Carol Kilgore is an award-winning author of several published short stories and many essays and articles. Solomon’s Compass is her second novel, a blend of mystery, suspense, and romance she calls Crime Fiction with a Kiss – always at least one crime; always a love story.

Carol and her Coast Guard husband live in San Antonio, Texas, with two herding dogs that like nothing better than pack time on the patio.

Welcome to my blog, Carol. I love it when my blogger friends come for a visit.

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Writing for the Journey by Carol Kilgore

Patricia Stoltey was one of my first blogging friends four years ago when I started my blog – Under the Tiki Hut. So I’m really happy to be a guest on her blog today. Thank you, Pat, for allowing me to blog with you.

I’m going to talk a little bit about our journey as writers along Writing Road. My own route can be compared to traveling the mountain roads of Colorado. Hills and valleys. Curves and switchbacks. A pothole or two. And a pile of fallen rocks that stopped me for a while.

But I persevered. Along the way, I took in all the sights from the tiniest wildflower to panoramic vistas. And when I finally overcame that big pile of fallen rocks across both lanes of the road, the prize of holding a book with my name on it was all the sweeter.

I think that’s why we write – for the journey. Part of the journey is to gain a better understanding of ourselves and others. Part is to learn more about places and things. Another part is meeting other writers and readers along the way, making new friends, and learning that most writers deal with the same obstacles and feel the same joys. I’m sure most of us also have other, more specific items on our itinerary, in addition to just getting the stories out of our heads.

Even though I now fight for writing time among all the other writing duties, I still take time to enjoy the journey. I love the surprise around the next curve. Sometimes it’s a beautiful rose. But I even love the pile of rocks. Each is an adventure.

Through it all, I’ve managed to complete a few novels. My debut, In Name Only, was published last year. The next, Solomon’s Compass, will be out next month, on April 2. I’m currently working on a third. These three non-series books are all set along the South Texas Gulf Coast.

I’m giving away one (1) copy of In Name Only to one lucky reader who leaves a comment here today or tomorrow. If the winner lives in the U.S., she has a choice of a signed paperback or a Kindle book. If she lives elsewhere, she will receive a Kindle book.

Pat will announce the winner on Wednesday.

I would also like to invite each of you to the Tiki Hut for a free margarita to celebrate March Monday Mania. Each Monday in March, guest bloggers on my blog will be giving away a copy of one of their books. While they’re doing that, I will be giving away one copy of In Name Only on a different blog. Today’s guest at Under the Tiki Hut is Julie Flanders giving away a copy of her debut suspense thriller, Polar Night. To be eligible to win Julie’s book, all you have to do is leave a comment at Under the Tiki Hut.

No home. No family. No place to hide. For Summer Newcombe, that’s only the beginning.

The night Summer escapes from a burning Padre Island eatery and discovers the arsonist is stalking her, is the same night she meets Fire Captain Gabriel Duran. As much as she’s attracted to Gabe, five years in the Federal Witness Security Program because of her father’s testimony against a mob boss have taught her the importance of being alone and invisible.

No matter how much she yearns for a real home, Summer relinquished that option the night she killed the man who murdered her father. But Gabe breaks down her guard and places both of them in danger. Summer has vowed never to kill again, but she’s frantic she’ll cost Gabe his life unless she stops running and fights for the future she wants with the man she loves.

Available at Amazon Kindle and Paperback

A missing belt. Buried treasure. And a sexy former SEAL who makes her crazy. What more could any woman want. Right?

U.S. Coast Guard Commander Taylor Campbell is on a quest to unearth her uncle’s buried treasure. There’s one other minor glitch. She’s certain the buried treasure was all in Uncle Randy’s dementia-riddled mind. Now he’s dead.

Jake Solomon is in Rock Harbor under false pretenses. He doesn’t like the charade, but if he doesn’t follow the plan, his dad will make Jake’s SEAL training feel like a day on the monkey bars in kindergarten.

Jake is definitely not supposed to become involved with Taylor. That was his first mistake.

         Available at Amazon April 2, 2013 Kindle and Paperback

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Carol, those big piles of rocks seem to be everywhere. I’m sure glad you didn’t let it stop you for long. The writing journey is a lot like the life journey — we do the best we can, we overcome, and we carry on. Thanks so much for being here today. I wish you the best of luck with Solomon’s Compass. Very nice cover art, by the way.

And margaritas at the Tiki Hut? I’m on my way.

You can learn more about Carol and her books at her website and blog. She can also be found on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon.