It’s the last Wednesday of the month and it’s time for another guest author. This week say hello to C. Becker…
This Writer’s Life-(TWL)-Welcome to This Writer’s Life, happy to have you join us today. Introduce yourself and tell us about yourself, your writing and your books.
Good day, everyone! Thank you for having me. I’m C. Becker, an author from West Viriginia and I’m thrilled to join today’s segment of This Writer’s Life. On March 19 my final book in the Euphoria trilogy was published by The Wild Rose Press. Embracing Euphoria is a romantic suspense novel that delivers danger, intrigue and complex relationships. Writing the trilogy has been a dream come true, and as I think back on the years of hard work put into telling this story, I’m still pinching myself. The Euphoria trilogy is based on a fictious Amazon Rainforest plant smuggled into the U.S. by a med student that forty years later falls into the hands of a greedy drug lord determined to unleash it into a lucrative street drug. Though as the reader discovers, there are many objectives into people’s motives. The first book in the series, Finding Euphoria, sets the stage for the protagonist and her family. Hailey Langley has lived through heartbreaking traumas, including tracking down the Euphoria drug that held her estranged son in a coma. As she faces the guilt associated with giving up her first child, she makes decisions that could destroy her marriage. In the second book, Saving Euphoria, Hailey struggles to find a way to deal with her husband’s death after a suspicious fire claims his life. Except her husband Mark is not dead, but badly burned and hiding incognito while he tries to trap the drug lord behind his brutal attack. Embracing Euphoria, the final segment of the trilogy, brings Hailey to South America to rescue a family friend. Then she needs to find Mark and discover a way to heal him before a Colombian drug lord seeks revenge.
TWL-Why and when did you decide to become an author?
Although I love reading books I never thought about writing stories until fourteen years ago when I woke on Christmas day with a stomach virus. I watched my kids open their gifts in the morning and then spent the rest of the day in bed. Days later when I had convalesced, I felt horrible for disappointing my parents’ and missing their annual Christmas party. (I come from a large family of nine.) I literally wondered what Santa’s elves did the rest of the year at the North Pole, and I decided if I were an elf, I’d knock on Santa’s door and ask him to play. So I drafted a story to give to my dad, naming the elf Ralph in his honor. The story was so cute my sister recommended I create a series, which I did, then set off and found a publisher for four Piper the Elf stories. After my first book was published, I veered toward authoring adult books, mostly to see how hard it could be. Boy, did I learn! Adult novels are enjoyable to write, but they sure are time consuming. I put in many late hours at home after my husband and four kids turned in each night. Three o’clock was my typical time to stop writing and seven o’clock came around pretty early to go to work. But my efforts paid off. Today I have published over a dozen children’s books and three adult romantic suspense books.
I also have a middle-grade book and movie script I recently finished writing.
TWL-What’s a typical writing session like for you?
I like to plot out my book on a blank calendar. The days aren’t as important as visualizing how the book moves day to day, chapter by chapter. Once I visually see how the story will proceed, I start writing. My words flow better if I start with the dialogue and let it take over until a chapter is finished. Then I go back to the chapter’s beginning and add in setting/descriptions and action tags. I have a great group of authors in my writer’s group who give constructive feedback with each chapter. This helps tighten the content and plot before an editor gets a peek.
TWL-What have you learned most from being a writer?
Patience. This was so hard to realize for my first children’s book and first novel because I wanted to share it with everyone immediately. But I learned the book will eventually come out. Don’t hurry the process. There are reasons why the publishing process seems to take longer than you’d like. Mostly, breaks give a fresh outlook and allows you to better deliberate on your writing. Remember, if you are determined, your dream of writing will happen.
TWL-What’s been the biggest struggle and how did you overcome it?
The biggest struggle I encountered over the years was juggling in the midst of working and raising a family. My kids hated that I was constantly on the computer, which is why I gravitated to writing late hours into the night. I’m still catching up on my sleep. I’m lucky to have a variety of jobs I love. I’ve had to swing between working full-time at times, directing music/choirs at churches, and managing a household. In the past few years I cut back, but I feel like I’m busier than ever and I love it!
