Pen Dames Spooky #Halloween

 HELLO AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM THE PEN DAMES!

With the magic of the Scroll of Thoth, the mummy awakened with just one goal--reclaiming the Princess Anck-su-namun, his true love. The mummy is my favorite movie monster. Who is your favorite?

Halloween is a time for goosebumps or even spine-tingling chills. The Pen Dames deliver! We write in many genres, including romance, mystery, and suspense, but we love nothing better than dipping our sparkly toes into the realm of the mysterious and spooky.

The Sea Witch and the Mage by Katherine Eddinger Smits: 

This tantalizing fantasy romance is part of a series starring a secret race of water dwellers, or merfolk, known as Nerei.

Cloud Woman’s Spirit by Loretta C. Rogers:

A shimmering thread of Native American mysticism runs throughout this paranormal western romance.

Heartbeat of the Moon (Rhythm of the Moon #2) by Jennifer Taylor:

Set in a time where sickness is often seen as a result of evil, this historical romance portrays a supernatural presence that bestows comfort and love.

A Heart for all Time by Linda Tillis:

Heartwarming magic permeates this time travel romance with its Native American flavor.

Wytchfae Runes (Wytchfae #1) by Flossie Benton Rogers:

Powerful Fae mingle with humans in this fantasy romance, and the hero is a ghost.

We'd love to hear about your favorite movie monster in the comments below, and feel free to check out the links in the titles above for BIG SALES. Get your spook on!

Happy Halloween from the Pen Dames--Heart, Humor, and Happily Ever After!

Posted by Flossie Benton Rogers

 

                                 INTERVIEW WITH KATHERINE SMITS

 

Hello, everyone! Welcome to Pen Dames. Today I’m interviewing the talented and mysterious Katherine Smits. She’s a gifted author who writes intriguing and passionate books in a unique setting.

 

Kathy, you write captivating stories about mermaids and mermen. Can you share with us how you got interested in them?

 

I learned to swim at Weeki Wachee. At the time, it was a private tourist attraction in Florida on the Gulf Coast. Now, it’s a state park with the deepest freshwater cave system in the country. There’s a natural first magnitude spring, and no one knows how far down it goes because the bottom has never been found. Young women performed underwater ballet using an air hose and wearing mermaid tails. The first time I watched the show from the underwater theater, I was hooked. I’ve never stopped loving mermaids, and when I decided to write my first book, I knew it had to revolve around the merfolk.

 

Before you, I’d never seen a book that’s set in Tarpon Springs, Florida. What inspired you to use that for your setting?

 

Tarpon Springs is a unique town with a large population of Greek immigrants who moved here for the sponge diving industry starting in the 1880’s and their descendants. I grew up there, and I love the town. I’m not Greek, but I always wanted to be, so maybe I can claim honorary membership.

 

 

From the four books you’ve written, do you have a favorite character?

 

Wow, what a hard question! I love all my characters. I’ve lived with them for years, and they seem so real to me. Nik from Water Dreams and Water Desires showed up first in my brain, so she’s the one I know the best. I “found” her apartment in Tarpon Springs, and I’ve been to all of the places where she went in the book (including a little hut on stilts a mile out in the Gulf of Mexico). I admire Athenia from The Sea Witch and the Mage and Siren Descending for her strength and talent. Then, there are the men. The awesome Water Dreams cover shows Nik and Bas in the water at night under a full moon. Bas is a swoon-worthy merman (or Nerei, as they call themselves), and his character arc brings him a long way from being the worst possible choice for Nik to becoming her ideal mate. Thorne is an alpha male with a strong sense of right and wrong who doesn’t abandon Athenia even when she betrays him in the worst way. He’s amazing. Nope, I can’t choose. I love all my characters, including the villains.

 

When did you start dreaming about mermaids and what motivated you to write about these mythical creatures?

 

Mermaids inspired me from a young age. I think I was about six or eight years old when I started going to Weeki Wachee for swimming lessons. I always pretended I was one of the mermaids when I was there. It helped me learn to swim. I wanted to be one of them, but I was never a good enough swimmer or able to hold my breath long enough, so I never tried out.

 

Where do you get your inspiration?

