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Below: Betty Bolte in June of 2018. Copyright permission granted by Betty Botle for this CRC Blog Post Only
Below: Betty Bolte in June of 2018. Copyright permission granted by Betty Botle for this CRC Blog Post Only
****Betty Bolte’s Veiled Visions of
Love is the twenty-ninth
in a never-ending series called INSIDE
THE EMOTION OF FICTION where the Chris
Rice Cooper Blog (CRC) focuses on one specific excerpt from a fiction
genre and how that fiction writer wrote that specific excerpt. All INSIDE
THE EMOTION OF FICTION links are at the end of this piece.
Name of fiction work? And were there other names
you considered that you would like to share with us? Veiled
Visions of Love (Secrets of Roseville
Book 4). As for other
titles, I brainstormed a long list of possibilities, 43 in all. Some of them
were Love Me Tomorrow; Visions of Tomorrow; Blinded by Love; On the Wings of
Love; Remembering the Future (terrible, right?); A View to His Home. Some are
too awful to share!
Fiction genre? Ex science fiction, short
story, fantasy novella, romance, drama, crime, plays, flash fiction,
historical, comedy, etc. And how many pages long? Paranormal (actually supernatural)
romance
Has this been published? And it is
totally fine if the answer is no. If yes, what publisher and what publication
date? Indie published September 3 2018.
What is the date you began writing this piece of fiction and
the date when you completely finished the piece of fiction? The initial brainstorming stage occurred throughout
March 2018. I started writing the manuscript on March 30, 2018 and finished the
final touches on August 3, 2018.
Where did you do most of your writing for this fiction work?
And please describe in detail. And can you please include a photo? I did my brainstorming in my sunroom, then worked
in my office to write the story.
My office consists of a desk, computer stand
with my laptop and monitor on it, and a couple of bookcases with writing
references and research books. I love having my own space again! Prior to April
2017 I worked in the living room with my laptop on a rolling table beside my
chair. When we moved in 2017 one of the things I looked for in the new house
was a room to call my own. We added on the sunroom as a light-filled airy space
to read and write, and it’s one of my favorite places in the house.
What were your writing habits while writing this work- did
you drink something as you wrote, listen to music, write in pen and paper,
directly on laptop; specific time of day? I set aside 8:00-12:00 each weekday to write. I usually
have some coffee to begin and then switch to water midmorning. I brainstorm
using pen and paper, but write the book on my laptop with a wireless keyboard
and mouse.
I listen to a variety of music on the radio while I write but when
I’m revising I move to the living room with my lap desk and printed manuscript
and red pen. Then I turn on the TV and have reruns of older shows like Murder
She Wrote and Columbo on as background. My cat, Calliope, likes to come “help”
me with revisions by sitting on the manuscript so I can pet her.
What is the summary of your fiction work? His search for a home led him straight to her
heart…
Psychic
Beth Golden longs to live the life of a heroine in a suspense novel but knows
she’ll die of boredom working in the bookstore in the small town of Roseville.
Until a pilot rolls into town on his motorcycle with a secret mission.
When he
introduces her to a whole new world of daring and romance, she’s captivated by
a lifestyle filled with unexpected and dangerous surprises.
Major Mitch Sawyer, currently serving in the
Reserves, has lived all over the world and wants nothing more than to have his
own home with a wife and family. Forced to complete one more airplane repo job
before he can afford to resign his commission and make his dream a reality, he
entices a sexy book lover to help him by becoming an undercover biker chick.
Only Beth’s hunger for excitement endangers both herself and an innocent
bystander. Can he protect them—and his heart—before it’s too late?
Can you give the reader just enough information for them to understand what is going on in the excerpt? Beth and Mitch were supposed to repossess the plane she’s on but the bad guys show up and capture Mitch and his buddy Keith who are outside trying to get the plane ready for takeoff.
Can you give the reader just enough information for them to understand what is going on in the excerpt? Beth and Mitch were supposed to repossess the plane she’s on but the bad guys show up and capture Mitch and his buddy Keith who are outside trying to get the plane ready for takeoff.
Please include excerpt and include page numbers as
reference. The excerpt can be as short or as long as you prefer.
(pp167-170)
Chapter Fifteen
As
Keith had ducked to scramble down the steps, Beth spun away to take another
look around the cabin. She’d love to take a vacation on such a plane. Elegant
and sleek as well as comfortable. Not having to deal with the crowds and lines
at the airport. Yet still having the thrill of going to other countries,
visiting different cultures. She tossed her jacket on the seat of one chair and
then settled into one of the closest chairs, running her hands over the buttery
leather armrests. The seat welcomed her, gently embracing her body.
Her imagination took flight, images of daring snatches of
other expensive planes before the owner had time to react let alone offer any
objection or obstacle. Just her and Mitch, jetting from airport to airport,
together. Her training gave her the self-confidence and strength to make her
fantasies become realities. She flexed her hands, pleased by the increased
strength in her grasp and her overall flexibility and resiliency. Between that
and her newfound knowledge of planes and her sharpshooter skills, she could
handle anything.
