Meet Laurie Keck and Winter Tales!

Winter Tales (Forget-Me-Not, Oregon Book 3)

Winter Tales, Forget-Me-Not, Oregon, Book 3
When chaos descends, the battle between nature and witch begins…

The universe always demands payment for magic. When a group of naïve teenage boys experiment with elemental magic, the citizens of Forget-Me-Not face a winter storm unlike any other. Chosen for their skills, three witches go head-to-head with nature, teaming with the men from myths and legends who are fated to fight with them.

Winter of Her Discontent
The sea had brought him. The sea could take him away…

Winter Tales--As water witch Roane Donnelly faces the biggest challenge of her life, she is unprepared for a man who brings the promise of heartache. Conal Ferguson follows the seven tears to find the sad, lonely woman that will be his. As the ocean water freezes, Conal’s secret brings them together, but will it ultimately tear them apart?

Whiteout
Magic has to be believed to be seen.

As a rancher and author, earth witch Hailey Vose believes she has all she’s Winter Tales--Laurie Keckever wanted. Jesse Thorn has left all he knows behind, disappearing from his world to spare his people all-out war. Yet, when he finds Hailey and they collaborate during a crisis, their true natures are revealed. But is there more here than meets the eye?

Snowfire
She’s a fire witch. He’s a dragon. Can their love ignite a miracle?

Winter Tales--Maggie McBayFlannery Bishop’s fire ability can certainly warm things up for the Forget-Me-Not community, but she could use a little help. Drayce Olden is a dragon shifter that has undergone the mate quest, a strenuous test of courage and endurance to assure only the strongest survive. Together, fire witch and dragon forge an unbreakable bond of love until a secret from Flannery’s childhood threatens to tear her newfound happiness apart.

Excerpt:

Hailey asked, “You don’t want me to go with you?”

He gave a flirty smile. “And have to explain a beautiful maiden suspended in air?” He tilted his head. “Though from what I’m noticing on this peninsula, that may not be a stretch.” He leaned in. “Is everyone here a witch? Magical?”

“Many, but not all. It’s one reason why I and two others were tasked to lead this. Fortunately, there are elemental committees, and they are working to assist.”

“Then you’re clearly one of the most powerful. Doesn’t surprise me. You’ve been able to do what many women have tried to do and failed.”

“What’s that?”

He kissed her on the forehead. “Another time.”

He flashed her a smile, and her heart nearly melted. No, not going to fall for him.

They turned toward the ocean when a loud, melodic sound could be heard emanating behind them. They moved closer and watched as a pod of whales, with calves in their midst, happily traveled through a narrow break in the ice. They exchanged glances when what looked to be a seal seemed to be orchestrating their passage.

Jessie smiled enigmatically. “That’s not an ordinary seal.”

“No?”

He shook his head.

Her phone buzzed, and she pulled it out and read what had been a delayed, yet urgent, text to both her and Flannery from Roane. She wanted any water or fire witches they encountered to come to Daisy Summers’ cove. They were conjuring a containment system for marine mammals. Hailey made a quick reply and turned to Jesse.

“I think I know where they’re going.”

She showed him the text, and after he read it, he placed a hand on her shoulder. “Okay, my turn to help again. Meet you back here?”

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Winter Tales--Devin Govaere, Laurie Keck, Maggie McBay

Let’s meet Laurie!

Laurie, welcome to Nomad Authors! I’m so happy to be visiting Forget-Me-Not again!

NA: How did you come up with the idea for your book?
LK: We knew we wanted to do a winter storm and bring in mythical beings as the heroes in the tales. The heroine whose story I wanted to tell, Hailey Vose, had already been established in a prior story as living on a ranch. When thinking what mythical being would go with a ranch, I knew just what I wanted my hero to be, what to me was the obvious choice. I also wanted him to have an edge to him that one may not associate with his kind, and hope that is conveyed.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
LK: I looked into some ways one might protect crops and land, as well as the behavior of horses, and refreshing myself on some mystical creatures.

