You might be a writer if……

You might be a writer if….You pick up a mastodon tooth and write a whole story in your head in 10 seconds.

You might be a writer if….you walk down a street in a historical village and imagine being pursued by killers and time traveling into the past.

You might be a writer if….a woman in a museum starts talking about laundry in the 1870s and you’re riveted.

You might be a writer if….you saw the end of the Sixth Sense coming.

You might be a writer if….your children’s baby books are covered with writing and have almost no pictures.

In Too Deep releases TODAY

You might be a writer if….you take a tour of Carlsbad Cavern and are mentally transported back in time to the first guy who ever saw the place. And thirty four years later, you still remember that moment of being transported so vividly you write a series of romance novels about it.

My one and only trip to Carlsbad Cavern was about 34 years ago. I didn’t write my first book for sixteen years. But when I did, I had a LOT of ideas, this was one of them. What would it have been like to be the first person to go into that cavern?

When we walked through Carlsbad there was a nice sturdy fence, roping off all the dangerous pits. There were lights everywhere and we could see the beauty and easily avoid the danger. But what if you’d gone in there with no idea what it was?

What if you’d seen bats fly up out of a hole in the ground and went to look for where they’d come from and found a deep, black hole? What if you were curious, as was Jim White, the first man on record as being in Carlsbad Cavern, and you got a long rope and lowered yourself down? There are bottomless pits…okay, they probably have a bottom eventually, but I suspect the bottom is way, way, way too far down to be anything but deadly.

It’s pitch black. There are beautiful things—stunningly beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Water dripping, building those rock formations. You’d be drawn by the glimpses of beauty. Your only light is a lantern or a handmade torch or a candle. You’d be fascinated and, if you weren’t really careful, you’d be dead in no time.

When I walked through Carlsbad Cavern, long before I’d ever thought of writing a book, I was writing a book. And it stayed with me until finally it was time. I fictionalized the cavern because the true history of Carlsbad is so well known I couldn’t be faithful to it.

In Bookstores Now

Three little boys find a cavern on their remote Colorado ranch. Three boys close in age, all adventurous. All tough little guys without parents watching them very close. The brothers stick together. They imagined themselves as a team, three brothers against the world. And then disaster strikes. One of them is terribly hurt. Their parents can’t stand the strain of their boy’s devastating burns and his screaming nightmares that will not end.

Their family is torn apart.

Ethan blames himself and he can’t bear the pain of what he caused. He left home the minute he was old enough. Now he’s back after years of lonely wandering. And though he’s sworn to never go near that cavern again, he’s found that his life may depend on finding the courage to face that dark pit.

In Out of Control—Book One of The Kincaid Brides Series—I told Rafe’s story.

Coming in August

Now it’s time for Book Two, In Too Deep. Ethan Kincaid and Audra Gilliland. A marriage of convenience between two easy going people. They should have rubbed along happily together for years. Except unexpected passion surprises them both. And unexpected danger draws them both into that deadly, beautiful cave.

Coming in August is Seth’s story. Over the Edge, available for preorder now. The crazy man who turns out to have some crazy things in his past that are catching up to him.

To get your name in a drawing for a signed copy of In Too Deep, tell me the best vacation–or adventure–you’ve ever taken.

Or buy In Too Deep on Amazon

Find out more at :

http://www.maryconnealy.com

Wildflowers is the first in the Sisters at Heart series and is set in Missouri shortly after the end of the War Between the States. When I worked up the proposal for this series, I had my characters and their occupations set in my mind. I planned that one of the characters, Rosemary Saxon, would be a nurse during the war, and then would follow the same occupation afterward. 

Well, surprise, surprise. When I began to research nurses in the Civil War, I learned that very few of them were women, and the ones who were female were generally older and/or widows. For a young unmarried woman to touch men’s bodies, even to tend to wounds, was considered vulgar. Throughout the war, male nurses outnumbered female nurses 4 to 1. The general public believed women would only be a nuisance and get in the way of the doctors.