 

I’m a little unusual in that I often get my inspiration from places. First, I discover a location which would make a great setting for a book. Then, the characters who would live there come to me, and the plot derives from their interactions.

 

Writing isn’t the only thing you and I have in common. We both love to dance, but you dance on a horse. Can you talk about your love for dressage and how you got into it?

 

I was one of those horse crazy girls who collected horse statues and mooned over pictures of horses, but my parents adamantly refused to buy me a horse. I vowed someday I would own one. When my daughter begged for riding lessons at about age eight, we both started together. It’s a passion we have shared ever since. Dressage emphasizes riding in harmony with the horse, and that’s why it’s known as Dancing with Horses. The horse is your partner and together you complete a graceful pattern or ‘Test”.

 

How does it feel when you and your horse are dancing?

 

Horses are amazing partners. When I manage to move with the horse, it’s the greatest feeling of freedom and lightness I’ve ever experienced. I wish I were a better rider and could find that effortless partnership more often. My horse is retired now due to chronic lameness issues, but she loves her life on a farm in Ocala, and I visit her every week. I’ll include a picture of me with my horse. Her name is Corrin Castle, and she’s an Irish Sport Horse who was imported from Ireland. She has a passport! I was riding another horse twice a week before Covid-19, but now I’m social distancing, so I can’t ride. I hope a vaccine comes out soon, so I can get back to it.

 

You also clog, which sounds like a blast!

 

Though I can’t ride, I dance with my clogging team four days a week outside on the instructor’s driveway. Clogging is a form of dancing developed in Europe by workers who danced during their breaks in wooden shoes which made a distinctive tapping sound. Some of them brought the style to this country, and it evolved into what we do today. Though it is sometimes compared to tap dancing because the shoes have taps, it is quite different.

 

You were a social worker, working on behalf of veterans. Does your former career help you with your writing, and if so, how?

 

Absolutely! The training and clinical work help me craft believable characters with real life problems.

 

Any advice for aspiring authors?

 

Read a lot and write a lot. Practice, practice, practice. Also, establish a social media presence, including a web site, as soon as possible. Many publishers now want a marketing plan along with submissions, and the more social reach you have, the more likely they are to offer you a contract.

 

You have some good news. Congratulations! Can you tell me about your newly contracted book?

 

Witch Trial Legacy will release in 2021 from Foundations Books.

 

She must break an ancient curse before everything she cares about goes up in smoke.

Sybilla is a nurse gifted with the ability to heal with her touch but cursed with visions of future tragedies she cannot prevent because no one heeds her warnings. With help from the mediums of the spiritualist town of Cassadaga, Florida, she learns she is descended from both the first person executed for witchcraft in this country and the man who accused her. 

Conn Ahern is an Iraq war vet dealing with pain and PTSD while working as a paramedic and struggling to save the ranch his grandmother founded. He’s an atheist who wants nothing to do with the people of the town.

When Conn and Sybilla meet, sparks fly, but not always in a good way, and their relationship fans the flames of jealousy and revenge in someone who doesn’t want them together.

During a séance, her ancestor’s spirit reveals what Sybilla must do to rid herself of the curse and save Conn, but the price may be too high.

Wow, it sounds amazing. I can’t wait to read it.  Thanks so much for joining us today, Kathy.

 

 Katherine Eddinger Smits Bio

 

Katherine Eddinger Smits holds a master’s degree in social work.  For 20 years, she assisted veterans and their families until she retired to pursue her writing obsession.

 

Now she brings clinical training and experience to her stories of mermaids, mages and magical creatures. Within the context of fantasy and romance, her novels explore real-life issues of self-acceptance, body image, relationship dynamics, fears, and phobias. Mystery, suspense, and a little sex add spice to her books.

 

Katherine and her husband divide their time between Florida and West Virginia. Their children and granddaughters live in Virginia.

 

Besides writing, Katherine is a blogger, mom, Mimi, dressage rider, and clog dancer.

