Get a FREE
copy of A BLANKET FOR HER HEART at AMAZON May 24 and 25.
Good morning world. I thought I've done
enough blogging for a while, so I ducked out of this interview and left the
stage to Anne Hoskins, the heroine of my latest book. Here you go with Anne and
Carlie Rosey.
An interview with Carlie Rosey, talk
show host, and Anne Hoskins, the heroine of A Blanket for Her Heart.
Carlie:
My guest today is Anne Hoskins. Formerly a resident of Jamestown, Rhode Island,
and the inadvertent heroine of A Blanket for Her Heart. Welcome to the show Ms.
Hoskins. How was your flight?
Anne
Hoskins: It was very smooth. Thank you so much for having me. I'm delighted to
be here.
Carlie: You must be overwhelmed with all the
attention and publicity you're getting lately. From obscurity to stardom-you've
had a remarkable trip.
Anne:
I wouldn't call myself a star. I'm just a heroine of a book. Shouldn't you be
talking to the author? He's really the --.
Carlie:
I invited RC Bonitz but he had another commitment today. I wonder, does he
resent you getting the top billing?
Anne: I never thought of that. I don't see why he
would. After all, anything that--.
Carlie: I've heard it said that you basically
dictated the book to him. Are you saying that's not true?
Anne: I didn't say anything of the sort. Though,
actually I did have to hold his hand so to speak and guide him through some of
it. He'd get this sort of starry-eyed look about him when we discussed some of
my personal scenes. I'd have to snap my fingers to draw his attention back
to--.
Carlie: Are you suggesting he was falling in love
with you?
Anne: Ha ha. Paul wouldn't have liked that scenario
very much. You know Paul- the hero? He would have lit into RC if he'd hit on me
at all. Though, now that you mention it, he did get a little dreamy-eyed when we
were alone some--..
Carlie: When he was writing the love scenes I
suppose?
Anne: No no, not at all.
Carlie: You're blushing. I thought the book was
about you and Paul. All about the changes you faced in your life of course, but
Paul was certainly a major player throughout the story.
Anne: Oh yes, we certainly became lovers, but you're
right about the story focusing on me. Paul inspired me to give wings to my
life, but I really had to be the one to lead the way. The whole process was so
personal. RC was wonderful though, very
sweet and underst--.
Carlie: I heard A Blanket For Her Heart is doing very
well. Tell me about your next project.
Anne: Actually, I don't really have one. I'm
extremely busy at the moment with my new life. RC hasn't mentioned a sequel but
I'd be willing to --.
Carlie: Would you? Well that's a story for another
day. I'm afraid we're out of time now. Thank you for joining me today.
Anne: Thank you. I have someone waiting for me in
the green room, so I'll say goodbye. Remember, keep talking about A Blanket For
Her Heart.
A
BLANKET FOR HER HEART will be available FREE 5/24 and 5/25 at Amazon. Kindle
version only. Pick up a copy for the weekend. Check out an excerpt below.
A BLANKET FOR HER HEART- EXCERPT
~ ONE ~
First light formed leaf shadows on the
cabinets as she entered the kitchen. Those big trees had been there for years,
but they were old now, tall and thinned out, blocking less of the early morning
sun. Winter sometimes seemed better, on sunny days when bright rays slid
through barren branches to flood the breakfast table. Not always though. Not when
winter’s cold was dark and penetrating.
Bright and sunny, just comfortable,
the day was starting well. She’d been up since three, reading and pacing,
waiting for the light so she could start her day outside. Early was a pattern
lately, into bed and out of it, bored to numbness when sleep was so elusive.
Her friend Molly thought it was time
to see a doctor, but there was nothing a professional could say she didn’t know
already. Physically her health was perfect.
"I need a new bed, that’s
all," she told her friend. "Besides, I’m always thinking of what I’m
going to do in the morning."
"What’s so important?" Molly
asked, and she offered the usual list of things.
That was what she did, things. This
thing, that thing, nothing. Tend her garden, read Jane Austen or some travel
book; wash the dishes, paint, or whatever. Granted, her paintings were
beautiful and she did so many one always sat unfinished on the easel, but she
hadn’t sold any. Furniture restorations brought in some income, but she usually
didn’t do that many pieces.
