Common Elements Romance Project with Lainee Cole

The Write Way Café welcomes Lainee Cole, who has a wealth of creativity and a heart of gold.

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Tell us a little about Storms of the Heart.
Storms of the Heart is a sweet contemporary romance set in the fictional town of Twin Creeks, located in Southern Illinois. Emerson Lane and Justin “Max” Lomax learn that sometimes the hardest thing to do, and the right thing to do, are one and the same – especially when it comes to family dynamics.

Is this book tied to your shelter dog stories, previously published in the Captured by Christmas and At Midnight anthologies?
No, but Storms of the Heart does feature a loyal German Shepherd named Thor. He’s afraid of storms.

Who is your intended audience and why should they read Storms of the Heart?
I hope anyone who enjoys contemporary romance with just a hint of mystery will read it. Also, family and all that it encompasses is a large part of my life. In my stories, I try to show readers positive and supportive ways family members can be there for one another.

How did you become involved with the subject or theme of your book?
Following authors and writing groups on Facebook, I stumbled on The Common Elements Romance Project a little over a year ago. Over seventy romance authors came together to write stories with five elements in common. Everything else is up to the individual authors. The stories are not connected to each other or in the same “world,” so they can be read in any order. They might be short, epic, or in between. They run the gamut of romance sub-genres and heat levels, so there’s something for everyone. All stories for the project will be published between September 2019 and January 2020. Check out our website for more information – there are some fabulous books here!

Who is your favorite character from Storms of the Heart and why?
I know I should say my hero or heroine, right? But my favorite character is the housekeeper, Irene Beresford. She’s a spunky red-headed woman who revels in being herself, no matter what others might think. She’s been so much fun to write!

How about your least favorite character?  What makes them less appealing to you?
My least favorite character is Jameson Blackwell. He’s the mayor, and the town bully. Knowing there are actually people like him in the real world saddens me.

Tell us a little bit about your cover art. Who designed it? Why did you go with that particular image/artwork?
My cover was designed by Dar Albert from www.wickedsmartdesigns.com. I shared with her the five common elements for the Common Elements Romance Project: a lightning storm, lost keys, a haunted house (really haunted or rumored to be), a stack of thick books, and a person named Max. She did a great job working them all in to my cover!

Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about Storms of the Heart.
Let’s see… I’m always on the lookout for inspiration! Irene Beresford came to life for me last fall. On our way to the Black Hills of South Dakota, there was an exit sign for the towns of Irene and Beresford. The names just stuck with me, and I thought they would make a great character!

I love old houses with character and am intrigued by secret passages. It would be so cool to have one in my house! I Googled secret passages and hidden rooms, and found some great images. They meshed well with some of the ideas I had for this story.

If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
No question about it. My friend and fellow author, Lynn Crandall has been instrumental in my writing career. She is brutally honest in a way that challenges me to expand the boundaries of my comfort zone, to see my words from a different perspective, and to push myself to be a better writer. Best of all, she believes in me when I doubt myself. Her words of understanding and encouragement are the boost I sometimes need!

Do you have any unique talents or hobbies?
My kids claim I make the best no-bake cookies. Does that count? 😊

Do you have any tips for readers or advice for other writers trying to get published?
For readers: Support your favorite authors by following them on social media. It’s fun to get to know them!

For writers: 1) Always be open to learning. I love learning how authors work. Everyone uses different methods – there is no right or wrong way. Anytime I hear of a new method, I note what I think will be helpful to me, and try to implement it when I can. I don’t yet have a set method. I’m still learning what works for me. And 2) Never give up! I’ve been writing since I was in grade school, and have wanted to be a romance author for many years. Now that my kids are grown and I am retired, I am finally realizing my dream!

What can readers who enjoy your book do to help make it successful?
If you enjoy my book, please leave a review on Amazon! It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – a simple “Enjoyed it!” will do. Reviews help get our books noticed and included in recommendations to other readers.

What can we expect from you in the future?
I have lots of ideas for future books! I have one completed manuscript that needs revisions, but a different manuscript that is barely started has been poking at me to come back to it. Either way, I plan to keep writing contemporary romances. If you'd like to keep up with what I'm doing, please follow me on Facebook!

After the perfect storm that devastated her family, Emerson Lane fled her uncle and the suffocating small town of Twin Creeks. Seven years later, she returns home to make amends with her uncle and help him with the town’s Centennial, only to learn doing so involves working with her former crush—Max.

Sheriff Justin “Max” Lomax has had enough of small-town life and his overbearing bully of a grandfather. He plans to resign and move to the big city as soon as the Centennial celebration is over. There’s only one problem. Emerson Lane has returned. Years ago, he felt sorry for the young girl who’d lost her family, but now she’s all grown up, and he’s tempted to explore new possibilities.

In the week before the Centennial, storms abound—both emotional and literal. As Emerson and Max unravel mysteries of the past, they just might find their future.

RELEASING JANUARY 2020 - Please follow my Facebook page for updates!


Lainee Cole is a Midwestern girl who writes in the company of a husband always trying to talk to her. Lainee’s goal is for her stories to make readers laugh and cry, give them hope, and encourage them to believe in the power of love. When she’s not writing or reading, Lainee enjoys spending time with family (especially her new grandbaby!) and friends; hiking, camping, and traveling with her husband; and consuming daily doses of chocolate.

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Monday Morsels: Storms of the Heart

STORMS OF THE HEART

by Lainee Cole

Emerson Lane slowly zigzagged her SUV down the winding dirt drive, hitting more potholes than she missed.