She peered out the window at the fading sunlight, the first
few stars braving the night sky. Leaning her head back, she closed her eyes. Imagined
all the faraway places they could go. As successful repo agents, they’d have
plenty of money to afford the best of everything. They could hire a pilot and
crew and really enjoy the lap of luxury in style. She let the daydream play out
for several minutes then frowned. She opened her eyes to stare about the quiet
cabin. Too much time had elapsed without any sign of departure happening. Where
was Mitch?
She tensed and jumped to her feet. She tilted her head,
straining to hear what might be happening outside but no sounds filtered
through the open door. Maybe she should go check to make sure he was all right.
But Keith had told her to stay put. Still, if something had gone wrong… She
started toward the door.
A large swarthy-skinned man burst into the cabin, his gaze
searching and then landing on her with an angry frown. “Who are you?”
How to respond? Beth forced herself into character, made her
tense frame relax as she smiled coyly at him. She’d dressed to be sexy, so she
would act the part. If he thought she wasn’t a threat, then she’d have a better
chance of mitigating his accusatory glare. “My name’s Beth. What’s yours?”
The only exit stood behind her adversary. She darted a
glance around her, not finding anything suitable to use as a weapon. Nothing presented
itself as even remotely acting like a weapon. She had her gun, of course, but
Mitch had warned her about using it within the airplane. Something vital could
be damaged, if not some part of the plane then some part of a person. If he
came close enough, she could use her martial arts. She inhaled, preparing to do
whatever necessary to protect herself.
“Never you mind.” He took two steps toward her, the muzzle
of a silver gun glinting in the small space between them. “Put your hands where
I can see them.”
The presence of his gun changed her options. Made her glad
she hadn’t pulled her own, alerting him to the fact she had one. If she could
grab his gun away, she might have a chance hand to hand. She assessed his wide
shoulders, the firm grip he had on the gun, and swallowed hard. Maybe not.
Staring down the barrel of the weapon unnerved her. One slip of his finger and
she could be injured. Or dead.
Waves of fear and uncertainty crashed through her, rattling
her confidence into doubt. She’d been training for action but when confronted,
her self-preservation instincts kicked in. Mitch had been right to warn her
away from trying to live the life of a heroine from a novel. Be careful what
you wish for…you just might get it.
She slowly raised her hands to ear height. “What do you
want?”
“For you to go back there and sit down.” He pointed with his
free hand, the gun aimed steadily at her heart. “The boss will be here in a
minute and he can decide what to do with you.”
Todd Walsh, the abuser? More thugs like the one in front of
her would also likely accompany the man. She needed to escape, to get off the
plane before someone—like her—got hurt. Maybe she could talk her way out of the
situation. Her fighting skills might suffice but her courage didn’t measure up
to the threat she faced. Tears pressed for release. All her efforts to be
better, stronger, had worked to make her fully capable of protecting herself.
Only to lack the bravery to meet the deadly challenge.
“Let me get out of your way then.” She tried to smile but
feared she’d failed at that as well. “I’ll mosey on out of here…”
“Nice try. Get to that back seat and buckle up. We’ll be
taking off in a few minutes. The boss is in a hurry.” The big guy indicated
with his head for her to move as he’d said.
“But really, I don’t—” What had happened to Mitch and Keith?
Her heart fell with the sudden realization they must be hurt and unable to
reach her as a result. “My friends?”
“They’re a bit tied up at the moment.”
The deep rumble of ironic laughter unsettled her even more.
“You better not have hurt them, or I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” He sneered and spun her around with a hard
push toward the back seat. “Sit down and shut up.”
She caught her balance on the back of the chair, her fingers
clawing at the leather to steady herself. The threat to her life was real.
Beyond the chair only a few feet of open space stretched before running into
the padlocked storage cabinet. No chance of escape or even to fight back. She’d
asked for the excitement and daring of the job but never thought she’d end up a
prisoner. She glanced at the man, who glared at her and motioned to the seat
again. Sinking onto the soft seat, she clicked the seatbelt home. He tossed her
jacket at her which she caught and laid across her lap. Then could only stare
at the man with the gun, and forlornly hope for someone, anyone, to save her.
Why is this excerpt so emotional for
you? And can you describe your own emotional experience of writing this
specific excerpt? This scene is the moment when she realizes that as much as
she thought she was prepared to do what’s necessary she isn’t. I drew on my n
experience with learning how to SCUBA dive decades ago in Indiana. I passed the
written knowledge tests and even the pool qualification dive. I thought I was
ready and able to go out diving with my husband, who has been diving since he
was a teen. I wanted to be able to go with him. I’d tried snow skiing and
failed, but I could dive. Only, when we went to the quarry for the final qual
dives, I panicked. I could walk in from shore and submerge and swim, but after
surfacing in the middle I couldn’t go back down.
