Through the Opera Glasses - 77 - 10 Questions For Kelly Boyce, Author of The Outlaw Bride

Day 15 of the A to Z Challenge brings us to a very special celebration.

Because today O is for Outlaw Bride.












Whom do I spy through my little opera glasses this week? Oh there - I see her! Debut western historical romance author Kelly Boyce, whose first e-book hits an e-reader near you TODAY.

Quick - let's pick up our skirts and dash over to see her. I'll just wait until she's in between chatting with readers.


Kelly - thank you for making your first stop on your release week promo tour here at A Piece of My Mind.

1 - You've been writing with clearly-plotted writing and career goals since you began your writing journey.

Don't know why I know that...oh, I know why. Because you've been picking me up for the drive to our monthly Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada meetings for the past 8 years. Ha, ha...!

So, what role do you think concrete expectations have for writers, who have to create their own workdays?

For me, concrete expectations are essential.

Where I have a full-time job (like most writers!), I needed to be very strict with my time management to ensure I wrote every day. I put my writing on equal footing with my day job, and since I wouldn’t dream of not showing up for the day job (they frown on that), I also wouldn’t dream of not showing up for the writing gig.

It means hideously early mornings, starting at 5:30am, which allows me 1.5 hours of uninterrupted writing time. I generally write fast, so I’m able to get a fair bit done in that time (although never as much as I’d like).

I set weekly goals, monthly goals, give myself manuscript completion deadlines, etc. I’m pretty goal-oriented, so having those goals keeps me focused.

2 - If I was going to describe you with a quote, I would definitely pick this one by Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism:

"Anticipate the difficult by managing the easy."

I’m one with Lao.

How does this fit with your writing style?

Being a huge planner, I usually have back-up plans for my back-up plans. That way, if Plan A goes haywire, I have Plan B through G at the ready.

But overall, I’m more of a Nike girl. My motto is “Just Do It”. Tired on Monday morning and don’t want to get up? Too bad. Just do it.

Didn’t make my weekly goal by Friday but don’t want to work the weekend? Too bad. Just do it.

3 - Ha, ha! Exactly.

How long have you been a part of RWA?

I joined RWA (Romance Writers of America) and RWAC (Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada) in June 2003 and promptly realized I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.

What role do you think this played in your development as a writer?

RWAC is probably one of the most supportive groups of talented writers I have ever come across and they were essential at teaching me everything I didn’t know. I would not be where I am today with my writing had it not been for joining up with this crew.

4 - You served two terms as president of our chapter. How did you manage to balance your day job/RWAC exec/writing life/personal life?

I drank a lot.

Well…okay, not a lot.

I mean, not every day, or anything.

The key to being a great chapter president is having a great executive behind you, which I had during both my terms. They made me look good.

The rest of it – day job, personal life, writing - was sheer time management, but I’m a Capricorn, we thrive on schedules. I break out into a rash if I don’t have a calendar handy. It’s not pretty.

5 - What attracted you to the western historical romance genre, Kelly?

I grew up watching spaghetti westerns and have always been a huge Clint Eastwood fan. My early television viewing included Bonanza, Big Valley and of course Little House on the Prairie.

Me, too!

Added to this, as kids, my brother, Craig would devour books on cowboys, Indians and such, then regurgitate the stories back to me. Safe to say, I was fully immersed in the Old West from a very early age, so writing a western historical romance was an easy fit for me.

Who are your favorite western authors?

Maggie Osborne is at the top.
Cheryl St. John.
Linda Lael Miller is great.
I’ve also recently started reading Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove.

6 - If you could set up the perfect western film marathon, what three films would have to be on the playbill?

Oh wow…that’s tough.



Unforgiven, definitely.














And I’m a huge Christian Bale fan and loved 3:10 to Yuma, so that’s definitely on the list.












And the entire series of Deadwood to round things out.










7 - Well, now I'm dying for a peek at what a Kelly Boyce western looks like. Tell us all about Connor Langston.

Aside from being the hottest thing to hit Fatal Bluff since the railway stop, Connor Langston is a good guy trying to do the best he can with the circumstances forced upon him after his brother’s death.

