The Harrell Brothers: one married young, one married well, one married a psychopath straight from hell.
Welcome to The Harrell Family Chronicles where three brothers, their families and friends battle those determined to take over the rudderless sex trafficking cartel that has bullied their town for decades. Old family secrets entwine with new as ghosts from the past threaten the family and the town, and new threats pop up where they least expect.
The Harrell family were farmers until the two youngest brothers decided it was more lucrative and less dependent upon Mother Nature to turn half the farm into a campground. The oldest, John will always be a farmer at heart, but that was not the life his brothers wanted no matter how much he tried to force it on them after their father’s death.
John wouldn’t have met Willow Rider had he not left the farm and joined the military. She was not the typical farmer’s wife. She was destined for great things, and he wouldn’t stand in her way. He’d take her however he could keep her, even if it meant spending most of his time without her.
Charlie, married at sixteen, never wanted to be a farmer. He wanted to go to school and become an electrician. He went to school and got his general contractor’s license and later his electrical license so he could build the cabins for their camp.
Charlie and Liz, despite the odds managed to stay married, raise seven children and are mostly happy together. They said it was because it was the two of them against everyone else, they had to be united, but sometimes, it just works.
The youngest brother, Robert, preferred to be a hunting and fishing guide. He attended college only because his mother threatened him. He earned credits to be a wildlife officer but lacked motivation until his young wife pushed him to do something.
Robert’s wife was beautiful, but they didn’t fit. Nicole was big cities and loud parties; Robert was happiest alone on the river. Robert was the only one surprised when she left. But everyone was surprised by what happened next.
The farmer and the psychiatrist. Willow and John should have never met, much less fallen in love, but they did. Thirty years later their relationship is in limbo. When her nephew dies in a tragic fire, Dr. Willow Rider knows she has to repair her relationship with her husband and sons before it’s too late. She is a terrible mother and an awful wife but she’s an awesome therapist. Can she take her own advice and save her family?
Saint John, the oldest of the Harrell brothers has sacrificed everything to ensure his family’s happiness. Isn’t it time he grabs his own happiness? He is willing to do anything for a second chance with Willow, even take her crazy bet. But as he makes the same stupid mistakes, he pushes her farther away.
When a motorcycle club believes the only thing keeping them from gaining control of the local sex trafficking cartel is the Harrell family, they are their town come under attack.
Willow and John’s second chance at happiness may go up in flames as they find themselves at war with the Steel Marauders.
People have often asked me why I don’t write about my adventures raising six sons. I have to admit that I prefer to write their stories as fiction because no one believes the stuff they put me through if I tell it as fact. In fiction I can clean my boys up a little when I like them and make them the heroes of my stories and if they’ve pissed me off, I can make them the villains. It’s been a running joke around our house that mom will put you in her book and kill you off on page fifty, but some know they’re the smelly corpse discovered in the ditch at the very beginning of the story. Heck, it’s not even a threat anymore my grandkids are begging to be put in my books and even telling me how I can kill them off. I mean really, where’s the threat in that? We put the fun in dysfunctional, what can I say? I have long conversations with my children and grandchildren about blowing things up and how to get rid of bodies. The holidays are never boring around our house.
Willow’s Retreat makes my eighth novel. I have been writing since I was ten years old, but I’ve only been published since 2017. I’m married to my own romantic hero, and we’ve lived several romance tropes from our friends-to-lovers reunion beginning, to our second chance romance, blended family romantic adventure. After thirty years of marriage, six sons and twenty-one grandchildren we are still writing our romance book.
Today I’d
like to welcome K G Fletcher, “The Singing Author” to Creekside Café. Wow, when
I was doing my research for our interview and I came across this moniker, I
thought, I need to know more about this. So welcome to my virtual café, and why
are you called the singing author?
KG –I am a professional singer/actor as well as a romance
author. I was a singer/songwriter in Nashville. I am currently a back-up singer
in a national tour.
Sherri: A popular contemporary trope is of
the singer/songwriter romance, do you have a novel using this trope?
