FIELD OF DANGER - Ramona Richards - Free Book

Welcome back to my blog, Ramona. God has really been moving in your writing life. What do you see on the horizon?

I’m hoping for more books! I have several proposals in development, and I’d love to sign with an agent soon.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’m a single mom. Rachel is 22 and with her disabilities needs constant care. I have three caregivers who help out (Phyllis, Marti, and Kim) who are also like family to me. Field of Danger is dedicated to Phyllis.

Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I read more romance! I’ve always read it, but now I read more kinds. I love regencies and other historicals, as well as other romantic suspense authors.

What are you working on right now?

The sequel to Field of Danger. It’s called House of Secrets and is due out next summer.

What outside interests do you have?

I love the outdoors, mostly scuba diving and hiking. I also go to a lot of plays and movies.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

They sort of choose me, in the same way the plots do. I get ideas from everyday events, and by the time to plot evolves so has the setting. For me, they are intertwined. For instance, Field of Danger came from weekly trips to Phyllis’s house. She lives in a farming community, and the story came together from a whole bunch of different tales that had risen from that small town.

If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it be and why?

Ooh, that’s like choosing a needle from the haystack. There are many I admire, but if I had to choose one, I’d probably pick Alexandre Dumas. I truly love his novels, his prolific output, and his humor.

What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing novels?

How hard it is to stay focused on one story. I have so many ideas, that I find it hard to focus on the hard work of writing when so many others are waiting to be born.

What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?

Patience, perseverance, and managing fear. He’s really working on me with those!

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

Network and persevere. There’s a lot of about the publishing business that can be learned from your peers, and rejection is a fact of the business. It’s not personal, so file those rejection letters and emails away and keep working. And most of all, listen to your own voice instead of trying to copy what’s out there.

Tell us about the featured book?

Eyewitness to a murder, April Presley wants to answer Deputy Sheriff Daniel Rivers’ harrowing questions about the crime. But she can’t. She barely caught a glimpse of the crime through the deep Tennessee cornfield, and cannot recall anything to help the investigation. Or can she? Daniel Rivers is certain that April remembers more of his father’s death than she realizes. And the killer agrees. In the race to uncover April’s missing memory before the killer finds her, Daniel is the only one she can trust to keep her safe. Yet will he stay by her side when the shocking truth is unveiled?

Please give us the first page of the book.

Chapter One

When the shotgun went off, April Presley dropped her thermos and screamed.

Hearing her own scream scared her almost as much as the man with the gun did, and April clamped both hands over her mouth as she watched her next door neighbor, Levon Rivers, crumple in the middle of his newly plowed section of the field. Levon and his killer were almost 50 yards away, but even at that distance, April could see the blossom of red on Levon’s chest and a cold brace of fear flooded through her.

Then another screech burst around her tightly clamped hands as the killer swung around to face her, his face a blurry mask of rage. Without hesitation, he lifted the gun and fired again.

April ran.

And the morning had started out so peacefully.

As usual, April had spent her morning half on business and half on enjoying the luscious garden of flowers, herbs and vegetables behind her cottage. Since moving to the tiny town of Caralinda, Tennessee, April had found solace and a kind of spiritual comfort in her gardening.

What an opening. Really grabs the reader. How can readers find you on the Internet?

They can find me on my website, my blog, or on Facebook and Twitter. I love visitors.

http://www.ramonarichards.com/

http://ramonarichards.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/ramona.richards

http://twitter.com/RamonaRichards

Thank you, Ramona, for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.


Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

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Ramona Richards - THE TAKING OF CARLY BRADFORD - Free Book

Welcome, Ramona. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I crave a good seat-of-the-pants adventure, and I want to keep the story moving while the hero and heroine come together, which is why I write romantic suspense. I’m basically a sappy romantic at heart, no matter how “intellectual” I like to pretend to be sometimes. And I write inspirationals because I quickly discovered it was easier to write from my own Christian worldview than take it out. It’s just who I am.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I’ve been blessed with a lot of happy days. God has been awesome in my life. No one day stands out over the others.

How has being published changed your life?

Networking! Being published is a great high, but it has put me in touch with so many amazing readers and writers.

What are you reading right now?

I read a lot of books. Anything Brandilyn Collins writes. Dark Pursuit made the hair stand up on my neck. I’ve also been working my way through Alexander McCall Smith’s series about the “No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.” And I always pick up the latest Love Inspired Suspense books.
What is your current work in progress?