He is a man of honor, whether he likes it or not, and has an indelible sense of right and wrong. And did I mention stubborn and prideful? He starts the story seeing life strictly in black and white, but bit by bit learns things are often shadowed with shades of grey.

8 - And Katherine Slade?

Ah, Katherine…

If ever there was a woman with a streak of bad luck, she would be it. But God love her, that isn’t enough to stop her from trying to do the right thing.

Unfortunately, when a promise to a dead man brings her to Fatal Bluff, her need to make amends collides with her bad luck and she finds herself taking on an assumed identity.

Given that she can’t seem to lie her way out of a jam with any sense of finesse, this charade is destined to end badly. But Kate is never one to give up, and as the story goes along, her sense of justice and determination do not let her down.

9 - What's in store for The Brides of Fatal Bluffs series?

On her way to keep her promise, Katherine meets up with two other mail order brides on their way to Fatal Bluff to meet their intended husbands. Each of these brides will get their own book, and I am toying with an idea for a fourth in the series starring a certain bounty hunter you’ll meet in The Outlaw Bride.

10 - You'll be appearing all over the blogosphere this week - what other stops can readers find you on The Outlaw Bride train?

I am all over the blogosphere this week! Aside from hanging out with you and your lovely readers, I am also making the following appearances:








April 18th: ThePopCultureDivas

Manic Readers

April 19th: My blog!

April 20th: Carina Press Blog as well as Carina’s Facebook page

April 23rd: Petticoats & Pistols

Thank you, Kelly - and congratulations on this very special milestone.

Here is an exclusive excerpt from The Outlaw Bride:




Connor Langston dropped the wanted poster on his desk. He stood, the chair scraping across the floor behind him. Weariness settled into his bones. He placed both his hands on the small of his back and stretched the muscles.

“If the woman doesn’t want to marry Figg, I can’t force her, Oliver.”

“I understand, Sheriff. I just don’t want her to create a scene. I have my business reputation to consider.” Oliver Hewitt patted down the thin ridge of black hair that wound around his shiny head. A sly, hopeful expression blanketed his features. “You know, Sheriff, if she won’t marry Figg, perhaps you should marry her. Lord knows you could use a wife, what with your current predicament and all.”

Connor’s jaw prickled with warmth. He didn’t need anyone musing about his predicament, current or otherwise. It irritated the hell out of him that eight years later the people in this town still looked upon him with pity. He was tired of their sympathy doled out in the tragic clucking of tongues and heartfelt pats on the backs. He didn’t need the constant reminder. He just wanted to get on with his life.

“I don’t need a wife,” he bit out, glaring at the small man.

The sound of raised voices filtered through the half-open door.

“Oh dear…” Oliver’s shoulders hunched up to his ears as if he could block out the noise. “Sheriff, please!”

Connor’s patience snapped. “Dammit, Oliver! Can’t you ever take on a venture without it turning into a complete disaster?”

The deep baritone of Bart’s voice interrupted Connor’s outburst before Oliver could respond. “Why don’t you run along, Oliver. We’ll be right behind you.”

“Yes, yes. Perfect. Wonderful. Thank you, Sheriff!” Oliver spun around quickly and hustled out the door, reminding Connor of a waddling duck.

Bart pulled out a cheroot from the front pocket of his shirt and lit the end. “Stop glarin’ after the man, son, and let’s go break up the brouhaha.”

Connor stalked to the door and yanked his hat from the hook, jamming it onto his head. “Why am I getting dragged into this?”

Bart chuckled, a low rumble from deep within his chest. He slapped Connor on the back. “You’re getting dragged into this, son, because one day you woke up, rolled outta bed and said, ‘Today I think I wanna be sheriff.’”

Connor barely remembered that day. At the time there had been too many other things to think about.

A shriek interrupted his thoughts and he picked up the pace, running across the street toward the train depot, where a growing crowd waited to greet him.

Though he suspected there wasn’t much left in the world to surprise him, Connor had to admit finding a feisty red-headed woman dangling arse end up over Walter Figg’s shoulder was a bit startling.

