Stormbound

A contemporary romance that I've just contracted with Aspen Mountain Press. I fell in love with the characters in this story...each one different, unique, quirky to say the least. Find out what happens to each of them while stranded inside an old farmhouse during a dangerous storm that hits the Eastern Seaboard.

Stay tune for more details as they become available!

Is there such as thing as Serendipity?

I just finished watching Nicholas Cage's National Treasures with my
granddaughter. It's a pretty good movie, and certainly keeps your
interest.

At the very end of the movie one of the characters receives a white
envelope and it's marked from the "White House." Then it struck
me...I have one of those! While clearing out some of my stuff I came
across it and put it in my office somewhere. I received it 15 years
ago after writing some articles for a local newspaper, then sending
one of the articles to President Clinton re the war in Bosnia.

Anyway, I went into my office and looked for it. I found it and
brought it out and gave it to my granddaughter, who thought it was the
coolest thing ever. First to see it on the movie, and then having her
Grammy give her an envelope similar to the one she just saw on TV. We
put it in a special plastic folder. I told her to keep it safe. I'm
hoping one day when she follows her dream of becoming a lawyer or
perhaps a Senator, or who knows, maybe President she'll remember the
envelope I gave her today that was sent directly to me from the White
House.

A GREAT SUMMER READ!

Finalist in Treble Heart Book Awards for Best in Contemporary

A SOLDIER’S FORTUNE (Award winning novel that will lift your spirits, warm your hearts, and help you understand.)

Lia Martin’s father Eliah Stewart summons her to Split Maple Ridge, Vermont, a place where years later still evokes memories of a dark love and an even darker betrayal. Knowing how his daughter feels about this place, Lia feels he would not have asked her to return unless for a good reason.

The name Eliah Stewart still grates hard against Sean McIntyre’s soul, reminding him of the painful humiliation he had once experienced on that unforgettable night. Years later he would tell others he felt safer fighting in Vietnam than in those Vermont backwoods.

When unforeseen circumstances throw Lia, Sean and Eliah together under one roof, despite the reopening of painful past emotional wounds, love still exists between Lia and Sean. But the question remains if this love will survive once all truths of what took place on that stormy summer night are exposed. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

Available in EBook and Papberback.

To Order Go to: http://www.trebleheartbooks.com/MarieRoysynopses.html

Reviews!

"Superb depth of character, heart-felt emotions, and a unique plot make

Marie A. Roy's A SOLDIER'S FORTUNE a wonderful reading experience. Few

authors know how to make a story come to life the way Marie A. Roy does."

Denise A. Agnew, best selling author of Dangerous Intentions

Denise A. Agnew

This is a bitter sweet tale that reminds me of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series in some ways, instead of Grandma Mazur there is Eliah Stewart. The humor in the story helped to balance the seriousness that penetrated whenever the Vietnam aspect was brought to the fore. Marie A. Roy has written a story showing how love can come at any age. I see future romance novels with older hero heroines and I must say if they are all as good as A Soldier's Fortune they'll be enjoyed by readers of every age.

---Kimberly Lightfoot

The Word on Romance

In Memory Of

July 6, 2008 marks the sixth anniversary of my late husband's death. I found this photo of Bob. It pretty much demonstrates he was a person who enjoyed life. Yes, he loved his Heineken beer, though he wasn't much of a drinker. This photo was taken at a dinner party the night before my younger son's wedding back in 1997. It is hard to believe that five year later Bob would leave us.

Bob taught high school math for thirty-three years. His 34th year would have had him retiring from that profession, although Bob was not the kind of person to retire from anything. He probably would have been teaching at a local college at least part time.

He provided an excellent role model for his sons, who are now excellent fathers and husbands. He also provided a great role model for his students, many of whom have gone on and become what they intended to become, productive human beings doing what they love doing.

We will never fully know why people like Bob must leave us in this life. The only thing my family and I have come up with is that Bob after devoting all those years teaching young minds the complex problems of algebra, calculus, applied mathematical terms, Bob had fulfilled his purpose here on this earth. And he had only fifty-five years to do it. Young for someone who had so much more to give. Many do not leave such a legacy behind as he did where what he taught now lives on through the minds of all of his students.

I of course miss him every day. And I will continue to miss him until it is my turn to join him. The pain has soften somewhat to the extent that I am now able to upload a photo of him without experiencing too much of that pain, Instead a bittersweet sadness fills me inherent in losing someone like Bob from my life.

