The Story Behind Whatever It Takes by JM Stewart

MUSE MONDAY

Hi Brenda! Thanks so much for having me! Since I have a new release out, I thought I’d share a bit about how the book came to be. WHATEVER IT TAKES is book 2 in my Morgan Family Romance series. And it took a while to come into being. At one point, I didn’t think I’d finish it.

Becca and Jackson’s story began over eleven years ago now. I met Becca while writing book one, Risking It All. In the original writing of RIA, Becca loathed her ex-husband, but there was an undercurrent of love there too she was trying not to feel. It intrigued me. I had to know…could I make their relationship work again? In other words, this book began as a challenge to myself. ;)

In truth, I got about five chapters into the book (then titled…dun dun dun…Second Chances) and quit writing. I stopped writing altogether for a period of about six years. So the book sat, unfinished, on my hard drive. It was a bunch of little things that all heaped on top of me at the same time. Something had to give.

About that time, I’d submitted Risking It All (under a different title) to Harlequin. It earned me a revision request, but ultimately got turned down. For whatever reason, this particular rejection hit me really hard.

I also hit a snag in my personal life. Something cropped up (which is a story in and of itself but one I won’t talk about, because it still has the power to sink me—I’m also not sure you’d believe me *wink*) that triggered my PTSD, and I spiraled into what I now call flashback hell. This is kind of an aside here, but I’ve been writing a war veteran lately and I’m reminded I’m not the only one who suffers from this disorder. One thing all those websites about PTSD don’t (and can’t) really tell you is that PTSD takes your reality…and skews how you view it. Flashbacks aren’t always straightforward. Imagine your worst fear. Now imagine that fear has a voice and it’s screaming in your face. Despite knowing it’s not real, when it hits you, you still feel the pain.

What it amounts to, though, is my writing had to take a back seat for a while. I missed it though. In fact, part of my motivation to get better…was to get well enough that I wanted to write again. When I did, the first book I picked up was Risking It All (b/c it was already written).

Whatever It Takes didn’t actually get completed until I’d gotten the rights back on Kyle and Ceci’s story. Like RIA, I decided one day to see if I could make something of the story. I’m glad I did, though, because I fell in love with Jackson in the process.

The story did get a little help from my editor at Berkley during the revision process. That scene in chapter 3 or 4, where Becca goes back to her burned out house, was born out of a note my editor made. The ending I’d originally written also got changed. The changes my editor had me make meant that the ending I’d written no longer made sense.

This whole process taught me a lot of things, though. Namely, never give up and crap can be fixed. :) Oh, and I hate revisions. lol

She’s been dying to hear the words…

Walking away from her husband was the hardest thing Becca Morgan has ever done, even if it was the only way to save her heart from being broken by a loveless marriage. Still, when a terrible accident forces her to stay at her ex’s house, emotions she thought she’d buried for Jackson Kade long ago start coming to the surface—and, to her surprise, seem to be reciprocated…

…he just doesn’t know how to say.

Jackson Kade has never known love like he knew with Becca, but his cold upbringing left him unable to show her how deeply he feels. When Becca winds up under his roof once more, he knows it’s his only opportunity to prove his devotion—and passion. But old habits die hard, and even one mistake could shatter their last chance at love…

Penguin: http://ow.ly/CZii4

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FFFSZDE
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FFFSZDE
B&N: http://ow.ly/CZijn

iTunes: http://ow.ly/CZiko

Kobo: http://ow.ly/CZipW

About the author:

JM writes passionate, heartfelt contemporary romance. She’s a wife, a mother, a spiritualist, and lover of puppies, and happily addicted to coffee and chocolate. She lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest with her husband and two sons. She’s a hopeless romantic who believes everybody should have their happily-ever-after and has been devouring romance novels for as long as she can remember. Writing them has become her obsession.

Find Joanne here:

Web site 

Blog 

Twitter 

Facebook 

Love! Murder!

Today is worldwide release day for Southwest of Love and Murder, the second book in my Love and Murder series. Although I'm excited on release days, and don't get me wrong today is no exception, I haven't had time to be properly excited. We're only a week into the New Year and two weeks past Christmas. It's my favorite time of year, and I've been extremely busy with family and friends...which is what I most love about the season.

But that means I didn't get to do the proper buildup or promotion for the book.

The release happens whether I'm ready or not. A much wiser than I am writer friend reminded me that the release of a book is not a sprint. It's a marathon. This one day is not the only day the book will be out there. I spent the month before the release of the first book in the series, The Art of Love and Murder, on organizing promotion. This time, I'll spend the month after.

