North Carolina Archives

Oct 8th Interview Debby Grahl Author of Mountain Blaze

Give a warm welcome to Debby Grahl, author of Mountain Blaze! Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cauldron. Take your choice of a bat wing Chocolate Chip or Pumpkin, or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate. Debby I see you’ve brought guests.

I have. Meet Dillon McCoy and Diana Thompson from Mountain Blaze.

Pleasure to meet all three of you. Lets put Dillon in the hot seat first. <Host rubbers her hands together and snickers>

Tells us about the real you—

Howdy, I’m Dillon McCoy. As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved horses. I’d sit for hours watching rodeo competitions on TV. I went to college out west, and as soon as I graduated, I began riding the rodeo circuit. And I’m proud to say, I won both a silver and gold medal.

Tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your bed?

Rodeo magazines, a missing sock or two, and some Louis Lamour paperbacks.

What makes you laugh out loud?

Getting a perfect score in bronc riding or calf roping. And playing a prank on my younger cousins.

What makes you angry?

Bullies. I have no tolerance for anyone who mistreats children, animals, or women.

What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you?

That would be when my best friend Stew was severely hurt. It should have been me.

What do you most value? Family, friendship, honesty, trust, and love.

.What do you sleep in at night? Nothing.

Man after my own heart. LOL

What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with?

She must have a sense of humor, enjoy a quiet night sitting by the fire, and have good old time dancing to country music. She’d need to like horses, camping, and the outdoors. Oh, and lots of sex.

What do you consider most important in life? Family and old friendships.

What is your biggest secret? I don’t like snakes.

Thank you so much for being here Dillon. Now let’s move on to Diana. Ready?

I think so.

Who are you really?

Hello, I’m Diana Thompson. I grew up in a wealthy Philadelphia suburb. I attended private schools and received my teaching degree from the University of North Carolina. I enjoy reading Jane Austen and Agatha Christie, rummaging in antique shops, and collecting cranberry glass. I enjoy touring wineries and shopping in New York City.

Tell us three things we’d find if we looked under your bed?

Nothing. I’m a very neat person.

What makes you laugh out loud?

Reruns of I Love Lucy, and kittens and puppies playing.

What makes you angry? Being lied to and intentional cruelty.

What do you sleep in at night? Silk nightgowns or pajamas.

Who were the biggest role models in your life?

I have admiration for strong independent women. People like Susan B Anthony.

What kind of man do you want to spend the rest of your life with?

Someone who’s thoughtful, loving, and is somewhat romantic, with similar interests in music, books, travel, and entertainment.

What kind of man would you never choose?

Someone who thinks too much of himself. Someone who’s a know-it-all, cruel and overbearing.

What is most important to you in life? Family, friendships, and honesty.

What is your biggest fear? Heights.

Thank you Diana, lets turn to your creature. Debby!

Tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?

I thoroughly enjoyed writing Mountain Blaze. With only a few mishaps, my characters all behaved themselves. I do write by the seat of my pants, but I pretty well knew where I was going with this story. I love both the ocean and mountains. I live near the ocean, and thankfully my cousins live a few hours away in North Carolina. The idea for Mountain Blaze came to me while we were all touring the area around Asheville, NC. It was Fall, and the spectacular display of color against the backdrop of the Smoky Mountains was breathtaking. We hiked a while and discovered a scenic overlook which revealed a stream winding through the valley below.

We came upon a small ranch with cabins to rent and horseback riding. As we waited for the horses to be saddled for a trail ride, my writer’s imagination replaced the nice older man with a handsome cowboy. Now, what would be his story? As we rode through the lush woods, the air fragrant with the smell of pine, Dillon McCoy took shape in my mind.

We drove down the mountain into Waynesville. This is a great little town where I discovered Mast General. A fun old-fashioned country store, this is one of my favorite places to shop. We decided to stop in a café, and while sipping a delicious cup of coffee, I noticed an attractive woman seated at an adjacent table. Her clothes were stylish. She looked as if she had just walked off Fifth Avenue. Once again, my writer’s imagination took over, and Diana Thompson was born. Now, what circumstances could bring the cowboy and the wealthy city girl together?

In all my books, I like to have some type of mystery. So not only do Diana and Dillon need to meet, they must discover what outside force is determined to keep them apart and endanger their lives.

Tell us more about Mountain Blaze!

Disillusioned by his wife’s betrayal, rodeo star Dillon McCoy comes home to the mountains of North Carolina to lick his wounds. When he agrees to take over the family ranch, the Lazy M, he’s unaware danger waits.

Diana Thompson is having doubts about her engagement to Trent Sawyer. She agrees to leave Chapel Hill and spend Thanksgiving with her friend Jenn at the Lazy M. When Diana and Dillon meet, neither can deny their attraction, but both must resolve past relationships while fighting their growing desire.

