Bonus Material from the Nebraska Series

Bonus Material from Her Heart’s Desire

Description: As soon as Sally Larson meets Rick Johnson, she knows he's the one for her. The catch? He's interested in her friend, Ethel Mae. But Sally has a plan. With Ethel Mae's help, she convinces Rick that the only way he'll get Ethel Mae is to make her jealous. He agrees, but he has a trick or two up his sleeve. Sally just might find that the one playing cat is really the mouse.

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Interview with Rick Johnson (Hero in Her Heart’s Desire)

(Blog post made on 09/19/2011)

Ruth Ann Nordin: Today I thought it’d be fun to bring in the man Sally and Ethel Mae have been scheming about in order to get him to fall in love with Sally. Naturally, he doesn’t realize these two delightful women are planning such a thing, so I can’t mention it in the interview. With that aside, let’s bring our hero in. Hi, Rick! Thanks for coming by to talk to me.

Rick Johnson: The pleasure is all mine. I’m actually glad you asked me for an interview.

Ruth: You are?

Rick: Sure. I figure you know Ethel Mae better than anyone since you’re the author who created her. I’d like to get some insight into what she wants in a man.

Ruth: Oh, well, perhaps you ought to ask Sally Larson about that one.

Rick: I’ve talked to Sally.

Ruth: And?

Rick: To be frank, I don’t know if her idea will work.

Ruth: What idea?

Rick: What do you mean “what idea”? You’re the one who wrote it into the book.

Ruth: Considering the book is still being written and people haven’t read it yet or might have missed the story excerpts, I figure you can come out and say it.

Rick: Very well. Sally thinks if I pretend to be interested in her, then Ethel Mae will take more of an interest in me.

Ruth: Do you doubt that Ethel Mae is interested in you?

Rick: I know she’s fond of me, but I’m not sure if she likes me the way I like her, you know?

Ruth: You want to be reassured that she’d like to marry you.

Rick: Pretty much.

Ruth: The problem with women is that they don’t often come out and say what they want. Sure, there are a few who will, like Emily Craftsman, but typically, unless you come out and ask, they aren’t going to tell you anything. And even then, some won’t.

Rick: That doesn’t make any sense. Why don’t they just come out and say what’s on their mind?

Ruth: Because that would make life too easy for men.

Rick: *sigh* So what you’re saying is that women enjoy making men wonder if they want to be courted or not?

Ruth: Some women. Besides, you have to understand that part of it is that women don’t want to look like fools. What if they laid it all out on the line and told the men what they wanted and he doesn’t return their feelings? Rejection is hard to take.

Rick: You think it’s easy for a man when he’s rejected?

Ruth: No one likes to be rejected. But let’s face it. Not everyone is going to be compatible. If the spark is there, it’s there. If not, it just isn’t. You can’t force these things.

Rick: You can in my book since you’re the author.

Ruth: *laughs* Oh Rick, if you understood how many of my characters give me problems and refuse to do things my way, you’d understand that I can’t just make Ethel Mae tell you what she thinks about you.

Rick: You created Ethel Mae. You’re typing out the story on your laptop. How can you not be in control?

Ruth: Writer’s block. If I oppose the characters, they won’t show up to work, so to speak. But you know, you’re doing great so far. I’m happy with how the book is going.

Rick: I’d feel a lot better about the book if I knew who the “Her” is in “Her Heart’s Desire”. Are you referring to Ethel Mae?

Ruth: I can’t tell you that.

Rick: Why not?

Ruth: Because as an author, it’s a bad idea to give too much away to the character who’s supposed to be oblivious to certain plot elements.

Rick: So what you’re saying is, I’m the schmuck who doesn’t know anything.

Ruth: No, I didn’t say that. I’m just saying that it’s crucial to the plot if you don’t find out about certain things until later in the story.

Rick: Hmm… How much later?

Ruth: I’m not sure. I’m thinking you connect the dots around 25,000 to 30,000 words. We’re at 9200 right now and the plot has just been established.

Rick: What plot is that, exactly?

Ruth: Getting you married off, of course! You’re the hero, so you’re going to be the one who wins the girl.

