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Beyond the Quiet
ISBN 978-1-935407-08-9
"To all of our years together," Lisa Montgomery's husband said one evening, raising his glass in a toast, "some of them good." They laughed and clicked wine glasses. But after his death, Lisa discovers he hadn't been teasing. When the contents of a secret post office box shatters her illusions about her marriage, she struggles to come to terms with his betrayal. Forced to examine her life as a wife, mother, and as a woman, she realizes her troubled childhood didn't allow her to be anything but composed and quiet. Then Terry O'Neal enters her life...
But a jealous coworker watches, wanting to destroy what he can't have.
Award-winning Beyond the Quiet shares the story of one woman's struggle though bitterness, loss, and betrayal, learning to cherish each moment and follow her long-buried dreams. It's the story of how a quiet, passionless widow becomes spirited enough to climb onto her lover's shoulders for a piggyback ride in the nude.
But a jealous coworker watches, wanting to destroy what he can't have.
Award-winning Beyond the Quiet shares the story of one woman's struggle though bitterness, loss, and betrayal, learning to cherish each moment and follow her long-buried dreams. It's the story of how a quiet, passionless widow becomes spirited enough to climb onto her lover's shoulders for a piggyback ride in the nude.
Award-winning Beyond the Quiet shares the story of one woman's struggle though bitterness, loss, and betrayal, learning to cherish each moment and follow her long-buried dreams. It's the story of how a quiet, passionless widow becomes spirited enough to climb onto her lover's shoulders for a piggyback ride in the nude.
Ten Times Guilty
ISBN# 978-1935407553
. . . about a single mother's struggle for worth after a vicious attack. It's about a police sergeant seeking redemption for a crime he didn't realize he had committed - until the victim died.
Tracy Michaels grew up believing her step-father, Jim Hammond, when he said she wasn't good enough, smart enough, or pretty enough. Now a single mother, she works as a tour guide in one of Denver's old Victorian museums barely making enough to survive. During long, sleepless nights in her studio apartment, she worries about stretching her meager paycheck for the basic necessities. She wants more for her life, more for Ritchie, her baby son, so she studies self-improvement and arranges longer hours at work, trying desperately to scrape together enough money to attend classes at a local tech school.
Then one night her entire world shatters. She's beaten and sexually attacked. She survives, but he's watching her, threatening Ritchie's life if she talks to the authorities.
Sergeant Reese Sanders, Denver PD, struggles through his own recovery, tormented by memories of another young victim, one who had always looked up to him--as a police officer, and as her brother. When she was attacked a year ago, she expected sympathy and comfort. But Reese had become hardened and was never able to offer understanding or anything beyond the standard platitudes.
His sister slashed her wrists.
Reese spent a year failing to drown his guilt with bourbon. Now, back on the force, he discovers his true redemption lies in finding the man responsible for his sister's attack, the same man he believes attacked Tracy. His very sanity depends on convincing her to help him bring the perpetrator to justice.
Meanwhile, the perp watches.
Even in the hospital Tracy isn't safe from his threats. She's forced to run, seeking shelter for Ritchie and herself in a safe house for battered women. With Suzy Banning's guidance, a white-haired-grandmother rape counselor who loves gaudy jewelry and sequined clothes, Tracy discovers inner strength and courage, qualities she must test when the offender finds her and demands she meet him.
Then one night her entire world shatters. She's beaten and sexually attacked. She survives, but he's watching her, threatening Ritchie's life if she talks to the authorities.
Sergeant Reese Sanders, Denver PD, struggles through his own recovery, tormented by memories of another young victim, one who had always looked up to him--as a police officer, and as her brother. When she was attacked a year ago, she expected sympathy and comfort. But Reese had become hardened and was never able to offer understanding or anything beyond the standard platitudes.
His sister slashed her wrists.
