Dreamspinner Press discussion

Meet BA Tortuga author of the new book "The Terms of Release" this Saturday, March 29th from 5-8pm Eastern/2-5pm Pacific right here!

Howdy, y'all! :D

I'm looking forward to meeting all y'all and to shooting the breeze, talking cowboys and goofing off. ;-)

BA

B.A. wrote: "Howdy, y'all! :D

I'm looking forward to meeting all y'all and to shooting the breeze, talking cowboys and goofing off. ;-)

BA"

waves madly

Tell us about Terms of Release and why you put the boys so deep in East Texas

I just finished Terms of Release and loved it.

*grins*

I put the boys deep in East Texas because that's where my soul lives. The Terms of Release is a bit of a Romeo and Julio story about an ex-con, a sheriff's deputy and small town Texas life. Win and Sage took over my brain and didn't let go one bit.

Also, I was working out my soul a little bit -- sometimes going home to a small town just seems let putting on a too-small shirt. ;-)

Andrea wrote: "I just finished Terms of Release and loved it."

Thank you, darlin'. I truly appreciate it. Sage and Win were close to my soul. :D

An excerpt for y'all -- this is at the Redding ranch, where Win has come to do a welfare check.

***

“Sage? Sage, your momma says you boys need to come and eat biscuits!” Mr. Redding was standing on the porch, just bellaring .

“Lord.”

Win’s ears went hot. “I don’t have to come up. I would understand if you wanted me to fuck off.”

“Momma makes good biscuits. Come on up. There’s coffee.”

“Thank you.” He meant it too. For someone who knew everyone in town, Win had precious few people who would invite him in for coffee and biscuits.

Sage climbed the fence, then carefully worked his way down. “Let’s go up.”

“Sure.” He followed Sage to the house, trying hard not to stare at the man’s back.

A shitload of dogs came running up, wagging and slobbering, and they each got love from Sage, one at a time. Win grinned, waiting to wade through, but they paid him no mind at all, every one of them wagging and trailing Sage. Oh, someone was well-loved. That as much as anything told Win he was probably right about Sage being in the wrong place back during the Angel thing. Anyone dogs loved that much couldn’t be bad.

“Go on, y’all. Food’s done been poured.” Sage stomped his boots off and wiped his neck with a kerchief that he dug out of his jeans.

Win checked to make sure his boots were clean before following Sage inside. God, it smelled good.

“Hey, boys. Breakfast is ready. Deputy, how do you like your coffee?” Mrs. Redding was wearing a T-shirt that said, “Give Me My Chocolate and No One Gets Hurt.”

“Morning, ma’am. Just black is fine.”

“Boys and their black coffee.” She poured out four cups, adding generous milk and sugar to one. “Give me my nummy brew.”

He grinned. “I bet you like them fancy things from Starbucks.”

“You know it. I love the caramel ones.” She handed him a mug. “Have a seat, y’all. I’ll dish up. Who wants gravy?”

Mr. Redding grunted, nodded, and sat.

“Please.” Win sat too, feeling oddly at home.

“No gravy for me, Momma. I’ll grab the honey.”

Four plates hit the table—bang, bang, bang, bang. Then Mrs. Redding sat. “Eat up.”

Win waited to dig in, wondering if the Reddings said grace. It was strange how little he knew about them.
Mr. Redding bowed his head quickly. “Good food, good meat. Good God, let’s eat.”

“Sam Redding!” Ellen almost managed to look horrified. Almost. Sage cracked up, laughing hard, and Win loved to see it. He even let himself chuckle, then dug in happily. He’d opened a lot of cans since he’d left the Army, and this was a treat.

They didn’t eat in silence. He wasn’t sure the Redding men had ever known a single solitary moment of silence in their entire lives. Bless her, Mrs. Redding talked about chickens and horses, about neighbors and church.

Mr. Redding grunted and clicked, but Sage, that man talked back, voice surprisingly deep and weirdly musical.

Win found himself sitting back, listening, soaking it in. No one who heard this could believe that these people raised a killer, that Sage was trouble. The whole vendetta Win’s family had against this man was so ridiculous it made him ashamed.

They all finished eating, and then Sam Redding stood and nodded. “I got a doctor appointment in Greenville. You gonna be able to handle things this afternoon, Son?”

“Well, I don’t know, Daddy. I might blow the whole county to kingdom come while I’m mowing the backyard and cleaning out the old garage so Momma can make me set rat traps.”

Mr. Redding actually grinned. “Don’t be an ass, Son.”

“It’s genetic, Sam.” Ellen winked at Win, her hazel eyes twinkling. “He gets it from his daddy, you know.”

Will you be writing more about this town or any of the characters or maybe the new place?

Andrea wrote: "Will you be writing more about this town or any of the characters or maybe the new place?"

I actually have a novel in right with Dreamspinner set in Greenville, I'm currently writing a novel about cowboys and colts and their kids set in the northeast Texas area. As soon as that one's done (I'm 30K in and so I love with them, OMG), I plan on writing a book about Win's best Army buddy who's on a medical discharge and comes to stay with Win and Sage until he gets back on his feet. :D

Oh! Y'all! I have a 25% discount coupon for my books that is good for a couple of days. Tortuga0329 is the coupon and it is case sensitive. :D

B.A. wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Will you be writing more about this town or any of the characters or maybe the new place?"

