Pets have always been a popular feature in romance and women’s fiction—dogs in
particular—but it’s much less common to have wild animals be a part of these
books. In BAY SONG, my
heroine, Holly, is a recluse who lives completely alone on the Chesapeake Bay on
the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She has a big wooded property, and her only
companions are the wild animals who live on her land, so the animals end up
being a big part of the book.
A couple of years ago, I moved to a small town in the country. It’s in the
mountains, surrounded by woods, so wild animals are really part of this town.
Deer come by at night and eat the apples that fall off my tree. Rabbits, birds,
squirrels, and chipmunks hang out on my patio. And I go by the pond a few time a
week to feed the ducks and geese that live there. There are mallards, Canadian
geese, and the occasional wood duck—plus the domesticated geese and ducks who
call the pond home, including one adorably ugly Muscovy duck who begs for food
just like a dog. I wrote BAY
SONG shortly after I moved to this town, and it was definitely inspired by
all the animals surrounding me here.
In BAY SONG, Holly walks
around her property every morning and checks on the animals who live there or
pass through. She loves the birds, the squirrels, the deer, and a fox who
follows her around. After she meets Cade, the hero, it’s a big deal when she
finally lets him join her on her morning walks with the animals.
Here’s a little snippet from that scene.
When they crossed the dunes, they got to the scraggly overgrowth. She paused to
show him a bird’s nest with four tiny eggs in it. She’d seen it a couple of days
ago and was careful not to get too close to it.
When they reached the edge of the woods, the fox made an appearance, but he
darted back into the trees almost immediately.
“Did you see that fox?” Cade asked, peering into the brush, trying to see into
the shadows.
“Yes. You scared him.”
“Why me? Maybe you scared him too.” He looked curious, not offended.
“No. He likes me. He always follows my walk, just behind.”
“Seriously?” Cade sounded genuinely interested and was still trying to see the
fox as they got closer. “He just follows you?”
“Yes. He likes me.”
Cade chuckled and reached over to give her a one-armed hug. “So you’re like
Cinderella or something?”
She frowned. She hadn’t seen any movies at all until she and her mother had
moved to Maryland, and then she’d devoured them for hours—a whole new form of
storytelling coming to life in front of her eyes. “No. The animals are just used
to me, so I don’t scare them. I think the fox is mostly curious. He never lets
me pet him or anything.”
“I bet it would,” Cade said, grinning at her warmly, “if you tried.”
“That would be stupid. You don’t pet foxes.”
He was still laughing as he followed her down the path through the trees. “Do
the birds come up and sing on your fingers?”
I’ve always been an animal lover, and it was really fun to write the wild
animals in BAY SONG. To
win a $10 Amazon gift card, tell me what some of your favorite animals in
books are?
Her mother used to say you can feel the truth in your throat. Maybe when
her story is finally told, she'll be able to breathe again.
For six years, Holly has lived a reclusive life--with the Chesapeake Bay, the
wild animals on her property, and dark memories as her only companions. Then she
meets Cade. He's smart and handsome and sensitive and sexy, and he simply will
not go away. He wants to know all about her, and Holly starts to wonder if she
can open up her heart again.
Cade comes back to his hometown for a break, barely holding on to the fraying
edges of his true-crime writing career. He needs to write another book, and it
needs to be a success. When he meets Holly, he knows there's a great story
hiding beneath her haunting beauty and her complete isolation. He's going to be
the one to tell that story.
Even if he breaks both of their hearts in the
process.
Noelle handwrote her first romance novel in a spiral-bound notebook when she
was twelve, and she hasn’t stopped writing since. She has lived in eight
different states and currently resides in Virginia, where she reads any book she
can get her hands on and offers tribute to a very spoiled cocker
spaniel.
She loves travel, art, history, and ice cream. After spending far
too many years of her life in graduate school, she has decided to reorient her
priorities and focus on writing contemporary romances.
Generally speaking, dogs, but I'm particularly fond of therapy animals, whether dogs, cats, horses etc.Animal Rescue themed stories are also a favorite of mine. (Kathleen Bylsma 12:10pm April 21, 2017)
I love dogs in books. But also the elephant in Water for Elephants is another favorite. (Pam Howell 5:33am April 21, 2017)
Dogs can add a lot of humor and warmth to a story. (Cheryl Castings 11:03am April 21, 2017)
I love animals and I have read some truly entertaining tales with them that add so much more to a story... some were dogs, cats and even a ferret! (Colleen Conklin 1:53pm April 21, 2017)
Dogs are my favorite animals since they are wise and sensitive. (Sharon Berger 2:07pm April 21, 2017)
I love dogs and wild animals such as wolves, racoons, rabbits, deer. (Piroska Blanchette 6:29pm April 21, 2017)
Golden retrievers. Love them to bits. (Elaine Seymour 8:41pm April 21, 2017)
The Dog in Nicholas Sparks' The Guardian. (Pat Lieberman 12:20pm April 22, 2017)
i love dogs and cats especially chihuahuas as that is what we have had for pets since we have been married! We live in a rural area so I love the wildlife that we see during the days deer,rabbits,wild cats and many other animals so those being in the book would be just like home. (Peggy Clayton 12:24pm April 22, 2017)
Cats are great in books because they are moody, so you can get a lot of humor from them. (Sharlene Wegner 5:13pm April 22, 2017)
I love horses in books! (H J 9:07pm April 23, 2017)
Thank you for your contests and great books! (Eileen Mauldin 6:07am April 24, 2017)
I love dogs and horses in the books - but the wild animals are so cool, too! (Felicia Ciaudelli 8:43am April 24, 2017)
I love all animals in books. (Deborah Dumm 11:57am April 24, 2017)
My favorite animals are usually dogs. Kristan Higgins does great dogs. I am actually a cat person so I also love the cat view point in the romance series by Anne Fraiser. (Phyllis Lamken 2:11pm April 24, 2017)
I liked how Sinjun the tiger added to the story in Kiss An Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I also like all of the dogs that Elizabeth Hoyt adds to her books. I love all animals, and I think it is great when writers incorporate them into their writing. (Lori Patterson 2:53pm April 24, 2017)
Dogs, especially puppies. I love watching them grow into their full size and capabilities. (Sandy Haber 3:54pm April 24, 2017)
I love dogs, cats and guinea pigs! Thanks for the chance to win! (Natasha Donohoo 7:54pm April 24, 2017)
I really love cats as mine loves a cuddle on my lap!! (Jean Benedict 1:19pm April 25, 2017)
My favorite animals are cats, dogs and horses, but I enjoy reading stories that include wildlife such as rabbits, squirrels, deer and wolves. (Anna Speed 1:43pm April 25, 2017)
Honestly, I love elephants. Any book with an elephant in it is OK by me. (Deb Philippon 4:29pm April 25, 2017)
I like all animals, but horses and cats are at the top of my list. (Deb Pelletier 9:38pm April 25, 2017)
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