キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第九章 - ヘイ、黒いトイプードル マリの心臓は胸で激しく鳴っていた。彼女は母の家の玄関に向かって歩いている。隣の家から耳をつんざくような吠え声が突然爆発したとき、彼女は驚いて身を引いた。 何だとこれは?!彼女はリー
Captain's Log, Stardate 09.06.2007
Today I four guest bloggers: Vasthi Reyes Acosta, Gail Sattler, Lynette Sowell, and Carrie Turansky talking about their romance anthology, A Big Apple Christmas!
Contemporary Romance: Enjoy a contemporary romance collection of four heartwarming novellas that capture the sights and sounds of Christmas in New York City. Christmas plans are set askew when a schedule-bound professional organizer meets a free-spirited poet. Holiday bustle is the means two tourists try to use to get lost in the crowds. Christmas in Rockerfeller Center puts a widow's dreams on center stage. The gift of the Magi comes full circle for two lonely Latinos. Romance is in the air from Fifth Avenue to Chinatown, but can faith bring the love home?
And now, here’s Vasthi, Gail, Lynette and Carrie!
First, a big thanks to Camy for letting stop by today. She’s doing a great job promoting Christian fiction, and clearing off her bookshelf at the same time. And Camy, congratulations on your first release this month! I know I can’t wait to read it. ~ Lynette Sowell
Vasthi Reyes Acosta, Gail Sattler, Lynette Sowell, and Carrie Turansky teamed up to coauthor the novella anthology, A Big Apple Christmas, a contemporary romance collection that captures the sights and sounds of Christmas in the Big Apple:
Moonlight and Mistletoe (Carrie Turansky) -- Christmas plans are set askew when schedule-bound professional organizer Sarah Montgomery meets free-spirited poet Justin Latimer. As they work together on a project for her neighbor, romantic sparks fly - but will new revelations douse them?
Shopping for Love (Gail Sattler) -- Holiday bustle is the means two tourists try to use to get lost in the crowds. But when Bryan Evans literally knocks Emily Jones off her feet, her heart's secrets are spun even more off balance.
Where the Love Light Gleams (Lynette Sowell) -- Christmas in Rockefeller Center puts a widow's spruce tree on center stage. Professor Theophilus Stellakis volunteers to host Gwynn Michaud, and they both find new dreams in the glow of the holiday lights.
Gifts of the Magi (Vasthi Reyes Acosta) -- The gift of the Magi comes full circle for two lonely Latinos when Cecilia Montes takes time out of her busy schedule to help an old friend with youth group activities. But can she trust her heart to Elias Perez?
Lots of times, readers want to know where authors get their ideas, especially for a novella collection. So, how’d you come up with the idea for this collection and for your novellas?
Vasthi Reyes Acosta - Growing up in New York City, as a small Puerto Rican girl, I loved the fact that Christmas didn't end for me on Christmas day. We still had El Dia de los Reyes (Epiphany or Three Kings Day) to look forward to. We received gifts on that day as well. The night before January 6th, tradition dictates that water and grass be left out for the wise men and their camels. In return the wise men left us a small gift. I always felt special knowing that while my classmates enjoyed their Christmas gifts I still had more gifts coming after the new year. So naturally I wanted to write about our celebration of El Dia de los Reyes..
Gail Sattler - The hustle and bustle of New York City at Christmas time is special and unique, and fun! And most of all, crowded. Then I thought of what it would be like to be surrounded by such a crowd, with nothing but a list of fun places to go and fun things to do, and Shopping For Love was born.
Lynette Sowell - I think New York is a special place at Christmas time, and I'd always wanted to write a Christmas novella. One November, I saw a news clip about how they choose the Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center. Enter my widowed heroine and her scheming children who surprise her with a trip to see her tree in Rockefeller Center.
Carrie Turansky - I love stories that bring characters together who are very different from each other, so the idea of matching a professional organizer and a free-spirited poet intrigued me. NYC is a wonderful place to visit at Christmas time, and I thought setting our story there would be enjoyable for our readers.
We invite you to cruise by our site www.abigapplechristmas.com, where we share recipes, more about our stories, excerpts, and blog tour dates. Starting October 6, we’ll post a question each week from one of the stories in the anthology. Those answering correctly will have their names entered into our weekly drawing. And for those in the NYC area, we have a pretty cool grand prize!