KG: Of course! Many of my stories
incorporate music, singers, band-life. A couple of examples:
GEORGIA
CLAY (book one in my Southern Promises Series/contemporary romance) – the story
of a Nashville songwriter and reuniting with his high school crush at their
high school reunion.
LOVE
SONG – (romantic suspense) the story of two touring musicians.
THE
NEARNESS OF YOU – (contemporary romance) the story of a lounge singer and a
famous British super-model.
Sherri: Are you traditionally or indie
published? What are a few things you have learned on your journey to being a
published author?
KG: My first 3 books are with a traditional publisher. I
learned a TON through that experience, which carried over into my self-published
books. Being an indie-author is hard work and not for the faint of heart. It’s
totally do-able if you surround yourself with a great team. My readers are
amazing, and I have loved getting to know other authors in this amazing
community. Author support is HUGE in the
indie world.
Sherri: How many books have you published?
What genre? Tell us a little about them.
KG – My eighth book comes out today, October 21. I am a
hybrid-author (3 books with a traditional publisher and the other 5
self-published) I write contemporary romance and romantic suspense. My readers
say my books are “sweet & spicy” – they are for ages 18+
Sherri: Reader Glitz describes your books as
“K.G. Fletcher writes contemporary romance as it should be: Sexy, Steamy,
Heartwarming, Story-driven….” That’s pretty awesome praise. So, what comes
first, story or character? Are you a plotter or pantser?
KG: I am a pantster – I write by the seat of my pants!
Usually the characters come first. I have a BFA in musical theatre, and
characterization as an actor was always huge for me. That definitely carried
over into my writing career. My characters have been known to keep me up at
night, crafting the story, LOL.
Sherri: I’m fairly new to publishing, though
I’ve been writing most of my life. I wanted to be a romance author and really
hoped to be traditionally published. I realize now, part of my problem is I’m
not exactly a romance writer. I have a strong romance and a happy ending, but
it doesn’t drive the story. How do you drive a contemporary story with romance
being the main vehicle?
KG: There is definitely more than romance that drives my
stories; although I am intentional about the romance factor. I love building
the relationships and setting for my characters – the conflict and resolution.
I adore second chance themes and giving my readers their anticipated
“happily-ever-after” but I definitely throw them a few curve balls along the
way to keep them guessing. I want my readers to swoon and walk away feeling
satisfied and happy for my characters.
Sherri: You’re a Georgia Girl now, were you
born and raised in Georgia?
KG: My family moved to Atlanta the summer before my
senior year of high school from Kansas City. I consider myself a Georgia Girl
now because I have lived here longer than anywhere else. Most of my stories
take place in the South.
Sherri: You are a member of Romance Writers
of America and Georgia Romance Writers, how has being a part of these groups
helped your career?
KG: I met my critique partner at my very first GRW
meeting. She is one of my best friends now, and essential in my writing
process. We go on writer’s retreats together, brain storm and throw ideas off
each other. The GRW group is wonderful – the annual conference, a time of
learning and fun with other writers struggling with the same things. I was
recently a conference speaker, sharing how music can enhance a writer’s
experience and their stories. I think it’s important to keep learning your
craft and being around like-minded people who can help you along the way. I
definitely encourage other writers to find their tribe. One of my books
(GEORGIA PINE ~ Southern Promises ~ Book Three) is a finalist for the 2019
Maggie Award of Excellence. The winners are announced at the GRW Moonlight and
Magnolias Conference October 5. This annual conference in Atlanta is chock-full
of great speakers, editor/agent appointments, critique sessions and fellowship
with other authors. I highly recommend going to a romance writer’s conference!
Sherri: I was checking out your website, oh
my God, when do you have time to write? Tell our readers some of the highlights
of your artistic endeavors.
