Mona Ingram

Historical Romance and Modern Love

Singing Praises…

by

How refreshing. Sometimes I feel that all I do is talk about myself… mainly my books. Sure, I want you to like them enough to buy them, but first they have to catch your eye, and that’s where my cover designer, Suzie O’Connell comes in.

Suzie has done quite a few of my covers. You can probably tell which ones; they stand out from the others. I met her through a writer’s group, where she did a quick cover concept for someone else, and I fell in love with what I think of as her “brush-stroke” style. She uses this effect cleverly, sometimes blurring the otherwise hard edges of an image, or to create a plain background for title/author name, and other times the ‘brush strokes’ blend two images together.

Today I’m debuting the new cover Suzie has created for Book Two in my series The Women of Independence. I was torn between two breathtaking images, one with a sunburst, and one with the image of the woman on the horse. Suzie combined the two images and I’m sure you’ll agree the finished product is amazing.

I’m still writing the story, but the work has become much easier now that I have this lovely image sitting beside my computer. If you haven’t read the first book in the series, it’s called Loving From Afar. Guess who did the cover art?
Loving From Afar links:

Suzie’s website:  http://www.suzieoconnell.com/indieproud/servicesandprices.html

I actually enjoyed this interview!

by

This interview is with Fiona McVie. See link at bottom of page.
Mona:  Hi, Fiona. Glad to be with you.
Where are you from?
 I live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley of British Columbia, Canada. Think a long, sparkling lake with plenty of beaches. Add in orchards, vineyards, ski hills in the winter, golf courses galore, and you get the picture.
Tell us a little about yourself.
  I spent my younger years in northern British Columbia, then went to UBC for a couple of years, before going to the Sorbonne in Paris for French immersion. When I came back, I went to work in Vancouver for a travel agency, and stayed in travel-related jobs for most of my working life. I’m lucky to have travelled extensively; it opens the imagination.
Fiona: Tell us your latest news
I’ve recently released my eighteenth book on Amazon. It’s the first in a series called The Women of Independence, and it’s entitled Loving From Afar. It’s a romance with a difference. I like to describe it as a book that will break your heart, then put it back together.
Fiona: When and why did you begin writing?
I’ve read all my life. My mother took us to the library from a young age. Sometimes I can still recall the smell of the books as we sat on the floor for story hour.  As I read more as an adult, there were many times I thought “I can do this”, so I did. I was naïve enough to think that I’d write a best-seller right out of the gate, but of course that didn’t happen.
Fiona: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I don’t think about it very much. I rarely tell people what I do. I’ve made that mistake a few times and they give me odd looks. I think they’re wondering if I’m going to put them in a book.
Fiona: Do you have a specific writing style?
 I like to think of my style as casual. I don’t care for over-blown romance novels. I also enjoy putting in a twist here or there. The reader usually knows it’s coming, but we both pretend we don’t, and discover the surprise together.
Fiona: How did you come up with the title?
 Loving From Afar is a story about a young woman who’s had everything stripped away from her, and yet she continues to love a young man from her past. It’s as though she’s watching life from a distance.
Fiona: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
I don’t write books to impart a message. I leave that to people who are much wiser than I, but I would hope that the book gives them something to think about.
Fiona: How much of the book is realistic?
I try hard to make it all realistic.
Fiona: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life
Not really, but I can easily imagine a young woman going through these trials.
Fiona: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
I really enjoy Maeve Binchy.
Fiona: What book are you reading now?
Four Fires by Bryce Courtenay.
Fiona: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
I read constantly, but I confess I don’t pay much attention to the names. I’m more likely to remember author names when the books are poorly written.
Fiona: What are your current projects?
I’m writing book two of the series The Women of Independence. This one is titled The Last Goodbye.
Fiona: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members
I dreamed of writing for many years before I started. My friends put up with me during those long years. They were so patient!
Fiona: Do you see writing as a career?
Not originally, but now I can’t stop.
Fiona: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
No.
Fiona: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
This new book focuses on Danielle, the closest friend of the main character in the first book. A Hollywood film company comes to shoot on her uncle’s ranch, and Danielle is attracted to the producer.
Fiona: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
Keeping my butt in the chair when it’s sunny outside.
Fiona: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I’d have to say Bryce Courtenay. He has an uncanny ability to tell a story from the POV of a young child, and I find that charming.
Fiona: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
  I’ve done so much already, it’s usually not necessary.
Fiona: Who designed the covers?
Suzie O’Connell. She does amazing work.
Fiona: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Be prepared to work hard and develop a thick skin.
Fiona: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you.
Fiona: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
I’ve always been interested in advertising, in writing ad copy.

To buy Loving From Afar click on the link below

What’s in a name?

by

There’s been a lot of chatter this week about naming the royal baby. That’s prompted me to share a little story my husband told me. Back in 1939, King George and Queen Elizabeth visited Canada by rail. The train went through Orillia, Ontario, where my hubby lived, and being a fanatic train lover, as well as being curious to see the royals, Jack was there. As was customary, the King and Queen came out onto the back of the last rail car to greet the assembled people. When the train stopped, it was oddly quiet, as opposed to the usual cheers. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, a farmer called out from the back “Hiya King!”. King George smiled and said “Hi yourself.” Jack never forgot that.

Thank You, Digital Book Review

by

A shout out to Anthony Wessell, of Digital Book Reviews for featuring one of my most popular books today.

