Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Inspired, Excerpt from Dangerous Sanctuary


Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose
Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined 
she would be caring for a flock 
that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.

Hello and Welcome to the J.Q. Rose blog,

Next month, (yikes, that would be tomorrow!), I kick off my Book Blog Tour for my romantic suspense novel, Dangerous Sanctuary. I really enjoy hopping around the cyberspace and meeting readers and bloggers. As a reader, I especially love author interviews because I learn more about the person. I have four Q and A's lined up for December. Answering the questions makes me delve into the depth of my story and the reasons I wanted to share it with readers.

Author and Blogger Juneta Key, who will host me on my blog tour December 19, had lots of wonderful questions for me, but this one gets right to the heart of the inspiration for this book. She asked:
      Your main character is a female pastor and a murder suspect, which I found unique.  What gave you the idea?

I interviewed a female pastor for my book for girls, Girls Succeed: The Stories Behind the Careers of Successful Women. I was intrigued with the pastor's story about her entry into the ministry at a time when it was basically a man's career. When she discovered
Girls Succeed! by J.Q. Rose
Inspiring and empowering girls
to achieve success
in their dream careers.
Available at Amazon
women were making breakthroughs into becoming ordained ministers in a few denominations, her dream of becoming a minister became a reality. She succeeded in earning her Master of Divinity Degree at Yale University Divinity School and was ordained by the General Conference of the Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania. 
At the time I interviewed her she was the District Superintendent of the West Michigan United Methodist Church Conference. She was responsible for sixty-nine United Methodist churches and their pastors.  Her devotion to God, her determination, and her great experiences sparked the idea for the story. 
That same year, a woman was assigned to our local church. I learned even more about being a woman pastor from her e.g. no one tells a male pastor he’s wearing cute shoes! With these two exceptional role models, I created the character of Pastor Hobbs. Since I’m a mystery writer, Pastor Christine had to be one of the murder suspects and what a contrast to have the good pastor accused of such a horrendous crime. 
Especially since Detective Cole Stephens discovered she had the opportunity and the motive for murder. Christine was an attractive and smart woman, so he didn’t mind investigating her either!
***
This excerpt can give you a peek into the personality of Pastor Christine Hobbs.


EXCERPT: Dangerous Sanctuary, Chapter Six

“Hobbs, we need a preacher now!” The voice on the phone was firm and left no doubt about the urgency of the situation. “This is Stephens. I’m pulling into the church parking lot. Get out here right away.”
Christine looked out her office window to see the black Ford pulling into the parking lot and on its way to the double doors of the church entrance. She grabbed her bag and flew down the steps.
She opened the passenger door and hopped in. “What’s going on? You’re scaring me to death!”
“Two blocks from here one of your parishioners is being held hostage with a knife at his throat. His hyped-up grandson is using him as a shield to keep the officers away. We’ve been talking to him since early this morning. He asked for you.”
“Who’s the hostage?”
“Roger Jenkins. His grandson is Jason Jenkins.”
Christine swallowed hard. Roger Jenkins was indeed a church member and had been for fifty years, dearly beloved as one of the saints in the church. She had visited his wife in the nursing home several times.
The morning sun highlighted the new leaves on the trees. The tulips were at their peak of color. This was a day full of beauty and promise. No one would suspect the dark drama taking place at the small white wooden frame house on Pine Street.
Stephens pulled the car along the curb. Christine jumped out and hurried toward the policeman who motioned to her to stay low to the ground. Dread fell over her as she realized the policeman was trying to keep her from being a target if Jason had a gun. He held a cell phone in front of him and was talking to the kid inside the house.
“Okay, Jason. We have your grandfather’s pastor here,” the officer announced into the phone. He ducked down behind the car and turned to the crouching minister, greeting her with a quick nod.
“Hello, Pastor. Can you help us out here and talk this guy out of the house to give us some time till the negotiator gets here? The kid asked to talk to you. He’s threatening to kill his grandfather if we storm the place. We think he’s high, probably looking to steal some money from grandpa to buy more drugs.”
“Anyone else in there with him and Jason?”
“No, no signs of anyone else in there, just the old man and the boy. Let me give you this to speak to him. Maybe you can talk some sense into him.”
Christine slightly rose with the phone pressed to her ear. She used the car to shield most of her body as she looked toward the house.
“Jason, this is Pastor Christine. Can I come in and talk with you?”
“Wait a minute, wait a minute, Pastor. You aren’t going in there to talk. You stay right here. A hostage specialist from the state police will be here soon. You just calm the boy down.” She ignored the policeman’s stern voice and kept her eyes on the doorway of the house.
The strong young man dragged the frail old man to the screen door.  Jason kept his arm around his grandfather’s neck. The blade of a butcher knife gleamed in his hand. His left arm circled the old man’s waist, holding him upright in the doorway.
“I’m tired of talkin’. I don’t wanna talk to nobody! Everybody leave, so I can get outta here!” His hoarse voice strained to shout at the surrounding police.
Christine unfolded from her crouched position and moved around the car into full view.
“Jason, let your grandpa go. We can talk. Let me come in. We can work this out.” She moved slowly toward the wooden porch. She tried to breathe deeply and remain calm, but her heart thundered in her chest.
* * *
Download a sample or order Dangerous Sanctuary at Amazon here for your Kindle or in Paperback.
* * *
Join me for fun and prizes during the Dangerous Sanctuary Virtual Book Tour


Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Gratitude, Happy Thanksgiving from J.Q. Rose

Gratitude

What is gratitude? 
The dictionary defines it as the "quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful." This week we focus on being grateful. Some folks keep a journal on gratefulness and record  something they are thankful for each day. And you know what? We can be grateful for BIG special things, but those ordinary, every day things are very BIG too.


“CULTIVATE THE HABIT OF BEING GRATEFUL FOR EVERY GOOD THING THAT COMES TO YOU, AND TO GIVE THANKS CONTINUOUSLY. AND BECAUSE ALL THINGS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO YOUR ADVANCEMENT, YOU SHOULD INCLUDE ALL THINGS IN YOUR GRATITUDE.”
― RALPH WALDO EMERSON
Happy Thanksgiving from J.Q. Rose
Wishing you a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!


From J.Q. Rose

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Celebrating the New Release: Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose, Touching People's Lives

Celebration Time! Come on in and join the party! 
Books We Love just released my romantic suspense, Dangerous Sanctuary.
Dangerous Sanctuary by J.Q. Rose

Pastor Christine Hobbs never imagined she would be caring for a flock 
that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a murderer.

I'm thrilled to have the Kindle format AND the Paperback book available for you at amazon. I had so much fun writing this story that includes a pig, a kangaroo, and a cat. 
Take a peek inside at these links:
BUY LINKS
Available at amazon
Previously published as Coda to Murder


Touching People's Lives as a Writer by J.Q. Rose

While working on Dangerous Sanctuary and writing a memoir this fall, I made a discovery.
I spent twenty years of my working life as a floral designer. My husband, Gardener Ted, and I were co-owners of a floral shop and greenhouses/garden center. I never realized the parallels that experience had with my “job” as a writer until recently when I began writing my memoir about the year we bought the business.
When we purchased the floral shop and greenhouses from an old couple, we knew absolutely nothing about being business owners or the floral industry. I know…crazy kids. But when you’re that age, you‘re more willing to take risks. 
Ted had raised vegetables and flowers in his hobby greenhouse for several years first growing plants for our newly landscaped yard, then for the neighbors, then retailing them to customers. That gave him the inspiration to do more--to have his own floriculture business-- so we jumped at the opportunity when we found the floral shop and greenhouses for sale.




When I started writing, I was a kid, but every story I wrote made me hungry to write more especially when the stories were so well received and made people happy when they read them. When my first novella received a contract from a small publisher, I knew absolutely nothing about the publishing and marketing of a book.

In the flower business, I was privileged to meet many wonderful folks and share important occasions in my customers’ lives. We designed flowers for a boy ordering his first prom corsage, a new dad sending his wife flowers to her hospital room where she and his new son were waiting for him, a bride (and her mom) planning the perfect arrangements for her bridal bouquet and church decorations, a daughter who just landed the job of her dreams, families celebrating holidays or a grieving wife mourning the loss of her husband. 
I was caught up in the emotional events in people’s lives and honored to have been chosen to help them express their feelings through the gift of flowers.
Romantic suspense
As an author, I am writing stories now, not so much because it’s fun for me, but because I want to be caught up in people’s emotions again. I want to give the reader a chance to experience strong feelings through my stories whether it is hate, anger, love, guilt, betrayal, forgiveness. When a reader shares with me how much they loved or hated a character, I want to holler "YES." I connected with the reader through the story.
Now I arrange bouquets of words wrapped up with sweetness, spiciness, sauciness and love instead of bouquets of colorful roses, lilies, daisies, and tulips.
I’m so lucky to have been in two careers allowing me to touch people’s lives.
# # #
The J.Q. Rose blog
Thank you for stopping in and joining in the celebration today. Please check back for updates on prizes and contests during the Dangerous Sanctuary Virtual Book Tour--better yet, follow the J.Q. Rose blog by email by adding your email address to the box above. You'll be notified when a new post is made. I promise no SPAM!


The quirky, realistic characters will definitely make you smile 
but the pig, cat and kangaroo will make you laugh out loud! 
~~Gail R.




Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Veteran's Day, Moving On After the Election, Writers Village University


Veteran's Day today in the USA. Thank you veterans! 

On Veteran's Day we honor those who gave their lives in service to our country and say a huge thank you to veterans for their service.
Thank you Vets!

Flag of the United States of America
Photo by J.Q. Rose
Hello and welcome to the J.Q. Rose blog.

I'm writing this blog post a little later than usual because I know on this day, the results of the election of the President of the United States is on everyone's mind, Americans as well as the whole world. If I didn't mention it, I would feel like we were trying to ignore the elephant in the room. (Hmmm--I didn't think about the elephant as the symbol of the Republican party until now.)

Pastor Laurie Haller is a woman I admire very much. She wrote the following on her Facebook page--"My prayer this morning is that our country will rally around, support, and work together with our new president, Donald Trump, to continue our national legacy of liberty and justice for all." This is my prayer for our country too.

In President Obama's speech in the Rose Garden during lunch time here he asked "Americans to move forward with the presumption of good faith in fellow citizens." and  "those who are disappointed should not give up on their dreams."

Both the President and Mrs. Clinton assured us the transfer of the Presidency will be done peacefully--a "hallmark of democracy"-- as it has been done throughout the USA's history 

No matter who won the highest office in the land, our lives will move forward. I still plan to keep writing and releasing the book I am working on now, I plan to enjoy the upcoming holidays, and we just ordered tickets for the Pirate Invasion and Gasparilla Parade in Tampa on January 28. You can bet we'll be there joining in the fun in our pirate costumes.

We cannot wallow in the mud we unwillingly had to endure thanks to this vicious campaign. We won't forget it, but we must shower off, start fresh and adjust to reality. 

President and Mrs. Clinton wore purple today as a symbol of the red for the Republican party and blue for the Democratic party mixed together to make purple. We must get together to build a bright future for everyone. And we can!


* * *
Any writers remember using this machine??

On Sunday evening, you bet I'll be at Writers Village University as a guest speaker online. This "Village" was founded in 1995--writers helping writers.

I am honored to have been invited and look forward to meeting everyone.
* * * 

Squeeeee---getting closer to Books We Love re-issuing my e-book, Dangerous Sanctuary, formerly Coda to Murder. Watch for info next week!!


Wednesday, November 2, 2016

IWSG Blog Hop: To Re-issue an eBook, Question of the Month

Hello and welcome to the monthly meeting of the 
Insecure Writers Support Group(IWSG) blog hop! 

Internet Writers Support Group Blog Hop
First Wednesday of every month.
What is IWSG? Founder of the  Insecure Writer’s Support Group and author Alex J Cavanaugh explains the group's purpose is "to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!" You're invited to become a member of this supportive group.

The group blogs the first Wednesday of every month.  The list of bloggers is always available so you can hop around to the author blogs filled with humor, advice, and thought-provoking topics on writing and publishing. You can find the list of participants at Alex's IWSG page.
IWSG Question for the Month

IWSG Question for November IWSG Blog Hop:  
What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?

Writing gives me a purpose in my life. I cherish the opportunity to enrich a reader's life with a smile, a tidbit, an awareness of a topic, a learning experience, and emotion.

# # #
To Re-issue an eBook

To Re-issue an eBook 


A small press offered me a contract for my first eBook and published it in 2011. I also signed a contract with them for a romantic suspense, and they published it in 2013. 

As you know, the buzz and excitement about a new release is over within six months or less and the hard work of marketing to keep the momentum going is non-stop. Now this many years later, the momentum fizzled. So I asked for my rights back from the publisher. She courteously complied, all the while knowing I was planning to re-issue with another publisher or to self-publish the books. 

Now I have the opportunity to re-issue the romantic suspense with my current publisher, but I feel guilty about re-naming the book and putting on a new cover to the old story. Oh yes, I have revised and reviewed the ms over and over and made improvements in grammar, punctuation, and even tightening scenes, etc. but it's still the same story. 

How do I market this book? The publisher will have a notice on the sales page of the book that it was formerly published, so we are not deceiving anyone. How does a reader feel about a new-to-the-reader book but knowing it is a re-issue? Does it color the book in a bad light for new readers to try?  

When this book released years ago, I had never heard of actually re-issuing a story. The digital age is wonderful for this purpose, especially having the ability to easily correct errors and formatting. But I wonder how readers perceive publishing the book again?

How do you feel about re-issuing one of your books? If you have done it, do you constantly tell readers it's really the same story? Thanks for your help.
# # #
Author J.Q. Rose
in her snazzy 1995 Mustang convertible

Connect with J.Q. Rose online at
J.Q. Rose blog http://www.jqrose.com/
J. Q.  Rose Amazon Author Page http://tinyurl.com/aeuv4m4






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