Saturday, June 8, 2013

Excerpt from Meant To Be by Terri Osburn


Blurb for Meant To Be by Terri Osburn

Sometimes the next best thing is what you’ve been looking for all along…

Beth Chandler has spent her whole life pleasing others. She went to law school to make her grandparents happy. She agreed to marry her workaholic boyfriend, Lucas, to make him happy. And, despite her fear of boats, she took a ferry to see Lucas’s parents just to make them happy.

While suffering through a panic attack on the ferry, Beth meets a tall, sexy stranger who talks her down from her fear—and makes her heart flutter in the process. Soon, she has a new reason to panic: her gorgeous, blue-eyed rescuer is Lucas’s brother, Joe.

But could she ever leave her fiancé for his own brother…even if Lucas is more focused on making partner than on making their relationship work…and even if Joe turns out to be everything she never knew she wanted?


Excerpt:

Breathing in through her nose, she blew the air out through her mouth. Just then, hot breath fluttered over her left arm and an unpleasant smell filled her nostrils.
That could not be her breath.
Heavy panting invaded the silence of the car and Beth opened one eye to find the source. Big brown eyes sur­rounded by rust-colored fur stared back. One ear flopped forward while a black tongue lolled to the side. The animal tilted his head and lifted a large paw, propping it on her thigh.
She might have flinched had she not been frozen in fear.
“What’d you find, Dozer?” asked a voice from some­where behind the intruder.
Looking past the mutt, she saw a man draw up behind him. Bright blue eyes and a stubble-covered chin were all she registered before shifting her focus back to her hands. Defending herself against a madman on a barge was prob­ably going to be difficult without the use of her hands.
“Hi there,” he said, giving the dog a pat on the head. Then he mumbled, “Good boy.” Presumably to the dog.
The stranger’s voice, low and sensual, vibrated down her spine. Her hands relaxed enough to allow blood flow back into her knuckles. The book hadn’t suggested finding a sexy guy to talk her down. She should have looked harder until she found one written by a woman.
“Hi,” she said, her brain now as uncooperative as her hands. She ventured another glance in the dog owner’s direction and her entire body sighed.
The man was, as her granny would say, built for sin. Full lips, strong jaw, and one deep dimple finished off a face gifted with the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. Wide shoulders filled out a navy-blue T-shirt that tapered down to a narrow waist and low-slung jeans. She couldn’t see his feet behind the dog, but would bet her best business suit he sported work boots.
Talk about answered prayers. This was a flotation device she wouldn’t mind going down with.
A sound that could only be called a meep escaped her lips. Engaged women were not supposed to have lustful thoughts about men who were not their fiancé. Being engaged for a mere two weeks was no excuse.
“Are you okay?” he asked, clearly recognizing insanity when he saw it.
“I’m fine,” she yelled, panic raising her voice several decibels. Though she wasn’t sure if the panic was still over imminent death or her heightened hormone levels. “No problem here. Move along, please.”
The dog set his other paw on her leg and nearly climbed onto her lap, his head popping up between her arms. “What’s he doing?” she asked.
The man chuckled and Beth shivered. “Saying hello.”
A dark tongue dangled dangerously close to her nose. “Do you feed him black licorice or something?” The dog’s entire tongue was black. “That’s the chow in him. Also what gives him that big head. You should hear him bark.”
Right on cue, the dog did just that, making her ears ring. If she hadn’t been staring into the face of a dog, Beth would swear a grizzly had climbed into her car. “You need a breath mint. Bad.”
“You’ve scared her enough, Doze. Get off the pretty lady.” As the dog backed out of the car, Beth tried to ignore the compliment, but felt a blush heat her cheeks. “This crossing takes a while,” he said. “You could come out and walk around. Most people do.”
“People are walking around?” Fear momentarily trumped by amazement, Beth turned toward the stranger as far as the seat belt and her grip on the wheel would allow. “How can people be taking a leisurely stroll as if we aren’t all about to perish in the sea?”
“Just trusting, I guess.” The man smiled as he took a step back. Her libido tried to take a step forward. Seat belts really were lifesaving devices.
 