It's a marathon, after all.

Writing murder mysteries is all in a day's work until an obsessed fan brings Phoebe's stories to life.

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON 

THE WILD ROSE PRESS 

ARe 

Retiring (sort of) On the Cheap

 Tortuga Thursday 

In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

Sadi and her doggies romp

Winter has definitely come to Tortuga Flats Farm. We're all hibernating, doing odd jobs that get put off when the fields are alive and growing. We do have life with the garlic, but it's below ground and hidden.

We still intend to vend at the Prescott Farmers' Market on Saturdays, weather permitting. As Frank says "we're pirates, not Eskimos!"

Now is the time of year that I might not post weekly unless something noteworthy happens. Just a heads up.

Welcome to the Lazy JR

Other news in the land of Tortuga is Frank and I have moved the RV to Tonto Basin. We're at the Lazy JR Ranch which is an over 55 park set in the trees on the edge of Tonto National Forest. It's a short walk down to Tonto Creek. We're in a beautiful basin surrounded by tall mountains and a short drive to the rim country of Arizona. Some of the

Down our road

residents are year round while others are winter visitors. We're on a small site that still accommodates the RV, boat, both cars, outdoor table and barbecue. We have our name on a waiting list for a bigger site that will cost another $5 a month. But as I understand it, we might have to wait for someone to die before a spot opens up. I've written a few murders in my books. Hmm...

As promised, I'll share the details for living on a dime. It took some research on Frank's part to find this place. There are some other sites in the Tonto Basin area but they charge a little more and aren't nearly as scenic. This place has a rustic feel to it. But they have a nice laundromat, an outdoor barbecue

The Laundromat

gathering area and a nice clubhouse. Most of all, the people are friendly. The owners live on-site too. Our site is $180 a month. It cost us that for a week in Laughlin. Retiring on a shoestring, if you don't mind RV living, is possible. We're 35 minutes out of Payson - a great little cowboy town for those not familiar. We're under 2 hours to the valley and major shopping. And what is great for Frank is the proximity to three lakes. For a fisherman, this is like the best spot in all of AZ. I'm throwing myself into my writing cave while he fishes. And for retiring without much moola, it's great.

Across the street and...

We're 3 hours from the farm through some of the most gorgeous

...all around us

country in Arizona so I don't mind the drive which we've been making once a week for the Farmers Market. It's about 10 degrees warmer here than Paulden. Yesterday we had snow all around us, literally minutes away. As the winter progresses, I'll share more about this style of RVing.

Solstice and Squash Soup (recipe!)

Tortuga Thursday 

In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

Playing with ribbon can be tricky

Christmas Day. Of course I wrote this in advance since we’ll be in Phoenix at my mom’s celebrating the holiday with family. Most of us have multiple stops today. Frank and I don’t so we’ll hang out at Mom’s and visit as the rest of the family wanders in and out.

Four days ago, we had our Solstice celebration on the farm. It was

The Solstice Fire

even more meaningful, and certainly more fun, with nearly two-year-old Sadi. We didn’t get through the entire fire ceremony since by that time she was overwhelmed with all the day’s activities. No problem. The day had tired all of us.

Sadi's first roasted marshmallow

Part of our Solstice celebration is to have as much of the food we grow ourselves as possible. By December, the choices are fewer. So in addition to a great Irish lamb stew that Frank cooked, Christie made butternut squash (from our fields) soup. The recipe is below. It’s excellent!

Lance is getting some veggies growing in the greenhouse again after the

Still working on it

early hard freeze practically wiped us out. So far we have chard, onions, collard greens and the carrots are still hanging on. It’s not very pretty right now, but it’s a work in progress.

The crows disruption

The garlic has started sprouting, and the crows are a menace. Apparently, they have yanked some of the tiny sprouts from the ground. Whether they are doing it as they dive for bugs or purposely going for garlic, we aren’t totally sure, but two rows are a bit torn up. We invested in a bb/pellet gun. When they come around early morning, Lance pops one with a bb and it clears them out for that day.

We’ve moved the RV to our home away from farm in Tonto Basin. I’ll save that story until next week. I have some good tips if you want to retire on limited funds that you might find interesting.

