Bone Frogs Are Back In Town!

Sharon Hamilton here. It's been awhile, and I miss you guys!

The Bone Frog logo is sacred to SEALs because it signifies SEALs passed. A good tattoo artist won't do a Bone Frog tat on someone unless they know for sure they are either in the community, or have lost someone close to them, usually a brother, father, son, etc.

I've twisted this a bit to mean "older guys".  I started using the term Bone Frog when I had my Bachelor SEALs series back in 2017 and 2018. Since they were mostly guys who had failed marriages, and were failing in other ways as well. They had money problems, suffered from lack of quality women in their lives and had questionable lifestyles. I called their little "support group" which met at one of the local Coronado pubs, "Bonefrog Brotherhood."

Only guys who were divorced, or getting divorced or on their multiple wives got to join. Of course, there were those who thought they might wind up there and came along for the support! A SEAL always has to be planning for his next move, right?

I've just released the third book in my Bone Frog Brotherhood series, SEALed Forever. It traces the story of a former SEAL, who, at forty, re-qualifies a second time for another enlistment. He's already been a medic for the first ten years, but after ten years of being out, he wants back into the Brotherhood. Over the series he meets his plus-sized heroine, Brandy (Tucker is a big man with a gentle heart), and together they fall in love, get married and now deal with his first re-tread deployment to Northwest Africa, Nigeria, to be exact.

With the backdrop of the old Slave Coast history, which almost becomes a dangerous character in my book, the men go on a mission to look for a sex trafficking and gun-running ring. The mission will continue in Book 4, due out in June, in SEAL's Rescue.

We're working on the audio now, but the digital book, and print versions are both out now. You can preorder SEAL's Rescue.

Do You Love Series?

Anthology or Series? This was one I participated in from 2015. Short run but very successful.

Sharon Hamilton here. I have a question for you. We'd love to hear from you, both as a reader and as a writer.

WHAT MAKES A GREAT SERIES?

Do you love to binge read? Are you a series lover? I know I am. So, in your opinion, what makes a great series? What is it that makes you pick up that Book 1 and go non-stop until you finish them all?

If I love the author's voice, I can binge read for two days straight. In the case of an anthology, again, I remember that this is a smorgasboard of tastes and styles, and I may not love every one of them, but I usually find several that are worth my time and money. As an author, it's a great way to get discovered, especially when your genre or your pen name is new. As a reader, it's an inexpensive way to find new authors you can then go on to follow, especially if the work is new.

Here are some elements I think a great series should contain. But we'd love to hear what you think.

1. Either the same character is the hero throughout the whole series, or is in every book in the series, sometimes the hero changing per book. And, you can bundle them for an additional way to release to the readers. The files are big, but we love our super readers, don't we? Audio bundles sell the best in my book.

2. There is a common theme, such as "Bad Boys" or "Bachelors", but the mini-series is part of an overall arc within the author's genre. Sometimes some characters appear more often. Many times, these are the ones readers like, and have told the author about why they wanted to see them again.

3. Without doing cliffhangers (some authors do this successfully), at the end of the first book, you are compelled to read the second one. Each book sells and draws traffic to the other books in the series. In the case of a multi-author series like the one below, the call to action is different for each book, but the setup is the same, so readers get to see how the new author in the series will handle the call.

New multi-author series starting 1/15/19

4.  Creates reader engagement. Don't you love seeing your favorite characters on TV? Aren't you sad when the series is over? Look at the success of the Outlander books - all over 1000 pages long! Something that was said couldn't be done! But we can't get enough of Jamie and Claire, can we?

So what about you? If you are a reader and have questions, either I or one of my RB4U sisters will be happy to chime in. This post is for everyone. What do you love about series? Why? What is it that you look for in a good series, say, with a new author?

And for authors, do you keep a series Bible like I do? How do you keep track of all the kids, eye colors, wedding dates and names of parents and exes? What do you love about doing a series, either multi-author or a set of your own?

