#Beach, #Babes, and #Dogs by Brenda Whiteside

Daddy then

After spending four days in Seal Beach, California, I wonder why I haven't set one of my books in a beach setting. We lived in Santa Barbara when FDW went to Brooks Institute of Photography so it isn't that I don't know the beach. If I didn't already have five books percolating in my head that will be set in a western, reborn ghost town, I would. I'm sure something is going to pop into my writer's brain, and I'll have to tuck it away for the future.

Daddy now

Spending time on the California coast always brings back memories. Our son was a toddler and hard to keep out of the water. Now it's a granddaughter who has her father's love of the ocean.

Xena and Gabby 

Our dog, Shadow, a black lab loved the water as much as our son. Grown up son has two dogs that thoroughly enjoyed the dog beach.

When we walked by this bright blue VW Bus, I was taken back to the purple one we owned. We traveled up the coast for over a month in the bus
with plush purple carpet, velvet curtains, and a dashboard I painted with flowers and the words "this is the first day of the rest of our lives."

Remember when

Yeah, I'm going to have to revisit a seaside story. Just thinking about it, I smell the salty air and hear the crash of the waves.

Until then:
The fifth book in my Love and Murder Series, set in central and northern Arizona will release worldwide on June 18. The Deep Well of Love and Murder is a romantic suspense you'll enjoy. See all of my books here on my AMAZON PAGE.

Journey or Path to the #Editing Insane Asylum by Brenda Whiteside

I've shared a couple of Journey of a Novel tales with you. The word journey implies to me a bit of work, but a path of joy and satisfaction at the end...my experience until now. I'm here to tell you, today, that ever so often the journey is more of a treacherous trek.

The Deep Well of Love and Murder, the fifth and final book of my Love and Murder Series, is a hard fought labor of creation. I think I posted about the deep well of funk I wallowed in during the writing of it. When I finally, with great effort, wrote the end, and sent it off to my editor I received back what is now a funny response. "Brenda, are you okay? Don't take this wrong, but after reading the first three chapters, I have to ask if there's anything wrong." Yeah, that bad.

But I was able to plunge in and do a rewrite which resulted in kudos from her. "Now, that's the Brenda I love to read."

Still, there were edits to do. And edits, and edits. For some reason, every time I read this book, I find more. I thought I did my last (and third round). My editor sees it differently. Her email today said since I found so many needed corrections, I'll need to read it again. That sound is me banging my head on the wall.

I'm going to share a few of my last finds with you. Keep in mind, I had already read the book four times, and I still managed to find these. And this wasn't all I found. How is that possible??!

Page 87 line 23

Ah hell, who knows? I’ll wring the son of bitch’s neck when I find out who he is.” 

Left out the word a. 

Ah hell, who knows? I’ll wring the son of a bitch’s neck when I find out who he is.”

Page 205 line 8

Nearly as still as a statue, only his chest moved with a shallow breath, he studied her. 

The word while left out and no need for comma. 

Nearly as still as a statue, only his chest moved with a shallow breath while he studied her.

Page 298 line 13

Another buck of her hips took her breath away from the pain. 

Words in wrong order. 

Another buck of her hips and the pain took her breath away. 

Page 337 line 28

fingers across his chest, and reveled in his thumping heart beating their rhythm on her palms. 

Their should be the. 

fingers across his chest, and reveled in his thumping heart beating the rhythm on her palms.

So...I'll be getting another galley to read. I'm beginning to think this book will never get published. On the other hand, I'm glad I have a patient yet hard-nosed agent behind me.

You have time to check out the first four books in the Love and Murder Series: CLICK HERE

Those Good Distractions by Brenda Whiteside

We writers often speak of distractions that keep us from writing. I like to think I can write through most anything. I'm not saying how good my prose is when I'm in the throes of life's complications, but I shoulder on. MOST of the time. These last few weeks, not even yours truly could get a word down on paper.

A game of Jenga on Thanksgiving

If left alone, regardless of what ails me or is disrupting my mental calm, I write. What I like to call physical distractions are another story. Our RV is only a year old and we've had problems from day one. We're supposed to be at the RV ranch mixing it up with our winter visitor friends, but the RV had some issues and we had to take it to Prescott which is two and a half hours away. It turned into a week of frustration. While in Prescott we stay with Mom, sister, and brother-in-law. They are what I mean by physical distractions. Although my mom is my biggest fan and can't wait until my next book comes out, she doesn't quite get it that it won't happen unless I have time to write. Family...got to love them.

