My Guardian Angel

We're in the midst of the holiday season, a time for giving, of thinking of others, of giving thanks for what we have. And, for me, the holiday season is a time when I love to take some time for me and read a new book, or perhaps reread one of my old favorites.

I just want to remind all of you about my first Christmas story - My Guardian Angel. It's a sweet story about two people who have lost their spouses and are trying to find a way to move on during this holiday season.

My Guardian Angel has had some great reviews. Here's a couple of them:

This is a wonderful short story, which K. R. Bailey penned of loss, and learning to
live and love again. Can these two hearts find each other and fill the
void that their hearts need. Christmas is a lonely time when the one
you have loved and spent your life with is gone. Family and friends mean
well but it is not the same. This is a short but heart-warming story. I
really enjoyed it and know you will to. -- Debra, Between The Lines Review

MY GUARDIAN ANGEL is a book that steps outside of the mould of young nubile protagonists, that have all the energy and zest to make things happen. This is a read where both people have already lived a good life - a life they were happy with, satisfied in and while not perfect would not change any aspect of it.

 

Emma and Joe are perfect, living life at a slower pace and with enough experience of life to know and value what is important and what makes them happy.
MY GUARDIAN ANGEL is a truly impressive read from author K.R. Bailey, a must buy.


Here's a brief excerpt:

Emma felt suddenly shy like a high school girl on her first date.  She scampered towards the house, pausing as she opened the door to look and see if Joe was following her. He was so close she gasped when his tall lean body brushed up against hers.

“Sorry,” he mumbled and held the door open.

Emma drank in the masculine smell of him, looked up at his full mouth, then ran through the door. “Have a seat. Oh, let me take your coat.” She reached quickly and nearly pulled it from his shoulders. “Would you like some hot chocolate?” She pushed nervously at her hair, suddenly uncomfortable. He was a stranger in her house. She paced, eyes darting over her shoulder to see what he was doing.

“Are you uncomfortable with me here?” Joe asked quietly, his eyes never leaving her face.

“What?  No. I…would you prefer I make coffee?” Emma turned towards the sink.  She didn’t wait for his reply as she put water in a cup. Just having him in her home was making her jittery and uncomfortable.

“I’d love hot chocolate.”

“You would?”

“Yes, if it’s not an imposition.” This time he chuckled at her unease. “Can I help you with anything?”

“Oh, no. Just have a seat. Hope you don’t mind sitting in the kitchen.”

He pulled out a wooden kitchen chair with a red-checkered cushion and sat down. “Not at all.”  He noticed the chair cushions matched the bright curtains, thinking it was a very comfortable room. It fit Emma. He could picture her serving her family in this room. A pang of longing filled him.

“Here’s some cookies. Wish I could say I made them, but my neighbor brought ‘em by.” Emma sat them on the table. She stood staring at the man sitting in her kitchen, not sure why she felt so nervous.

“They’re great.” Joe smiled up at Emma. “Aren’t you going to join me?”

“Ah, yeah.” Emma nodded and retrieved the cups of hot chocolate fresh from the microwave. She glanced uneasily around her kitchen, thinking everything looked a little dated. Perhaps she should consider some remodeling. It was something she and Henry had discussed many times but never seemed to find the time or money to do. She wondered what Joe thought about being in her old kitchen, then pushed the thought from her mind.  Did it really matter what he thought?

