Gotta Love The Sweet Spot, And Other News by Margo Hoornstra

Right now I'm at that sweet spot in my current work in progress. Coming into the home stretch to push through the soggy middle and have it completed. Ready to type THE END. In the next few weeks, anyway. Followed, of course, by edits and rewrites then even more edits and rewrites.

True, I do have a ways to go, but I am pumped.

Thanks to the universe et al, I'm cruising right along with On The Make, Brothers in Blue Book 3. I know who the bad guy(s) is/are, I know what happens to whom and why. For the most part, anyway. After all, I am a pantser. However, I do know exactly how my hero and heroine reach their Happy Ever After.

Not to brag or anything, **wink, wink** but the other day I wrote virtually from sunrise to sunset and beyond, and logged an impressive (I think anyway) three thousand plus words. I even wrote most of the final chapter. I'll admit, a little out of sequence, which drives some, I should say one, linearphobic critique partner I know bonkers...but I digress.

As nice as it is to be finishing this one, there are still those Brothers in Blue Books 1 and 2, On The Surface and On The Force respectively. It's promo time for those. Especially OTF, whose release date is fast approaching. (October 29, to be exact.)

On The Force

Since we've all come to the conclusion blogs don't necessarily sell books, I'm not heavily involved in a blog tour or anything. But. to promote On The Force,  I am going to make an appearance, as I noted here not too long ago, on the widely read blog Just Romantic Suspense. My dates are November 7 and 8. A reader's format choice copy of On The Surface is my Giveaway Prize.

On The Surface

Thank you, by the way, fellow Rose Buds and others for the wise counsel and always valuable suggestions for tweaking my post to make it more interesting, so I can make the most of my time there.

Another promo event I have going on is a local book signing on Thursday, November 15th from 1-7 PM. The Great Escape: A Deer Widows Expo at the Saranac Public Library in Saranc, Michigan. It's a townwide shopping event with vendors, artisans and authors. This will be my fourth, or maybe it's my fifth time participating, and I've always had good luck, as in many sales, at this event. It's an added plus to be able to get in some shopping myself. Fellow Rose Diane Burton will be there with me. (If nothing else, we can enjoy each other's company if things happen to slow down some.)

In and around that, there's On The Make to wrap up. So I guess I'd better get busy, huh?

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my website at www.margohoornstra.com

How to Kill a Character, Let Me Count the Ways by Margo Hoornstra

Right now, I'm deep in the soggy middle of, On The Make, my latest work in progress. Book 3 in my Brothers in Blue series, and going down fast.

In a nutshell, my heroine is pregnant and someone does not want that baby born at any and all costs. In fact, they'll even resort to murder to prevent it.

So far, she's survived being run off a steep embankment in her car.

And I plan to have her shot at soon in a faked robbery attempt.

Other than that, what else can I use to hasten her demise? In the covert, we want this to look like an accident realm.

Any ideas?

On the other hand, out and out murder may not be the answer at all. Maybe a series of less obvious lethal mishaps would suffice. A severe fall here, hit by a car there.

What do you think?

While you're helping me come up with ways to do in my heroine, here's a free download of a murder mystery short story I wrote based on a radio script my father once wrote. (To those of you who have seen this before, I apologize.)

Hearts and Flowers

Manhunt was a radio show broadcast out of Detroit based on police files of actual cases. "The story you are about to see is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent."

Yeah, that show was the forerunner of another long running television show titled Dragnet.

Hearts and Flowers is one of those stories.

But, if you wouldn't mind, think while you're reading. I'll be waiting for your suggestions.

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my website

#Amwriting AND Doing My #Research by Margo Hoornstra

Can you believe it? School starts around here in less than a month.

As an empty nester, the approach of that annual event doesn’t affect me quite so much now. No collections of school clothes to buy. (With four children, that was always quite the monumental undertaking.) No before and after child care to line up. (As a working mom, always an end of summer priority.)

Remember that Staples commercial – maybe it will be on again – with the gleeful parent pushing a shopping cart while clicking their heels and singing ‘It’s the most wonderful time of the year…’ I used to love that ad. Sang that song to my own children all the time too.