Thank you again for showing up today. We'd really love to hear from all of you, authors and readers alike!

Loving My Bone Frogs

Launching May 1

By Sharon Hamilton

I've gotten a lot of feedback that readers love older guys (silver-haired guys, guys not in their 20's). And the girls that are not Barbie Dolls.

When I first started out writing my SEAL Brotherhood Series some 7 years ago, I used to write a novella, and then follow it up with a full length novel later on. It helped to flesh out the couple beforehand, and then have them progress in a later book. I really got the chemistry right that way.

I took a detour for several years, starting new series in my larger SEAL Brotherhood Series, creating the Band of Bachelors, Bad Boys of SEAL Team 3, and Nashville SEAL, Fredo Series and the True Navy Blue series. This way I got to incorporate all the other secondary characters. But all my books are mostly on SEAL Team 3, active duty guys.

This is the first time I've written an older SEAL who wants to re-join his comrades. And this actually happens on SEAL Teams, too. I spent part of my Monday with my buddy Mike, who owns a tattoo parlour in San Diego, down the range from Coronado, and who ran 10 years with the Teams in Vietnam, then did a stint with bikers and followed that up with another 10 years as a SEAL all over again.

My character in the May 1 release has followed a similar path, without the bikers in the middle. I explored his character and the chemistry with him and his lady, Brandy, a plus-sized gal with long mahogany hair. Just so happens Tucker loves big-busted and big booty. Brandy has never had a serious relationship. Tucker, plain and simple, who at first looks like Shrek to Brandy, blooms under his touch.

I love stories like that. Sort of a Beauty and the Beast, except Belle is a plus-sized gal, and the Beast stays big and doesn't morph into a handsome prince. He always was the handsome prince.

Order Here

I wrote New Year's SEAL Dream in early January as a novella, introducing these two people. It didn't take long before I knew I'd be loving the full book I'm launching May l: SEALed At The Altar.

We all age and worry about being vital as we age. But something else happens as we run around caring for families, taking kids to soccer practice and ballet, while we're paying bills and looking for houses, or gardening. Perhaps we get worn down a little bit? We get tired as we age. That's only natural.

But for an adrenaline-junkie male, taking a break from the Teams, can be a very difficult experience. I've talked to former SEALs who readily admit they miss the Band of Brothers backing them up, jumping out of airplanes and doing things others cannot do. My hero has stayed fit and is in peak physical condition at 39 years of age. But he's never had a family. He's been damaged by a wife who left him for another Team Guy. That happens too, on the Teams.

I was gratified by the response to my two other releases this year, both with older heroes. What about you? Do you love older, silver-haired heroes?

And what do you think of my new tattoo? Next visit to FSG on Coronado I'm going to enhance it with hearts and flowers to give her a little glam. She has to compete with the hippy frog on my other shoulder, and that's just not fair!

Thanksgiving Menu - One new, One Old

Sharon Hamilton here.

I used to cook for 30-40 people every Thanksgiving. These days, our family is so scattered, we rarely do this, except for a big family gathering every 10 years or so. This year, we're going to my brother's house, but I'm making the turkey and the stuffing. I am also making Butternut Squash Soup, as soups are my specialty.

And then I was looking over some of my author friends' newsletters, and came up with a new cranberry sauce from Cat Johnson. I asked her permission to post it here. I finished making it today and boy is it yummy!!

So, from my household to yours, here are a couple of recipes that will enhance your Thanksgiving celebration. Love to all of you and may your families be safe, wherever they are. This will be the first time ever all 4 kids and their spouses, and all 6 grandkids will be here for Thanksgiving.

DRUNKEN CRANBERRY SAUCE

3# Fresh Cranberries (whole)

1 1/2 cups bourbon

1/2 cup orange juice

2 cups brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. cloves

1/2 tsp. allspice

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Grated orange peel from one fresh medium orange

Rinse and pick through cranberries, discarding any berries that are split, soft or discolored.

Put cranberries into a medium bowl and cover with 1 1/2 cups bourbon and 1/2 cup of orange juice. Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.

THE NEXT DAY...

Pour the marinated cranberries and all liquid into a medium saucepan and add all remaining ingredients.

Bring just to a slow boil, and then lower heat.

Simmer until mixture reduces and gels (about a half our), while stirring occasionally.

Cool and serve.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP

One large butternut squash

2 cups 1/2 and 1/2

1 cardboard carton Turkey Broth (large) or Vegetable Broth

1/2 cup butter

2 T flour

2 heavy shakes Nutmeg

2 heavy shakes Cinnamon

1/2 cup dry Sherry or Bourbon

(optional) large can peach or apricot halves

Pink Himalayan Sea Salt

Halve the butternut squash, remove seeds. Place on cookie sheet, baste with butter, lightly salt,  and bake @ 400 for 45 mins.

When cooked tender (should be like mashed potatoes), remove the yellow meat, place into blender. Discard rind.

Add Turkey or Vegetable broth, 1/2 and 1/2, flour and optional peaches or apricots, blend until smooth and creamy. Sometimes you have to split the liquid and the squash ingredients into 1/2 if your blender is small. Idea is to have a fully blended soup mix after blending. No lumps!

Return mixture to large soup pan, heat until begins to thicken, adding one cube butter. You can add more 1/2 and 1/2, or broth if you want it thinner. Add salt, shakes of Cinnamon and Nutmeg to taste, and dry Sherry or Bourbon.

Serve with drizzle or dollop of Creme Fraiche, garnish rosemary and cranberry. Sprinkle with Pink sea salt.

This soup can be made ahead of time and is actually better the second day!  Enjoy!

Now all you need is my new book, Bachelor SEAL, which is available on all retailers.  This is Book 5 in the popular Sleeper SEALs Series built around the same theme. Enjoy!

Sleeper SEALs are former U.S. Navy SEALs recruited by a new CIA counter-terror division to conduct solo dark ops missions to combat terrorism on US soil.

Medically discharged from the Teams, notorious bachelor SEAL, Morgan Hansen, is approached to lead the biggest undercover operation of his career. For credibility, he is tasked with training and partnering with his ex, from a breakup that made news headlines and nearly ended is career.

Women’s empowerment guru, Halley Hansen, has built an empire around her live televised events and seminars. But her world-wide message for women has put her in the cross-hairs of some radical terrorist cells operating within the United States. The last person she wants to turn to or trusts is Morgan, her ex.

They bury their pain to work together for a cause bigger than the both of them. And if they don’t implode in the passion of their re-connection, they just might have a chance to save the women of the world.

Nashville But Definitely Not Naughty and Other Tales

Most of you know of my love for Nashville, and of course that wouldn't be complete without the story of my friendship with my narrator, Mr. J.D. Hart. He's "performed" all of my audio books, now nearing 30 in number.

J.D. and I kind of grew up together on the romance book narration collaboration. We'd not worked together before, I'd never created an audio book and J.D. had never narrated a romance book. His past as country-western recording artist, voiceover talent and actor made him a wonderful choice as a partner in this process - but I learned about all this after we got started.

Yes, you can say our friendship and collaboration was written in the stars.

We both come from different parts of the country - I knew nothing about Tennessee, or the music scene, what Being Southern was like, and he knew only a little about California from his travels here, and knew not much of my beloved Wine Country in Northern California.

Now, a trip to Nashville would not be complete without a wandering down Broadway, looking into the history of the area, and this visit, a visit to Franklin, Tennessee, where I hope to own a home some day. It's the kind of small town feel that I love.

I came out for the Naughty Nashville book signing, and J.D. sat with me during the event, also signing pictures and talking to readers about audio books and even singing with some ladies who knew more words to country music than I ever will know. J.D. knows all the oldies and, in my opinion, still sings professionally and could do so if he chose.

