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| Sandy's Published Books |
| Sounds like a place for lost people like me, Ian Hunter thought sarcastically as he looked at the inn’s brochure. In his opinion, he’d done several things too many. The Boulder City, Nevada, inn was far enough from New York that no one would know him. If only he had enough money to get there. One picture’s caption read, “Megan Dyan MacCloud, owner; and her able assistants, Cassiopeia, the cat; and Orion, the dog.” Cassiopeia was white, and Orion was a black, tan, and white husky-shepherd mix dog. Megan was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She and her pets, one on either side of her, sat on an ornate swing on a spacious porch. A colorful gypsy outfit complimented her angelic face, made even more so by flame-red curls flowing past her shoulders. The animals knew they were being photographed and reminded Ian of mischievous children. Another picture showed the inn, a Painted-Lady Victorian mansion painted many shades of dusty-blue and rose. The trim was ivory with rose shutters decorating every window. A park-like green yard held a profusion of blooming plants. Cottonwood trees lined the mountains that surrounded the valley the inn sat in, and covered the valley’s walls. The brochure listed many attractions around Boulder City, with Cottonwood Place centrally located. Ian smiled. She’s not only gorgeous, but also clever. Who could resist visiting the Hoover Dam, Vegas, or the Grand Canyon with such a cozy retreat to return to? Since it’s late May, the temperature there must be in the nineties. That’s no hotter than the hell I’m going through in New York right now. He sat on the bed in his sleeping room to watch TV, flipping through the channels because he didn’t know what was on. He was usually leaning over an operating table this time of day. He stopped at a game show, but his mind was on Megan MacCloud. A ticket to Vegas would cost a fortune unless I booked weeks ahead. Even through cheap-ticket websites, flights are expensive, unless I don’t mind playing Russian roulette with time and seats. Something tells me that seeing Megan would be worth any hassle in the universe. Staring at her picture, he inventoried his assets. Long ago, he’d put his most valuable belongings in storage. No one knew the location so those things couldn’t be taken from him. He’d sold his apartment and less valuable belongings to try to keep his malpractice insurance. Unfortunately, he owed rent on the storage, just as he did on this room in the Dive Inn, his nickname for the dumpy brownstone he found himself existing in. His ringing cell phone jerked him out of his reverie. Who would call? Only two people knew his number. “Hello?” “Ian, I’m glad you answered!” “What’s the matter, Mom?” “Your grandpa wouldn’t go to his doctor. He just fainted so I called 911. Go to your hospital fast!” “I’m on my way. I love you.” “I love you, too.” Not bothering to clean up, Ian took a long look at Megan and put the Cottonwood Place brochure gently on the table. |
| Cottonwood Place "Where do you go when there's no place left to go? If you've been everywhere and done everything and aren't satisfied, come discover the mysteries of Cottonwood Place Bed and Breakfast Inn and the captivating American Southwest." Cottonwood Place Bed & Breakfast Inn Brochure |
| The Winds of Fall |
| Reviews-Cottonwood Place: “Cottonwood Place is a refreshing combination of inspirational writing with the spiritual teachings of the Native-American culture…true- to-life information…intertwined with love, hope, and rebuilding broken lives…is a detail makes her writing a joy to read.” 4 of 5 Angels from Fallen Angel Reviews with a wonderful cast…The plot kept me mesmerized…I didn’t “Cottonwood Place is a character haven…it has a great plot put it down all night…I recommend this book…I haven’t read “Cottonwood Place is a character haven…it has a great plot this author before, but I would again!” 4½ hearts of 5-The Romance Studio |
| “Me, too.” Touching her sent heated energy surging through Joe: the first tantalizing twinge of the Joining’s sexual pleasure. Fighting a yearning new to him, he prayed she didn’t pull away. He’d never experienced the Joining, and wondered if it caused the spark in his palm when they touched. "I like oaks.” Skye said softly as she watched sea gulls wheel lazily in the azure sky. She liked how strong his hand felt. His touch was different from her father’s or uncles’. If all male hands gave such a sense of secure acceptance, what had she missed all these years? No longer feeling awkward, she let his hand stay around hers, but wondered where the spark in her palm came from. “Cherry trees are nice too.” Joe said, somewhat breathy. Skye gulped and whispered, “Maple trees, don’t forget maple trees.” A German shepherd came to them and lay across Skye’s toes. She patted its head. “What a beautiful dog!” “His name’s Aristotle. I can’t believe Ari’s letting you touch him! Only Mr. Davis and I do that. He snarls at every other human on the planet.” “I love him. We only had cats because we lived above my parents’ art gallery.” She felt a gust of wind. “The wind sure is strong up here.” Joe brushed a curl out of her eyes, sending heat to his fingers. He felt her grow briefly fearful. “The trades. They make everything cooler for night-time activities. You love looking at the ocean as much as I do.” "Yes. I’m drawn to it for some reason.” “I could watch you looking at the ocean forever. You’re beautiful, Skye.” She said softly, “Thank you.” |
| Available now in digital format from the Wild Rose Press! Print release is December 19th! Isn't the cover fabulous? |
| The most mysteriously unusual science-fiction romance you'll read for a long time to come! |
| I've had the good fortune to have two novels published by the Wild Rose Press. Very fitting considering my favorite flower is the rose, and it's part of my signature style! The first novel is Cottonwood Place, an Inspirational contemporary romance set in the enigmatic American Southwest. Using traditional Navajo ceremonies and lifestyles foreign to many, I show how faith in God can be regained after tragedy ruins two lives. Scroll past the blue bar for a description and excerpt from The Winds of Fall. Sandy |
| My second novel with The Wild Rose Press is The Winds of Fall, a slightly more sexy contemporary science-fiction romance with paranormal touches. Based on a dream I has in elementary school, it's about two people, trying to fit into life on Earth, who meet accidentally, and get together under threat of death for both. If she doesn't realize her identity and join with a creature from her home planet, billions more will die or be made slaves, including everyone on Earth. The e-book release is September 12th and the print release is December 19th! I hope you enjoy Skye's and Joe's story. Let me know. Sandy |
| "Ms. Wickersham-McWhorter makes writing an artwork, painting beautiful characters that vividly glow like Monet’s Impression, Sunrise." Anne Seymour, editor with The Wild Rose Press- about The Winds of Fall |
| What better way to research a setting than actually having been there? I went to Boulder City, Nevada, when I went to Arizona for my father's funeral. The landscape is indescribable to someone who's never seen it! What better way to research a character than to have them live with you? This is Sheena, who's Orion in the story. She's half-husky, half German shepherd. At 9, she's still as playful as a puppy but for a shorter time. I wonder if all dogs are followers like she is? She follows me everywhere and parks herself at my feet, sometime on them. Lately, I feel her wet nose constantly on my bare leg as we walk in the house; curious. She doesn't do the work Orion does, but she does the talking howl. She's also my baby like Orion is to Megan. |
| My romantic-suspence novel, The Winter Road, based on the Ice Road Truckers series, and the first of my new Ice trilogy is moving along well! Scroll to the clouds at the bottom of this page to read the first chapter of Connie's and Jake's story in the Northwest Territories of Canada. I've made many new Canadian friends while researching this book. I hope to show my American readers that Canadians aren't our enemies as so many seem to believe, that they're no different than us in how they live, love, and survive on this small planet we all live on. And, their favorite flavor of ice cream is chocolate-chip cookie dough, just like America's! |