But, that’s not what I meant to talk about.

On The Make, Book 3 in the Brothers in Blue series is my current work in progress.

She no longer believes in heroes, or happily ever after. He's determined to prove her wrong.

The book features a recently widowed, single mom raising two adolescent boys, one who is in a particularly difficult stage of rebellion. Having raised the aforementioned four kids, I’m calling up memories of some of our more trying times to help get my creative juices flowing.

Not that any of my offspring were necessarily out and out rebellious, but we did have our moments. And thank goodness I wasn’t a single mom, but had a strong, supportive partner to navigate the sometimes choppy child raising waters with me. Such as:

1.       Those first days, weeks, months with a new driver’s license

2.       The friends they coveted who weren’t necessarily the best choice

3.       Those ‘everyone else gets to, why can’t I?’ discussions

4.       The ‘make your bed and clean your room’ requests that seem to be unheard

5.       The ‘there’s nothing to eat’ wails after a mega trip to the grocery store

6.       The eye rolls. For no particular offense, except for simply being…parental

I could go on, but you get the idea.

Again, as an empty nester, there’s a bonus in here too.  While those recollections are helpful, I get to do some real time, here and now research as well. As I watch two of those four I told you about before navigate the same issues with their offspring.

Plus, I have to say…paybacks really are very, very sweet.

How about you? What’s in your research arsenal and how do you use it?

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my  WEBSITE

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When It Comes to #Research, #KISS - Keep It Simple Stupid by Margo Hoornstra

We’ve all done it. (In other words, please tell me I’m not alone.) Research. We have a topic to explore, and think we’re going in the right direction then

**SQUIRREL**

off we go in another.

This happened to me last week as I plotted out the suspense conflict (read good versus evil) of my latest work in progress – Book 3 in the Brothers In Blue series – On The Make.

She no longer believes in heroes or happily ever after. He’s determined to prove her wrong.

**SQUIRREL**

(Sorry. Just had to throw that in there.)

Anyway, the suspense conflict revolves around the heroine’s evil ex brother in law and the contested inheritance of a piece of valuable real estate. So off I went on a relatively uncomplicated research journey. Right?

Well, actually...

**SQUIRREL**

Rights to survivor in real estate. Titles. Deeds. Joint tenancy. Joint tenants with right of survivorship JTWROS. Sole ownership. Joint ownership. Title by contract. Per Capita – by head count. Per Stirpes – by roots. Did I mention my heroine is an attorney who specializes in real estate? A professional in her own right.

**SQUIRREL**

I need, rather she needs to know these things. Right?

Then there’s the Board of Directors she has to deal with. Right? Did I mention her husband was a real estate magnate? Oh, and that he’s recently deceased? Oh, and that, unbeknownst to her, she was more a trophy wife to him than anything else. (Maybe she needs a revenge motive.)

**SQUIRREL**

Oh, and that she’s been left with two adolescent boys to raise. Not the real estate baron’s progeny BTW. So how about she hangs on to the deed evil brother in law wants to get his hands on until she gets all her late husband's affairs in order. Or she knows what her husband WANTED to do with the property and sets out to complete his legacy. Or, how about she has no clue about any of it?

Needless to say, I bounced these ideas – volleyed is more like it – off CP extraordinaire Jannine. Which resulted in a return email that began – “I hate to toss cold water on your motive…BUT, none of it makes much sense.”

Oh, dear, that’s not what I wanted to hear. But, after more back and forth, here’s the final plot point result.

Passed through generations, the eldest child inherits the property. OR, upon the eldest child's death, a younger sibling, BARRING a direct decedent of said eldest child. So...if my heroine got pregnant before her husband died...

**SQUIRREL**

Oh, but the hero needs to be involved. (Almost forgot about him.) He’s a cop moonlighting as a super hero in a movie being filmed on location at the property in question – rather contention. She meets him through one of her boys. But, now there needs to be a secret baby/accidental pregnancy tossed into the mix. Of course with said hero involved or where's the 'romance that can never be?' Oh, no, that calls for a one-night stand. And, danger, don’t forget the danger.