 

Sign up for her quarterly newsletter and receive a free short story! Newsletters always include contests, freebies and fun.  http://katherineeddingersmits.weebly.com/

 

 

 

 

Books by KATHERINE EDDINGER SMITS:

 

1.     Water Dreams, Love’s Siren Song, Book I

2.     Water Desires, Love’s Siren Song, Book II

3.     The Sea Witch and the Mage, Sirens Series 1

4.     Siren Descending, Siren Series 2

5.     Witch Trial Legacy (2021)

 

 

 

Facebook Author Page:

 https://www.facebook.com/Katherine-Eddinger-Smits-1570871886468704

 

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/katherinesmits

 

Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/katherinesmits/_saved/

 

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/kathyeddingersmits/

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Life Gets In The Way….

If you are a writer, or artist, or just a Mom or Dad who need a few hours alone, you know what I’m talking about.  You have plans, or maybe a deadline you are working against. When out of nowhere a large obstacle falls out of the sky and blocks your forward movement. Okay, by large obstacle I mean your spouse gets sick, the roof starts to leak, the car won’t start, or, horror of all horrors, the coffee maker dies!

And there you are…trying to cope with the immediate problem while you put all your plans on the back shelf. You know, “the best laid plans of mice and men” thing.

How do you cope when life gets in the way? Are you one who finds relief in cursing, or throwing things? Because that actually works for some folks. Like a relief valve on a steam engine, it allows some folks to release the tension and actually relax enough to handle the problem.

Maybe you are a plodder. One who just pushes the anger and frustration deep down and pushes ahead until you have ploughed your way through the problem and found solid footing again.

You could be a handwringer. The person who has to lament the problem for several days before they can finally search for a solution.

Perhaps you are a prayer person. You take solace in sharing your problem with a higher being.

I have found that I am a combination of several of these personalities. And that’s okay too. The point is, I don’t give up. After the sharp words, (I never throw things), I start pushing back while I search for the best way forward. Along the way I usually throw up a few prayers to my higher being, asking not so much for a solution, but for the strength to cope with the problem.

And it always helps to have friends. Friends who really don’t mind listening to you while you wring your hands. Friends who will offer their support, not to fix the problem for you, but to let you lean on them when you get weary. And I have been blessed with friends.

So. Whenever your large obstacle shows up, take just a moment to analyze how you handle it. It gives you tremendous insight and lets you decide if you need better coping skills. But however you decide to cope, the important thing to remember is NEVER give up.

Fictional Characters with Real Life Problems

 

Though my stories include mermaids, mages, and magical creatures, the settings are similar to the “real” world, and the characters must work through problems such as you and I might encounter.

Before I started writing, I was a clinical social worker for many years, and I draw on this training and experience for my stories. I want believable characters, so I write them facing actual issues which people confront every day.

My characters deal with body image, addiction, self-concept, family difficulties, and other troubles while struggling with an antagonist with opposite goals. Danger and threats complicate the predicaments, and initial coping attempts fail. These poor people don’t have an easy time of it! They have to figure out how to survive and thrive using intelligence and courage. Magic is part of their world, but it never provides the solution and often makes things more complicated.

For example, Nik, the heroine in Water Dreams, has a deep-seated fear of water, a huge obstacle for a person who lives in Florida. Nightmares about tidal waves sweeping her away disrupt her sleep. Fear of water determines where she drives and even what restaurants she eats in, since bridges are common throughout the state, and many eateries overlook the Gulf of Mexico. When Nik finds out mermaids and mermen exist, she begins a journey which forces her to confront her fears. How she handles this challenge sparks her growth as a person. This is romance, so she also falls in love with the exact wrong person, and their relationship threatens everyone they care about.

Here’s an excerpt from Water Dreams which shows one of the many times Nik cannot avoid water. Kidnapped by a couple who give her the obviously fake name of Mr. and Mrs. Smith, she must escape before they turn her over to the Nerei (as the merfolk call themselves) for money:

 

Mr. Smith stopped the car at a half-deserted pier. There were cars parked there, but most of the owners seemed to be out fishing or boating, or maybe they were walking on the beach. Either way, no one was around. Mr. and Mrs. Smith unbuckled Nik’s seat belt and pulled her out of the car. Mr. Smith slashed the duct tape around her legs, but left her hands bound. They had not gagged Nik, so she tried yelling, but they might as well have been all alone in the world. For all anyone noticed, Nik’s cries might have come from a seagull.