Yes, it has been a struggle these past six years, My struggle continues. In the process I've been strengthened by it all, no longer afraid that I can't go it alone without him. This is not what he would have wanted for me, not able to enjoy life because of fear.

So I continue to stumble along, make my way and know each day, each year I survive. I'm just lucky Bob left me two sons and their families to make this journey less painful.

Still, whenever one of my grandkids reaches a milestone in their lives, each one of us wonders, "Now what would Grampy have thought, or say or do?"

The fact that I can do this memorial is a milestone for me in a sense as it shows me the denial that I had been in is lessening along with the pain.

I do know that he would be smiling, have that mischievous look in his eyes, and know that he is always proud of his kids and his family members. Bob loved life! And he would want all of us loving life as much as he did!


Bob, you will always be loved and remembered in our minds and our hearts!

Marie

Proud to be an American

Tomorrow will be the Fourth of July! Where I live up here on the mountain, nearby is a lake. By the lake we have our own Fireworks Festivities. So all I have to do is sit on my back deck, settle myself with some snacks and a glass of Merlot and enjoy!

I just finished a story that is being considered for publication which takes place around the Fourth of July. I call it Stormbound because a fierce storms hits the eastern seaboard where the story takes place. This story is not erotic and in fact has very little sex, if any. But the characters were so much fun to work with that despite the lack of "sex" the story practically wrote itself.

Stormbound was actually inspired by a set of Christmas carolers I spotted in a small gift shop while vacationing in the area of Lake George, New York. Somehow the image of the old man with a long red and white scarf wrapped around his neck created a cluster of ideas and plot points that had me feeling as if I were simply recording the facts. In the book titled Writing The Natural Way talks about "clustering." I think that's what happened to me where I pretty much allowed my mind free rein to create a story that involved a group of quirky characters, each playing out their own scenario within the time frame of a storyline that occurs during a nor'easter. And within this time frame we get to see that character arc where each personality is altered or changed in some way by the end of the story.

Character arc is important in a novel. Otherwise the story become stagnant and simply goes no where. People change. Events change people. And this needs to happen at least within the pages of a story.

I also do this character arc thing in my book A Soldier's Fortune. Lia Martin, the heroine is changed at the end by the events that take place. Sean McIntyre, hero (Vietnam Veteran) is changed at the end as well . And even stubborn set in his ways Elia Stewart, into his eighties, is changed at the end of the story.

Here's the blurb to that story:

Lia Martin's father, Eliah Stewart, summons her to Split Maple Ridge, Vermont a place where years later still evokes memories of a dark love and an even darker betrayal. Knowing how his daughter feels about this place, Lia feels he would not have asked her to return unless for a good reason.

The name Eliah Stewart still grates hard against Sean McIntyre's soul, reminding him of the painful humiliation he had once experienced on that unforgettable night. Years later he would tell others he felt safer fighting in Vietnam than in those Vermont backwoods.

When unforeseen circumstances throw Lia, Sean and Eliah together under one roof, despite the reopening of painful past emotional wounds, a love still exists between Lia and Sean. The question is if love can survive once all truths of what really took place on that stormy summer night are exposed.

A Soldier's Fortune is a great read for this upcoming holiday reminding us of those who have served and are serving our country through good and difficult times. Right now we're into pretty difficult times. So instead of driving and using up gas, I suggest simply using that money to order some great reads. And doing it via a publisher's online site. Here are some publishers sites where you can obtain some great reads.

Aspen Mountain Press You'll find Goin' Down Anthology here

Forbidden Publications Look for me here either Marie A. Roy or Collette Thomas


Noble Romance I'm contracted here, so look for me here in the upcoming weeks.

Treble Heart Books - You can order A Soldier's Fortune here.

Enjoy the weekend!

Marie

Macrame and Creativity

I've been so busy with living or I should say writing stories as my alter ego, that poor little old me --the real me --has been feeling a bit neglected lately.

Sometimes I get the two mixed up and have to ask myself when I sit down to write, who am I? Am I Marie today? Or am I going to write as my let's say willing to push the envelope psyche, Collette?

Today I think I'll try to remain within the mind frame of simply Marie. And it's Marie who writes the edgy forensic thriller stories. Who also writes stories with that erotic edge as well as tales that are not so erotic but sensual And who has contracted her full length thriller Deadly Secrets to Noble Romance Publishing. This project does not have a release date yet. I do look forward to working on the story through the summer.

