Hit the Trail with Harlequin American author, Heidi Hormel!

Join me in welcoming Heidi Hormel back to the blog with her latest release, The Accidental Cowboy!

COWBOY IN A KILT

When former bronc rider Lavonda Leigh is asked to guide a Scottish archaeologist through the Arizona desert, she’s expecting a fussy egghead. But then she discovers tall, strong Jones Kincaid competing at the local Highland games. She can't help her interest in him—and that's before he puts on his cowboy hat and hits the trail like a pro.

Jones is after more than he's letting on. His quest could clear a past scandal and let him live his dream—studying the old West. But as he spends time with Lavonda in this rugged landscape, he realizes that what he wants isn't just academic—he yearns for a life with her on the ranch. If she discovers his deception, this professor-turned-cowboy will lose his reputation…and Lavonda, too.

Read an excerpt HERE or BUY the book

A former innkeeper and radio talk show host, Heidi Hormel has always been a writer. She spent years as a small-town newspaper reporter and as a PR flunky before settling happily into penning romances with a wink and a wiggle.

While living in the Snack Food Capital of the World, Heidi has trotted around the globe from forays into Death Valley to stops at Loch Ness in Scotland.

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Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?

Heidi Hormel: Just this morning. I am working on a proposal for more books set in Angel Crossing, Arizona. As part of that, I am writing the first three chapters and this morning I got to typing and I was right there with my characters. I love when that happens.

Jan: What’s the best part of being a Harlequin author?

Heidi: The community of readers, fellow authors, and editors are awesome. I don’t know where else I would have found such a supportive environment to start and grow my career. (There’s also a Harlequin party that made my whole 2015!)

Jan: How much research do you do?

Heidi: It depends on the book. I usually do internet research as I hit snags or have questions but, boy, can that eat up a lot of time. I often write about careers, places, etc. that I have passing knowledge of so I only need to do research on the nitty gritty details. Take THE ACCIDENTAL COWBOY. I took an archaeology course in college, visited the Tucson area and even had a chance to see petroglyphs in the “wild.” I took all of that first-hand knowledge then did research as needed.

Jan: What do you love most about The Accidental Cowboy?

Heidi: That’s like asking me which is my favorite knitting pattern. I’m going with the magic number three and listing three favorite things: the animals (Reese the miniature burro and Cat the cat); the kilt; and Lavonda, the heroine who has helped everyone around her and finally gets to find happiness for herself.

Jan: What’s your favorite sports team?

Heidi: Sports? You mean like competitive reading and shopping? Seriously, I don’t follow sports, except my great-niece and great-nephew’s lacrosse teams. Go Ox!

Jan: Any writing rituals you follow? Celebrate a certain way when it’s completed?

Heidi: My ritual is to get up early (3 a.m. is not unheard of), make coffee, feed the cat, and sit down and write. Celebrating when the book is done?! Sleeping doesn’t count does it? I need to come up with a better way to jump and down with excitement. Any ideas? Anyone?

Jan: I know you were a journalist in your previous life. If you could go back and pick a different career, what would it be?

Heidi: Hmm … Radio Talk Show Host. I did for just a little while and always wished that had been my full-time career.

Jan: Best vacation you’ve ever taken?

Heidi: Wow, that is a toughie. I took a once-in-a-lifetime vacation with my mom to Hawaii; there was a drive from Phoenix to Northern California and back that’s stuck with me…I’ve been fortunate to travel quite a bit so it’s hard to say one vacation. I would say the three spots that still fascinate me and to which I’d return in a heartbeat are: Iceland, the Orkney Islands and Death Valley. Now, that’s a range of places, isn’t it!

Jan’s GOTTA ASK: What is your unhealthiest habit?

Heidi’s GOTTA ANSWER: Unhealthiest habit? There are so many…coffee (I would drink it by the gallon if I could); any processed sugar product; and obsessing over commas!