“Put me down! I don’t care what you were expecting, I changed my mind. Now let me go this instant and go back under the rock you crawled out from! I will not marry you and you can’t make me.” Small fists pounded Walter’s back with all the fury of a cornered bobcat.

“Shut yer yap, woman.”

A string of colorful names rent the air. “Get your filthy hands off me, you flea-bitten warthog!”

Standing in the crowd, Clara Bates gasped and slapped her hands over her son’s ears. Several others snickered, the ruckus breaking up the monotonous routine of their day. Walter appeared the only one unmoved by the woman’s declaration, or her flailing limbs.

With a frustrated groan, Connor shouldered his way through the growing crowd to stand in front of the jilted groom. This was not how he had planned on spending his day, arguing with the slow-witted mountain man and kicking up a row for all the townsfolk to mull over and discuss for a week of Sundays.

For about the tenth time that day, Connor seriously questioned the new vocation he had acquired. With a weary shake of his head, he pointed to the boardwalk in front of him and addressed the would-be groom. “Walter, put the lady down.”

- Kelly Boyce, 2011

The Outlaw Bride is available from Carina Press TODAY - Click here for details

Weekend Writer's Retreat - 51

Day 14 of the A to Z Challenge!

Today brings us to the latest chapter in my serialized dark fantasy story.




And for today, N is for Notorious.









For the first twelve scenes posted for the Weekend Writer's Retreat, we followed Scorpius as a seven-year-old, fetched from the nursery by a falconer to become his apprentice.

The next twelve scenes followed ten-year-old Scorpius as he discovered the dangers of serving the nobles he'd once imagined were family.

The third set of twelve scenes gave us a thirteen-year-old Scorpius, who discovered the true extent of his master's attempts to shield him from the cruelties of life outside their falconer's cottage.

We rejoin him at age sixteen.

You can follow the progress of this story arc by clicking on the Works in Progress link just under the blog header.


Scene 51

Lord Thibault’s stallion barely tolerated Scorpius’ efforts to hang onto the reins, and that was merely to lead him to Richolf on the field.

The guard who’d sprawled nearby had regained consciousness. He rolled the still-bleeding courtier face down and secured his hands behind his back as Scorpius helped his master into the saddle.

“We’ll secure the grounds,” the guard said, nodding at another guard who had already rounded up two courtiers farther along the field. “Bring his lordship to your cottage.”

“Aye, sir,” his master said, reaching down to grab hold of Scorpius’ forearm. The horse side-stepped in a circle, forcing Scorpius to hop on one leg until finally Richolf hauled him up. Perching on the thoroughbred’s bare haunches, he wrapped his arms around Richolf and hung on, grateful beyond measure that he didn’t need to ride this beast by himself.

This forest was Richolf’s before it was Scorpius’, so a brief description was all it took for his master to pick their way through the dense growth. Scorpius stayed on the alert for the two courtiers who’d chased Lord Thibault and himself into these woods, but the only sounds were birdsong and rustling from small, skittish creatures.

When they finally closed in on the rock ledge sheltering the noble, the horse’s ears pricked forward as it sniffed the air. Scorpius slid off and helped Richolf down, seeing the blood caked in his hair for the first time.

Crawling beneath the gnarled tree roots gripping the rock, Scorpius found Lord Thibault insensible but breathing. Between himself and his master, they eased the noble from his hiding place and onto the horse with silent signals and practiced understanding, but not before stuffing a neckcloth in the lord’s mouth to stop the moaning.

Picking their way as carefully and quickly as they could, Richolf supported Lord Thibault from his seat behind him on the horse as Scorpius managed the animal with greater assurance. There was no time for anything else.

When finally they made their way to the field, there was nothing but mashed grass to indicate that anything had even happened here. Scorpius and his master exchanged grim glances as they headed along the mews, forcing themselves to ignore the falcon perched on the roof of his hut, untended after the hunt.

Rounding the corner of the cottage, Scorpius saw four courtiers tied to the hitching posts, some faint with their wounds, some glaring in dark warning. One injured guard stood over them, his blade at the ready.

