Audiobooks and Cover Reveal for Point Hope!

by Kristen James

ASpyForChristmas_rlca0019a_KristenJames

The audiobook for A Spy for Christmas is available on Amazon and Audible.com!

(Audible offers a free app for listening to audiobooks, and you can get a free audiobook by signing up for their trial membership.)

Later this spring, The River People will also have an audiobook!

***

.

 

I’ve had my head buried in my latest writing project, Point Hope, and I wanted to share the cover with you. Coming this spring!

Final Point Hope copy

The mighty Pacific has a rugged, rough, unforgiving beauty—like Trey’s life.

Trey and Rosette Sinclair were once in love. Now they both feel hurt and unwanted. Their marriage is on its last legs when their family is faced with two deaths and an orphan. They’re already raising two young children and Trey’s teenage brother Alex.

After an IED brought his Navy career to an end, Trey became an EMT in his hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon. He struggles with PTSD, which affects his ability to do his job and connect with his family again. His wife seems to be living life without him.

Rosette is the mother hen and friend to all. She can’t figure out what happened to her marriage, or to Trey—the man she once so desperately loved. It feels like she’ll lose everything along with him. Meanwhile he’s enclosed in his own world without her.

Trey and Rosette make a shaky agreement: to play “family” for now so they can take care of Trey’s recently orphaned niece. But can faking it ever be enough?

It’s make-it or break-it time. If they split apart, who will raise Hope?

***

Many of my reviews praise my ‘real characters with real problems’ and this story delivers more romantic and family drama. I’m so excited about this complex storyline and characters with their secrets and flaws. Watch for a preview as we near March!

Even TV people enjoy a good book!

by Kristen James

This is Paul Bernard, producer of Ligit on FX, reading A Spy for Christmas.

Paul Bernard

A Spy for Christmas

What’s more dangerous? The Oregon wilderness? Hit men?
Or the heat in Grayson’s arms?

Robin is flying back into the misty Pacific Northwest for Christmas, which is a bit fitting after her last so-so relationship ended. Alex just wasn’t the right man for her. Things look up when Grayson sits next to her on the plane—he’s hot, charming, witty and very into her. Unfortunately their chance meeting puts her in danger, and suddenly Robin is trapped into spending the holiday with this charming, mysterious man at a secluded mountain cabin.

He vows to protect her with his own life if needed, but the danger isn’t just from the men tracking them down. Robin isn’t sure she can trust Grayson, and yet she’s pulled to his magnetism. Safety is quickly losing the battle to desire…

Print and Kindle ebook on Amazon.

 

Dale Comstock from Zulu 7 Productions. (Also in NBC’s Star and Stripes.)

Dale Comstock

 

I love this setting – the snow capped mountains match the story’s setting!

In the story, Grayson and Robin flee Portland and take Mt. Hood Highway up into the rugged, snowy mountains.

 

 

 

AK Watters and Dale Comstock (Zulu 7 Productions) at the Sundance Film Festival, chatting with Julianne Moore.

AK Waters, Julianne Moore, and Dale Comstock at Sundance

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Year – New Novel in Progress

by Kristen James

It’s a new year and I’m writing a new book. I love that initial creating stage where I go from a vague book idea to a plot with characters, and then entire storyline comes together. When I was in the final phases of my last novel, I did have few days when I wondered, what if I don’t get another idea for a while? Then I got several ideas all at once. The idea I choose to work on is about a family with all kinds of problems and issues. It’s make it or break it time, and then things get even worse. This story is fun to write because there are so many different issues between all the characters, and their decisions drive the plot. There’s several twists too! I’m looking forward to sharing more about it as the novel progresses.

I wrote several novellas and a novel in the last year, and the writing process just continues to get more and more exciting. Ten years ago, I needed to outline, draft character sketches and constantly revise the storyline and my notes. I had to write quite a bit to get a grip on what would happen in the story and who the characters were. Now I can develop the story and characters in my head much better, so I can see what people look like, what drives them, and how they’ll change in the book. I’ve always like to paint scenery for fun, and the process is very similar. I start a book with the background, the general idea for the plot and characters, and then I fill in details in layers to create the full picture.

Cheers!  ~Kristen

Happy New Year! A look back and forwards.

by Kristen James

Wow, I did a lot of writing and publishing in 2012 and I don’t plan to slow down any time soon! This last year, I published:

  • A Spy for Christmas
  • A Special Ops Christmas
  • More Than a Promise
  • Un vaquero para navidad – the Spanish version of A Cowboy for Christmas (Spanish books have lower case titles, in case you’re wondering)
  • The Enemy’s Son – republished actually – it was with a small Canadian publisher before that
  • In The Land of Huckleberries and Wokas – a Native American novella similar to my novel The River People.
  • and a children’s book called Even Animals Get Their Own Room. This was a special project because my sons Isaac and Caleb illustrated it.

Possible Cover three

Yes, this is on Amazon if you want copy or want to search inside to see their artwork.

This project spanned two years. We’d pull out the art supplies and work on it a Saturday here or an afternoon there. Isaac and Caleb each took copies to school to show to their friends. They donated a copy to their library and another kid checked it out that same day. So we had a ton of fun working on it, and we were all proud of the final product. The printed book actually looks like you could feel the crayon on the paper; I was just amazed at the quality.

 

Every year I learn more about storytelling, writing and using my strengths as a writer, so I owe a big thanks to all my readers for sharing your thoughts on Facebook, here and in reviews on Amazon. This last year I learned to listen to my own heart on storytelling and not on the usual rules and expectations. I thought about what kind of story I want to experience, write and read, not what big publishers or all the Writer Rules say you should write. I let readers guide me too, through comments and reviews.

2013 – A new year and new opportunities

I’m already working on a new novel for this year. It’s an emotional story of romance, commitment and family, similar in theme to More Than Memories, More Than a Promise and A Special Ops Christmas. I love looking at family relationships, rekindling and rebuilding love, and making a better future. I’ll tell you more about the story soon and share the cover in the next couple of months.

My goals and plans are much the same for this year. I want to keep writing, keep improving and grow my readership. Even my personal goals are the same – I love spending time with my family and experiencing life to the fullest. There are a few things on the agenda, like riding in a hot air balloon and the local trolly that goes on a winery tour. If you saw this big red trolly around your town, you’d understand!

Thanks so much for joining my journey. I hope this is a fantastic year for everyone!

A Special Ops Christmas

by Kristen James

Special Ops Christmas cover final

Want to escape for a short while during the hectic holiday season? This holiday novella is the perfect length to read in the bath, waiting at the doctor’s office, or sitting by the fire. (I often sat by my fireplace while working on this story!)

A Special Ops Christmas – a holiday novella

They were ready to call it quits, but Aiden realizes he can’t let his marriage die this Christmas season. Can he make it home to Vivianne in time to save their love?

Vivianne has been so proud her husband—a Navy SEAL—but his absence while serving has put a strain on their marriage. Due to buried hurts and different circumstances in her life, she needs him more than ever now. Aiden proposed in the snow, and Christmas has always been their special time of year. This year, however, looks bleak and lonely. If only Aiden were here, she could share a special surprise.

You can also get A Spy for Christmas, A Cowboy for Christmas, More Than Memories and Embers of Hope for 99 cents in Kindle, or borrow for free if you’re a Prime member. (The last 3 are full length novels while A Spy for Christmas is a novella. All four are available in print and Kindle.)

Hope your holiday season is going well and you’re ready for Christmas!