Jagged lightning sizzled through the murky night sky, followed by a shock wave of thunder. She cringed and her hands tightened on the steering wheel as she peered through the watery darkness. The ominous cracks and booms reverberated through her body, anticipated and yet still so unexpected. So out of her control.

Like everything else in her life.

Bouncing over another pothole, she rounded a curve and slammed on her brakes. The SUV lurched to a stop just short of a downed tree.

She groaned and briefly bent her head to the steering wheel. What else could go wrong?

“Don’t ask, Em, just don’t ask!” She shoved the SUV into park but left the engine idling. Wavy rivers of water cascaded down her windows, blurring the lines between her past and her future.

Her life was a storm. A destructive tornado that had twisted her into someone she didn’t know or like before it finally spent itself out and dropped her into adulthood, leaving her to deal with the aftermath of her youth.

She was at the end of a fifteen-hour drive, running away—again.

She frowned at the rivulets of water. She loved her job as an archivist, until she discovered her controlling ex-boyfriend was the son of a board member at her small, elite university. She might have avoided dating him if she’d known. At the very least, she would have kept her thoughts to herself after she dumped him. Then she wouldn’t be in danger of being suspended from the job she loved.

Emerson blinked. Maybe something good could still come from the whole experience. Uncle Wayne had been inviting her back ever since she left seven years ago, but this time he wanted her help. Maybe they could bond over their shared love of history as they worked together on the Centennial.

Her heart swelled with gratitude. He’d always been there for her, even if she hadn’t acknowledged him. Here was her chance to repay him. Although, heaven only knew what words would spill out of her mouth when the time came…

Her heart beat steady, strong, and reassuring in her chest. She was here now. That’s all that mattered.
Two weeks of vacation would allow her to help Uncle Wayne, and hopefully mend their relationship. She was sure going to try anyway.

And with a little bit of luck, the Tony situation would blow over by the time she returned.

She waved her hand in front of her face. Enough thinking for now. She shut off the engine and pocketed her keys.

Waiting out the storm would only delay the inevitable. The drive was too narrow to attempt a three-point turn, and she had zero faith in her ability to back all the way to the main road. Good thing she had her own two feet!

She zipped her lightweight jacket and pulled the hood up. It wasn’t a raincoat but it was better than nothing. She grabbed her backpack and flashlight then climbed out and locked the doors. So what if it was the boondocks of southern Illinois? One could never be too careful.

With her back to the SUV, she swept the flashlight beam over the trees. The thought of wildlife scuttling through the underbrush sent a shiver spiraling through her body. She was accustomed to manicured lawns and well-lit cityscapes. Everything was so dark out here.

Rustling noises sounded nearby. She gulped and scurried past the SUV, picking her way around exposed tree roots. Then she was striding up the dirt driveway with the storm on her heels.

Rain pelted her back. The wind howled through the trees. Lightning crackled over her head, striking an old oak tree. A branch fell across the drive in front of her. She shrieked and jumped back.

With her heart battering her chest, she stood stiffly in the rain, unable to escape the words forming in her head. Bad things happen in threes. Okay not a tree – a large dead-leafy branch. That was three things. She wasn’t normally superstitious, but she was counting anyway. She scowled. Now she would have to maneuver through the soggy grass around yet another obstacle in her already soaking wet tennis shoes, in the still pouring rain, with lightning crackling over her head. Yeah, she should definitely be done.

Oh, stop feeling sorry for yourself and just get on with it! 

Emerson glared at the branch. She yanked her backpack higher and tugged her hood farther forward. She hurried through the wet grass to skirt the branch. One last mad dash of about twenty feet, and she ran up the front porch steps.

Dismissing the childish urge to stick her tongue out at the storm, she slipped her hood off and slumped against the house to catch her breath.

God, she hated storms, especially lightning storms. She hated driving through them in the dark even more.

Stop it! Think about the positives! Despite the doubts, despite the storms—both real and imagined—she’d made it back to Twin Creeks. She’d made it home.

Home. She blinked several times. Her heart climbed into her throat, but she would not give in to tears. Breathe in, breathe out, she coached herself. You can do this! 

Despite Uncle Wayne’s pleas, it had taken her a long time to be brave enough to return to the last place that had been a semblance of home after her parents had been killed in a car accident.

Now that she was home, she couldn’t wait to feel his firm bear hug.

She straightened her shoulders and pushed away from the house. Yes, she could do this! At twenty-five, she could finally take control of her own life. She could put her past to rest, and look forward to her future.

Emerson flinched when another crack of lightning split the air and forked through the sky, illuminating two cars parked at the side of the house. She’d been so focused on where she was stepping she hadn’t noticed them before. One was a distinctive black and white car with SHERIFF in gold lettering on the side.

Her breath hitched as she peered through the downpour. Wait. What is the Sheriff doing here? She’d already lost her parents and her aunt. She couldn’t lose Uncle Wayne, too. Not now.

Want to read more?

Blinded by the painful loss of her parents and life as she knew it, Emerson Lane fled Uncle Wayne, Twin Creeks, and Justin “Max” Lomax – not necessarily in that order – immediately after graduation. When she returns seven years later, ready to make amends with Uncle Wayne, he’s away on a secretive business trip and Max never left. Can she carry out her uncle’s work in time for the town Centennial beginning in less than a week, all while protecting her heart from Max?

RELEASING JANUARY 2020!

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📚  Find Lainee Cole here:   Facebook     Twitter

I'm Still Learning!

It’s back to school time! I love this time of year, mostly for the back-to-school sales on office supplies. Who doesn’t love to pick up more post-it notes, pens, notepads and other cute items that we might use? Okay, okay, maybe I don’t really need them, but in my mind, they’re like books: you can never have too many! Right?

