Rolynn Anderson's Blog, page 6

Thanks for joining the MFRWA Mainstream Blog Hop. I’m giving away a PDF of my latest novel, SWOON (see details on http://www.rolynnanderson.com )

HERE’S MY ‘FIRST’

Nothing compares to the first awkward, embarrassing moment in a brand new professional…the kind of story that gets legs around the water cooler.

I’m a brand new high school principal with only three years of a vice-principalship on my resume. The stakes are sky-high because I’ve been hired by the brand new superintendent to open an innovative high school (which is still under construction!).

It’s a rainy day in the Pacific Northwest (we’re talking deluge) and I’m making my way, briefcase in one hand and umbrella in another, to the construction shack (a mobile unit) on my school site. I was meticulously prepared for my weekly meeting, but I hadn’t planned on the mud.

I must not have walked the straight and narrow that day. Maybe too much was on my mind at the time. Anyway, before I knew it, I was literally stuck in sucking mud, the filthy stuff edging to the top of my rubber boots! Seriously, I could not move. I couldn’t set down my umbrella or briefcase in the crud. What to do?

In minutes, the construction site manager walked by and saw my plight. He politely took my umbrella and case, then commenced to pull me out of the muck, made more challenging because I wanted to bring my boots with me.

It was an awkward business, especially since I was bigger than the guy trying to extricate me from the sticky stuff. Finally, with a disgusting ‘Wholoop,’ the mud released one foot and he helped me find solid footing so I could pull up my other boot. Relieved, I was, but red-face with humiliation. At the time he didn’t crack a smile, yet I joked with him about the incident later. Likely, the story of the stuck-in-the-mud principal is still told on school construction sites today.

SUSPENSE SPIKED WITH ROMANCE

Last Resort, Fadeout, Swoon

Web: http://www.rolynnanderson.com

When I started writing the Funeral Planner series, I didn’t know so many people had organized to look death in the eye. Thanatology, Death Cafe, Elder Institutes, Aging to Saging Movement. Amazing! Check it out on http://voicesftheart.blogspot.com/

Elwood, the Scottie in my Funeral Planner Series, welcomes you to this big bash.  ONE OF YOU WILL WIN… a little plush Scottie, named Elwood and a backpack, by answering my question, which follows my blurb.

THE FUNERAL PLANNER SERIES: She’s a boutique funeral planner whose dead clients will not rest in peace.

Jan Solvang has spent her life avoiding conflict and commitment. Six months ago, she left a marriage proposal and a job in Seattle to care for her dying mother. Now she’s stuck with her mother’s California house and her mother’s dog, filling her mother’s shoes as a memorial planner with her estranged father.

Roman Keller thrives on conflict, writing documentaries that reveal the flaws of the famous. Jan’s challenge is to help him write a positive eulogy for a grandfather he disliked, but Roman is more interested in her other client: a powerful attorney with a dark past his family wants buried with him. If Jan stands behind the family and Roman goes for the exposé, who’s in danger and who wins?

The tension between them pulls tighter as each discovers the other is keeping secrets.  But if they tell the truth, will they destroy any chance for love?

“ Don’t miss SWOON by Rolynn Anderson! If you like an interesting cast of characters, a heavy dose of mystery and a lot of fabulous surprises, you’ll be happily turning pages late into the night.ˮ

~ Brenda Novak, NYT and USA Bestselling Author of WHEN LIGHTNING STRIKES

SUSPENSE SPIKED WITH ROMANCE

Web: http://www.rolynnanderson.com

MY QUESTION:  My heroine’s Scottie in FADEOUT and SWOON, seems to guess and react to Jan’s mood/needs.  Do you have examples of a dog being prescient like that?  I need ideas for my next book! 

HERE ARE THE OTHER PLACES TO HOP!  We have 22 authors and will be giving away 27 titles. 15 for first, 12 for second.

