It’s hard to believe that I’ve been publishing books since 2012. Ten years! To say it’s been an experience is just the tip of sword. This has been the best, most rewarding experience. I’ve enjoyed meeting so many people through this journey. And some of those were authors I admired, which has been an absolute thrill.
My first published book was Ghost Lover. This book started when I was a teenager, but was put in a drawer for over many years. When my niece found all of my stashed manuscripts and wanted to read them, I was like, ‘sure, why not’. But after three days, she came to me with a plan. I was skeptical, but now I’m glad I took the leap. Ghost Lover became my first bestseller.
Here are the many covers over the years that have graced Ghost Lover… The changes have been many, but the story has stayed the same. It’s one of my favorites and I’ll never forget the feeling I had as a teenager when I first penned the words that became the book. And when I say penned, I mean, pen and paper.
The first Ghost Lover cover… Let’s say I’ve learned a lot about cover design since this one!Cover 2 was quite exciting. I received a lot of response when this new cover was revealed. And this cover was born after I revised the first edition. Many changes, but still the heart of Ghost Lover remained…The current cover. Let’s see who haunts your dreams…
Good morning! I do hope everyone had a safe and Happy 4th of July! It’s always rough the first day back to the real life after a three day weekend. So, as the title suggests, today is my Monday. And of course I’ll have to wrap up two days in one.
As for my writing, well… Yep, got another chapter finished and I’m on the final stretch to the finish line. This book is pulling me from every direction. It’s been a wild ride into a new realm. I’ve written western romance as well as historical, but never about a wagon train. The things I’ve learned have been eye opening.
Television can romanticize the old west and the wagon train experience. But the facts are staggering and sad. Life on a wagon train was hard. The struggle to get to a new life was tough, but many made the trip.
I’ve tried to keep it as close to real as possible, but at the end of the day, it is fiction. And that brings me to another subject. Why do reviewers continue to say, ‘this book doesn’t fit into real life or real life scenarios’? Think about it. If you write fiction, it’s just that, fiction. In the world of fiction, anything can happen. If not, we wouldn’t have some of the best books out there. And if you think some of that really happens, then I need to enlighten you. It can’t.
Writers open up themselves to scrutiny every time they hit publish. Whether it’s a blog or book. But it’s part of it. And as a fiction writer, there will always be something that doesn’t really happen in real life. The reader wants to be taken to another place or time. They need that out of this world experience, if only for a moment.
So, take this from my post. Yes, most writers try to keep close to real life, but in fiction, the rules go out the door.
Mondays are made for coffee and contemplating the new week. Some Monday’s are harder than others. But somehow we get through them, one coffee at a time. Now, if you know me, you know I love my coffee. It’s what keeps me going on Monday’s like today. After a busy weekend, this might take the whole pot and then some…
Now, as for my writing. I’ve been a little off my game lately. Today is a new day and my WIP needs some attention. So, I’ll say good morning and happy Monday. Now on to getting some words written before I go to the office.
It’s Saturday morning, so I’m sitting here sipping coffee and writing. One of my favorite things to do on Saturday morning is to work on my current WIP and maybe dabble with something new in the works. But this morning I want to talk about my In Harm’s Way Series. Three in the series have been released, but there are two more to come.
This Christian Suspense Romance series has surprised me. When I stepped out of my usual sweet romance style writing into something a little more edgy, I was scared. But the response from my fans has been wonderful. I even get emails asking when the next one will be released. And I have to admit that writing suspense and mystery is fun. There’s so many twists and turns.
So here’s a look at the three that are out:
Hadley never thought she’d be living out one of the stories she wrote. Not until one trip to the park changed her whole life. She finds herself in the middle of a horror story. One that will change the way she looks at everything and everyone around her. If she lived through this, it would be a miracle. She had one chance at safety, but he was making her break out of her comfort zone. Drew left everything to find solace on his Wyoming ranch. His world had been filled with espionage, murder, and keeping the country safe as a member of an elite Navy Seal team. But now, all he wanted was peace. That would change in an instant with one meeting with Hadley. Drew couldn’t go back to that life, but now he has no choice if he was to keep her safe. They are thrown together to solve a mystery, one that could change her own past. Both have their own inner demons to get past. Can her faith help her, and can she teach Drew to have faith? As they get closer, both realize that there is more than just investigating happening between them. But Drew knows that it’s something he can’t explore, and Hadley doesn’t understand when he pushes her away. This novel is a faith-based suspense romance. If you’re looking for a clean, faith-oriented thriller novel, then look no further than one of the In Harm’s Way novels.