The other hurried to assist Lord Thibault into the cottage. Scorpius had to secure the horse, though he still didn’t know what he was doing. All he knew was that the animal responded better when Scorpius acted as if he knew what was what. So that’s what he did. He ignored the size and power and aggressive temperament and treated the stallion as though he were their hunting dog.

When he finally entered the kitchen, he found Lord Thibault laid upon his stomach on the table, the arrow still protruding from his shoulder. The guard deftly probed with his fingers, moving the shaft this way and that until he was satisfied as to the placement of the arrowhead. Richolf held the noble down and jerked his head for Scorpius to do the same.

The guard rummaged through his leather satchel for a few items, asked for water and some cloths and wiped the sweat from his brow. Scorpius scurried to collect what he required. By the time he returned, the guard had collected himself and readied the small knife and clamp with confidence.

“Hold him steady,” the guard said. Scorpius and his master leaned into the noble, pressing firmly as the guard made the first slice to enlarge the wound.

All Scorpius could think about were the men who had once held his master when he’d been put to the question. At least Lord Thibault’s writhing and muffled shrieks were to heal a wound and not create one.

But the torment was the same, wasn’t it, whether it was inflicted with notorious brutality deep below the estate’s splendor, or whether it happened here in their cozy falconer’s cottage.

© Julia Smith, 2011

5 on Friday - Set 62

Day 13 of the A to Z Challenge brings us to the halfway point - and to the letter M.








It's Friday, and Fridays mean music at A Piece of My Mind. I take part in a musical meme called 5 on Friday, where Travis at Trav's Thoughts invites everyone to lay down a short set of music that takes their fancies.











Kick back, settle in and enjoy five tunes that start with the letter M.

1 - My Heart Sings - Paul Anka



2 - Morning Rider on the Road - David Cassidy



3 - Money Honey - Bay City Rollers



4 - Man on Fire - Andy Gibb



5 - Mama's Boy - Justin Bieber

Thursday Thirteen - 206 - 13 Ways to Admire Laurence Olivier

Day 12 of the A to Z Challenge at A Piece of My Mind Falls on Thursday Thirteen day.

That means thirteen ways to explore or contemplate something - which, in this case, means thirteen fabulous facts about Laurence Olivier.

Because L is for Laurence Olivier.














1 - Laurence Olivier built an unprecedented body of work to become one of the greatest - if not THE greatest - actors of the 20th century.

And he did it with all the glamour of an Old School matinee idol.


















2 - Laurence Olivier - Oscar winner / BAFTA winner / Golden Globe winner / Emmy winner / Berlin film festival winner

5' 10"

Eyes - Gray/blue

Hair - Dark brown

Type - Athletic / worked almost continuously for six decades

He worked as an actor / Director / Producer

Worked in stage / Film / Television














3 - Larry grew up in Surrey in the south east of England, the son of Anglican minister Gerard Olivier and Agnes, the daughter of a headmaster.

"It would be possible to argue that the dilemma in Olivier was the Church vs. the Theatre. But his family, far from recoiling in puritanical disdain at the idea of drama, actively encouraged Olivier to perceive the theatricality of a religious life."

- Roger Lewis, The Real Life of Laurence Olivier



Next photo is straying into Not Safe For Work territory...























4 - Larry kept in tiptop shape for his exhausting theatre and film schedules, as he was known for taking risky dives from dangerous heights while onstage.

Here, a rare glimpse of an unguarded Larry swimming au naturel is one of my favorite shots of him.























5 - No matter how delicious Mr. Olivier might have been, he was strictly eye candy, ladies - because his heart belonged to three Mrs. Oliviers.

The first Mrs. Olivier - Jill Esmond, for 10 yrs

“I was some upset when Larry demanded changes because I believed I had been doing right well. I thought, during the first rehearsals, that I wouldn’t like this young nobody who was telling me, daughter of a stage family, how to play a scene. But I discovered that every change he suggested made the play that much better.”

- Jill Esmond, Screen Life

















The second Mrs. Olivier - Vivien Leigh, for 20 yrs

"I saw him fifteen times in Hamlet, and I thought, 'That's the greatest actor in the world.' He taught me more about how actors should be, about how an actor should live, than anybody I can imagine."

