I've got a special guest today. A writer from both the fiction and non-fiction spheres of the publishing world. She has a new release this week from The Wild Rose Press--That Girl's The One I Love. For those of you who attended TWRP's writers' retreat in Asheville last year, you'll recognize the location of this story.
Her first release (as Alana Lorens) is SECRETS IN THE SAND, in the Crimson Rose line from The Wild Rose Press. Since then, the Wild Rose Press has also published CONVICTION OF THE HEART, another romantic suspense novel, the first in the Pittsburgh Lady Lawyers series, and Zumaya Publications published the second in that series, SECOND CHANCES.
Alana also takes care of a husband and a bunch of kids and blogs on a variety of subjects, including autism, science fiction and life at Awalkabout.
I've asked Alana to tell us how she came up with the idea for this week's release. And for the location, as well.
Alana also takes care of a husband and a bunch of kids and blogs on a variety of subjects, including autism, science fiction and life at Awalkabout.
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| One side of the Biltmore Estate |
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| Chef Kim |
My daughter Kim took an internship as a pastry chef
at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asheville,_North_Carolina)
several years ago after she finished her culinary arts degree, and so in
visiting her, I got my first look at this beautiful city nestled in the
mountains of western North Carolina. Subsequent visits have endeared the place
to me, and that’s the reason I chose to set my latest novella, THAT GIRL’S THE
ONE I LOVE, in that charming place.
Leyla Brand meets Arran Lake, when his band Copper
Moon plays as part of the Bele Chere festival (http://www.belecherefestival.com/),
a great site for arts every July. They
spend a day together, even going to the Biltmore Estate for a meal at my
daughter’s restaurant, The Stable, where they share a slice of her signature
dessert, a strawberry and lemon custard pie! (It is sooooo good.)
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| Front View of the Biltmore Estate |
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| View of mountains from the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC |
I also spend an awful lot of time online, and
discovered Facebook last year, later than most of those who follow all the
latest trends. The ability to connect with long-lost friends and relatives
interested me, and I also incorporated that into the story. The Internet has a
broad reach, and every so often, it just might help the cause of true love, as
well.
BLURB:
Leyla Brand has one perfect day in her life: the day
she meets rock singer Arran Lake at the Bele Chere Festival in Asheville. They
have so much in common, Leyla is sure they are soulmates and will have a future
together.
The very next morning, when Arran receives the call
to hit the big time, he vanishes into the world of California rock and roll to
become an international star, leaving her behind. Only a few phone calls keep
them in touch -- until his phone is disconnected. After that, all she has of
him is every new song that hits the charts.
Five years later, she gets a message on the Internet
from an unfamiliar address. Someone wants to know if she's the Leyla of Bele
Chere. Should she open that door and discover who this might be? Who else could
it be? And if it is Arran, why does he want to contact her now, after all this
time? Will he just break her heart again?
EXCERPT:
He continued to stare at the flowers, lost now in
some memory of the past, one that obviously hurt him. She changed the subject,
wanting to lighten the mood again. “I like this one,” she said, pointing to a
bright pink flower identified as oleander.
“I’d
make a different choice. That one’s poison.”
She
yanked her hand back. “Oh, my gosh!”
He
laughed. “Here. Now if this was my greenhouse, I’d give you...” He studied her
a minute. “A string of white dendrobium orchids, like little butterflies. You
could pin them in your hair, right here.” He reached over to tap her head
gently, then his hand slid down her hair to her neck, while he looked into her
eyes.
She felt such a connection that almost
without conscious thought she moved a little closer. His hand drew her in, till
they stood inches apart, gaze still locked. Her lips parted, as if she intended
to speak. Nothing came out. Before she knew it, he’d stepped in to kiss her.
Right then she knew they wouldn’t leave each other till the morning.
He
seemed to feel the same way, because after they left the greenhouse at the
estate, they went down to the Grove Arcade, looking in shop windows, then out
to the botanical gardens, all the time holding hands and talking. If she could
have predicted what a “soulmate” might be for her, someone who seemed to share
so many common qualities, right down to their favorite peanut butter cup ice
cream, she’d have chosen someone like Arran . A
man who took no effort to be with. Someone she could really be herself with. No
matter what she was wearing, or how her hair looked, or how much she earned.
It
was time.
When
they reached the end of the path at the rose garden, she whispered, close to
his ear, “Why don’t you come home with me?”
He
drew back, his eyes narrowed. “Are you sure? You’ve just met me.”
Another
surprise. She’d always believed men were hardwired to say yes any time they
were propositioned. Arran was indeed out of the ordinary.
“I’m
sure,” she said. “I’ve even got a couple of Danish in the refrigerator for
breakfast. And coffee.”
“Breakfast,
hm?” He studied her a long moment. “Leyla, I don’t want you to think that
because I sing in a band means I just use women. I’d never take advantage of
you.”
Now, that could be one hell of a line. Maybe
it was. But his eyes were so sincere. She didn’t want to frighten him off, not
now. That kiss had promised much more. “Guess I don’t usually stalk guitarists
and throw myself at them, either. Does that make us even?”
He
actually blushed. “Hey, I’m the one who asked you to lunch.” He held out his
right hand. “Let’s call it a draw.”
She
took his hand and shook it. “Deal.”
He
let go and slipped an arm around her waist, his hold on her possessive. She did
the same. “Which way to your place?”
BUY LINKS:
At The Wild Rose Press (digital): http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_133&products_id=4971
5 comments:
Congratulations, Alana! I love how you got the ideas and the excerpt is very...nice! (Needed a little more though-you left it hanging)
Very interesting post. Great excerpt and blurb!
Alana,
Very nice! As we have an Upstate SC home and have visited Biltmore several times--heavenly at Christmas (pun):-)--and hope to visit again in the spring, we'll have to visit Kim's restaurant, see if we can meet her. Nothing better than a scrumptious dessert!
Thanks, Vonnie, for hosting Alana.
Best,
Diane
dianeokey.com
CHERISH THE KNIGHT
thank you--and I know that Candlelight is supposed to be the best and most beautiful of the year!
Awesome pictures!
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