Writer Wednesday: Meet Shirlee Busbee

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Shirlee BusbeeWelcome to Writer Wednesday! Today I can’t believe I’m hosting Shirlee Busbee. Yes, THE Shirlee Busbee, a lion in the romance writing field!

Personal aside: one time, as a teen, I was reading one of Ms. Busbee’s books at the pool, and a man next to me said, “That’s my aunt.” I’ve never forgotten it – it felt like a brush with royalty at the time, to meet someone who knew a famous romance author. And here I am, years later, featuring that same author on my blog. *giddiness*

Shirlee Busbee is one busy lady, but she did drop by to share a bit about herself:

Which type of romance do you love most, and why?

Contemporary — Woman in Jeopardy/Mystery/Adventure.

Since I write mostly Historical, they make a nice change. Always fun to read what’s happening in the modern world. 

Name two things people don’t know about you?

I love digging in the dirt and burning brush. Love to throw brush on the burnpile and watch it flare and flame.  Digging in the dirt is a great stress-releaser.  

What fellow romance author do you recommend reading and why?

There are several, but Jayne Ann Krentz gets my vote.  Her books are delightful, a wonderful mix of humor, mayhem and mystery. She never disappoints. 

THE TIGER LILY is an exciting tale of a beautiful heiress, torn between the conflicting emotions of defiance and passion aroused by the handsome American who controls her destiny.

Southern Women BannerFind The Tiger Lily and all of Shirlee’s books on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Indie Bound, and Kensington Books.

Thanks so much for joining us, Shirlee! 

Flash Friday Fiction: Home Fires

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Prison Guard, 1910. Public domain photo.
Prison Guard, 1910. Public domain photo.

Home Fires – 207 words

He looked forward to coming home to that kitchen every night and tossing his cap on the table before plopping down to dig in to whatever she placed before him.

Meatloaf. Pork chops. Chicken. He didn’t care what it was; only that it was hot, ready, and waiting for him.

His wife would smile and nod as he told about his day, the uprising in the south cells, the inmate who’d committed suicide, the guard who tormented prisoners with lit cigarette butts.

She’d pass the potatoes. Offer rolls.

Occasionally she’d make an apple pie, or, when he was really lucky, a peach cobbler, the cinnamon infusing the whole room, instant aromatic relief from the stress of pretending the suffering didn’t bother him, that he was cold and hard, like those he guarded. Like those he served with.

He wasn’t. He was the bread she made – crusty on the outside, soft on the inside, always there, always dependable.

Like this kitchen, which he loved coming home to every night.

Until one night there was no dinner.

He found her slumped over on that kitchen floor, those loving eyes closed forever. And it was then he finally knew.

It wasn’t the kitchen he’d looked forward to after all.

And there it is, my short (short!) story of 200 (+/-10) words, combining something from the photo prompt with the setting of a kitchen. What do you think? Want to read other stories or write your own? March on over to Flash Friday Fiction!

 

Cover Reveal: A Man of Character (Plus Pre-Order Option!)

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Here it is! Here it is! Eek, I’m so giddy to share the cover for A Man of Character with y’all today.

Thank you thank you to the fabulous Joy Lankshear of Lankshear Design for whipping this up for me. I love it. I could not be more pleased. What do you think?

A Man of Character Cover Margaret Locke

Here’s the short blurb:

What would you do if you discovered the men you were dating were fictional characters you’d created long ago?

Thirty-five-year-old Catherine Schreiber has shelved love for good. Keeping her ailing bookstore afloat takes all her time, and she’s perfectly fine with that. So when several men ask her out in short order, she’s not sure what to do…especially since something about them seems eerily familiar.

Caught between fantasy and reality, Cat must decide which—or whom—she wants more.

Blending humor with unusual twists, including a magical manuscript, a computer scientist in shining armor, and even a Regency ball, A Man of Character tells a story not only of love, but also of the lengths we’ll go for friendship, self-discovery, and second chances.

Intrigued? A Man of Character debuts on May 26th, but you may pre-order the e-book on Amazon TODAY!

Print versions will also be available for those of you who prefer the tactile sensation of a book in your hands.

Thank you to everyone who’s helped make this dream into reality.