Guest Author: Pamela S. Thibodeaux and My Heart Weeps

Promoting books often takes as much time as writing them. I’m extremely thankful for various groups in which the focus is helping each other reach readers. Pamela S. Thibodeaux is an extremely active member of Authors Helping Authors, or AHA. Her sweet romances are billed as “Inspirational With an Edge.” Recently, she announced the release of a somewhat autobiographical romance entitled My Heart Weeps, and I asked her to tell us about it. She happened to be setting up an extended blog tour, so I hopped on and reserved a spot. At the end of this post is her tour schedule, so you can follow her promo tour and learn more about her new release!

I specifically asked Pamela to answer some FAQs about her book – the details that everyone wants to know. So let’s see what she has to say!

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Written ten years after my husband died, My Heart Weeps parallels my own journey through this valley of death but also shows there is hope and LIFE on other side of grief. I remarked to a gentleman I’d met more than a year after my husband’s death how much I appreciated him. “I feel your love for me through every fiber of my being and my heart weeps because I’m just not ready….”

My very next thought was That sounds like the title of a book!

Here are some Fun (and not so fun) facts about My Heart Weeps:

My Heart Weeps parallels my journey through grief after my husband’s death in 2009. This book actually took about eight (8!) years to complete – it was just too up-close and personal to get through all at once. However, finishing this project seems to have broken the damn on my creativity. I’ve finished another long-awaited project since and am steadily working on another.

Yes, there really is a Utopia, TX! About 30 miles North/West of Bandera and as Melena works at the Crossed Penn Ranch in Utopia, I lived and worked at the Silver Spur Ranch in Bandera. SSR is not an “artists retreat” but a guest ranch. I worked in housekeeping and in the kitchen and even as a drag wrangler on trail rides.

The descriptions of the area are pretty accurate and drawn from memory. I’ve actually hiked in the Lost Maples Natural Area.

Deer are prominent in the Hill Country, especially rural areas like Bandera and Utopia. It is not unusual to see a huge herd in your yard. I’ve even seen children playing chase with them!

Horseback riding is one of my favorite things to do when possible. There really is nothing more soothing than the clip-clop of hooves on rock. Try it sometime!

Blurb: After thirty years married to the man of her dreams, Melena Rhyker is devastated by her husband’s death. Relief comes in the form of an artist’s retreat at the Crossed Penn ranch in Utopia, TX. She rediscovers a forgotten dream as her artistic talent flourishes into that of a gallery-worthy artist. Will she have the courage to follow the path she was destined to travel?

Garrett Saunders has been on the run most of his life. Abused and abandoned as a child, he escapes the clutches of a past filled with pain and shame, and hides from his calling as a Native American healer. His years as a CIA agent aid in overcoming his childhood and honing his talent and skill as a fine art photographer. 

Follow their journey as two people who come from totally different backgrounds, but share gifts of gigantic proportions, find meaning and purpose in the Texas Hill Country.

Excerpt:

Within moments after Anne left, Melena came in.

“Anne shouldn’t have bothered you.”

“Anne didn’t send me.”

“So why are you here?”

Had she not seen the devastation in his eyes and on his face earlier, Melena would have taken offense at his demeanor. “I wanted to see if you’re all right.”

“I’m not sure how I am right now.”

Concerned at the defeat in his tone, Melena placed her hand on his shoulder. “I know this isn’t the time or place to discuss what happened, but I hate to think of you up here all alone. I need to get back down to the show. Why don’t you come with me?”

“I’m sure my career is over.”

“I wouldn’t say that. There are more people down there who appreciate your work and are much more supportive of the artist they’ve come to know and love—despite never seeing you—than some strange man hell bent on starting a scene.”

“What about your children?”

“My children are among them.”

He turned to her then and her stomach clenched at the depth of shame, anger and sorrow in his expressive eyes. He removed her hand from his shoulder, closed the distance between them with a single step, and cradled her face in his hands. Melena leaned into him and lifted her face, anticipating his kiss. His lips trembled against hers, a soft brush of mouth on mouth as his hands trailed down her neck and shoulders then around her back to embrace her more fully.

Melena’s hands glided up his arms and around his neck, fingers dipped into the dark depths of thick hair caressing his collar, then eased back as he ended the kiss in slow degrees. He buried his face in her hair. A shudder shook his entire frame.

“Thank you.”

The ache in his voice fisted around her heart. Melena took a step back, held his hand in hers and together they went downstairs.

My Heart Weeps is on sale for a limited time @ 99cents and FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Purchase Link: https://bit.ly/MyHeartWeeps

Author bio: Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.” Sign up to receive Pam’s newsletter and get a FREE short story!

Links: Pamela can be found at her website and blog, and on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Amazon, Bookbub, and Instagram. You can sign up for her newsletter to learn more about her.

Pam is giving away 1 Ebook, 1 Autographed Print Book, 1 Audio Book, a $15 Amazon Gift Card, a 1-month Audible membership and a SURPRISE Giftpack to 6 lucky people! (1 prize per winner) Names will be collected throughout the tour which ends Sept. 30th. Winners will be notified, and prizes awarded by October 10^th so be sure to leave your EMAIL Address!

Blog Tour Dates/Stops:
8/11 Gail Pallotta’s Peering Through Life’s Window
8/13 Liz Flaherty’ Word Wranglers Blog
8/15 Clare Revell’s The Word Can Wait Blog
8/18 Southern Writers Suite T Blog
8/18 Alina K Field’s Simply Romance Blog
8/20 Penelope Marzec’s Bookish Thoughts Blog
8/25 Jana Richards’ Romance Story Board Blog
8/27 Beverly Bateman’s BLOG
9/1 Valarie Goree’s Facebook Page
9/5 D. V. Stone’s Campfire Blog
9/9 Jacqueline Seewald’s BLOG
9/11 Linda Rondeau’s Snark & Sensibility Blog
9/14 Patricia Kiyono at Four Foxes, One Hound Blog
9/18 Diane Burton’s BLOG
9/22 Alicia Dean’s BLOG
9/25 Jeny Hickman’s BLOG
9/30 Linda Nightingale’s Author…Musings Blog