Will Kate survive the stalking of a serial killer and find what her heart truly wants?
Today we welcome author Rionna Morgan, as she tours her debut book, The Wanting Heart. From the big sky state of Montana, join me as I visit with this former professional barrel racer turned teacher turned writer. Welcome Rionna!
Is writing a
full-time career for you? If not, how else do you spend your work day?
I
am lucky enough to say that writing is a full-time career for me. As full-time
as it can be between ballet and tap practice for two of our three girls. I do race around after our 22 month old every
day, singing and reading to her the little books she loves. And even our oldest makes his appearance
known with calls from college to share fun stories. Oh, yes and my husband. We do schedule in a dinner once in a while
and a visit to the movie theater. Before
I was able to devote all of my working time to writing, I was a middle school
English teacher.
If
you had to sum it up The Wanting Heart
in 30 or less words, what would you say?
A
barrel racer gets swept off her feet by a serial killer.
What
three words would best describe Kate?
Stubborn, Brave, Intelligent.
What is your
favorite scene in The Wanting Heart?
There
is a point where Kate visits the rodeo grounds where she lives in
Colorado. She isn’t competing in the
barrel racing, but she is visiting her friends and settling in to watch in her
hometown rodeo. I was able to paint a
picture with my words that describes the best parts of rodeo in my
opinion.
Is
anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
In my youth, I was a professional
barrel racer for years. I took the love
I have for the sport of rodeo and gave it to Kate. The rest of the book is fictional.
What has been your
greatest pleasure in writing this book?
I
was able to share my love of rodeo with the characters in The Wanting Heart. I grew up
in the arms of the West with strong, stubborn women and their cowboys as my
guide. I learned that hard work and
persistence is the key to a dream coming true.
Also, there is a romance associated with the man who wears that cowboy
hat. There is a sacred vein that runs
along the fence line where horses stand in the setting sun, where children
laugh and play in the summer breeze, where that cowboy tends the fence keeping
his animals, his land and his family safe.
Do
you have plans for a new book? Is this book part of a series?
The Wanting Heart was planned as the first
book in a series. Kate has three
friends. I intend to write a book for
each of their stories.
What do you have in
store next for your readers?
Judge Thyself First, a stand-alone
title is set to be released November 12, 2012.
It is about a profiler and an investigator who uncover a decades old
murder at an Alabama women’s prison.
Beyond
that, I am working on another where an artist stumbles across a murder scene
with a fairy tale twist.
What has been your
greatest pleasure or personal success as an author?
I
love to write. I would write even if no
one ever read a word of it. My pen is as
natural an extension to my body as my arms or my fingers. But sharing my story with my readers is truly
a gift. I had no idea how amazing it
would be. It is a full circle—writer,
story, reader, impact—it is a magic thing.
What type of hero
do you like best?
Someone
who is strong, but kind hearted. One who
isn’t perfect and loves his heroine with all the pieces of his heart he didn’t
know he had.
Who or what has
most influenced your writing?
My
mom. When I was small she was forever
writing poetry and stories to teach us a lesson or to entertain us. She died years ago before I became the woman
I am. But I still hear her voice.
Is there a genre
you wish you could write, but haven’t made the plunge? Which one and what
appeals to you about it?
That
is easy…paranormal. I love it nearly as
much as I enjoy romantic suspense. The
realm of magic is my favorite. I think
it stems from the witches in Shakespeare.
I’m a big Shakespeare fan! …I’ll
think of something. I’m so excited to
dream up a fantastic idea.
You’re spending one year living on a desert island – which
three authors do you want with you?
I couldn’t resist answering this
one…Shakespeare, Poe and Nora Roberts.
I’d be in reading heaven.
Favorite place?
My dinner table
with my children and my husband.
Everyone enjoying the food in front of them, laughing and talking at
once. It is the most sacred of places.
Best Christmas present?
A green Irish wool
wrap from Ireland. It is so warm and
beautiful. Given with so much love. –I
have the best husband.
Favorite author?
Impossible
question… I think I’ll have to say Edgar Allan Poe.
Favorite smell?
The prairie sage
after a summer rain.
Favorite series?
The Three Sisters
Island Trilogy—Nora Roberts. Lord of the
Rings—JRR Tolkien
(MK adding this in—The Three Sisters Island Trilogy is
one of my favorites too!)
Favorite movie?
Who knows…Die Hard. Becoming Jane. The Jane Austen Book Club—definitely!
Favorite dish?
Chocolate ice cream
– probably not what you were asking. :)
Favorite color?
Green
Favorite quote?
