ExcerpTuesday: Kaye George

Twenty-two-year-old Imogene Duckworthy is waiting tables at Huey's Hash in tiny Saltlick, TX, itching to jump out of her rut and become a detective. When Uncle Huey is found murdered in the diner, a half-frozen package of mesquite-smoked sausage stuffed down his throat, Immy gets her chance. Immy's mother, Hortense is hauled in for the crime. Unclear of the exact duties of a PI, Immy starts a fire in the bathroom wastebasket to bust Mother out of jail. On the run from the law with her mother and her toddler daughter, Nancy Drew Duckworthy, Immy wonders, now what?

Chapter 1


"That's it, Uncle Huey!" Imogene Duckworthy whipped off her apron and flung it onto the slick, stainless steel counter. "I quit!" If only her voice didn’t sound so…young. Her order pad, pencil, even the straws skittered out of their pouches and across the floor. She took a step back, her shoes sticking to the trod-upon-after-lunch debris of squished lettuce, blobs of gravy, and bits of unidentifiable brown stuff.

"You can't quit, darlin'," drawled Uncle Huey in that thin, nasal voice that made him seem six inches shorter than his five ten. "You're family." He dipped a scoop of mashed potatoes onto a plate, ladled thick brown gravy on top, and handed it to the cook.

"I'm not working double shifts again next week." Immy hoped she sounded serious. Mature. Convincing.

"Well, you'll just have to, won't you? Since Xenia just quit on me today, you and April are all the waitresses I've got left."

Clem, the portly cook, piled the hot plate with thick slabs of meatloaf, spooned green beans beside them, and shoved it into April's waiting hands. Immy hadn't eaten lunch yet and the oniony smell of the meatloaf kicked up some saliva under her tongue. She watched April swing through the double doors and glimpsed the white-washed dining room, full of scarred wooden tables and chairs, almost empty of customers now.

She’d worked and played in this restaurant her entire twenty-two years. It had been started by her grandparents and handed down to her father and her uncle. Since her father’s death, of course, Uncle Huey had run it alone.

Would she miss this place? Maybe, but she was quitting anyway.

Immy pounded her fist on the work counter. Hugh Duckworthy jumped. "No, Uncle Huey. April is all you've got left. And if you'd kept your mitts to yourself, you'd still have Xenia." Immy's hands shook as she snatched her purse and jacket from her cubby, but she succeeded in stomping out the back door of the diner, past the cook and busboy who were staring openmouthed. Aside from troublesome customers, she didn't talk back to people often, even when she wanted to.

Even if Uncle Huey was her father's brother, he was a first class jerk.

© by Kaye George 2011

Kaye George, an Agatha nominated short story writer, is the author of CHOKE, Mainly Murder Press, May 2011, as well as A PATCHWORK OF STORIES, a collection of her previously published stories. She reviews for "Suspense Magazine", and writes for several newsletters and blogs. She, her husband, and a cat named Agamemnon live together in Texas, near Austin.


Homepage: KayeGeorge.com

Blog: TravelsWithKaye.blogspot.com

Authorsday - Autumn Jordon

Today I put Autumn Jordon in the hotseat.

She talks about her weaknesses. Please join me in welcoming her.

Author Bio: Autumn Jordon: This 2009 Golden Heart Finalist, is a quiet nut with a reputation for finding trouble. AJ lives with her husband along the Appalachian Trail in northeast Pennsylvania. Crafting stories has always been part of her life, as her four children will confirm. When not working at the family business and not writing, she enjoys her friends, not housework or pulling weeds. She loves meeting new people and making new friends.

Book Blurb:
Isobel Trinidad is her own woman. No man was going to rope her to a humdrum life of housewife and take away her dreams of becoming the National Barrel Champion like her father had done to her mother. Her mind is set, until a handsome Yankee comes to town and upsets everything she has believed.

Arson brings State Fire Marshal Warner Keyson to Wayback, but a wildfire of a woman stops him in his tracks. Intrigued by Issy’s fire, he contrives ways to keep her close while conducting his investigation. What they create, which neither of them bargained for, is the blaze of a lifetime.



1. What is your brainstorming process for a new book?

First, Chris, thank you for inviting me to your place. I think you’re going to love Warner, my hero in Obsessed BY Wildfire. He’s a yummy fire marshal. (Chris says: Ya know my weakness for firefighters!)

Now, my process is whacky! It’s totally different than anyone else’s, as far as I know. I tend to come up with first lines. I get all excited over that first line. I’m like a kid standing in front of the candy wall at Wegman’s. My mind reels with possibilities for the hook and I get this picture of who has had the thought or made the statement. Then I play what if, developing the basic GMC of that character. Soon I have a first scene.

Next, I’ll free write maybe two or three chapters where I’ll flesh out a few other characters. Then, I’ll stop and write a synopsis. I know I need a HEA since I write romantic suspense, so I’ll plot out points which will lead the story through twists and turns finally ending with a heroine and hero triumphing over evil and in love.


2. Can you explain your typical work week day?

I do work fifty plus hours a week at a fulltime position but since we’re talking writing, I write every day. Monday through Friday, my day begins at six. After, sending husband out the door, I write for an hour and then I’m off to work. Saturday and Sundays, I’ll write at different times depending on my family’s schedule. During the evenings, I’ll work on editing and the business side of my writing career. Since my actual writing time is limited to about fifteen hours a week, I try to stay focus on putting crap on paper. Remember I edit at night so I fix the crap then.

