Rhonda Frankhauser's first book, Return To Ruby's Ranch, is a Top Pick by Books and Benches and a finalist for the 2017 Raven and RONE awards.
I looked her up on Amazon: Rhonda discovered she had a knack for storytelling after she was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. To avoid dwelling on her own mortality, she sat down with pen and paper and got out of the way of her subconscious mind. Words and characters poured out of her from some hidden place inside her soul. She discovered that writing was not only cathartic and healing but a necessary function for her future sanity.
Rhonda, please tell us a
little more about yourself.
I grew up on a small farm in the San Joaquin Valley in Central
California. The youngest of three children, I was blessed by a country
upbringing, riding horses, raising our own food, and having animals as friends.
I’ve been an avid reader my entire life which naturally led me to journaling,
which of course, led me into the writing world. I’m married to the love of my
life, have three lovely daughters and 3 crazy dogs.
I love firsts, so tell me
about the moment when a publisher told you they wanted to publish your book.
I really did my due diligence to find the
right fit with SoulMate Publishing. I targeted the specific editor and spent
some long hours getting the query just right. When I got the email from
Samantha offering a contract, I was in shock. An hour later, I had my husband
re-read the email out loud to me. He screamed, then so did I. A surreal moment
to be sure.
What is your favorite pastime,
other than writing?
I’ve been in love with the game of golf for decades. Before I
injured my back, I’d worked my way down to a 3 handicap. I met my husband playing golf. These days I
don’t play as much, but I still love to watch and walk with him when he plays.
I’m hoping to get back to it soon.
How do you motivate yourself
when inspiration takes a vacation?
When I’m not motivated to write, I read. If that doesn’t do the
trick, I just allow myself to free write, with no purpose at all other than
clearing ‘the mechanism.’ Often my brain is so filled with other things it
causes a sort of creative constipation. If I can’t find motivation through
these avenues, I put down the laptop and go for a walk.
Any advice for new writers
just starting out?
Don’t write for fame and fortune, write to fulfill your soul. If you
don’t expect anything but the thrill of telling your story, you’ll never be
disappointed.
Tell us about Health Nut Cafe.
Imagine recognizing someone you’ve never seen
before…
Becka Clemmons’ one true
passion is running the Health Nut Café. Awakened every morning by the same
nightmare, Becka sees the world through tainted eyes. She’s never believed in
fairytale romances
until Jonathan Parker
walks through the café door one cool, foggy morning. She struggles to understand
why this familiar stranger makes her crave things she’s never craved. Solving
the mystery of Jonathan is the first thing that has ever taken her focus
away from her cafe.
Imagine missing someone you’ve never met…
Jonathan Parker is the
idealistic son of old money who knows exactly what he wants. Day after day, he
searches to find the missing connection that eludes him, until the morning he lays eyes on Becka. He knows
his search is over but the struggle to make her believe has just begun. From
that moment, he works to prove to Becka that they belong together.
Will Becka let herself
believe? Will Jonathan’s family ruin their chance at love?
HOOK
Lost souls fall in love at the Health Nut
Café
EXCERPT
I cupped
the cool, clear water in my hands, letting it filter through the tiny crevices
between my fingers. I watched a brilliant colored spider make her way across
her water-jeweled web toward an unlucky fly. Above me, the sun shone across the
mist, creating a rainbow that rippled in three directions. Lying now on a rock
at the edge of the pool, I closed my eyes and dreamt of a time when my life
would make more sense.
I must
have fallen asleep because I jolted awake when I heard a voice from the landing
just above where I lay.
“Becka,”
the call echoed off the water and walls. At first I thought I was dreaming, so
I lay still and let it come. The familiar voice became clearer when my name was
called again, this time from a point closer than the last.
“Becka,
are you all right?” The deep baritone whisper was so sensual it made me smile.
I didn’t open my eyes until I felt a hand caress my shoulder. Even then, I
couldn’t believe I was awake.
“Are you
all right?” Jonathan removed his pack and sat next to me on the rock, touching
my cheek with the palm of his hand.
I
gathered everything inside my heart and soul and tried to move away, feeling
caged by the intimate way he leaned over me. The concern in his eyes held me
down until he saw that I was okay.
“Thank
goodness.” He didn’t move away. “I thought you’d passed out again.”
“What
the hell?” I sat up straight and scooted back. My voice was controlled, though
my question was demanding. “Did you follow me here?”
“I
followed you and Annie from the resort, yes. It was your mother’s idea for me
to come to Hawaii. She told me where to find you.”
“Why
would she do that?” I stood up and took a step away.
“She
thought I should come here and talk to you.” He watched me as I slowly put
distance between us.
I remembered
my mother’s coy smile when she gave me the airline tickets, and I knew in that
instant that he was telling the truth. My mother’s meddling frustrated me.
“That figures.”
I gazed
over his slightly squared, handsome face. Not handsome in the pretty sense,
more the serious, rugged sense. His wavy hair was tucked behind his ears, the
mist brightening the lighter strands. The eyebrows of a slightly darker shade
were manly, but not too bushy. His skin was bronzed with a fresh tropical tan,
and those kissable lips were shadowed by a day-old beard. A satisfied smile
broke when he noticed my perusal, but I didn’t stop staring until I caught
those eyes, the color of the deepest part of the ocean.
“How old
are you?” I asked, finding no
noticeable wrinkles. The oddness of the question at that particular moment
surprised us both.
“Twenty-nine.”
He slowly stood up and moved toward me.
“Oh.” I
watched him carefully.
“Does
age matter to you, Becka?” He raised his hand.
“Matter
for what?”
“Does it
matter how old I am if you want me and I want you?” He took another small step,
closing the distance. “Besides, your mother
already told me you’ve only got me by a few years. I like older women.” He
winked and flashed that disarming smile again.
Whoa. I
swear Silvy. I held up my hand as I took another step back away from him. He
watched this with curiosity, not really seeming to take my retreat as a
negative response.
Stepping
into the cool water up to my knees, I could think of nothing but escape. Even
water was better than the lethal energy vibrating around Jonathan. “Do you
always blurt out what you’re thinking?”
“You
don’t like to answer questions, do you, Becka?” He moved his pack farther up on
the rock, slipped off his hiking boots and socks, and followed me out into the
pool, wading closer with every step.
“Your
questions have no answers, Mr. Parker.” I watched his taut body press against
his T-shirt and cargo shorts. “I have a question of my own, if you don’t mind,”
I said, forcing my eyes from his body. “Why are you here? Why did Silvy think
we should talk?”
“Because
your mother thinks we belong together, and you’re just denying it.” Once again
without pretense.
“Oh.” My
breath caught. “So the two of you decided ambush would be the best way to
convince me of this?” My stomach clenched.
“She
just wanted you to stop running for one second and listen to what I have to
say. She thought Hawaii would be the perfect place for us to have some time
alone together without any distractions.”
“Why
wouldn’t she let me in on this grand plan of hers?” I wanted to see how he
would explain it though I knew this was how Silvy works.
“Because
she figured you wouldn’t approve. She told me that you’re not a believer, that
you’d be tough to convince.”
“A
believer in what?” I knew exactly what he was referring to, but I wanted to
hear him say it. I couldn’t believe Silvy had created another disciple so
quickly.
“Doesn’t
matter. We’ll talk about that later. Right now, I’d like an answer to the
question I just asked you.” He stood directly in front of me.
“I don’t
remember the question,” I lied, looking away, unable to move when he tilted my
chin up with the touch of his finger. My knees threatened to give out from
beneath me as he searched my eyes.
“I know
you feel it, too. I can see it.” He whispered the words just seconds before
sweeping his lips across my forehead. “It almost hurts, the way it feels.” He
spread light kisses over my face, first around my eyes, then along my
cheekbones, finally capturing my lips gently, tasting them with the tip of his
warm tongue.
At that
moment, I was frozen in a fantasy dream, being taken by Prince Charming in a
tropical paradise. I could do nothing but respond to his wishes. The taste of
him was salt and spearmint, his scent an intoxicating manly smell of soap and
sweat. I realized I’d closed my eyes, but I wanted to see. I wanted to be sure
this was really happening to me, Becka Clemmons, celibacy’s woman-of-the-year.
When I
finally found the courage to open my eyes, I saw him then, for the first time without
fear in my heart. This gentle man, whom I knew nothing about, had me completely
enraptured. I decided to let it happen, to try and satisfy this desperate
feeling inside so it would leave me in peace.
I drew
my hands up over his strong shoulders, feeling the hardness of his body against
mine. I ran my fingers through his hair as though I’d done it a thousand times
before. My breasts now melted against him, hard and demanding.
My mouth
opened and I willingly participated in our first real kiss. The kiss sent
shocks of excitement through every limb of my body, landing a current squarely
at the pit of my stomach, where an incredible ache began to grow. I was
prepared to drag him on that rock and ravage him. I’d never had desire affect
me the way it did with this man. It made no sense to me, but clarity wasn’t
important at that moment.
“Becka.”
He pulled away suddenly, leaving me desperate to have him back in my arms,
desperate to have him. “Can you feel it? This is not the first time we’ve been
together. It feels too natural and real.” His hands held my face between them,
his eyes nearly wet with pain.
“Please
don’t make this more than it is. It’s just desire, nothing more.” Tears ran
down my cheeks for no reason I could grasp. I felt the fear coming back to me,
replacing the need with its fury. “I…. I can’t, Jonathan. I don’t understand
this.” I took his hands from me, biting back regret as I did so - my stomach
sick with emotion.
From
above I heard Annie calling, the voice of rescue just in time. I backed away
slowly, leaving him there once again, alone to face our connection without me,
too afraid to face it with him. It was just too much for me.
What’s your current WIP?
I’m currently refining the prequel to my debut novel, Return to
Ruby’s Ranch. Escape from Ruby’s Ranch is Katherine’s story. It’s been a real
challenge to tell her story, but I’m hoping my faithful Ruby’s Ranch fans will
love it.
And finally, where can we find
you?
This
is my twitter: @RJFrankhouser