NA: What is the main thing you want readers to take away from your book?
LK: We’ve all had events in our lives that have had influence, which have either enhanced us or we are working to overcome, a backstory if you will. Things are not always as they seem, and people are more complex than a first impression.

NA: Do you have a day job? What was your job before you started writing full time?
LK: The last job I held was as a Congressional employee at the U.S. Capitol. I worked in the tour industry for over twenty years, guiding visitors through the building and speaking of its rich history and, in later years, was in a management capacity for the same.

NA: What started you on the path to writing?
LK: My sister Devin. She had been writing for many many years, is an accomplished author, and also a professional editor. She was about to start a new anthology with two other women and asked if I would like to try my hand at it. I was nervous, but decided to give it a try. It was a great opportunity she presented me.

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer
LK: How much I love it. Prior to my first story, like many others I’m sure, I had only ever written poetry to express myself, since the time of my youth. To then be able to come up with characters, ones that I like, that I may wish to be like and would like to have in my own life, and also create an environment, it is purely magical.

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
LK: Definitely a by-the-seat-of-my-pants writer. I have very few concrete ideas of where I am going with something aside from the concept. Once I have my two main characters, usually inspired by a photograph, and have them in my head, they just evolve from there and then they are so much fun to get to know.

NA: Do you have quirky writing habits?
LK: I don’t know that it is, but I think it is. I tend to write scenes on a separate open page, mainly if they aren’t in sequence. So, I do a lot of the main manuscript with lots of little sections on another. I have open notes of research and highlighted sections. The other thing I do is when I get to a point where I don’t know where I want to go with the story, come to a lull, I go out on my back porch for a break. I no sooner do than suddenly dialogue or a scene comes to mind, and I go back in and write it.

NA: Which kind of scenes are the hardest for you to write? Action, dialogue, sex?
LK: Writing sex is the hardest. I enjoy writing affection and dialogue where the characters express feelings to one another, flirty banter, but the act itself, I would prefer not to write.

NA: A pet peeve.
LK: I really don’t like things out of place for any length of time. Papers strewn about, receipts lying around, are probably the worse for me.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
LK: My dogs. I have two small dogs presently. Usually one is at the side greeting me when I wake, and it is such a wonderful waking.

NA: What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
LK: Singer/ songwriter Roch Voisine. What can I say? I write romance, and to me, he is romance personified. So, to spend any time with him, let alone a dinner, would be a dream come true.

NA: What are you working on now?
LK: More stories to take place in the town of Forget-Me-Not. A wonderful town, so many great characters, so many stories to tell. I hope this series goes on a long time. I feel such an affection for this town, and the characters that have already been written by the three of us in this series, that I know there are many more to tell.

NA: Is there anything else you’d like to say?
LK: I would enjoy hearing feedback from readers as to how they feel about the town, the characters, the stories. I would particularly like to hear what they might want to read about in this created town of Forget-Me-Not. Is there a particular holiday or event they would like to see take place in the town? A particular character they might like to see emerge onto the scene? Write us, and we can make that happen.

Meet the authors

Devin Govaere is a freelance editor and fiction writer. She has published over a dozen novels and fourteen novellas, writing under her own name as well as several pseudonyms. She lives in North Carolina and can be contacted at dgovaere@gmail.com.
https://www.devingovaere.com/

Laurie Keck has a passion for writing stories about true love. She enjoys quiet time in natural surroundings with her two small dogs. Laurie lives in North Carolina, and as much as she enjoys the ocean, she is equally fond of the mountains. She can be contacted at laurieKeck@hotmail.com.
https://www.lauriekeck.com/

Maggie McBay enjoys writing paranormal stories filled with romance and suspense. She has published several novels and novellas, writing under her own name as well as several pseudonyms. Touched with a bit of wanderlust, she’s lived in several states over the years and looks forward to traveling in the near future. You can contact Maggie at maggiemcbay@gmail.com.
http://www.maggiemcbay.com/

Visit Forget-Me-Not

More magic, more spills, more Halloween Thrills!

Halloween Thrills by Devin Govaere, Maggie McBay, and Laurie KeckEarlier in the week Nomad Authors let you know about a new anthology by Devin Govaere, Maggie McBay, and Laurie Keck, Halloween Magic. Here’s the follow-up book, Halloween Thrills!