 

~~~~~~~

My Guardian Angel is available in most all ebook formats through:

The Wild Rose Press

Amazon.com

Barnes and Noble

Kobo books

 

Happy Reading!

          K. R. Bailey
 

               www.KRBailey.com
 

 

 

 

 

 

Sale! Sale!

For a short time only (Nov 21 through Nov 28), my kindle ebook, A Tug At My Heart is on sale for 99 cents at Amazon.com. It's a great time to get your copy and save some money.

In 1892 only a strong woman can survive alone after her husband’s death.  Catherine McHenry is determined to do just that, and amidst the torrential rain and storms, threats of wild animals, and hard work, she finds a way to deliver her baby and survive the long winter.  Determined to raise her child and keep the memory of her husband alive, she’s not prepared for the turbulent feelings she has whenever Zed Logan is around.

Zed Logan is the foreman of the Sundown Mine and Ore Company and hopes one day to be the boss.  Zed struggles to keep the LaPlata mine operating efficiently, keeping miners working, and producing the ore his boss is expecting. He’s also a man of honor who is betrothed to the boss’s daughter, but whenever he thinks about the beautiful grieving widow, something about her tugs at his heart.

Just when Zed feels like he’s on the path to gain everything he planned for, his life spirals out of control and he must face some difficult decisions. But that’s the easy part as life throws several obstacles his way and right into Catherine’s world.

She now holds his life and his fate in her hands.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

A Tug At My Heart

Just wanted to share with everyone that my recent story, A Tug At My Heart, will be available in paperback format on Amazon.com and Createspace estore.  To celebrate, I'm offering my kindle e-book for 99 cents beginning Nov 21 for one week only. It's the perfect time to get your own copy and perhaps buy one for a friend or relative for Christmas.

I'd like to share an excerpt with you:

Zed watched Catherine dance, he was mesmerized by her movements, the way her hips swayed and her feet skipped around. Maddy grinned and Catherine laughed. Pink tinged her cheeks and happiness lit up her face, and he knew he’d never forget this moment the rest of his life.

When the music stopped, Catherine held Maddy high in the air. “What do you think about that, little one?” She turned to Zed. “Thank you.” Then she leaned down and kissed his cheek.

He put his hand against his face where her lips had touched. He stood. They were so close, their bodies didn’t touch, but an electrical current surged between them. He took in the scent of her, lavender and sugar, and he knew forever those smells would bring Catherine to his mind. When Catherine leaned in, Zed met her, and their lips touched. Briefly. He heard a small sigh and pressed his mouth to hers once again relishing the softness of her lips. Their mouths molded together, and he pulled her closer. Maddy squealed as she was caught between them. He laughed and kissed the beautiful child and ran his hand through her strawberry blonde hair. He held them both and fought the desire to hold on and never let go.

Catherine pulled away.

Emptiness settled over him as she walked to her rocking chair. He wanted to rush to her and pull her to him, letting her body mold to his. He wanted to hold on and tell her he loved her, but he didn’t. Instead, he watched her sit down.

“Maddy needs to be fed.” Catherine said the words softly.

He looked at her and realized that Catherine would have to bare her breast to feed the baby. He turned away quickly not wanting her to be uncomfortable, but he longed to stay and watch the beautiful miracle, see her with her child, a sight he longed to see every day of his life. But he walked away. “I’ll just go check on Major.” He picked up his hat and hurried from the room.

He stood facing the mountain in front of the cabin, trying to calm himself. What had gotten into him? Desire, he’d felt before, but nothing compared to the want he had for Catherine. Lust, he knew, but this was much more than lust. If he wasn’t careful, he’d let himself be pulled into love for Catherine and Maddy. And he couldn’t. He wasn’t free to do that, and he couldn’t break Catherine’s heart or hurt Rachel. His word was his bond, and he’d given his word.

 

Happy Reading!

 

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dare To Dream

Now that Halloween is through and the spooky goblins are put away for another year, I'm feeling kind of speculative. Do you dream about wanting to accomplish something? Do you believe your dreams can come true?

For years, I dreamed of having a book published. I never really thought it might happen, but I hoped and dreamed and one day I decided to write a story.  A friend of mine encouraged me to go for it. I'm glad I did.

Am I rambling? Probably a little, but I wanted to encourage you to dream, to believe, then to work toward accomplishing that dream.

I found a thought I want to share -

