Charmaine Gordon, Author of Sin of Omission, Talks Writing, plus #Giveaway

My guest today is fellow Vanilla Heart Publishing author, Charmaine Gordon. Years of experience as an actor on daytime drama, stage, spokesperson and commercials plus writing sketches for Air Force shows helped prepare Charmaine Gordon for the wonders of a writing career. Of course, she states she didn’t realize it at the time when immersed in the written words of others, that she insists she was like a sponge, soaking up how to construct a scene, write dialogue, and paint the setting.

Anne – Welcome, Charmaine. Before we talk writing, tell us a little about your time on stage.

Charmaine - I kissed my acting career goodbye, leaving on a high note with the lead in an Off Broadway play, “The Fourth Commandment” playwright Rich Knipe. It was great fun and time to move on. Movies like “Working Girl”, “Road to Wellsville” and having the pleasure of Anthony Hopkins company at lunch, working with Mike Nichols in “Regarding Henry” and singing outside with Harrison Ford, crying with Gene Wilder over loss on another set, When “Harry Met Sally” with the whole gang singing It Had to Be You. Lots of fond memories. My first job as stand-in leg model for Geraldine Ferraro in a Diet Pepsi commercial with Secret Service men guarding her and her daughters. A sweet time.

Anne – What wonderful memories! Now, let’s move on and talk writing. What one or two lines best sum you up as an author?

           

Charmaine - I’m surprised to find myself involved with fictional characters who refuse to let go. They disturb my sleep, whisper in my ear, force me to solve their problems. And I do.

Anne – Only writers talk about hearing voices, and only writers worry when there is only silence! Tell us about your latest release.

Charmaine - Tada! I’m thrilled to introduce Sin of Omission. Here’s the blurb:

Seems easy enough. Jimmy Costigan will deliver supplies to sister Charlie's project Haven, a respite for the needy, and leave. Simple.
Instead, Shelley Jackson answers the door, says she needs him and soft-hearted Jimmy stays to protect the family seeking refuge from a sociopath. He didn't count on falling in love.

A twist of fate intervenes when Shelley keeps a secret that threatens to break apart the Costigans and her future. A mysterious client, Deanna Rose, enters Haven, victim of a savage beating under strange circumstances. Using Internet resources, Shelley digs in to find Ms. Rose has an unsavory past.

With the reputation and safety of Haven at stake, Shelley is at risk to lose everything ... and everyone she cares about.

Anne - Would you like to share an excerpt of Sin of Omission with us?

Charmaine - Nice of you to ask, and yes, indeedy!

Chapter 1

“I need you, Jimmy Costigan.”

Words he’d heard since childhood chilled him. Not again. Oh please, not again.

Strong hands gripped the tall cowboy and spun him around and he wasn’t an easy man to spin. In high heels, Shelley Jackson faced him eye to eye.

“Just when I was makin’ a clean getaway. Whatcha need now?”

“You. I’m with hostage survivors and no one to help me ‘til tomorrow morning.” She talked low and fast, no time to waste.

“Hostage?”

“Didn’t your sister tell you?” He shook his shaggy head, a frown forming. “Or maybe you weren’t listening.”

“Whoa,” he said, holding up a calloused hand. 

“Sorry. One minute I’m sitting in my office downtown minding my own business. Then Kirk Richards called with the emergency. We all knew this day would come so I raced around locking up, grabbed my packed suitcase at home like an expectant mother, God forbid, and got here in record time.”

He stood there still not comprehending. “What happened? I just came by to deliver supplies and planned to hightail it back to the big city.” You sound like a hick after less than a day in Utah. Shut your country yap.

“Here’s a quick rundown. This morning, Lila Olsen called 911, said she and her kids were held hostage by a guy for maybe a week or more and now he slipped on spilled soup and hit his head. She found his cell phone and called for help. The mother is in my study and her three little kids are in the playroom. My job as psychiatric social worker is to get background for starters, then serve dinner and send them off to shower and bed.” She stopped, caught her breath and listened. Quiet so far. “How are you with small children?”

Profound pain hit him in the gut.

“The best.”

“Well, great. See if they’ll confide in you.”

Jaw set, Jimmy loped down the hall, man on a mission ready to help whenever kids were involved.

Anne – Love it! Thank you. Okay, let’s go to where the muse helps you create. Describe your home office as appears right now.  Is this a good thing or bad?

Charmaine - Picture a 10 x 12 room: wrap- around desk at one end complete with lap top, copy/FAX machine. So far, so good. Books and papers spill from shelves with leaving little elbow room. And what is this? Scuffed very small ballet slippers perched on top of a box of paper clips. Hmm. The rest of the room is a mine field packed with a toy box, tiny figures too dangerous to step on, shelves of books for my grandest four-year old granddaughter and stuffed animal treasures, a drum, keyboard and activity desk. I write a steamy scene while she plays a rhythmic beat on the pink piano. My space is now reduced to ¼ of the room. Complaining? No. It’s a good thing.

Anne – It sounds like just the perfect place for you to write! Do you belong to a critique group?

Charmaine - Happy to say, I do. A small group of RWA authors meet every other Tuesday night for two hours. Invaluable help.

Anne - Does one character hold a special place in your heart? Why?

Charmaine - Carly Evans in NOW WHAT? is special to me. Without realizing it, I began writing about a woman suddenly widowed and her journey as a single person. The story is fiction yet parallels my life in many ways.

Anne - Complete this sentence: I will do everything to promote my books except…

Charmaine - I will do everything to promote my books except use the casting couch.

Anne – LOL, Char. Final question: Where can readers find you online?

Charmaine – At my author blog and Six Sentence Sunday site. Sin of Omission is also available on Smashwords, and All Romance.

Thanks for inviting me today, Anne. To each commenter, I’d like to gift an ebook copy of Sin of Omission. I hope they enjoy the journey as much as I did writing it.

Anne – How generous of you! Readers, please include your email addy with your comment and use this format to keep it safe: youremailaddy AT gmail DOT com. Thanks so much for dropping by today, Charmaine. It’s been a blast!

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