The MacBrides: Logan and RJ by J.L. Petersen (VNBtM, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

I am happy to share a guest post from author J.L. Petersen, who shares the answer to my question...

ELF: What was the most difficult thing to overcome on your path to becoming a published author and how did you conquer it?

JLP: There were two major challenges I faced when it came to becoming published. The first was very personal. I had always wanted to write stories but life had me pushing that aside until recently. In my “work” career I was a perfectionist. I would work hard and long to ensure I met deadlines, excelled at my and my employer’s expectations and through the years gained the experience and confidence to be at the top of my game. However, when it came to writing to publish I was starting anew. I hadn’t written anything non-work related in years (I won’t mention how many years) and dealt with insecurities and fear that I would embarrass myself. When Love in a Moment was published I was shy and hesitant to talk about it with anyone. But as I continued to publish I became more comfortable with putting myself out there to be judged by others. It was okay that my stories or writing style didn’t appeal to everyone. I have learned through the process to continue to improve at my craft and be okay with my work.

The second major challenge was figuring out how to get published. All those questions every author asks themselves. Do I submit to the traditional publishing houses? Do I learned to self-publish? Is there something in-between? How much can I afford to spend to publish? How do I get editing done?  Oh, so many questions and it seemed overwhelming. I’ll admit I still don’t know if the path I chose is the most lucrative but it is the most comfortable for me. Basically, part of my choice to go a direction different than the traditional route still had to do with being insecure that the big houses would dislike my work. But the more I’ve learned I know it’s not the way I want to go. The indie and small house publishing is more flexible, better timelines for turnaround and a growing presence in the publishing world.

All in all the road I’m on has definitely been one with curves, pot holes and hills but I am getting a good workout and stronger for the walk.

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The MacBrides: Logan and RJ

by J.L. Petersen

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GENRE: Contemporary Romance

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BLURB:

Logan, the eldest of the MacBride clan, is thrilled at his brother Clay’s pending nuptials to Sandy. But when Sandy’s sister RJ arrives at the family’s ranch, Logan’s world is turned upside down. However, the sisters’ shared past has created scars and barriers against love testing Logan’s ability to push aside his need and patience to win RJ’s trust and ultimately her unwavering love.

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EXCERPT

Logan studied the woman. He’d bet his favorite horse she thought she was portraying herself as stoic. All he saw was a woman on the verge of breaking. Remorse filled him. He jumped in thinking he knew where the trouble was as he had done with virtually all his siblings since their father died. Now he wasn’t so sure he had approached this situation right. Straightening, he rubbed the back of his neck and tried again.

“Look, I may have jumped the gun a bit. There’s obviously something wrong that has both of you in tears. Can’t I help?”

Frowning at his words, RJ tried to determine if the man was playing her. She’d been burned before by family trying to manipulate her with caring to get what they wanted. Studying him, she captured his image as she would one of her pictures. Studying it for all the nuances not readily seen. Tall, lean with a broad chest, he stood with an ease many would envy. His hair was mostly covered by his cowboy hat, but black locks escaped at the back of his neck. His face was all angles with sharp cheekbones, strong forehead and a nose that looked like it had been broken along the way. His lips were firm and his eyes deep blue.

The eyes held her. There seemed to be sincerity in them but something else was pulling at her. When her mind grasped what that was, she sucked in her breath. Want. And, as if he realized she saw his wanting her, his eyes narrowed and became more intense. She pulled her gaze away quickly, and once again, turned towards the balcony doors. Gathering herself from the shock of his wanting her, she realized her body was tingling. Not good.

“I appreciate the offer, but it’s not something I want to discuss with a stranger.”

Logan was stunned to know she saw his desire for her. It only seemed to heighten his need to grab her and hold tight. When she spoke, he knew he needed a bit of space to process what was happening to him. “I can appreciate that. But don’t be hasty about leaving. Why don’t you join us at the ranch for dinner tonight? If you come about four, you and Sandy can have some private time to talk.”

Amazon

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

J. L. Petersen lives in Denver with her husband. She finds inspiration in her adopted state of Colorado. She's enjoyed reading all types of romance for years and finally found the courage to start telling her own stories. Ms. Petersen believes love is the strongest, most powerful of emotions. It allows us to trust, believe, forgive and have hope. Her stories try to bring those emotions to her characters.

Publisher website

Amazon page

Facebook page

Twitter: @ jlpetersenauth1

Email

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