3. You recently had a book release. Could tell us a little about it?

Yes, I did. Obsessed By Wildfire released from The Wild Rose Press on January 27. The story is a light, fun, sexy contemporary western, with suspense elements of course. I had a ball writing it. Below is the blurb for Obsessed By Wildfire.

Here’s an exerpt:

The sight of the Yankee looming over her, his muscular forearms crossed across his broad chest, his jaw working, set Isabelle back a step. She couldn’t see his eyes through his sunglasses, but she knew they were probably the same stormy blue she remembered from last night, challenging her.

“What do you want?”

“I have a few words to say to you.”

“Then say em’.”

“You’re really full of yourself, lady. If you’ll recall, I told you two things last night. First, I’m here on important business. And second, if you want more of what went on between us then you’re going to have to find me.”

“Then why did you call me?”

“I didn’t.”

Her eyes darted toward the restaurant behind him. A blue gingham curtain dropped back into place. Heat crawled up her neck. Damn. Just as she feared. The biggest gossips in the whole damn town were watching and talking about what happened between her and Warner last night at the Blue Bug and what was going on between them now. Mentally she scratched out Chicky’s name from her hit list and substituted Ray-Ray’s.

“When I called for the cab a man answered. I guess he was the dispatcher or owner. I didn’t know you worked for the cab company. I thought you worked for—” Warner’s lips sealed and he shifted his stance.

“You thought I worked for who?”

“I thought you had something to do with horses and the rodeo.”

“I do. I’m a barrel racer, and I am the cab company.”

“Oh. I see. Well, if you don’t feel comfortable servicing me, I guess I can go back inside and ask one of the locals for a ride. Maybe that Ray-Ray guy.”

She knew he used the word servicing to needle her. She’d be damn if he was going to get her riled in front of the whole damn town. “No. Mr. Warner. I have no problem servicing you. Let’s go.”

4. Did you have to do special research if the novel?

Actually, I did. Isobel is a barrel racer. I have some experience barrel racing myself, but not at Issy’s level. I contacted several female champion barrel racers and they were wonderful in answering my questions and revealing their experiences while racing. I was fun talking to them and afterwards I wanted to climb back into the saddle and beat the clock myself.

If you liked to see the trailer I made for OBSESSED BY WILDFIRE, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkq_Um-WyzI

Buy Obssesed By Wildfire:
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/obsessed-by-wildfire-p-3839.html

5. What was the hardest scene to write?

The sex scene. When my editor said she thought I could erotica, I said, “Ah, No.” I love sexual tension but writing the dancing between the sheets scene is really hard for me.

6. What was your favorite scene to write?

The scene where Warner thinks Issy is being trampled by her horse. I was laughing so hard. I could just see my dear husband acting the same way. Big fearless hero afraid of a horse.

7. What do you consider strengths in terms of writing?

Hooks. I love hooks. As first lines, at the end of paragraphs and of course, at the end of chapters. I’ll tweak and tweak until I get that perfect line.

8. What do you consider your weakness and what strategies do you use to overcome it?

Expressing the deep emotions of the characters. I’m an introvert. I tend to keep things to myself, so it’s really heard to ask my characters to open up and reveal their souls, but we’re working towards doing just that. I’ve taken Margie Lawson’s class on Empowering Characters Emotions and that has that fault on the run.

9. How many rejections have you received?

Quite a few. You can’t get published unless you submit. Hey, rejections are part of the business. You have to keep in mind when receiving a rejection it’s not personal. Even though it feels that way. Your work might not be accepted for a number of reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of work.

My advice, read for feedback. If there is none, trash it and move on. If there is feedback, take a good hard look at it. Editors and agents don’t have time to comment on every query. If there is feedback on yours, enjoy, that editor or agent saw something in your writing or story. Follow the feedback and resubmit.

10. What was the best writing advice someone gave you?
“You’re a good writer, believe in yourself.” Debra Mullins
“Write what you’re passionate about.” Caridad Pineiro
“Quit your whining and write.” Kasey Michaels

All great advice which made me a 2009 Golden Heart Finalist. My GH entry, now titled EVIL’S WITNESS will released on June 18, 2010 from The Wild Rose Press.

Author Bio: Autumn Jordon: This 2009 Golden Heart Finalist, is a quiet nut with a reputation for finding trouble. AJ lives with her husband along the Appalachian Trail in northeast Pennsylvania. Crafting stories has always been part of her life, as her four children will confirm. When not working at the family business and not writing, she enjoys her friends, not housework or pulling weeds. She loves meeting new people and making new friends.

Book Blurb:
Isobel Trinidad is her own woman. No man was going to rope her to a humdrum life of housewife and take away her dreams of becoming the National Barrel Champion like her father had done to her mother. Her mind is set, until a handsome Yankee comes to town and upsets everything she has believed.

Arson brings State Fire Marshal Warner Keyson to Wayback, but a wildfire of a woman stops him in his tracks. Intrigued by Issy’s fire, he contrives ways to keep her close while conducting his investigation. What they create, which neither of them bargained for, is the blaze of a lifetime.


Contact Info:
http://www.autumnjordon.com/
Facebook as Autumn Jordon
Twitter @AJordon
MySpace as Autumn Jordon
http://www.autumnjordonsnotes.blogspot.com

Now, my turn. Since I bared my soul. What are your weakness and what are you doing to overcome them?