After Dillon turns down an anonymous offer to purchase the ranch, attempts are made on his life. When a body is found, Dillon sets out to discover who wants the McCoy land enough to commit murder.

Buy links

Amazon Author Page — https://www.amazon.com/Debby-Grahl/e/B00B34HM26

B&N —https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Debby+Grahl?_requestid=5525094

How about a sneak peek between the pages of Mountain Blaze?

Dillon smiled and Diana thought it the sexiest smile she’d ever seen. There was a slight cleft in his chin, and fine lines formed at the corners of his eyes. Diana inwardly groaned. The butterflies were back.

“I’d hold onto you. I wouldn’t let you fall,” he softly said.

With his slow southern accent, the words sounded like warm honey rolling off his tongue. The depth of his eyes and the sound of his voice mesmerized her.

The horses stood side by side. Her and Dillon’s legs touched. He leaned toward her, and the light aroma of wood smoke, hay, and his spicy cologne filled her nostrils. Diana knew what he was about to do but had no willpower to stop him. He cupped her cheek and their lips met.

Gentle at first, his lips glided over hers. He increased the pressure until she opened her mouth and his tongue slipped in. Diana moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms around her waist, he deepened the kiss. Before she realized what he was doing, without breaking their kiss Dillon lifted her from Flora and placed her across his lap.

Cradled in his arms, Diana clung to him, delicious sensations filling her. Her body came alive in a way that surprised her. The only thing that mattered was this man and this moment.

Flame moved, bringing her back to reality. Diana’s eyes fluttered open, and she stared into Dillon’s, deep with passion and need.

About the author:

Award winning author, Debby Grahl, lives on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach and a glass of wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City, Captiva Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books. His Magic Touch, a paranormal romance, was released by Wild Rose Press December 5, 2018. Her latest book, Mountain Blaze, will be released November 2.

You can find Debby at the following:

Website — www.debbygrahl.com
Facebook — https://www.facebook.com/debbygrahlauthor?ref=br_rs

Bookbub — https://www.bookbub.com/search/authors?search=debby%20grahl
Twitter — https://twitter.com/DebbyGrahl

It’s been great having you with us today. Good luck with Mountain Blaze!

Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Debby Grahl, Mountain Blaze, Mystery, North Carolina, Romance by Tena Stetler with 15 comments.

Aug 15th Exciting Total Solar Eclipse-August 21, 2017

Four days and counting! What happens at approximately 11:35 a.m., MDT on August 21, 2017? The first total solar eclipse visible from the United States mainland since 1979. The total eclipse is visible in 10 states Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. Wow! Weather permitting, people in those states will get to watch the moon pass in front of the sun, eventually blocking out its light.

If you are planning to try to capture this historic event on your phone or camera. The experts suggest practicing a couple days before at twilight. Use a tripod, set it for multiple exposures and set it a few minutes before the time you want the photo, so you don’t accidentally move the camera. Oh, on phones, don’t use zoom, it will only make the photo grainy. Always make sure you have special glasses if you are going to watch the eclipse.

This event came to my attention in March, when my hubby and I stopped in Riverton, WY to visit a friend. At that time all the motels, and campgrounds were already reserved for this solar event. Yep, this little town in Wyoming was humming with excitement.

I live in Colorado where it will be only 90%, but that’s enough to send me on the hunt for glasses to watch the eclipse through and a filter for my hubby’s camera. Both of which quantities are dwindling. The American Astronomical Society lists retail chains where certified glasses can be found as Walmart, Lowe’s, Toys “R” Us and 7-Eleven. Look for manufactures American paper Optics, Baader Planetarium, Rainbow Symphony, Thousand Oaks, and TSE 17. Don’t go thinking your regular sunglasses, that block only 50% of the Sun’s visible light, will do the trick. Proper eclipse glasses are designed to filter out 99.99 percent, including harmful ultraviolet and infrared rays.

The partial eclipse in Colorado Springs, Colorado will start at 10:23 a.m. MDT, reach maximum at 11:47a.m., and end at 1:15 p.m.

Here is the path of the total eclipse. Thank you! NEWSWEEK MEDIA GROUP GRAPHIC DANIELE PALUMBO/@DANICT89

For more maps of eclipses from 1651 to 2150, visit the gallery at http://eclipse-maps.com. There you have it in a solar nut shell. It’ll be at least 2024 until the next North American total solar eclipse. Happy solar eclipse watching, and don’t forget your certified eclipse glasses. You don’t want to burn the back of your eyes where there are no pain sensors to alert you to the rays that can cause temporary or permanent blind spots.

Want to know more about the total Solar Eclipse 2017? Check out Space.com for all kinds of science and astronomy fun facts!