I actually have a novel in right with Dreamspinner set in Greenville, I'm currently writin..."

Sounds Good!

So, did you have a playlist for this book?

Julia wrote: "So, did you have a playlist for this book?"

Okay, first I have to explain that Julia (who is my fiancee) is being a turd because she knows full well there is a playlist because I played it 100232342987 times and cried EVERY single time.

Sage was actually born from listening to Brantley Gilbert's Modern Day Prodigal Son. Now, I realize that the lyrics aren't exactly Sage, but I care not. That's the song that bore him, and that song gets to stay on the playlist for eternity.

Now, the song that damn near killed me when it came out (and of course, I was in the middle of Sage and Win's story at the time) was Tim McGraw's Number 37405.

OMG.

O.
M.
G.

Y'all. OMG.

I don't even have words because this song breaks me in two like dropped china.

Other songs that feature on the list? Blackbird by Sarah Darling, Bruises by Train and Ashley Monroe, Forever by Aaron Lewis, Merry Go 'Round by Kacey Musgraves, Ships That Don't Come In by Joe Diffie, Speed of the Sound of Loneliness by Nanci Griffith.

I have a deep relationship with my playlists. I need them. NEED THEM.

B.A. wrote: "Julia wrote: "So, did you have a playlist for this book?"

Okay, first I have to explain that Julia (who is my fiancee) is being a turd because she knows full well there is a playlist because I pla..."

I've never understood playlists. Assuming it takes at least a few months to write, edit, etc. a novel, how on earth do you listen to just a few songs over and over and over?

Andrea wrote: "B.A. wrote: "Julia wrote: "So, did you have a playlist for this book?"

Okay, first I have to explain that Julia (who is my fiancee) is being a turd because she knows full well there is a playlist ..."

Oh, honey. BA's playlists are epic and ever growing. When she hears a song that fits, she adds it.

Andrea wrote: "I've never understood playlists. Assuming it takes at least a few months to write, edit, etc. a novel, how on earth do you listen to just a few songs over and over and over?"

Well, it's more than a few songs. The Terms of Release playlist has 63 songs on it. I know the book is intense when the playlist hits 50 songs. Series? They have playlists and sub-lists. :D

Also, I did listen to the same song once 183 times in a row for the length of a short story...

Julia, I sure do hope you like the same songs!

Andrea wrote: "Julia, I sure do hope you like the same songs!"


Chuckles. There have been a few of the more esoteric ones that I asked her to kill. ;)

Julia wrote: "Andrea wrote: "Julia, I sure do hope you like the same songs!"

Chuckles. There have been a few of the more esoteric ones that I asked her to kill. ;)"

Miss J and I share a brain. I don't play Jesus Christ Superstar for her, she doesn't play Katy Perry for me. ;-)

One of the things I hear all the damned time is, "do y'all actually talk like that?"

Yep.

Now, if you ask me, I will tell you I don't have an accent, I sound like everyone else. Miss Julia will snort like a fractious horse and say I'm full of beans.

I am the queen of y'all and I do say "fixin to", as in "I'm fixin' to run up to the wallyworld. Y'all want to come with?" or "I'm fixin' to pluck you bald-headed and batter dip your ass if you don't straighten up."

I also call all carbonated drinks Cokes, I have a gimme cap in my truck, and I have both stars and bluebonnets tattooed on me.

You know what they say, y'all -- you can move the gal out of Texas, but you can't whitewash the Texan out of the girl. :D

I dont really get playlist either lol Do you hear a song and write a character based on the song or do you have a character and try to find a song that "speaks to you?"

B.A. wrote: "One of the things I hear all the damned time is, "do y'all actually talk like that?"

Yep.

Now, if you ask me, I will tell you I don't have an accent, I sound like everyone else. Miss Julia will ..."

Until you did the DSP blog, I didn't realize how I talked. After that, I paid attention and let's just say I talk a lot more southern than I thought. Within about 5 minutes in to a conversation with my husband, I'd said across the street neighbors, gracious plenty, and a few more - then I shut up for a while. I'd just never thought of it as being southern until you pointed it out.

And have you ever explained to a northerner that it's rude to use "you" when your talking to more than one person? That "ya'll" is used so that no one feels left out. They don't understand and I don't understand them.

Oh - trying going to the grocery store in Michigan and asking them where the greens are. I found cans of black-eyed peas in the Ethnic section. I went home and told my husband I wanted to move back home right then and there.

Ashley♥Alexis wrote: "I dont really get playlist either lol Do you hear a song and write a character based on the song or do you have a character and try to find a song that "speaks to you?""