KG: I am an indie artist through and through. I did NOT have time to write this past summer because I was an artist-in-residence at my alma mater, Valdosta State University for the 30th anniversary of Peach State Summer Musical Theatre. I got to play the role of Donna in Mamma Mia!, the role of Marmee in Little Women the Musical, and Lottie in Crazy for You. It was a ton of work performing in 3 full-blown musicals in repertoire but SO MUCH FUN! This experience pushed my latest book release back a couple of months, so I’ve been playing catch-up. I also travel a good bit as a back-up singer in the national tour, Remember When Rock Was Young – the Elton John Tribute. We just finished a week of shows at the beautiful Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, AZ. I leave this week for shows in Baton Rouge and Virginia. I write a lot on planes and in hotel rooms, LOL. When I’m not traveling, I have a lovely office in my Atlanta home that overlooks the woods in my backyard
.
Sherri: You recently released a new book, Stars
Fall From the Sky October 21st. This is a bit different from
your other books. Can you give us a little insight into this story?
KG:Stars Fall From the Sky is Book Two
in my Reigning Hearts Series. All of my books can be read as stand-alones. This
book was a tough one. It deals with grief. I can’t say much about it without
completely giving away the full story. The book is dedicated to one of my best
friends who died unexpectedly over the summer. It was a cathartic process
writing this book and dealing with my own grief. I hope that this love story
will resonate with someone who needs to know that they are not alone – that
love is never forgotten.
Sherri: It has been such a pleasure to have you at Creekside Café, if you’re ever in eastern North Carolina you’ll have to stop by for real. Until then, I can’t wait to read your books and see what else you have going on.
TAG
LINE:Grief brought them together. Will love tear them apart?
BLURB/mini-synopsis:
Ginger McCormick is living her very own
happily-ever-after. With her precious newborn daughter and handsome firefighter
husband by her side, life couldn’t be any sweeter in Sandersville Beach. When a
freak accident occurs, and her world is suddenly turned upside down, Ginger can
no longer bear to be near the ocean that anchored
so many happy memories. Nevertheless,
her best friend’s beachside wedding is on the horizon,
and Ginger must face her biggest fears to be there for Emeline on her special day.
Across town, Doctor Jonathon Walden struggles
to move on from his former life and career in Atlanta after relocating to the
sleepy beach town. He mostly keeps to himself and yearns for the day when the
ghosts of his past will no longer haunt him.
When Ginger and Jonathon both realize they
need outside help to mend their broken
hearts, the two run into each other at a local
meeting and develop an instant friendship. Can they resist the undeniable
connection they feel for each other as they navigate their grief
together? Or will they decide to go it alone and walk away from a second chance
at love?
Main Characters:
Ginger McCormick (Brown eyed-dirty blonde- Southern Girl with
newborn daughter.)
Dr. Jonathon Walden (Tall, dark haired, hazel-eyed, glasses-wearing, tie-wearing, small-town doctor. He is very professional and keeps things to himself.)
Author Bio:
Dubbed, “The Singing Author,” KG Fletcher lives in
Atlanta, GA with her husband Ladd and three sons. She is an active member of
RWA and Georgia Romance Writers. She was a singer/songwriter in Nashville, TN
and a recipient of the “Airplay International Award” for “Best New Artist”
showcasing original songs at The Bluebird Café. She earned her BFA in theater
at Valdosta State College and has traveled the world professionally as a
singer/actress. She currently gets to play rock star as a backup singer in the
National Tour, “Remember When Rock Was Young – the Elton John Tribute,” www.almosteltonjohn.com
and recently finished an
artist-in-residence at her alma mater performing roles in three musicals for
the Peachstate Summer Theatre 30th Anniversary (Donna in Mamma Mia!, Marmee in Little Women the Musical, and Lottie in Crazy For You.)
KG is a hopeless romantic continuing her work on her original cabaret
act called, “The Novel Romantic – an unexpected evening of sweet & spicy
love” to help promote her romance novels. Her Amazon best-selling romance novel,
Georgia Pine is a 2019 Maggie Award of Excellence Finalist. KG is a GRW
board member and conference speaker, and shares how music can enhance a
writer’s experience.
She needed to be there for her friends on
their wedding day—even if it meant standing near the dark water that stole her
forever against her will. She needed to be brave.
“I only want two things in this world. I
want you. And I want us.”
Grief brought them together. Will love
tear them apart?
“…grief is
the last act of love we have to give to those we lost. Where there is deep
grief, there was probably great love.”
