Thursday, February 23, 2023

This week in The Loft: Author Judythe Morgan!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Judythe Morgan. Judythe writes small-town romance, military romance, and romantic suspense. A native Texan, Judythe returned to her hometown after years of roaming the world as an Air Force daughter and then, Army wife. Her experiences as a Department of Army civilian employee, a schoolteacher, an antique dealer, a former mayor’s wife, and sometimes, church pianist fill her books with interesting twists and turns. Judythe and her husband have raised three children, and now enjoy eleven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and nine granddogs. 

Author Judythe Morgan

S:  Good morning, Judythe! Welcome back to The Loft!

What’s love got to do with writing romance?

J:  Maslow's hierarchy includes love, acceptance, and belonging. Writing romance capitalizes on that need for emotional relationships. Love is the emotion that threads our stories. I fear without our human need for affection, there’d be no writing romance.

S:  The need for affection certainly drives the search for love and romance. 

Do you write in other genres? 

J:  I’ve labeled my books love stories a/k/a Nicholas Sparks. All have romantic elements not necessarily the standard romance tropes. I also write non-fiction and a weekly blog.

S:  What attracted you to your current partner?

J:  My husband and I are high school sweethearts. I was a lowly freshman. He was a big, bad senior. His sister was my best friend and that made connecting easy… and hard. The first time I saw him in that crazy yellow plaid shirt, I knew any guy who wasn’t trying to fit in with the crowd was the man I needed. Sixty years later, he still makes me swoon.

S:  That's so sweet. My parents were married 65 years. 

Do you read reviews? 

J:  I skim reviews. I don’t obsess about what’s written. I’ve very grateful when I see someone has taken the time to write a review, but I recognize readers' tastes vary. Some of my books will strike a connection, while others will not.

S:  I think that's the best approach. Like you, I'm grateful for the positive reviews. I read the negative ones, but don't allow them to hold me back.

How do you get in the mood for writing? 

J:  My brain knows when I sit at my computer it’s time to write. I have a cup of Irish breakfast tea, a handful of M&Ms, and all is go for words on the page.

S:  You had me at "M&Ms!" I got through college and law school with pound bags of that candy. It's still my go-to snack!

What inspired "When Love Comes Home?"

J:  The Fitzpatrick Family series began as a single contest entry and blossomed into a six-book series. Each sibling had his own background story. Sammy’s backstory in "When Love Comes Home" reminded me of one of my favorite romance movies, Sweet Home Alabama. I wove his story plot around the movie, with an added touch of mystery.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "When Love Comes Home?" 

J:  This book is the last in the six-book Fitzpatrick Family series. Sammy is the last Fitzpatrick sibling. I had plenty of material for plotting. Hubby-dear is a preacher’s kid and our son grew up to be a preacher. I have a sense of relief that all the brothers and sisters have found their HEA, but this lonely feeling keeps creeping in. I will miss their voices in my head. I’ve started a new manuscript. This one will be a standalone romantic suspense. The new characters and I are doing that dance of discovery. Soon they'll begin to talk to me, and argue then I’m sure I’ll be able to bid Sammy and Tiffany and the others farewell.

Here's the blurb--

Sammy Fitzpatrick and Tiffany Fischer eloped on prom night. The next day her father caught them, forced them to sign annulment papers then whisked her off to art school in North Carolina. Despite the distance and her father’s disapproval, Sammy and Tiffany exchanged letters and calls, making secret plans to go to Guatemala with a missionary group.

When Tiffany’s letters and phone calls stop unexpectedly, Sammy hitchhikes from Texas to North Carolina to find her. But she and her parents have disappeared without a trace. Resigned to a life alone, he left for Guatemala missing a chunk of his heart.

Ten years later, he learns the annulment papers were never filed. Tiffany is still legally his wife, but she doesn’t know it and she's engaged to someone else. Sammy’s heart has never let him forget. But is he too late? As secrets unravel, will they be able to find the love they once shared again?

S:  This sounds like a wonderful love story. Where can readers buy your book?

J:  It's available at--


S:  Judythe, thanks so much for joining me today. If you'd like to learn more about Judythe and her books, please visit--

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Saturday, February 18, 2023

They’re smart. They’re feisty. They play to win!

They're the Feisty Lawyers!

The lawyers who make up The Agency are committed to bringing justice to situations in which justice is not normally found. At the behest of the President, they intervene in matters that impact Americans around the globe. Human trafficking, terrorism, cults, and the disappeared are just a few of the cases with which they are tasked, and they execute uniquely designed solutions with determination and no small amount of courage. Their journey begins with an American law student kidnapped by an evil man who runs a sex slave trafficking operation. It ends with justice served. Five lawyers, five books, five heart-stopping adventures. They are the pinnacle of romantic suspense. Because, sometimes, love is the only thing that conquers the evil humans inflict on each other.

