Please give a great big welcome to Gwendolyn Plano!
The characters in THE CONTRACT reappear in THE CHOICE. After writing the first book, the characters clamored for attention and insisted that I listen because each one needed to tell the rest of their story. Their urgency became my mandate.
A cacophony of voices often haunted me in the middle of the night. I’d wonder, will I ever sleep again? It was not unusual for me to be writing by 3:00 AM. The characters fought for my attention as I tried to capture the scenes. Sometimes, I just outlined the scene because the information came too quickly.
Letting characters tell their story means they will take you into places you’ve never been, and mine did just that. I did not know the military world and needed to research everything I could about the bases, about titles and ranks, about common expressions and protocols. Even with family members in the military or having served, this was a world I did not know.
In the book, one of the characters is distressed because she tried to go onto an air force base and was not permitted to do so. This was my experience. My sister and I drove to a base, thinking we could visit and walk around. We quickly learned that we needed sponsorship and clearance. Though I did not respond as my character did, I was distressed.
In this scene, Admiral Parker is traveling to Begert Air Force Base and stops at a local dive for coffee. There are only a few people in this establishment, one is a sobbing woman. He speaks to the waiter:
“Not to change the subject, but what’s with that woman with her head in her hands?”
“She might be a friend of Sarah’s. They wouldn’t let her onto the base, as far as I can tell.”
The admiral glances toward the woman and whispers, “I don’t think folks understand how tight the security is, especially at a place like Begert.”
The waiter shakes his head, “Civilians don’t get it.”
BIO:
Growing up in Southern California, Gwen Plano loved learning. She earned four degrees and taught and served in universities and colleges across the country and in Japan. Now retired, she is focused on writing. Gwen’s first book, Letting Go into Perfect Love, is a memoir. Her second book, The Contract, is a thriller co-authored by John W. Howell. Gwen lives in the Midwest with her husband, and when she is not writing, she is traveling, usually to see one of her four children and many grandchildren.
Links:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Z3dUEm
Website: https://gwenmplano.com/
Twitter: @gmplano
Facebook: @GwendolynMPlano
To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the author’s tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site. If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE.
Lastly, Gwen is a member of the best book club ever – RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB {#RRBC}! If you’re looking for amazing support as an author, or if you simply love books,
JOIN US! We’d love to have you!
Thanks for supporting this author and her work!
Shirley Harris-Slaughter 
Hi, Gwen, I haven’t read THE CONTRACT, but I can imagine how tense it will be after I have read CHOICE. I better get to THE CONTRACT soon!
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I’m coming along late here, Gwen, but love the response you are receiving about the book. Yay!!
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Mary, its never too late. You will just keep the conversation going. I’m glad you came.
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You’re an amazing human being, Gwen. I am honored to call you friend!
Thanks for hosting, Shirley.
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I can relate to stories bugging you until you write them! Best wishes with your new release.
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Thank you so much, Wendy! ♥
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Congratulations for the new release Gwen. I have a question: Is is a stand alone book or do I have to start with ‘The Contract’? I can understand the cacophony…some of my poems awaken me in the middle of the night and I can’t sleep before jotting them down!
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Hi Balroop, it is a stand-alone book, so you do not have to start with The Contract. ♥
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Thanks Gwen 😊
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I’ve had the absolute pleasure of reading The Choice. Your research shines through, Gwen. I recall the scene from this post and am reminded again of how well you construct visual images within the dialogue between the characters. Congratulations on the book’s release. Thanks so much for hosting Gwen today, Shirley.
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Thank you so much, dear Soooz. Your kind words warm my heart immensely. ♥
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❤
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Soooz, I’m glad you stopped by.
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Another great stop on the tour! Thanks so much for hosting, Shirley and a huge congrats to Gwen!
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Thank you so much, Jan. ♥
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Characters do move us. Best wishes, Gwen. Thanks for hosting Shirley.
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Thank you so much, John. I’m very grateful for all your help. 🙂
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Thank you John for stopping by.
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😊
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Hello, Gwen! When characters feel that strongly about sharing their stories you just have to go with it or they’ll haunt you forever. 😉 I can relate with you on all the research you had to do on the military. It can be overwhelming when part of your story involves things you know nothing about. I enjoyed your snippet. Thanks for hosting, Shirley! 😀 xo
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Thanks so much, Vashti. The characters can be a noisy bunch, can’t they? LOL. ♥
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Congratulations, Gwen, on your new release! Wishing you a fabulous tour and continued success.
Many thanks for hosting, Shirley, as always.
Cheers to you both! 🙂
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Thanks so much, dear Natalie. ♥
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Thank you for visiting, D.L. Big hugs! ♥
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Pingback: Welcome to the “THE CHOICE, the unexpected heroes” Blog Tour! @gmplano @4WillsPub #RRBC | wordrefiner
Thanks for hosting Gwen. Her book sounds very interesting.
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Thank you, Mark. All the best!
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That’s an interesting post, Gwen. Thanks for sharing it.
Thank you for hosting, Shirley.
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Thank you, Rhani! All the best to you!
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It’s amazing to me the way characters try to be heard. Gwen what circumstances led you and John Howell to write “The Contract?” I have both books and will have to get to them.
Congratulations!
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Hi Shirley, Thank you so much for hosting me today. As to your question, a vivid dream led us to write The Contract. Writing is an adventure, isn’t it? ♥
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Gwen, you both had the same dream? If so, that is strange and so unexplainable.
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Hi Shirley, To your question below, only I had the dream. But, John quickly adopted the story and added his magic.
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I’ll have to add these to my ‘must read’ list.
Thank you Shirley!
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Thank you, Verwayne. 🙂
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Hope you’re enjoying your tour, Gwen!
Thanks, Shirley, for the host 🙂
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Thank you so much, Nonnie. I’m thoroughly enjoying the tour! 🙂
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Great point in the story that started everything. Thanks for hosting, Shirley:)
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Thanks so much, D.L. Big hugs! ♥
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