We barely got the RV parked and we were off to our son's home for Thanksgiving. It's a short,

She cooked it all plus pies!

wonderful holiday and I wouldn't even want to write. We've had a great time, and I'm particularly thankful I have a daughter-in-law who likes to cook because mom-in-law doesn't. She did every little thing for our feast. I was tasked with playing with my granddaughter. Oh what a job. LOL

We'll head back to the RV ranch today, but it will be at least two days before any writing gets done. There's tons to unpack and set up. AND I'll miss all my wonderful distractions called family!

Looking for a good book to read between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Or maybe a Christmas present? Books are the best kind of present. Look here:
Brenda's Amazon Author Page

Love and Murder Sale by Brenda Whiteside

My books don't go on sale often, so an announcement is in order. Book two, Southwest of Love and Murder and book four, The Power of Love and Murder in the popular Love and Murder Series have been reduced from $4.99 to $1.99 each on most all sites where eBooks can be found. Click on either of these to take advantage:

The Wild Rose Press - Brenda Whiteside
Amazon - Brenda Whiteside

This sale will end November 16th. Happy reading!

SOUTHWEST OF LOVE AND MURDER

Mystery writer, Phoebe Anderson, owes her success to killing her first husband on paper seventeen years earlier. Now, someone has actually done it. When she decides to take a few days away on the ranch of her best friend’s brother-in-law, she doesn’t expect romance to find her...or murder to follow her.

Mason Meadowlark is happy with his wild cowboy ways, avoiding love since the death of his baby and the end of his marriage twenty years ago. When Phoebe shows up, he fights to control his emotions, but soon wonders if she just might be worth the risk of opening his heart again. 

With an obsessed fan close on her heels, Phoebe is thrown into her own murder mystery…and the next target on his list is Mason.

Undercover Book Reviews

WOW!!!...a ride you sure as heck don’t see coming!

Long and Short Reviews

Southwest of Love and Murder is a very enjoyable book. Although it is book two in a series, it can definitely stand on its own. I recommend it to anyone looking for a romantic suspense with a sexy hero and a sassy heroine.

THE POWER OF LOVE AND MURDER

For thirteen years, Penny Sparks has managed to hide from the political powers who murdered her family. When she unwittingly exposes her true identity, not only is she marked for death, but the people closest to her risk meeting the same fate. 

Jake Winters is out of rehab and coming to grips with his demons. When he meets his sister’s roommate, Jake believes Penny might be that someone who can help him find life after rock star status…until her secrets blow up his world. 

With a government agent turned hit man closing in on her, Penny and Jake race to expose the presidential contender behind the murders of her family. Even if they win the race with death, the murder that stands between them could end their hope for a new life.

N N LIGHT REVIEWS

If you’re a fan of romantic suspense, this is a must read. If you’re a fan of suspense and/or political thrillers, you’ll love it!

KAM’S PLACE REVIEWS 

Like the other "Love and Murder" books in the series, Brenda crafted a story full of mystery, corruption, bit of romance, and ended it all with a happily ever after.

I blog right here on the 9th and 24th of every month. You can also find me:
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WHO THE HECK IS THAT IN THE MIRROR? by Brenda Whiteside

Two things are on my mind today: 1) I need a new author promo photo 2) the last book in my Love and Murder series is forming on the page with some difficulty.

FDW is going to try to capture the real me with his camera today. I say try, because what I see as me in the mirror and what the camera translates that into, never match. The studio shot I use right now is more than a few years old. I don’t think I look much different, but the camera always does. I lay the blame on FDW. His first degree was in photography so he should be able to work magic just pushing the button. Right? We tried a shoot, outside, a couple of days ago, and out of at least one hundred shots, one is a possibility. I can’t keep my eyes open in the light of day, so I'm all squinchy-eyed in all of them. Today, we’ll try some inside poses. I really hate this. But I feel quite dishonest using a photo that is so outdated. Wish me luck.

The Deep Well of Love and Murder, book five and the last of the Love and Murder Series, is now approaching chapter six. My doubts are starting earlier than usual. I normally have a bout of insecurity later in the process. I wonder if the plot is thick enough, are the characters deep enough, is the villain one the reader loves to hate, and so on. Maybe because it’s the last book, I’m having an end of series let down. Yesterday, a reader told me that The Power of Love and Murder made her cry. That made me perfectly happy. To my knowledge, I’ve never made anyone cry with my storytelling. What a compliment! And the bar is now higher for book five!!

All the Love and Murder books can be found on my Amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Brenda-Whiteside/e/B003V15WF8/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

THE POWER OF LOVE AND MURDER

AIN'T LIVE GRAND? by Brenda Whiteside

I'm writing this post two days ahead, sitting in a McDonald's with blurry eyes, and having a tough time blotting out all the hubbub around me. But I won't have access to the Internet as we help our son and family settle in Colorado in two days. And my hotspot is about out of data.

