In the Fields

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In the Fields is available as an ebook from Amazon or in paperback from CreateSpace.

What people are saying at GoodReads.

Background 1971—In the tiny, backward town of Tulma, Tennessee, optimistic, bookish Caroline Carson unwittingly finds herself in the middle of a forbidden romance. Severely neglected by her family and forced to flee Tulma to protect her secrets, Caroline’s young life comes crashing down around her. She finds refuge in a new town, but the past always has a way of stretching around time and stirring up trouble. When a new love comes into her life, she has to decide if she can give her heart to someone else, or if she will always be tied to someone she can’t have. Willow Aster is the author of True Love Story and In the Fields, and many more to come. She loves her crazy life with her husband and kids.

Giddy

I got giddy this morning when I realized that my new book, In the Fields will be coming out in just three and a half weeks! September 10th! This project has been a labor of love for me. I started it long before True Love Story. YEARS before. It was before I ever read The Secret Life of Bees and before The Help came out. Until finding those gems, I wasn’t sure where the right fit for this book would be. I’ve still been a little befuddled on how I should label it because it’s different from those too. Is it Southern Literature? Southern Gothic? Southern Romance? A friend suggested Southern Drama and I think that sounds about right. I hope you’ll go with me on this different writing adventure. I’ll get back to some hot and steamy movie star or something, don’t worry. But this book is where my heart is and what comes naturally for me. A little jog back in time when everything seemed simpler and sweeter…but was it really?

Shy

So it’s like this… I’m really a shy person who functions better behind a computer screen or a pad of paper any day of the week…but put me in a room full of authors and readers, like at Book Bash a couple weeks ago, and I will try to force myself out of my shell. The good news: I love nice people. And there were loads of nice people at Book Bash. The bad news: I get splotchy and anxious. And want to hide. No matter what. The splotchy, anxious, want to hide part came as I was going down the elevator Friday night…headed down for the author meet and greet. I felt like I needed an inhaler all of a sudden. I needed about ten more layers of deodorant. I needed to step in a freezer for at least 4.2 minutes. Fortunately, everyone was so kind and perhaps dealing with their own splotchy/anxious/want to hide syndromes that I got over myself real quick. And I was able to completely enjoy the next day. There were so many people I’d hoped to meet from online messages and to see them in person was just as exciting to me as it seemed to be for them. It’s just weird to think that people would be so excited to meet a shy girl who functions better behind a computer screen or a pad of paper any day of the week…but believe me, I’m not gonna question it! I was just so grateful to be part of the whole thing. Maryse is as beautiful as I expected, inside and out. The authors were kind and the readers, oh my word, the readers…I could not love any of you any more than I already do. You have completely rocked my world and changed my life!!! I will probably be laying low the rest of the year. I will be going to NOLA next February, but I better stay close to home so I can finish these books!!! But, I look forward to the day that I can meet each and every one of you who have made such a difference in my life.

Spring Fever Writing

So it seems that every time I start a book, three other ideas pile on top of that one. I have one at 52,460 words, one at 4,376, one at 3,900, and one at 1,567.   And wouldn’t you know it, the one I feel the most passionately about is the one at 1,567 words. Well, that could change on any given day, but today, that’s the one I can’t stop thinking about. My writing has spring fever. It’s been cooped up far too long, while I’ve been doing the fun things: blog interviews, a book signing here and there, talking with nice people all over the world, shipping books, etc. It’s been truly wonderful. But when I finally settle down long enough to do the actual thing I’m supposed to be doing—writing—it’s like playing catch-up after being out sick from school for two weeks. Thoughts are ping-boom-popping all over the place and I’m rushing to catch it all. And I love every minute of it. I’ve written for years and years, done the query thing, been rejected, blah-de-blah, and I had finally settled in with being just fine if no one ever read a word. I can honestly say I was content to just keep writing for the joy it brings me. But, WOW, this world of people reading my book and actually liking it, I can’t even tell you…it’s been 3 ½ months now and I still just can’t even get over it. I’m beyond grateful, I’m humbled, I’m ecstatic, I’m in shock…well, you get the idea. I’m a basket case. So thank you. Thank you for taking it over the top for me. Okay, gotta go write. And I’ll behave and work on the 52,460 words one…

The long awaited signing is finally here! I can’t even believe it. SO excited. It’s my first time out and I’ve been just a LEETLE bit spastic today. I’m shy, y'all. My nerves are giving me fits, but the excitement is outweigh…

The long awaited signing is finally here! I can’t even believe it. SO excited. It’s my first time out and I’ve been just a LEETLE bit spastic today. I’m shy, y'all. My nerves are giving me fits, but the excitement is outweighing it all. I can’t wait. And look at all those other fabulous authors! I’m gonna be doing some major book shopping… If you’re anywhere near the 1,000 mile radius of Minneapolis, MN, you BETTER BE THERE! :)