Reese spent a year failing to drown his guilt with bourbon. Now, back on the force, he discovers his true redemption lies in finding the man responsible for his sister's attack, the same man he believes attacked Tracy. His very sanity depends on convincing her to help him bring the perpetrator to justice.
Meanwhile, the perp watches.
Even in the hospital Tracy isn't safe from his threats. She's forced to run, seeking shelter for Ritchie and herself in a safe house for battered women. With Suzy Banning's guidance, a white-haired-grandmother rape counselor who loves gaudy jewelry and sequined clothes, Tracy discovers inner strength and courage, qualities she must test when the offender finds her and demands she meet him.
Plot Your Way to Publication
ISBN 9781935407256
Step-by-step instructions for building a successful storyline.
A compact writing course, this 8.5" x 11" workbook guides you from basic story idea to a solid storyline. Designed for the busy lifestyle, it's simple enough to read in one sitting, yet powerful enough to demonstrate the mysteries of story structure. My simple one-page chart templates show you what scenes are crucial to a modern novel, where they should be placed and why. Contrary to myth, a good skeleton does not inhibit a writer's imagination; instead, an accepted structure provides the exciting changes that lead to story satisfaction.
Which is what your reader expects.
Today's readers are more sophisticated than ever before, and they instinctively know and expect certain things to happen in your story. If these incidents do not occur, the reader is often left dissatisfied and disappointed. Draggy, they may think. Dull. They may have purchased your first novel, but may hesitate to buy your next.
Don't let that happen!
I've designed one-page chart templates to show you how to structure your story for the best dramatic effect. Inside this compact book, I reveal the secret about crucial turning points, also called plot points and surprises. I call them Stepping Stones because once you learn how to use them, they'll guide you through the maze of plotting.
Not only do I explain structure, I give examples of critical scenes and turning points and show you exactly where they should be placed for the best effect. I even list the scenes I created in two of my novels, TenTimes Guilty and Beyond the Quiet, on my plotting charts as illustrations to show you where I placed them and why.
If you're writing the modern novel, you must know what they are and how to use them. And, it's essential you understand where in the story they fall.
- No more dead-end storylines
- No more sagging middles
- No more expensive and time-consuming classes
- No more stalling because you don't know 'what's next!'
- No more costly, complicated software that promise but FAIL to teach you to PLOT
- No more watching your dream slip away
My simple one-page chart templates show you what scenes are crucial to a modern novel and where they should be placed.
- Use the charts over and over
- Works with any fiction genre
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Anthologies
click on covers
Recently published on Kindle:
A collection of 5 short stories:
Puddles:
With a failing marriage, a pre-teen son, and a mother with Alzheimer’s, Karen struggles with anger and helplessness. Then a stray dog enters her life.
A Southerner Moves to Minnesota
When my husband suggested moving from Denver to a northern Minnesota suburb, I wasn’t sure. Forty below zero? But sometimes life can be an adventure worth exploring, frozen lakes and all.
Am I Wife or Daughter?
Based on my struggle with my mother's care, I wrote about Carol, who agonizes over the dilemma of choosing between her mother and her husband. Then, when a life most precious is endangered, she realizes there are no choices at all.
Thoughts of Yesterday:
A mother whose grown son lives in a different state remembers his childhood on his birthday.
My Hapless Husband:
When your husband retires after twenty-four years of marriage, you expect a chance to renew your romance. Instead, his early-morning cheerfulness was too much to bear. The solution? Murder.
Other anthologies:
“Am I Wife or Daughter” is based on my own struggle with my mother's care. As in life, sometimes there are no solutions. Only choices we must make.
Note: Amazon Shorts has been discontinued. Please click here for story excerpt.
The Cuisine Scene
Inland Empire Restaurant Reviews, Including:
oppe, Chang's Dragon House, Fisherman's Market Grill, Morongo Casino Buffet, Agua Caliente Buffet, Sayaka Japanese Restaurant click here:
Author's Den
For archived short stories and features,
click here:
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Restaurant Reviews
Short Stories & Features
