As I’ve been on my writing journey, I’ve met all sorts of interesting people, especially fellow authors at my Soul Mate Publishing house. One author has been very kind to me—or is that really two authors?
C.D. Hersh is the pen name for a romance writing couple, Catherine & Donald. I think it’s terrific that they collaborate on both novels and plays. They have a new book that’s just been released, and I’m turning my blog over to this wonderful pair today so you can get to know a bit about them and Blood Brothers. Take it away, you two!
Road Trips of All Sorts
Lauren, thank you so much for allowing us to be the first authors to guest on your blog. We thought we’d tell your readers a little bit about ourselves and relate an interesting story that occurred with the writing of our newly released book, Blood Brothers.
We love to travel. So much that one year, while Donald was working, we’ve traveled at least one week out of every month. Usually, we have at least two big trips a year. Last year while writing Blood Brothers, Catherine wanted to go to Cleveland, Ohio where the book is set. We combined that trip with a conference trip, two for the gas price of one kind of thing. Which was a good, since gas was expensive last year. Anyway, we took a day to drive around downtown Cleveland and the surrounding areas where our book’s characters roam. Catherine took copious notes in her black speckled composition book she always carries when we travel, so she can dash down notes about plots, characters, surroundings and whatever else comes into our heads. As a side note we should mention that we conceived the idea for the Turning Stone Series during the year-long road trips we mentioned earlier.
When we got home she set aside the books, and after a couple of months we actually started working on the story. One afternoon she came into Donald’s office and said, “We need to take another road trip to Cleveland. I can’t remember what some of the places look like.”
Ever the budget-wise husband, Donald said “Let’s get on the internet and Google it.” And so we did. We spent an entire day roaming the streets of downtown Cleveland, including the Warehouse District and the Flats so we could solve a scene logistics problem.
That December Catherine wrote our Christmas letter, which always includes a run-down of our trips. We had traveled that year to Columbus, OH; Gatlinburg, TN; the Biltmore in NC; Williamsburg, VA; Manassas, VA; Traverse City, MI; Springfield, MO; Cleveland, OH; Marlborough, MA; and Iselin, NJ. When Donald proofed the Christmas letter, he came into Catherine’s office laughing out loud.
When she asked what was so funny, he said, “We didn’t go to Cleveland twice.”
“Sure we did,” Catherine said. “Remember we went the second time a month or two after the conference?”
By this time Donald was practically rolling on the floor with laughter. “We only went once, hon,” he said.
“No. Twice,” Catherine insisted. “The second time we saw those railroad tracks and those buildings where we set one of the last scenes of the book.”
Barely able to contain himself, Donald said between guffaws, “The second time was on the computer via Google.”
It took several minutes for Catherine to realize Donald was right, and then she laughed so hard she cried. Always willing to enjoy a good laugh, even if it’s at her own expense, Catherine included the story of her imaginary trip to Cleveland in the Christmas letter. The recipients loved it.
There is one thing you will always find in our household, and that’s laughter.
We don’t have a funny excerpt from our newest book, Blood Brothers, but here is a short blurb and an excerpt we like:
Hook:
Shape shifter Delaney Ramsey’s daughter is missing, and she is bound by honor to protect the man she suspects of the deed. To bring him to justice, she must go against her code, the leader of the secret shifter society, and the police captain she is falling for.
Excerpt from Blood Brothers:
Pushing open the precinct door, she headed for Captain Williams’ office. At her light rap, the captain waved her in.
“Remember me?” Delaney asked. “We met in ER visiting Alexi?”
Wearing a broad smile, he rose and reached across the desk to shake her hand. “Yeah. Delaney, right? Delaney Ramsey.” He motioned to the chair opposite his. “How is Alexi?”
“Fine. Itching to get back to work, though. But that’s not why I’m here.”
He relaxed in his chair. “Didn’t think so. What can I do for you, Ms. Ramsey?”
She opened her notebook and pushed a file folder across his desk. “I understand Homeland Security thinks you’ve got some terrorist activity brewing in your area.”
“So I’ve been told by Ms. Riley.” When he said Sylvia’s name a scowl lined his forehead like jail bars.
