SPECIAL GUEST Debut Romantic Suspense Author Stella Barcelona

STELLA BARCELONA

Since this is my first post on Romancing the Genres, I’d like to introduce myself.  I’m Stella Barcelona, an author of romantic suspense.  For me, the romantic suspense genre represents the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and thriller elements.   Romantic suspense is what I love to read and especially love to write.   My debut novel, Deceived, was officially released in the beginning of May.  It’s been a whirlwind of a month, and I’m thrilled to be ending it with a post here.  Thank you, Romancing the Genres, for inviting me to post on your fabulous blog!

I’m a lawyer and before then I was a history teacher. Both professions made their way into Deceived.  The story is set in New Orleans, Louisiana, the intriguing city that I’ve always called home.  Deceived is romantic suspense with a historical twist: a mystery that was inspired by real-life contributions of New Orleanians to the Allied Forces in World War II.  The decades-old mystery comes to light in the present day and creates havoc in the lives of Taylor Bartholomew and Brandon Morrissey, whose identities are intrinsically related to the official historical version of the facts.

Like the city of New Orleans itself, Deceived is full of contradictions, which begin with the heroine and hero.  Taylor is idealistic, naive, and she was born into a family that lives at the pinnacle of New Orleans society. Brandon is haunted by demons and from a family with an unfortunate past. He is cynical and doesn’t care one bit about New Orleans society.  Taylor and Brandon are two lawyers with different versions of a story that is close to their hearts.  Together they have to find the truth . . . or face dire consequences.

I loved writing Deceived and sincerely hope that readers enjoy Taylor and Brandon’s story.  If you’d like to read an excerpt, please visit my website, www.stellabarcelona.com, or go to Amazon, where Deceived is available in print or eBook.  One unexpected pleasure this month has brought is hearing from readers, either on Facebook or by contacting me through my website.  I enjoy receiving messages from readers, so please, stay in touch!

Their destinies have been set in motion by their ancestors.

Taylor Marlowe Bartholomew carries three of the most notable names in New Orleans society. She hoped to forge her own path in the world as an Assistant District Attorney, but that dream is dying as obligations pull her into the family shipbuilding business. In Taylor’s final days in the DA’s office, she receives a murder assignment that could unravel her perception of reality.

Ghosts of the past shadow every step they take.

Brandon Morrissey is haunted by demons that force him to keep his life simple and detached. He pours all of his energy into his thriving legal practice, until, overnight, he becomes the single father of an infant.  For the sake of his son’s future, Brandon searches for a killer and faces the truth about his family’s unfortunate past.

Together they have to find the truth . . . before it’s too late.

Someone is willing to kill to use the past for their own ends. Thrust together, Brandon and Taylor have different views of their families’ intersecting histories.  As they confront a sea of uncertainty, one thing is sure . . . no one is safe until they discover where the truth lies.     

Special Guest Cherry Adair!

Cherry's next action adventure novel will be GIDEON coming this Fall.

Over the last decade-ish J I've carved a niche for myself with my sexy, sassy, fast-paced, action adventure novels which have appeared on numerous bestsellers lists, won dozens of awards and garnered praise from reviewers and fans alike. When people ask me- “What’s the book (any of my books. Lol) about?” My response is - “Running-chasing-attraction-shooting--wild-money-sex-running-shooting-more-wild-monkey-sex-running-chasing-shooting-happily-ever-after J

I loathe writing first drafts. To me it's like wading through wet cement, and it take me forever because there's always something I'd rather be doing . Which is why I no longer write by the seat of my pants, I plot and then plot some more, so that the map of my story is easy to follow and relatively painless. Once that first draft is done, it's another story. I can't be torn away from my computer. I go back and layer and texture, polish, tweak, and fluff!

Writing is not for sissies. It's hard, hard work. And solitary work at that. But through the years I've found two other passions to fuel me, and spark my creativity.

The first is teaching. I love, love love teaching everything I've learned about writing over the years to other authors. It give me such a kick to see the OMG! look in someone's eyes a second before their head goes down, and their fingers fly as they write or type at lightening speed. I know that whatever I just said resonated, and she's no longer even in the same room, but off applying it to her own story, oblivious to everyone around her. I know what that feels like, and I want the writers/students in my classes, to have that ah-ha moment every time a teach the craft of writing.

The second is my passion for mentoring other writers, particularly fledgling writers at every stage from rank beginners, to authors with several books under their belts. So many people say they want to write a book, but they never sit their butts in the chair and actually write. Or they write the same three chapters over and over again, tweaking and polishing and changing a word here and there (sure, lady - that's the EASY part! Lol) . Many of them enter every contest, get fabulous feedback on the same three chapters, year after year, after year…. but never finish the book. I gently, with great love, and very little sympathy (sure it's hard, cupcake. But if you want it badly enough you'll stop talking about it, and buckle down and put in the work) nudge them to sit their as- butts in the chair and write, and finish the book! Lol

I have an active  motivational group on Facebook called Butt In Chair Challenge ( https://www.facebook.com/groups/ButtInChair/) for anyone who needs a weekly nudge. Everyone has to report in once a week with their anticipated word or page count, then come back the following week to let me know if they met their goal.  (threats and bribes are involved J Sometimes all I need to do is show them a picture of a great high heel - I can motivate with graphics. J)

COMING THIS FALL!

I've kicked a LOT of butts over the years, and have dozens and dozens of published books filling the shelves in my office from people I've mentored. Proving that sitting one's butt down and finishing the damn book pays off!

I don't delude myself, I know I have very little if anything to do with their success. I think of myself as the magic feather Dumbo was given to help him to fly. J Everyone needs to be seen. We all want to be acknowledged. No one sits behind us as we type, saying "WOW! That sentence is amazing!" I don't read my mentees (is that a word??! Lol) work. But I am always right there beside them mentally, encouraging them to keep going, urging them to finish this book, and start the next, propping them up when they get that rejection letter, encouraging them to keep submitting, keep writing, keep learning. I want to see them publish. I want their success. There's plenty of room for all of us. I can't wait to buy their book the second they tell me it's available. Their success gives me enormous satisfaction and joy.

Two of my dear friends, Tina De Salvo*(Elli) and Stella Barcelona*(Deceived) published their debut novels this month. While I had nothing to do with their success, I'm so proud of their dedication, and their willingness to learn everything necessary to get their novels from first draft to completed book.  I did a little nudging, but not much. Neither needed that feather. But if they'd wanted or needed it - I would've handed over a bushel-full of feathers in a heartbeat. J

Cheers,

Cherry

*Tina De Salvo & Stella Barcelona are Guesting here at RTG on May 29th & 30th.