Where female nurses were allowed, they were required to be plain-looking women. Their dresses were to be brown or black, no bows, no curls, no jewelry, and no hoop-skirts. The last prohibition made sense, since the hospital aisles were narrow. 

So, where did this leave Rosemary, who was to be a continuing character in the series? Using my artistic license, she’s attractive, not plain, but I did make her “old.” She’s twenty-seven. J In addition to her God-given gift of mercy, she’s also determined to the point of being headstrong. She needs to be to stand up to the prejudice she encounters.

In Where Wildflowers Bloom, Rosemary is the best friend of the story’s protagonist, Faith Lindberg. Oh, and did I mention Rosemary has a brother, Curt? How many of us remember having girlfriends with handsome brothers? I’ll just say that through Rosemary, Faith and Curt end up spending quite a bit of time together.

So, like Rosemary, have any of you taken a job in what is considered a man’s field? Did you encounter prejudice? On a more romantic note, did any of you ever fall in love with the brother of your best friend? How did it work out?

 I hope you’ll look for Where Wildflowers Bloom at your local bookstore, or through an online retailer. Please visit my website at www.annshorey.com for more information about Where Wildflowers Bloom, as well as my other books.

Where Wildflowers Bloom

How far will she go to follow her dreams?

 The War Between the States stole a father and brother from Faith Lindberg—as well as Royal Baxter, the man she wanted to marry. With only her grandfather left, she dreams of leaving Noble Springs, Missouri, and traveling west to Oregon to start a new life, away from the memories that haunt her. But first she must convince her grandfather to sell the family’s mercantile and leave a town their family has called home for generations.

When Royal Baxter suddenly returns, Faith allows herself to hope that she and Royal will finally wed. But does he truly love her? Or will another man claim her heart?

Ann has graciously agreed to give away a copy of Where Wildflowers Bloom today, so be sure to leave a comment in order to be entered in the drawing!

In Too Deep

Keep your eyes wide open for a chance to win a copy of In Too Deep, my February release.

In Too Deep is book #2 in the Kincaid Brides series.
This is Ethan and Audra’s story. Ethan, the middle child, the shallow charmer who blames himself for a terrible accident in a cavern on the Kincaid property, that hurt his little brother and broke their family apart.

Here’s a little bit about In Too Deep
In 1866 Colorado, Ethan Kincaid agrees to a marriage of convenience with the same casual disregard he gives every decision. Audra Gilliland, young mother of two, accepts his proposal because she wants to stop being a burden to her newly married stepdaughter.

And suddenly both of them are in far deeper than they’d planned.

Ethan doesn’t expect Audra to affect him so profoundly, and when she begins to, he’s terrified of the pain he’s felt before when someone he loved was seriously injured on his watch. He’s determined that his new wife will do as he says so he can keep her safe from the dangers that lurk on their ranch.

Audra has been cared for all her life by one man or another–and they’ve done a poor job of it. Now she’s planning to stand up for herself. And her new husband had better agree or get out of her way!

What will it take to transform two wayward hearts fearful of getting in too deep into two trusting hearts ready to risk falling deeply in love?

And here is a part of the first chapter of In Too Deep:

“Ethan! Where’s Maggie?” 

Ethan’s head snapped up at Audra’s sharp tone. “What?”

            Audra, rounding a boulder, just coming into view,  dropped an armload of kindling. With the baby, Lily clutched to her chest, she charged forward calling, “Maggie!”

            “I thought she stayed with you?” Ethan rose from where he crouched by the morning fire and turned in a circle, searching for the toddler.

            No sign of her.

“I thought you took her.” Audra’s voice rose in agitation. She’d been gathering sticks while holding her baby. The confounded woman refused to just sit and rest and watch the children while Ethan got a meal.

“Maggie? Honey where are you?” She raised her voice, did her best to sound playful, when under it Ethan heard panic. Audra turned, looking frantically, her eyes wide with fear.

            “Maggie.” He tried to copy Audra’s easy-going tone. Scaring the toddler wouldn’t get her to come in.