HOME  by Calisa Rhose ~ calisarhose.wordpress.com

MONA LISA’S ROOM by Vonnie Davis (plus a little sweet) ~vintagevonnie.blogspot.com

STEPPING OUT OF LINE by Linda Carroll Bradd ~ blog.lindacarroll-bradd.com

DECEPTIONS OF THE HEART by Denise Moncrief ~ ~denisemoncrief.blogspot.com

BE STILL MY LOVER’S HEART  by Lisa Hannah Wells ~memorymakerscreator.blogspot.com

MURDER IN THE BUFF by Maggie Toussaint ~mudpiesandmagnolias.blogspot.com

THE TREASURE OF COMO BLUFF by Alison Henderson ~AliceHenderson.com

SHANGHAI CONNECTION by Carol Henry ~macsmadmania.blogspot.com

SOMEWHERE MY LOVE (A ghostly time travel romance) by Beth Trissell ~  bethtrissel.wordpress.com

FAERIE FOOL by Silver James ~ Silverjames.com

CLEAR AS DAY by Babette James ~ babbettjames.com

AN UNEXPECTED GIFT by Katherine Grey ~katherinegrey.blogspot.com

TAKE ME HOME, COWBOY by Krista Ames (Plus 4 Anthology titles below) ~ apassionforromance.blogspot.com

THE DOLLHOUSE (For the Love of Christmas Anthology) by Dani-Lyn Alexander~  danilynalexander.com

STUDIO RELATIONS by Georgie Lee ~ georgielee.blogspot.com

A SECOND CHANCE AT FOREVER by Joanne Stewart ~ jm-stewart.blogspot.com

MAGIC OF THE LOCH by Karen Michelle Nutt ~kmnbooks.blogspot.com

THE BETTER MAN by Ceri Hebert ~ cerihebert.wordpress.com

THREAT TO OUR FOREVER by Em Epe ~emeperomances.blogspot.com

CONNECT THE DOTS (For the Love of Christmas Anthology) by Jennifer Eaton ~ jennifermeaton.com

FADEOUT by Rolynn Anderson ~ blog.rolynnanderson.com

Plus four anthologies, courtesy of Krista Ames.

BELIEVE CHRISTMAS ~ BE MINE, VALENTINE ~ ALL BETS ARE ON ~ SUMMER SHORTS

Happy holidays everyone.  I’m happy to be joining the revelers at the TRS Party!  If you need a little escape over the holidays, start with FADEOUT, the first of my Funeral Planner Suspense series.  Here’s the blurb:

Jan Solvang has spent her life avoiding conflict and commitment. Six months ago, she left a marriage proposal and a job in Seattle to care for her dying mother. Now she’s stuck with her mother’s California house and her mother’s dog, filling her mother’s shoes as a memorial planner with her estranged father.

Roman Keller thrives on conflict, writing documentaries that reveal the flaws of the famous. Jan’s challenge is to help him write a positive eulogy for a grandfather he disliked, but Roman is more interested in her other client: a powerful attorney with a dark past his family wants buried with him. If Jan stands behind the family and Roman goes for the exposé, who’s in danger and who wins?

The tension between them pulls tighter as each discovers the other is keeping secrets.  But if they tell the truth, will they destroy any chance for love?

What are the reviewers saying about FADEOUT?  Here’s one from Ind’tale Reviews:

http://indtale.com/reviews/fadeout

Jan Solvang’s mother is terminally ill, so Jan decides to move home to care for her during her last months.  After her mom’s death, she stays on, helping her dad as a funeral planner.  She knows she must leave soon, as her boyfriend Frank is still in Seattle…but Roman Keller steps into the picture.  Suddenly  Jan isn’t so sure what she wants.  
Roman is an investigative journalist whose grandfather has just died.  His grandmother Bella has contracted with Jan and her father to help plan the funeral.  Roman is appalled at their bill, certain they are out to bilk a grieving widow at an opportunistic time.  He doesn’t plan on the incredible attraction he feels towards the beautiful Jan.  Jan is equally attracted, but has sharp words for Roman and his investigative reporting.  She thinks he does not fairly present all sides, ruining lives in the process.  Her mom’s terrier Elwood, whom Jan has inherited, isn’t too fond of Roman either.  The sparks fly as their relationship seesaws back and forth, and they learn that their first impressions of each other are not entirely correct.