Now get the first three books in one bundle! “Snatching Dianna,” “Infamy,” and “Cult” are bundled together for only $7.50. Get this exclusive offer only at Extasy Books!

Reviews:

“To me this is one of those series that I will be reading over and over again. From the very beginning I was drawn in, it’s got action, danger, suspense, and even, romance. I can’t recommend this series and Author enough…I highly recommend reading this whole series. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what was going to happen next.” (Goodreads review)

“Seelie Kay has an unforgettable imagination, and will keep you wanting more. You can tell she brings her all, while reading this story. I love her characters, especially the strong-willed, independent women. This is a must read! Along with the rest of her Feisty Lawyers Series. Well Done Seelie Kay, Well Done.” (Goodreads review)

“This author really knows how to deliver an edgy, and dramatic story. It was heart in throat entertainment. A complicated and colourful cast filled with many events that left me gasping and wondering if I read it correctly. I was captivated and intrigued. These kinds of stories are what keep me in my happy place. They keep me entertained and out of my head. I have travelled the world and experienced every feeling and moment with theses characters. Seelie Kay has a knack for enrapturing an audience and it is a dangerously decadent state to be in, and totally addictive.” (Goodreads review)



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Friday, February 17, 2023

This week in The Loft: Author Maggie Blackbird!

Joining me today in The Loft is fellow eXtasy author Maggie Blackbird. Maggie writes romance that features Canada's indigenous people. An Ojibway from Northwestern Ontario, she resides in the country with her husband and their fur babies, two Alaskan Malamutes. When Maggie isn't writing, she can be found pulling weeds in her flower beds, mowing her huge lawn, walking her dogs deep in the bush, teeing up a ball on the golf course, fishing for walleye, or sitting on the deck at her sister’s house.

Avatar for author Maggie Blackbird

S:  Welcome back, Maggie! How do you get in the mood for writing? 

M:  I have a set schedule I stick to. Mornings before, I walk the dogs, then I work on writing-related projects. Once I return with the dogs, it’s time to write.

S:  I am on the opposite end of the spectrum. I write when I'm inspired. Then I write until the words run out. Otherwise, I move on to other things.

Have you ever shelved or thrown out a manuscript? 

M:  I have eight manuscripts I've shelved. They weren’t good enough. I wrote them in the late 90s and early 2000s to destress inside my hotel room, since I traveled tons for my job. I don’t see it as a waste. I had lots of fun writing those books.

S:  Who knows? You might go back to one of them for inspiration someday.

If you had to do it all over again, would you still choose to write books?

M:  I sure would. I enjoy what I’m doing. Does it feel like a job some days? Of course, it does. There are times where I don’t want to write, and I don’t want to go near the computer. But it’s what I do, so I get my butt in the chair and work.

S:  Complete this sentence: “When one of my books is released, I….”

M:  “…am already knee deep in another book that I’m writing.”

S:  What inspired "Back Where You Belong?"

M:  This book started as a short story, but I liked the characters so much, I gave them their own novel. I felt what they had to say couldn’t be covered in a short story.

Here's the blurb--

He rejected love the first time. Now he wants a second chance.

After having his love tossed back in his face, Hudson Suggashie has eliminated the word trust from his dictionary. Since his return to his Ojibway community, his suspicions are running high, all because one man is hinting at a second chance—the too-gorgeous and sexy ball-crusher who turned Hudson’s world to black fifteen years ago.

Stephen Brandt knows he screwed up big time when he rejected Hudson’s love, and he’ll do anything to win him back, even if it means being a mere bed buddy to the man whose love he aches to reclaim.

The longer the former best friends engage in their no-strings affair, they want something more—what they lost as teenagers. But Hudson isn’t about to open his heart again, leaving a desperate Stephen searching for a way to earn back the trust he broke, or for the second time, they’ll lose the greatest love either has ever experienced.


S:  I love second chance romance stories! Where can readers buy "Back Where You Belong?"

M:  It's available at all major booksellers, including--

eXtasy Books:  https://www.extasybooks.com/Back-Where-You-Belong

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Friday, February 10, 2023

This week in The Loft: Asian-Australian Author Birdie Song!

Joining me today in The Loft is author Birdie Song. An Asian-Australian writer from Perth, Western Australia on Whadjuk-Noongar country, Birdie pens sweet contemporary romance featuring hopeful characters and optimistic endings. She believes love is more important than labels, integrity is a person's most attractive quality, and that no one should be judged for putting pineapple on a pizza. When not writing, she tends to a veggie garden and reads a variety of books, hoping to one day understand the meaning of life.