I have two in the works, both about cold case detectives. One, Reclaiming Daisy Doe, is about a private detective who specializes in small town cases, starting with the murder of her own grandmother and father. The other, The Bones of Gregory Miller, centers on a police detective investigating the discovery of a child’s skeleton in the basement of a hotel.

What would be your dream vacation?

I LOVE to scuba dive, but I haven’t been able to go in several years. My dream vacation would be about a month in Dominica: diving, hiking, and stretching out on the beach with my AlphaSmart and a few good books.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

I usually chose settings that intrigue me, that I’m familiar with, or that fit the story. In the three “Jackson’s Retreat” books, including The Taking of Carly Bradford, I set them in New Hampshire because I love the state and they seemed to “fit” there. I have some great friends in NH, and I spent a lot of time with them, exploring NH small towns, including the one they live in. They own a café in Portsmouth, and I used the café in The Taking of Carly Bradford. I’ll also be running a contest on my site, featuring the café.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

That’s tough. I guess my dearest wish would be able to talk to my daughter for an evening. Rachel is severely disabled. She’s a happy kid most of the time, but she can’t speak or do anything for herself, and I’d love to be able to know what she’s thinking, what she really feels about life. After that, speaking with most normal folks kinda pales….although I wouldn’t exactly turn down an invitation from Keanu Reeves or Trevor Eve. (I do have my more shallow side….)

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Scuba diving! I also cross-stitch (although I don’t get to do it enough) and I love to hike and explore the wilderness.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

I often fight episodes of depression, which crunch my creativity. I overcome it by taking the conquering steps I’ve learned over the past 50 years, including making changes in my life, spending time with friends and God, staying in the sun (light therapy), and occasionally seeking out counseling.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Don’t write about what you know. Write about what you love – or want to love. Knowledge is easy to come by these days – whereas it’ll take passion to get you past the rough times, either with your writing life or with rejections. Listen to your heart and to God.

Tell us about the featured book.

Three years ago, Dee Kelley lost her family. Three months ago, eight-year-old Carly Bradford disappeared. When Dee finds crucial evidence in a case rapidly growing cold, she becomes determined not to let another mother suffer the way she did. She will help police chief Tyler Madison find Carly, whether he wants her assistance or not. But Tyler isn’t the only one determined to keep Dee off the case. And evidence isn’t all that she’ll find waiting for her in the woods.

I'm hooked. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My website and blog. I LOVE visitors. I also have Facebook and MySpace pages.
http://www.ramonarichards.com/
www.ramonarichards.com/rr/blog

Thank you, Ramona, for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order The Taking of Carly Bradford:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. The only notification will be the Winners announcement on this blog. Be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won.

If you're reading this on Facebook or Amazon, please come to this blog to leave the comment:

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Author Ramona Richards - THE FACE OF DECEIT - 2 Free Books

Today, I'm talking to Ramona Richards, who has a new Love Inspired Suspense release.

Welcome, Ramona. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

My heroines are always braver and feistier than I am in real life, and they definitely have better adventures! They do reflect my unending curiosity about the world, however.

I enjoy researching different professions and hobbies. I had never sat behind a potter’s wheel until I came up with the idea for THE FACE OF DECEIT, but I loved it. So there are some similarities in what my hero, Mason, experiences the first time he’s at the wheel and what I felt.

Characters occasionally will enjoy something I do. In THE FACE OF DECEIT, for instance, one of the clues is found in a Dorothy Dunnett book. I adore Dunnett. But if all the women were me, readers would get bored in a hurry. So would I. I love discovering my characters the same way I hope readers do.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I kinda cultivate “quirky” as a lifestyle choice, so picking my quirkiest moment is a bit like choosing a favorite book. I used to be a member of the Society for Creative Anachronism, for instance, and I thought nothing of wandering the streets of Nashville in full medieval regalia. I took scuba diving lessons, even though at the time I was terrified of deep water, and I learned to fence, just because it seemed like a nifty thing to know.