Even though I’ve been out of school for more years than I care to admit, I love to learn. At one point in my life, I wanted to be a professional student. I loved going to classes (well, not all of them). I loved meeting other people; learning what made them tick and what their goals were. I loved learning. Period.

I know I’m late to this party, but last year I finally got my first smart phone. I knew I would love it once I had it, I just didn’t want to pay for it. But thanks to a BOGO deal, I was in luck. My kids still hound me, though. I don’t type with my thumbs. I use my forefinger – it’s much quicker! I’m always learning new things on the phone, much to their chagrin.

So what does this have to with going back to school? It’s a learning process! After I got the smart phone, I spent my lunch hours walking. I’ve always escaped the office when the weather was good. I loved walking around the old neighborhoods near my office. But in the winter, I struggled to be active. It was often too cold to walk outside so instead, I ate lunch at my desk and surfed the internet. Having my smart-phone encouraged me to walk indoors, too. I started making laps in the hallways and needed something to help pass the time, and to discourage people from stopping me to talk.

That’s when I discovered podcasts!

Here are some of the free podcasts I discovered through the Podbean app:

http://murverse.com/subscribe-to-podcasts/isbw/ - Focusing on the emotional road blocks one finds in a writing career, this show speaks to over 8000 listeners every week.

https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/podcasts/ - Award-winning author K.M. Weiland hosts this podcast that offers mentorship and advice to aspiring writers hoping to publish their own novel someday. Weiland offers practical advice on many topics related to storytelling and story structure.

https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/grammar-girl - Mignon Fogarty is the founder of the Quick and Dirty Tips network and creator of Grammar Girl, which has been named one of Writer's Digest's 101 best websites for writers multiple times. She is also an inductee in the Podcasting Hall of Fame.

https://www.thecreativepenn.com/podcasts/ - Podcast episodes are posted every Monday and include interviews, inspiration and information on writing and creativity, publishing options, book marketing and creative entrepreneurship.

These are just a few of the many podcasts available for writers. So, now that my kids are grown and out of the house, who says I can’t continue my education?

Do you listen to podcasts? If so, what are some of your favorites?  I'd love to hear from  you!


HiDee Ekstrom never goes anywhere without a book or a pen and paper. Reading, writing, and chocolate are important elements of her daily life that inspire her to write. She also finds inspiration in and enjoys photography, scrapbooking, camping, hiking, and spending time with her family. Writing as Lainee Cole, two of her short-stories have been self-published in anthologies: Captured by Christmas and At Midnight. Follow Lainee at Facebook Author Page, Facebook Author Profile Page, and on Twitter.

Monday Morsels: Midnight Casanova

MIDNIGHT CASANOVA

by Lainee Cole

THWAP-CLAP.

Maddie jumped at the sound of the large doggie door snapping shut behind her as she crawled into the dark farmhouse. Heart pounding, she scrambled back against the door, listening for any sounds coming from within.

A resident dog would have greeted her in one way or another before she ever made it this far. And even if it didn’t, she was confident in her abilities as a dog trainer to handle any surprises.

What she couldn’t handle was turning into a pumpkin at midnight. She tipped her head back and closed her eyes.

Baby, her trusty Ford Mustang, had malfunctioned as soon as the clock turned midnight. Despite her foot mashing the gas pedal to the floor, the car had slowed and the speedometer dropped. She’d gripped the steering wheel and barely made it onto the shoulder before the car shuddered to a stop. The dash lights dimmed, the headlights flickered, and then both had gone out, leaving her stranded on a dark country road.

Talk about experiencing a Cinderella moment.

Maddie sat in the darkness, thinking about her life. She’d loved fairy tales since she was a little girl. In some ways, she was living her very own, having been adopted by doting parents. But she knew nothing about being a princess, or a pumpkin. Well, aside from reading Cinderella many, many times.

Unlike the horses in her favorite childhood fairy tale, the horses under her hood hadn’t turned into mice and scuttled away, but their magic had definitely expired. Taking shelter in a deserted farmhouse in freezing cold Illinois was not how she had planned to spend her New Year’s Eve.

There were some positives. One, Baby hadn’t turned into a pumpkin so once she was fixed, Maddie still had wheels. Two, she was dressed in comfortable jeans. No dresses or fancy glass slippers for her. And three, there was no prince. She would have to save herself.

She blew out a deep breath. The few dates she’d made time for in her busy life had turned out not to be prince material, so while saving herself might not be a positive, it was definitely something she could handle.

Since she was likely to be stranded for at least a day, maybe she would try to locate her dad’s latest grantee applicant. It might be difficult to do without his contact information, though. She braced her hands on the floor and sighed. Tomorrow, when she called her dad, maybe she would swallow her pride and ask him for it.

Maybe.

As her eyes adjusted to the darkness, her heart settled into a quieter rhythm and her breathing calmed. When she’d peeked inside from the front porch windows, she’d seen the living room furniture covered in sheets. Either nobody lived here or they were gone for an extended time because she heard no sounds at all in the house.

She let the tension drain from her body. The brisk walk from her car had kept her awake but now she was inside and out of the wind, the long hours of driving were catching up with her. With a little luck, she could find a blanket and crash on the sheet-covered couch she’d spotted through the front window.

Maddie glanced at her phone as she pushed to her feet. It had taken less than half an hour to get here. She was lucky. It could have been a much longer walk.

She adjusted her phone flashlight to dim and looked around. Nestled between cabinets, a small window overlooked the kitchen sink. The counters were clear. An empty Lazy Susan sat in the middle of a round wooden table with four chairs. A cozy little kitchen for someone.