**SQUIRREL**

She discovers she’s pregnant. He, happily, believes the baby is his. It’s not, but she needs to foster that belief or suffer dire consequences at the hands of evil ex-brother in law. Who has also discovered she is pregnant. However, she’s come to love the hero. Her boys have too. He says he loves her back.

She has to deceive him. Right?

What will happen when he discovers the truth?

That was what I planned to write about for today. But…

**SQUIRREL**

Then this arrived in my e-mail box.

The cover for Book 2 in the Brothers In Blue series On The Force.

And, of course, I couldn't help but share.

What do you think? Beautiful, huh? I agree. Goes nicely, I believe,  with Book 1 in the series, On The Surface.

With due credit to TWRP Cover Artist Diana Carlile.

Can't wait to see what she does with the cover for On The Make.

Which I need to get back to. And, now that we've come full circle...you guessed it...

**SQUIRREL**

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my Website

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With A Little Help From My Friends...One Last Time by Margo Hoornstra

Writing, especially fiction writing, is basically a pretty lonely business. Hours upon hours and days upon days of solitude.

Derriere in the chair, fingers on the keyboard and/or pen and paper in hand, solitude. With our only company the characters who inadvertently pop into our head where they remain until we convert the particulars of their existence to the printed word.

Once that printed word is created, it’s time to bring in the troops.

In this case, my colleagues here at The Roses of Prose.

For the third, and I promise final time on these pages, I’m seeking input on the opening paragraphs of On The Make, Book 3 in my series, Brothers In Blue.

Hope you can stand it. Here goes.

On The Make - Chapter One

“Let us pray.”

Madison Clark dutifully lowered her head, along with scores of others in the huge, impersonal auditorium. In her case, more for show than reverence. Who held a funeral at a place like this? The Greater Metro Conference and Convention Center. Then again, nothing about her marriage to Joe, short as it was, could be construed as normal. Why should anything change now that he was gone?

“Dear Lord, we now commit Joseph Eugene Edward Ralls, this once earthly soul to your able and compassionate care.”

Dear Lord, please don’t let Joe run across Dave in the hereafter. Her two husbands meeting face to face, Dave would probably deck him.

“All mighty God, we ask that you grant those of us left behind the guidance to understand and the patience to accept Your decision.”

Pastor Gregg’s voice invaded her thoughts. Keeping her head down, she shifted her hips more snuggly into the plush, stadium style chair and sat straighter. Hard to believe it was only three short years ago when she’d buried one husband, the love of her life and soulmate, with their young sons, heart-broken and bewildered, on either side of her.

A mere thirty six months later, front and center in the jam-packed amphitheater, she prepared to bury spouse number two. Both sons on either side of her again.

“Bleep! Blip!”

Flashes of light to the left caught her attention. Cameron had his cell on his lap. Typical teen, both thumbs moved helter-skelter over the keyboard.

Irritation sparked her third nerve to its absolute limit. She touched his arm and squeezed, fully prepared with a stern look of reproach for when he glanced over at her. Which, of course, he didn’t.

About ready to scream, she squeezed harder.

Pushing one last icon with his thumb, he slid the device into his pants pocket.

“In Your name we pray. Amen.”

“Amen.”

Madison’s murmured response joined the rest of the chorus as all heads lifted as one.

Slight of build and balding, Pastor Gregg leaned into the dais for support. “Joe was a great man of many aspects.” He may have been done praying. He wasn’t done speaking. “Real estate mogul by profession. Community leader and philanthropist by choice.”

An ill-concealed sigh whooshed out of younger brother Dak. Madison angled a discreet glance to her right. Flounced back in his seat, he sighed again. Giving him a gentle elbow nudge, she followed up with a slight head shake when he immediately looked over.

“A man of many aspects in his personal life as well.” As the good reverend went on, she made sure all three of them paid close attention. “To Madison, a devoted husband. To Cameron and Dak, a loving and benevolent father.”

“Beussst!” Beside her, fourteen year old Cameron coughed into his elbow.