The future belongs to those who BELIEVE
in the beauty of their DREAMS.

I don't know who said it, but I love it. We determine the future. Each and every one of us will add something to the world that will be part of the future.  Let's believe. Let's dream. Let's make our dreams come true.

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Characters Make The Story or Movie or ...

As writers, we watch people. We look at them physically, but we also try to understand what makes them tick.

Why? Because they become the integral part of our stories.

Have you ever read a book without a hero, heroine, bad guys or good guys? No - at least not a fiction book where someone has written a story for entertainment.

Have you ever seen a movie without a hero, heroine, good guy or bad guy? No, again if its one for entertainment. I doubt you ever will.

Even children's books have them. They might be in the form of a hippo, a pig, horse or rabbit, but it's the characters who pull us in and make us keep reading a book or watching a movie.

So, what types of things do we as writers need to develop our characters? Everything!

We have to give them a name. Does it matter what name we give them? No, but hopefully we won't name an English lord Takamoto or a Japanese girl Mary. Do you see a name can give you the first hint about the character?

We have to give them a heritage. Where did they come from? Are they close to parents and family? Did they have a religious background? What job do they hold? Education they have, age, etc. All of these things make up who we are and in turn as a writer, we need to create the same for our characters.

Then we need to know what they look like. How old they are. Height, weight, hair color, eyes and the list goes on and on. Sounds like a lot of work right? Not really, but in order to make them real people that readers want to relate to, we have to make our characters seem real, and this is the way an author or writer does it.

Oh no, we're not finished yet. We need to make them unique. Give them character traits like being scared of spiders, loving to drink tea, etc. They need to have to have likes, dislikes, skills, etc.

I never realized what was involved just to write a story until I started writing one. You can see why so many authors feel like they lost a good friend when they write "The End" and have to move on to another story. We've spent so much time getting to know our characters that sometimes it's hard to say goodbye and move on. But moving on is what we do. We create new heroes and new heroines and give them new issues to deal with.

We're each individual. Think about it when you read your next story or watch that new movie. The characters you meet will be individual. No two will be exactly the same. That's why we like them.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

www.KRBailey.com

In 1892 ...

My story, A Tug At My Heart, takes place in 1892. Catherine is struggling with the death of her husband, the birth of a new baby, and finding a way to survive alone in a remote mountain cabin. Zed is the foreman of the silver mine in La Plata, Utah, trying to keep miners on the job and the mine producing like his boss wants.

While reading a western or regency story, have you ever wondered what else was going on during that time?  Well, thanks to the internet and Wikipedia, I found a few interesting things that happened in 1892 and I'd like to share some of them with you.

Let's start with La Plata information I found from the Utah Historical Quarterly, Vol 50.
   Lots approximately 25 X 75 were sold for $2.50 in La Plata.

   Business license rates for La Plata were:
                  Liquor Saloon           $800
                  Boarding Houses        $40
                  Lunch Counter            $20
                  Meat Market               $40
I was surprised the rates were so high

La Plata never had an official cemetery. No man was ever killed or buried in La Plata. Sick or injured men were shipped to the Logan Hospital.

Miners working below the surface made $3 a day while workers on the surface earned $2.50 a day. This did not include room and board.

For $12 a month, a miner could live pretty well in La Plata.  Beef was cheaper in La Plata than in Salt Lake City approximately 70 miles south. That really surprised me because usually food in cheaper in larger cities, but that wasn't true this time.

A loaf of bread was ten cents.

While La Plata was struggling to grow during the silver mine era, around the world several other things were taking place.  Some of which were:

On Jan 1, Ellis Island began accommodating immigrants to the Unites States.
Mar 11, the first basketball game ever played in public was between students and faculty at the Springfield YMCA.
In April, the Johnson County War breaks out between small farmers and large ranchers in Wyoming.
July 12, a hidden lake bursts out of a glacier on the side of Mont Blanc, flooding the valley below and killing around 200 villagers and holidaymakers in Saint-Gervais-les-Bains.