To the left of the table was a closed door, a broom closet maybe? She didn’t venture into the short hallway to her right, but guessed she would find a bathroom there. A wide arched doorway led from the kitchen to the living room. She kept her beam lowered but flashed it around the room. All the way to the left she spotted another closed door. Hopefully, it led to a bedroom.

Bingo! She wrinkled her nose at the stale smell but the room was clean and tidy, with an old-fashioned chenille spread barely covering the queen-sized bed. Her hand trailed across the quilt folded at the foot of the bed, feeling the yarn ties at the corners of the quilt blocks. It was almost like being at her grandmother’s house.

Maddie gathered up the heavy quilt, hugging it close to her chest and went back to the living room.

Knowing the house was locked and it was unlikely anyone would be coming “home” tonight, she shed her light winter coat and balled it up to use as a pillow. She tugged her sweatshirt down and toed off her fur-lined duck shoes.

Settling on the couch, she curled up under the comforting weight of the quilt. With a deep sigh, she closed her eyes.

Tomorrow would be soon enough to reinvent her fairy tale gone wrong.

* * * 

CHANCE MARLOW EXITED the men’s room and glanced back into the main bar area of the Pine City Pub. Thank God he’d had the good sense to take a restroom break just before the countdown to midnight. If he hadn’t, he’d have been on the receiving end of Courtney’s affections. Instead, the lithe brunette was plastered against one of his buddies.

The music segued into another slow song. That was his cue. He turned the opposite way and escaped out the back door. The weight of the evening fell from his shoulders as he crossed the parking lot and climbed into his truck.

Everyone was temporarily otherwise occupied. It felt good to be free.

###

MIDNIGHT CASANOVA
     Stranded at midnight by a broken-down car, dog trainer Maddie Lockhart finds refuge in a deserted farmhouse. When the owner of the house, Chance Marlow, tries to oust her, Maddie uses the stray mutt he calls Casanova to convince him she can help with his collection of homeless animals. While their paths seem incompatible, working side-by-side to rescue animals, they discover otherwise.

AT MIDNIGHT also contains Two Days Until Midnight by Lynn Crandall and Midnight Deadline for Love by Rena Koontz

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Get to Know Lainee Cole

The Write Way Café does something a little different today by interviewing one of the blog's partners. HiDee and Lynn have featured a large variety of talented authors on the blog for a number of years. Today, HiDee - writing as Lainee Cole - answers the questions we've asked others so you can get to know her a bit better.

When did you first have the thought you'd like to write a book? Was that first thought related to writing romance?
I've been writing since I was in grade school, but my first thoughts about writing a book were probably in junior high. My friends and I were reading Harlequin romances and passing them around as we finished them. Janet Dailey's Tidewater Lover made a huge impact on me, and I've wanted to be a romance writer ever since.

What was your path to getting The Mistletoe Effect written and published? What type of research did you do?
I've been working on a full-length romance novel for years, along with numerous others that I've started but not actually worked on while raising my family. My local writer's group has been instrumental in encouraging me to FINISH the darned book, but it's still not done. Then in 2016, Lynn Crandall invited me to write a Christmas novella and publish it in an anthology along with her story. I agreed to do it, then almost immediately panicked! I had about 8 weeks to write something from scratch. Lynn had faith in me being able to write the story, and so I did. The Mistletoe Effect didn't require a lot of research, other than on Border Collie behaviors. My sister has Border Collies; she trains them for herding, and search and rescue, and also leads dog training classes with them, so I spent quite a few hours picking her brain and asking lots of questions. She also read my manuscript to be sure I didn't have my Border Collie, Mistletoe, doing anything she shouldn't have been doing!

Where did the idea for The Mistletoe Effect come from? 

Brainstorming! Lynn and I had agreed on a Christmas theme for the anthology, so I started out listing various Christmas-themed words. I grew up with dogs and love interacting with them. I love kids. My aunt and my cousin, as well as several friends, are teachers so we often talk about kids. All these things just came together through brainstorming.

Why did you pick the setting you did? 

I set the story in a fictional central Illinois town. I grew up in the Midwest, and have lived in Illinois for over 30 years. It just felt right to set my story in a town similar to those where I've lived.

Are your main characters completely imaginary or do they have some basis in real people? Do they reflect aspects of yourself? 

Although my characters are imaginary, I did model some of their characteristics after people I know. Tess definitely reflects aspects of myself - I'm big on family, and I love dogs and kids. I'm too nice at times, and often put others before myself.

Did you face any blocks while writing The Mistletoe Effect, and if so, how did you handle them? If not, what's your secret? 

The biggest block I faced was my own doubt about my ability to complete the story by the set deadline. I came home from the day job and went straight to the computer. There were times I sat and stared at the screen, wondering what I'd gotten myself into. But then I would buckle down and just get words on the page. My poor husband was pretty much neglected during those 6-8 weeks, but thankfully he was supportive. I don't know any secrets to avoiding blocks, but I did learn that as long as I wrote every single day, the blocks didn't feel as insurmountable. Making some progress each day made it easier to face the page the next day.

What have been surprises you've encountered while writing The Mistletoe Effect and after? 

It was really hard to leave my characters behind and move on to new characters in a new book. I worried about being able to write different characters. That being said, I am planning to connect at least one character in The Mistletoe Effect with other stories, so there will be a familiar character. The biggest surprise was the feeling of accomplishment once the book was actually published. I'm proud of myself for meeting the challenge Lynn presented. It was the kick in the pants I needed. I was also pleasantly surprised by how many friends reached out to say they enjoyed the story and looked forward to more. My challenge now is to keep them reading!

What did you learn? For instance, what did you learn about yourself, your process, the writing world; about technique, skills, and your goals? 