Halloween Thrills is the second anthology of Halloween stories written by Devin Govaere, Maggie McBay, and Laurie Keck. All three stories take place in Forget-Me-Not, Oregon, a town where ordinary and extraordinary people live their unique lives in harmony.

Blurb:
Halloween Thrills

Forget-Me-Not, Oregon, Book 2

The magic of Halloween continues in Forget-Me-Not, Oregon. Halloween Thrills contains three stories for Halloween about witches, their magic, and finding love with classic “monsters.”

Halloween Thrills--Devin GovaereThe Patchwork Man
Beauty is more than the sum of its parts…

When her magic vanishes, conjuring witch Daisy Summers loses the most important part of herself. She refuses to accept that she’s destined to be normal. After a fatal crash, Haven Knight is looking for a place to hide. Haven would give anything just to be normal. But who needs normal when they can have extraordinary?

All Wrapped UpHalloween Thrills--Maggie McBay
One shrouded in mystery, one searching for answers…

As Keeper of the Archives, air witch Nia Curtis finds herself all too often wrapped up in the things of old and romanticizing about times long gone. Desmond Cole is a man who, long ago, fell into a dire situation. Now there’s hope he’s found the one woman who can unravel his past. Together, they discover that only love can truly bind.

Halloween Thrills--Laurie KeckThe Wild One
He’s ready for a silver bullet. She’s ready for a mate.

Kathryn “Ryn” Deeds possesses the blood of werewolf hunters in her veins. When a werewolf shows up in the Savage Woods, it’s Ryn’s job to keep her community safe. Ryker James is a man destined to turn into a raging beast—and Ryn’s chosen mate.
Will she be able to save him before the moon destroys what is left of his humanity?

Excerpt:
Prologue
The New Home

The refugees who had fled from their homes in the east thrived in the village of Forget-Me-Not. With the freedom to pursue their livelihoods, the ability to trust their fellows, and the peace that allowed them to live in harmony against such a lovely backdrop, each citizen worked hard, cared for one another, and looked forward to a bright and promising future.
The swishing of skirts through the long grass caught Silas’ attention as Constance Curtis came to stand beside him. “It’s beautiful here.”

“Indeed it is. How goes construction on your lighthouse?” Master Deeds asked.

“Master Summers has it in hand. He feels we should be operational within a fortnight.” She laughed. “Even conjuring has its limitations at times.”

“I look forward to sending the fishing boats out,” he said, “but we need to know they will find their way home.”

Constance sighed. “Home. I feel happiness in my heart just saying the word.”

“As do we all,” he said with a smile. “And the windmill?”

“I have created a diagram for Ariana Hargrove. With her affinity to the air, and with Master Summers’ aid, I have no doubt it will be spinning within a week.”

“That is indeed good news. I have spoken with the Great Leader and his shaman, Po’laklie. They have agreed quite readily to aid us with food for the winter and gift us with seeds. Our earth elementals can nurture them in the sun houses throughout the cold months, and with their skills, I hold no doubts we will soon be able to repay them in kind. And Richard?” His voice held tenderness as he spoke of his younger friend and fellow Conclave member. “How is he bearing the strain of creating a new community?”

Constance laughed. “The man does not sleep. He enjoys this, Master Deeds. His power grows stronger every day with the freedom to create.”

Silas Deeds raked his gaze over the cottages, the cobblestone streets, and the wagons and equipment Richard had created for their use. “He has done well. We owe him much. The man will soon need a chance to recoup his strength and spend time with his wife. Let us hope there are soon more Summers conjurers to add to our home.” He winked at Constance.

He let his glances linger on the children playing merrily in the fields and the women who watched them with fondness as they washed their clothing in the River Strong. He touched upon the farm animals they had transported across the vast expanse, milling in the grasses, growing fat and healthy. The men were engaged in conversation as they worked to make their community a real home, and each looked hale and hardy.

“And you, Constance? How are you here in this new place?”