Aug 4, the father and stepmother of Lizzie Borden are found murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home.
Aug 9, Thomas Edison receives a patent for a two-way telegraph
Oct 5 - The Dalton Gang, attempting to rob 2 banks in Coffeyville, Kansas, is shot by the townspeople. Only Emmett Dalton, with 23 wounds, survives to spend 14 years in prison.
Nov 8, U. S. presidential election, 1892 - Grover Cleveland is elected over Benjamin Harrison to win the second of his non-consecutive terms.
Dec 18 - The Nutcracker ballet with music by Tchaikovsky is premiered at the Imperial Marinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia
In 1892, Thomas Ahearn is the first person to prepare a meal on an electric stove.

In was in the 1890s that Gustavius Franklin Swift and Philip Dan forth Armour made fortunes in the meatpacking industry while the refrigerated railroad car allowed foods grown in one part of the country to be shipped safely and cheaply to shoppers all over the nation.

In the 1880s and 1890s the standard for elegant dining was eight to ten course banquets. These were typical among the wealthy. At a dinner honoring Gen. Winfield Scott Hancock, the meal began with raw oysters, a choice of two soups, an hors d'oeuvre, and a fish course. The next course was a saddle of lamb and filet of beef followed by chicken wings with green beans and mushroom-stuffed artichokes. Afterward the diners were served sorbet to "cleanse" their palate before tackling the course of canvasback duck and quail. Desserts included timbale Madison, various kinds of ice cream, whipped creams, jellied dishes, banana mouse and various elaborate pastry dishes. The dinner ended with coffee and liqueurs served with fruit and petits fours. Oh my goodness - can you imagine a meal like this?

Now compare what the western and Midwestern travelers survived on - heavy, greasy foods, mainly fatback (meat from the back of a hog) cornbread, and perhaps a handful of seasonal vegetables.

I was surprised at all that happened in 1892. As Catherine and Zed spent their days in the high, mountains of Northern Utah, so many things were happening that they may not have been aware of, but that would affect the world as they knew it.

Can you tell I enjoy history? Hope you found some of this interesting like I did.

Happy reading.

K. R. Bailey

www.KRBailey.com

Friends - Our gift to Ourself

"A friend is a present you give yourself."  Unknown

This made me think of all the wonderful friends that I'm lucky to have. That's when the above saying came to mind. Friends are special presents in this life. Here's another thought about friends that I love:

Make new friends,
Keep the old.
One is silver,
The other gold.
     Unknown

I don't know who wrote these thoughts but I think they convey my feelings perfectly. I have friends I've known since high school (and believe me that's a long time ago). I still cherish the time we get together. Seems like lately, we don't get together as often as we used to, but I love that we can go for ages and not see each other, but when we do, it's like no time has passed. We can laugh about the past. It's fun to catch up on their family, what they've been doing. Not all have had easy lives - as many of us don't - but we can smile and exchange how we handle the day-to-day trials.

I have friends I've just met either from work or through my writing organizations. They are special people. For whatever reason, we bonded. We have the same interests. We have fun. We don't have a long history, but we've grown close, gotten to known about each other, our families, and enjoy time together.

I also have family members who are more than a sister or inlaw, they are friends. We were thrown together because of family, but we cherish those wonderful times we spend together.

Lately, I've met a few new people -- usually readers like myself, and we may never see each other again, but for a few brief moments, we talked, laughed, shared what we like, and moved on. There are just so many great people in this world.

I've been blessed. I have a lot of great friends. Some are wonderful acquaintances. Others know my secrets and still care about me. I know I can call on them for help and they'll be there.

So, I'm going to close with another thought I'd like to share:

Friends are angels who lift us to our feet
when our wings have trouble remembering
how to fly.
     Anonymous

Have a great day!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Love At First Sight

Love at first sight
is easy to understand.
It's when two people have been
looking at each other for years
that it becomes a miracle.
     ----Unknown

I love this saying.  I remember finding the plaque with this saying on it at a craft fair one year and decided to give it to my folks who had been married over fifty years. 

Do you believe in love at first sight?

I remember the day I met my husband. We clicked. Something about him drew me in. We talked all evening and just had a great time.  By the way it was a blind date.  So, some blind dates aren't all bad.