Writing is like perpetually being in school. I'm always learning, and I enjoy it! I learned that I seem to write better under pressure - my thoughts just flow then. I love hearing how other authors write and what works for them, and I try to borrow the processes I think will work for me. My goal is to write stories with characters readers can relate to. I want readers to discover the same enjoyment I've found by reading books.

Tell us about your writing space and how or why it works for you. 

I have to join Lynn in lusting after the writing space Tom Selleck had in the movie Her Alibi. I dream of having a large office with plenty of room for books, good lighting, and large windows overlooking a serene nature setting. Although, if I had that, I would probably spend more time daydreaming than writing. In reality, I have a laptop that goes with me to either my favorite chair in the family room, to the kitchen table, or to the large desk in my mostly unused living room. I recently retired from my day job and am slowly working to convert one of the kids rooms to my office, but I'm so used to writing in the family room that it's hard to leave that chair! Our family room has been the center of our family for so many years - it's where we all watched TV, where the kids played video games, and where we still gather for family get-together's and holidays. I feel like my creativity feeds off of surrounding sounds...although there are times when I have to shush my hubby and remind him I am writing!

What are some of your favorite books and why? 

I love Kat Martin's romantic suspense books. Her characters just jump off the pages for me. I'm a sucker for cowboys so Linda Lael Miller and R.C. Ryan books are must-reads. Susan Mallery and Sheryl Woods have a knack for multiple continuity series that are chock full of down-to-earth characters, real life situations, and family connections. I love the feeling that I'm meeting up with old friends when I read their books. I also like to read books by authors I've met in person, online, or at conferences. There are so many good writers and I'm constantly adding new-to-me authors to my must-read lists!

What are you working on now? 

Presently I am writing a contemporary romance novella for the Common Elements Romance Project, which will launch later this fall. Numerous authors are writing their own stories, but each book will contain common elements, hence the name of the project. I'm really excited about being a part of it!

Would you like to try your hand at writing a different genre? Which one and why? 

I really like contemporary romance, and would like to create a continuity series. But for something different cozy mysteries intrigue me.

If you were not a writer, what would your dream job be? 

I can't imagine not being a writer!  My dream job would be something working with horses, or maybe working in a zoo - as long as I got to pick what animals I worked with!

What aspect of writing gives you the most trouble? 

Plotting. I'm definitely a pantser. Although I have some scenes in my head and a general idea of where the story needs to go, my characters do tend to take on a life of their own.

Who is your favorite hero/heroine? 
There are too many - I can't pick just one!  

###

Captured by Christmas

by Lynn Crandall and Lainee Cole

It’s Christmas, and the season of holly, Christmas trees, and goodwill is drifting on air in merry holiday wishes. Romantic suspense and paranormal author Lynn Crandall and contemporary author Lainee Cole present in their own way two stories of love in Captured by Christmas. However it finds you—under a Christmas tree or drifted in snow in a backwoods cabin—the spirit of the season will wrap you in love.

In Snowbound, Lynn Crandall lets readers check in on favorite Fierce Hearts series were-lynx characters Kennedy Mitchell and Asher Monroe as they uncover the identity of the creature scaring the humans in Octavia, a small rural community in northern Michigan. Plans for an intimate getaway and family-style holiday are crumbling as the snow piles higher and Kennedy and Asher find themselves snowbound with a killer outside their door.

In The Mistletoe Effect, Christmas is second-grade teacher Tess McCall’s least favorite holiday, but she’s doing her best not to let it show. Learning he’s a father to seven-year-old Holly makes Alex Randle anxious about the upcoming holidays. When Tess’s class starts reading to shelter dogs, Holly and the antics of shelter dog Mistletoe lead them all to rediscover the magic of Christmas.

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Lainee Cole is a Midwestern girl who writes in the company of a husband always trying to talk to her. Lainee’s goal is for her stories to make readers laugh and cry, give them hope, and encourage them to believe in the power of love. When she’s not writing or reading, Lainee enjoys spending time with family and friends; hiking, camping, and traveling with her husband; and consuming daily doses of chocolate.

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Renewing Writing Opportunities

Identity is a hot topic these days.

I identify as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, a reader, a writer…and an administrative assistant. But as of today, I have 47 calendar days (33 business days) until I retire from my day job. After almost 32 years of working for eight faculty, two academic professionals, and up to 40 graduate students in my department at my university, I’m looking forward to being my own assistant!

My husband and friends have warned me the transition from working to retirement could be difficult. It’s probably a good thing I’m making the change during the summer. At first, it will seem like I’m on vacation. I’m looking forward to sleeping in, to taking long walks and enjoying sunshine and warm weather. We hope to do a little traveling, with lots of hiking thrown in to refuel my creative wells.

Before too long, though, I plan to start a new routine. Retirement presents the opportunity to focus on writing! I want to reorganize and decorate my office as a place where I feel creative and inspired. I want to reread and work through materials from online workshops such as Pinterest and Canva that I signed up for but had limited participation in; they will enhance my writer’s toolbox. I want to set up a website, and be more active on social media. I want to engage with readers and other writers.

Most importantly, I’ve started a new book and I want to WRITE! Ideas are churning in my head. I'm excited about this story and I can't wait to have more time to work on it!

But, as family and friends have suggested, it may take some time to transition to full-time author. I'll have to work at finding a new balance between all the things I enjoy now and establishing serious writing time.

My position has enabled me to hone communication and organizational skills; to proof, edit and budget; and to multi-task and prioritize a heavy workload in order to meet deadlines. So although I will lose my administrative assistant identity upon retirement, the experiences and skills I’ve gained through my work will serve me well as I create my new and improved writer identity!