Daylight faded and shadows swelled. The yellow pool of streetlights illuminated small sections of the pier. Three moths fluttered around the top of one of the lights, the only life evident in the area. Everything else was concrete, man-made, and artificial. Nik scanned the area for something she could use to save herself, but she couldn’t find anything. She figured the Nerei were on their way to retrieve her, but none of them had shown up yet.

After thinking of everything she could, Nik realized what she had to do. It was the worst thing she had ever thought of doing, and yet it was inevitable, as if she had been moving toward this moment for years. She knew, but she was terrified.

Nik stared at the dark water below the pier, desperately trying to think of another way out of the mess, but nothing else occurred to her. It was risky. For one thing, Mr. and Mrs. Smith had guns. Nik thought they might be mad enough to try to shoot her. If they thought it through, Nik knew they would realize that if she died, she would be of no use to them. However, they were still angry about the last kidnap attempt, which resulted in nothing but a long swim for them and the embarrassment of being rescued themselves. That hadn’t done anything for their reputation as master outlaws. In addition, they struck Nik as typical criminals, who probably didn’t spend a lot of time envisioning the possible consequences of their actions.

Mr. Smith scanned the water, maybe looking for signs of the Nerei. Splashing sounded far out in the water, and Mrs. Smith looked around, her gaze leaving Nik for a moment. Nik took a deep breath, sent a mental prayer into the universe for protection, and flung herself off the pier into the water, throwing her body as far from the dock as possible. She heard a shout, and the unmistakable sound of gunfire. The shots didn’t seem too close, since no bullets swished through the water around her, so she didn’t worry too much about one striking her.

She focused on her body, which sank like a stone. She had no control of it. Nik didn’t know what to do with her legs, and her wrists were still duct taped together in front of her. She didn’t need to breathe yet, but she knew it was only a matter of time before she would feel oxygen deprived. This situation was worse than any Nik had imagined, and this was real.

While she sank, she berated herself for getting into this mess. She couldn’t believe she would die this way. After spending her whole life avoiding water, would she drown after all? Was her phobia a presentiment of the fate that had been awaiting her all her life?

 

Thank you so much for joining us here on the Pen Dames blog! I hope you enjoyed this snippet from Water Dreams. If you’d like to learn more about my books, please take a look at my website: http://katherineeddingersmits.weebly.com/

Sign up for my newsletter and I’ll send you a free short story exclusively available to subscribers: Siren of the Deep. In 1794, Adelia, a not-so-proper, young, English woman, escapes her guardian’s plan to force her to marry by stealing money from him, pretending to be a widow, and booking passage on a ship headed to America. Far out in the Atlantic, pirates attack, and Adelia tumbles overboard. After that, things get interesting.

 

 

What the Heck is a Beta Reader?

Chances are you don’t know what a beta reader is unless you’re a writer or friends with one.

Beta readers are usually the second people to peruse a story after critique groups or partners. Nothing is set in stone, but beta readers often provide their feedback before the novel goes to the editor.

Since they see the book before it is published, they serve a special function by finding plot holes, mistakes, and problems.

Beta readers are not other writers, but people who love books and reading. They tell us the boring parts, the places where they dropped out of the narrative for one reason or another, and many other things.

What qualities do you need? First, it’s important to like the type of work you’ll be evaluating. You’ll bring to the table an awareness of what fans of the genre appreciate. Also, you’ll have more fun with the process.

Being able to finish a book quickly is also helpful. No one expects beta readers to devour the book in a day, but we do prefer to hear from you in a reasonable length of time. Authors are anxious to release their books as soon as possible.

A critical quality is the ability to give honest reactions. We need to know where the work can be improved, and we won’t get mad at you for telling us. Please be specific. Just saying the book was great or terrible isn’t enough. Tell us exactly what you didn’t like and why. We can take it!

What you don’t need is expertise in grammar or punctuation or an eagle eye for spotting typos. Editors and proofreaders address those issues.

What do you get for doing this? You probably won’t get paid in cash. However, you will get the book for free, and your name may be listed on the acknowledgements page. I also give my beta readers paperback copies of the book, bookmarks, and other swag, and take them to lunch or dinner. I treasure my beta readers and treat them like solid gold, because that’s what they’re worth to me.

