Wednesday Spotlight with Celia Yeary

 Hello and welcome back to Wednesday Spotlight. After suffering a major heart attack, slight stroke and long respite, I’m slowly but surely making a comeback. My first guest is multi-published author Celia Yeary. Celia has graciously agreed to chat with me about her latest release

HEART OF A HERO

With a cascading waterfall trickling amidst a beautiful garden of pink roses, Sharon sits beneath an umbrella table, waiting for her guest to arrive. Blue birds chirp from lush evergreens, their melodic tweeting creating a summer symphony. A slight breeze blows through the undulating tree branches, stirring the sweet fragrance of roses, pine and earth. From inside, the doorbell rings, its chimes echoing through the garden.

Oliver, dressed in blue jeans, chambray shirt rolled up to the elbows to reveal his bulging biceps, cowboy boots and Stetson, sets the pretty pink roses he’s plucked from his garden on the table in a mint-green vase. Casting Sharon a wicked wink, he struts off to answer the door, humming a verse of George Strait's Baby Blue Eyes.

Seconds later, Oliver escorts Celia into the garden.


Sharon greets her guest with a warm hug while Oliver parades off to see about refreshments..But not before presenting Celia with a single pink rosebud.

For you, my sweet, fresh and lovely, just like you.

Sharon rolls her eyes and clears her throat. Ah, about that wine and appetizer, Oliver.

Oliver blows a kiss to Celia, pumps his biceps and glides through the sliding glass doors.

Sharon: He can’t help himself when he’s in the company of a pretty lady. Knowing your favorite flower is pink roses, he’s been fussing with them all week. Thank you for agreeing to be my first guest. How are you, Celia dear?

Celia: I am fine and dandy, dear heart. This summer heat just warms me up from head to toe, including my heart. Well, and Oliver didn't hurt, either. Everyone just complains and gripes about the heat all day, but me? I don't like to be at all cold, and I don't warm up from winter until mid-June. This is when I'm happiest.

Sharon: Smile. Then, good job we’re outside enjoying this gorgeous day.

Oliver appears, balancing a silver tray above his head. Beaming at Celia, he sets it down. The tantalizing aroma of coconut shrimp grilled to a crisp golden brown wafts through the air. Uncorking the bottle of merlot, Oliver pours a little in a glass for Celia to sample.

Celia: Ohhhh, Oliver! You do know how to make a girl swoon. The wine, Oliver, the wine. It's a perfect merlot, just the right bouquet…what am I saying? I don't know a thing about merlot!

Giddy with delight, Oliver fills Celia’s glass.

Sharon gawks at her empty glass. I wouldn’t mind a little bit of that red wine, Oliver, it’s good for the heart, I hear.

Oliver: What’s that, boss lady?

Scowling at Oliver, Sharon pours her own wine. Never mind, run along. Beams at Celia. So, what better time to have your book released than Independence Day. How very befitting. Tell us about Heart of a Hero.

Celia: I'm just so pleased you asked, sweetheart. This story is about a soldier hero who comes home from the Middle East War to Dallas, wounded and tired, hoping to have some down time to recover. But his fiancé, her mother, and his own mother and father have carefully laid-out plans for his future, and they run over him like an Army tank.

Sharon: Sounds intriguing. What major snags must Matt and Lauren overcome before riding off into the sunset?

Celia: Plenty, let me tell you, girlfriend.  Matt escapes from the trappings in Dallas just as he had to escape the terrorists' imprisonment with his buddies. You know what, Sharon? Matt found it easier to get away from the terrorists than it was to get away from his family. Their demands just about swallow him up. When he meets Lauren in the small Central Texas town of Bonner, he knows he has found true love. He keeps his life's problems from her, but she has secrets of her own, too.

Sharon: Ooo, the plot thickens. Now, your book deals with a hurricane. Have you ever had the misfortune of being caught up in the mayhem of a deadly storm?

Celia: Yes, more than once. I grew up on the High Plains of Texas, tornado alley, and we often had to protect ourselves. But as a young wife and mother, I lived in Houston when Hurricane Carla hit and swooped over the city. We boarded up our windows and road out the storm and the high water in our house. Scary, but you know? Storms sort of excite me, too. I know. It's weird.

Sharon: Shudders. You are a brave woman, Celia! Changing subjects, you’re a seventh generation Texan. I’ve heard the expression many times but am not sure of its meaning. Mind explaining, m’dear?

Celia: I don't mind at all. It means my ancestors go back seven generations in Texas—that's back to 1835 when Texas was a Republic, an independent nation, before statehood and before the Civil War. I suppose it only became important when my sisters and I applied to join the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) and was accepted. To us, it's a big deal. To others, not so much.

Thunderous applause explodes through cyberspace

Sharon: We are all duly impressed, girlfriend. So, tell me, what do you enjoy doing when not writing?

Celia: We travel some, but our heavy traveling years have gone by and we're more content to stay home. I work closely with the women of our church, teach Bible lessons about twice a year, and we have a list of mission-oriented activities we support. Our grandsons are very important, and we visit them twice a year because they live so far away. I volunteer a little in the community, and I meet with my writing group each Tuesday—"We're the Write Girls."