Keeping her gaze focused ahead, Madison could have sworn the word bullshit had been thinly disguised by his action.

“Bless you, son.” Pastor Gregg didn’t miss a beat. Apparently he wasn’t quite as perceptive as Cameron’s mother.

Her son coughed softly a second time in response.

Their pastor extended his arms, palms upward. “Our sincerest and most heartfelt condolences go now to the grieving little family before us.”

If you’re in to comparisons, here are the links to Attempt One and Attempt Two.

Thanks in advance for what I know will be some very insightful and valuable advice.

My days to blog here are the 11^th and 23^rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my website

A #workinprogress revisited by Margo Hoornstra

On The Make is Book 3 in my latest series, Brothers In Blue. Four heroes who met at the police academy and became life long friends. The dropout, the straight arrow, the movie star and the maverick. All share a passion to serve and protect, each in their own unique way.

A while back on these pages, February 11 to be exact, I shared the first five paragraphs of On The Make, along with a plea for help in getting the words right. At that time, I had essentially five paragraphs of introspection and very little dialogue. Since the story opens at a funeral,  and deals with my heroine’s reaction to being there with her two sons, many of my ROP buds thought maybe I needed to lighten the prose up a bit.

Now back from the drawing board, this is what I’ve come up with.

“Let us pray.”

Madison Clark dutifully lowered her head, along with scores of others in the huge, impersonal auditorium. In her case, more for show than reverence. Who held a funeral at a place like this? The Greater Metro Conference and Convention Center. Then again, nothing about her marriage to Joe, short as it was, could be construed as normal. Why should anything change now that he was gone?

“Dear Lord, we commit Joseph Eugene Edward Ralls, this once earthly soul, to your able and compassionate care.”

Dear Lord. Please don’t let him run into Dave.

Despite the solemn nature of the occasion, she couldn’t hold off invading memories of a previous life changing event. Hard to believe three short years earlier she’d buried one husband, the love of her life and soulmate, with her young sons, and his, on either side of her.

“Almighty God, we ask that you grant those of us left behind the guidance to understand and the patience to accept your decision.”

The minister’s voice invaded her thoughts. Keeping her head down, she shifted her hips more snuggled in the plush stadium style chair and sat straighter. A mere thirty six months later, front and center in the jam-packed amphitheater, she prepared to bury spouse number two.

Back when their father died, Dak, the sensitive one, sobbed so loudly during a solo of Amazing Grace, he drowned out the lyrics. At eight, he was old enough to understand and process the chaos of event since his father’s unexpected, and lethal, leukemia diagnosis. While not able to make sense of it at all. Cameron, two years older, and already stoic and long suffering like his dad, hadn’t moved a muscle during the entire service.

Much as he was now.

“In your name we pray. Amen.”

“Amen.” Madison murmured the response along with so many others in the room.

As all their heads came up as a single unit, her thoughts remained on her two boys.

Now older and more mature, each exhibited no more emotion than simple boredom as the accolades went on and on for their mother’s late husband.

Okay now. Be honest. I can take it. Does this work or no? The story does lighten up from there. I promise.

My days to blog here are the 11 and 23. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my WEBSITE

Secondary #Characternames Are Important Too by Margo Hoornstra

As I said in my post on the 11th of this month, when it comes to starting a new wip (work in progress), choosing proper names for characters is right up there in importance with profession and core beliefs. Distinctive, and properly chosen names can define characters, help establish their personalities, and bring appropriate word pictures to readers.

His make believe life is fine…until it collides with her new reality

Madison Clark no longer believes in heroes. Not after being widowed amid scandal and left with two adolescent boys to raise. With the realities of overwhelming mom duties and an irreparably broken heart, any kind of happily ever after fantasy is nowhere on her radar. Especially when the so called super hero her youngest son seems to worship brings more harm than help to her shattered family situation.

Adam Hollingsworth aka Adam Pride has always been dubbed a hero. A cop by profession and fictional super idol by chance, he’s used to being surrounded by groupies and takes their adoration with a grain of salt. Until he befriends a boy obviously in need of a father figure. A role he begins to take seriously, if only the mother involved will let him.