TWL-What’s been your biggest victory?
Easy question. The biggest writing victory is finishing the Euphoria trilogy. Though seriously, anytime I win an award, finish a book, sign with a publisher, get selected to give a presentation, or meet my fans, I regard them all as big victories in the writing world.
TWL-If you could give advice to your pre-author self, what would it be?
Don’t be hard on yourself, but at the same time don’t slack off. Get ready to learn about the writing world. Also, read something daily and pay attention to each story’s structure, grammar, style, and content.
TWL-What writing tip would you offer to a new author?
Read, write, make connections. As a new author I didn’t realize the work it took to market books. Writing is the easy part. Marketing is a whole other department. Connect with the media, TV, radio, newspapers. Contact book stores and libraries. Connect with book clubs or schools, depending on the genre/age group. Push yourself to write and also market, but don’t forget to take a break and rest. Turn off the computer during the holidays. If you can, go to bed on time. Most importantly remember to take time and savor the time with your family and friends. The writing and marketing be there afterward.
Book Blurb:
Hailey Langley tries to wrap her mind around the news her husband survived a fire she thought had killed him. Before she can search for him, Hailey has a promise to keep that takes her to Colombia where she must face the drug lord behind her husband’s attack.
Mark Langley is suffering from his own plight and insecurities, including burns and PTSD. Beneath Mark’s scarred exterior is a man seeking acceptance from a wife he refuses to see. Uncertain if he will ever reunite with his family, Mark struggles through his therapies, hopeful an experimental drug from the Euphoria plant will heal his scars.
When another villain from Colombia seeks revenge, Hailey and Mark must learn to trust and love again as they battle their newest threat and find their way back to each other.
Excerpt
Moments later, Mark exhaled. “I’ve spent too much of my life in bed.” He slid closer, wincing.
“Don’t hurt yourself. I’ll move to you.” She nestled closer against him, laying her hand over his. “This feels much better. I’ve missed how your touch warms me up.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” His voice was a husky whisper. “When I was in the hospital, I doubted I’d ever get out of bed.”
For a moment, Hailey froze. He’s opening up. Don’t push him. She carefully chose her words. “How much do you remember?”
“Not much. I have lots of blanks…I remember being scared…and the pain…oh, the pain was indescribable.” His body trembled, and he began to cry. “God, Hailey, why did this have to happen? In one moment, our whole world spun upside down.”
She closed her eyes, holding him. Mark had always been strong. She stroked the pressure garment covering his arm. Dammit, she couldn’t even caress his skin. “We’re going to get through this.”
A few minutes passed, and Mark cleared his throat. “I remember hearing voices. Most days, I didn’t have the energy to open my eyes.” His body quivered. “I prayed that God would take me.”
A tear ran down her cheek when she opened her eyes again. “Do you remember David visiting you at the hospital?”
“Yeah. David helped me hold my shit together. He kicked my ass when I got discouraged. Cried with me. Told his idiotic jokes.”
I should’ve been there. Not David.
Mark sniffled. “He pestered the doctors about prescribing more opioids. He hated to see me in agony.” He sniffled again. “Then I became addicted to the pain meds. It was tough going for a while.”
She held him tighter. “I’m sorry.”
“I wanted more, but the doctors limited what I took. When the pain got out of control, David threatened to find drugs on his own. It was a nightmare.” He shuddered. “When I was finally able to sit up, I saw how badly I was burned. God, Hailey. I’m a freakin’ monster.”
“You are not.” She rubbed her hand over his. If only she could erase his pain. “I won’t let you be hard on yourself. I love everything about you. You’re a loving husband and a wonderful father to our children. The kids and I need you. You’re our world.”
“You had a right to know I was alive. I’m sorry I deceived you, but I couldn’t hurt you anymore.” He wiped his eyes. “This isn’t what I want for us.”