“All the world’s a
stage and all the men and women merely players.” As You Like It: Act II Scene VII.
–Shakespeare (of course).
Your best trait?
My kindness
Your worst trait?
My stubborness
Is there anything else you’d like to share with your
reader’s today?
Please
be invited to visit my blog to Enter to Win a Piece of Montana!
The Book
The Wanting Heart, released, July 9, 2012 by Crimson Romance.
Katherine White, a barrel
racer from Colorado, lives in a fast-paced world where rhinestones
shine, hooves pound, and dreams come true. She plans on winning World
Champion Barrel Racer and being with her friends until she graduates
from college. She doesn’t plan on the man
who broke her heart strolling back into her life. She doesn’t plan on
finding solace in a charming stranger’s smile or falling victim to his
knife.
Blake Spencer, the man who
broke her heart, is all cowboy—from the hat on his head to the dust on
his boots. He thought it’d be easy, coming back to town, bowing his head
a little, saying he was sorry, and all would be forgiven. But what he
didn’t know, what he didn’t plan on, was that the girl he thought he
loved had become the woman he couldn’t have. If he doesn’t succeed in
changing her mind, it won’t only cost him Kate’s love—it will cost Kate
her life.
Will Kate survive the stalking of a serial killer and find what her heart truly wants?
Tour Giveaway!
Rionna will be giving away two copies of her book to two randomly
drawn commenters from the tour.
Connect with Rionna!
My blog: http://www.rionnamorgan.blogspot.com/
My Goodreads author page: http://www.goodreads.com/rionna_morgan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/RionnaMorgan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RionnaMorgan
An Excerpt
“It’s late, Blake. I’m tired.” Kate said.
“Not too tired to be kissing that city feller.” Blake could’ve kicked himself. He wanted to talk to her not fight.
“That’s none of your business. You have no right to be spying on me.”
“I wasn’t spying. I was watching Cathy.”
Kate stepped into the full light. “Well, you should have taken her home and been on your way!”
Seeing dark circles beneath Kate’s eyes, Blake studied her. He saw sadness and fatigue. “Jesus, Kate. Did you drive home last night? Have you even been home?”
“What do you care?”
Blake grabbed her arms. “Are you trying to kill yourself?”
“No. I’m living my life.”
“I’ll tell you what you’re doing. You’re going home and going to bed.”
“Don’t use that range boss voice on me. You have no right.”
Blake couldn’t listen to another word. Holding her body, even in anger, was too much for him. Her words were crushed against her mouth as his lips covered hers. He lifted her off her feet, molding her body to his. She’d been nineteen the last time he kissed her. Her body had grown and filled out since then. But, he wasn’t thinking of that. He wasn’t thinking of anything, but how damn good it felt to just hold her, kiss her. Begging for her surrender, he stroked his hands over her hips, up her back and fisted them in her hair.
“Not too tired to be kissing that city feller.” Blake could’ve kicked himself. He wanted to talk to her not fight.
“That’s none of your business. You have no right to be spying on me.”
“I wasn’t spying. I was watching Cathy.”
Kate stepped into the full light. “Well, you should have taken her home and been on your way!”
Seeing dark circles beneath Kate’s eyes, Blake studied her. He saw sadness and fatigue. “Jesus, Kate. Did you drive home last night? Have you even been home?”
“What do you care?”
Blake grabbed her arms. “Are you trying to kill yourself?”
“No. I’m living my life.”
“I’ll tell you what you’re doing. You’re going home and going to bed.”
“Don’t use that range boss voice on me. You have no right.”
Blake couldn’t listen to another word. Holding her body, even in anger, was too much for him. Her words were crushed against her mouth as his lips covered hers. He lifted her off her feet, molding her body to his. She’d been nineteen the last time he kissed her. Her body had grown and filled out since then. But, he wasn’t thinking of that. He wasn’t thinking of anything, but how damn good it felt to just hold her, kiss her. Begging for her surrender, he stroked his hands over her hips, up her back and fisted them in her hair.
Get the Book!
It's so much fun to have you with us today Rionna! I enjoy the interview and getting to know a little bit more about a fellow Montana author!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the new release. This book sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it. Thanks for the great interview and excerpt. I can't wait to read that rodeo scene. Thanks for the blog tour.
ReplyDeletee.balinski(at)att(dot)net
Joanne,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the congratulations! You are very welcome for the excerpt and for the interview. It was so much fun!
All the Best,
Rionna
MK,
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful blog you have! Thank you so much for having me with you today. :)
May romance and mystery grace your day!
Rionna