In this case, I heard the song, Modern Day Prodigal Son, and Sage came to me fully-formed. From there, I'll hear a song and go, "Oh, that sounds like Win" or "Sage likes that song." Periodically a character will like a song that I don't care for, even. ;-)

There are always two or three songs that encapsulate the story, the theme songs, but the rest is just sound track. :D

Andrea wrote: "Oh - trying going to the grocery store in Michigan and asking them where the greens are. I found cans of black-eyed peas in the Ethnic section. I went home and told my husband I wanted to move back home right then and there."

Black-eyed peas are necessary to life (and New Years -- how are you supposed to have good luck without them?) I have to tell you, since I moved to New Mexico, I've had to get Daddy to send care packages.

Wolf brand chili.
Casserole beans.
Grits.
Guerrero chicarones.

Uhn.

Also, no one here says y'all ladies. Not at all. We have enough cowboys come up from Edgewood that you get y'all, but not y'all ladies. That must be a Texasism. :D

And Lubbock and Pecos and all. They come for the bullriding every year ;)

So, basically a playlist is stuff that inspires or makes you think of things in the book, not the only songs you play while writing it?

Andrea wrote: "So, basically a playlist is stuff that inspires or makes you think of things in the book, not the only songs you play while writing it?"

*nods* I'll play the list a *lot*. For instance, Sage loves George Strait, Win likes Roger Creager and Jason Boland. There are songs about California on the list, there are a bunch of songs on Tim McGraw's latest album because it came out mid-book, and a weird little acoustic version of Adam Lambert's Whataya Want from Me...

So, if I was going to Hunt county Texas, what one thing should I see?

Julia wrote: "So, if I was going to Hunt county Texas, what one thing should I see?"

The Audie Murphy Memorial Cotton Museum.

No, really. It's a thing.

Also, apropos of nothing, I won a contest in college once by connecting Kevin Bacon and Audie Murphy in six steps...

You've been writing for a pretty good while - what got you started?

Here's another excerpt for y'all, from right when Sage gets home. I love this one because... well, because I needed Sage to get home.


Sage walked out to the truck and grabbed his duffel, thankful the storm hadn’t found them yet. He carried the bag to the trailer, standing and staring at it for a long time. Damn. It was plumb nice, really, even had a wee baby porch on it.

He didn’t see the pit bull sitting there, not until he climbed the stair. Little and blue, the whipcord tail set to wagging, thump, thump, and he frowned.

“Copper?”

It couldn’t be. She’d been an old dog when he’d gone to California. She had to be long buried. Still, the pup was her spitting image and had a collar on her with a tag. He put the bag down and the plate on the porch rail, then bent down. “Who the hell are you, pup?”

Her tag said “Penny,” and he couldn’t help but grin. Momma did have a wicked sense of humor.

She licked his face, tail just thumping. Lord, lord. Looked like he’d have some company.

“Come on in, then, but you’d best not piss on my floor.” He liked a clean house. He’d never live in filth. Never again.

She trotted in next to him, and she didn’t jump on nothin’, just settled on a dog bed in the corner of the little front room.

The place was spotless and simple, with a TV, a little DVD player, and a sofa. The kitchen had the basics, and Sage knew if he looked, the pantry would have Corn Flakes , cans of Wolf Brand Chili, and quick grits.

Hell, there was even a mason jar filled with green apple Jolly Ranchers .

Oh sweet Jesus. He was home.

His knees buckled, and if that sweet pup came and licked tears off his cheeks, well shit, there wasn’t a living soul to tell on him.

For the first time in ten years, no one was watching.

Andrea wrote: "You've been writing for a pretty good while - what got you started?"

I've been writing since I can remember. Believe it or not I published my first short story in 1976. I started my career writing horror and doing slam poetry, but my Julia and my best friend, Sean, hooked me on romance and that's where I belong.

B.A. wrote: "Here's another excerpt for y'all, from right when Sage gets home. I love this one because... well, because I needed Sage to get home.


Sage walked out to the truck and grabbed his duffel, thankful..."

This is one of my favorite scenes, too.

sniffles. I love Sage

so, where all can we find you on twitter and blogs and all?

Julia wrote: "so, where all can we find you on twitter and blogs and all?"

I'm @batortuga on Twitter
https://www.facebook.com/batortuga on FB
and my blog is at http://blogspot.batortuga.com

http://www.batortuga.com is my author site :D

I'm always about on Twitter and FB and I love to visit, so please don't be shy. Lord knows I'm not!

Also, if you're looking for swag and free goodies, Sean Michael, Julia Talbot, Kiernan Kelly and I have a street team Facebook group called My Boys Touch: https://www.facebook.com/groups/74096...

Don't forget to share the 25% discount code: Tortuga0329 :D

Okay, y'all rock my socks. Thank you so much for the questions and the love. I appreciate y'all more than you know. Please feel free to drop me a line and thanks for loving my boys. :D

Y'all have a lovely weekend. I'm off to cook me some steaks.

Night, y'all!

Thanks for hanging with us, BA. Hugs

B.A. wrote: "Okay, y'all rock my socks. Thank you so much for the questions and the love. I appreciate y'all more than you know. Please feel free to drop me a line and thanks for loving my boys. :D

Y'all have ..."

Thanks for being here - you have your steak, I'm having tomato sandwiches this evening.
Bye