Please give a warm welcome to Paul from Burning
Bridges by Anne Krist today as we sit down and see what make him
tick.
What’s your favorite thing to do when you’re not saving
the world?
Well damn. I haven’t considered myself “saving the world” since my days in the Navy when I went to fight in Vietnam, and that’s been a helluva long time ago. Even then, we never considered that we were saving the world, just doing our duty and our jobs, and most of us didn’t give a thought about much except getting home to the people who loved us. For me, that was Sara Noland—at least that’s what I thought. After returning home and finding out that Sara hadn’t felt the same about me as I did about her, I left the service and went home to Iowa and helped save the family farm. Now I’m in South Carolina helping my old Navy buddy try to save his charter boat business. I’ve got the wind in my hair and my face pointed toward open water, and I’m loving every minute. Or I would be if Sara didn’t live in the same town.
Well damn. I haven’t considered myself “saving the world” since my days in the Navy when I went to fight in Vietnam, and that’s been a helluva long time ago. Even then, we never considered that we were saving the world, just doing our duty and our jobs, and most of us didn’t give a thought about much except getting home to the people who loved us. For me, that was Sara Noland—at least that’s what I thought. After returning home and finding out that Sara hadn’t felt the same about me as I did about her, I left the service and went home to Iowa and helped save the family farm. Now I’m in South Carolina helping my old Navy buddy try to save his charter boat business. I’ve got the wind in my hair and my face pointed toward open water, and I’m loving every minute. Or I would be if Sara didn’t live in the same town.
That was kind of a long non-answer, wasn’t it? I love
watching football, having a cold beer after a day’s work, making engines sing,
and being on the water. Right now, I’m lucky to be able to do all of these and
also make a damn fine living.
What is it about your love interest, Sara, that makes you
crazy in a good way?
Sara Richards, now, doesn’t have to do much to drive me crazy, to tell the truth. Just being around her makes my heart race. I hate that she can still do that, after the way she seemed to forget me after promising that she’d wait for me to come home from the war. But for some reason, after all these years, I can’t help but feel some of the same wonderment I knew when we first met. She was still a child—17-years-old—when we met, and I wanted her to have every opportunity to change her mind about me when I knew I’d be gone for a long time—or maybe not ever coming back. But honestly? I never thought she’d dump me and not even have the nerve to write and say so. Now? She gets on every last nerve I have by alternately trying to smother me with Southern hospitality and push me away with indignation, when she’s the one who screwed us up. But… Sorry. You asked about what drove me crazy in a good way. She’s a wonderful mother and a kind person. She still looks great. When I see her now, I remember the girl she was and why I first fell in love. If I’m being honest, I love her still. And I’m mad at myself for it.
Sara Richards, now, doesn’t have to do much to drive me crazy, to tell the truth. Just being around her makes my heart race. I hate that she can still do that, after the way she seemed to forget me after promising that she’d wait for me to come home from the war. But for some reason, after all these years, I can’t help but feel some of the same wonderment I knew when we first met. She was still a child—17-years-old—when we met, and I wanted her to have every opportunity to change her mind about me when I knew I’d be gone for a long time—or maybe not ever coming back. But honestly? I never thought she’d dump me and not even have the nerve to write and say so. Now? She gets on every last nerve I have by alternately trying to smother me with Southern hospitality and push me away with indignation, when she’s the one who screwed us up. But… Sorry. You asked about what drove me crazy in a good way. She’s a wonderful mother and a kind person. She still looks great. When I see her now, I remember the girl she was and why I first fell in love. If I’m being honest, I love her still. And I’m mad at myself for it.
Do you sometimes want to strangle your writer?
No! Anne had a lot to deal with between her love/hate relationship with Sara. But with me? What’s not to love? I was easy for her to write so I’ve got no beef with Anne as my author. I imagine Sara would like to have a few strong words with her, though. They actually have a lot in common: both had fathers in the Navy who disliked their boyfriends, both lived in the late 1960s-early 1970s in Virginia Beach, VA, surrounded by sailors, both walked with their boyfriends along the shores at Sandbridge and explored the Back Bay area of the county. It must have been a little bittersweet for Anne to write Sara.
No! Anne had a lot to deal with between her love/hate relationship with Sara. But with me? What’s not to love? I was easy for her to write so I’ve got no beef with Anne as my author. I imagine Sara would like to have a few strong words with her, though. They actually have a lot in common: both had fathers in the Navy who disliked their boyfriends, both lived in the late 1960s-early 1970s in Virginia Beach, VA, surrounded by sailors, both walked with their boyfriends along the shores at Sandbridge and explored the Back Bay area of the county. It must have been a little bittersweet for Anne to write Sara.
Favorite food?
I’m an Iowa farmer so it might not surprise you too much to know that I love pork and beef, and corn. Say what you will about most any food, but a pork roast with a dark, roasted skin can hardly be topped in my book.
I’m an Iowa farmer so it might not surprise you too much to know that I love pork and beef, and corn. Say what you will about most any food, but a pork roast with a dark, roasted skin can hardly be topped in my book.
Tell me a little about your world. What are your greatest
challenges?
Right now, I’m in charge of operations for a small fleet of charter boats. My buddy Mitch bought the boats and the licenses but needed someone who really knew boats and engines to help him get things off the ground. After all the years since we’d left the Navy I don’t know why he thought of me, but I was just antsy enough on the farm in Iowa to want to give the change of scenery and the opportunity he offered a chance. I had no idea at the time that Sara lived in Beaufort, SC, where Mitch’s business was based. So while trying to avoid Sara as much as possible, my days are filled with boat repairs, working on engines that don’t drive a John Deere tractor, and testing all of it on the waterways around the city. The job is almost overwhelming, but to tell the truth, even if Mitch weren’t paying me, I’d still be here doing my best. When I first left the rich farmlands of Iowa to join the Navy I knew I had found what I loved to do. If not for my father’s illness and death, I might never have gone home. But now I don’t think about the huge tasks ahead of me and instead enjoy each day doing what I love. I got a second chance and I’m living the dream each day.