FIND HEIDI HORMEL:

 Contact, Website, Facebook, Twitter

 Goodreads, Pinterest

UP NEXT: THE KENTUCKY COWBOY’S BABY (Angel Crossing, Arizona), out in August 2016.

HUGE THANKS TO HEIDI for sharing her writing world with us!  She's giving away an autographed copy of  THE ACCIDENTAL COWBOY to a U.S. reader!  Please scroll down to the Rafflecopter for ways to enter and thanks for visiting Get Lost In A Story.

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Get Lost in Love & Punishment, Beauty and the Beasts MC style.

Once upon a time…
Bel was a happy girl with loving parents. Now she lives for revenge. At her father’s urging a plan is set in motion which quickly spins out of control. Expecting to be used and abused by The Beasts MC, who are known for their orgiastic ways, she is prepared to accept her fate in order to execute her mission.

The time has come to even the score with the men responsible for her mother’s death.
Nate and Liam, leaders of The Beasts, have their hands full ensuring the survival of their people as they sell Beast Brew to survive in a city crumbling around them. When a Rose MC member is plucked from their care the laws of Epsilon demand the perpetrator forfeit his life. But then the leader of The Devil’s Disciples’ daughter offers herself in exchange for his life, and they can’t refuse the beauty’s plea.

Once she’s pressed between them they know they’re keeping her for their own, but first they must figure out why she’s there.

Sorcha Mowbray is a mild mannered office worker by day…okay, so she is actually a mouthy, opinionated, take charge kind of gal who bosses everyone around; but she definitely works in an office. At night she writes romance so hot she sets the sheets on fire! Just ask her slightly singed husband.

She is a longtime lover of historical romance, having grown up reading Johanna Lindsey and Judith McNaught. Then she discovered Thea Devine and Susan Johnson. Holy cow! Heroes and heroines could do THAT? From there, things devolved into trying her hand at writing a little smexy. Needless to say, she liked it and she hopes you do too!


Read an excerpt from Love & Punishment:

The driver stopped before the crumbling amphitheater where concerts and plays were once
staged. Tonight’s performance featured her as the star. Her own personal tragedy would play out
in living shades of black and gray before the High Council. In the years since The Wave, a
civilization-crushing electromagnetic pulse, and the riots after, the council, consisting of a
member from each surviving territory, sat in judgment over their EpiCenter. Tonight they judged
her father.

Something stank. Unfortunately, it had nothing to do with the charges against her father and
everything to do with the pungent chemical smell of the rancid fuel used to power the
patchwork-metal car she’d climbed out of. The entrance loomed ahead, the embodiment of
things to come, and drew her forward until the rumble of bikes announced more arrivals. Damn,
she had hoped to be the last to arrive so she could slip inside to wait for what she expected to
unfold. Instead, she found herself transfixed by two men who sat astride their sleds as though the
engines rumbled for them alone. The matte-black beasts were harsh and angular, yet beautiful.
From the sleek elongated fronts to the extra-wide tire in the rear, the bikes were designed to draw
attention. And still, the men commanded every eye in the parking lot.

Of course, as the only person left, her eyes answered their call. One dark and one fair. She
saw little actual skin, yet she would have said with absolute certainty both men were packed with
muscle. Something about them made any other notion laughable.
Blood thrummed through her veins while her pulse raced. Breath harsh with some unnamed
reaction, she could only compare the sensation to having spent two hours sparring with an
unbeatable opponent. The air wheezed from her lungs in painful gasps, her muscles trembled,
and a fine sweat broke out across her skin. The dampness between her thighs? Not something she would discuss with anyone. Not even her sisters, Briana and Charlene.

Then the emblems sewn on the back of their jackets caught her eye, drawing a curse from her
that would have gotten her smacked across the face by her father. Their jackets proudly
displayed a grinning skull with a barbed-wire halo and black wings. A snarling wolf in red and
black appeared in the boney head where eyes should have been and the words The Beasts MC
were emblazoned over the top and bottom of the image. Once she knew they were the enemy
their appeal dulled, though did not die. With a sigh of regret, she turned and strolled through the
gates of the venue. They were affiliated with the wrong club. Lived in the wrong territory.
Answered to the wrong man.

