I shared my review for this book earlier in the month. If you missed it, you can read it HERE. I am thrilled to welcome Author Colleen L. Donnelly to my blog today to share some insight into her newest book! Take it away, Colleen!
Thank you, Jan, for inviting me to share with your followers today! And thank you for the lovely review.
Who doesn’t love sage grandfathers, heroes who have to fumble their way to heroism, bad guys we love to hate, and first loves worthy of a broken heart or dying for?
Or maybe moral dilemmas catch your attention? What about being the third person in a love triangle? What began as a colorful dream which surrounded me with an aura of utter happiness when I awoke, “I Have a Story” became a fast-paced and sometimes humorous tale of men who learn true heroism, the unattainable women they fell for, devoted yet erring hearts, a story worth telling, and danger to fuel all of the above.
I normally write from the heart, putting into words an emotional conflict I either conjured or anticipated from human interactions. Those are my stories, but this one came from somewhere else…a gift from heaven? An overactive imagination? A deep desire for love to stumble over all of its obstacles until it rises up in its purest form? Whatever it was to me or is to you, I hope this cast of characters bring a smile to your heart.
EXCERPT:
“So,” Chastity said. “Tell me more about the grandfather who impacted you so much.”
I felt him in the room. Or maybe it was in Grove. Mountain Grove. Or because we had been on his beloved peninsula, she with her yellowish hair. It was as if he joined Chastity and me, and she sensed it too. His hands and heart were in this decrepit building with us, his presence and hers making it feel like a castle instead.
“If it wasn’t for him, who knows where you might be now instead of here helping me.” She squeezed my hand.
How did she know? Because of Grandpa I came to Grove and searched for a peninsula that brought me to Chastity…who actually brought me to it. “My grandfather is a wonderful man… But before we discuss him, there are things you should know about.” I had to be honest. “Tasks you can’t help me with.” Like crime and violence, dangerous interviews, and the way I felt about her.
A face unlike any I had ever seen…and never would again…should send my heroic heart to the ladder where I would gather a million splinters in my hands by sliding to the ground, risking pain and infection to keep her safe by leaving.
Her features looked watery as I gazed at her. Tears? I never cried. Her pastel throw rugs turned into colorful puddles blurred by an emotion I had never experienced before.
“You are supposed to be here, Jim. And I am supposed to help you.”
For a moment, something ominous crept into my thoughts. Something of the old crime writer in me, who with several clicks of a typewriter’s keys could turn any story the direction I wanted. I welcomed him back, then set him aside. Because in the blue of her eyes, I saw something stronger—my promise.
If friendship was defined by a long period of time and a large number of interactions, Chastity didn’t qualify. And maybe my initial carnal fascination which became a pitter-patter my heart couldn’t beat without didn’t meet the definition of love. But she was at least partially right. For three days we were supposed to be together and help each other. For three days we had an eternity.
BOOK BLURB:
Jim Turner writes crime but doesn’t live it. He respects his grandfather’s tales of heroes but doesn’t believe them. When his failing grandfather sends him to a remote peninsula to write the end of his own heroic love story, Jim includes a war criminal interview to maintain his edge.
Chastity is an anomaly, a misfit in pre-WWII culture as well as in Jim’s life. Her spritely charm and endearing features turn Jim’s world upside down, especially when she reveals his grandfather’s peninsula as the site of her upcoming wedding.
Do good journalists flee when their interviewee is murdered? Do heroes write fiancés out of another’s story and themselves in? “The End” become the hardest words for Jim to write.
PURCHASE LINKS https://amzn.to/4lq6qGO
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Colleen L Donnelly put her science education to use for years and then put it behind her to pursue other passions. Her first love is writing and her second is hunting—hunting for that next good story, hunting for shed antlers or mushrooms in the woods, hunting for the next good author to read. An avid believer in work hard/play hard, Colleen splits her time between indoors and out, always busy at something.
FOLLOW COLLEEN:
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-l-donnelly
Website: http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/colleen.donnelly.568/
Goodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/colleenldonnelly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenldonnelly/
Amazon: http://amzn.to/37vcnO4
Twitter: https://x.com/ColleenLDonnell/
An intriguing excerpt and very nice presentation. It sounds like a good book.
Thank you, Thomas!
Thanks for visiting, Thomas! I am glad you enjoyed the introduction.
It’s wonderful to see Colleen’s book highlighted here, Jan!
Thank you very much for your comment and compliment! I loved getting to know Jan as well as working with her. It has been a pleasure!
Thank you, Tim! It was a pleasure to share!
Nice excerpt – Chastity sure grabbed my attention. Nice to meet Colleen!
Thank you, Teri. Chastity wrote herself in my story, making her one of my favorite characters I have written about.
Chastity was an unforgettable character, Teri. Thanks for stopping by!
Very nice!
Thank you, Lorii!
Thanks so much for visiting, Lori!
It sounds like a thrilling book in several ways. Congratulations to the release, Colleen!
Thank you, Erika!
You summed it up, Erika! Thanks for stopping by!
All my pleasure and thank you for being so supportive to other authors.
Jan, I am honored to be hosted by you. Your followers sound like avid readers, so I thank you for sharing your review of “I Have a Story” with them. This has been a very pleasant experience!
It was my pleasure to showcase this book today, Colleen!! Hope you gained some new readers!
Well, what an interesting concept and puzzling excerpt. Now I need to know more. Congratulations on your release . I wish you every success. @LBGriffinAuthoruk
Thank you, Lynn!
That is wonderful to hear, Colleen. I have some of the most wonderful followers and they love supporting others!!
Sounds like an interesting story! Best with it.
Thank you!
Thank you so much for coming over, Lynn! Always happy to see you. I appreciate your support for Colleen’s new book!
Wonderful introduction. I love the line “If friendship was defined by a long period of time and a large number of interactions, Chastity didn’t qualify.” Isn’t that true???
I loved that line, too, Jacqui! Thanks so much for stopping by to support Colleen today!
Congrats on your release, Colleen! This sounds like a intriguing read. Thanks for hosting, Jan 🙂
Thank you!
Thank you for stopping by, Denise!!
Thank you, Jacquie. I love it when something I have written lands like a pearl in a reader’s mind.
Thank you so much for visiting!
Thanks so much for swinging by, Jacqui. That’s a great line!!
Thank you, Jan, for showcasing Colleen’s I HAVE A STORY and introducing her to me. It sounds like an incredible read.
You are most welcome! I am happy the book intrigues you. I most certainly enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by!
Thank you for the support!
Thank you, Jan, for showcasing Colleen’s I HAVE A STORY and introducing her to me. It sounds like an incredible read. 😊
My pleasure, Gwen! I am happy you stopped by to support Colleen!
Thank you, Gwen!
I enjoyed the excerpt. Boy, Chastity sounds like an interesting character!
She is a most interesting and mysterious character, Priscilla! Thanks for visiting.
Chastity really is an interesting character. She surprised even me! Thank you!