I was terrified of what might
be beneath me. I just swam back to shore and got out of the water. I was so
upset about failing I cried all the way home. That feeling is what I tried to
impart in Beth when she realizes she’s not as ready as she thought.
Were there any deletions from this
excerpt that you can share with us? And can you please include a photo of your
marked up rough drafts of this excerpt. Sorry to disappoint but I already
recycled the paper from the three drafts.
Other works you have published? I’ve published
more than 10 romances as well as other nonfiction works. The A More Perfect
Union historical romance series includes a novella and four novels. The Secrets
of Roseville paranormal romance series includes four novels with at least one
more to come. I’ve also published Hometown Heroines: True Stories of Bravery,
Daring, and Adventure, a collection of short historical fiction and
biography about 18 real American girls from the 1800s who each have a landmark
dedicated in their honor. You can read excerpts of each of my books at www.bettybolte.com/books.
Anything you would like to add? Thanks for inviting me to share about my latest
release and why it resonates with me. I hope the readers enjoy reading it as
much as I enjoyed writing it!
Award-winning author Betty Bolté is known for
authentic and accurately researched historical fiction with heart and
supernatural romance novels. A lifetime reader and writer, she’s worked as a
secretary, freelance word processor, technical writer/editor, and author. She’s
been published in essays, newspaper articles/columns, magazine articles, and
nonfiction books but now enjoys crafting entertaining and informative fiction,
especially stories that bring American history to life.
She earned a Master’s
Degree in English in 2008, emphasizing the study of literature and
storytelling, and has judged numerous writing contests for both fiction and
nonfiction. She lives in northern Alabama with her loving husband of more than
30 years. Her cat, Calliope, serves as her muse and writing partner, and her
dogs, Zola and Sierra, make sure she goes outside frequently. She is a member
of the Romance Writers of America, Historical Novel Society, Women’s Fiction
Writers Association, Alabama Writers Conclave, and Authors Guild.
INSIDE THE EMOTION OF
FICTION links
001 11 15 2018 Nathaniel
Kaine’s
Thriller Novel
John
Hunter – The Veteran
002 11 18 2018 Ed
Protzzel’s
Futuristic/Mystery/Thriller
The
Antiquities Dealer
003 11 23 2018 Janice
Seagraves’s
Science
Fiction Romance
Exodus
Arcon
004 11 29 2018
Christian Fennell’s
Literary
Fiction Novel
The Fiddler
in the Night
005 12 02 2018 Jessica
Mathews’s
Adult
Paranormal Romance
Death
Adjacent
006 12 04 2018 Robin
Jansen’s
Literary
Fiction Novel
Ruby the
Indomitable
007 12 12 2018 Adair Valerez’s
Literary
Fiction Novel
Scrim
008 12 17 218
Kit Frazier’s
Mystery Novel
Dead Copy
009 12 21 2019 Robert Craven’s
Noir/Spy Novel
The Road
of a Thousand Tigers
010 01 13 2019 Kristine Goodfellow’s
Contemporary
Romantic Fiction
The Other
Twin
011 01 17 2019 Nancy J Cohen’s
Cozy Mystery
Trimmed To
Death
012 01 20 2019 Charles Salzberg’s
Crime Novel
Second
Story Man
013 01 23 2019 Alexis Fancher’s
Flash Fiction
His Full
Attention
014 01 27 2019 Brian L Tucker’s
Young Adult/Historical
POKEWEED: AN ILLUSTRATED NOVELLA
015 01 31 2019 Robin Tidwell’s
Dystopian
Reduced
016 02 07 2019 J.D. Trafford’s
Legal
Fiction/Mystery
Little Boy
Lost
017 02 08 2019 Paula Shene’s
Young Adult
ScieFi/Fantasy/Romance/Adventure
My Quest
Begins
018 02 13 2019 Talia Carner’s
Mainstream
Fiction/ Suspense/ Historical
Hotel
Moscow
019 02 15 2019 Rick Robinson’s
Multidimensional
Fiction
Alligator
Alley
020 02 21 2019 LaVerne Thompson’s
Urban Fantasy
The Soul
Collectors
021 02 27 2019 Marlon L Fick’s
Post-Colonialist
Novel
The
Nowhere Man
022 03 02 2019 Carol Johnson’s
Mainstream
Novel
Silk And
Ashes
023 03 06 2019 Samuel Snoek-Brown’s
Short Story
Collection
There Is
No Other Way to Worship Them
024 03 08 2019 Marlin Barton’s
Short Story
Collection
Pasture
Art
025 03 18 2019 Laura Hunter’s
Historical
Fiction
Beloved
Mother
026 03 21 2019 Maggie Rivers’s
Romance
Magical
Mistletoe
027 03 25 2019 Faith Gibson’s
Paranormal
Romance
Rafael
028 03 27 2019 Valerie Nieman’s
Tall Tale
To The
Bones
029 04 04 2019 Betty
Bolte’s
Paranormal
Romance
Veiled
Visions of Love
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