Over the weekend, we took the kids on a local train ride. It wasn’t quite Thomas the Tank Engine and I admit, it wasn’t even a steam engine, but the kids loved it just the same and so did I.

This is one of the minions and me posed by the diesel engine before we boarded the train.

One of my earliest and fondest memories is from when I was just a little younger than this guy. My parents lived in a trailer park until I was five when they bought the house that I would eventually grow up in. I don’t have a lot of memories of the trailer park where we lived in those early years but I do remember there were train tracks at the bottom of a large hill and my dad used to take me to watch the trains go by. I loved it. I had a fascination with trains from an early age and to some degree, I still do.

 

This particular train ride only lasted an hour, which is probably about the perfect amount of time with three young children. We traveled along the Kiski River. Here is a peek of the river through the trees.

 

…and again, along with all the lush vegetation that I love about Pennsylvania summers.

 

There is a nice camping area along the river, at least if you’re into big campers and such. (Personally, I’m more of a tent in the woods kind of girl, but that’s just me…) There is a sense of community amongst these campers.

 

I could see a story taking place here. Could you?

 

My personal favorite part of the train ride was the view over a tall bridge where we stopped to enjoy the view and take pictures. I took quite a few photos from here but since I can’t possibly share them all, I singled out this one and I hope you like it as much as I do.

Thanks for joining me on our little train ride adventure. I look forward to sharing more in the near future (including photos from an upcoming camping trip!) so stay tuned…

 

I’ve been a bit of a slacker lately when it comes to posting on my blog. I haven’t forgotten. I just sort of let things slip through my fingers while I struggle to finish my ‘latest and greatest’ and still enjoy summertime before the minions return to school.

Imagine my surprise when lo and behold, Christina McKnight tagged me in the “Next Best Thing Challenge”. This is just the sort of thing I needed to help get me on the right track and get my butt back to posting. Thanks, Christina!

For those of you that don’t know Christina, I highly recommend that you check out her blog titled “Life – Love, Family, and Passion”. I’m following and you should be too. If you want to keep up with Christina via Twitter, you can find her HERE.

So, on to the rules of the challenge…

• Answer the 10 NBTC questions below
• Spread the fun and tag 5 awesome people to participate

Easy, right? Yeah, I thought so too.

My latest and greatest is finally taking shape and I hope to have it in your hands soon. I’m going to whet your appetite by answering these questions for this work-in-progress rather than beat my already published book to death…

1. What is the title of your book/WIP?

My current work-in-progress is titled Ghosts Don’t Wear Silk Stockings. I’m hoping for a September release.

2. Where did the idea for the book come from?

Under the bed, where all the best ideas are kept.

Seriously? I don’t know! One day I sat down with the intent to write an erotic romance story. I gave up on it about ten pages into the story and decided that an erotic romance author I am not. About a year later I was browsing my files and came across that half-hearted attempt at erotica and while I cringed at the erotic parts, I realized that I liked the idea and I could take it in an entirely different direction. So, I played around and wrote a bit more and next thing you know, I’ve got a bit of a wacky tale of finding love in all the wrong places.

3. What genre would your book fall under?

This is definitely of the paranormal variety. Is there such a thing as paranormal chick-lit?

4. Which actors would you choose your characters to play in a movie rendition?

This is a toughie. I don’t know actors well enough to cast them as the characters in my book and I’d probably be wrong if I tried. Ha! I’ll get back to you on that one…

5. What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Eeeks… only one sentence? I’m not very good at this part but here goes…

Brianna ached for marriage and her happily ever after but what she got was one smoking hot demon promising immortality, a moody ghost complaining about her choices, and an ex-boyfriend that refused to drop dead.

6. Is your book published or represented?

Not yet. Want to recommend a home?

7. How long did it take you to write?

The first version took a few months of stops and starts. Then I handed off the first twenty chapters to my beta readers while I bit my nails and focused on the ending. I scrapped the ending and after feedback on those first twenty, I scrapped most of that too. The story I end up with will not resemble its original. Crazy but true. I’m up to version five and it’s taken somewhere in the vicinity of eight months to get this far. Some of that time I spent writing. Some of that time I spent cursing my story and wondering why I call myself a writer.

8. What other books in your genre would you compare it to?

I’ve not read anything I can compare this to. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing? I like to think that it’s Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series with a paranormal twist. You might disagree, however.

9. Which authors inspired you to write this book?

Janet Evanovich meets Stephen King? (The mind boggles, doesn’t it?)

10. Tell us anything else that might pique our interest in your book.

If you read my book, you’ll lose weight, look good, and feel great!

Okay, not really, but it sure sounds good, doesn’t it? That would pique my interest.

If you enjoy paranormal suspense with a comic twist and a sexy hero that makes jaws drops and toes curl … then my story might be worth a read. If you appreciate an author that takes something ordinary and puts an unusual spin on it, well, I might just be your girl. Most of all, if you consider this blog post even remotely entertaining then by all means, give the book a try.

Now on to the five awesome people I’d love to see take part in this challenge! You guys are superstars…

Mae Clair

Megan Trennett

James Garcia, Jr.

Karen Einsel

M.L. Falconer