Prizes include:

* A Murder Among Friends, The Face of Deceit, and The Taking of Carly Bradford, autographed
* Field of Danger, autographed
* New Hampshire: A Living Landscape, Peter E. Randall
* Assorted teas in a gift basket
* Assorted chocolates

Just email me at ramona@ramonarichards.com with CONTEST in the subject. Everyone who has already done so will be entered.

Thanks!

After yesterday’s post, someone asked if I always developed the hero from a celebrity crush. Actually, it’s usually the other way around. The hero is built, then I cast him. For instance, Fletcher MacAllister, the hero of A Murder Among Friends, came into existence in about 1982 (and I still have the first rejection letter to prove it). He was always tall and lanky, of Scottish-Thai descent, and had a quiet determination about him, calm and strong. It wasn’t until about 2003 that he started to look like this guy:

The character definitely came first. After all, in 1982, Mr. Reeves was still a spritely young’un hanging out in Canada. (Although I did lift Fletcher’s first name from Mr. Knight’s character in The Immortal.) Likewise, Mason DuBroc, my half-Cajun, slightly hyper, art crime investigator in The Face of Deceit bounced around in my head for almost a year before starting to resemble this young man:

I suspect most writers work in that direction. As Marti and Jen pointed out previously, other characteristics tend to blossom first: their hero’s integrity, an intriguing past, or some physical aspect. A voice, heard in the night, or the movement of the head. Words or phrases that linger, telling you a lot about a man . . .

I, for instance, have a weakness for intelligent men with a twisted sense of humor. Also a weakness for floppy hair. And strong forearms. And a bright, unexpected smile that reaches into the eyes and lights up a face. And light hair.

*ahem*

Back to the hero at hand, who will take up residence in The Bones of Gregory Miller. Set in Nashville, it’s actually four books away (I hope), following three I’m proposing to Steeple Hill, and Reclaiming Daisy Doe, which I plan to finish by November 1. Although the plot is new, my hero has been growing in my head for a long time. Take, for instance, this slight side trip through the 80s, when one of my celebrity “crushes” was on a woman (and, no, it’s not THAT kind of crush).

I became fascinated with Beryl Markham, a remarkable woman.

When the announcement of her death made the news, along with a number of brief bio sketches, it set me off on a whirlwind of research. Among other details about this fascinating woman was the tidbit that one of the great loves of her life was Denys Finch Hatton, who had previously been in a hot affair with Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) – an affair richly portrayed in the movie Out of Africa, with Robert Redford (a blond!) taking the role of Denys, to great acclaim.

I read everything I could on Beryl Markham and Denys Finch Hatton. Then, in 1988, there came a television bio pic starring Stefanie Powers.

I was glued to the screen, discovering that the guy playing Denys looked an awful lot like 1979′s Jonathan Harker.

Well, yeah. Same guy. But, again, this was the 80s. British character actor not seen in the US much. Had to shelve the interest. Just not a lot out there.

But that was about to change . . .

The final interview launched today here. I’m grateful to all the blog hosts for their support and encouragement to participate. (If you’re interested in the previous blogs, they’re here, here, and here. The interview with Mason DuBroc is here.)

I have two book signings in my future: One in Lebanon, TN at Sherlock’s, and one in Hendersonville. More details on those later. While I’ve heard nothing on my press releases, I didn’t really expect those to produce many nibbles.

The cherry on top was the 4 1/2-star review in Romantic Times, which you can now see on my home page - since Liz has finished most of the updates for me.

I’m sure I could have done more, in terms of promotion, but for now, I’m satisfied. Maybe as I’ve grown into doing more this time, on Carly, I’ll have even more opportunities. For one thing, I’m hoping to do some promotion with Cafe Nostimo in Portsmouth, which I mention in the book.

Now it’s time to dive into the next project, the next stage on my website, and the next level of my career. First, however, comes the writing.

As to the website, I’ll be adding a newsletter in a few weeks, as well as a contest. To see the title of the contest (if not the details yet), check out the contest page. I’ll be doing this once a quarter. If you’re interested in the newsletter, please email me at ramona01@ramonarichards.com. We’ll be adding a sign-up spot later, but I’m already gathering the list of folks interested.

Finally, thank you, Jen, for your glorious comments, and thanks to everyone for your prayers re: Phyllis and her back problems. Right now, she’s stable, but the doc wants to do a MRI and a bone scan before the next level of treatments. I’m still coming home to do all the lifting of Rachel during her shift, so let’s keep MY back in your prayers as well.

I appreciate you all.

I like good news first, and mine came at 8:30 this morning. My editor accepted my revision on The Taking of Carly Bradford. *little squeals of joy through wet hair and half-blind eyes*. Then I remembered that today is the day that The Face of Deceit goes on sale – officially. *sigh* It’s already been spotted in a lot of stores, but today is the day.

The bad news. I had to skip work and go get Rachel, whose congestion had overwhelmed her. Plus her eye was red and swollen. And I’m sick as well, exhausted to my bones from congestion and no sleep.

Ups and down. Both will pass. In the meantime, pass the benedryl. Celebrating will have to wait a few days.

And a touch of business. I submitted a news announcement about The Face of Deceit at Fresh Fiction, and it’s here. If you’re a reader, and aren’t checking FF on a regular basis, you’re missing out!

Finally (and you’ll see this posted again…), check out this entry at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference Blog. Al Gansky is keeping the blog going thoroughout the year, and his blog about Orwell is a gem for new writers.