If you’re asked to beta read for someone, I hope you’ll consider it. It means the author trusts you with their baby before it is completely ready for the world, and they believe you can help them make it better.

Are you already a beta reader? What has the experience been like for you? If you aren’t, are you interested in trying it out or isn’t it for you? Do you have questions about anything I didn’t cover? I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Thank you so much for visiting Pen Dames and checking out this post.

Jennifer Taylor: A Woman of Many Talents

 

Jennifer Taylor is another fabulous Pen Dame. She is also an author with many talents. She sings, dances, and has a green thumb. She is also mom to a ginormous Great Dane named Bridget.

1.      Jennifer, tell us a little about your musical talent. Did you aspire to be a singer and a dancer?

 Hello, Loretta! Thanks for interviewing me today. That’s a great question. Music is in my bones-my mother was a singer and dancer, and my two brothers are both musicians. I grew up listening to music, my mom’s Goldfinger album, my sister’s Beach Boy albums. I spent hours in front of the mirror singing to my favorite tunes. I wanted-and still want to be--one of Elton John’s backup dancers. In elementary school, I started singing and dancing with a good friend who helped me come out of my shell. In college, I performed at Boblo Island Amusement Park, which was in the middle of the Detroit River. Singing is still a joy to me, and I sing to Bridget a lot with mixed results; sometimes she seems concerned that I may be having a fit of some sort.

2.      What are your favorite things to grow and do you have any special gardening secrets you’d like to share?

I love to grow cucumbers, and when I have a great yield it’s so satisfying. Sometimes gardening is sheer drama. One year I plant Pickle Barrel Hybrids and get a huge yield. Joy! The next year I am bereft of cucumbers. Despair! I am on a mission to grow some good tomatoes this winter. Lazy Housewife Beans (so lazy last year they didn’t sprout), cilantro, hot peppers and arugula for my husband. When you garden in Florida, you always have to deal with pests and mildew. My personal nemesis is the pickleworm. Gardening is relaxing to me and teaches me patience.

 

3. When did your writing journey begin and what drew you to writing?

It all started with music lyrics. I love how they fit together like a puzzle, and how they tell a story in four minutes or less. My childhood friend Diane and I memorized the entire lyrics to the 70’s version of Lost Horizon, and pretty much every song on the radio. I read constantly. It was an escape, an adventure, and introduced me to what good writing is. Wuthering Heights was the first historical romance I read. I thought how cool it would be to create a world of my own making. When my children were young, I tried my hand at children’s books and little plays I helped put on at school. It was a great learning experience.

3.      What are your writing must-haves (e.g. coffee, TV, music, popcorn, post-it notes, etc.)?

Lots of coffee, a content and sleeping Bridget, big strips of butcher paper to work out my plot, and very low instrumental music. If I’m close to a deadline, a Kinder Bueno candy bar saves the day. I have two six-foot folding tables for a desk, so I can spread things out. If my desk is neat, I must not be writing!

4.      What would you consider a perfect writing day for you?

A cottage or cabin on the wild Irish coast. My desk is right where I can see the storm raging. There’s a chill in the air, but a fireplace is roaring. That would do nicely.

5.      I am a travel-lover. What is the most favorite place you have traveled and why?

Ooh, that’s a tricky one. Edinburgh is one of my favorite places, with the castle ominously perched on a rocky cliff. If you walk the streets at night in Rye, England, you could be in the 15^th Century. Rye inspired the setting of my fictional town of King’s Harbour in my Rhythm of the Moon historical romance series. I also loved Nuremburg, Germany, the ancient city walls, the old churches, and the smell of beechwood in the air from the restaurants, the bratwurst, sauerkraut, amazing baked goods.  Food and travel definitely go together for me.

6.      If your books were to be made into a television series, who would you want to play the part of your hero, heroine and main secondary character, and why?

Benedict Cumberbatch would be great as my singer/apothecary hero, Ian. Especially since I found out he can sing. Jessica Brown Findley, who played Lady Edith in Downton Abbey, would work well for my heroine Maggie. Eva Green from the Penny Dreadful series would be amazing as the identical twins Elunid and Bethan.