“I am well beyond my hopes, Master Deeds. My family is very happy here.”

“Grandmother!” A young woman ran toward them across the field. She heaved a breath as she came up short, laughing as Master Deeds reached out to catch her.

“What is it, Grace?”

“Master Summers needs you. Something about…the cradle?” A rosy blush spread over her face.

“Aye, my darling,” Constance said with a smile, “but not that kind of cradle. The cradle that will hold the candles for illumination.”

Master Deeds tried to meet Grace’s eyes, but she successfully avoided him.

“Grace dear, how is life with your new husband?”

“Very well, Master Deeds,” she replied, blushing furiously.

“You will soon be adding a new citizen to our roster?”

Grace’s mouth dropped open. “How did you…”

“It shows in your eyes, my dear. Your happiness, your devotion to your husband, his devotion to you. When one finds her True Intended, it is hard to maintain a secret.” He grasped her hand and lifted it to his lips. “And thoroughly unnecessary. Share your good news with the others. We will celebrate tonight.”

Grace picked up her skirts and ran toward her husband, waving madly. He caught her in his arms and spun her around.

Silas watched her as Constance followed her granddaughter with her loving gaze. He had never felt more content in his life, and he knew, in this place, contentment would be felt by all.

For many, many years.

Buy link:

Author Bios:

Devin Govaere is a freelance editor and fiction writer. She has published over a dozen novels and fourteen novellas, writing under her own name as well as several pseudonyms. She lives in North Carolina and can be contacted at dgovaere@gmail.com.

Maggie McBay enjoys writing paranormal stories filled with romance and suspense. She has published several novels and novellas, writing under her own name as well as several pseudonyms. Touched with a bit of wanderlust, she’s lived in several states over the years and looks forward to traveling in the near future. You can contact Maggie at maggiemcbay@gmail.com.

Laurie Keck lives on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She frequently visits the beach with her two small dogs and enjoys quiet time in natural surroundings. As much as Laurie enjoys the ocean, she is equally at home amidst the forest and mountains. She loves nature and wildlife. Her passion is writing stories about true love and fantasy.

Author links:

Devin
Maggie
Laurie

Halloween Thrills by Devin Govaere, Maggie McBay, and Laurie Keck

Just in time for the spookiest night! Halloween Magic

Halloween Magic by Devin Govaere, Maggie McBay and Laurie KeckNomad Authors welcomes one of Dee’s favorite author friends, Devin Govaere, and her two writing companions, Maggie McBay and Laurie Keck, and their really great book for Halloween–Halloween Magic. Halloween Magic is an anthology of three stories taking place in Forget-Me-Not, Oregon, a town where ordinary and extraordinary people live their unique lives in harmony.

NA: Hi, Devin. How did you come up with the idea for your book?
DGMy co-authors and I love the small-town, romantic vibe that comes from watching the Hallmark Channel, but we also love quirky and interesting characters that live outside the norm. So creating a small town with paranormal residents was intriguing to us. Since Halloween is coming, we decided to each write a story using a classic Halloween theme.

NA: What sort of research did you do to write this book?
DG: When deciding where to place our town, we read articles and perused pictures to determine which “vibe” most connected to our ideas. We all agreed and chose Oregon and then created our town on a rather isolated peninsula. My story, Just Another Scarecrow Love Story, is contemporary, so it didn’t require research. However, my male character is a miner from the nineteenth century, so in order to get a feel for the life he might have led, I read a bit about early mining practices. The research never makes it into the story, but it gave me a sense of who he is.

NA: A fun fact about writing your book.
DG: I’ve always been intrigued by scarecrows. They’re solitary creatures who reflect how lonely life can be at times. I wanted to write a story about a scarecrow who is much more than clothes filled with stuffing. I wanted my scarecrow to find a happily ever after.

NA: Do you have a day job? What was your job before you started writing full time?
DG: I am a full-time freelance editor and write between projects. I’m lucky, however, to work from home, so my schedule is my own.

