Monday, August 1, 2011

Cheryl Pierson: Time Plains Drifter

Wecome, Cheryl Pierson!  We're featuring your July 15th release, Time Plains Drifter.  Thank you for joining Romancing The West.

Buy links: Amazon * Smashwords * Lulu

RTW: We want to get the lowdown on your new book. In 100 words or fewer, tell us about Time Plains Drifter.

CP: Trapped in Indian Territory of 1895 by a quirk of nature, high school teacher Jenni Dalton must find a way to get her seven students back to 2010.  Handsome U.S. Marshal Rafe d’Angelico seems like the answer to her prayers; he is, after all, an angel.  In a race against time and evil, Rafe has one chance to save Jenni’s life and her soul from The Dark One—but can their love survive?

Contest!!!
If you would like to win a pdf. copy of Time Plains Drifter it's easy!  Just leave a comment on one of Cheryl's posts this week, and your name will be entered in the drawing!

RTW: Pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable!  First question: what aspect of life in the Old West intrigues you the most?  Did you work that into Time Plains Drifter?

CP: Probably the way that everyone had to know how to do so many things for themselves.  There was a super high level of self-reliance then, but yet, communities pulled together to help one another.  I think that would have been a very rewarding time to have lived. Rafe is a US Marshal in Indian Territory, so he is extremely self-reliant, but yet he feels at a loss around Jenni, who is from the future.

RTW: If you lived in the Old West, what modern convenience would you miss the most?

CP: Probably indoor toilets. I am a big chicken, and I know this because my great aunt and uncle had an outhouse that we used when we'd go to visit them.  What an experience!

RTW: Are there any common errors in western historical romances that bug you?  If so, please set us straight.

CP: I would have to say the poor research about common things such as electricity being in common use before it actually was, jeans being worn before they were manufactured, and guns being used that were not manufactured yet (such as repeating rifles, etc.) as well as medical treatments and medicines that weren't in use commonly.

RTW: Why is Rafe the perfect hero for Jenni?

CP: Rafe is perfect for Jenni because he is unsure at this point in his life.  You see, Rafe was murdered sixteen years earlier along with his brother, Cris, also a Marshal.  He's a novice angel, sent to help Jenni and her students who have been flung backward in time by the passage of a comet near earth that rearranged the bands of time.  Only, he doesn't WANT to help, and he certainly doesn't want to be an angel.  He is very attracted to Jenni, but realizes that he might have little or no time to see that attraction come to fruition, in his condition. 

Jenni, being a modern woman, is more open to oddities than she might have been had she been a woman from his own time, 1895.  She had never believed in time travel until it happened to her.  So her mind is open to other things that are happening in the coming battle between good and evil and the part she is going to have to play. They are equally matched in their love for one another, and their acceptance of the strange happenings that are going on in their lives.

RTW: Set us up for your excerpt, please:
CP: In this excerpt, Rafe has prepared himself to be honest with Jenni and tell her who and what he is, fully expecting her to reject him. But she surprises him with her understanding and acceptance, and he realizes he's fallen a lot harder than he ever intended.

Excerpt from Time Plains Drifter:

He closed his eyes, letting the pleasurable feel of her wet mouth on his body wash over him, along with her voice. “Some things never change,”she’d said earlier. Her Oklahoma accent was a slow waltz to his mind, its lilting cadence urging him to accept what they had between them. Still, he couldn’t let it go. Couldn’t ever be dishonest with her, of all people.

“Don’t you want to know—”

She stopped him, placing two cool fingers across his lips, smiling at the tickle of his moustache against her skin. The smile faded as she absorbed the worry in his expression, the smoldering fire in his eyes, and made it her own.

“Not now, I don’t. You asked me—earlier—if I felt it. Whatever it is between us. I do.” Debating with herself, she hesitated a moment before coming to a decision. “I want you, Rafe,” she murmured. “I trust you.” She nuzzled his neck.“It doesn’t matter now, who—or what—you are.”

His hand closed in a fist around the shimmering satin of her copper hair, his chest filling with a sweet peace at her quiet words.

Dead...alive...Mexican...American...man...ghost...angel...

His mind churned as Jenni kissed him once again. Accepting him, for whoever he might be. She loved him. She hadn’t said it yet, but he knew it by the gentle way her lips grazed across his, then claimed his mouth completely, as if that was the only way she had to let him know how she felt. They breathed together, as one.