“You’re sure Rafe and Julia didn’t let her ride along with them to Rawhide?” He charged toward a clump of aspens and shoved his way into see if she’d crawled behind them.

            “No. I was holding her when they rode off. Maggie was running after them. I told you I was going for firewood.”

            “You said you were taking the babies.”

            “I said the baby. Not babies. Maggie was sitting under those aspens, playing with your hat when I—” Audra’s voice sharpened. “Ethan, where’s Seth?”

Audra strode around to the back of the boulder she’d just circled. “Maggie? Maggie, come to mama.”

            Mentioning Seth made Ethan’s gaze swing to the cave opening. Ethan’s hat lay on the ground by the entrance. A knife of fear slashed Ethan’s chest as he looked at that black opening that led downward forever.

            “My hat! Over there!” Ethan started running. “Maybe she went in the cave. Maybe Seth went after her. Seth!”

            “Maggie, honey, come to mama.” Audra’s falsely chirpy voice faded as Ethan left her at the camp. He dashed into the cold tunnel and stumbled to a stop. The dark was like a choking hand. His throat closed. He forced himself to drag in a breath.

            “Seth! Where are you?” He forced each word out, forced his feet to move forward. Each step a battle of wills. His eyes went to a torch stuck in a crack. He pulled out a tin of matches.

            “Maggie! Maggie, come back.” Audra caught up and passed him.

            “Wait outside for me.” He was talking to her back. Fumbling with the tinderbox, he struck a match and it snapped in half. With shaking hands he tried again and got the torch lit.

            Audra rushed deeper in, Lily cradled in her arm. The baby was just days old. Where was Rafe when Ethan needed him?

            “Don’t bring the baby in here. It’s cold.” And dangerous, but he didn’t say that out loud. Audra vanished around a curve. Ethan’s torch cast flickering shadows that grabbed at him.

            “Maggie!” Audra’s voice echoed from ahead. Ethan hurried to catch up.

            “Audra wait!” Ethan got to the split in the tunnel. One went down a long, long way, he saw Audra moving down it. No lantern. Was the woman crazy?

            The other led to a larger cave. A hole in the ceiling let sunlight in. “Let’s check ahead first.” Ethan’s breathing sped up. He imagined Maggie going down that slope. She’d fall. She might slide a long way. If she wasn’t too badly hurt, she’d get up and be so lost. So lost in the dark.

            “Seth had to bring her.” Something flashed across Audra’s expression. Pure mama grizzly bear.

            “Go look around outside.” He wanted her out of here for her own good, but also so she didn’t see him if he shamed himself with his fear. “I’ll hunt in here. Lily shouldn’t be in this cold place.”

            Audra gave him a look of pure contempt. “I’m not going to stop looking for Maggie.”

            She wrapped the blankets tighter around Lily. “Let’s look ahead, before we go down.”

            Heaving a sigh of relief at not being left, even as he wished she’d get out, Ethan forced himself to lead the way to the place they’d found Seth’s bedroll. “If she’s alone she can’t have gone far. If she’s with Seth, she’s all right.”

            I hope—considering Seth is half-loco.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NOW FOR THE CHANCE TO WIN!

The three Kincaid brothers are very different from each other.

In book #1 Out of Control, the oldest brother Rafe is a tyrant.

In book #2 In Too Deep, the second brother Ethan is a shallow charmer.

In book #3 Over the Edge, the third brother Seth is crazy.

To get your name in a drawing for a signed copy of In Too Deep, pick one.

If you had to choose, would you rather be married to:

A tyrant who will protect you with his last breath…of course he’ll be issuing orders with that last breath,

A shallow man who won’t admit to feeling anything, most especially he won’t admit to falling in love.

A lunatic…but he’s coming around slowly…and he’s so vulnerable…and cute.

Which would it be and why?