Close to the top of the “quirky” list is the time my college roommate wanted us to go rappelling with this boy she had been swooning over. Problem was . . . I had broken my ankle while snow camping and my leg had been in a plaster cast for four weeks. But my roommate REALLY wanted us to go rappelling with this guy. So we cut off the cast with a knife and a pair of old scissors, wrapped my foot in an ace bandage and off we went. Somewhere, I still have the pictures.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

My mother tells me I started making up adventure stories at about three. There’s a picture on my website of me at that age, hanging out with my grandfather and his friends. I must have picked up storytelling from them. I tried to write my first book at seven. I kept my friends entertained with romances when I was 14 or so. My first article was published at 18.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Anything and everything! I read a lot of romantic suspense, but I also love historical romances – and history. I used to read a lot of science fiction, and I read some mainstream lit as well. I have had a “writerly crush” on Harlan Ellison since I was a kid, but I also have one on Dorothy Dunnett and Lawrence Block. A good strong voice, solid beauty in the words, descriptions that make you wince or sigh, can be admired in any genre.

What other books have you written, whether published or not?

There are three books in the Jackson’s Retreat series: A MURDER AMONG FRIENDS, THE FACE OF DECEIT, and THE TAKING OF CARLY BRADFORD, which will come out in May 2009. I’ve also written a suspense thriller about a cold case detective who specializes in cases that haunt small towns, and I’m also hoping to sell my next three RS books – about three sisters living in Nashville – to Steeple Hill.

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Friends, especially other writers. Writers have a different mindset than most other folks, so it helps to share our goals and ideas. And friends are my safety net. I vent to them; they to me about the frustrations of our lives and the fact that there is ALWAYS something else to do.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Sometimes they tell me what their names are. When they don’t . . . I keep programs from plays and concerts I attend. I also rely on area phone books or ethnic groups prominent in a setting.

For instance, the three Jackson’s Retreat books are set in New Hampshire, which has a large Greek population. I have a friend who runs a Greek restaurant in Portsmouth with her husband, and I asked her for some options for my next book.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Probably hanging on to my sanity while being the single mom of a daughter with severe disabilities. She’s 21 now, and I have two great caregivers who I don’t think I could do without – but I raised her alone for five years while recovering from my divorce.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Ah, never really thought about this one. I love animals of all sorts. Probably an otter or a whale. Or a dolphin.

What is your favorite food?

Strawberries. And anything with them on it or in it (think ice cream….).

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

I let life distract me from what I knew was God’s path for me. After my marriage and the birth of my daughter, I went in every direction you could think of, even walking away from my faith for several years. I stopped writing and became quite depressed. When I finally turned back to God, a lot of things happened in rapid order to get me back on track. I went back to writing and haven’t looked back.

Now when I get blocked, I remember to pray, listen, and hang out with other writers. Before too long, I’m back at the computer, typing my fingers off.

What advice would you give to an author just starting out?

Keep in mind that writing is a way of life, a craft, and a business. To succeed, you need to master all three:

1. Never give up. Harlan Ellison once said, “Any writer who CAN be discouraged, SHOULD be.” If your heart is bursting with stories, don’t let rejections make you quit. Rejections are part of the business. Learn from them and keep going.

2. Never stop learning your craft. I teach writing courses, but I am always interested in learning more. For instance, nothing will teach you more about how to build a plot than a good screenwriting class. And listen to the masters. Read Terry Brooks’ and Stephen King’s books on writing. Go to conferences. Hang out on Randy Ingermanson’s site and subscribe to his newsletter. C. J. Cherryh’s advice—“Only write what you want your readers to see. Don’t tell them the street has no cars on it because they have to put the cars there, then take them away. Tell them the street is empty.” That did more to clean up my writing than any other advice.

3. Never stop marketing yourself and your work. Christine Bolley changed my tactics and my level of achievement by simply emphasizing that successful writers spend at least 40 percent of their time marketing themselves. When I started following that advice, I sold my first book within the year.

What would you like to tell us about the featured book?

In THE FACE OF DECEIT, Karen O’Neill has suppressed all memories of her parents’ murders, which she witnessed when she was seven. Now she’s a potter whose “face vases” are getting a lot of attention in the art world, mostly due to art crime investigator and historian Mason DuBroc. When someone starts killing collectors and destroying vases, Mason become convinced that the face on the vases belongs to the killer.

When the killer turns the attacks on Karen, she and Mason face the fact that her mind is slowly revealing details that not only involve long-held and destructive family secrets but the identity of the killer. What did Karen’s parents do to provoke their murders? Do the answers lie somewhere besides in Karen’s blocked memories. If not . . . can she remember the killer in time?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

www.ramonarichards.com. I have a new site, and I love visitors. :-)

Ramona, thank you for spending this time with us.

Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of this book and the first book in this series. What a wonderful offer for Ramona to make.

And check out Ramona's website.