How the heck did things get crazy enough for this? I've asked myself that many times over the course of my adult life...at least since I've been married. And since I was a baby when I got married, that question has always been a joint query with my husband. We've reinvented ourselves several times. Looks like we're off on another adventure.

We've been city folk most of our lives. And we've had one heck of a good time living in six states and two countries, sharing life with all makes and models of friends and acquaintances. We've lived in a variety of domiciles from a funky little apartment in the back of a condemned house, to a three story one hundred year old German farmhouse, to a beautiful home with a view of the Pacific...except you had to hold down anything breakable when the trains went by.

Boating with the granddaughter

Most recently, we transitioned to farm life on an Arizona prairie. It lasted three years...sharing the home and land with our son and his family. Well, the farmer left! The farm didn't make enough money before he received an offer he couldn't refuse.

So, here we are again. Everyone keeps asking us "what's next?" We don't have an answer yet. I know I'll keep writing. My husband knows he won't be too far from fishing waters. Beyond that, we're still figuring it out. Some of my more, um, stable friends, shake their heads at me. "How do you do it?" "Why are you so calm about not knowing?" "How can you just up and go somewhere else?" It's all about the adventure. We don't mind change. Gosh...I don't have to worry about getting bored! And another adventure is bound to give me more fodder for my books.

Last ride for farmer and farmer's daughter

Ain't life grand?!
P.S. You know if I don't answer your comments right away, it's a lack of Internet.








Don't miss my Love and Murder Series. Romantic Suspense you won't be able to put down!
Visit my Amazon Author Page

MAKE A PLAN AND HEAR GOD LAUGH by Brenda Whiteside

My son was the first one to spout this at me: Make a plan and hear God laugh. I've repeated this to myself many times over the years. It's appropriate for my current situation.

I decided to Google the words and see where they originated. I should've known...Woody Allen is attributed except his words were "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." I love Woody Allen humor. As a person, well, I'll leave that alone, but his movies have always entertained me.

What I find even more humorous is all of the analysis his words have spawned. There are whole articles written on them and some are quite critical. They tear apart his original statement, dissecting all eleven words as if Woody had implied some deep psychological or philosophical wisdom. Maybe I don't see it that way because I've never applied them to life-threatening moments in my life. If a loved one is sick or teetering on the edge of disaster, his words do not come to mind. Personally, I don't think Woody meant them that way. I don't believe God is just sitting on the edge of his seat waiting for us to think we've got life nailed and then he roars because  he's in control and stirs up trouble.

Months ago friends from Minnesota took us up on an invitation, and they're coming for a week to visit. I am so happy. We haven't seen them in three years. And the timing was perfect. I thought. Then...found out my latest novel is releasing that week, we need to get the farm ready to sell, my son and family are moving to Colorado that week, and my mom has a medical test. See? He's chuckling. 

Brenda and her husband are gypsies at heart having lived in six states and two countries. Currently, they split their time between the prairie in Northern Arizona and the RV life. At home or in the RV, she spends most of her time writing stories of discovery and love entangled with suspense.

Visit Brenda at www.brendawhiteside.com.

Or on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/brendawhitesid2

She blogs on the 9^th and 24^th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com

She blogs about life’s latest adventure on her personal blog http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author Page: amzn.to/1THrngg

Goodreads Author Page: bit.ly/1U1lDxo

REPEATING MY LOVE FOR THE VILLAIN by Brenda Whiteside

It's been one of those weeks. If you're an author and a blogger that means you really got caught up in the personal drama of life and got no writing accomplished. This is my normal day to post on The Roses and as I'm heading out the door for some doctor appointments, I remembered. If you haven't read this post before, then yay, it's new for you. If you have, I'm sorry. This post was previously posted on my blog Discover Yourself.

Everyone loves a hero! He's willing to put himself in the line of danger; he'll do anything to keep his lady safe and always knows the perfect thing to say.

But let’s not overlook the villain. Personally, I love the bad guy…or woman. Without the villain, the hero doesn’t look nearly as good. Without the villain, you wouldn’t have someone to hate and route against.

The reason I love villains is because they’re so much fun to write. They can be ugly or gorgeous, short or tall, male or female, educated or ignorant, young or old. I’ve used just about all the varieties.

In my first contemporary romance,

Sleeping with the Lights On, I had a villain. This book couldn’t technically be called romantic suspense…there was just too much humor. The redheaded, voluptuous, Amazon of a woman made a great villain. She stalked and threatened poor Sandra to distraction. The reader really isn’t sure of what wickedness she is capable. This villain has very few words and intimidates with actions. There’s a real surprise ending in Sleeping with the Lights On, so enough said.