What suggestions do you have for making a smooth transition from working to retirement?
 
HiDee Ekstrom never goes anywhere without a book or a pen and paper. Reading, writing, and chocolate are important elements of her daily life that inspire her to write. She also finds inspiration in and enjoys photography, scrapbooking, camping, hiking, and spending time with her family. Writing as Lainee Cole, two of her short-stories have been self-published in anthologies: Captured by Christmas and At Midnight. Follow Lainee at Facebook Author Page, Facebook Author Profile Page, and on Twitter.

Expressions of Love

Here at The Write Way Café, love (or romance) has been a big part of our blog.  In honor of Valentine's Day, we would like to share some of our thoughts on how love makes our world go 'round. We're also giving away a $25 Amazon gift card, so be sure to respond to our question for a chance to win!

One of my favorite movies, Love Actually, begins with Hugh Grant narrating, and he says, “Love, actually, is all around.” I believe that. I like that outlook. I think in life and in fiction, love is expressed in a myriad of ways and we don’t always see it or feel it, or know how best to express it. But it’s still there.

One way my husband and I express sentiment is by writing to each other. We’ve been married for many years and the practice of writing each other began early in our relationship. When we first met, we lived hundreds of miles apart, but we got to know each other well through phone calls and letters. Yes, hand-written letters sent via the post office. We’d both come out of divorces and were equally determined to be ourselves in this new relationship. Letter writing gave us space to gain a sense of trust.

After we married and blended a family of five children, life was hectic and at times chaotic. Alone time with each other was hard to come by and our struggles with some people gave us a rich environment to develop our relationship skills. Sometimes I would write him a note in the night and leave it for him to see in the morning on his dresser.

This is a sort of a free-verse note I wrote after one challenging time and left it for him to read before he went to work.

Why do I pack your lunch every day and try to make it varied, sometimes with special treats?
Why do I plan meals that are what you like, do your laundry, clean the bathrooms, bake a pie?
Not, I assure you, for the simple pleasure of doing those tasks. So don’t ask me if I still love you.
For my every day, in every way, I express my love to you.

It was and is natural for me to write down on paper my feelings and it was not so easy for my husband. But he wrote to me anyway, making his notes even more meaningful to me. This note was tucked into a birthday card one year.

Lynn,
I just wanted to thank you for being in my life!! When you and the boys joined me and the girls, my life became complete. You filled me with love, happiness, movement, and so much fun. Thank you so much. I love you and always will.

Throughout our life together, moments came up that were fun and full of love and laughter. But there were also moments, over and over again, of assessing if we’d made the right decision in bringing our families together and once again, choosing each other. Because of the baggage from our past relationships, the notes Mike wrote me touched me deeply with his unconditional love. This note is one he wrote for an anniversary.

I know that you have heard, love makes the world go round.
The love you have shown me in so many different things and in so many ways sure makes my world go round. P.S. I love you.

Of course the pain of the past healed and the chaos that had surrounded us lessened and time and again as my husband and I centered our lives on the amazing love in our family. It was from that love I wrote this verse.

My love is a man,
A gentle, rolling laugh that draws me in,
Filling my heart with a song we share.
Let me come to him,
Put my head against his warm chest and breathe in his scent.
I would open my heart to let my love enter him,
To comfort him and ground him in the timeless
But ever new breath of us.

When writing a romance, I seek words that will do true love justice and provide a visceral experience for readers. Even though we all experience and express love uniquely, common themes of needing to belong, to feel cherished, and to engage are a part of each love story, real or fiction. The fundamental need for true intimacy is realized through self-expression and no holding back. I hope readers see that in my stories. I’m grateful my husband and I have developed it in our relationship.

- Lynn Crandall


I have to agree with Lynn: In life and in fiction, love is expressed in a myriad of ways and we don’t always see it or feel it, or know how best to express it. But it IS still there.

My husband prides himself on being off the grid: no cell phone, no email – he is not an electronics fan! And when it comes to love, I would say he’s off the grid, too. He’s not big on PDA’s, or what he calls “Hallmark” holidays like Valentine’s Day. He believes he should show his love every day, not just on designated days.

I should have known love with him would be different. Our early discussions of marriage were frustrating. Both of us had parents who had divorced and remarried. While I still believed in marriage, I’m not sure he did. If I really loved him like I said I did, he argued, why did that little piece of paper matter?

After two years of dating, I was starting to feel my clock ticking. I took my future in my hands and told him “that little piece of paper” was important to me, and if he didn’t want the same things, then maybe it was time for me to move on. And mercy me, what was I thinking? I gave him an ultimatum: if I didn’t have a commitment by the end of the year, I was moving out. Moving on. Lucky for me, that didn’t scare him off, but independent fellow that he is, he did wait until December to propose!

Over the years, he has remained true to his beliefs. He is always showing his love in little ways. He mows my mom’s yard so she doesn’t have to pay someone to do it. He loves to cook, and does most of the house-cleaning. (Yes, I am VERY spoiled!) We spend as much time as possible out in nature, hiking trails where he patiently waits while I take too many photographs.

Store-bought roses are reserved for our anniversary, but I often find other flowers on my dining room table, on the kitchen windowsill, or maybe even in my vehicle when I leave for work: violets, wildflowers, or roses from our yard. On starry nights, he sets up reclining lawn chairs side by side, and we cuddle under a blanket, picking out constellations and watching for falling stars.

Sometimes I find heart-shaped love notes posted in unusual places: on my bathroom mirror, or on the landline phone on my bedside table. Other times I find foam hearts lovingly arranged on my steering wheel. Store-bought cards are rarely seen. Instead, I have a wonderful assortment of playing cards marked with his words of love.