Amazon.com: True Love Story eBook: Willow Aster: Kindle Store

If you’ve been waiting to buy True Love Story, now is the time! For a very limited time, it is 99 CENTS!!! Click here to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/True-Love-Story-ebook/dp/B00BHF7ULY/ref=sr_1_1_bnp_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1367361358&sr=8-1&keywords=true+love+story

Settled Love

Ian and Sparrow are doing well, thank you for asking. In fact, they are living high on the love right now. Nothing is better than finally being with your true love. Having been married for a while, sometimes I wish for those first days of early love—when everything felt new and exciting. The unknown played into the whole mystery of the romance. Would he stay? Did he like me as much as I liked him? Would we really make it? But there’s something about a settled love. A love that has endured time and circumstances and come out all the stronger for it. There are new joys, new excitements that are much richer than the flip-flop belly roller coaster ride that started the whole thing. It’s fun to remember those early days, but today I’m feeling content with the love I have. Enduring. Constant. Faithful. True. Even when we’re old and grey kind of love…

Dang Girl

Today an interview I did with Literati Literature Lovers went live. We had so much fun chatting back and forth. Check it out here: True Love Story Interview. But what I’m REALLY excited about is that Literati Literature Lovers is doing a Dang Girl Competition! Your heart sort of skipped a beat when you read that, didn’t it! Read all about it here: Dang Girl Competition. There will be three winners and all will receive signed paperbacks of True Love Story. I can’t wait!

Signing and W.B.T.

Just came home from the Boston book signing. I wasn’t participating as an author, but enjoyed all the fun, nonetheless. So fun to finally put some faces with the names. I love how passionate everyone is about books. I feel the exact same way. I think my first signing will be in Minneapolis in May! Really excited about this! I’ll give you more details later, but just wanted to start spreading the word now. Over on my FB Willow page, I asked how many didn’t get W.B.T. in True Love Story. I’d like to ask that on here too~ who didn’t get it? What does it mean to you?

Two Weeks

It’s been two weeks since I released True Love Story! The way the story is being received has far exceeded my expectations. I can’t thank you enough for all the kind words, the reviews on Amazon and goodreads, the messages telling me how much the story has affected you—it has all been a dream. A life-changing experience. I have each and every one of you to thank for it. I’ve been asked a lot about Ian’s POV. I don’t have one roaming around in my head. Not yet, anyway. I’ll be sure to let you know if I do. :) For now, I’m enjoying getting to know all of you.  

And The Winners Are...

Drum Roll, please! The grand winner of the Kindle Paperwhite is:  JANSEN GARLAND!!! I love that name! Sounds like a character in a book to me! Hmmm. Congratulations, Jansen! You’ll be receiving an email shortly too confirm all your information. Thanks so much for being part of the drawing! And the grand winner of a signed paperback of True Love Story is:  SHANNON FUHRMAN! Congratulations, Shannon! You will also be receiving an email shortly. Thank you for entering the giveaway! I hope you enjoy the book. xoxo

Blog Tour

TrueLoveStoryBanner_small   I’m so excited about all the blogs who are part of the True Love Story blog tour! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being part of this, all you fabulous bloggers! XO There’s a rafflecopter at the bottom, so make sure you scroll down all the way!   Theindiebookshelf.blogspot.com   2/19/13 Review Thebookasylum.blogspot.com   2/19/13 Review   Madisonsays.com    2/20/13 Review Alwaysabooklover.wordpress.com   2/20/13 Review   Littleblackbookbloggers.blogspot.com   2/21/13 Review Lorisbookblog.blogspot.com   2/21/13 Promo   Fortheloveoffilmandnovels.com   2/22/13 Review Threechicksandtheirbooks.com   2/22/13 Review TalkingSupe.com  2/22/13 Review   Wavesoffiction.blogspot.com   2/23/13 Review Addicted2heroines.com   2/23/13 Review   Autumnreview.com   2/24/13 Review Flirtyanddirtybookblog.com   2/24/13 Review Beautybrainsandbooks.com   2/24/13 Review and Interview with Willow Aster   Shhmomsreading.com   2/25/13 Review Lovetoreadagoodbook.blogspot.com   2/25/13 Review Havebookwillread.com   2/25/13 Review Booknerdash.blogspot.com   2/25/13 Review   Natashaisabookjunkie.com   2/26/13 Review Thelifeoffiction.blogspot.com   2/26/13 Review Sweptawaybyromance.blogspot.com  2/26/13 Review   a Rafflecopter giveaway

One More Lil' Teaser

We go into a diner that looks like it’s straight out of the movie Grease. Instead of sitting across from me, Ian slides in next to me. He stares at me and his finger runs along my cheek, down my neck, and stops just short of where my blouse dips into a V. His eyes are seductively hooded and I couldn’t look away if I tried. “You’re amazing,” he whispers. “You’re amazing.” “No, you really are.” “I think you are.” We both laugh. “You’re an angel.” “You’re trouble,” I laugh. “I can’t keep my hands off you,” he says. “I don’t want you to.” “Is this how you talk to Asher?” My hand had been playing with the veins in his arm and it goes completely still. “No.”