A new month already?! I hope you had some Halloween fun. We had a few trick or treaters last night who picked up sanitized, quarantined treat bags from our socially distant treat table. No doorbell ringing, of course, but I’m glad a few kiddos were able to enjoy the holiday in a limited way.

Thanksgiving will be just another Zoom meeting for us, as my family’s in California, though we may attend an outdoor Friendsgiving celebration with separate, widely-spaced tables for each household. Speaking of Thanksgiving, today’s guest author has a new release that plays out over this month’s holiday.

Can Dillon and Diana elude a killer while their newfound love grows?

Disillusioned by his wife’s betrayal, rodeo star Dillon McCoy comes home to the mountains of North Carolina to lick his wounds. When he agrees to take over the family ranch, the Lazy M, he’s unaware danger waits.

Diana Thompson is having doubts about her engagement to Trent Sawyer. She agrees to leave Chapel Hill and spend Thanksgiving with her friend Jenn at the Lazy M. When Diana and Dillon meet, neither can deny their attraction, but both must resolve past relationships while fighting their growing desire.

After Dillon turns down an anonymous offer to purchase the ranch, attempts are made on his life. When a body is found, Dillon sets out to discover who wants the McCoy land enough to commit murder.

Excerpt

Dillon smiled and Diana thought it the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. There was a slight cleft in his chin, and fine lines formed at the corners of his eyes. Diana inwardly groaned. The butterflies were back.

“I’d hold onto you. I wouldn’t let you fall,” he softly said.

With his slow southern accent, the words sounded like warm honey rolling off his tongue. The depth of his eyes and the sound of his voice mesmerized her.

The horses stood side by side. Her and Dillon’s legs touched. He leaned toward her, and the light aroma of wood smoke, hay, and his spicy cologne filled her nostrils. Diana knew what he was about to do but had no willpower to stop him. He cupped her cheek and their lips met.

Gentle at first, his lips glided over hers. He increased the pressure until she opened her mouth and his tongue slipped in. Diana moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms around her waist, he deepened the kiss. Before she realized what he was doing, without breaking their kiss Dillon lifted her from Flora and placed her across his lap.

Cradled in his arms, Diana clung to him, delicious sensations filling her. Her body came alive in a way that surprised her. The only thing that mattered was this man and this moment.

Flame moved, bringing her back to reality. Diana’s eyes fluttered open, and she stared into Dillon’s, deep with passion and need.

Mountain Blaze releases November 2. Pre-order your copy today!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Debby-Grahl/e/B00B34HM26

Barnes & Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Debby+Grahl?_requestid=5525094

Award winning author Debby Grahl lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach and a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City, Captiva Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. His Magic Touch, a paranormal romance, was released by Wild Rose Press December 5, 2018. Her latest book, Mountain Blaze, will be released November 2.

Tell us about your inspiration for this story, Debby.

The idea for Mountain Blaze came to me while my husband and I were touring the area around Asheville, NC with my cousins. It was Fall, and the spectacular display of color against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains was breathtaking. We hiked a while and discovered a scenic overlook which revealed a stream winding through the valley below.

We came upon a small ranch with cabins to rent and horseback riding. As we waited for the horses to be saddled for a trail ride, my writer’s imagination replaced the nice older man with a handsome cowboy. Now, what would be his story? As we rode through the lush woods, the air fragrant with the smell of pine, Dillon McCoy took shape in my mind.

We drove down the mountain into Waynesville. This is a great little town where I discovered Mast General. A fun old-fashioned country store, this is one of my favorite places to shop. We decided to stop in a café, and while sipping a delicious cup of coffee, I noticed an attractive woman seated at an adjacent table. Her clothes were stylish. She looked as if she had just walked off Fifth Avenue. Once again, my writer’s imagination took over, and Diana Thompson was born. Now, what circumstances could bring the cowboy and the wealthy city girl together?

In all my books, I like to have some type of mystery. So not only do Diana and Dillon need to meet, they must discover what outside force is determined to keep them apart and endanger their lives.

Do you write in other genres?

I also write paranormal romances. I love ghosts, witches, and magic. I usually set these stories in New Orleans. I can’t think of any other place where you’d have a better  chance of coming across any of these.

Tell us about your journey from aspiring writer to published author.

This is quite the story. I received my first contract offer from a small press. The email came in at 8 am, and my husband was awakened by me running through the house screaming, crying, and jumping up and down. I then proceeded to call family and friends and open a bottle of champagne. I have to add, though, my happiness was short-lived. Three months into the editing process, I received another email telling me they were sorry, but they had to close their doors. This led to additional contract offers from small presses, until finally I signed with The Wild Rose Press. I have to say though, each time I receive a contract offer, it’s still an incredible thrill.

What do you do for fun when you’re not writing?

I enjoy traveling. England is one of my favorite places to visit. I love to read old British murder mysteries, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, and Patricia Moyes. While traveling through quaint villages, it’s easy to let your  imagination take flight and pretend it’s nineteen-thirty.

What does your writing space look like?

This is a bit unusual. A few years ago I had back surgery and couldn’t comfortably sit in my desk chair. I found the love seat, with my feet up, worked well. So, I placed my keyboard on my lap and typed away. I became so used to this, I never returned to my desk.

Any advice for aspiring writers?

Do your research. Readers will catch the smallest mistake, such as if you have a specific building or street, make sure they’re in the right location. In writing historical, check to make sure you’re using the correct devices in the correct time period. Take online writing classes. I found these to be extremely helpful with beginner writing mistakes. Writers need to learn about tag lines, POV changes, correct punctuation, and grammar, also info dump and character development. When you submit your MS, make sure it’s as perfect as it can be. Editors will reject your work in seconds if there are too many mistakes.

 What makes you put down a book without finishing?

 I listen to a lot of audio books, and a bad narrator can kill a good story. Mountain Blaze is my first book that will be available in audio. I was extremely picky on choosing my narrator and was very pleased with the person I chose.

 Another thing that makes me crazy is authors who go on and on describing something. You can tell me how pretty a garden is in a couple of lines.

Follow Debby Grahl on social media:

Website — www.debbygrahl.com
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/debbygrahlauthor?ref=br_rs

Bookbub — https://www.bookbub.com/search/authors?search=debby%20grahl
Twitter — https://twitter.com/DebbyGrahl

https://www.bookbub.com/books/mountain-blaze-the-carolina-series-by-debby-grahl

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55319289-mountain-blaze

Thanks for joining us today, Debby, and best of luck with your new book!