That’s the rough draft premise of, On The Make, Brothers in Blue, Book #3, my latest work in progress for The Wild Rose Press. As I began writing the book, I wasn’t sure how those two adolescent boys would impact the story. What I did know was they would play an integral part in it. So, of course the first order of busienss was to figure out their names. Right off the bat I came up with, and quickly rejected, Richie and Kyle. I know the character Richie in On The Make needs to have some real teenage angst issues in order to move the story forward. For a variety of reasons, Richie just didn’t seem to fit. And Kyle was out because, without realizing, I used Kyle for a character in a novella I wrote and published this last year.

After more time than I’d care to admit scanning Baby Name websites, even putting out a plea on FaceBook for suggestions, I came up with Cameron and Dak. Don’t asked me why or where those names came from, they just appeared one day in my consciousness and I liked them. They fit. I even wrote a scene between the angst filled teenaged boy and his currently overwhelmed mother.


“Since you were our first, your father gave me the honor of choosing your name.” Madison selected each word carefully in order to make Cameron feel extra special. “He’s the one who decided on Dak.”

While he’d at least shown the courtesy to listen, he obviously didn’t feel compelled to look at her as she spoke. With his head still down, and his eyes averted, he finally opened his mouth. Madison held still, consumed by her interest in his response.

“Wish Dad had picked my name instead.”

The come back was so abrupt, and so cruel, she physically drew away from him. More hurt than surprised.

“I’m sorry things didn’t work out that way.” She kept her response short, her tone tight.

“Whatever.”

After his second comment, she didn’t move. Couldn’t more than didn’t want to. Stunned at how quickly their once loving relationship had deteriorated. Almost to the point she wasn’t sure any of it was salvageable.

Hot tears stung as she quickly shook her head to dislodge the thought. She’d never give up on either one of her sons. Ever.

“Mom! Phone’s for you.” Dak’s voice tumbled down on her from upstairs, jolting her into action.

“Coming!”


In Cameron’s defense, who really does like their own first name? I don’t particularly care for mine. Not a common name by any stretch, I’ve only met five other Margos in my lifetime. Plus, it seems I’m constantly correcting new acquaintances, salespeople, businesses and the like that my name is not Marge, Margaret, Marlo or Marco. And it’s spelled M-a-r-g-o, not Margot or even Margaux. 

What about your own first name. Do you like it? Why or why not? How about those names of some fictional characters you’re aware of? Same questions.

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and the stories I write, please visit my website

A Little R and R by Margo Hoornstra

As you read this, I'll be unplugged and taking a little R and R. For a while, anyway. And not completely unplugged. **shudder** That would be too horrible to contemplate. Though the internet service may be sketchy, my trusty iPhone will still be working. Unless I hit a No Service area. **double shudder**

The graphic I found to lead this column doesn't really tell the whole story. You see, I won't be taking a break from my computer, oh no. That indispensable laptop of mine is going with me. As is the laser printer that fits neatly on the floor of the backseat.

After a busy few months, surgeries for both hubby and me, another hospitalization for him, a novella, For Money Or Love, finished for a box set, All In For Love, coming out June 1st, a final galley for, On the Surface, the first book in my new Brothers In Blue series proofed and returned to my editor to forward to my publisher for release this summer, we're going camping to take a little break.

Beautiful scenery.

Quiet times by the campfire.

Wildlife.

Oh, wait. Cancel. Cancel. Not that kind of wild life. Although my husband did once scare up what must have been a bobcat - what he thought was really a rather large kitty - on one of our many walks.

This kind of wildlife.

Much better.

Can't forget the walks. Lots and lots of walks.

But...there's something else. Oh. Wait. I know what it is. A completed manuscript to critique for CP Extraordinaire. Got my Track Changes up and ready. Really ready!

Then there's the second book in the Brothers In Blue series, On The Force to finish and send in. Oh, and book three, On the Make, of which I have one chapter under my belt.

Yikes! My little R and R time is dwindling. And fast!

Guess I better get to it.

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about me and my stories, please visit my WEBSITE