Rick: Right. Except you aren’t assuring me the girl is Ethel Mae.

Ruth: You’ll have to keep showing up in the book to find out, but even if I can’t explain everything to you at this stage of the game, I promise you’ll end up happy. It is, after all, a romance novel.

Rick: I’m not sure I like the sound of this. Why do I get the feeling that this story isn’t going to turn out the way I hope?

Ruth: Because life often doesn’t turn out the way you think it will. Very few of us can predict how things will play out. We just have to take it one day at a time and see where things go. That’s part of the adventure that is life. If we knew everything that happened before it did, there’d be no surprises.

Rick: Ah, but some surprises aren’t good ones.

Ruth: True. I’ll give you that. But you’re in a romance novel, so you’ll be fine.

Rick: I hope that means I end up with Ethel Mae.

Ruth: *shrugs* I’m not saying either way.

Rick: Did we get anything accomplished in this interview because it seems like we went in circles.

Ruth: We got to show people how little you really know about this book.

Rick: Yippee. *rolls eyes* I’m a main character, and I don’t know much about my own story. What a shining endorsement.

Ruth: Oh, relax. You’ll be okay. And to give you some hope, once you do figure out what’s going on, you’ll get to turn the tables on a certain character. You’ll gain the upper hand soon enough.

Rick: I guess I’ll have to take your word for it.

Ruth: It’ll be great. Trust me. I came up with the idea last night and couldn’t sleep for two hours because I was so excited about it. Well, I better run off. I have children to get to bed. Bye for now.

Photo credit:

Rick Johnson: ID 17788915 © Curaphotography | Dreamstime.com

***

Interview with Sally Larson and Ethel Mae Jordan

(Heroine and Friend of Heroine in Her Heart’s Desire)

(Blog post made on 09/24/2011)

Ruth Ann Nordin: Since I talked with Rick Johnson the other day, I thought it’d be fun to bring in Sally Larson and her friend, Ethel Mae Jordan. So Sally, what exactly is your plan to get Rick to end up marrying you instead of Ethel Mae?

Sally Larson: To be fair, it’s not just my plan. It’s something Ethel Mae and I are working on together. When she told me that she was afraid Rick wanted to court her, I thought I’d be with her to see what he was like.

Ruth: Did you think you’d like him?

Sally: No, not really. I figured there was a good reason she wasn’t interested in him.

Ruth: Do you still think that now?

Sally: No. Now I don’t understand why she’s not interested in him.

Ethel Mae: He’s not my type.

Ruth: Why not?

Ethel Mae: It’s hard to say why. I mean, he’s nice and attractive, but there’s no chemistry there.

Sally: There’s plenty of chemistry to me. Of course, the problem is convincing him he’s better off with me.

Ethel Mae: Well, I’ll do whatever I can to convince him of that.

Ruth: You could just tell him you’re not interested in him.

Ethel Mae: But I don’t know how to do that.

Ruth: It’s simple. You just say it. I bet Sally wouldn’t have trouble telling someone she wasn’t interested in him.

Ethel Mae: She probably wouldn’t. Sometimes I envy her ability to just come out and say what’s on her mind.

Sally: I don’t know. Sometimes it gets me in trouble.

Ethel Mae: And sometimes not speaking up can get you in trouble. There is no one way to handle things.

Sally: Very true.

Ruth: So what is your plan? How will you get Rick to shift his interest from one to the other?

Ethel Mae: Mainly, it involves Rick getting to spend time with Sally. I think he and Sally have more in common than he and I do.

Sally: Well, I don’t know him well enough to know that.

Ethel Mae: Trust me. You do.

Ruth: And part of this plan was to make up two other men that Ethel Mae is supposed to be interested in?

Ethel Mae: Actually, I’m supposed to be interested in Samuel, but there is supposed to be someone else named Larry who was talking to Sally about making me jealous by spending time with her. Samuel is the one I’m “interested in” because he’s busy spending time with Miss Keating.

Ruth: Did you make her up, too?

Ethel Mae: Of course. I don’t want any of this coming back to us.

Sally: Exactly. If she used real people, then someone might find out and blab it, and who knows if that person would accuse us of spreading lies about them? This way is much cleaner.