He answered her wordlessly, his tongue going into her mouth, fingers splaying and tightening against her scalp as he pulled her to him.

She came across his bare chest, the stiffness of the material of her own blouse gliding with gentle abrasion across his nipples. He groaned in pleasure and felt her smile against his mouth. She made the move again as she lifted her lips from his, emerald eyes sparkling into his searing gaze.

“We’ll talk later,” she assured him.

“It’ll be too late to change your mind about me then,” he said, half-jokingly.

“I won’t change my mind, Rafe.”

The sweet sincerity in her voice and the promise in her eyes reassured him. He pulled her down silently.

As their mouths melded once more, he rolled, taking her with him, changing their positions so he lay atop her.

She gasped, yielding to him, her cool palms sliding over the fevered heat of his skin, across his chest and shoulders. He began to unbutton her blouse as he kissed her, his fingers moving deftly. He pushed away the first layer of material with his customary impatience, then started on the stays of her corset.

She twisted beneath him at the loosening of the undergarment. He pulled her upright momentarily, whisking blouse and corset over her head, dropping them in a heap on the floor.

In silent invitation, Jenni lifted her hand to him. She touched his side, and he flinched slightly as her fingers lingered over the very place the Bowie had gone into him earlier that day. Even though a red scar marked the spot, there was no pain for him, and he saw no puzzlement in her eyes...only concern.

“Does it hurt?”

It was as he had suspected. She’d seen what had happened, how bad it should have been...but wasn’t. And she had accepted it, unconditionally. They would talk later, as she’d said, but somehow, he felt he would find the words he needed to explain things to her. He shook his head slightly. “No.”
***

RTW: What are you cooking up for us next?
CP: Right now, I have three things in the works. One is a contemporary romantic suspense involving a drug cartel and two DEA undercover agents, both of whom unknowingly have a connection to the heroine-- and boy, are they in a world of danger!<G> It's called Of Dreams Forgotten.

The second thing I am working on is another western historical romance, Gabriel's Law. Brandon Gabriel is a half-Comanche gunfighter who is reunited with his childhood sweetheart, Allie Taylor, from the orphanage where they both spent several years. They're adults now, in an adult world--she's a white woman, and he's half Indian, but they are still in love. Can they find happiness together in the rough western area of Indian Territory? No matter what, Allie is determined to push forward with her dream of providing a working cattle ranch for orphaned boys to live on--whether Brandon stays or goes.

And last but not least is a western short story called The Kindness of Strangers that will be included in an anthology with a slew of other western writers with names a whole lot bigger than mine, so I'm thrilled about that.  It'll be released in July sometime, too.

RTW: Anything else you’d like to add?
When Time Plains Drifter was released briefly in 2009, here's what Romantic Times Magazine had to say about it with their 4.5 star rating:

“Pierson's fresh, well-crafted novel pits some unlikely heroes against evil incarnate. The characters are vibrant and tell a story of courage in difficult circumstances. An open thread invites a sequel.”   ~~Romantic Times Magazine~~ 4.5 Stars

Time Plains Drifter also garnered me honorable mention in the Best New Paranormal Author in the 2010 P.E.A.R.L. AWARDS. I'm so glad that it's being re-released with Western Trail Blazer, and am looking forward to seeing it "out there" again.

Thanks for stopping by, Cheryl!  We'll be looking forward to your article on Thursday.

Contest: Cheryl is giving away a free .pdf of Time Plains Drifter.  All you have to do is comment this week, either on this post or on her article, and you'll be eligible to win!  Cheryl will pick a commenter, and the winner will be announced Sunday evening.  Don't miss out on your chance to score a free book!  And you know it's gonna be a great read.

To learn more about Cheryl, check out her Amazon Author Page.

Free Book!
To win a pdf copy of Time Plains Drifter, leave a comment!  Drawing will be held 10pm Pacific Time August 6th.  Cheryl will be posting a couple more times this week so comment on all of them for more chances!  Don't forget to leave your email address so we can contact you.

RTW Faithful Follower Award:
Desiree Laurant
Congratulations, Desieree!  Send your email address to jacquierogers@gmail.com to receive your $25 Amazon Gift Certificate!