She eased into the terraced bowl, hiding in the shadows for the moment. And there were a
great many shadows despite the giant torches jutting from the walls. The men from outside
mostly forgotten, she focused on the task at hand. Maybe if her luck held she might have an
opportunity to meet one of the men she’d seen earlier before she exacted her revenge. Then
again, it wouldn’t matter because after she did her job she would be branded Beast Enemy Number One.

Assuming she got to live.


Interview with Sorcha Mowbray:

Jillian: What’s the first book you remember reading?
Sorcha: Curious George Goes to The Hospital. I really wanted an xray after that. LOL!

Jillian: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Sorcha: Beauty and The Beast has always been a favorite. Largely because she ends up rescuing him.

Jillian: Where do you read and how often?
Sorcha: All the time. Standing in line, walking to work, riding the trolley, on the couch, in the bed...the bathroom. I have yet to find a place I can't read. :-)

Jillian: What was the first story you remember writing?
Sorcha: My friend and I wrote our own version of Sweet Valley High. We had a notebook we passed back and forth, each of us taking a turn writing a chapter. It was so much fun to see what she wrote each time!

Jillian: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
Sorcha: I love hearing from you! Drop me an email, leave a comment on my site, say hi on Facebook, whatever. But I love to hear from you!

Jillian: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?
Sorcha: I do listen to music. Usually I build a station on Pandora for whatever book I'm writing. So, for series I have a station geared to that series. One Night with A Cowboy is all country and Tales From Epsilon is a hard driving rock station called Beasts MC.
Station links:   Beasts MC   ONWAC

Jillian: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
Sorcha: I do sometimes. I try not to read the really negative ones...I don't want to paralyze myself. But I am always open to constructive criticism and I love hearing about the good stuff. LOL!

Commenters: Do you have a favorite fairytale? Perhaps one you'd like to read as an adult romance? I can think of several. I'm going to share right now…

Kendall's Back with TREASURED DREAMS

One of my new Aussie friends is award-winning author, Kendall Talbot. I love her energy and daredevilness. Writing about treasure-hunters seems right down her..uh...safety-line.

TREASURED DREAMS

Treasured Series, Book 3

Read a little, Buy the book

When Rosalina discovers a devastating family secret, the world as she knows it is shattered and a madman from her past reappears. 

Rosalina’s love, Archer, finds a clue to a treasure stolen during World War II—but when Rosalina is kidnapped, he must either comply with Nox’s demands that he find the treasure, or risk his life to save her. Archer, a man who knows what he wants, won’t stop until Rosalina is back in his arms.

Everyone believed Nox was dead, but somehow he survived the latest attempt on his life. Now this dead man walking is out for revenge—and there are still so many on his list.

Can true love conquer all, even a madman hell bent on revenge?

FIND KENDALL

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Previous interviews on GLIAS

ANGI: If you were a treasure hunter…what’s the first thing you’d go after?

KENDALL: I love this question. I’ve done a huge amount of research on missing treasure for my Treasure series of books and the one that fascinates me this most is the Lost Loot of Lima. In 1820, Lima was verging of revolt so as a preventative measure, the Viceroy of Lima elected to transport the city’s extensive wealth to Mexico for safekeeping. The treasures included jewels, diamonds, gold, candlesticks, and two life-size solid gold statues of Mary holding the baby Jesus. The treasure was valued at between $12 million and $60 million.

Captain William Thompson, commander of the Mary Dear, was in charge of transporting the cache to Mexico. Thompson and his crew couldn’t resist the valuable temptation and they turned pirate. They cut the throats of the guards and accompanying priests, and threw their bodies overboard.

Thompson headed for Cocos Island, off the coast of Costa Rica, where he and his men apparently buried the treasure. They then split up to lay low until the situation calmed down. They planned to regroup later to divide up the loot.