Ruth: You do realize that men with the names Samuel and Larry do exist right there in Omaha, don’t you?

Sally: That’s a moot point.

Ruth: Is it?

Ethel Mae: Yes, it is. We never used full names, so it could be about anyone named Larry or Samuel or even Miss Keating.

Ruth: I don’t know, guys. I mean, things have a weird way of trickling into a story.

Sally: I doubt anyone with the names Samuel, Larry, or Miss Keating will assume we are talking about them, specifically. Samuel and Larry have no last names, and Miss Keating has no first name. Besides, this is just something we’re having Ethel Mae’s sister tell Rick. It doesn’t go beyond that. There’s no harm done.

Ruth: I didn’t say there would be harm done. I’m just saying someone with one of those names might actually show up. And who knows if Rick, who doesn’t know about your plan, will run into him/her. You never know what one tiny lie you told Vivian to tell Rick will pop back up at the most inopportune time. For those of you who don’t know, Vivian is Ethel Mae’s ten-year-old sister, and as a last minute thought, I think we’ll bring her in. Hi, Vivian.

Ethel Mae: What are you wearing?

Vivian: Ruth said I could wear modern clothes in the interview.

Sally: We can do that?

Vivian: Sure. This isn’t the story. It’s just an interview. April Larson was doing it. In fact, none of her pictures in the interviews have her wearing ladies’ historical western United States clothes.

Ruth: I figure the interviews take place in the 21st century, so clothing is fair game. But that’s not important.

Ethel Mae: It is to someone who gets uptight about historical accuracy.

Sally: Yeah, I hope they don’t rate the book based on the interviews. Unlike Joel, I don’t want to petition readers to give this book a 1-star review. This features me and my friends.

Ruth: And your family.

Sally: Well, yes, to a point.

Ruth: What? You don’t like that?

Sally: I just know Tom and Joel are going to do something to embarrass me when Rick is at my house. They might be eight years apart, but they are close. It’s spooky how much they work together to make me miserable.

Vivian: You want to hear about being miserable? After I told Rick no boy better kiss me or else I’d slap him silly, Ruth went ahead and had that horrible Hugh try to kiss me. I beat him to it, though, and gave him one right across the face.

Ethel Mae: A kiss?

Vivian: No! A slap. I just know Ruth did it on purpose.

Ruth: *laughs* Yes, I did. I couldn’t resist. Besides, it’ll be even funnier when you marry Hugh.

Vivian: I’m going to what?!

Ethel Mae: You’ve already decided to write a romance featuring Vivian? What about me? Don’t I get to find my hero?

Ruth: Yes. I already thought of that.

Ethel Mae: Who is he?

Ruth: I’m not going to say, or it’ll spoil the surprise. But I’ll give you a hint. We’ve mentioned his name, and Rick will indirectly lead him to you.

Vivian: Never mind all that. Ruth, I don’t want to get married. Ever. Boys are gross.

Ruth: It’s in the nature of boys to be gross. That’s just how they are. I have some of my own, so I know all about it.

Vivian: But Hugh makes farting sounds with his armpit, and he thinks it’s funny.

Sally: They can be worse than that, Vivian, especially when they’re your little brothers.

Ruth: Think of it this way. Boys grow up and leave those disgusting things behind…or at least most of them do.

Sally: I doubt Rick was ever like that.

Ruth: See, Vivian? They grow up and women assume they were never gross. So, you’ll be fine.

Vivian: No, I won’t. I won’t marry him.

Ruth: Joel said he didn’t want to be married, and look at him now. He’s married and even went “surfing” on the beach so he could spend time with April.

Vivian: Why is surfing in quotes?

Ruth: You’ll understand that one when you’re an adult. Well, this interview is long enough, so I’ll get back to writing. Thanks for coming in, everyone.