NA: What started you on the path to writing?
DG: I tinkered with writing throughout my life, particularly during those awkward junior high years. Then I got sidelined by “having a life,” which included dating as a teen and young adult and then getting married and having kids. One night I was watching TV with the kids, had an idea, got out a spiral notebook, and just started writing a story. It was much too long, and even after I edited it, it was much too long. But I loved it.

NA: The biggest surprise you had after becoming a writer.
DG: I’d always thought I was a decent writer. My teachers had told me so, and I never had any trouble communicating. It came easily to me. However, when I started writing fiction (after being a voracious reader all my life), I realized there was so much to the craft I didn’t know. Sometimes understanding concepts, such as staying within a point of view, hovered just beyond my grasp. When that finally clicked, it hit me like a sledgehammer and I wondered how I’d not seen it the whole time.

NA: Do you outline books ahead of time or are you more of a by-the-seat-of-your-pants writer?
DG: I only have a vague sense of where the story is going, possibly a couple of sentences of an idea. It might start with just a small exchange between characters, but once I have an understanding of who those characters will become, I just start writing and see where it goes.

NA: Which kind of scenes are the hardest for you to write? Action, dialogue, sex?
DG: Sex for sure. I’ve written all sorts of stories and books under my own name and various others. I love developing the characters, giving them dialogue, and choreographing their behaviors and actions, but when sex is required (which it often is, depending on the publisher), I had a habit of typing “Insert Sex Scene Here” just so I could move on and not lose my momentum. Consequently, even when I was finished and happy with the completed product, I wasn’t done yet. That’s a big reason why we’ve written our Forget-Me-Not stories as clean romances with just a hint of closed-door activities. When I type “the end,” I know I’m truly finished.

NA: What are your top three favorite books of all time?
DG: The Stand by Stephen King, The Witching Hour by Anne Rice, Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel. All three of these books not only entertained me but opened new worlds and possibilities to me.

NA: Why did you choose the shirt you have on?
DG: It was lying at the bottom of the bed waiting for me. I have several stages of being dressed during the day. The first stage is just to get Daisy, our dachshund, outside.

NA: First thought when the alarm goes off in the in the morning?
DG: “Where’s Daisy?” Daisy sleeps in the bed, but she likes to move around, so unless I feel her pressed against me, I don’t know if she’s scooted to the other side of the bed or is lying under the covers at the bottom. It only takes a moment to find her, because when the alarm goes off, she’s right there.

NA: What errand/chore do you despise the most?
DG: I hate grocery shopping and putting things away. Put things in the cart, take things out of the cart to put on the conveyer, put them back into the cart to carry to the car, put them in the trunk, unload everything and pile it all onto the counter, and then wonder where I’m going to put everything. It seemingly takes forever.

NA: What are you working on now?
DG: My co-authors and I have just finished Halloween Thrills, another anthology of Halloween stories, set to be released on October 13, and we’re currently writing the third anthology, Winter Tales, coming out on November 20.

NA: What sort of reader would enjoy this book?
DG: Any reader who lives for a happily ever after, who yearns for a touch of magic in their life, and who loves stories that blend paranormal elements with humor, a bit of mystery, and healthy, loving relationships would enjoy this book. We think the combination of the three stories offers something for everyone, and we hope you enjoy them.

Halloween Magic

Blurb:
Halloween Magic
Forget-Me-Not, Oregon, Book 1

Welcome to Forget-Me-Not, Oregon, a magical place filled with magical people. A place that’s most special just around Halloween, when the boundary between worlds thins and all things are possible.

Halloween Magic--Devin GovaereJust Another Scarecrow Love Story
Love Doesn’t Care if You’re Real…

Annabella Paxton, earth witch and single parent, lives on her apple orchard with her three-year-old daughter, Melanie. During the annual Halloween Scarecrow Trail event, Mellie helps to create their exhibit and names her scarecrow Carter, pretending he’s real. It’s all just a little girl’s imagination, right?

Kiss the SunHalloween Magic--Maggie McBay
She kissed the sun but found love in the darkness.

In the midst of Halloween festivities, visitor Rowan McKenna expected to find a variety of witches, ghosts, vampires, and other traditional monsters. She just didn’t expect to fall in love with one.

