Award-winning Colleen Thompson to offer one-day novel writing workshop March 24 in Shreveport

The North Louisiana Storytellers and Authors of Romance presents a one-day novel writing workshop with award-winning author Colleen Thompson on March 24 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Shreveport.

A former teacher and prolific speaker on the craft of writing, Colleen is the twice-RITA-nominated author of 28 books, from the fast-paced romantic thrillers she has written for Montlake, Harlequin and Dorchester Publishing to the action-packed historical romances she wrote as Gwyneth Atlee for Kensington. Other honors include the National Readers’ Choice Award, multiple Romantic Times’ Top Picks, KISS Awards and a Reviewer’s Choice Award, Publisher’s Weekly starred review, and appearances on the Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookscan and Waldenbooks bestseller lists. Recent titles include “The Off Season,” “The Best Victim” (both from Montlake) and “Lone Star Redemption” from Harlequin Romantic Suspense.

Colleen, her husband, and their rescue dog split their time between suburban Houston and their Texas Hill Country cabin, where they enjoy hiking, watching wildlife and relaxing on hot days in the Frio River.

Discounted rates of $35 for members, $55 for non-members apply if purchased before Feb. 14. The morning session will focus on how to emotionally engage readers from the first page and the afternoon session will be a plotting workshop. For more information, click here.

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.

Tuesday Ebook Spotlight: Thompson's 'The Off Season'

I've known Colleen Thompson of Houston since we were both first published in 1999. She's written a host of wonderful books, including under the pen name of Gwyneth Atlee. Her novel, "The Off Season," is only 99 cents the month of July. 

Here's the book description for "The Off Season": 

Winter winds off the Atlantic have turned the tourist mecca of Seaside Creek, New Jersey, into a ghost town. Dr. Christina Paxton, however, is growing accustomed to living with ghosts. Recently widowed, the emergency room physician has returned to the shore with her young daughter, house-sitting a sprawling beachside Victorian home. One night, her two-year-old calls her by a name that makes Christina’s blood run cold and sends her thoughts spiraling back thirty years.

Deeply unnerved, and certain someone else is in the house, she flees with her child into the cold night, only to come face-to-face with Chief Harris Bowers, a former classmate with whom Christina has a complicated history. Now divorced, Harris hopes to mend their past, but Christina is wary of being played for a fool again. As threats emerge, Christina and her small family find themselves in grave danger. It seems there is no one she can put her trust in—least of all herself.

Louisiana Book News is written by journalist Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. The first two books in her award-winning series are FREE as ebooks! For more information and to sign up for her newsletter visit www.cherieclaire.net.