Photo credits:

Sally Larson: ID 11768239 © Syda Productions | Dreamstime.com

Ethel Mae: ID 11020543 © Candybox Images | Dreamstime.com

Vivian: ID 16570332 © Elena Rostunova | Dreamstime.com

***

Interview with Rick Johnson (Hero in Her Heart’s Desire)

….With a Surprise Guest *wink*

(Blog post made on 11/9/2011)

Ruth: At long last I am finally able to interview Rick Johnson. Hiya, Rick! Thanks for being patient with me as I made posts to update what’s going on with my books–those about ready for publication and those I’m writing the first drafts on.

Rick: You still need to update the Goals for 2012 page.

Ruth: Oh yes. I will do that after I finish with this interview.

Rick: I notice my book’s publication date has been moved to May 1 instead of March 1.

Ruth: Well, yes. Dave and Mary are rather persistent, especially Dave, who made a deal with me that he’d finish up Isaac’s Decision to my liking if I put in more than two bedroom scenes for him and Mary in To Have and To Hold. He’s a tough negotiator.

Rick: Too bad I wasn’t in Isaac’s Decision long enough to give you a hard time. Otherwise, my book would still be in the March time slot.

Ruth: *shrugs* It wasn’t intentional, Rick. It just sort of happened. I’ve worked with Dave and Mary before in Eye of the Beholder. I know them better than I know you.

Rick: Well, you certainly give lots of scenes to Sally. In fact, it seems like she’s popping up in every single book you write for the Nebraska series.

Ruth: That’s not true. She wasn’t in A Bride for Tom, A Husband for Margaret, or His Redeeming Bride. Besides, I don’t see what you’re complaining about. Since you’re married to her, you usually tag along.

Rick: Well, that’s just it, isn’t it? All I ever do it tag along. It’s like I’m only around because I married her. I’m like “the man behind the woman”. I’m an afterthought.

Ruth: That isn’t true. You have your own book.

Rick: Where you make me look like a fool. I mean, seriously? Ethel Mae doesn’t want to be with me, which I’m too dumb to see. So they have Sally make up this stupid plan where she talks me into pretending to like her in order to make Ethel Mae jealous. That is so lame. It’s the weakest plot I’ve ever seen you write. An Inconvenient Marriage might be horrifying because of your glaring historical inaccuracies, but at least you had a good plot, even if it was ridiculous that the hero didn’t know how to ride a horse. *rolls eyes*

Ruth: I didn’t know you read my other books.

Rick: Well, I had my assistant read it and tell me what happened. Romances aren’t my thing. No offense.

Ruth: Is it painful for you to be in a romance book when you don’t like them?

Rick: I’d rather be reading law books.

Ruth: Would you rather be living in a book more in line with what a man would want to read?

Rick: Goodness no. That would put me in some weird thriller where you’d probably mark me as the serial killer out of spite. On top of that, you’d probably get the laws and police procedures wrong. I mean, if you think women wore as many clothes as Mary does from all the sewing she does and that men concerned themselves with women’s feelings all the time when it wasn’t cool to be ‘sensitive’, then I can only imagine how you’d butcher a thriller.

Ruth: Rick, there’s something you don’t understand. Romance is a fantasy. It’s about two people finding each other and falling in love despite the obstacles–

Rick: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatever. I have nothing against fantasy, but let a bit of realism slip into the plot from time to time, okay?

Ruth: Well, I could have you botch up your chances of having sex on your wedding night because of a joke you think will be funny, and Sally’s response will be realistic enough to send you to the couch.

Rick: How is that romantic?

Ruth: It’s not, but you have this crazy notion that you shouldn’t be in tune with her feelings since being ‘sensitive’ is so ‘future’. You’re the one who goofs up, and since you don’t understand the very nature of romance, I think you’ll totally blow your chances.

Rick: We’ll see. If Sally is that much in love with me, she’ll have sex with me on our wedding night.

Ruth: You’re so cute. Keep thinking that, pal. We’ll see whether you can pull it off or not because no matter what the time period, women don’t want to be played for a fool.

Rick: Who’s fooling who? I just found out Ethel Mae, her sister Vivian, and Sally have been lying to me about Samuel Dixon, who is supposed to be the man Ethel Mae can’t resist. But he doesn’t even exist.

Samuel: Finally! I was wondering when you two would stop bickering so I could make my grand entrance.

Rick: Who are you?