Yet, Marie has been sitting on her duff while Collette writes those over the top, sexy, hot hot tales that keep readers coming back for more. Okay if you want to go see some of her covers, just click on Newsletter

In fairness to Marie, she hasn't been idle but has been busily crafting macrame jewelry, also referred to as hemp jewelry. Some of these items will be offered as prizes in upcoming contests on either Marie's or Collette's websites. They are fun necklaces, some of which have these beautiful pendants containing brilliant psychedelic colors.

For those old enough (like moi) to remember the 60's you know what I'm referring to when I mention psychedelic colors. Now grant you I never tried anything that would alter my brain like those psychedelic drugs. I was either too smart or too afraid. I actually did get through the 60's without ever partaking in any of that stuff.

But oh I still recall the psychedelic fashions. I remember the short mini skirts and dresses in bright yellows, greens, blues, pinks, red, purples, all swirly colors that had you wondering if you were even on drugs.

I remember the paisley prints, and the earthy tones, and again all those purples with swirls of that same bright yellow.

And of course the shorter the skirt or dress -- the better! And let's not forget the hot pants...short short shorts!

I was a size two back then, short, skinny, and wore these fashion and back then got away with it. Now they offer a pleasant memory.



When I saw these pendants in one of the craft stores the other day, I knew I had to make up necklaces specifically so that I could wear them. Holding them is like holding a miniature piece of art.

I'll be posting pics of them on Abby Marie Creations website once I get them completed.

These represent a piece of that past, namely the psychedelic age where creative minds also like Collette possessed a no-holds-bar frame of mind.

Collette has asked me to make up a few of these necklaces so that both readers of Marie A. Roy and Collette Thomas will have a chance to win a few. Then they too can be transported back to an age of Aquarius, freedom of mind, and swirly colors.

Take a peek at my books!

No More Secrets, No More Lies - Contemporary Romance that's sure to win your hearts. You can find this at Forbidden Publications


A Soldier's Fortune - A book that will remind you why we should thank all our military troops now serving our country. You can find this at Treble Heart Books

The Last Day of Twinship!

June 1964 - The last day my sister and I dressed alike. It marked a transition that helped us finally establish our individual selves. And it happened in June!

And I'm definitely the one on the left side of this photo!

TOTALLY ALIKE!

Notice a pattern here? We are still dressed alike! It became a part of who we were and very seldom did my sister and I wear different clothing. Even when we went out to play, we wore the same outfits, and my mom made sure everything matched! At all times we were coordinated from shoes, sock, dresses, coats, hats, gloves, and even pocketbooks. There is a reason for this and it was something I discovered only a few months before she past on. She had been orphaned from the age of four and lived in an orphanage until she was sixteen. When she left she always made sure she dressed nice, and everything matched. I'm guessing she had to wear other people's hand-me-downs. Why she insisted her daughters wore new clothing that matched!

And I'm pretty sure I'm the one on the right side of the photo!

JUNE 2008 - SEEING DOUBLE

June is a month of reflection. Probably because it is the month when I was born my mind tends to go back to the past.

Here's my sister and I at less than a year old. Again, I don't know which one is me. How strange that must be for others to see your baby pictures and not know. For me, if they're not label, then I simply play the guessing game.

As I go through these photos, I think maybe it's time to write about a story involving twins. I certainly know what it's like growing up as a multiple. Certain things happen to multiples that don't happen to singletons, like being regarded as a part of a whole rather than one individual. Already in my brain somewhere a story is germinating and eventually it will have to be told. Meantime, here's a photo of me and my sister in a double sized stroller.

JUNE IS BIRTHDAY MONTH

The photo to the left is of me and my sister celebrating our second birthday. Which one is me? I haven't a clue!!!! And that is always a problem when looking through old photographs of ourselves.

I could be the one on the right.

Or (squinting my eyes) I could be the one on the left.

I think I'm the one on the right...no come to think of it that's me on the left. Frankly, I can't tell.

We were born June 11, 194(?). Our scheduled delivery date was supposed to have been July 8. But nature had other plans. My sister at 5 pounds was able to go home and do her thing. Me? Weighing in at four pounds, two ounces, I stayed a month longer. At least this gave my parents a chance to see what taking care of one baby was going to be like, and enough time to practice until I made my entry into their lives. Needless to say their lives were never the same afterward.

This photo was taken way back when World War II was over for a couple of years. My dad had come home from the war the previous September before our births. My parents had already been married eight years prior to his coming home! And they had wanted kids but it just didn't happen, not until my dad's stint in the army was over.

Yeah, I have to say June was always a good good month for us. My sister and I as you can see in the photo above shared birthdays but we did not share a cake. Mom always made sure each of us had our very own cake.

JUNE 2008