Abusive husband… Old love… Tested Faith… Harper… Harper was trapped in a nightmare. Every morning she woke expecting it to be her last. How could she have married a monster? The only light in her dark world is the faith that she holds close to her heart. Reid… Reid has struggled for years to forget the one woman that was everything to him. While doing rounds at the hospital, he comes face to face with her. He sees the truth to her injuries, but she quickly denies them, leaving the hospital before he can convince her to get help. Now he can’t get her out of his head. She’s in trouble and he needs to help her. To his surprise, she shows up at his front door needing his help. She risks everything to get help. When she learns more of her husband’s secrets, she knows she must leave Reid forever to keep him safe. Reid is frantic to find her before her abusive husband does. Will he be too late to save her? With not much to go on, the police extend the search, but they may not get there in time. Reid fears he’ll never see her again. This is a story of abuse, suspense, faith, and lost love…
Ginger just wanted to get to the photoshoot safely. She leans on her faith and takes a chance driving into a blizzard. But when she becomes snowbound, her only place to take refuge is an old cabin she saw before she ended up in a snowbank. Dakota can’t believe who’s at the door during the worst snowstorm in years. The woman that had haunted his dreams since that fateful trip to Paris. Now he was on the run from the law, but he couldn’t just close the door in her face. While they are stranded, they begin to grow closer. A call informs Dakota that the men after him are headed in his direction. Dakota must keep Ginger safe, but how? They are forced to take a chance and brave the frigid cold to get to safety. When tragedy strikes, Dakota must step out of hiding to get her help. That one move ends with Dakota behind bars for murder. There is more to what’s happening than anyone would believe. And Ginger must prove it, or Dakota will never be free again. She’s forced to step out of her comfort zone to help this man. She leans on her faith and begins to piece things together. But nobody expected what would happen next. Not to mention what is revealed about Dakota’s identity. It all comes down to the place it all began for Dakota and Ginger. Will their faith help them find each other again or will they lose everything? A Christian Suspense Romance that will keep you guessing up until the end…
So, if you’re in the mood for some suspenseful reading this weekend, then grab one or all three.
Good morning! Sipping my coffee as I write this post. Some days coffee is needed more than others. If you’re a Georgia Bulldog fan, then most of you need a lot of coffee this morning. It was a late night, but a good one. But with the morning light, I have some words to put in before I head to the office.
The week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve I sat down and made my writing schedule for the year. Of course, it can change in the blink of an eye. Kind of like that score last night. I have two new series coming out this year and will be finishing up In Harm’s Way. So, it will be a busy year.
What are you up to this cold morning? Have you penciled in your writing schedule?
It’s been a long week of getting my mind back into my current WIP. I’ve struggled to get back to my writing schedule after a couple of busy weeks. Between tax season deadlines and planning a baby shower for my coming granddaughter, I’ve had little time for anything else.
And if you’ve read any of my blog posts, you know that my writing is my sanity. So, that tells you my current state of mind. But I’m back at it and the story is coming back to me. It wasn’t lost as I’d feared, but it was hidden behind my busy schedule.
Now, on to my current work. It’s the 3rd book in the In Harm’s Way Series. The book is called Storm. And yes, it has weather related storms in it, but there are also storms of the heart and storms that bring about danger. Yep, using storm as a metaphor is always fun. Now, back to the writing. Oh, and don’t forget, if you haven’t checked out my podcast, first episode, then check it out. I have another episode coming in mere days.
Well, the first episode of my podcast is up and running. I didn’t realize how nervous I would be. You’d think since my face isn’t showing that I wouldn’t be nervous, but I was. And wow, my voice is country!
So, as always, good writing and May God Bless You…
Good Saturday morning! I hope everyone’s coffee is flowing freely and you’re getting some much needed relaxation. As for me, I’m working on my newest manuscript, Storm. Saturday morning is one of my favorite writing times. I can sit and sip my coffee… Gather my thoughts… And just write…
It’s an exciting time when I finish a manuscript. But it can be an anxious time for an author. Usually when I turn in a manuscript, my heart begins to pound with excitement. The difference with the In Harm’s Way Series is that I haven’t felt the usual anxiety. I feel excitement about the finished manuscript.
These books have almost written themselves. They’ve been clear in my head and even when the words seemed lost, they came in like a flood. It’s been a fun ride while writing in this new genre. Adding the element of suspense and thriller has been exhilerating.
So, with that, Broken will be coming soon and I can’t wait for my readers to get lost in this story.
What an exciting evening for a cover reveal for STORM… As I write this post, a storm has just stopped here. And thank heavens it cooled things off a bit.
But now, on to the post I’ve been so excited to do. Storm is the 3rd book in the In Harm’s Way Series. With Broken coming out in a couple of weeks, it’s time to reveal the cover for book 3. This series has been such a rush of constant excitement and adrenaline pumping suspense that when I finish my daily writing session, I have to sit and take a breather.
Storm will be a fast paced book, so make sure to fasten your seatbelt and hold on. In the coming days I’ll be posting more on the blurb and characters, but for now I’ll just leave you with the entire cover. I know I only gave you a teaser before.
So, what do you think? Intense was my first thought when my cover designer finished with it. I couldn’t have asked for a better example of what this book will be like. And it will be a wild ride. But there is more to come. There will be five books in this series and they get wilder as the series builds.
Stephanie Hurt - Romance Author 