of their novel for automatic counting. Municipal leaders and regional forums help connect local writers with one another for holding writing events and provide encouragement.

According to me, it's the most fun I've ever had in November. (Unless you count the time back in 1971 when I gave birth to my daughter, but that wasn't really all that much fun.)

I wrote my first novel, Vintage Roses during NaNoWriMo back in 2009 and I have the winner's stamp to prove it. Of course that manuscript is laying in my desk drawer untouched. It's a good story, but since I did absolutely no planning ahead of time, it's a hot mess and would probably take months of rewriting to whip it into any kind of publishable shape.

This year, NaNoWriMo has announced it's doing a summer campaign - Camp NaNoWriMo. They're busy working on a new web site to host it, with a beta version scheduled for July and a full-blown version ready by August.

So, I'm getting ready to "go to camp." I've been working on the story line, setting, character worksheets and so forth...this time I'm going to be ready!

My new story is called Zoey's Quest and here's a one sentence sneak peak -

"After her grandfather's death, Zoey Braxton finds a letter hidden in a secret pocket of his old Bible that leads her on a quest that might just cost her life."

It's an inspirational suspense novel with a little romance thrown in.. I'm hoping it will eventually get picked up by a traditional publishing house and make me rich and famous. Okay, the rich and famous part is not going to happen with one book, but it's a start, right?

Thank you, Ruth Logan Herne!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 23:19:00 +0000

Received a Goodie Basket in the mail today from my author friend Ruth Logan Herne (better known as Ruthy)

It was a give-away on Seekerville.com - a great site for writers who are working hard to get published.

Can't wait to read the books - two of Ruthy (Reunited Hearts and Small-Town Hearts) and one of Missy Tippins (A Family for Faith). Both are great inspirational romance writers.

Finished Two Books!

noreply@blogger.com (Jan Christiansen) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 04:18:00 +0000

I finished two books today! No, they weren't books I'd written, but books written by someone else.

The first was Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix, one of my favorite authors. It was a redo of Cinderella, but one like you've never read before! It tells what happened after Cinderella moved into the palace to marry Prince Charming and that happily ever after part....uh, not so much. I loved the book, just as I do many of Ms Haddix's books. Ella is a feisty little gal and Charming...let's just say he doesn't live up to his name. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone.

Other books I'd recommend by this author are The Shadow Children Series and Double Identity.

The second book was A Bride most Begrudging set in colonial Virginia. It involves a kidnapping on a slave ship, a forced marriage and another spit-fire heroine. The author, Deeanne Gist did a wonderful job of making you feel like you were really back in colonial times, which made me glad I was born in 1950, not the 1600s!

I loved the way she built the relationship between the hero and heroine and all the ups and downs that the characters had to go through. It had me laughing one minute, mad as heck the next and crying in other parts. Deeanne Gist can write! Can't wait to read her other books.

Read any good books lately that you would recommend? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Also wondering if other people do what I do when I read a book that I loved - contact the author to thank them for writing a book. I know that as a writer, I always appreciate it when people let me know they enjoy my books, short stories or devotionals.

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(Copyright © 2010, 2011 Jan Christiansen. All rights reserved.)