We've been together twenty-seven years.  Most have been pretty good. Notice I didn't say perfect (lol) but we've had a good life together.  And yes, we've both changed over the years. Gotten older.  Hair has turned greyer. We don't have quite the get up and go we used to have, but it's not all bad. We're comfortable together.  Yes, comfortable.

I know people who hate the idea of getting comfortable but I think it's a good thing. We know what each other likes. I even laugh sometimes because it seems we can read each other's mind.  Scary? Sometimes.

Yes, I believe in love at first sight. There's that excitement, that passion, that wonder about what will happen next.  It makes the world go round.  But, after being together for a lot of year, I enjoy the comfortable too.

What about you?

In my newest story, A Tug At My Heart, Catherine and Zed experience the first stirrings of being drawn together even though they are both not in a place to start a new relationship. As they run into each other and spend time together, that stirring in the loins and the beating of their heart definitely pulls them.  Do you think they will survive the test of time?

I'd love to hear your comments.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

www.KRBailey.com

What Gift Would You Prefer?

In 1892, what kind of a gift would you like?

You're a widow with a baby and have just survived a long, cold winter in a small cabin in the Rocky Mountains of Northern Utah. What type of special gift would brighten your spirits?

Fabric for a new dress -- of course.

Fresh beef or venison -- always a welcome gift to restock your larder.

A visit from a friend or perhaps someone to help chop some badly needed firewood.

Any of these things would be greatly appreciated, but what about an organette?

Never heard of them? Neither had I until watching a television show one night that got me wondering about them.

Organettes are a small hand-cranked reed organ, usually designed for tabletop use.  Popular from the 1870s through the early 1900s, hundreds of models were manufactured, playing thousands of tunes.  Hymns, popular music, classical - they were all available as you turn the crank. (info from The Organette Music Repository at www.organettes.com)

In My story, A Tug At My Heart, Zed brings Catherine a presents of an organette.



Being so far away from civilization,
this would be like giving her a radio, something to bring music into her home and she is thrilled to receive it.

The pictures here show you a few types of organettes.

Hopefully when you read that chapter, you'll have an idea what an organette is and why she is so excited to receive one.





Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

www.KRBailey.com

Book Review

I enjoyed this story. Hidden Flaw by Doree Depew is an easy read novella. The author developed the heroine's feelings of insecurity after losing a limb in the military really well.  What I loved was the way the hero saw past her handicap. It was a story of hope and love. I'd highly recommend it.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

It's Release Day!

My story, A Tug At My Heart, released today.  It's available in ebook format exclusively on Amazon.com.

In 1892 only a strong woman can survive alone after her husband’s death.  Catherine McHenry is determined to do just that, and amidst the torrential rain and storms, threats of wild animals, and hard work, she finds a way to deliver her baby and survive the long winter.  Determined to raise her child and keep the memory of her husband alive, she’s not prepared for the turbulent feelings she has whenever Zed Logan is around.

Zed Logan is the foreman of the Sundown Mine and Ore Company and hopes one day to be the boss.  Zed struggles to keep the La Plata mine operating efficiently, keeping miners working, and producing the ore his boss is expecting. He’s also a man of honor who is betrothed to the boss’s daughter, but whenever he thinks about the beautiful grieving widow, something about her tugs at his heart.

Just when Zed feels like he’s on the path to gain everything he planned for, his life spirals out of control and he must face some difficult decisions. But that’s the easy part as life throws several obstacles his way and right into Catherine’s world.

She now holds his life and his fate in her hands.

The print book should be available shortly.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

What Inspires A Book Location?

Whenever I read someone's book, I find myself wanting to be in the same places, experience the views, and see what the characters are seeing.  Don't you?

This weekend I took some pictures of the area that inspired my new western historical, A Tug At My Heart.  I thought I'd share some of them with you.