Halloween Magic--Laurie KeckHarmonious Haunt
Alone, he made music. Together, they made magic.

As entertainment director for Forget-Me-Not, Fallon James receives her dream assignment—meeting the one man who has entertained her with his music for most of her life. The question is, will they share a harmonious visit, or will they fall into one of life’s traps, leaving a haunting like no other?

Excerpt:

Prologue
Across the Vast Expanse—1695

Three long years, after a grueling journey across landscapes that defied imagination, the Conclave Elders stood at the top of a high cliff, staring at the peninsula below, a spit of land that dared to exist within the immense sea that ravaged its shores. Rings of islands lay in the distance, and rivers, both small and large, meandered through the visible land as far as the eye could see until it became a field of deep blue. How far that sea stretched they couldn’t begin to know.

It was the farthest they could possibly go in their quest for freedom without worrying about their physical survival. If they couldn’t find safe harbor here, there would be no place for them.

But this place felt right.

The salt air spread a welcoming, familiar balm over their faces. The deep, musky scents of the forest at their backs filled them with a sense of home. The endless expanse of the ocean reminded them of another on the eastern side of continent, and that peninsula offered them a sanctuary, a seclusion to live their lives and create a community filled with harmony and peace and…magic.

The eldest of the Conclave, a warlock most powerful named Silas Deeds, leaned down and plucked a small flower from a field of blue.

“I know this flower. I’ve seen it many places in Europe, but I learned of it in the Germanic region. They called it vergissmeinnicht.”

“What does it mean, Master Deeds?” asked Constance Curtis.

“Forget-Me-Not,” Silas said with a smile.

“Such a small thing for such large aspirations,” Constance said.

“And yet, look how it blossoms here. It fairly covers the ground, holding fast and true to the land.” He glanced at the peninsula below. “We can be like this small flower. We can hold fast and true.”

“There are others here,” Richard Summers said. “We saw so many on the journey, and the smoke we’ve seen drifting through the trees and along the riverbanks indicates there are many already living here.”

Silas nodded. “We can share this land. We can offer friendship and peace, and with time, the people already here may grow to accept us, dare I say to truly like us? We can offer them so much in exchange for their fellowship. And if a relationship with them stays firm, we can form a community nestled within theirs. Our families will have a secure haven to grow and build and learn.”

“It is an honorable wish for the future,” Constance said. “Do you think the possibility exists that we could find acceptance and fellowship here?”

Silas sighed. “It can be no worse than the places we’ve left behind, my dear friend.”

“You speak true,” Richard said.

“We come with open hearts, with open minds,” Silas said, “and it is a sorry people who fails to recognize honest and goodhearted intent.”

“Others have,” Richard said.

Silas glanced at his friend. “And we have left them behind.” He twirled the small blossom in his fingers. “Forget me not… We will never forget what has happened to some of our fellows, but we will move on and forge ahead, holding their memories strong in our hearts. These small flowers give us a sign that even the weakest, even the smallest can have strength, and, my stalwart friends, our group is anything but weak. We will make our home here.”

And they settled onto the beautiful peninsula they called Forget-Me-Not.

Buy links:
Amazon

Halloween Magic by Devin Govaere, Maggie McBay, and Laurie KeckAuthor Bios:

Devin Govaere is a freelance editor and fiction writer. She has published over a dozen novels and fourteen novellas, writing under her own name as well as several pseudonyms. She lives in North Carolina and can be contacted at dgovaere@gmail.com.

Maggie McBay enjoys writing paranormal stories filled with romance and suspense. She has published several novels and novellas, writing under her own name as well as several pseudonyms. Touched with a bit of wanderlust, she’s lived in several states over the years and looks forward to traveling in the near future. You can contact Maggie at maggiemcbay@gmail.com.

Laurie Keck lives on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. She frequently visits the beach with her two small dogs and enjoys quiet time in natural surroundings. As much as Laurie enjoys the ocean, she is equally at home amidst the forest and mountains. She loves nature and wildlife. Her passion is writing stories about true love and fantasy.

Author links:

Devin
Maggie
Laurie