- Vivien Leigh















The third Mrs. Olivier - Joan Plowright, for 29 yrs

"If a man is touched by genius, he is not an ordinary person. He doesn't lead an ordinary life. You kind of stand apart. You continue your own work and your absorption in the family."

- Joan Plowright













6 - His history of stellar performances and groundbreaking work in the theatre made him the perfect choice when the Laurence Olivier Awards were created to honor London's best and brightest.

Above, he played Romeo opposite Vivien Leigh's Juliet on stage.













7 - Remember my soft spot for a man in chains?

...well...

In 1953's The Beggar's Opera, Olivier's MacHeath is hammered into a set of irons when the highwayman is imprisoned at Newgate.


















8 - I'm also quite fond of Larry's many roles which required him to bend the knee. He always did it in perfect style, as he does here before Elizabeth I in Fire Over England.















9 - Where do I start with his dreamiest roles? For me - a Gothic romance lover of the highest caliber - his Heathcliffe is his signature role, and the best Heathcliffe ever delivered.



















10 - For anyone who hasn't had the pleasure, Olivier's Mr. Darcy is quite different from the iconic Colin Firth's - and is surprising, ingeniously nuanced and more endearing than is modernly played.






11 - His role as Admiral Lord Nelson isn't seen as often but is one of my favorites. The scenes between him and Vivien Leigh as they pursue their love despite considerable impediments never fail to go in directions one doesn't expect for a film of that time (1941.)





12 - And Larry was an awesome crier.

This scene - which plays until the 1:30 mark - from 1937's Fire Over England was shot when Larry was 30 years old, though he plays a youth.

At the time, Larry's delivery stretched the boundaries from mannered acting into a new naturalism. In fact his performance unsettled test audiences:

"I emoted too much, and in the American version they had to cut one of my scenes because the New York preview audience got the giggles."

- Laurence Olivier, On Acting




















13 - I suspect that this iconic cry of 'Cry God for Harry! England and St. George!' in the film that he directed was quite possibly the defining moment of his astounding life.

Nearly Wordless Wednesday - 194

Day 11! of the A to Z Challenge brings us back to my photography feature, hosted by Wordless Wednesday.

Normally, Wordless Wednesday is exactly that - a posting of an image that speaks for itself. But sometimes a few words are required.


Like today - because today, K is for Kelly Boyce, debut western historical romance author with Carina Press.











Kelly and I joined our local chapter of Romance Writers of America around the same time.

She has generously driven me to almost every meeting since then, as well as out to the yearly retreat, has been my roomie, my lunch partner, dinner partner, party partner, and general cheerleader and cherished friend.

So Kelly - as you celebrate your dream-come-true with the release of your first book next week - I raise a glass of our favorite pinot grigio.

To Kelly.

Through the Opera Glasses - 76 - Jets vs Sharks at Neptune's West Side Story

Day 10 of the A to Z Challenge brings us to J - and today that stands for Jerome Robbins, Jets vs Sharks, and Jim White.











When you're a dance freak like me, there are certain iconic dance moments that just give you shivers.

This Sharks moment is one of them.

The triad of Puerto Rican immigrants refusing to give up their stake in their New York neighborhood is a masculine thing of beauty, portrayed above by National Ballet of Canada dancers in West Side Story Suite, a second version of Robbins' choreography arranged for dance companies.


Here Jerome Robbins rehearses the moment where the three Sharks kick out at their rivals, the Jets, while reaching for the proverbial better life.

They do so in harmony, because their gang gives them strength in numbers in the unwelcoming streets of America.

What Jerome Robbins' staging of this groundbreaking piece of musical theatre did in 1957 was to elevate the dance portion of the musical triumverate. His steps weren't just a part of the story being told - his steps told the story on their own.


Canadian choreographer Jim White has adapted Mr. Robbins' work for Halifax's Neptune stage, ingeniously keeping the signature dance sequences while fitting entire gangs into a limited space.