She didn’t want this either. Tears blurred her own eyes, but she dared not wipe them. “We’ll get through this.”
“I’m supposed to protect you. This isn’t fair to you…I may never work again.” Mark’s voice cracked. “How can I provide for you and the kids?”
“That doesn’t matter. The kids are older now. I have a job at the college. I’ll take care of us.”
“What if I never work again?”
“The DTA won’t turn away your expertise. Owen’s a pain, but he’s not stupid.”
Mark exhaled. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to make love to you again.”
She closed her eyes and clung to him. After everything he’d gone through, he was concerned about lovemaking. “We’ll find other ways for intimacy. We’ll take small steps.”
“What if I can’t live up to your expectations?”
She let out a small gasp. “Honey, my only expectation is to spend my life with you. Trust me. We’ll proceed with whatever you’re comfortable with.”
He rested his head against her. “How’d I get so lucky to find you?”
“I’m the lucky one.” The heat of his body transferred across her skin, soothing her nerves. For eight horrible dark months, Hailey believed she’d lost him. Now her heart pounded obstinately, crying with each thump, “Mark’s alive!”
“I want to make love to you,” he whispered, “but I need time.”
She kissed his head, his hair tickling her lips. “When that time comes, we’ll figure it out—together.”
Once he drifted to sleep, Hailey slid out of the covers and tiptoed into the bathroom. She switched on the fan and sink faucet to provide background noise as she wept. When she applied the salve over Mark’s skin, she’d been a master of hiding her emotions. He was so self-conscious he hadn’t noticed her anger as she touched his scars.
She clenched her teeth as bile rose higher in her throat. Mark’s injury was barbarous! No one could comprehend his suffering. Thank God David had pulled him from the fire.
Grabbing two fistfuls of hair, she bent over and moaned. Damn Mendoza!
Why hadn’t she prevented Mark’s attack? Catching bad guys was her career. She should’ve recognized the danger they’d been in.
At least now Mendoza and his goons were dead. No one will hurt Mark or my kids ever again.
Hailey rose to her feet, splashed cold water on her face, and crawled back into bed. Mark’s snores comforted her as she stared at the ceiling.
The sweet scent of salve pervaded her husband’s natural earthy scent. How did she feel about Bruce and Mark naming the salve Euphoria? Was it possible Bixa aparra could hold some benefit even though it killed her son? Mark had said everything deserved a second chance. An opportunity for redemption. Even Manuel Mendoza died saving his daughter.
She tugged the covers and twisted to her side. The night had been a promising reboot of their relationship. Spreading salve over Mark’s body had been emotional, but they powered through the awkwardness. Mark wanted space; he needed time to trust again and work through his insecurities.
A serene peace settled on Hailey’s soul. With time, she and Mark could rebuild a stronger relationship. She rested her arm over his chest and waited as sleep overtook her.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub)
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Euphoria-C-Becker-ebook/dp/B0DSG8XQ3X
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/embracing-euphoria-c-becker/1146791353
BAM: https://www.booksamillion.com/p/9781509259809
The Wild Rose Press: https://wildrosepress.com/product/embracing-euphoria/
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/pt/book/embracing-euphoria/id6740242033
Kobo: https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=9781509259809
IndieBound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/embracing-euphoria-c-becker/22206508
Author Biography:
C. Becker is a romance suspense writer, musician, and lover of crafts. She has a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and worked in the clinical hospital setting until she began raising a family. As her children grew older, she never outgrew the attraction of using science in everyday life. She turned to teaching, music, and eventually to writing stories. She considers herself a “jack of all trades,” and readily admits she is a “master of none.” Yes, she even does home improvement projects! Becker has published three romance suspense novels in the Euphoria trilogy, several poems, and over a dozen children’s books (under Colleen Driscoll). Becker enjoys hanging out with her family and Jack Russell, playing the piano, reading, traveling, and gardening.
Social media links:
Website address: http://cbeckerauthor.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/cbeckerauthor
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CBeckerauthor/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/beckercee/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19026691.C_Becker