Http://www.maryconnealy.com/

To buy In Too Deep click HERE

Trailer for In Too Deep: http://youtu.be/SskpS2SoiB4

BE MY TEXAS Valentine
Multi-author Anthology

In Texas, Valentine’s Day is for restless hearts, brave second chances and passions rekindled, New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors, Linda Broday, Phyliss Miranda, Jodi Thomas and DeWanna Pace tempt you with four delicious treats … And, the way to a cowboy’s heart.

From author Linda Broday
Cupid’s Arrow 

 A determined heiress gambles high to reclaim the rancher she’s never stopped wanting …. 

From author Phyliss Miranda
Loving Miss Laurel

When a spirited lady and a go-getter mayor compete for their town’s future, it’s two dreams for a lifetime.

LAKOTA SURRENDER
By Karen Kay  

Lakota Series, Book 1

 As she heads west to join her cavalry officer father at hisKansasoutpost, Kristina Bogard eagerly anticipates new adventures—and her first glimpse of wild Indians. She has long dreamed of flashing black eyes, skin-covered lodges and buckskin and leather.

 What she finds inFortLeavenworth, though, is a far cry from her Indian nanny’s thrilling stories. What few natives are left are crushed, brokenhearted shadows of their proud past. Except for one, a handsome warrior who stirs up a whole new set of dreams.

 Tahiska can’t take his eyes off the green-eyed beauty whose graceful hands are fluent in his native sign language. Except he can’t afford to let anything distract him from avenging his father, who was killed by two white soldiers.

 Though anger fills his mind, Kristina steals into his heart, igniting a wildfire passion that must remain their desperate secret. For soon comes the day of reckoning, when justice will be served…or a travesty will shatter their love.

 Warning: Sensuous romance that could prompt you to send up smoke signals for the one you love.

THE COWBOY’S PRIDE
By Charlene Sands

Unfinished Business

He’d been ready to move on, to marry a woman who’d provide him with heirs. But a year of separation hasn’t slaked rancher Clayton Worth’s raging desire for his soon-to-be-ex-wife.  And Trish is as unpredictable as ever.  Her mysterious reluctance to have kids was what drove them apart. Now Trish is back in Red Ridge, mother to a baby girl. The irony is maddening.

Trish urgently needs to finalize their divorce before Clayton’s irresistible charm can melt her resolve. Because his touch awakens a consuming hunger than hasn’t died. They’d thought it was all over between them…but their hearts have other ideas.

BREATHE
By Donna Alward

The first time they broke each other’s hearts. Now they have a second chance…

Doing what was expected didn’t get Anna Morelli anything but a bad marriage. Now that her life has fallen apart there’s only one place she can think of to regroup and figure out what comes next. Two Willows, the winery owned by the only man she could ever rely on. Her oldest friend. And her worst mistake.

Growing up as the poor boy didn’t stop Jace Willow from falling for Anna one hot, sultry summer. Back then, his best efforts to prove himself worthy of the Morelli standard fell just short. While it killed him to see her marry someone else, he made beating the Morellis at their own game his life’s work. And he’s excelled at it.

When Anna shows up on his doorstep, their painful history pales in the face of her need for a roof over her children’s heads—and some peace. The heat of their renewed passion is healing, but it burns away layers of hard-won emotional distance, reopening old wounds. Threatening their one last chance to rebuild their love on the shattered pieces of their broken hearts…

Warning: Full-bodied, rich bouquet with sexy overtones. Decant, breathe, and enjoy.

A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
Multi-author Anthology –available as an ebook ONLY

An Inspirational Christmas Collection

From author Mary Connealy
The Sweetest Gift

A spinster with a master’s degree who is a world traveler, librarian by day and concert pianist by night, marries aNebraskarancher with an eighth grade education. Their worlds are so far apart that each is afraid to admit their marriage of convenience is turning into a love match.

When Christmas draws nearAdelaidemust decide if she can give up her hopes of owning a beautiful piano so her husband can have the stallion he needs for his ranch. And Graham may need to sell his perfect brood mare, the ideal mate to his stallion, to fully express his love for his wife by buying her the Christmas gift of her dreams.