There is something about a place that has 8 kinds of biscuits, with 3 additional items, on their breakfast menu. Some of these would be a sacrilege in California. It's the kind of place where people look you in the eye, and money or wealth isn't readily displayed or even well thought-of. I can sit and eat a breakfast of cheese grits, pancakes, bacon and sausage, eggs and cold processed coffee, and of course biscuits, and actually feel good about myself! Had to buy the Tee shirt from Pucketts.

I wandered down Printer's Alley, found a neat bed and breakfast I'll try out next time, felt the ghosts of entertainment past. I didn't even mind my ears ringing from the evening before when J.D. and I did some tooling down Broadway. I sat under the picture of Crystal Gayle (my husband's buddies used to call me that when we were first married because I had long hair I could sit on), and sipped my fresh squeezed orange juice and listened to a great band at Tootsies at 9 AM. Now, that's living.

I've taken a little break this summer, so it's nice to get back to my heroes that haunt my fantasies and keep me warm with memories I'll have with me forever. But this trip was just as special as it usually is. And I get to spend time with my best friend.

When all is said and done, friendship is the most important gift I possess. Things come and go. But the gift of a connection to a new place, and a friendship borne of respect and admiration in all the right ways, is truly a miracle.

Oh yes, and here's the link the most recent novella we completed:  Love Me Tender, Love You Hard. Enjoy!

June 19 is a Big Day in our Family

Yesterday was quite a celebration, and I got off to a late start today. But, my garden is watered, since it will be another close to 100 degrees.

I wrote this for my FB post of today, and will embellish it:

46 years ago today. Honeymooned all summer camping from the UK, throughout Europe, Italy, Yugoslavia, along the Riviera to Barcelona, where this was taken. Came home in September for Sonoma State classes. Broke. 

We did it all on $900, including $400 for two new Mario Monte bicycles we had handmade for us in a little village near Milan. The most we ever paid for a campsite was $1.55 in Spain at a place that had 7 swimming pools. Traveled with two German guys, a South African couple, an Aussie couple, two Irish guys who had to go to mass every day, and a married couple from the Netherlands for a couple of those weeks. 

Slept in a field of sunflowers in France and never stayed in a hotel one time. Cooked all but 3 meals. Those were the days when Americans were not well liked because they were stoned, sitting in fountains all over the place. With our Dutch plates, we let people think we were from Holland. 

Met a group of Navy SEALs and their wives traveling by MC before their next big deployment. DejaVu for me. Little did I know, but I loved talking to them and knew there was a presence about them. My husband had to point out who they were and how special they were. 

How innocent the world seemed then, but with our whole lives ahead of us, so much was possible. And so much of those dreams were realized. Our oldest daughter turns 40 today, born on our anniversary, another blessing. 

The whole trip had lots of memories, like my husband eating tuna fish sandwiches in Spain while we were watching a bull fight (none of the rest of us could stomach anything), the adventures getting lost, which turned out to be the only bad part about the time overseas. We finally reached that point where we just wanted to drive around a corner and see something we expected to see.

Now, 46 years later, I have 4 children, 2 girls and 2 boys. I have five grands, with a 6th on the way in October. That will make 3 boys and 3 girls, of course. Everything in perfect balance!

When I look back on those early married days, what a foretelling it was to meet the SEALs and their wives on that trip. It shows me how life is full of circles, and we are turning and coming back to our places of origin every day, every minute of the day. The colors are brightened, and the texture richer and richer. The tapestry of our lives is where we get the best of our stories as writers. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Happy June 19 to you as well!

Have you gotten your piece of Paradise yet? Just out this week, PARADISE - In Search of Love. Enjoy!

Paradise: In Search of Love

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2rIs262
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2qcCkcU 
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2qOGMQV 
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2qHf2PD 
Amazon FR: http://amzn.to/2qckJSk 
Amazon DE: http://amzn.to/2rtUL1g 
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2rKSYS6 
iBooks: http://apple.co/2rL6aqc 
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2qcD7uo