“…she found no comfort looking up into the
night because her stars had fallen from the sky…”
A Revolutionary
War ghost, a woman on the run and a man burdened by grief are brought together
by a spunky old lady and an old house in need of restoration. “Revolution” is
set on the boundary of Yorktown’s historic battlefield. Adrienne Dunning does a
fabulous job of bringing the past to life as the ghost of Nate Emerson’s
grandfather, William Nathaniel Abbott returns to protect the next generation in
the Abbott’s long lineage.
Struck down
too soon, William Abbott longs to be reunited with his wife Anna. The stranger,
Meg, reminds him of his wife and he feels a connection to the wounded woman.
The ghost,
William Abbott is as well developed a character as are Nate and Meg. William
and grandma Clarissa are my favorites, their love of family transcends time and
death, but it is the friendship and romance developing between Nate and Meg
that makes me love reading romance.
This is a
second chance romance but it is also about a second chance to do the right
thing, a second chance to help another person, second chances to stand up for
yourself, a second chance to live and love and make a difference.
Sleeping Mallows is the second in the Water Street
Chronicles, the sequel to Drenched
Sunflowers. The story of Beth Pearse, her husband and Sam are simmering in
the background while a mysterious woman turns up the heat and everything
threatens to boil over.
A dog, a
boy, a ghost, a hurricane and an unplanned romance come together to add to the
rich tapestry Tammera Cooper has woven. Set amid the backdrop of little
Washington on the banks of the Pamlico and Tar Rivers, the town, the swamp and
the river are as much characters as the people and dog who populated this
story.
While this
is a continuation, Savanna’s story adds another layer to the drama begun in Drenched Sunflowers. Ms. Cooper twines
Savanna and Charlie’s stories with those of Beth and Brad, ratcheting the
intrigue to another level.
I feel that Sleeping
Mallows is even better than Drenched
Sunflowers. As with the first in the Water Street Chronicles, the ghost of
Abram is an import piece of the puzzle.
Rich with history, atmosphere and drama, if you like an old-fashioned southern gothic with a modern twist, check out the Water Street Chronicles. You will want to start with book one, Drenched Sunflowers.
To learn more about Tammera Coooper and her books, check out the interview I did with her earlier this year.
Today I’m sitting on
the porch of Creekside Café with my writer-sister, Tammera Cooper. Tammera is a
fellow member of the Pamlico Writers’ Group as well as a member of, the Heart
of Carolina our local Romance Writers of America group, and the Women’s Fiction
Writers Association. Welcome to Creekside, Tammy.
Tammy: Thanks for the invite. It’s the perfect day to sit on the
porch and visit.
Sherri: You’ve been out this way before.
Tammy: Yes,
I make my way across the river every once in a while. I love it when I get over
this way. The Aurora Christmas Craft fair was awesome. I was able to sign some books for readers. We
had a lot of fun.
Sherri: You’re almost local especially if you go by
river.
Tammy: Yes, I live by the Pamlico River with my fiancé. If you look really hard, you
probably could see me waving from shore. Patrick did an awesome job building
our house. Definitely set us up for our own Happily Ever After.
Sherri: You’ve not always believed in happy ever
after?
Tammy: We will just put it like this, life hasn’t been
kind. But that gives me an appreciation for the good times and more angst for
my books.
Sherri: I’m so excited to announce that your second book, Sleeping
Mallows will be out soon.
Tammy: It’s almost here, May 15th. If you preorder now,
you will get your copy May 14th.
Sherri: Your series is called the Water Street Chronicles, give our
readers a little taste of your books.
Tammy: My first book, Drenched Sunflowers came out last
fall. I mixed a contemporary Southern fiction with a historical love story. The
ghosts in the Water Street Chronicles tend to be everyone’s favorite
characters.
I’ll share what I have
written on the back of the book:
Rainy days and river
views fill Beth’s summer as she makes a new start in small town Washington,
North Carolina. After the loss of her husband in a tragic accident,
simple seems better. It’s time to renovate her life, starting with a
future art gallery on the river. Sam, her contractor, has everything
under control, but the stress of the construction project and new business is
beginning to make her crazy. Nightmares and visions of ghosts become the
nightly norm. She doesn’t have time for this. She doesn’t have time
for her heart to make room for him.
Sam is happy filling his days and nights
with work. His two jobs as a teacher and contractor are his passions and
do not leave room for much else. This new project has possibilities: a
beautiful owner, the history of the house, and an 19th-century diary. Beth’s
dream is becoming a timely reality until she disappears.
Mystery and intrigue fill the haunting
river bank of the Pamlico as Sam and Beth find the truth behind the Water
Street house and each other.
Sherri: Yes, I am Team Sam, but your daughter is Team Brad? Do you
want to give a little hint about this competition?
Tammy: The main
character in the Water Street Chronicles, Beth Pearse, is a young widow and is
having a hard time learning to love again. She had a fairytale marriage, and
when you lose someone so early in life, it makes it hard to start over again.
Sam is her contractor, and her heart wants to take the leap again with him, but
Brad was meant to be her one and only. My readers like to choose sides and tell
me who they think Beth’s heart should be loyal to.
Sherri: You’re a self-published author. I know you’ve had a few
challenges publishing your first book. What are some of the things you learned
with the first book? Was the second a little easier?
Tammy: Number one
give yourself plenty of time to get things done. A cover can be designed and ready 3 months in
advance. It sits there patiently while you get the rest ready. But if you wait
till the last-minute little things, for instance hurricane Florence, can cause
delays and extreme stress. Not that Florence was a little thing. The other
creatives on your team need time too.
Sherri: Have you always wanted to be a writer?
Tammy: My favorite Romance book was To Love a Rogue by
Valerie Sherwood. After reading it many times in High School, I headed to the University
of West Florida to study marine archeology, final destination, Port Royal
Jamaica. After finding out I wasn’t a great swimmer, I changed my
major to Art History. And so, started my career in retail management.
In 2014, as a Retail
Store Manager, the writing bug bit. The characters started speaking
and would not leave me alone until I started to put them on paper. The Water
Street Chronicles were born. I have always loved historical romance
and assumed that was what I was writing. Each of the book titles come from
code flowers of the Underground Railroad. During a brainstorming
exercise with a Harlequin Editor at the Babes on the Beach writers retreat, the
contemporary story came to life. I haven’t looked back.
Sherri: I too love historical romance and always planned to write it
but then life happened, and things changed. I still have a historical series
I’m planning to write. What about you, will you write a historical or do you
plan to write in another genre?
Tammy: There is a prequel in the planning for the Chronicles, telling
Selah’s and Abram’s love story and the story of the Underground Railroad in
Washington NC. After that, I guess I will see where life takes me.
Sherri: I’ve read Drenched Sunflowers but only
excerpts of Sleeping Mallows. Share a little of your upcoming book. I know
everyone is getting excited about it.
Tammy: Book two, Sleeping
Mallows, continues the
mystery along the river from the law enforcement point of view. It’s non-stop
action, cover to cover. I’ll share the back of the book:
A river overflows with secrets and ghosts of the past… Will it
reveal what they seek?
The day the Pearse woman was pulled from the river, Deputy Tim
Whitaker knew this was a make or break case. He worked his whole
career cracking the hard ones. Why can’t he catch a break? He should have known
it might get complicated with a much-loved local as the primary suspect and a
second man everyone has seen, but no one knows. All he needs is one clue, one
thing to bring her closure.
Captain Savanna McCormick needs closure – the kind she provides
for other families thanks to her partner Max, her K9 cadaver dog. Too bad she
can’t get her own. Her parents’ disappearance may no longer be a newsworthy
item, but the still-open case is always on her mind, especially now she has
custody of her younger brother. Chaperoning a field trip forces her to confront
her worst fears; returning to Washington, NC where her parents were last seen.
A special assignment brings them together while the job keeps
them apart. Will the Pamlico River prove to be their toughest adversary? Can
they work together and solve the case before the Pamlico washes it all away and
hides its secrets forever?