Samuel: Allow me to introduce myself. I am Samuel Dixon, and I assure you, Rick, that I do exist.

Ruth: What? For real?

Rick: As if you didn’t know, Ruth!

Ruth: Hey, I’m just as blown away as you are, Rick. I never intended to bring in Samuel when I started the book.

Samuel: I decided to pop in. The plot needed a neat twist, don’t you think?

Rick: No, I don’t think it did. Just what kind of character are you anyway? You’re walking around in sunglasses in a suit without shoes on and… Don’t tell me you’re missing a shirt!

Samuel: I have a shirt. It just isn’t buttoned up like yours. I’m not uptight like you are.

Rick: Uptight? I’m not uptight.

Samuel: As if! It wouldn’t kill you to relax and enjoy the story as it plays out.

Ruth: Samuel, I like you already.

Samuel: Yes, I like myself, too.

Rick: Why am I not surprised?

Samuel: I almost feel sorry for you, Rick. Here you are, stressing out over the small stuff when the world has so much fun to offer. Just let it roll off your back. So what if the ladies lied? We all know you’re going to end up with Sally since you’re married to her in the other Nebraska books. Obviously, Ethel Mae can’t be interested in you.

Rick: And she’s interested in you?

Samuel: She doesn’t even know I exist, so how can she? *grins wickedly* At least, she doesn’t know me yet.

Rick: Figures. I get stuck in a lame book with a conceited jerk who thinks he’s so great in his “relaxed” attire.

Samuel: I’m having fun. For your information, I’m on my way to California. I’m going to start a chain of hotels out there. Watch out, Bill Gates. Here I come!

Rick: Bill Gates wasn’t alive in 1868, and he doesn’t manage hotels.

Samuel: Oh. Well, then watch out Henry Ford!

Rick: Think earlier in history.

Samuel: Did they have movies back then? You know, the ones without sound?

Rick: I am so screwed. I am the hero in a book written by an inept author who thinks she’s clever by creating Samuel who doesn’t even know how to put his shoes on or button his shirt. I’m going to be the laughingstock of all romance heroes everywhere.

Ruth: Oh Rick, the point to this book is for Sally to get her romance. When I think of it, you really are an “in the shadows” kind of character. I mean, you’re there, but you play no significant role.

Rick: I’ve had enough. Bring me in again for another interview, and I just might have you arrested and brought to court. I’m a judge and can lock you away forever.

Ruth: I think they have computer access in prison, so I could still write books.

Rick: Not in my time they don’t! And you better not add that Sally’s going to vote for a president or something because women didn’t vote back then either.

Ruth: Well, Rick. Who knew you had it in you to be so feisty? I love characters with attitude.

Rick: *grumbles and leaves*

Samuel: I think I’ll pay Ethel Mae a visit. Who knows? She might be a looker. *takes off in his Mustang*

Ruth: Hmm… I hope he doesn’t drive up to her house in that thing. I’m sure I told him to walk in the book synopsis I gave him.

Photo credits:

***

A Conversation With Sally Larson and Rick Johnson

(Heroine and Hero in Her Heart’s Desire)

(Posted on 02/03/2012)

Well, everything in Her Heart’s Desire was going along just fine, and I’m at the part where Rick is about to surprise Sally. The problem? I don’t know what to do after that. I don’t want to end the book below the 65,000-word mark. Currently, I’m a little over 38,000 words. I can get to 40,000 words without any problem, but after that, my mind is going to draw a blank. I have two options. I can go back and see if anything can be filled in or, and this is why I brought these wayward characters in, figure something out to reach the 65,000-word goal. So today, I’m bringing them in for an interview to see if we can get something going.

Sally: Hey there, Ruth. You caught me at a good time. I just finished a fun-filled day of shopping. Look, you shouldn’t be stressing out over what will happen. Haven’t you been writing enough stories by now to know that the characters have a way of letting you know what to do when you get the next scene?

Ruth: Usually, the characters have enough consideration to tell me what they want to happen further out than a chapter in advance.

