I wish I was a better hiker, one that went more often and was in better shape, like Elle is in the story. I began thinking about Elle as a character, and wondered what her reaction would be if she had to, kind of, be a tour guide for a man that wasn’t as used to being in the mountains. 
Then, I remembered a scene from my own childhood, when I was about 3 or 4, hiking with my father when we came upon a mountain lion. When my dad tells the story, he usually points out all the wrinkles he now has and blames most of them on that day. Being an Army medic fresh back from Vietnam, he went right into soldier mode, picked me up, and we hightailed it out of the enemy’s vicinity. In hindsight, running from a predator isn’t the best thing to do. But, we’re still here, intact. The cat didn’t chase us. Funny enough, the only thing I remember of the incident was thinking “Oooo, pretty kitty”.
Thus, the opening scene of my book was born that day, hiking the Bristlecone Trail, and everything else was the character’s faults. They took the reins, which was fine by me. I provided their setting.
Come to think of it… it’s time to go on another hike!
Steele and Stone
Daring Hearts Series
Book One
Kay Phoenix
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Date of Publication: November 2, 2016
ASIN: B01LYUQ75N
Number of pages: 170
Word Count: 41,140
Book Description:
Elle Thompson was raised in Denver. She paints. She hikes. She knows how to avoid cougar attacks.
The only cougars Michael Williams usually worries about are the ones that wear leopard print leggings on 5th Avenue.
But, when his acquisition firm sets its sights on Elle's family business, his tidy life goes awry. As things unravel, so do all his preconceived notions of love and what makes a perfect partner.
Excerpt:
Michael Williams
was a soft city boy, and she was willing to bet he not only indulged in regular
manicures but perhaps even enjoyed the occasional facial. She wondered whether
he had rolled up his sleeves for fear of getting his expensive, white, designer
dress shirt dirty with barbecue sauce. He probably wore designer underwear as
well.
Boxers or
briefs? Her gaze traveled south. Briefs, probably. Expensive white designer
briefs. Tighty whities.
He was
definitely not her type.
She smirked as
her gaze traveled back up to his eyes. They were staring back into hers.
Caught
red-handed! Her smirk faded and her cheeks reddened. She grabbed at a strand of
hair to twirl in her fingers and pretended to be interested in a framed
painting of a pig in an apron that was hung behind his left shoulder.
Something primal
lurked below the surface of his gaze, and it drew her back in. It was as if she
stared into the eyes of a caged animal set to pounce. Not one that had been
born in a zoo, but one that had been captured in the wild and placed in
captivity. Perhaps he hadn’t always been a city boy?
About the Author:
Ms. Phoenix is a rare bird herself, a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. She belongs to Las Vegas Romance Writers and serves on the board.
Prior to writing, Kay was a Graphic Artist for fifteen years in the casino industry and holds degrees in both Graphic Arts and Psychology. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, camping and photography. Her art and photography are displayed in Las Vegas art galleries several times a year.
Kay writes in the contemporary and paranormal romance categories, as well as non-fiction articles.
Please visit her website at www.KayPhoenix.com
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