Virtual Book Tour ~ The Promise by Tory Richards

Alisha: Please welcome Tory Richards to my blog today! Tory is a multi-published, best-selling author who was born in Maine but lives in Florida with three crazy cats. She likes to travel, preferably by cruise ship, and doesn’t like to fly but she will if she has to. She collects antiques and art, loves chocolate (who doesn’t?) and good coffee.

Tory has wanted to be a writer since she was a kid, but life got in the way of her dreams. A few years ago, with the support and encouragement of her family, she decided to get serious. Her romances are laced with humor and filled with suspense and sizzling sex.

(Dear Readers ~ Leave Tory a comment today and you'll be entered to win a $15 gift certificate to Bath and Body! Follow the Tour and leave comments for more chances to win! The tour dates can be found here: GODDESS FISH PROMOTIONS )

Tory, please tell us about your journey to publication.

Tory: I was sitting in school one day, when I distinctly remember saying to myself, "I want to be a writer when I grow up." I was young, around ten, and I don't know why I just decided that. My first stories were short and written on note book paper. I can vaguely recall they were akin to fairy tales. I was really into the prince and princess thing back then. Cinderella was and is still my all time favorite.

Then at thirteen I graduated to a manual type writer. My parents got it for me for Christmas. My sister got a TV. They never questioned why I wanted a typewriter. I guess they thought it was for school work. But one day, I felt compelled to tell them my dreams. Their reaction? They laughed at the thought of my becoming a writer. I can remember my dad telling me it cost money to publish a book. Only I didn't let that stop me from writing.

Their hurtful reaction caused me to become what I call a closet writer. I began typing stories in secret. Hiding them to make sure no one found them. I'd die if someone did and read one, and then made fun of it. My parents laughing at me somehow made me feel that it was wrong to want to be a writer. That it was a stupid idea. My confidence was gone. So I was very careful where I hid my stories. When they thought I was shut up in my bedroom doing homework I was actually typing away at some romance that didn't always have a happy ending.

I didn't realize writing had become therapy for me until much later in life.

I wrote for years, until I got older and eventually got married. Then life got in the way, my daughter came along, and my writing took a back seat to more important things. I packed everything away for another day. That other day turned out to be over 20 years. When the urge came back and I dug out those old stories, the paper had turned yellow and some of the ink had faded to the point that I couldn't read it. By now I had a computer and was able to transfer some of them to that.

Still, I kept my writing a secret. Even from my husband. But then one day, out of the blue, my niece said to me, "I like to write and I've got a couple stories started." That immediately peaked my interest, and I cautiously admitted to her that I like to write, too. So we began talking about it. She and my daughter convinced me into letting them read something I'd done, they liked it, and encouraged me to submit to a publisher. I thought, what the heck, I don't want to go through the rest of my life not knowing. I should at least try.

Twp months later I was offered a contract. And that book, Cupid's Arrow was on the publisher's best sellers list for two consecutive months!

So, that's my story and I'm sticking to it:)

Blurb for The Promise

Shannon Hayes’ husband David was killed in Iraq nearly a year ago, and now she
must face her first holiday season without him. With a toddler in tow, she travels to the Vermont farm where the rest of the family has gathered for the holidays. There she comes face to face with the man who was with him when he died, and her destiny, his older brother Ryan.

For the first time in years, Ryan returns home to keep a promise he made to David —to take care of Shannon and their daughter. It’s a pledge Ryan is reluctant to keep because he’s been secretly in love with Shannon since first setting eyes on her. Their attraction to each other is instant, intense and soon the promise isn’t the only thing between them.


Excerpt

“Ryan!” If he heard her, he ignored her, and continued walking toward the garage. “Ryan!” Shannon picked up her robe and dashed down the steps and into the snow. The cold immediately went through her slippers. “Ryan, please wait!”

He rounded the garage and disappeared. Shannon couldn’t believe that he didn’t hear her. She rushed to catch up with him, almost falling when she stepped on an icy patch of snow. She entered the garage just as he opened the door to his jeep. “Ryan!”

He stiffened but didn’t turn around as she expected. Shivering, Shannon stepped infront of him, putting herself between him and the open door. She didn’t know what she was going to do; only that she had to stop him in some way. “What are you doing?” she asked, flinching from the unwelcome coldness in his eyes. It was just getting light enough for her to see his expression, hard and set as usual.

“I would think that’s obvious,” he said flatly, a tick appearing in his jaw. His gaze was focused somewhere over her head.

“Your leaving will ruin everyone’s holiday. Every year, all they ever talk about is you coming home.” His gaze zeroed in on hers with deadly accuracy. He looked so angry, as if he was about to explode. Shannon felt the urge to reach up and kiss away the firmness of his mouth until it was soft and friendly. “Are you leaving because of, ah, what happened?” She didn’t have to spell it out; they both knew what she was referring to.


“I think it’s better this way.”

“I’m not blaming you,” she began. “It’s something that just happened, a moment that got away from us.” Trying to sound as if it was insignificant didn’t come off as convincing as Shannon wanted it to. She could barely look Ryan in the eye because of the heat filling her cheeks.

“What makes you think it won’t happen again?”

Shannon’s eyes rounded in surprise. The little thrill his words caused evaporated quickly when she realized he wasn’t happy about his earlier loss of control.

Would it happen again?

She didn’t have the nerve to ask. Deep down part of her wanted it to. She
could tell he wanted to leave, but she was in his way.

“Ryan please, if you can’t stand being under the same roof with me then I’ll leave.Just, please, don’t hurt your family this way.” It surprised Shannon that his leaving would hurt her, too.

TORY'S WEBSITE

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BUY LINK FOR THE PROMISE


DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE TORY A COMMENT TO BE ENTERED TO WIN A $15 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO BATH AND BODY!!!

Happy Reading! ~ Alisha