 
Buy links for Meant To Be:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bio:
Born in the Ohio Valley, Terri relocated below the Mason Dixon line in the early 1990s after experiencing three blizzards in eighteen months. Seeking warmer climes and a career in the music business, she landed in Nashville and learned fast that getting a job on Music Row is not as easy as it sounds. Ironically, it wasn't until she left Nashville and moved to Arkansas that she found her way into radio. Never one to stay put for long, Terri eventually moved to the East Coast, settled near the ocean, earned her bachelor’s degree while raising a daughter, and joined cubicle land once again. But a love of romance novels soon found her writing her own. Five years and many pages later, in 2012, she was named a finalist in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest. An agent and contract soon followed. Terri now resides in Virginia with a teenager, a Yorkipoo, and two fat and happy tabbies.
 
Find Terri at:
 
  • Website > http://www.terriosburn.com
  • Facebook Page > https://www.facebook.com/TerriOsburnAuthor?fref=ts
  • Twitter > @TerriOsburn
  • Pinterest > http://pinterest.com/terriosburn/
  • Goodreads > http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6873792.Terri_Osburn


  • Wednesday, June 5, 2013

    Meet Author Terri Osburn


    It is my pleasure to bring you Terri Osburn this week. 


    Born in the Ohio Valley, Terri relocated below the Mason Dixon line in the early 1990s after experiencing three blizzards in eighteen months. Seeking warmer climes and a career in the music business, she landed in Nashville and learned fast that getting a job on Music Row is not as easy as it sounds. Ironically, it wasn't until she left Nashville and moved to Arkansas that she found her way into radio.
     
    Never one to stay put for long, Terri eventually moved to the East Coast, settled near the ocean, earned her bachelor’s degree while raising a daughter, and joined cubicle land once again.
     
    But a love of romance novels soon found her writing her own. Five years and many pages later, in 2012, she was named a finalist in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest. An agent and contract soon followed. Terri now resides in Virginia with a teenager, a Yorkipoo, and two fat and happy tabbies.
     
    Please join me in welcoming Terri to My Story ~ My Way.

     
    LA: Tell us about your current series.
     
    TO: The Anchor Island series is made up of three Contemporary Romances set on a fictional island at the base of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. In book 1, MEANT TO BE, my heroine travels to Anchor to visit her future in-laws for the first time, but things get complicated when she finds herself falling for her fiancé’s brother. There is a HEA, of course, but only one brother can come out the winner in this situation. Book 2, UP TO THE CHALLENGE, sees a HEA for the brother who doesn’t quite come out the victor, and he’s paired with a spunky, boat mechanic who might be my most favorite character I’ve ever written. I’m hoping readers will love her as much as I do. Book 3, HOME TO STAY, pairs a lanky brunette import to the island with the boat mechanic’s brother, a muscle-bound teddy bear of a man into Zen and healthy living. This one involves secrets and a hint of suspense.
     
    LA: What sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?  Use a publicist?
     
    TO: I am fortunate to be with Montlake Romance, the romance imprint for Amazon, so I do have a publicist. She’s been great about letting me know what she’s doing and what I can do on my end. I’m mainly focusing on getting my name and the book in front of readers online, and giving away a few Advance Reader Copies now and then. I’m also working with local independent book stores to create book signing events. Details on all blog visits and in-person events can be found on my website.
     
    LA: What is your writing routine like?
     
    TO: Since I have a day job, my routine is basically to write in all my spare time. Which means avoiding the temptation of prime time television, and giving up most every weekend. I don’t have steps like light the same candle or listen to the same music. In fact, I can’t listen to anything while I’m writing. I need total silence, which isn’t always easy to find with a teenager, a needy pooch, and two cats around.
     
    LA: Wow you are a busy woman.  I need quiet as well, but total silence drives me crazy :)Describe for us, if you will, your writing style, as in plotter vs. seat of the pants, and do you put more time into developing characters or plot or are they equal?
     
    TO: I’m definitely a plotter, but I plot as I go. I’m amazed at authors who have the entire book plotted out before they write the first sentence. But before I do anything, I get to know my characters. The characters show up in my head, introduce themselves, and start sharing bits of the story. From that point on, I’m just trying to pay attention and keep up. My plots are very character driven, and I could not write a rough draft without my storyboard. I should probably buy stock in Post-Its for how many I go through.
    I must know at least the next 3-5 scenes in order to keep moving forward, which means I’m always plotting. My usual question is “What do I need to happen here to get to there?” Then I sift through all the crazy ideas in my head (often brainstorming with writer friends) and come up with an answer. The other question is always “What does this scene contribute to the story?” If I don’t have a good answer for that one, then the scene gets tossed.
     