Thanks, Camy!
Camy here: Thanks a bunch for stopping by, guys!
Today I four guest bloggers: Vasthi Reyes Acosta, Gail Sattler, Lynette Sowell, and Carrie Turansky talking about their romance anthology, A Big Apple Christmas!
Contemporary Romance: Enjoy a contemporary romance collection of four heartwarming novellas that capture the sights and sounds of Christmas in New York City. Christmas plans are set askew when a schedule-bound professional organizer meets a free-spirited poet. Holiday bustle is the means two tourists try to use to get lost in the crowds. Christmas in Rockerfeller Center puts a widow's dreams on center stage. The gift of the Magi comes full circle for two lonely Latinos. Romance is in the air from Fifth Avenue to Chinatown, but can faith bring the love home?
And now, here’s Vasthi, Gail, Lynette and Carrie!
First, a big thanks to Camy for letting stop by today. She’s doing a great job promoting Christian fiction, and clearing off her bookshelf at the same time. And Camy, congratulations on your first release this month! I know I can’t wait to read it. ~ Lynette Sowell
Vasthi Reyes Acosta, Gail Sattler, Lynette Sowell, and Carrie Turansky teamed up to coauthor the novella anthology, A Big Apple Christmas, a contemporary romance collection that captures the sights and sounds of Christmas in the Big Apple:
Moonlight and Mistletoe (Carrie Turansky) -- Christmas plans are set askew when schedule-bound professional organizer Sarah Montgomery meets free-spirited poet Justin Latimer. As they work together on a project for her neighbor, romantic sparks fly - but will new revelations douse them?
Shopping for Love (Gail Sattler) -- Holiday bustle is the means two tourists try to use to get lost in the crowds. But when Bryan Evans literally knocks Emily Jones off her feet, her heart's secrets are spun even more off balance.
Where the Love Light Gleams (Lynette Sowell) -- Christmas in Rockefeller Center puts a widow's spruce tree on center stage. Professor Theophilus Stellakis volunteers to host Gwynn Michaud, and they both find new dreams in the glow of the holiday lights.
Gifts of the Magi (Vasthi Reyes Acosta) -- The gift of the Magi comes full circle for two lonely Latinos when Cecilia Montes takes time out of her busy schedule to help an old friend with youth group activities. But can she trust her heart to Elias Perez?
Lots of times, readers want to know where authors get their ideas, especially for a novella collection. So, how’d you come up with the idea for this collection and for your novellas?
Vasthi Reyes Acosta - Growing up in New York City, as a small Puerto Rican girl, I loved the fact that Christmas didn't end for me on Christmas day. We still had El Dia de los Reyes (Epiphany or Three Kings Day) to look forward to. We received gifts on that day as well. The night before January 6th, tradition dictates that water and grass be left out for the wise men and their camels. In return the wise men left us a small gift. I always felt special knowing that while my classmates enjoyed their Christmas gifts I still had more gifts coming after the new year. So naturally I wanted to write about our celebration of El Dia de los Reyes..
Gail Sattler - The hustle and bustle of New York City at Christmas time is special and unique, and fun! And most of all, crowded. Then I thought of what it would be like to be surrounded by such a crowd, with nothing but a list of fun places to go and fun things to do, and Shopping For Love was born.
Lynette Sowell - I think New York is a special place at Christmas time, and I'd always wanted to write a Christmas novella. One November, I saw a news clip about how they choose the Christmas tree for Rockefeller Center. Enter my widowed heroine and her scheming children who surprise her with a trip to see her tree in Rockefeller Center.
Carrie Turansky - I love stories that bring characters together who are very different from each other, so the idea of matching a professional organizer and a free-spirited poet intrigued me. NYC is a wonderful place to visit at Christmas time, and I thought setting our story there would be enjoyable for our readers.
We invite you to cruise by our site www.abigapplechristmas.com, where we share recipes, more about our stories, excerpts, and blog tour dates. Starting October 6, we’ll post a question each week from one of the stories in the anthology. Those answering correctly will have their names entered into our weekly drawing. And for those in the NYC area, we have a pretty cool grand prize!
Thanks, Camy!
Camy here: Thanks a bunch for stopping by, guys!