However, the Mary Dear was captured and the crew were convicted for piracy. All but Thompson and his first mate were hung. To save their lives, the two agreed to lead the Spanish to the stolen treasure. The pair took the Spanish as far as the Cocos Islands and then promptly escaped in the jungle. Thompson, the first mate, and the treasure were never seen again.

How’s that for a fascinating missing treasure story. To this day people still look for that treasure.

 

ANGI: Hugh Jackman or Chris Pine?

KENDALL: oooh, I’ll have both please.

ANGI: What's your most favorite thing to do in your country?

KENDALL: I love going to the beach, but not to sit in the sand or to surf, I just love the sound of the waves crashing into the shore. There’s something so romantic about it.

ANGI: Sand or Snow?

KENDALL: I cannot stand sand in the cracks, so definitely snow.

ANGI: What might we find in your heroine's purse?

KENDALL: My heroine’s purse contains a little slip of handmade decorative paper. Folded up within that paper is a couple of flakes of gold that a wrinkly old Japanese woman gave her for good luck.

ANGI: Would you rather be in a Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

KENDALL: I love a good kick arse, action movie. I grew up with Indiana Jones, Die Hard and Jurassic Park - so without a doubt it's Action Adventure. I love writing action adventure too, there’s nothing like creating an adrenaline rush.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?

KENDALL: In my Treasured Series, I have a villain, called Nox. He’s an evil priest, who’ll do anything to get his hands on the treasure, and murder is just the beginning. I loved being in the head of this bad guy when I wrote his chapters... is that bad? He had some really interesting ways to kill people, including poisonous mushroom risotto. But he isn’t just a bad guy for the sake of it, his history is gut wrenching and complex, whilst it doesn’t justify what he does, it certainly gives the reader insight into his warped thought processes.

 

ANGI: Hiking Boots or Dancing Heels?

KENDALL: As my book Lost in Kakadu was inspired by a three-day hike over the Milford Track in New Zealand - it has to be hiking boots.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: What’s one thing from your bucket list?

KENDALL’S GOTTA ANSWER:  I have 101 things on my bucket list. I have already done 38 of them. The one that I absolutely must do is see the Terracotta warriors in China.

Breathless Encounters - Award winning romance and suspense author Kendall Talbot brings you a collection of romantic short stories with a little twist in their tail. These stories are all inspired by real life events and are perfect for a quick getaway.

 

The Blue Diamond: The mystery letter from her grandfather’s will offers Gemma the ride of her life.

Stolen Love: Will love and tragedy inspire Rachel to believe there is a future?

Creepy Neighbor: Everything is not as it appears.

The Plumbers Secret: A handsome stranger tests Kellie’s first rule of engagement.

Charlie’s Angel:  War torn London provides an ultimate escape.

Read a little, Buy the book

The Blue Diamond:

I stared at the trembling fingers of the frail man opposite and wondered if my grandfather’s will was the reason for his agitation. My parents and two older stepsiblings, Margaret and Peter, glared at the lawyer with greed in their eyes, but I wasn’t prepared to listen to how Poppa’s belongings would be divided.

I’d been living a bad dream since his sudden passing, and the sadness in the lawyer’s eyes only heightened my loss. The day before he’d died, Poppa and I had joked about his health being stronger than mine, and I cringed at the memory of our discussion about my broken heart. Clearly it was his heart that had been damaged.

The bald lawyer cleared his throat and ran his hand over his beaded brow. “Kenneth Griffith has bequeathed the following items,” the lawyer said in a slow Australian drawl.

I picked at imaginary lint on my skirt as Poppa’s assets and various other items were shared out amongst my family. Yet, there was no mention of my name. My heart squeezed. I had hoped to receive something from Poppa. No matter how little, I would’ve cherished it forever.

An evil grin from Margaret confirmed my stepsister was enjoying this moment.