    All of this actually makes the revision process a lot easier once the rough is done. 
     
    LA: What is the first thing you do when you begin a new book?
     
    TO: Characters, characters, characters. I’m constantly taking notes as scene ideas and bits and pieces of back story show up in my head. Until I know where the characters have been, the people and events that have shaped them, I can’t really know the story. Some call it the Discovery phase and for me, it’s all about discovering what I need to know to tell the characters’ story.
     
    I also create a board on Pinterest just for the book and start looking for inspiration wherever I can find it. I prefer visual stand-ins who aren’t famous, but will pin whatever resonates with me. Sometimes it’s their pets or the vehicle they drive. Then there are images that inspire scenes. I found a picture of a table set out on a covered deck that gave me the idea for a scene in book 2. You never know where you’ll find inspiration, but for me, it almost always come when I’m not looking for it. At those moments, you have to be able to capture it, which is what makes Pinterest such a great resource.
     
    LA: Key advice for other writers?
     
    TO: Write. I know we hear this all the time and I’m not going to say write every day because life happens and we don’t need one more thing to make us feel guilty about not putting words on the page. But I can promise the more you write, the better you’ll get. And when you start to see real improvement, there’s just no better feeling. Pair the dedication with belief. Believe you can do this. I’m positive that the moment I changed my thinking and said aloud “I will be published”, the deal was done. I didn’t know if it would take five months or five years, but I believed with my whole heart it would happen. Never doubt the power of faith and positivity. I’m living proof that both of these elements can take you as far as you want to go.
     
    LA: Tell us something about yourself we might not expect!
     
    TO: I think it’s sort of expected that writers are natural introverts, but I’m one of those odd duck extroverted writers. I was a disc jockey in country radio for eight years, MC’d everything from talent shows to large festival concerts, and even have a degree in the music business. (I also have a BA in regular Business. *g*) I’m not a natural performer, as I prefer to stay behind the scenes, but I don’t shy away from public speaking.
     
    LA: Do you have a day job, too?
     
    TO: I do. I’m a single income household so the steady pay and benefits are a must-have. But I would love for the day to come when I sell enough books to make writing my day/only job.
     
    LA: What does your writing space look like?
     
    TO: I write at a tiny desk in my bedroom. Hoping this summer to create a space downstairs, but this is it for now. I have my storyboard front and center at all times, plenty of Post-Its on hand, and something to drink. I considered cleaning up before taking the picture, but then that felt dishonest. Might as well show it mess and all. (Though most of the mess is on the floor and darn but that wouldn’t fit in the picture.) 
     
    LA: Societal pet peeve … sound off.
     
    TO: Bad/rude/idiot drivers. I have the worst road rage, but keep it to language only. I live in a military town and the traffic is horrible. I can’t count how many times I’ve looked in my mirror on the interstate and braced for impact, only to have the idiot swerve at the last second and miss me by an inch at most. It’s so bad that I’ve found a back way home every day that allows me to skip the interstate and drive along the Chesapeake Bay. The view and relaxed drive has completely saved my sanity.


     

    Blurb for Meant To Be:

     
    Sometimes the next best thing is what you’ve been looking for all along…
     
    Beth Chandler has spent her whole life pleasing others. She went to law school to make her grandparents happy. She agreed to marry her workaholic boyfriend, Lucas, to make him happy. And, despite her fear of boats, she took a ferry to see Lucas’s parents just to make them happy.
     
    While suffering through a panic attack on the ferry, Beth meets a tall, sexy stranger who talks her down from her fear—and makes her heart flutter in the process. Soon, she has a new reason to panic: her gorgeous, blue-eyed rescuer is Lucas’s brother, Joe.
     
    But could she ever leave her fiancé for his own brother…even if Lucas is more focused on making partner than on making their relationship work…and even if Joe turns out to be everything she never knew she wanted?
     
     
    Buy Links: 
    Find Terri at:
     
    Don't Forget Terri's Excerpt on Saturday.