Sherri: Water features heavily in your stories.
Tammy: I grew up on the
Rappahannock River in Virginia watching the riverside community change with the
times but remaining the same in spirit. The waterside lifestyle is in my blood
and influences my writing every day.
A short time ago, I
made some changes in my career and personal life to put the words on
paper. I now live in Washington, NC. Writing is my second job. I
enjoy the research required to write stories that are woven with the small
town’s history.
Sherri: Before we go, you have a list of actors who you wish to play
your characters if your books are made into a movie.
Tammy: Yes, I do. This is a list of actors I would want to
portray my main characters if my book was made into a movie:
Beth ran to the back of
the house. Her chest hurt as she gasped for her next breath. Screams came from
the small outbuilding at the corner of the yard. Rain poured down in sheets as
the lightning flashed around her. Sunflowers waved in the wind, bending, almost
touching the lawn. The trees joined in the harsh dance forced to follow the
rhythm of the storm. It had gotten worse. Someone was stuck, and they couldn’t
get out of the shed. She kept running, but it seemed the shed was getting
farther away. The yard was starting to flood.
“I’m coming,” she
yelled, but no words came out of her mouth. The screaming got louder. She
finally reached the door. The lightning flashed with a loud clap of thunder.
Beth jumped because it was so loud. She reached for the doorknob, but the
handle was gone.
“Help! The water is
coming in. I can’t get out.”
It was a woman on the
other side of the door. The banging was so loud. Beth tried to get some
leverage on the door, but there was nothing to grab. The rough water was
getting deep, up to Beth’s waist. It wouldn’t stop coming. It must be coming
over the river bank.
She looked around the
yard for something to pry the door open as the structure started to sway. She
had to get her out of there. She ran back to the shed just as it collapsed. A
horrible scream split the night air. The roof fell, and the walls ripped apart
in the surf as they disappeared into the darkness. Maybe she could still save
the woman. Maybe she wasn’t badly hurt. Beth grabbed at the debris tossing it
out of her way like a mad woman. Under a broad beam, she found a young black
woman strangely dressed. The beam held her pinned under the water. Yard tools
and other rubble floated in the waves that churned around her. A basket floated
by Beth as she bent to move the massive beam. She looked down at the person
struggling under the water. It was the woman she had seen in the bathroom
mirror, her eyes pleading for help. She tried to grab Beth as air bubbles
escaped her mouth.
“Oh, my God, it won’t
move.” Beth looked down at her, the hope draining from her spirit. The beam
wouldn’t move. She tried again, but the water was too deep now. With a quick
glance back toward the house, she spied an older woman standing in the window.
Beth waved her arms, hoping for some bit of salvation, but the woman turned
away as if she couldn’t see Beth at all. Beth turned back to the woman and
reached out to lay a reassuring hand on her arm only to find, there was no life
left to be saved.
~
Sleeping Mallows:
Short Synopsis:
A K9 cop struggles to adjust to her new role as guardian to her
younger brother after the disappearance of her parents. Washington, North
Carolina needs her help to solve a kidnapping case but first, she must face her
fears of returning to the town her parents were last seen.
*Top 10s list (A
List of your top 10 favorite things OR a list of 10 fun, random facts
about yourself)
1. I lived
in the Netherlands for 5 years.
2. I was an
Army wife for 15 yrs. My fiancé is in the Army Reserves.
3. I live
in a house 14 ft in the air.
4. I have
been to 48 states.
5. Favorite
date of all time was flounder gigging at midnight in the Newport River.
6. Favorite
movie is the Lake House with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves
7. When I
graduated from high school, I wanted to be a marine archeologist because of a
romance novel by Valerie Sherwood, To Love a Rogue set in Port Royal, Jamaica.
8. I have a
Weimaraner, a kelpie, a black cat, and a gargoyle gecko.
9. Favorite
drink is Sweet Tea.
10. I’ve ridden a motorcycle over the Continental Divide in a sleet storm. By the time we made it to the top, I had icicles hanging from my glasses.
sherrilhollister.com/Suspense She Writes Bookstore Dismiss
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