30 comments:

  1. As always a great interview Cheryl... This is a great story, I love it.

    Kathleen
    superauntkx9_@livedotca

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  2. Time Plains Drifter is a wonderful story. I loved it.
    I'm with you on those outhouses, Cheryl. My grandfather had one and it was gross.
    I know what you mean about poorly researched historicals. I read one where there were jeans and modern language. It threw me off the story. It is tricky to write historicals at the end of the 1800's and early 1900's because things changed so fast and a writer really has to have some reliable resources to get the historical facts correct. Loved your post.

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  3. What an awesome post and excerpt, Cheryl. This is definitely one I'm reading and keeping. I agree with so much you said about anachronisms in historicals. And I hate it when dialoge sounds too 21st century. But over all...the great books outweigh the junk.

    Love and best wishes for a million sales and more!

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  4. Great interview! And this story sounds amazing!

    ruby95660@yahoo.com

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  5. I love all of Cheryl's tales, but this one has to be my favorite!

    Here's a snippet of my review for PNR:
    "A journey of redemption and second chances where love can conquer time itself."

    Angels, demons and time travel all rolled into an unforgettable romance. Ms. Pierson has a way of breathing life into her characters, giving them heart and soul. Rafe and Jenni's passion heats up the pages—from just a glance or a mere touch. Becket Jansen is an angel you won't forget and Rafe's brother Cris adds depth to what makes Rafe the man he is. The evil ones also light up the page for purely different reasons from wicked temptations to deadly tricks that twist fate. Ms. Pierson takes the reader on a journey of redemption and second chances where love can conquer time itself. A definite keeper on my shelf!

    The winner will be one lucky gal or guy!!

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  6. Time Plains Drifter is hands down my favorite of Cheryl's. It was the perfect blend of western flavor and paranormal mystery. I love how fleshed out Cheryl's characters are, her heroes have dimension, in that they aren't goody-two shoes people, they are human in their struggles and dilemnas. Mary Hardwick

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  7. I said on another blog that this soaring tale will be added to my TBR stack. :)

    Yeah, Cheryl, I know the feeling when forced to use an outhouse. My great-grandmother's place had one into the early 50s.

    As for gun usage in the right timeframe, I saw a superb 4-hour special on guns on A&E a few years ago (can't recall exactly) that long on dates manufactured and put into use. Not to mention, my grandson is a gunsmith, and my son-in-law is a gun-nut and owns quite an arsenal of rifles.

    Actually, my dh gave him one of his rifles, a .32 caliber Winchester, model 94, saddle rifle, when we moved to Florida many moons ago.

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  8. Hi Cheryl, lovely excerpt, so sensual.

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  9. Hi Cheryl,

    I'm so glad to see this book out and about. You have such a nice way with your heroes that they always capture my heart. I love your writing, and this book is right up my alley.

    I'm also a bit of a chicken about outhouses. I could never tell what might be down there that would reach up and get me. And there were always critters afoot. Still have a touch of claustrophobia thinking about outhouses. Port-a-potties are nicer, but I get the same vibe in them.

    Maggie

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  10. Hi Kathleen!
    Thanks so much for your sweet compliment. I am soooo glad you enjoyed the story!
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  11. im with the others about an out house. scared of snakes and spiders and just plain nasty. thanks for the giveaway joannie jscddmj@aol.com

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  12. Hi Sarah,
    Oh, yes--those outhouses--so creepy. Especially at night. LOL That's one reason we never spent the night with my great aunt and uncle--my mom was chicken too, and she grew up using one.LOL Sarah, one thing I loved so much about your release, HARMONICA JOE'S RELUCTANT BRIDE was the fact that your writing was so carefully researched and accurate. If y'all haven't read Sarah's book, it's also a time travel western and DANG GOOD!
    Cheryl

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  13. Tanya,
    You're so right--I hate it when dialogue is too modern. One of my pet peeves in contemporary OR historical books (AND REAL LIFE, I MIGHT ADD!)LOL is the response "NO PROBLEM" when someone says "THANK YOU." Tanya, your books always have the best, most realistic dialogue. I love your stories because of that.
    Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to pop over here and comment. I can't wait to read your new series!
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  14. Hi Ruby,
    Thanks so much for coming by and commenting. Jacquie asks some killer interview questions, and I really enjoyed this.
    Cheryl

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  15. Karen you are such a dear for saying how much you like my work. I know you truly did love Time Plains Drifter, and I have a hunch it might just be because you love to write about fallen angels yourself with your WARRIORS FOR THE LIGHT series. I loved your story about Eli, and can't wait to read Lucca's story. Thanks so much for the wonderful review you gave Time Plains Drifter--that means a lot coming from you, my dear friend!
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  16. MARY!

