Lee has a BookBub deal on Book 1 of the Morgan;'s Run series, Emma's Dream.
Free! $2.99Amazon
I clicked on it today and got a copy. In case you are reading this later in the week, Lee is offering a free print book of any of the first eight books in the series, and an ARC of Gus's Journey. Please only enter if you are willing to review it.
Lee, please tell us a little about yourself.
I love firsts, so tell me about the moment when you decided to self-publish.
I was visiting a dear friend in Arizona — setting of my Morgan’s Run series (not as yet conceived at that point!) — and she knew I had written a number of novels over the years. Her friend had recently jumped into independent publishing and she suggested I give it a try. When I returned home, I opened my newspaper and there was an article about local author, Marie Force and her phenomenal success as an indie writer. Soon after, I attended a conference Marie organized and, as the saying goes, the rest is history. I was off and running and have never looked back! Marie Force is a phenomenon. I belong to her self-publish Yahoo group. There’s great information there.
Did you hire an editor?
Yes, I LOVE my editor and she has been such a supportive, critical partner.
How did you choose the cover?
I have a great cover designer. We communicate, I narrow down choices, then my cover consultants (family and friends) weigh in. It’s a fun process and the final result has always captured the book’s characters. I’m very lucky! Yes. Your covers are gorgeous.
What advice do you have for other authors who are considering self publishing?
Just do it. Write, write, write, revise, revise, revise, proof, proof, proof and put your best book out there!
Other than your own, who are your favorite (heroes/heroines/writers) in your genre?
The strong, resilient, fiercely intelligent Mara, Brehon (Lady Judge) of the Burren is a current favorite. I am addicted to these wonderful historical mysteries by Irish author, Cora Harrison and will be bereft when I reach the last page of #13
What is the most exciting moment, so far, in your writing career?
Placing my first book in my mother’s hands (Prepped to Kill, the first of one of my mystery series). She was so proud and I’m so grateful that this happened before we lost her to ever-advancing dementia.
What is your favorite pastime, other than writing?
Hands down, playing with my grandchildren and Lulu (French bulldog puppy). Love walking too!
Tell us about your Morgan’s Run series. How did it begin?
Tell us about your Morgan’s Run series. How did it begin?
Wow, Nine books in six months. You rock.
Gus's Home
Hoping a fresh start will be good for him and his two young children, widower Gus Casey takes a job as assistant trainer at Spark Foster and Ben Morgan Senior’s thoroughbred training facility north of Morgan’s Run. A deathbed promise to his wife, never marry or have children with another woman, seems reasonable until he begins a white hot affair with teacher Lynn Manguilli. Crazy about the handsome, horse whisperer, Lynn’s heart is shattered when Gus’ promise comes between them. Will these two star-crossed lovers find a way to be together? Come join the Morgan’s Run crew for this ninth book in the series!
Excerpt.
Gus Casey extracted his wriggling twenty-one-month-old son Cal from his car seat as Dulcie his five-year-old waited patiently at his side. It had been less than a week since his sister Laurie left for Wyoming and he was going crazy juggling two children and work. Thank God for the Cottage, the Morgan’s Run daycare, where his two went tuition-free. As Cal toddled off toward the Cottage door, he took Dulcie’s hand. “It’ll get better soon, sweetie. I promise.”
His daughter nodded, but said nothing. Gus worried about her constantly. Cal was plump and strong, but Dulcie never seemed to grow. A tow-haired wisp of a girl, she looked at least a year younger, as if one strong breeze would blow her away. The doctors claimed she was doing well, but still he worried.
“Morning!” Lynn Manguilli, lead teacher, greeted Cal as the toddler sped by her. She gazed up, smiling at Dulcie, then Gus. “How are the Caseys this morning?”
He gave her a wry smile. “Holdin’ on by a thread.”
“It’ll get easier,” she said, smoothing Dulcie’s hair as the child hugged her.
“That’s what I keep tellin’ my sweetheart, here,” he said. “Now I just have to convince myself.”
Lynn watched the handsome horse trainer with arresting green eyes and a grin that could melt an ice berg. His thick sandy hair was tousled, as if he just rolled out of bed and she had to repress the urge to comb her fingers through it, to settle it down. Salt of the earth and steady as a rock. A girl could do worse than Gus Casey, Lynn mused, not for the first time. “You’re a great dad. You’ll see. You three’ll get into a routine of your own now that Laurie’s gone. And, you can always hire extra help. Willow’s around this summer,” she said, referring to his boss’ eighteen year old, who was just completing her freshman year of college.
“Yeah, Harley’s already suggested that. Thanks. I don’t know what we would do without you, Polly and the Cottage.”
Lynn smiled. “You can thank the big bosses for this,” she said, referring to Ben Morgan Senior, his wife Leonora, and his college buddy, Spark Foster, who had conceived of the idea for the day care center on the Morgan’s ranch. They’d also bankrolled it, from construction to the day-to-day running. Teachers’ salaries, supplies and operating expenses were entirely funded by the Morgan-Foster Trust and tuition was free for the children of all employees of Morgan’s Run and Valley Stables, the thoroughbred farm north of town where Gus was assistant trainer.
“Pretty amazing, aren’t they?” he said, thinking so are you. Warm and beautiful, more than once since he’d moved to the Valley Gus thought about asking Lynn out. Too good for me, and way too smart, was the conclusion he always reached. Also, too awkward, if it didn’t work out and the kids still came to the Cottage.
He hung up backpacks, deposited lunches in the kitchen refrigerator, then kissed them both. “Be good,” he said to each. Cal squirmed and ran off to the truck area and Dulcie nodded, index finger in her mouth. Try as he might he couldn’t break her of the finger sucking habit. One day at a time, he thought, waving to Polly Granger, Lynn’s partner, then stopping at the door to say goodbye to Lynn. “Hope they behave for you.”
She patted his arm. “They always do. Don’t worry.”
Her touch was both comforting and electric. Gus gave her a weary smile and turned away, hoping she hadn’t caught the yearning in his gaze.
She had and it surprised her as it always did. Surprised and unsettled her.
Lee is putting together her ARC team, so if you like the excerpt below, please enter to win an ARC of Gus's Home
And finally, where can we find you?
My website is http://www.mleeprescott.com and you can find me on Facebook, and follow me on BookBub and Goodreads.
Thank you for being here, Lee.
Emma's Dream is free today, Tuesday, April 9. It's a big deal to get a BookBub ad. And Lee got one. (Possibly because it has 344 reviews with an average of 4.3 out of five stars.)
Free! $2.99Amazon
In case you are reading this later in the week, Lee is offering a free print book of any of the first eight books in the series, and an ARC of Gus's Journey. Please only enter if you are willing to review it. You can enter by leaving your email in a comment, Happy week and Happy reading.
Just got Emma's Dream. Gus' story from the excerpt sounds good. I don't usually review any more as Amazon started removing them since I am an author also but would be glad to try again. Cdhersh@fuse.net
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