Fifty-four years old and not counting,
she lived like a hermit with few friends. She did know one neighbor, but she’d
never married, and had always lived alone. Molly often told her she’d be
happier if she did more with her life and she struggled with such thoughts
these days.
She turned on the TV, hoping the movie
channel might have something good.
Sly Stallone in his first Rambo. So stimulating. Thought
provoking. Annoyed but too bored to care, she settled back in the sofa and within
minutes the images barely touched her mind. By seven-thirty, she’d had enough
and punched the off button with the remains of her wrist. Dry cereal and milk,
half an orange, and coffee for breakfast; she dumped the dirty dishes in the
sink twenty minutes later and abandoned the kitchen.
The patio garden looked like an
impressionist’s palette. Her one green thumb coaxed flowers to brilliant life
year round. Indoors in winter of course, but she had plants ready to bloom as
spring temperatures began. Each morning she spent two hours weeding and
pruning, winding her fingers through the dirt to carefully arrange it to her
whim. The stump of her left arm served as well as her right hand, caressing
dirt and flowers with the same gentle touch. It was a touch returned by the
earth, giving her the best hours of each day in quiet occupation of her mind.
She put a dozen pansies in a juice glass and remembered she hadn’t thanked
Molly for picking up the flats this year.
After gardening, she returned rake and
hoe to the garage and cleaned up at the slop sink in the corner. She wiped
black dirt from her knees and delivered a good scrubbing to the right hand. A
brush screwed to the wall just above the sink did the job. Small stitch scars
in her stump got an easy wipe. The skin was smooth and quite soft for all the
abuse it got. Both hand and stump got a dose of hand cream, spread liberally,
but only lightly rubbed. A wipe with the old towel she kept handy finished the
job.
Lunch was the usual. Peanut butter and
grape jam on white, red wine, and a handful of Lorna Doones. Sometimes it was
cream cheese instead of peanut butter, chocolate chips instead of Lorna Doones,
but that was about it as far as variety went. She took two glasses of merlot
this time instead of one. That was not unusual lately.
Afterwards, she wrapped a dishtowel
around the left arm and secured it with two rubber bands to wash the dishes.
"You’d be amazed what I can buy
through the mail now, Hannah. Rubber bands, seeds, books, clothes, all sorts of
things. You’d probably be selling things on a website these days
yourself." She wiped the breakfast bowl with the left arm towel and set it
on the drying rack. "Not like me though. I hate that ridiculous computer.
Molly talked me into buying one, but I can barely turn it on right.
"I’m having trouble with that
painting I've been working on too. It looks so bland, not even that maybe, so
much as gray and dismal. I should probably trash the thing. You know what? I
think I’m going to catch a little sun this afternoon."
It was one sided, this conversation
with her dead grandmother, but quite all right. She knew it was imaginary,
though sometimes it almost seemed she got an answer.
Her father got an occasional remark as
well, but little more. It was Hannah she talked to, Hannah she often wished
were truly at her side. Their chats had served to keep her company, at least
until now. There was no one else to talk to most of the time.
Except Molly, or Grace, when one of
them came around. Which didn’t seem to be that often lately. The house was
still too, her world so very silent these last few months.
Dishes washed, towel removed, she
headed for the bathroom, stripping off her pink tee shirt as she went. She
dropped it in the hamper, brushed her teeth and hair, and relieved herself
quickly. Then it was out to the patio, where she pulled one white lounge chair
into place and stretched out to take the sun on her back. She’d heard all the
cancer warnings, but never did the sun thing very long. Besides, everyone
needed some vices in their life.
Face down on the lounge, wearing only
shorts, she was drifting into sleep when something made a sound behind her. She
turned. A man smiled weakly, then stared, eyes wide, as she dashed for the
house.
"Please. I need help," he
called as she slammed the door in his face.
Thanks for having me today Marian, I'm thrilled to share A Blanket for Her Heart with everyone. It's the book of my heart, my first, written before I really tried to follow the romance formula. I hope lots of your readers get themselves a free copy on amazon this week. Bob
ReplyDeleteI hope so too, Bob, because it is a lovely story
ReplyDeleteNice interview, RC. Looking forward to getting my copy at the next meeting! Good luck with your FREE days!
ReplyDeleteThanks Paula. I'll have a signed copy for you when we meet. Bob
ReplyDelete