Monday, April 1, 2013

Chat with delightful author Charmaine Gordon!

Come sit with
Charmaine Gordon
Romance Author

     We hope each one of you had a wonderful Easter celebration with your family and friends! Thank you for stopping in to talk with Charmaine and learn more about what she writes. I can't say enough about this woman who makes everyone around her feel fantastic, whether you're in her presence or talking with her on the phone! Yes, I've been lucky enough to be able to chat with her over the phone on several occasions! Charmaine, thank you for your friendship!
     I'm always pleased to have her as my guest and my readers love her, too. Thank you all for coming back to chat with her. Come sit with us in my garden, listen to the birds and enjoy a few moments as you learn more about Charmaine this week. Writing is near and dear to her heart and her books pull you in to meet each of her characters. She has a new book coming out and I'm pleased to help her announce this. Charmaine, as always, welcome to my blog!


Charmaine: Deanna, it's always a pleasure to hang out with you and your readers. Thank you for inviting me back. For the readers, writing is different for each author but here's what it is to me:
Power of Writing

       What is the best thing about writing?
     As an actor, I cherished every word in the script with respect to the playwright never thinking one day I’d be a writer. A mother hears her child say, “Read me a story, Mommy.” Read becomes “Tell me a story, Mom.” And here I am with a publisher, Kimberlee Williams-Vanilla Heart Publishing, who calls and says, “Write another new story.”
     The best part is using the powerful gift of imagination. An idea wakes me from sleep. In the morning I write. Think of what the writer can do with a story. You create a situation, two people meet, maybe fall in love, a misunderstanding, obstacles you throw in their path to prevent an easy solution and at last, love wins. OR an evil presence, a parallel story to collide, illness, death, destruction, misunderstanding and love wins OR. . .Possibilities are endless. The author is in command...OR is she? The characters take over as they often do. The author loses herself, cries, laughs, and writes until The End. You weep some more because your baby has grown up and you want to show her to the world. Then the real work begins. Promotion, marketing. Oh my. All you want to do is write.
     And I’m a mild mannered woman although I love murder and mayhem. Go figure. I’m always surprised at how easy it is for me to develop a bad guy or woman. Who knows what evil lurks in the mind of the gentle author? Certainly not my family. And when my daughter read my first book with a sensual scene, she said, “Mom (with that dip-thong sound giving mom two or three syllables) how do you know about sex. You don’t have. . .etc.” Where does she think she came from? Oh, I know. She was born in Boston and th, th, that’s all folks.

Here’s a blurb from one of my faves, Reconstructing Charlie.

     Charlie Costigan has a secret. Home life gone from bad to the worse when she protects her mother from another vicious attack by her drunken father. Midnight. Clothes thrown into an old suitcase, she races for the bus with a letter to an unknown aunt and uncle. 'This is my daughter. Embrace her as if she were your own.'
     Determined, Charlie begins again. Alone with her secret. 
     After I wrote The End, two secondary characters came to perch on my shoulders and complain. “How about us? Tell our story. “ I caved and began the process all over again with Sin of Omission. “A lie by any other name is still a lie” to paraphrase Shakespeare.
     My favorite scene from this book is where Shelley Jackson finally tells the truth in the presence of her lover, Jimmy Costigan and her best friend, Charlie, Jimmy’s sister.
     “Charlie, you accepted me as a friend and roommate but how would you feel if I were to marry your brother and bring color into the lily white home of your Aunt and Uncle. I’ve been there. So pristine and perfect. I envied your life and all the love they have for you.” She took another deep breath and reached for the twins in Jimmy’s arms. He relinquished them so readily it made her pause and when he again refused to meet her eyes, her mind moved on. Maybe their father didn’t want them after all. “That’s about all except to say I’m sorry. I’ve committed a sin of omission by not coming clean. If you can find it in your hearts to forgive me, we can work it out. Ball’s in your court.”

Charmaine:  I love visiting with my good friend, Deanna Jewel, and today is special. My latest book, The Catch, will be released in a few days. We’ll talk about this multi-layered story before long.

Deanna:  I've enjoyed reading your books and can't wait to read your new one, The Catch! Readers, if you've not stepped inside one of her books, please visit her buy links and grab your download this week. You won't be disappointed when her characters touch your heart!










CONTEST:  Leave a comment for Charmaine as to what you like most about series romance and she will pick four winners to receive a signed print copy of Once Again, Now - US residents only, sorry, due to shipping costs. Be sure to leave an email addy so she can contact you! Good Luck!



14 comments:

  1. Ooh Deanna, if I weren't me I'd scoop up everything. Are we having fun or what? Thanks again for inviting me to meet your readers, fans, and friends. Love, Charmaine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love your writing Charmaine, it's always so captivating.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks, Chelle. Captivating is music to this author's ears.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice post. I like finding out more about the characters after they get their HEA.

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi bn100, so you like a series. The Catch is the third in the series although each book is a stand-alone.
    Thanks for stopping by.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Charmaine, I downloaded your newest book the other day at B & N!! Can't wait to read The Catch and do a review for you!

    Thanks for hanging out with us!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Deanna. My pleasure hanging out with you and your pals.

      Delete
  7. For one thing, if I like the characters in a series first book then naturally I want their story to go on and on so am then anxious to read the second book in the series and the next
    JFWisherd(at)aol(dot)com.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi JackieW. Thanks for stopping by to leave a comment. When I wrote Reconstructing Charlie I had no plan to write a sequel but there were so many rich characters, I just had to.

      Delete
  8. What I like most about series romance is how the characters and story evolves through each book. Really enjoyed your post.
    Sue B
    katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Evolve is the key, Sue. Thanks. It's exactly what's happened with the three stories and yet they stand alone.

      Delete
  9. I love the happy ever after endings in romance stories. In series romance I enjoy the character and story development.
    bhometchko(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. And here's another important word. Development. I've worked toward that in each story. Thank you, BookLady.

    ReplyDelete
  11. We come to the close of a wonderful week. Thank you all. I'll be in touch regarding the winners of Once Again,Now, my first book.

    And to you my friend Deanna, it's been a pleasure visiting with you.

    ReplyDelete