 Can you imagine riding in a buckboard down this dirt road where the trees are tall and the underbrush is thick?  This would be one of the roads I imagined Catherine (the heroine in A Tug At My Heart) travels taking baked goods and mending to the miners in La Plata.  It's a gorgeous area, but at night, it gets really dark unless there is a full moon.  Tree bats fly when the sun goes down. We've seen mountain lions and heard of bear sightings in the area so she definitely would have reason to be nervous of the night sounds in the dark night.




This late in the fall, most of the pretty wildflowers have dried up, but we were able to capture pictures of the Indian Paintbrush that dots the hillside. The pretty orange flowers peek through the thick foliage and add lovely color to the landscape.

 

Everywhere you can see the small purple daisy-like flowers I've been told is chamomile.  I talk about chamomile in my story. It's often used for tea.

 

 Here and there are small yellow flowers. I don't know their name, but they grow alongside the dirt trails and road.

In my story, A Tug At My Heart, Catherine and Zed share a picnic on the hillside where these flowers dot the view alongside the Indian Paintbrush. Even in the fall when most of the grasses are drying out, the flowers make it a lovely place to relax and have a picnic.


Tall sunflowers bloom at the bottom of what we call Rocky Ridge.
                    
Years ago, that ridge was called Rattlesnake Pass.  Even today, we see a lot of rattlesnakes going over that pass. The above picture is what Rocky Ridge looks like today.

 

 

I hope this gives you a bit of an insight into the location of my book, A Tug At My Heart.  It's my first western historical romance, and I really hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.

A Tug At My Heart should be available shortly.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

La Plata, Utah - A Utah Ghost Town

Did you know the town of La Plata, Utah only existed for about three years? Oh, I'm sure there were miners still there after most of the town closed up, but according to my research, the little mining town was only a viable place for three short years from 1891 to 1894.

I came across an interesting tidbit about La Plata. There were no houses of ill repute. When most every western mining town during that period had brothels and cribs for prostitutes, La Plata didn't allow them. There's a story that one day a wagon carrying three young prostitutes came into town and tried to set up business. They were ran out of town because most of the miners were family men from religious families.

I remember visiting the old town site years ago when we could still ride our ATVs up into the town and around the old mine shafts. The street was narrow and rather steep. A small river ran down the side of the road. You could see seen the foundations of some old buildings along each side of the road. Have any of you been to the old town site? If so, I'd love to hear from you.

Doesn't La Plata sound like a great place to use as a setting for a western story? Well, it is in my newest book, A Tug At My Heart.

A Tug At My Heart should be released shortly in e-book format and the print book will be available soon after that.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Believe in Yourself

Always remember
You are braver than you believe
Stronger than you seem and
Smarter than you think!

I came across this thought in a magazine and today I really needed to read it so I thought I'd share it with you.  There are days when it seems nothing goes right and I just want to give up. Do you ever have those thoughts?

So, as I read through the thought I realized that I've always used the motto - you can do what you set your mind to.  I can be brave and strong and smart. I can accomplish what I set out to do by taking things one step at a time.

I remember dreaming about becoming a published author. I never thought I could do something like that. Now, several years later, I have nine stories published. I accomplished one of my dreams, and it feels good.

Just remember how good it feels when you accomplish something. You may have to be a bit brave to take the first step. Stay strong - you can do it!

Have a great day.

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Print or E-Book?

Which do you prefer?

It's obvious e-books are taking over the market by storm. Most of my writing friends find they sell way more e-books than print ones.  Some are deciding not to have their books in print at all.

I know I love my Sony e-reader. Hubby gave it to me for Christmas a few years back. It's compact enough to fit in my purse. I always know I've got several books to read without carrying the weight of print books. As I get older (oh, did I really admit that?) I love being able to increase the font size for easier reading. If something happens to my e-reader, I'll be the first one in line for a new one.

But some say there's nothing like holding a real print book. You can have it autographed for a keepsake. You can save it on a shelf for others to see. It's tangible - one of those things we've come to love over the years.

