Alexa Bourne...a wild woman

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 2^nd draft.  I write anywhere and everywhere. I usually write my 1^st drafts on paper and then type it up as I work on the 2^nd 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 3^rd 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

Website: http://www.alexabourne.com

Blog: http://alexabourne.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlexaBourne

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexaBourne

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5818611.Alexa_Bourne

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Simple-Treasures-Honor-Series-ebook/dp/B00ASDELAE/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1356318198&sr=1-1

Decadent Publishing: http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=695&osCsid=c4f503tisneu0ck64d4qbfspb7

Marketing then. Marketing now.

                                                         

How in the world did Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle get known?  Come on. They didn't have Internet, Twitter, Pinterest, blogs,Facebook, Linked-in, Google+. How'd they do it?
...

My only guess is by word of mouth. One person told another person who told another person. They chatted with him. Argued. Challenged.Same as today only we use Facebook, Google+ to tell our friends. Right?
                                                   

         

I've also read that the advertising world is taking second-fiddle to this word-of-mouth marketing strategy as Plato's friends word-of-mouth. Friends telling friends. It's been said that that is the best form of marketing. . So maybe things are so different between than and now. 

But is advertising a new concept? 

 I don't think so.

 Okay, maybe they didn't have television, radio talk shows, computers, and Google+, but they did have parchment or fliers that announced the coming gladiator games posted around Rome

 

And maybe their news came from a town crier who stood on a stage and read the news like our newscasters do nightly. 

So I guess we all still like hearing the 'goings-on' in the world around us. And we still like to talk. Don't we?

We just found new waves to do it.  So keep talking, debating, arguing, discussing,
 my friends.
But be nice to each other. Okay?

Oh,and be sure to tell everyone about your favorite authors.  (Me. Right?) We need your help with that word-of-mouth marketing strategy to really work.  Like us on Facebook and Amazon. Pin our book covers on Pinterest. Tweet our book titles.Tell everyone on any social media you have about how you absolutely loved our stories.

And we will love you forever
And ever
I promise.

Finally home. Yes I mean it. Finally Really

Okay, Yes I'm finally home. HOME. 

Lots have happened since my last blog. I came home from Massachusetts and planned to settle in. THEN, daughter's furniture arrived later than planned and no one was there to help her...and baby. SOOOO off I went to her new house and well, went crazy.

Daughter called me a 'mad woman'.

You see, once we had a little Cocker Spaniel  who loved to dig what I called 'ankle-breakers' or little holes in the ground to twist your ankle as you walked. She smelled a mole I know and went for it. Dirt would fly. She would dig, raise her head ( snout covered with dirt) sniff again for that darn mole and back into the earth. More dirt would fly.
That was me. One box after another and packing paper would fly. However, night one-we slept in beds covered with sheets and blankets. Day two, she had the beginning of a kitchen, baby room set up, office taking shape. Day three. Done. or well enough to live and feel a sense of home. Groceries bought, laundry working and shelves done. Oh and garage cleaned up to park cars in. SUCCESS!!
However, I came home again. Exhausted. I couldn't think much less move.








Once I revived a few days later, I have managed  to get my files from my laptop to my desktop of

  Red Fury Revolt.  

book one of my Agricola series

Where Roman Britain deals with one really pissed off woman named Boudica.

No small feat because I felt I had to dig around in my programs to find where they were I do not have a sense of organization which involve computers or USB sticks. Very frustrating. Boxes are easier.
Yet, I did organize my  research on my trucker story...again and can get started back on that too.

The Highwayman. 

My mature romance that takes to the roads in a fantastic chrome plated black Peterbuilt semi.

Oh did I say I somehow managed to rearrange my office and clean it up the place so I can possibly think again.  I have really missed being heree. So tomorrow begins a new day, a new attack. Oh and yes, I have to start exercising too.

Yeah Right. 

ONWARD and wish me luck,

J