I won’t bore you with the recap of Full Circle – you can read that on the E-Books page. I mainly wanted to say ‘thanks’ to Anthony for supporting independent authors. His site is great for authors and readers alike.

Beautiful British Columbia

by

  

Just back from a quick trip to Vancouver Island. Gorgeous sunny weather to highlight the (as usual) outstanding scenery. Spent a couple of nights in Sidney, and the first night Mount Baker was clearly visible in all its ice-cream-sundae splendour.
   Coming back on the ferry, I was struck by how often I include this spectacular area in my books. In Fallen Angel, Laura goes to a rehab on Vancouver Island by ferry, and in the same book, Bradley, the male love interest, travels from the island to the Okanagan Valley by ferry. In Fixing Freddie, Freddie takes Samantha over to Pender Island for lunch and a shopping trip. In Promise Me, there are several scenes on the beaches of the island, and in my latest, Loving From Afar, there’s a scene where Cole leaves the island when his father gets sick, and the final scene of the book, on a beach.

   I suppose it would be fair to say I love the Island, and I’m proud to do so. Here are a couple of pictures I took on the way back.

Thanks for voting!

by

A big thank you to everyone who voted for my cover in the Story Finds cover contest. My cover artist did an amazing job for this, my latest release. It’s up against some stiff competition, but I’ve enjoyed putting it out there for everyone to admire.
Thanks again… oh, wait… here’s the link to the book on Amazon if you’d like to take a look. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DGFXDLO

Available Now at Amazon

by

Loving From Afar is Book One in The Women of Independence series.

This book has it all: despair, sorrow and romance. I enjoyed writing it, and based on initial reaction, readers are enjoying it as well.  Here’s a brief description:

  What would you do if your perfect life was shattered by a series of uncontrollable events?
  Allison Ransome loses everything; everything except her love for Cole Slater, the young man she planned to marry after graduation.
  Gutted by Allison’s perceived treachery, Cole moves on with his life. Ten years later, he returns home, telling himself he will avoid the woman who broke his heart.
   But nothing goes as planned. Can Allison and Cole forget the past and come to terms with the events that tore them apart?
Available now at Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DGFXDLO

Hockey fever strikes again…

by

… at least here in Canada, where hockey is a right of passage. I daresay if you asked some children to hum the national anthem, you’d get the theme from Hockey Night In Canada.
   Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. But since we’re in the middle of the playoffs, I thought it a good time to release my newly designed cover for Blogging From the Heart.
   It’s the story of a young woman who blogs about violence in hockey while she’s falling for a man she doesn’t recognize as being a hockey player.
   A charming story, it’s novella-length at 25,000 words. You could probably read it in the time it takes him to watch the game!! Enjoy!

That certain feeling…

by

I like every book I write. I wouldn’t be much of an author if I didn’t.
  But the one I’m writing now feels special. I wasn’t going to talk about it, but it’s been poking and prodding at me to let it out… to share it with you, the readers.
   I’ve always wanted to write a series, and I’m finally indulging myself. Perhaps that’s why it feels so special; it’s been waiting in the wings for years.
   The series is called The Women of Independence, and the stories, which are individually titled, are romances at heart.
    But perhaps not your average romance. This series more closely resembles the life we all live every day. Life with its ups and downs; scenarios that are gritty, perhaps hard to take at times, but always true to life. And as I said, in the end they are romances. Because that’s what life is, isn’t it? One long journey in search of love?
   I’ll keep you posted as I get closer to release date, which I hope will be mid-June. The first one in the series is called Loving From Afar. Can’t wait to share it with you.

 

A couple of things…

by

I don’t often post about my freebie offerings here, but since I’m ramping them down, I thought I’d share the current one with you.
FOOL ME ONCE is free through 11 May, and it’s currently #2 on the Free in Kindle Store list. For those of you who don’t know, that’s pretty amazing.
Here’s the link:

Next, I’m proud to show you the new cover I’ve had designed by a talented cover artist.

It’s for my book Moonlight Dancer, and sales have already picked up, thanks to the new design. This pleases me, because it’s a good story that had been overlooked in the past. It’s a special story to me, because I was inspired to write this book when I saw an actual Dance Hall in a small community in southern Saskatchewan. Built around 1929/1930, it was the centre of the community and guess what? It’s still going strong! If you’d like the name of the artist, message me through my facebook page and I’ll be happy to send you a link to her site.

Here’s the link to Moonlight Dancer: 

This one, I’ll savour…

by

I’m in mourning today. No, not because the Canucks lost, but because I just discovered that my all-time favourite author died last November. Bryce Courtenay was famous for The Power of One, which was an amazing book (I’ve read it several times), but my personal favourites are The Four Fires, and Whitethorn. He has a new book out now, which I snapped up, called Jack of Diamonds. It starts in Toronto, in the 40s. Can’t wait to get my 2K words done today so I can go down to the park and start reading!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CI7IL1I

Better Late Than Never

by

It looks as though B&N are going to allow Nook users the option to download from Amazon.  My friends who are tech savvy inform me that the present upgrade applies only to the Nook HD and Nook HD +, not the older versions.  You can read the story for yourself at:
…and, of course, all future Nooks will be updated with the new interface. It’s about time!

About Mona Ingram

Romance author Mona Ingram has written dozens of novels, including the Forever Series, the Gold Rush Series, and the Women of Independence Series. She lives in British Columbia, Canada.

Find Me Online

Get in Touch

Email me at mona@monaingram.com.

All text copyright Mona Ingram.