Sally: But if Rick and I told you everything ahead of time, where would the fun be? You always say you write by the seat of your pants. You never outline, you never map out plots, or work on character backgrounds ahead of time. You never even have more than a one-sentence summary of the book before you dive right into it. You should be used to this spontaneous stuff by now.

Ruth: I can’t outline or do plot points because the characters always change the story on me. Usually by chapter 3, the book looks nothing like what I originally planned. As for mapping out characters, you guys evolve in ways I never anticipate.

Sally: Then it seems that you shouldn’t be complaining. Just write, and I’ll tell you what to do next.

Rick: You meant to include me, too, right Sally?

Sally: What?

Rick: When you said, “Just write, and I’ll tell you what to do next,” you meant, “Just write, and Rick and I’ll tell you what to do next.”

Sally: Oh, well, okay. Sure.

Rick: Sally.

Sally: I mean both of us. This is our book. Not only mine.

Rick: Hmmm…

Ruth: Rick, something you should learn about women is that they often let the man think they came up with an idea. So basically, your job is to do what Sally wants, but you’re supposed to think it’s your idea, if that makes sense. It’s called female logic.

Sally: Ruth, it’s rude of you to suggest I’d manipulate Rick like that. Just for that, I’m returning the gift I bought you.

Ruth: You’re a fictional character, Sally. You didn’t buy anything I can actually use.

Rick: And where did you get this money to go shopping? You’re a farmer’s daughter. Aren’t you too poor to be buying all that stuff?

Sally: But I’m going to marry you, and you have enough.

Rick: How are you spending my money?

Sally: It’s called credit. Don’t worry. I told them to charge your account.

Rick: You what!

Sally: Oh come on, Rick. Would you really have me going around town as a judge’s wife in the worn-out dresses I had to wear on the farm? People are likely to think you don’t take good care of me. I have to dress nicer now that I married up. I’m really doing this for you. People will think you’re an awesome man because you take such good care of your wife.

Rick: Well, maybe…

Sally: Not maybe. Definitely. I’m doing this for you, sweetie. I want people to know how wonderful you are.

Rick: *blushes* That’s thoughtful of you.

Sally: You’re welcome. I’ll do anything for you.

Ruth: You’re right, Sally. You don’t manipulate Rick at all. *rolls eyes*

Rick: She doesn’t manipulate everything. I have a trick or two up my sleeve that will catch her off guard.

Sally: *raises eyebrow* Oh?

Rick: I’m not at liberty to say what I’m going to do.

Ruth: I already know what you’re going to do, but depending on how Sally will react to it, I have no idea if the story can keep going or not, so I hope you have a plan for whether she’s happy with you or not.

Rick: I can’t predict how she’s going to react, so no, I don’t have a plan.

Ruth: You need to think of what you’ll do in either scenario. What will you do if she’s happy? What will you do if she’s pissed off?

Rick: I just figured she’d be happy since she’s been in love with me from page 1.

Sally: *gasps* Ruth, I can’t believe you told him!

Ruth: Don’t blame me, Sally. I didn’t tell him anything.

Rick: Ruth’s right. She didn’t tell me.

Sally: Then who did?

Rick: Sorry. My lips are sealed. I can’t tell you.

Sally: I don’t know if I like this side of you, Rick. Here I thought we had a relationship built on communication and transparency.

Ruth: In other words, you thought you had to know everything Rick was thinking and doing while he didn’t have to know what you were thinking and doing.

Sally: I believe you finished up your word count today for Her Heart’s Desire. It’s 9pm. I think it’s time you did your word counts for Mitch’s Win and Bound by Honor Bound by Love.

Ruth: You’d better figure out what to do in the story, Sally. I’ve got at least 25,000 more words to write. I can’t do any more novellas. I need it to be a full-length novel.

Sally: Stop stressing and get out of here.

Ruth: *sigh* If you can’t give me something, then I’m putting your story on hold until I come up with something good. And please, Rick, come up with a plan on what you’ll do if she’s happy or unhappy with you after you pull your big stunt.

Sally: What stunt?

Rick: You’ll find out when Ruth writes it.

Sally: Ruth?

Ruth: Sorry. Off to log in my word counts on the other two books I’m working on. *scurries off*

Photo credits: