I had to make sure you met Lexi.
Like so many of us, she too is challenging her dreams in this literary world. And by the looks of things, she has a great start. I don't want you to miss out on her journey. So here she is.
Alexa Bourne
A girl. A writer and another great story for everyone to enjoy.
Howdy, I'm Alexa Bourne and I live in Texas. I’m not a southern girl, though. I grew up in New England. I love creating stories.
I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t working on something.
Seriously, even back in grade school I was writing. Even if I never got
published again I would still write stories. It calms me, makes me happy and it
just….completes me.
Alexa, what books other than your own do you enjoy reading?
I’m a
HUGE fan of Laura Griffin’s romantic suspense stories and contemporary romances
by Jill Shavis. I like reading historical romances as well, mostly set in
Scotland or Ireland. I also read outside the romance genre. David Baldacci,
John Hart and Alexander McCall Smith are some of my favorites.
Okay the big question....Pantser?
Plotter?
I consider myself a pantser. When I start a new book, I usually know
very little about it. I know who the main characters are and I have a vague
idea of the conflict. That’s it. I tell everyone I learn the plot as I write
the rough draft, which I don’t do in order. I write scenes as they come to me,
work out details for the plot and then I start piecing it all together in the 2nd
draft. I write
anywhere and everywhere. I usually write my 1st drafts on paper and
then type it up as I work on the 2nd draft. That allows me to be
anywhere and able to write. I always have a pen and a notebook in my purse!
As
much as I love my job, I would like to be a full-time author. At the moment,
I’m a full-time teacher and a full-time author. I would like to eventually be
able to concentrate on my writing instead of splitting myself down the middle! So far I
have 5 novellas out-- 3 romantic suspense stories and 2 contemporary stories. As
I mentioned before, they’re all set in the UK.
Wow, you've written a lot of fantastic stories. What is your latest creation?
SIMPLE TREASURES
my 3rd romantic suspense novella.
This story is the one I really want to talk about because it is set in Edinburgh, Scotland during the New Year’s celebration also
known as Hogmanay.
Take-charge
bodyguard Colin Munro believes working for the International Protective Network
will be the perfect occupation for him. Unfortunately, his trial assignment is
protecting a woman who has no intention of blindly following orders. Aye, he’ll
bring the bonnie lass in line because there’s no way he’ll allow her to ruin
his chance of securing his dream job.
Physically
and emotionally scarred during her stint as a U.S. soldier, Joanna Grainger
wants nothing more than to enjoy life. New Year's Eve in Edinburgh marks the
beginning of her transformation. But when she witnesses a crime no one believes
occurred, her plans come to a screeching halt. To make matters worse, her sexy
but headstrong bodyguard has no compassion for her or the victim.
As
danger hunts them during one of the busiest times of the year, Joanna must
convince Colin she's a worthy partner. But first, can she convince herself?
Excerpt:
Joanna
bolted upright. Darkness wrapped her in its hideous embrace. And silence
reigned. Her heart raced. She flattened her hands on the mattress beneath her.
Mattress.
Bed. Colin’s hotel room.
Rustling
sounds came from the floor. The bedside lamp flickered on. Colin propped
himself up, one knee bent and an arm dangling over it. He squinted against the
brightness. “Are you all right?”
“I’m
sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.” She brushed her fingers under her eyes.
“Don’t be
daft, lass.”
“I had a
bad dream.” She smoothed her hair back off her face. Moisture beaded at her
temples.
“Here we
call it a nightmare.” He smiled, and at once she relaxed her shoulders.
“Americans
do, too.” After another deep breath, she said, “I’ll be all right.” Once her
heart rate slowed to normal. With her forearm, she wiped perspiration from her
forehead.
He stood,
padded into the bathroom, and ran the faucet. When he returned, he sat beside
her, tucked his finger under her chin, and pressed the cloth to her cheek. The
cool moisture soothed her burning skin.
She
reached up and covered his hand with hers. “I can do that.”
“I know.”
He brushed her fingers away. “But you’ll not.”
After a
few seconds, he moved the wet towel across her forehead and to her other cheek.
When he
reached her neck, she sighed and closed her eyes for a few valuable seconds.
“Thank
you.”
His gentle
caress reminded her how much she’d missed simple comfort…from anyone.
“You’re
welcome.” The cloth soon disappeared. “Now, will you tell me what you dreamed
about?”
“Mark
Rawlings. I dreamed I was back in the train car and he was bleeding out on the
floor. The guy with him faded into the background, but I could see the man’s
hands and lips moving. I couldn’t hear anything, though. Then somebody jabbed
me with something, and my blood drained out of my body, but there was nothing I
could do. The guy standing stayed in front of me. There was another voice, but
the words were garbled.”
“Did you
see anyone else?”
“No, but
at the end I wasn’t paying attention. I was losing consciousness.” She tilted
her head to one side and into her palm. “Colin, what am I going to do if we
don’t find the professor’s attacker soon?”
“We’ll take
it one day at a time.” Strong, confident, able to leap tall buildings and
all…even in the middle of the night.
DON'T FORGET Be sure to stop by my website. I’d like to offer a UK gift to one commenter! Please leave your email address in your comment and I’ll choose a winner Saturday morning! I really look forward to meeting you.
Alexa
I bet she's in Scotland here and be sure to leave a comment or two to enter her drawing
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Then two older couples began chatting about the good-ole-days when people talked and visited. Their chat ventured into stories as making bread, eating bologna sandwiches, a one-room school houses, and moms' preferring to make either homemade rolls or homemade cornbread.
I also recently learned why teenagers sitting right next to each other text each other and not communicate out loud like we had to do?