“Finally, Gemma,” the lawyer said, “your grandfather left very specific instructions for you.” He glanced at me over his glasses before he began reading again. “I leave the blue diamond—”

My sister gasped and the lawyer held up his hand, shushing her.    

“I leave the blue diamond to Gemma and hope she enjoys her beauty as much as I once did.” He placed a yellow envelope on the desk. “The details are in here.”

I rested my hand on the envelope. My mind raced to catch up to the moment. Poppa and I had spent many days together, and not once had he mentioned a blue diamond. Other than the wedding ring he never removed, I’d never seen Poppa with any jewelry.

“Well . . . open it,” my sister said, snapping me back to reality.

“I um . . . I think I’ll wait until later.” I slipped the envelope onto my lap.

“But you can’t do that. We’re here to read the will,” Peter said. My stepbrother believed that being older than me gave him the right to boss me around.

“I have read the will, Mr. Griffith.” The lawyer peered over his glasses at my brother. “It is up to Gemma whether or not she divulges the information pertaining to her bequeathment.”

A glint in the lawyer’s eye had me blinking at him as I was itching to know what the envelope contained.

With my mind buzzing and my stomach churning, I heard very little of the remaining meeting.

We left the room with Margaret tugging on my arm and insisting that I open the envelope and tell her what was inside. But, unlike my thundering heart, I remained stubbornly silent.

As I drove home alone, dozens of questions ate at me. I recalled the final scene of the movie, Titanic, where the blue diamond necklace tumbled from Rose’s frail fingers into the depths of the freezing ocean. Where had Poppa got the diamond from? Why had he never spoken of it? I wondered if Poppa’s nickname for me, Little Gem, had anything to do with it.

I sat the envelope on the table, deliberately prolonging opening it as I made a simple dinner, drank a glass of wine and fielded calls from both Margaret and Peter. Both stepsiblings were furious over my decision to keep the contents of the envelope hidden.

I didn’t care. There was something thrilling about having my own little secret.

KENDALL is giving away a bundle which includes ebook copies of both Treasured Secrets and Treasured Lies, just in time to read before the final book in the trilogy - Treasured Dreams, comes out.
 International Giveaway

UP NEXT ON GLIAS:
Sorcha Mowbray

~Angi Morgan

Get Lost on Goodreads, Facebook

or @GetLostInAStory  #GetLostStories

TREASURED LIES

Oct 2015

Treasured Series, Book 2

Read a little, Buy the book

TREASURED SECRETS

Sept 2015

Treasured Series, Book 1

Read a little, Buy the book

LOST IN KAKADU

Read a little, Buy the book

ROSALINA’S TREASURED TREATS COOKBOOK

Companion Cook Book to my “Treasured” Series of books.

DOUBLE TAKE

Sept 2015

MIRA publishing

available in Australia 

Pre-Order the Book

KENDALL TALBOT is an award winning author, thrill seeker and a hopeless romantic. She has travelled extensively, some 36 countries and counting, and she's addicted to experiences that make her scream... white water rafting, scuba diving with sharks and hang gliding are just a few. Her stories reflect her sense of adventure and her long running love affair with her very own hero.

Kendall collects junky jewelry and expensive perfume, her favorite night out is with great friends and a fabulous bottle of wine or two, and she rarely watches TV. She lives in Brisbane with her hubby, her two grown boys and her little dog, Josie McLuvin.

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KENDALL WANTS TO KNOW: Would you commit a felony to save the person you love? I explored this question with my book Double Take. I’d love to know your thoughts.

E.E. Burke's Best of the West featuring USA Today Bestselling Author Barb Han

Barb Han sneaks out of her writer's cave to join us on GLIAS as my Best of the West guest. Check out her latest release in the Mason Ridge series and meet the master storyteller behind these great books!

A Texas bodyguard never thought he'd see Melanie Dixon again—or learn he was the father of her little boy… 

A shotgun blast shatters the night and Dawson Hill foils a ruthless stalker. Now the fearless bodyguard is committed to protecting Melanie Dixon—the alluring woman who left him two years ago without a word. Not only is he surprised she's back in Mason Ridge, Dawson is doubly stunned to learn they have a son.