My romantic suspense Love and Murder Series, is rich with an assortment of villains. Book one in the series has a host of nasty characters; money grubbing step aunt, idiot

Book One

step cousin, jealous woman, deceitful historical museum curator, and the elderly but handsome and wicked professor. One of these characters is the truly evil villain…love does drive some people to craziness.

Book Two

Book two in the Love and Murder Series, Southwest of Love and Murder, has a villain that is both stupid and cunning at the same time. You won’t wonder for long who the villain is, but you will be biting nails on who he’s offing next. I will say, he uses colorful language and his bizarre thought process is intriguing. Love gone crazy in a wicked way.

A Legacy of Love and Murder, book three, will release worldwide on March 30,

Book Three

2016. I think I’ve upped the ante on villainous antics with these badies. I certainly do not want to give away the villain right now. As with most of my books, because they’re suspense not mystery, you won’t be hung up too long on who the villain is. But let’s keep the secret until you read. I will shoot out a couple of words: sexy, neo-Nazi, and pure wickedness.

Ah, villains…you gotta love them!

Find all of Brenda's books and her villains here: Brenda's Amazon Page

MY AUSTRIAN CONNECTION by Brenda Whiteside

Way back, a long time ago, I lived in Germany for three years. I fell in love with the Alps, the mountain range that belongs to several countries including Austria. A couple of trips to Austria, and I fell in love with Austria, too. And the people. What warm, friendly people!

Hartmut and his wife Uli in Austria

Fast forward to 2016, and I have a book releasing worldwide on March 30, which just happens to be set in Austria. A Legacy of Love and Murder is the third book in my Love and Murder Series.

My love of Austria, and my memories lent much to the story, but I would’ve been lost if it hadn’t been for a special Austrian friend of mine. Not only did he correct my German (the primary language of the Austrian people), helped me with so many other details such as food and dress and geography, but he also supplied me with his name for one of my characters, Hartmut.

I didn’t meet Hartmut when we visited Austria. Harte, came to us years later as one of the hockey players on the Austrian team that played in the Easter Tournament along with my son’s team. We boarded the players, and Harte was placed with us. We became fast friends. It was as if I’d known this young man all of my life. Over the years, he’s visited us several times, and my husband and I visited him and his family in Austria. Such good memories.

I hope my love of his country comes through in my words.

The Art of Love and Murder, Book One is set in Flagstaff, Arizona

Southwest of Love and Murder, Book Two is set in Chino Valley, Arizona

A Legacy of Love and Murder, Book Three is set in Austria

Coming 2016/17

The Power of Love and Murder, Book Four is set in Flagstaff, Arizona

The Deep Well of Love and Murder, Book Five is set in Chino Valley, Arizona

Find all of my books here: 
Amazon 
The Wild Rose Press 

Thankfully Charmed (in spite of my husband's opinion)

This time of year, people want to know for what are you thankful. The first thing that pops into my head is family. Although my maternal and paternal grandparents had rather large families, seven children on both sides, my immediately family is small. I am one of three children and each of us had one son. We’re small and close.

I tell my husband, we live a charmed life. He shakes his head; but honestly, I think we do. Not that we haven’t had our share of heartache, loss of loved ones, sickness, and financial woes. Cancer has taken parents from us. A couple of us live with conditions that flare and make daily life tough. We've known addiction and loneliness, too. The economy and bad decisions have caused some mighty lean times on both sides of our family. 

But we hang together, take comfort in each other, and come through with laughter. Laughter is a big component in our family. We laugh easily. I remember going to a Woody Allen movie years ago and the only people laughing throughout were my brother, sister and me. My mom, sister and I have taken a few road trips together. We can get lost on a Los Angeles freeway and laugh our heads off.

Each member of my family has been an inspiration for a character in my books...and not in the mushy, inspirational kind of way. My mom and dad are found in Post-War Dreams. My sister is the fun heroine in Sleeping with the Lights On. My brother has his part in the book I'm currently writing, The Power of Love and Murder. Some of my son's characteristics are found in the hero in The Art of Love and Murder. I guess I'm glad I have some real characters in my family!

My husband and I have recently ended another chapter of our life and as we begin the next, as of yet unknown, I know that no matter what life deals us, our charmed existence and loving family will be along for the ride. 

For what are you thankful?

Although she didn’t start out to write romantic suspense, Brenda has found all good stories involve complicated human relationships. She’s also found no matter a person’s age, a new discovery is right around every corner. Whether humorous or serious, straight contemporary or suspense, all her books revolve around those two facts.

Visit Brenda at www.brendawhiteside.com.

Or on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/BrendaWhitesideAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/brendawhitesid2

She blogs on the 9^th and 24^th of every month at http://rosesofprose.blogspot.com

She blogs about writing and prairie life at http://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/