“Fadeout” is an unusual twist on a common profession, giving the reader a different look on  grieving and funerals.  The interplay between Jan and Roman has its highs and lows, with no clue as to what will happen.  Rolynn Anderson develops her characters and relationships beautifully, deftly painting  Jan’s interactions with Roman, her dad, Bella, Frank, even the terrier Elwood to delightful perfection, making this a great reading and a 5 star rating!

Victoria Z. Burg

Check out my website at http://www.rolynnanderson.com

Anyone else out there having trouble getting rid of old megabites? What’s your system of cleaning out your computer closet? I talk about my hoarding issues on http://theromancestudio.blogspot.com/

Welcome to my Next Big Thing, the Funeral Planner Suspense Series. Geesh, writing a series is a very big thing. I wanted to try my hand at it; now I’m in the thick of the ‘thing,’ blinking my eyes like a frog in a hailstorm! More about me in a moment. Please note that Tiffany York is your next stop, next Wednesday, December 12th, to hear about her Next Big Thing. Her addy is:

http://www.tiffanynyorkauthor.com/

Now back to the Funeral Planner Suspense Series

Question 1: What are the working titles of your books?

FADEOUT and SWOON

Question 2: Where did the idea come from for the book?

Back in 2005 after my father died, my sister, my brothers and I began planning his funeral with a fairly traditional approach in mind, until my teacher-self spoke out in alarm: “The children will be watching!” In fact eight children under the age of 15 were going to be present; the youngest was two years old at the time. Could we design a funeral ceremony about the death of a loved one that wouldn’t frighten children? Indeed, could we use the event as a teachable moment?

Our second challenge: most of the grandchildren knew my father during the time he was bewildered by Alzheimers. What could we provide in the ceremony that would show the audience he once lived a robust and productive life?

My character, a boutique funeral planner emerged out of this experience.

Question 3: What genre does your book fall under?

Suspense spiked with romance

Question 4: Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Michelle Williams would play Jan Solvang

Jake Gyllenhall (shaved) might work for Roman

Question 5: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your series? She’s a boutique funeral planner whose clients refuse to rest in peace.

Question 6: Will your books be self-published or represented by an agency? Wild Rose Press publishes FADEOUT; I’m self-pubbing SWOON

Question 7: How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

About eight months each

Question 8: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

By book #2, SWOON, Jan develops some first grade detective skills and she sticks with the same man she fell in love with in FADEOUT.  Sort of J.D. Robb, Cherry Adair, Linda Howard.

Question 9: Who or what inspired you to write this book? When I told people about the concept, their eyes lit up. Once, at a conference, a writer/publisher actually offered me money for the concept. I HAD to write the book…then decided to write the series.

Question 10: What else about this book might pique the reader’s interest? My heroine is burdened with a fainting disorder along with a need to keep a suitcase packed. She also inherited her mother’s dog, a little Scottie with an attitude. He’s cute, but he comes with his own set of mysteries.

Check out my website for information about buying my books:

http://www.rolynnanderson.com

Be sure to check in on Tiffany York’s Big Thing next Wednesday on”

http://www.tiffanynyorkauthor.com/

Raise your hand if you are Scandinavian and eat Weird White Foods! I’m a guest of Emma Lai and must tell the truth about Scandinavian food habits at Christmas http://emmalaiwrites.blogspot.com/?zx...

Yes, Elwood is back, with a bigger role in SWOON

It took a village to help me with my first self-pubbed novel, SWOON.  I sketch out the journey and thank those who helped me on The Romance Studio: http://theromancestudio.blogspot.com/  Rolynn

Seriously, the hours it takes to learn enough html to update websites and blogs, adjust images, etc.,…it’s enough to make you scream. It took me three hours to update the book covers on my blog…another two to learn how to help a person ‘take away’ pictures and covers from my web media site. For all the work…it feels like HUGE accomplishments. Gaze upon both my website and blog…they represent STEEP learning curves!

I learned from Cherry Adair and other best-selling writers about how

to plan backwards from the villain in the novel. Check out my Savvy

Author entry: http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/conten...

Tell me what you think of villain-centered planning for novels!

Rolynn