Butternut Squash

Christie’s Butternut Squash Soup

(this fed four adults, one child, and we had leftovers-our butternut are large)

Ingredients:

Two large butternut squash, cut in half and seeds scooped out

½ large onion, diced

(note here: If you want to include some other veggies you may. Christie added a small amount of fresh spinach)

Rice milk (or any milk product you prefer) as needed for a soup consistency

5-6 slices of bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled

Spices to your taste:

Salt

Curry powder

Cinnamon

Black pepper

Bake squash at 400 degrees for one hour and fifteen minutes. Baste with butter occasionally. In a pan, cook the onion and any other veggie you might like in a couple of tbs of butter. Puree cooked butternut in a blender adding the milk of your choice to the consistency desired. Pour into a pan, add seasoning and bacon. Heat for at least ½ hour to blend the spices. Enjoy!

Some Santa's in the RV

Snap, Crackle, Pop

 Tortuga Thursday

In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

 

We've been trying to move the RV to Tonto Basin for a few weeks but it's been one thing after another. First the garlic took longer to get in. Then came the three day rain. The area we pull out and turn around in is next to the garlic crop and all dirt. Or mud when it rains. It's still pretty wet but Frank thought he could make it. The trailer jackknifed a bit too much and broke the rear window out of the truck. Loud pop! The soonest we could get it fixed was the next day. Then it had to set for a day. Thanks goodness for auto glass coverage. No cost to us.

We might actually get away today. We'll barely get it set up, and I'll have to go to Phoenix tomorrow for three days of book signings while Frank will head back to the farm for the Farmers' Market on Saturday. Never a dull moment.

So here's to having glass coverage. I'm not sure what it costs us on the policy because Frank is the insurance man but it can't be much or he wouldn't have added it. But it's worth it. That's my money saving tip for you today. In the long run, you'll save a bunch.

The green house plants were hit hard with the freeze. Lance cleaned it out yesterday and will plant some varieties for the winter. More to come on that progress.

We're a bit concerned about the garlic. Since we're new at planting on such a large scale with ten varieties, we're not sure how the wet ground will affect the seeds. And it appears we already have weeds or at least grass. It's not easy to tell. Some of it could be garlic shoots. The hay we used as mulch could've had various grass seeds in it. If that's the case, we're going to have to do more research on hay next year and possibly have to go further for our supply. This first year will be a learning process - something we do a lot of on Tortuga Flats Farm. Lance the farmer will figure it out. He always does.

Rain and a Recipe for What Ails You

Tortuga Thursday

In 2012, on the plains of Northern Arizona, two families joined forces and began the trials and tribulations of building a small family farm with nothing in the bank but love.

Last Tortuga Thursday I complained about November being a discouraging month. That'll teach me to whine. A bug hit me on the last day, and it's still hanging on. No sooner had I kicked the two day virus when a head cold settled on me and then morphed into a chest cold. A triple thriller to start off December. I don't care. This is my favorite month of the year, and I can't be bothered.

We're into our third day of rain here on Tortuga Flats Farm. It should move out tonight. We need a little rain every month for the garlic. If we get the rain, we won't need to irrigate with the drip system. Rain is so much better for crops.

Luckily, I felt good enough between the virus and the head cold to get the tree up. I even managed a few other decorations. We went simple this year with a smaller tree since Sadi is at the age she likes to redecorate the tree a few times each day. She is so much fun this year. When she saw the outside lights Pa Pa (grandpa) put up, her excitement overwhelmed her. She ran into his arms and gave him a gigantic hug.

Made from our t-shirts by a customer

I'll end with a recipe I shared on our Facebook page. When Frank and I lived in Germany, I fell in love with German sauerkraut which is nothing like the canned stuff you get in the states. It isn't really sour, more of a sweet-sour, and so flavorful. This recipe comes close to that flavor. I think the trick is the pressure cooker. Years ago, I had a pressure cooker. It was the old rocker kind that had to be monitored and timed. We just got this digital one and love it! It can also cook like a slow cooker and does rice too. Be warned, I am guessing at the amounts of herbs. I tend to just sprinkle it on without measuring.

One head cabbage, cut into strips
Two pound pork roast
one tsp celery seed
2 tsp dill weed
1-2 tsp cumin
Himalayan salt to taste
1/4 cup vinegar
1 1/14 cup water
3 carrots, sliced


Cabbage goes in bottom of cooker. Pour vinegar and water over it. Sprinkle all  herbs and salt. Add carrots. Place roast on top. Follow the directions for your cooker and cook for 40 minutes.

We had this last night and could be the reason I feel better today!