With every production, I stand in awe of the ways that set designers make Neptune appear to be three times as big. But for West Side Story, the biggest challenge is the choreography - and Jim White has pulled off a minor miracle.

To see what I mean, try to imagine the following piece (from the 1961 film version) in an area 33 feet across and 17 feet high. Granted, set designer Geofrey Dinwiddie stretched his options to include the side entry doors bracketing the stage. Climbable scaffolding becomes tennement fire escapes and gives Mr. White extra space to place his dancers.



Oh, how I love that piece. Obviously, my favorite from this favorite of all musicals.

It can be both a joy and a hinderance to watch a performance of something so beloved, because there are certain things you want to see. Settling into my seat at Neptune, I had no idea what to expect - but I should have known they would pull off the seemingly impossible.

The opening 10-minute-long dance Prologue unfolded seamlessly, and when those three Sharks stepped into that side battements my heart thrilled with joy.


Tony

Liam Tobin's effortless tenor soared through difficult songs like Maria while delivering the lyrics with the immediacy of dialogue. I definitely enjoyed his confident performance, considering he's only beginning his musical theatre career.





Maria

Anwyn Musico handled equally challenging vocals with her fearless soprano. I can't tell you what a joy it was to hear these two sing their duets.







Bernardo

Stephenos Christou led that glorious Sharks moment for which I was waiting, as the leader of the Puerto Rican gang. His charismatic turn along with show standout Dayna Tietzen as Bernardo's girlfriend Anita might have overshadowed the youthful leads if they hadn't hit those notes with such bullseyes.





Anita

Dayna Tietzen managed to shine brightest among this large cast of solid performers. Her dancing burned brightly with exceptional technique, while her lovely alto caressed and her portrayal of Anita reached out to connect deeply with her audience.





Riff

Galen Johnson's voice was not in the same league as the other two parts of his triple threat, which were exceptional. I definitely enjoyed his nuanced performance as a gang leader struggling to keep the lid on the more excitable members of his crew.







Chino

Finally, Dani Jazzar, another third of that special Sharks moment, was a big favorite of mine as Bernardo's lieutenant and Maria's unrequited love. He prowled with fury, giving membership in a gang authenticity, while tugging my heartstrings when he realized Maria was lost to him.


West Side Story runs through May 29th at Neptune Theatre in Halifax.

A few more Jerome Robbins moments on J Day -

I once had the pinch-me-is-this-real moment of watching Jerome Robbins walk past me when I worked at a performing arts theatre in Toronto. His piece The Concert was premiering with The National Ballet of Canada, and he was at our theatre for the event.

I couldn't believe that the legend himself was walking along the aisle right in front of me.

CLICK HERE to listen to Peter Martins speak about how Jerome Robbins' West Side Story literally changed his life - inspiring him to emigrate to the US.













Finally, here's a brief interview of Mr. Robbins as he talks about Fancy Free, where you can see his fondness for using three males dancing in unison to represent a larger culture.

Poetry Train Monday - 186 - In Medieval English Woods

Day 9 - the A to Z Challenge.

For new visitors, Monday is poetry day.





So I've rummaged through my archives for a poem that starts with I.

I is for In Medieval English Woods















In Medieval English Woods


The pound of hooves beginning
Bodies crouching
In the waiting

The hiss of leaves
And popping branches - torn
The rip of moss from earth
The thud of hearts
In night attack

Demon shadows leap
A fear-stained man
His arm to swing at air
While one who sees his moment
Strikes
Their faces kiss
The slipping sliding for the stance
On blood-slicked rocks

The knights astride their mounts
Heavy spathas hacking
Stopped with wrenching force
By parries
Or the shield of breastbone

The sword sucks from the wound
The dying form
Slumps from his horse
And falls

Spirits linger
Cold tendrils hanging
From the shoulders of
The ones still fighting

Weary with the clotting blood
With steaming breath
The horses strain to bolt
Each head dragged by the bit
In the leaving

The knights canter from the scene
Indifference flowing from them
Like a billowing cape

Panting
The others slog
Exhausted through the mire
In confusion

© Julia Smith, 1986

For more poetry, Ride the Poetry Train!