    Thanks so much for stopping by Jacquie's fantastic blog and commenting. Of course you have seen just about every hero I've ever created and know them inside out, so I appreciate so much that you consider them humanly realistic--that's always the goal. I don't like the "too perfect" hero, either. They gotta have their flaws! LOL Thanks again for coming by!
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  17. Joyce,
    I love those documentaries and specials on guns. My dad never hunted or anything, so we never had guns around the house, which was probably a good thing, because I have been fascinated by them from a very early age. I hope you enjoy TIME PLAINS DRIFTER, and will enter you in the drawing! Thanks so much for coming over and commenting.
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  18. Mona,
    So glad you liked that excerpt. This book was hard to take excerpts from because of the story line--most of the excerpts wouldn't make sense without a ton of explanation. Rafe is so lost--being in a different time himself, as well not being human and wanting that so much. I think that's a lot of what makes this story "work" in the end. Thanks so much for coming by and commenting, my friend.
    Cheryl

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  19. Oh, Maggie, I'm so glad you enjoy my heroes so much. I sometimes feel like I am closer to my heroes than my heroines. LOL

    Yes, the outhouses! Lord, especially in the summer, when the wasps and yellow jackets would make nests and just fly around while you were in there. Of course,the old people all would say,"Ahhh, they won't bother you!" I always wondered well, why take a chance? LOL

    Thanks so much for coming by--I know you are busy as heck right now, and getting ready for your speaking engagement! How exciting is that!???
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

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  20. Hi Joannie,
    I used to be the troop leader for my daughter's Girl Scout troop and one of the rules at the camp we went to was that you couldn't kill anything. SHUDDER. I hated having to go with them up to the outhouse--they were so scared to go in and wanted the leaders to go with them. LOL What an experience!
    Cheryl

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  21. Cheryl-- what a cool concept for a story! I love everything I've read of yours so I'm sure this will be exception. I'm getting ready to read your story in the VT Summer collection:)

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  22. Cheryl, thanks for stopping by today. RTW readers are in for a treat because you'll be here all week. :)

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  23. Hi Brenda,
    Thank you so much! I appreciate those very kind words. Are you reading the 2011 Summer Collection, or the older one from last year? Hope you enjoy--I love doing those short stories.

    Thanks so much for coming by!
    Cheryl

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  24. Thank you for having me, Jacquie!

    Y'all come back and visit later in the week--there's going to be a post up featuring Time Plains Drifter and another one featuring a short story anthology that I have a story in. My story is called THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS, as I mentioned earlier, and the anthology is THE TRADITIONAL WEST.

    Cheryl

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  25. i think i posted at the wrong place for this so here goes again. i like your books and i think there is a good market for western type books especially if they have some true facts in them. that is where we came from. it is a part we must keep alive an authors like you have to do it cause i don't write. thanks joannie jscddmj@aol.com

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  26. Great interview! And this story sounds interesting.

    ruby95660[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  27. I swore I posted this already, but now I don't see it. I just signed with an agent yesterday who has publishers asking her for historicals. What she says is dead are vampire and werewolf books.

    There was also an article in the Globe & Mail yesterday that historical is becoming big. It might be a time period thing and agents perceive westerns aren't popular but these two things suggest all historical fiction is not dead.

    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/television/john-doyle/a-toast-to-tvs-hottest-topic-prohibition/article2116256/

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  28. Hi Joannie,
    You're so right. The west is where we came from--or a lot of us did, anyhow. I love to write westerns--novels, short stories,contemporaries, and I love the historicals. I've written and published two historical western novels, and upwards of 20 short stories.Thanks so much for your support!
    Cheryl

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  29. Thanks so much, Ruby! Jacquie is a great interviewer. I enjoyed this very much. I hope you will enjoy Time Plains Drifter if you decide to read it.

    Cheryl

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  30. Hi P.A.
    You did post it, on the blog post above this one. This is the one I did on Monday, and Jacquie changed it today. There'll be another one on Friday--this is kind of a "spotlight" week for me. Congratulations again on signing with an agent that likes historicals! AWESOME!
    Cheryl

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