Twenty-eight years later, he continues to surprise me. After a particularly rough day recently, I was on the phone with my mom. He came into the room, gesturing at his eye and making hugging motions with his arms. I thought he was just trying to make me laugh. A few minutes later, he came back in with a long piece of wadded up brown kraft paper. He gestured at his eye again, made hugging motions, and then held up the long piece of paper in a giant U. I. Love. You. How can I not love that man? It’s the little things that make me feel special.

When writing romance, I try to imbue my characters with unique perspectives, not just in love but in their everyday lives. Their words and actions are extensions of their own life experiences, just as ours are. As Lynn says, whether real life or fiction, people share common themes of needing to belong, to feel cherished, and to engage with others.

If your Valentine’s Day is not what you expected, or maybe not what you wanted, try to take a step back and look at it from a different perspective. Remember: It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. – Henry David Thoreau

- HiDee Ekstrom w/a Lainee Cole

For a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card, tell us your stories of how you express and experience love, not just for Valentine’s Day but any day of the year.  Be sure to include your email – or check the comments on this post on Monday February 18th to see if you’ve won!

Happy Valentine's Day! 

Spend More Time Living in the Moment

Thanksgiving has come and gone, and although it is not yet December, the Christmas season is upon us. Ready or not.

I’m not…

I’m not ready for the cold or the snow. Many of you will disagree with me, but if I had my way, we would have 1-2 inches of snow a couple days before Christmas, and it would all be gone by a couple days after Christmas. The only part I love about snow is being able to go walking in it, at dusk, when it’s coming down fresh and clean. It’s so peaceful and pretty in that moment. But then I’m happy if it disappears.

I’m not looking forward to fighting the people and the lines in the stores. I put too much pressure on myself to find the perfect gifts for my family and friends. My husband goes into a store with a list, and it’s like magic – everything he wants is right there. Check. Check. Check. I go into a store with a list and it’s anything but magic – you wanted what? Hahahahaha!!!

Well, bah humbug!

Sometimes I just have to step away from the holiday stress. I find peace when I morph into my alter ego, Lainee Cole, and spend time writing and playing with the shelter dogs in my stories. I recently heard a discussion about how to be as happy as your dog, and I thought it was fitting.

Dogs live in the moment. They don’t worry about what happened 10 minutes ago, or what might happen in the coming hours. They run and play, and yes, probably enjoy the snow I dislike. When they’re tired, they take a nap.

Dogs ask for what they need. They stick their nose in your face or lay on your lap. "Pet me," their soulful eyes beg. They sneak under the table and gently lay their heads on your thigh, hoping you’ll slip them just a bite of something good.

Dogs set boundaries. A low growl lets you know if you get too close, or if you are doing something that makes them uncomfortable. They don’t feel bad about putting us humans in our place. At least I don’t think they do…

Dogs are good at using their senses. They hear a noise and they investigate. They see a squirrel and want to chase it. We once had a dog who knew the minute someone got ice cream out of the freezer, even if the words "ice cream" were never spoken aloud. Dogs smell food and are ever hopeful that we will share.

We could learn a lot about how to be happy from our dogs. All of these things – using our senses, setting boundaries, asking for what we need – they all come back to living in the moment.

That’s my goal for this Christmas season – to spend more time living in the moment.

I want to focus on enjoying where I am and who I am with. I want to set boundaries on my time, to not feel guilty about turning down invitations if they don’t fit my schedule. I want to inhale the scent of my fresh-cut white pine Christmas tree, and transport my mind back to our vacation under the pine trees in South Dakota, where we got away from it all. When the cold and snow arrive, I want to listen to the wind rustle the branches of trees. I want to close my eyes and soak up any sunshine that comes my way while I take deep, cleansing breaths of fresh, cold air.

And once I’ve had my fill of the cold (which won’t take long), I will curl up in front of a roaring fire with a good book, and live in the moment of that world.

What are some ways you plan to live in the moment this holiday season? 

HiDee Ekstrom never goes anywhere without a book or a pen and paper. Reading, writing, and chocolate are important elements of her daily life that inspire her to write. She also finds inspiration in and enjoys photography, scrapbooking, camping, hiking, and spending time with her family. Writing as Lainee Cole, two of her short-stories have been self-published in anthologies: Captured by Christmas and At Midnight. Follow Lainee at Facebook Author Page, Facebook Author Profile Page, and on Twitter.

Monday Morsels: The Mistletoe Effect

The Mistletoe Effect

Captured by Christmas Anthology

by Lainee Cole

     “HELLO, ALEX.”
     Alex Randle did a double-take when he realized the woman standing on the porch was his ex-girlfriend. “Mia Pearson?”
     The years had been kind to her. Fine blond hair tumbled to her shoulders. The winter wind had put color in her cheeks. A dark blue scarf topped her winter coat, and underneath she wore form-fitting blue jeans tucked into knee-high boots. She was curvier than when they’d been dating, but still beautiful, and stylish as usual.
     He took a moment to consider his reaction. Affection, but nothing more. They’d made the right choice when they’d broken up over seven years ago and agreed to be just friends. That had never happened. Mia left town, and he hadn’t heard from her since.
     Still, she'd managed to track him down at his parents’ house the day after Thanksgiving.
     “Come in.” He opened the front door a little wider. She avoided looking at him as she stepped inside, with a little blonde girl in tow. He hadn’t noticed her until that moment. Alex closed the door and ushered them into the family room where his mother had a fire burning in the fireplace. “Have a seat. Can I take your coat?”
     She shook her head. “It’s Mia Fairchild now,” she corrected, taking a deep breath. “And this is our daughter, Holly.”
     “You look great. Married life suits you.” He smiled and squatted down to the little girl’s level. “Hello there, Holly. It’s nice to meet you. Did you bring your dad with you to visit?”
     She stared back at him with big blue eyes.
     “Not exactly,” Mia hedged as he glanced up at her, then back at Holly. She cleared her throat. “Holly is our daughter, Alex.”
     Alex lost his balance and sat down hard on the floor. “What?”
     Shock and disbelief warred within him. He stared at Holly. Her face was pale and tears welled in her eyes. Mia wrapped her arm protectively around the girl. He hadn’t meant to scare her.
     As he scrambled to his feet, Holly darted behind Mia. Alex glared at his ex. She’d never let his height intimidate her before, and today was no different. She stood her ground, even when he leaned toward her. “Would you care to repeat that?”

