Titles-- I got titles

This isn't a book excerpt, but I am happy about it; so wanted to post it here. I have titles, finally that fit the fifth, sixth and seventh Arizona historicals (one yet to be written).

These three books are all about the Taggert family and in particular, three brothers. The one where I had the excerpt Tuesday will now be Echoes from the Past. It happens there are quite a few books called that already out, but it suits this book so well. It will be Echoes from the Past: Book 5 Arizona Historicals-- the Taggerts.

Its story is about how the past impacts our present even when it might not be real. There were a few variations that I could have used, but I like that one best. It does deal with reincarnation but also how our own life sometimes is changed by what already went by. There are times to let some ways of thinking go. Let go of those echoes and live fully where we are. Of course, it's a love story and where better to illustrate how the past can tarnish the present.

The next, due out November 5th, will be Lands of Fire: Book 6 Arizona Historicals-- the Taggerts and the third, yet to be written will be Bound for the Hills: Book 7 Arizona Historicals-- the Taggerts. I will aim it for February 5, 2016

If you've never had to title a work, you won't probably understand how good getting these three made me feel. If you have, whether it's a painting, a business or a photograph, you will get it. I have gone to sleep trying to think of titles, awakened with the same quest. I began to look at song lyrics, anything to give me ideas that would depict the meaning in the stories. When I got the titles, it felt as good as when I finish the last edit on a book.

excerpt from Aztec Moon (tentative title)

This week-end, I finished editing a romance that is scheduled to be out in August. It will be the fifth in the Arizona historicals and has some previous characters returning. In Rose's Gift, Ollie Oliver is presented as a tough man; but there, he shows his softer side as he courts Rose. Not so much here as he's worried about the man he regards as a son. Connie and Del Sicilla have been in my short story and other books.  

This will also introduce a new old-timer, Jeremiah, the patriarch of the Taggerts, a family that has often operated on the edge of the law-- or further over. Jeremiah proved so interesting to me that he got a point of view (that made for three with the hero and heroine each having one). I do like writing these tough old galoots ;). Of course, nowadays, they are not all that old to me.

As a work, for which I'll be doing one more edit, this might change some before it reaches actual publication. The title is my biggest question mark. There will be three books about the Taggert brothers (first time I've done a brother series), and although they share characters with the first books, they do have a new family at their center-- and in that sense, are a series of their own. I'd love to have three titles that work together. Aztec Moon was to be the first (this one) but the second didn't have something that fit with it. The third, coming together but yet to be written, doesn't have a title. So title is still in flux for this first of the Taggert romances. I might yet get some brilliant insight that pulls all three together.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

     The store had been left unlocked, and they walked in only to see Sicilla leaning against a counter and an older balding man beside him. A trap?

     “Jeremiah Taggert meet Ollie Oliver.”

     “Do I know you?” Jeremiah asked as he moved forward. He hadn’t checked the load in his gun. He hoped that wasn’t a fatal mistake.

     “Not direct,” Oliver said. “We might’ve crossed paths a time or two.”

     “Don’t keep me guessing.”

     “Would you gentlemen like some coffee?” a woman’s voice asked from the other side of the store. Jeremiah turned to see a beautiful woman standing at the door to what must have been a back room, perhaps even living quarters.

     “That would be very nice,” he said putting on his most mannerly voice. He needed to figure out what the hell this deal was.

     A few moments later, they were all seated at the table with coffee. “This is my wife, Mr. Taggert,” Del said. “I already told Connie who you were.”

     “How do you do, Mrs. Sicilla.”

     “Please, Connie.”

     He smiled. She was not only beautiful but had the way about her that ladies had. He always appreciated a beautiful lady. “So why did you invite Mr. Oliver to join us?” he asked then turning back to Sicilla.

     “This here is Sam Ryker’s mother.”

     Jeremiah managed to avoid a double take. “I take it you mean figuratively, he said taking another look at the older man. He had a tough look about him, and he had not missed the way he was wearing his gun tied down. Interesting situation.

     “It ain’t figurative, you sidewinder,” Oliver snarled.

     “All right, gentlemen, may we start over?” Connie put out her hands for peace. “I think we are facing a mutual problem. I would like it if you would give Mr. Taggert an opportunity to speak his piece.” She gave Oliver that look which caused him to subside, but his eyes remained cold as he watched Jeremiah.

     Jeremiah considered what he should say. Only the truth would do. “I made a mistake. A big one. I accepted a deal from someone who came to my ranch out of Vernal. He wanted Sam Ryker dead.” At the angry grunt from Oliver, he put out his hands, palms up. “I said it was a mistake. Ryker had been a gunman and outlaw. I thought he still was.” A minor lie. He actually had had no idea what the man had been today. He hadn’t cared.

     “Save the smooth talk,” Oliver said. “We know about the agreement. Why are you here now? To finish it? And where the hell is your other son?”

     This was a sharp old-timer, maybe as sharp as he was. Jeremiah smiled, admiringly, even though he realized this was still a delicate situation. “That is where my problem begins. Asa, along with two of my men, went north to kill Ryker.”

 image from CanStock

nature is beautiful but also has its risks

 The places where I set Where Dreams Go are all those where I've been and spent time. Even today some of these places have dangers especially when crossing rock slides.

~~~~~

    When they reached the slide, he studied it tensely, trying to decide if there'd been more rock fall since they'd come across two days earlier. From all he could remember, there was no good way around this point. If it was a big storm coming, the situation wouldn't get better.

    "Look at the loose rock," he said, pointing out the bad spots. "When we go across, take it easy on your horse. In fact..." He dismounted. "You ride Joe across."

    "But why?"

    "I trust him more than your mare."

    "But..."

    "Quit butting me, Martha," he snapped, reaching up and lifting her from her mare. "Trust me."

    She shook her head angrily. "I don't have much choice."

    "You're right about that." He helped her up into Joe's saddle. "Let Joe pick the footing."

    "Aren't you going to lead?"

    He shook his head, not wanting to explain that the first animal across would be safest. If more rock was going to be dislodged by their passage, he didn't want her behind him.

    Mounted on Martha's mare, he was glad he'd made the change, as the horse seemed determined to trip her way across the rock. They were two-thirds of the way across when he saw the mountain start to move above him.

    "Ride," he yelled at Martha, slapping Joe on the rump. There was no point in taking their time now. The faster they got across the better. Joe moved with all the agility for which Adam had purchased him, carrying her onto solid ground.

    When the ground slid out from under his own horse, Adam jumped, trying to free the horse and himself to make it to the safety. Hitting hard, he felt something give painfully in his left shoulder as he began sliding with the rock, tumbling down the hill. Somewhere in the distance, he heard Martha scream, but he could do nothing except reach out, trying to grab onto something solid, something that would stop his downward momentum. Rock, moving faster than he was, bounced off him painfully; until one struck him in the head. A savage jolt of pain was the last he knew.