Avatar for Birdie Song

S:  Welcome to The Loft, Birdie! I'm so happy you could stop by.

Do you believe in love at first sight? 

B:  Yes! I've experienced the Instant Love trope first hand, and know other long-term couples whose romances began with love at first sight. Sometimes, this makes me feel like I've been let in on a little secret, especially when I hear naysayers call it unrealistic. It's important to know that this is just one way a relationship can begin, and nothing's guaranteed. Every relationship, regardless of how it starts, takes commitment from everyone involved to make it work.

S:  Every love story is different, from beginning to end. I've experienced love at first sight as well as other trope-like beginnings, but how we met never predicted the outcome. 

Critics say romance novels mislead readers about the reality of romance and in fact, give readers false expectations. Do you agree?

B:  That doesn't make sense to me. Like, it doesn't seem like a rational or logical claim. Consider that there's no one-size-fits-all template for how relationships should be, at least not in my experience. So it's hard to point to something and say, this is a universal reality for everyone. That said, I do think romance fiction can help a reader set standards for what they're willing to accept in a relationship. It's not wrong to want a supportive partner who shows up and makes an effort for you. What would it say about the state of human society if we're fine with calling something like this a false expectation?

S:  Do you think romance books have become “too spicy?”

B:  No, not at all! I think it's far too easy to pick up something too spicy for what you were in the mood for, but that's more a problem of inadequate book labelling or poorly thought-out marketing. In that vein, I really appreciate it when books come with clear labeling of contents, whether they're spicy or not.

S:  You are definitely right about the labeling. I get pretty disgusted when I think I'm getting a tame romantic suspense story and instead, get a big dose of erotica with little suspense. 

How do you get in the mood for writing?

B:  For a long time, I tried to approach writing with discipline and time management, but ended up burnt out and hating myself and my work, and not getting that much writing done in the process. These days, I use a system that prioritizes deliberate self-care and self-maintenance. It's still a work in progress, because I'm learning to fight some unhealthy workaholic habits. But when my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual energies are all topped up, I'm much happier and healthier, and the words just seem to flow.

S:  I am like you. I don't do well with strict schedules. I need to write when inspired. I can't force it.

Do you write in other genres?

B:  One day, I'd love to try writing mysteries or urban fantasy, but for now, I've got my heart set on finishing the sweet contemporary romances in the Somerville Downs and Somerville Stories collections.

S:  What inspired "The Guy from the Park?"

B:  You often hear that first impressions last, but I don't think that's true. I wanted to explore how two strangers might develop a mutual attraction when their first impressions are less than stellar. This short novelette kicks off with a meet ugly, then follows up with the two main characters getting to know each other through brief encounters. It's more about fleeting glimpses than forced proximity, and what exchanges can compel people to overcome their prejudices and differences.

S:  Is there anything special you would like people to know about "The Guy from the Park?"

B:  Like the rest of the Somerville books, "The Guy from the Park" is set in my beautiful home city of Perth or, rather, in a lovely unnamed municipality inspired by where I grew up. We're lucky to be surrounded by nature here, even in urban environments. I worry every day about climate change taking this away from us, and wanted to preserve a little of it in this book.

Here's the blurb--

Summer days and new beginnings.

Off the back of a bad breakup, Sabrina Chen is getting her act together. But reinventing yourself isn’t easy at twenty-four, especially when you don’t know who you are.

For starters, does she want to be the kind of person who fancies that grumpy random guy from the park? Daniel Ryce certainly doesn’t seem like vision board material, but since when does life go according to plan?

The Guy from the Park is a short and sweet “meet ugly” story, set in the world of Somerville Downs.


S:  That sounds like a delightful story. Where can readers buy your book?

B:  It's available at--



S:  Birdie, thanks for joining me today. If you'd like to learn more about Birdie and her books, please visit--
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Monday, February 6, 2023

Spread the love on Valentine's Day!




When politics interferes with love, can love survive?

Getting married isn’t easy when your father’s the President of the United States! After reluctantly agreeing to a White House wedding, Sarah Lee Pearson, the president’s daughter, finds herself swept into a political maelstrom of unimagined proportions.

The White House staff and the first lady see the wedding as a political event, a way to sweep the president into his next term. Congress is complaining about the collateral costs. The media is delightfully rehashing every aspect of Sarah’s life, even those events that have nothing to do with the impending marriage. And the American public? Visions of an American royal wedding have swept them into a frenzy and vendors take advantage, making a quick buck off of everything from limited edition t-shirts to commemorative teacups.

Sarah and her fiancé, Sam, fight hard to ignore the craziness, but after learning a bounty has been put on their heads by an anti-government militia group, they have to decide whether a White House wedding is indeed worth it. And given all the hurtful controversy, perhaps a better solution is to not get married at all.