Want to read more?

In The Mistletoe Effect, Christmas is second-grade teacher Tess McCall’s least favorite holiday, but she’s doing her best not to let it show. Learning he’s a father to seven-year-old Holly makes Alex Randle anxious about the upcoming holidays. When Tess’s class starts reading to shelter dogs, Holly and the antics of shelter dog Mistletoe lead them all to rediscover the magic of Christmas.

Also in this anthology:  Snowbound by Lynn Crandall

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📚  Find Lainee Cole here:

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Tuesday Special: The Clock is Ticking...

Lainee Cole ●  Lynn Crandall 
●  Rena Koontz

  

Three talented authors. 

Three love stories. 

Three approaching deadlines.

Smashwords

 July Summer/Winter Sale
$1.50 Now through July 31st!

Midnight Casanova 

by Lainee Cole

Stranded at midnight by a broken-down car, dog trainer Maddie Lockhart finds refuge in a deserted farmhouse. When the owner of the house, Chance Marlow, tries to oust her, Maddie uses the stray mutt he calls Casanova to convince him she can help with his collection of homeless animals. While their paths seem incompatible, working side-by-side to rescue animals, they discover otherwise.
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Two Days Until Midnight 
by Lynn Crandall
Time is running out for reclusive billionaire Tamier Rein to save himself from transforming into a cheetah, and bird-shifter Lark Ellis is his only hope for surviving past midnight. 
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Midnight Deadline for Love  
by Rena Koontz
T.B. Amanscott is Harrison City’s wealthiest man and his kidnappers want one million dollars ransom by midnight or they will kill him. Every possible resource is available to Sergeant Ariana Jeanne Lozione, who is heading up the rescue attempt. There’s only one problem. A.J. wants him dead.
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Summer is on the Reading List

It's official! The summer solstice on June 21 marked the first day of summer in the U.S. Of course, the season of summer begins at other times for different parts of the world. It's interesting to learn all about it on EarthSky News. Regardless when summer arrives, it's time to bring on the sunshine, lemonade, carefree days, and summer reads!

Have you thought about your plans for summer reading? Books don't have be set in summer, but books with a summer theme are fun. You can find a whole list of them on Goodreads' Listopia. NPR's Nancy Pearl lists seven books she recommends reading this summer. Find her with blurbs here at NPR. And NY Magazine offers suggestions from nine editors.  Another source for books for summer is the large pool of books featured on this blog. Search this blog for "Tuesday Special" and find a wide variety of books worth checking out this summer.

HiDee is a happily voracious reader and has plans for her summer reading.

"I'm currently reading the Sullivan's Sons series set on Anna Maria Island by Ellie Arden, Kristina Knight and Katie Kenyhercz. After that, I've got a Kat Martin suspense book waiting!" she said.

I just finished reading my first summer read, and it left me sobbing. The book, titled The Mother's Promise by Sally Hepworth, was not a light-hearted read, but it was a very good read. In the book, three women's lives cross because one of them is diagnosed with cancer and her teenage daughter suffers from social anxiety to the max. She cannot die. She can't leave her daughter alone. It explores several issues relevant to women and the importance of supportive people in all of our lives.

Up next for me will be a book that is a breezier paranormal, Driven by Kelley Armstrong. Don't get me wrong, it's going to have plenty of action and tension of the scary, shifter kind. But it probably won't lead to tears. I know I'll thoroughly enjoy it.

When the heat gets really bad, like now in some places, take a cool break and please consider reading Captured by Christmas, an anthology authored by HiDee writing as Lainee Cole and me. Here's a blurb:

It’s Christmas, and the season of holly, Christmas trees, and goodwill is drifting on air in merry holiday wishes. Romantic suspense and paranormal author Lynn Crandall and contemporary author Lainee Cole present in their own way two stories of love in Captured by Christmas. However it finds you—under a Christmas tree or drifted in snow in a backwoods cabin—the spirit of the season will wrap you in love.

In Snowbound, Lynn Crandall lets readers check in on favorite Fierce Hearts series were-lynx characters Kennedy Mitchell and Asher Monroe as they uncover the identity of the creature scaring the humans in Octavia, a small rural community in northern Michigan. Plans for an intimate getaway and family-style holiday are crumbling as the snow piles higher and Kennedy and Asher find themselves snowbound with a killer outside their door.

In The Mistletoe Effect, Christmas is second-grade teacher Tess McCall’s least favorite holiday, but she’s doing her best not to let it show. Learning he’s a father to seven-year-old Holly makes Alex Randle anxious about the upcoming holidays. When Tess’s class starts reading to shelter dogs, Holly and the antics of shelter dog Mistletoe lead them all to rediscover the magic of Christmas.


You can find Captured by Christmas on Amazon and other retailers.

If you read a book you enjoy, consider writing a review. Authors really appreciate it.

What books are on your summer reading list?