3/29/2012

Alexa Bourne Gets Lost In The Highlands

Alexa Bourne is a teacher by day and a romantic suspense writer by nights, weekends, and all school holidays. She also teaches online classes for writers throughout the year. She is thrilled to be writing for Decadent Publishing and to have the chance to share her love of Scotland with readers everywhere.

When she’s not concocting sinister plots and steamy love scenes or traveling and exploring new cultures, Alexa spends her time reading, watching brainless TV and thinking about exercising. She loves to hear from readers. To find her, visit www.alexabourne.com or http://alexabourne.blogspot.com, or follow her on Twitter @AlexaBourne.


HER HIGHLAND CHAMPION

A Decadent Honor Guard story….

Heather Winchester leads a charming life. With good friends, a beautiful flat in one of the most amazing cities in the world, and a promising future once she finishes her Ph.D, she is finally pursuing her own dreams instead of catering to everyone else’s…except she doesn’t remember any of it.

Malcolm Fraser has returned to his Highland village to forget his failings as a professional bodyguard. Believing he could just lose himself in the mundane activities of running his bed & breakfast, he finds a woman’s lifeless body by the loch instead….

Captivated by Heather as she regains her memory, Malcolm is thrown into the line of duty. As danger comes knocking on their door, will he be strong enough to love her and keep her safe?

Excerpt:

She turned to the bedside. A man stood there dressed in dark green sweats, with both hands clenched around the silver bedside bar. He was handsome, with light eyes, dark hair cropped close to his head, and a firm jaw. It was his hands, though. They drew her attention. Clean skin, defined knuckles, large fingers. Hands rough from a hard day’s physical labor, and yet, she imagined, gentle enough to caress the afternoon’s sufferings away.

“It’s good to see you awake.” He smiled. “You gave us all quite a fright.”

Okay, the Scottish accent drew her attention, too. At once, it both melted away some of her fears and sparked a whirlwind of questions.

“Where am I?” Her throat scratched like sandpaper.

“St. Catherine’s Hospital.”

She swallowed hard. “Where is that?”

“Fort William.” He reached for something on the table by her bed and brought back a plastic cup with a straw. “Here.”

“Thank you.” The warm water coated her sore vocal cords. She handed the cup back to him.

Wait a minute. Fort William? The only Fort William she knew was in Scotland. “I don’t understand. How did I get here?” Ignoring the aches in her body, she pressed both palms to the sheets on each side of her and pushed herself up. The blanket fell away from her chest and a new chill surrounded her. “What’s going on?”

Her arms shook, and she collapsed back to the bed.

“Relax.” The man set his palm on her shoulder, as if to keep her flat against the mattress. The heat of his fingers seeped through her hospital gown and into her skin. “I found you unconscious on the beach in Glenhalish. I called for an ambulance, and they brought you here.”

“I was in Glenhalish?”

“Aye, on a three day tour of the Highlands. Do you not remember being there?”

“No.” She squinted and studied him. No memories surfaced. “Do I know you?”

He shook his head. “Only from the beach. I’m Malcolm Fraser.”

She opened her mouth and then closed it again. Her gaze drifted to her lap as tears burned in the corners of her eyes. Panic swelled in her chest and into her throat.

“What is it, lass?” he asked with such tenderness.

“Can you tell me my name?”


HER HIGHLAND CHAMPION is available March 30th from Decadent Publishing

I’m very excited to announce that Alexa will be joining the GLIAS team.  She and I have been friends for five years ever since we both finaled in the same contest in 2007.  After three years of hanging out on-line, we decided to room together at the RWA National Conference in Washington, D.C.  Having never met, I wasn’t exactly sure how it would go.  To sum it up, it was the best conference I’d ever had.  So, I’m happy to introduce  Alexa Bourne.


CAT:  What’s your favorite cartoon character?
ALEXA:  Marvin the Martian

CAT:  What turns you off like nothing else?
ALEXA:  People stuck on themselves.

CAT:  Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?
ALEXA:  LOL! Anything Celtic or bagpipes.

CAT:  What was the first story you remember writing?
ALEXA:  I know I wrote stories as an elementary school student, but I can’t remember them. The 1st one I remember writing and finishing was a 100+ page of fan fiction for The A-Team when I was in middle school.

CAT:  Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?
ALEXA:  I often listen to music while I’m writing. The type of music depends on the scene.

CAT:  If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?
ALEXA:  Well, in my day job I’m a teacher. So, I’d just focus more on that.

CAT:  What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book?
ALEXA:  I celebrate with a cocktail and chocolate!

CAT:  If you could interview one person (and it doesn’t have to be a writer) who would it be?
ALEXA:  Matt Damon. I love him!

