Monday, January 24, 2011

A NEW RELEASE --- CAUGHT BY A CLOWN by Sandra Crowley

Hi all. Today celebrates the official birth of my writing career. My second birthday, so to speak, because of the time and effort invested. I hope you share my excitement by the time you finish this post. Commentors who mention the figure at the end of the book trailer will be placed in a drawing for a free PDF file of Caught by a Clown

CAUGHT BY A CLOWN, a spicy romantic suspense, will warm you and thrill you from its opening at a nudist resort in Arizona, to its race to a Texas horse track, and its tumble into the Florida clown school.

The idea for this story came to me a number of years ago. However, the complexity of the shootout I imagined and its unique setting in a nudist resort convinced me I didn't possess the necessary writing skills at that time. I saved the memory, studied, practiced, and finally re-created it on "paper." The shootout changed location and results, but I'm proud of it. I'm proud of the entire story. 

Here's why:
A spontaneous freelance journalist on a mission of mercy finds herself entangled with a methodical undercover FBI agent who's out to settle a score.

These two people approach life from opposing directions and yet they need each other.

Stacie Monroe's spontaneity lands her in hot water again when her best friend's little brother disappears and Stacie trails him to a nudist resort. To get inside the exclusive oasis and convince him to return home, she must blend in, a move tailor made to shock her oh-so-proper family and renew efforts to bring her in line.

That's exactly what Special Agent David Graham intends to do when she interferes in his case. Yet, the soft-hearted temptress challenges his resolve, revealing the path to a love he thought impossible. Will that love survive when he betrays her in order to unravel the final twist in his case and convict a vicious killer?

Writing Stacie and David's story was more adventure than work. My critique partner, Caroline Clemmons, might not agree. lol Her expert advice and patience taught me the majority of the skills I needed to develop these characters to their publishable level. I'm eternally grateful to her. And, to Stacie's indomitable spirit, David's intrepid honesty. 

Here's a sample:
     
     Stacie tapped one sandal-clad foot on the floor while Agent I'd-Rather-Scare-You-Than-Confide-In-You ignored her. She glanced toward the bathroom, crossed her legs, and wished she hadn't finished that last glass of wine.
     "Aren't you going to search that closet or open those two bottom drawers in the dresser?" she asked when he tucked his camera inside his pack.
     "Can't."
     A nasty suspicion raised its head. "Why not?"
     "Don't have a search warrant. That limits me to a visual inspection of what's in plain sight."
     "I won't tell," she pushed, despite being certain of his response.
     "There are laws."
     She groaned over the close match to a pronouncement she'd heard her whole life. There are rules.
     Boring. Snoring. Gone. Think of something else.
     Like how Agent By-The-Book caused this mess. If he'd mentioned being from the FBI when they met in the office none of this would have happened. He ignored her interest in Alan Walsh and her intelligence in favor of treating her as if she were a child in need of a lesson.
     Nature threatened to float her teeth, but Stacie refused to ask for relief. She fidgeted on the hard chair and crossed her legs the other way. The backs of her thighs pulled where her skin had stuck to the wooden seat. That twinge of pain reminded her she ought to be thrilled Graham claimed a badge and not a rap sheet. Instead, she rattled the handcuffs that shackled her to the chair and worried how far he meant to carry her arrest.


CLICK HERE to buy an ebook or paperback of CAUGHT BY A CLOWN. Find out how far David carries Stacie's arrest and discover who's CAUGHT BY A CLOWN.

Visit my website to request an autograph.  

Thank you for stopping by. Remember to comment about the figure at the end of the trailer for a chance at a free PDF file of Caught by a Clown. The WINNER will be announced Tuesday afternoon.

THE WINNER IS JOY HELD OF WRITER WELLNESS. CONGRATULATIONS, JOY. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING.

I hope you'll join me at Author Roast and Toast on February 4th for fun and food under the Big Top. It should be an awesome party!



15 comments:

  1. So, who drew the clown at the end?

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  2. Sandy, love the post and the trailer. I'm not entering the drawing, though. Who did draw the clown?

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  3. SANDRA--the trailer is great, and the excerpt is excellent. I congratulate you on the thriller--it has to be a big seller.
    Don't put me in the drawing--would that be fair if I won?
    And me, too-who drew the clown???
    Celia

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  4. A very Neat looking CLOWN!! I really enjoyed the post and the trailer. Good luck with your book, this looks very good!!

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  5. Wow, what a fun excerpt! I really enjoyed it.

    Sounds like a great read!

    Nic

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  6. Angelyn, Thanks for coming and watching. I appreciate the time you spent.

    Hi Caroline,It's always good to see you.

    Celia, Your time is as valuable as everyone else's.

    Thank you Judy and Nicole.

    I drew the clown. It never occurred to me that anyone would ask. Isn't he a cutie!

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  7. Sandy, congrats on your birthday! Nothing like celebrating a new life. Great cover and love the setting. Happy sales!

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  8. Thank you, Emma. This is a rather special birthday for me and I appreciate your support.

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  9. I don't know. A shootout in a nudist colony raises my eyebrows. I wouldn't know what to cover first.
    Joy Held
    Writer Wellness, A Writer's Path to Health and Creativity
    Who Dares Wins Publishing

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  10. Sandra
    Congratulations on the release of Caught by a Clown--I love the title, it's intriguing and the cover is eye catching. What a unique setting for a book and your hero in the trailer looks hunky!
    Happy Sales!

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  11. Thanks, Marin, that's so nice of you to say.

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  12. Love your sense of humor, Writerwellness. Thanks for coming.

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  13. A make-shift but totally fair drawing revealed Joy Held of Writer Wellness as winner of the PDF copy of Caught by a Clown.

    I hope you enjoy it, Joy.

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  14. Sandra,
    Late to the party, but I wanted to say how much I enjoyed the excerpt and the cover is just gorgeous. Very eye-catching. What a great premise, too!
    Cheryl

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  15. Cheryl, you're never too late. Thanks for the lovely compliments. I appreciate your encouragement.

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