Right now, I’m in charge of operations for a small fleet of charter boats. My buddy Mitch bought the boats and the licenses but needed someone who really knew boats and engines to help him get things off the ground. After all the years since we’d left the Navy I don’t know why he thought of me, but I was just antsy enough on the farm in Iowa to want to give the change of scenery and the opportunity he offered a chance. I had no idea at the time that Sara lived in Beaufort, SC, where Mitch’s business was based. So while trying to avoid Sara as much as possible, my days are filled with boat repairs, working on engines that don’t drive a John Deere tractor, and testing all of it on the waterways around the city. The job is almost overwhelming, but to tell the truth, even if Mitch weren’t paying me, I’d still be here doing my best. When I first left the rich farmlands of Iowa to join the Navy I knew I had found what I loved to do. If not for my father’s illness and death, I might never have gone home. But now I don’t think about the huge tasks ahead of me and instead enjoy each day doing what I love. I got a second chance and I’m living the dream each day.
Describe yourself in four words.
Family-oriented, Godfearing, dedicated, loyal.
I’m not sure those are the same words my friends would use. They’re sure a shell not the ones Sara would use to describe me! 😉
Family-oriented, Godfearing, dedicated, loyal.
I’m not sure those are the same words my friends would use. They’re sure a shell not the ones Sara would use to describe me! 😉
What do you do for a living?
I’ve spoken about this too much already!
I’ve spoken about this too much already!
What do you fear the most?
Ending my days without the people I love the most not knowing how much I really do love them. Letting people down. Hurting someone unnecessarily. There are many things I fear, but I think those top the list.
Ending my days without the people I love the most not knowing how much I really do love them. Letting people down. Hurting someone unnecessarily. There are many things I fear, but I think those top the list.
Thanks so much, Dawn, for letting me introduce myself to
your blog readers!
Burning Bridges by Anne Krist
Blurb:
Letters delivered decades late send shock waves through Sara Richards’s world. Nothing is the same, especially her memories of Paul, a man to whom she'd given her heart years before. Now, sharing her secrets and mending her mistakes of the past means putting her life back together while crossing burning bridges. It will be the hardest thing Sara’s ever done.
Letters delivered decades late send shock waves through Sara Richards’s world. Nothing is the same, especially her memories of Paul, a man to whom she'd given her heart years before. Now, sharing her secrets and mending her mistakes of the past means putting her life back together while crossing burning bridges. It will be the hardest thing Sara’s ever done.
Buy link:
Amazon KU: http://mybook.to/BurningBridges
Amazon KU: http://mybook.to/BurningBridges
Excerpt:
“How do you know I’m passing through?” Paul squeezed Sara’s hand and rubbed her knuckles with the pad of his thumb.
“How do you know I’m passing through?” Paul squeezed Sara’s hand and rubbed her knuckles with the pad of his thumb.
“Military, right?”
Paul scrubbed his free hand through his short hair. “What gave me
away?” He cocked his head, watching her chuckle, then added, “I don’t come out
and say it because let’s face it, the military isn’t too popular these days.
I’m Navy. Is my being in the service a problem for you?”
“It will be for my dad. He’s in the Navy, too, which will make this
worse in his eyes.” She sighed at his raised brows. “He loves the Navy but not
sailors. Not for his daughter.”
“I hate to admit it, but I understand why he’d be unhappy.”
“It gets worse.” She watched his face. “I’m seventeen.”
The movement of his thumb stopped and his hand tensed. Then the tension
drained away. “I admit, I did think you were older, but I like you, Sara. I
felt it immediately. Maybe even before we spoke, while you were thinking about
how you’d missed getting that parking space.” He looked thoughtful, his brow wrinkled
slightly. “I’m not all that much older than you. I’m twenty.”
“Twenty isn’t very old. But my age…”
“Yeah. Your being underage does strike fear in my heart.”
“Might as well call a spade a spade. I’m jail bait.” Sara held her
breath, afraid he would climb right back out of the car.
Instead, he smiled. “I’m not looking to get physical. I just want to be
friends. Can we do that?”
She breathed again. “Yes, I think so.”
“Good, because you’re right. I’m a long way from home and will be going
a hell of a lot farther in a few weeks. I need a friend.” Another smile.
Would her heart ever beat normally in the face of Paul Steinert’s
smiles? She doubted it.
“I just have two questions. First, when will you be eighteen?” His grin
was impish and she laughed.
“This summer.”
“Okay, we just have to get through the next few weeks. By the time I
get back you’ll be legal and maybe I can take you out without fear of being
arrested.”
“I’d like that. What’s the second question?”
“Can we adjust the heater? It’s hotter than blazes in here!”
Laughter bubbled up from deep inside her. “Yes! It’s plenty hot, now.”
Author
Anne Krist:
After a while, Dee split her personality into
thirds. She writes as Anne Krist for sweeter romances, and Jenna Stewart for
ménage and shifter stories. All three of her personas are found on the Nomad
Authors website. Also, once a month, look for Dee’s Charity Sunday blog posts,
where your comment can support a selected charity.
Find Anne and Dee here:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeeSKnight
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeeSKnight2018
1 comment:
Dawn, I've been flat out with back problems, but thank you so much for hosting me!
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