Obviously, he had some issues with her. He’d probably hate having another fed in his office.
“I’m willing to cooperate with them,” Harry said, “but I don’t think a few unsolved homicides and burglaries points to terrorist activity.”
“Well, my boss does, and I’m here to make sure Ms. Riley gets her job done. My papers are in the file. I think you’ll find everything in order.”
He opened the file and reviewed her transfer papers. Under tense fingers, he crumpled the corner of each page, jutting his jaw out defiantly. She’d read him right.
“I understand how hard it is to relinquish jurisdiction,” she said, searching for something to soften his anger. “But we all want the same thing here. Find the bad guys and return things to normal. I promise you, I’ll try to wrap this up as quickly as possible and get out of your office.”
“I’m getting close to retirement, Ms. Ramsey, and I don’t want anything to go wrong to jeopardize my long, illustrious career. I’ll cooperate with you. Won’t like it, but I’ll do it.” He slapped the file folder closed and shoved it toward her. “What do you need?”
“A private office.”
“I’ve got the only one here.”
“I need something with a door. I’ll be discussing classified issues.” And secret society things.
“I’ll move out.”
“I wouldn’t dream of asking you.” That would put him off for sure.
“Then I’ll move in another desk and vacate whenever you need privacy. Will that work?”
“Are you sure that’s okay with you?”
“I’m absolutely freaking sure.”
She couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not. She scanned his aura. A soft blue with tints of muddy red and bright lemon yellow. He was sincere, irritated, but struggling to maintain control. “All right. We can work that out. I also need access to everything you’ve given Ms. Riley, copies of all the unsolved crimes the precinct has had in the past sixty days, and detectives Temple, and Jordan, when she returns.”
In a flash, his aura colors shifted to angry shades of red, and his lip curled into a sneer. “You want a latte with skim milk every morning, too?”
His impudence hit her like a slap, and she lost her temper. “That was uncalled for, Captain Williams. I’m here to help, and I don’t have to take your insulting behavior. If you want a gold pin at retirement, I suggest you cooperate to the fullest with me, which includes keeping a cap on your cheeky insolence.” She scolded him as if he were a schoolboy who’d been caught yanking pigtails.
He had the good grace to appear shamed. “I’m sorry, Ms. Ramsey. I have a bit of a temper. That and my dedication to my job seem to get me in trouble with women, especially the good-looking ones.”
Did he think her good-looking? Her cheeks heated at the idea then she discarded it. She’d pushed all his hot buttons. Invaded his territory. Rising from her chair, she tried to compose herself. “I’m sorry also, but it may get quite fiery in here at times because I’ve got a temper, too.”
He chuckled.
“Did you find something I said funny?”
“Refreshing, Ms. Ramsey. Not funny.”
***
You can purchase Blood Brothers through Amazon at: http://www.amzn.com/B00OVNFC8W
Bio:
Putting words and stories on paper is second nature to co-authors C.D. Hersh. They’ve written separately since they were teenagers and discovered their unique, collaborative abilities in the mid-90s. As high school sweethearts and husband and wife, Catherine and Donald believe in laughter, true love, and happily ever after.
Together they have co-authored a number of dramas, six which have been produced in Ohio, where they live. Their interactive Christmas production had five seasonal runs in their hometown and has been sold in Virginia, California, and Ohio. Their most recent collaborative writing efforts have been focused on romance. The first book of their paranormal romance series entitled The Promised One (The Turning Stone Chronicles) is available on Amazon. The second book in the series Blood Brothers was released in October 2014 from Soul Mate Publishing.
Where you can find CD:
Website: http://cdhersh.wordpress.com/
Soul Mate Publishing: http://smpauthors.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cdhershauthor
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/C.-D.-Hersh/e/B00DV5L7ZI
Write Up My Alley 
I love imaginary trips! I take them all the time.:-) Blood Brothers sounds great!
Karin – writing is all an imaginary trip, is it not? Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Lauren – again thanks so much for featuring us today. We had fun writing this post.
Your post made me laugh, and I really enjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for stopping by!