CAT:  What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children?
ALEXA:  When I was little I spent an overnight with my aunt and uncle (and later my cousin) to help them decorate their house for Christmas every year. When I bought my own house, I continued the tradition with my youngest nephew and niece.

CAT:  Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
ALEXA:  Tea with milk.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?
What would you do if you knew you could not fail? (Like I would jump out of an airplane if I knew I would definitely survive with no injuries.)

Alexa is going to give away a copy of HER HIGHLAND CHAMPTION to one commentor

24 comments:

  1. First of all my apologies to Alexa and everyone else for getting this post up so late!

    Welcome Alexa! We're so excited to have you here today and in the future.

    Congratulations on your upcoming release tomorrow. It's very cool that you were able to combine your love of Scotland with your love of writing Romantic Suspense. You're probably sick of talking about it, but how did you come up with the idea for HER HIGHLAND CHAMPION?

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  2. Aw, thank so much, Cat! I'm so thrilled we've been able to remain friends! I'm very excited to be joining the GLIAS crew!

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  3. Well, this couple came to life (with another hero when I didn't know what I was doing)in the late 90s. I visited Glenfinnan on a 3-day tour of the Highlands in 1997, fell in love with the area and decided to make that my setting for a new story. Malcolm came to life first in fan fiction for my favorite TV show at the time. He quickly got his own personality and "told" me he was the perfect hero for the new story.

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  4. "bagpipe" Sorry, you lost me on that ; ) The book sounds great--I think I've told you that. I don't know that I'd want to try something if I couldn't possibly fail--it would make it too easy. See, I live on the edge (don't you laugh!)

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  5. This book sounds great! I want to find out more.

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  6. Jane, I know. You either love or hate bagpipes. Yes, you've told me that and thank you! And sorry, I laughed long and hard when I read that last line!

    Chey, you just made me squeal! Thanks!

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  7. Love bagpipes & have heard them several times as various UK troops have toured the USA.. I love your cover and I guess maybe I'd do a zipline if I knew I'd not fall out/off!

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    1. Ooooh, zipline! I hadn't thought of that, but I'd like that too!

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  8. Loved the bagpipes when I heard them at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, but I prefer the more mellow Irish uilleann pipes when I'm in the mood for pipering. As for your question, I'd love to dive on sunken shipwrecks, but for now, reading about them will have to do. Congrats on the release, Alexa!

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    1. Thanks, Pat! I love the uilleann pipes too.

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  9. Oh,oh, oh, waving here to Alexa! First off, great blurb, great cover, great everything. Your answers are priceless and I love Celtic music. Gosh, what would I do if I couldn't fail. Tough, tough question. I may have to check back in after I think about this one.

    Note to GLIAS crew... No hard questions like this.. Alexa gave us a stumper! Off to order!

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    1. Thanks, Donnell! I'm thrilled to be joining you on here!

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  10. Tough question! I've always wanted to fly or teleport.

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  11. I enjoyed the interview and excerpt. I'd probably go rock climbing.

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  12. Welcome to Get Lost in a Story, Alexa. You joined a great group. If I couldn't fail, I would buy a Powerball lottery ticket. It's up to 540 million tonight. Sure would love to win that much money!

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  13. LilMissMolly, oooh,teleporting. Cool!

    bn100, rock climbing would be very satisfying. Climbing in a rock gym is a dream of mine, but I've got some weight to lose before I'm ready!

    Tammy, I've been a reader here since they began so I know how awesome these ladies are! Oh, the things I could do with $540 million!

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  14. Congrat 4 your book, Alexa.
    Well, i always afraid to fly. Thts why i dont like travelling too much. I've a problem with the high places. And it became more bad when last year i got a horrible experience when a bridge in my town collapse down. We called it 'golden gate' cz the bridge looks like the real golden gate in USA. I thank to God, He saved me from tht disaster.

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  15. Ah, what a great excerpt, thanks for sharing it! I'd try out for one of those singing competitions if I knew I'd do perfectly. :)

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  16. Inacreus, that sounds frightening!

    Julie, would you do The Voice or American Idol?

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  17. Sorry I missed posting on your actual debut here at GLIAS... Bike ride with the hubby and then a B&G banquet with the Cub Scout Grandson.

    BIG WELCOME AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DEBUT as an author!! Best of luck with HER HIGHLAND CHAMPION !!

    ~Angi

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  18. Congrats on the release of Her Highland Champion, it sounds like a wonderful story. I'm not sure what I would do if I knew I couldn't fail, there's something about things coming to easily that I worry about, but buying a lottery ticket does sound like a good idea. :D

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  19. Congratulations on the release of your debut! I read the excerpt and like what I've seen - ready to see more please. And I will raise a glass hoping this is just the first of many.

    As for what I would do is finally write (and finish) a book.

    bas1chsemail at gmail dot com

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