Now the three of them are on the run, and Dawson is determined to protect the baby boy he never knew he could love so much. With his passion for Melanie reigniting like Texas wildfire even as he struggles to forgive her deception, a madman closes in. A madman who threatens the family Dawson never dreamed would be within reach.

Excerpt:

     Melanie’s pulse raced, her heart hammering on her rib cage as she started toward her son. This cannot be happening.

     Her entire world was crashing down around her and it was hard to breathe. One look at Dawson and it was clear that he’d put two and two together. Her secret was out in the open.

    She examined Dawson’s reaction as panic welled inside her.

    Pure unadulterated anger fired through his eyes when he glared at her. Melanie placed the shotgun on the cushion of the wicker sofa as she raced toward her son, who was crying and still half-asleep, with her arms open. “It’s okay, baby.”

    “We’re going to talk,” Dawson said in a low growl that sent a chill racing down her spine.

Returning to Mason Ridge had been the worst of bad ideas.

Meet Barb

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Barb Han lives in Texas-her true north-with her adventurous family, a spunky golden retriever/poodle mix, and too many books (if there is such a thing). She loves romance novels, thriller movies, and cooking. Her favorite hobbies include hiking, swimming and skiing. 

Sign up for Barb's newsletter or to receive a postcard for her new releases at www.BarbHan.com. 

Find out more on her website: www.BarbHan.com 

Or follow Barb on Twitter: @BarbHanAuthor

Now let's get to know Barb a little better...

E.E.: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Barb: I listen to thunderstorms while I write. Is that weird? There's something about the feeling of being huddled in a dark cave with the steady beat of rain all around me and the occasional crack of thunder that spurs my creatively.

E.E.: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

I used to drink coffee but now I'm all-tea, all-the-time. LOL. I'm hooked on iced chai tea lattes at the moment and I prefer the ones I make at home over the ones I buy at Starbucks (although, those are great, too!). 

E.E.: What are the next five books on your ‘to be read’ pile?

Barb: My TBR pile feels more like a mountain right now...so I'll grab the first five books that I see. 

SEIZED by Elizabeth Heither (I love this profiler series!)

NEVERSEEN, Keeper of the Lost Cities series, by Shannon Messenger

A SCHOOL FOR UNUSUAL GIRLS by Kathleen Baldwin

SNOW ANGEL COVE by RaeAnne Thayne

UNINVITED by Sophie Jordan

As you can tell I'm an eclectic reader. 

E.E.: Fairy Tale or Action Adventure?

Barb: Action Adventure all the way!

E.E.: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Barb: It's a tie between Gladiator and Breakfast at Tiffany's. I know, those two go together about as well as sugar and pepper. But they probably make more sense when you know that I write Romantic Suspense. 

E.E.: What will always make you smile, even on a bad day?

Barb: My husband always seems to knows what to say to coax a smile out of me, even on the worst days. And, because of it, I often include that as part of the deeper connection between my hero and heroine as a nod to him. 

E.E.: If you could interview one person who would it be?

Barb: Wow, great question! This is harder than I thought it would be and the more I think about it the longer my list grows. So, just one, huh? All right, I'll go with...Sandra Brown. I adore her!

E.E.: What has surprised you the most about being published?

Barb: I'd have to say the support and generosity from readers has been the most surprising (and amazing) part of the journey. I feel incredibly blessed. 

E.E.: Okay, last question. Be honest, when reading, do you put yourself in the heroine’s role?

Barb: Um, yeah!

Thank you so much for the great interview, E.E.!

Question for readers: Now, I want to hear from you. Tell me which is better...cowboys or military heroes?

Giveaway:  I'll give away 3 autographed print copies of TEXAS PREY (book 1 in the Mason Ridge miniseries) and I'll ship anywhere (including overseas).

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