Now 40% off ($1.80) at eXtasy Books!

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Friday, February 3, 2023

This week in The Loft: Author J. Arlene Culiner!

Joining me today in The Loft is author J. Arlene Culiner. She writes mysteries, history books, and what she calls, "Perfectly believable romances," filled with funny and gutsy heroines, and dashing, loveable heroes, all over the age of 40. Arlene resides in a 400-year-old former inn in a French village, but previously lived in a Hungarian mud house, a Bavarian castle, a Turkish cave-dwelling, on a Dutch canal, and in a haunted house on the English moors. In addition to working as a writer, she has held jobs as a photographer, social critical artist, musician, and occasional actress. Born in New York and raised in Toronto, Arlene has crossed much of Europe on foot.

Author J. Arlene Culiner

S:  Welcome back to The Loft, Arlene! 

What is the best/worst thing that has ever happened to you as a writer?

A:  Crossing the country for book talks and having no one show up. This has happened to me several times. With hindsight, these failures eventually become funny stories, but when they’re happening, they’re pretty dreary.

S:  I imagine that would be pretty disappointing. 

What was your worst date ever?

A:  I remember it quite clearly although it took place many, many years ago. I must have been 16 or 17, and I had been asked out by the handsomest, most desirable boy in school. He was tall, blond, suave, and he dated the most popular girls. Why me? I was so overwhelmed by him that, caught in the grip of shyness and terror, I couldn’t say one word. It was a terrible evening. Of course, he never asked me out again.

S:  Ah, teenage regrets. Funny how they plague us years later.

What attracted you to your current partner?

A:  He seemed so calm and so intelligent. I listened to him discussing art and politics and history, and I thought, “Yes, that’s exactly the man I want.” After that, he didn’t stand a chance! How could he resist me?

S:  Do you read reviews? 

A:  Yes, I do read reviews. They can be helpful, pointing out things that I should correct. When the reviews are silly, I just shake my head. But what is most annoying is when it’s obvious that the reviewer hasn’t really read the book.

S:  I have a reviewer troll who always gives my books the lowest rating possible. Logically, I know she's not reading the books, because if she hates them so much, why continue reading? Ugh.

What’s the best advice you have ever been given?

A:  To take more time off. To stop sitting in front of my computer for more than a few hours each day. There are so many other things I can do, and they make my life richer. Why be a compulsive writer? Also, if a manuscript doesn’t please a publisher or an editor and they want me to change too many things, then I shouldn’t be working with them.

S:  What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A:  Winning the Tannenbaum Prize for Canadian history for one of my non-fiction books.

S:  Congratulations. That is an honor.

What inspired "A Room in Blake’s Folly?"

A:  I wanted to write a romance in which I would present the Far West as it really was — not the mythical place of films and adventure books—but the real one. I also love writing about people who are different, who don’t really fit into mainstream society, who challenge the status quo and take risks. What better setting for such people than a silver boomtown in Nevada?

S: Is there anything special you would like people to know about "A Room in Blake’s Folly?"

A:  In "A Room in Blake’s Folly," readers will find the prostitutes and dance hall ladies of the Far West. As one former prostitute says, “What possibilities did we have? A few of us had received only the poorest education, others, none at all. Some had been brutalized by family members, by employers, or were abandoned by lovers, and most of us had young children to support.” There are also cowboys, and they are far from the cowboys of myth for, in reality, a cowboy was a laborer on horseback whose job it was to herd and transport cattle from ranch to market. Some were European immigrants, others were Mexicans, American Natives, Civil War soldiers; one quarter of cowboys were freed ex-slaves. A cowboy’s life was hard, and most died young. Earning only enough for food, a place to sleep, and a small amount of spending money, wearing the same clothes for weeks, their broad Stetsons protected them from the sun and served as water bowls for themselves and their horses.

Here's the blurb--

If only the walls could speak…

In one hundred and fifty years, Blake’s Folly, a silver boomtown notorious for its brothels, scarlet ladies, silver barons, speakeasies, and divorce ranches, has become a semi-ghost town. Although the old Mizpah Saloon is still in business, its upper floor is sheathed in dust. But in a room at a long corridor's end, an adventurer, a beautiful dance girl, and a rejected wife were once caught in a love triangle, and their secret has touched three generations.


S:  As a history buff, that sounds like an intriguing tale! 

Where can readers buy "A Room in Blake's Folly?"

A:  Purchase links are available at https://books2read.com/BlakesFollyRomance.

S:  Arlene, thanks so much for joining me today. You can learn more about Arlene and her books at--

at 1 comment:
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