So I ask you - which do you prefer -- A print book or an E-book?

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com

Writers Are Unique Characters

It's funny, before I started writing and getting published, I was in awe of authors. They were special, talented people. Now I'm a published author, I'm still in awe of the special, talented people who I've met. I belong to the Romance Writers of America and personally call lots of published authors my friends. They are helpful, supportive people. I'm very lucky to know them.

One thing I'm impressed with is how they find the time to accomplish so much -- complete and publish several books a year, raise children, maintain a happy marriage or relationship, and still find time for social activities.

A friend of mine designed some cute T-shirts that read, "I'm an author. I might be alone, but I'm never alone in my head." It's true. At almost any time, we're developing new characters who become part of our souls, who are close to our hearts until the story we're writing is finished. Then we write 'The End' and have to say goodbye to the characters we've tortured and loved.  But the neat part is we get to start all over and meet new ones, decide what they look like, what their flaws are, and what situations we'll throw them into. A writer's world is constantly changing, but that's a good thing because it means there will always be new stories and books being published and I love that idea.

Where do we get our ideas? I know anything can stir my imagination - a television program, a ride in the mountains, or a thought I read. Ideas are everywhere.

But a word of caution -- you or someone created like you could become a character in a story. but it's okay because romance writers always create stories with happy endings!

Just some food for thought as you pick up your next book --

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://KRBailey.com

 

Perfect Love

Find someone who will:

     Never get tired of kissing you every day.

     Hugs you when you’re jealous

     Understandingly keeps silent when you’re mad

     Squeeze your hand when you’re not in the mood

     Plan and imagine the future with you in it 

And when you find that someone …Never Let Go.

 

Don’t you just love this saying? I don’t know where I found it, but I thought it was definitely worth passing on. 

Until you find your “true love” read a good romance novel and enjoy that loving feeling until you do.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey
www.KRBailey.com
 

Pets Make Our World Special

Most of us have pets – dogs, cats, birds, horses, goats, even pigs. They add so much enjoyment to our lives. What an empty world it would be without them, don’t you think?

I grew up around horses. My Morgan horse, Rascal, became my friend and confidant. 

Everything in life seemed better when I crawled on his back and went for a ride. I loved sitting in the hay barn, enjoying the smell of hay. I’d pour out my heart to my Rascal as he ate from the manager. I knew he was listening because his ears would move back and forth as I talked. Every once in awhile he’d lean up and nuzzle me as if tell me everything will be okay.

He was born on our property, and I started breaking him to ride when he was just two. For over 28 years, he was there for me, and I have so many special memories of spending time with him.  I’ll never forget the day my dad called and told me he’d died.  I lost a special friend that day.

I remember the day my son bought our first yellow lab and named him Max. He was a little six-week old puppy, round ball of fur. We had so much fun with him. When my son decided to get married and couldn’t keep him, we inherited him. He was my husband’s companion after he retired. I don't think my husband went anywhere without that little dog.  He was always part of the family. He loved going for rides with us on our ATVs, and I’ll never forget the time we loaded up the 4-wheelers. Max knew something was up and he crawled up on the trailer, onto the 4-wheeler and he spent the night there. He made sure he wasn’t left behind when we went for rides.

Today we have another yellow lab named Shilo.

He’s three and just getting past the puppy stage. He’s my buddy, and its always amazing to me that I can be busy and not play with him for a day or so, but whenever I go out, he’s there, wagging his tail, thrilled to see me.

My most unique pet was a young turkey. His name became Beep Beep because when he was little, every time we went by the box we kept him in, he’d make a chirping sound like Beep Beep. As he got older, we’d call him and he would coming running and follow us around.

Pets become part of our families, adding happiness, and becoming an integral part of our lives. As I write my stories, you’ll notice that my hero and heroines nearly always have animals in them. A story wouldn’t be real if it didn’t have a dog wagging its tail or a horse wanting to have his neck rubbed. Wouldn’t you agree?