7.      Besides writing, you also edit for a publishing company. What advice would you give newbie authors?

Read a lot, especially in the genre that you would like to write in. Keep a daily journal that will serve as a place to stash your ideas, your emotions through your writing journey. Don’t try to be perfect, and don’t compare yourself to others. Get those words on page every day, even if all you have is fifteen minutes. Turn off your inner editor for that first draft. Your story will likely go through many stages before it’s complete. And don’t give up.

Also, research the market, find out what publishing companies are looking for. Learn about the business end. And this is a big one: if an editor rejects your partial or your full manuscript but takes the time out of a busy schedule to email you with suggestions about your story, swallow your disappointment, give your manuscript a few days to rest, and then really consider what they have to say. Consider a rejection to be one step closer to publication.

Soak up craft books like Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel. Before you send your work to an editor, make sure it’s as free of grammatical and punctuation errors as possible. It’s all part of being a professional. And last of all, don’t get discouraged-enjoy the journey of writing your book. (Great advice, Jennifer.)

8.      Do you have any new writing projects on the horizon that you’d like to share with us?

Yes, it’s quite a change from writing historicals set in the 18^th Century. I’m continuing my Rhythm of the Moon series, but I’m currently working on a Redneck romance. It’s set in a fictional town in rural Florida

10. If you do have a new writing project, what was your inspiration for the book?

It all started with a picture of a man and his possum, and a postcard of a hot guy on a beach. I’ve lived in rural Florida for over thirty years, and I’ve been taking notes on this book since 2013. I’ve collected a ton of one-liners. It’s very fun to write.  . (This sounds intriguing. Being a Native Floridian, I’m looking forward to reading about what shenanigans you come up with.)

Thanks for having me on today, Loretta.

I’m sure readers will enjoy learning about your wit and sense of humor, Jennifer. You’ve really entertained us.

Okay viewers, it’s your turn. What question would you like to ask Jennifer? (Remember, no political, religious, or immoral questions. Keep it fun.)

 

Embarrassment, Anyone?

                                                       

From the beginning of my Rhythm of the Moon series, my hero, energetic and mischievous Ian Pierce, likes to get a rise out of the heroine, hard-working, practical Maggie. He lives to make her laugh and give her a break from her worldly cares. He sings, he jokes, and he is completely without inhibitions. He is an unusual hero in that he also uses humor and music to deflect tense situations. In the second book in the series, Heartbeat of the Moon, he impulsively purchases a painted gypsy wagon:

“The entire wagon was painted a bright yellow, bordered all round with red and blue flowers. In the center posed a shepherdess with a lamp in her arms, her bosom pouring out of her bodice like clotted cream.”

Mind you, it’s the 18^th Century. To make matters worse:

     “They walked through the crowd to the other side, and her jaw dropped open. In the center stood a ram with fierce eyes and horns, and gigantic stones hanging below his belly. His face seemed almost human, a lecherous grin upon his face.”

Maggie is beyond embarrassed. But from Ian’s view, this could be her midwife wagon, making her work easier. Plus, he dreamt of the two of them traveling the countryside, enjoying the scenery and each other. This goes on deaf ears. It will take Maggie a long time to get over her embarrassment.

Have you ever been embarrassed? I’ll go first: In the summer of 1980, I sang and danced at Boblo Island Amusement Park. Some of you might be familiar with this place-it doesn’t exist now. It’s a little island in the middle of the Detroit River. We took a ferry boat from Canada every morning.

There were six numbers in a half-hour show, and six costume changes. We had our costumes all lined up in a row. We had maybe thirty seconds to change costumes. Sometimes things go wrong. This was one of those times.

Remember the popularity of bodysuits and wraparound skirts? Think disco.

 We were grooving on the dance floor to a disco version of “I’ve Got Rhythm,” only it was “Boblo Rhythm.” (Erm) The theatre was packed. Suddenly, I felt a draft. I had lost my skirt. It was bunched up around my feet. Heat washed over me as the crowd enthusiastically roared. But there was only one thing to do. I smiled and kicked my skirt out of the way. The show must go on. You can bet I made sure my wraparound was tied securely next time.

That was probably my most public embarrassment. I have shared it with you. How about you? It’s your turn now. We definitely need a laugh in these times.

I can’t wait to hear from you.