Sharon: Sounds like you do what makes you happy. Sadly, we’re just about out of time. Before you leave, my hobby is collecting legends or superstitions from my guests. Can you share one with me?

Celia: Mmmm, that's a difficult question. I'm not superstitious, so that's out. Legends? There's the story of Indian Emily, a young Apache maiden who is supposed to have saved the West Texas outpost of Fort Davis from a surprise attack when she alerted her lover, a young Army Lieutenant, that the hostiles were coming. I believe the story has been disproved to some extent, except there was a young Apache girl who was connected in some way to the Fort. Who knows? But it makes a good story!

Sharon: Sigh, oh, we of wistful heart. Thank you, I’ll certainly put it in my book of keepsakes.

Oliver materializes with dessert. With a sweeping bow, he presents a sinfully rich chocolate mocha pecan torte. He spoon feeds a bite to Celia before serving with coffee and ice tea. Barely able to stifle himself, he plucks his hot off the press copy of Heart of a Hero from beneath his shirt. He smiles a beguiling smile. If I might be so bold to ask you to autograph this for me, love?

Celia: Call me "love," and serve my favorite chocolate dessert to me, and I'll do anything you ask. Oh? Oh, you only wanted my autograph. Well…certainly.

Sharon: Thank you so much for a delightful visit, Celia. Best of luck with Heart of a Hero. Hope you sell millions.

Celia: Thank YOU, Sharon, for being one of the most gracious hostesses I've ever had. I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Sharon: My pleasure, Celia. You’ve been most entertaining.

Celia Yeary is a seventh-generation Texan, and her life revolves around family, friends, and writing. San Marcos has been her home for thirty-five years. She has eight published romance novels, two “coming soon” novels, two anthologies, and published essays with a local magazine. The author is a former science teacher, graduate of Texas Tech University and Texas State University, mother of two, grandmother of three boys, and wife of a wonderful, supportive Texan. Celia and her husband enjoy traveling, and both are involved in their church, the community, and the university.

She meets with The Write Girls on Tuesdays at a local coffee house.

Celia Yeary-Romance...and a little bit 'o Texas  
http://www.celiayeary.blogspot.com/ http://www.celiayeary.com/

http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

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BOOK:

HEART OF A HERO

Blurb:

Matt Carrington escapes a terrorists’ prison while in the Army, but he has difficulty escaping the trappings of a demanding fiancé and his own parents. To get away to think, he meets pretty, girl-next-door Lauren Delaney, the kind of woman he desires. But his fiancé and his parents have other plans, and they determine to have their way—no matter what Matt wants.

Lauren Delaney is an independent young woman who quickly befriends the soldier hero who comes to town. Knowing he has another life in Dallas, she holds a secret, too. But she pretends neither have a problem in order to have the summer with him.

During the long hot months, a hurricane almost destroys the town. Matt and Lauren work with a team to save as many residents as they can, and in the process fall deeply in love. When the danger is past, the two lovers suffer from their own lies and misunderstandings. Can they find peace and happiness without hurting others? 

EXCERPT:

Note: After a long day of rescuing residents stranded by high water and working in the school gym where the refugees were housed, Lauren invites Matt to spend the night at her house.

Midnight arrived and Lauren was tired. She knew Matt was, too, but the wine and food had made them even more aware of each other. They had stayed at the table too long.

      “Maybe we should get some sleep, Lauren,” Matt said slowly. “Maybe I should go.”

      Lauren clasped her hands in her lap to keep them from shaking. She leaned forward to look straight into his eyes. “Where? Where would you go? You have no place, unless you want to sleep in the gym. Now, think about that carefully, before you become noble and go down there. You may stay here, Matt. I invite you to stay with me.” She waited with her breath caught in her throat.

      “Mmm,” he murmured, as he studied her face by the candlelight. “Where can I sleep?”

      Softly, she said, “I invite you to sleep with me, Matt.” She leaned forward and placed her small hand on his large one. “I want you close to me, all night long.”

      “It’s not right, Lauren,” he told her as he shook his head back and forth very slowly. “I don’t want to hurt you. You know I have to go back.”

      “Did I ask you to stay forever? Did I say ‘don’t hurt me?’ Matt, please, don’t make this a federal case.”

      Matt paused, remaining very still. “I don’t want you to feel guilty.”

      Lauren sat and gazed at him for a few moments and realized she was begging. So, she said nothing more on the topic. Instead, she stood and mumbled that she should blow out the candles on the hearth and mantel before her house burned down.

     As she passed him, he reached out and stopped her by placing his hand on her arm. His other arm came around her waist, and he slowly pulled her down to his lap. One knuckle caressed her cheek, and then his thumb swept over her full bottom lip. He placed his palm over the side of her face and leaned toward her ear to whisper, “Remember, I said at the river I wanted to make love to you, so it was my idea first.”

RELEASE DATE: JULY 4

WHIMSICAL PUBLICATIONS

http://www.whimsicalpublications.com/newreleases.html