Do you have a special pet? I'd love to hear about it.

K. R. Bailey

http://KRBailey.com

Thought for Today

Happiness is not a destination -- It's a way of life.
      ---unknown

Had to share.  Saw this is a magazine and thought how true. Sometimes we just have to make happiness what we want in life -- It's definitely the destination we work toward, but I also think we need to decide to be happy, look positive at things, and life will be good to us. Too often, it's easy to slide into the negative and think badly about people, things, the weather, etc. My goal is to think positive. Smile even when I don't feel like it. I want people to think of me as happy.

What do you think?

K. R. Bailey

Tiffinie Helmer's book, EDGE (the 1st in the Romance of the Edge Novels) is on sale starting today April 13th - 15th for only 99 cents. 

 She'd a fantastic author, and you won't be disappointed.  In fact, I think you'll be hooked on her Alaskan series. 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/YJLA66
B&N: http://bit.ly/ZCFxiV

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

Come Meet Alysia S. Knight, Author

I’m thrilled to introduce author, Alysia S. Knight. Thanks for joining us today.

 

 

KRB: Hi Alysia. I understand you have a new book out. Can you tell us a little bit about it and when it will be available? 

Alysia: Thanks Kathy for hosting me. Temperature Rising is my third book out. It was released in January. It’s a sweet romantic suspense.

 

Laken Williams is an architect with a fever. On the way home she literally bumps into a man going into the pharmacy who scares her. That night she experiences a fevered vision of murder. When the woman in her dream ends up dead, she goes to the police hoping to help.

Detective Spencer ‘Mac’ MacDaniels is faced with the end of his career after being shot. Working his last big case, he’s intrigued with his possible witness until he finds out she dreamed it all. Eventually, he starts to believe Laken but it becomes personal as he falls in love. Things heat up when she becomes the killer’s next target.

KRB: Sounds like a great story. What makes this story unique from others on the market?

Alysia: I write sweet, but give you lots of adventure and romance. 

 

KRB: Tell us where you got your inspiration for this story.

Alysia: I have the best dreams. Honestly, most of my books come from dreams. I write the classic hero story, so needless to say my brand is: Heroes for all times.

KRB: Where can people get your book? Will it be available in e-book format as well as print?

Alysia: It will be available on Amazon and with Astraea Press my publisher. I’m so happy with them. They do only sweet but wonderful books.

 

KRB: Tell us about your writing routine. Do you use music to inspire you? Do you find yourself being able to get more done in the morning or late evening?

Alysia: I write whenever I get the chance, morning before work, after I get home and again in the evening. Mornings or late at night when the house is quiet is best. I really look forward to my days off to be able to write at least half the day. I do have to break to do housework sometime, unfortunately. 

I am one of those who always have music on when I write. My music depends on the scene. I love the Piano Guys, Mannheim Streamroller and soundtracks; Avatar, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, and others by those composers.

KRB: Have you always wanted to be an author?

Alysia: I actually started writing my own Hardy Boys books when I was in high school. I just always thought it was kind of crazy, me wanting to be an author. I was from a small town in Wyoming and not good at English.

 

KRB:  It sounds as if you’ve reached a dream.  Who has had the most influence on you as an author?

Alysia: I actually just write what comes to me. So I’m all over. It just has to have an intrigue and a love story. I will write a romantic suspense, then a young adult; a future or fantasy then a western historical. I just like to entertain myself and hopefully readers, too.

 

KRB: Where can readers go to find out more about you and your upcoming stories? My next book with Astraea is Kare For Me and will be out in a couple months. I haven’t been given a release date. I’m also in the process of getting Blind Witness ready to self publish. I’m interested to see how that goes. To find out more, go to my website.

 Alysia S. Knight, Heroes for all times.

 

KRB: What advice would you give others who want to become authors?

Alysia: Write what you enjoy and have faith in yourself.

 

KRB: Anything else you’d like to tell us?

Aysia: Have a great day, and if you happen to read one of my books, I would love to hear from you.

 

KRB: This has been fun. Thanks so much for taking time to visit with me today.

Alysia: Thanks so much Kathy. I loved stopping by.

  

If you haven’t had the opportunity to read one of Alysia S. Knight’s books, you’re really missing out.  Try one. You won’t be disappointed.

Happy Reading!

K. R. Bailey

http://www.KRBailey.com