Please help us welcome C. Becker today. C. Becker. is here today to share her new release, Finding Euphoria. Finding Euphoria is a romantic suspense and the first of a new trilogy. Welcome, C. Becker! We are all excited to hear about Finding Euphoria.
Finding Euphoria
Guest Post from C. Becker:
Thank you Maddy, for hosting me today. Finding Euphoria is my first adult novel and I am thrilled to have a published romance suspense book with The Wild Rose Press. My background is in the sciences so I never had the time or considered writing a story until I was sick in bed eight years ago. After that first story, I discovered I love to write and I’ve continued writing ever since. It helps that my kids are older and I have a little more free time.
Because this book is quite different from the subject matter of my children’s stories, I use my penname C. Becker. This novel has been a labor of love. I enjoy science and the medical field so I had fun sprinkling aspects of both fields in the plot. I began writing this story about six years ago. It’s taken two years to write, eighteen months to edit with my writer’s group, and a year to work with my incredible editor to prepare it for publication.
The second book in the Euphoria series, Losing Euphoria should have a shorter learning curve, since I have learned so much in the interim. Euphoria is designed as a trilogy, and there is a double meaning in the book’s title. The physical denotation is the race to find the drug Euphoria that began from an exotic Amazon Rainforest shrub—now thought to be extinct. On a philosophical level, euphoria is a woman’s search for happiness after suffering a series of traumatic events and giving her first born son up for adoption. In addition to a love story, Finding Euphoria incorporates topics of teen drug use, adoption, Parkinson’s disease, a missing persons case, and illicit drug manufacturing. The rating is PG-13.
I usually do my best writing late at night when my kids and husband go to sleep and I get quiet time. I do my best thinking, however, when I’m driving or when I wake up in the morning. Although I love music and play piano often for relaxation, I find listening to music when I write a distraction. I love combining romance with a good plot. Who doesn’t like romance? You can make people fall in love in the coolest circumstances and settings. My biggest thrill is weaving the plots to make the characters’ lives stand out and form an unforgettable story.
Lately, I’ve been focusing full-force on the second book of the Euphoria Trilogy—Losing Euphoria. The story takes place six years after the first book leaves off—and it has as much action as the first book. Writing has taken over my life since I began in 2012. If I couldn’t write anymore, I’d probably turn to illustrating picture books or composing songs. I’ve illustrated my first book last year and composed songs that my church has used in their services. In my free time, I gravitate to the piano, play word games with my kids, (Bananagrams and Boggle are my favorite) or sit and enjoy conversations with my family. I hope readers of all ages will enjoy Finding Euphoria and delight in this intriguing story.
About Finding Euphoria:
Hailey Langley refuses to be a victim and has moved on from her traumatic past. But her marriage problems worsen when a deadly illicit drug threatens to draw her into the life she left behind.
Mark Langley has allowed his job to interfere with his marriage, but he never suspected the secrets in Hailey’s past might hold the key to solving both of his current investigations.
Together, they must unravel the mystery of the drug called Euphoria and find a way to save not only their marriage, but countless lives, before it’s too late.
Finding Euphoria Buy Links:
Excerpt from Finding Euphoria:
He turned the bottle around in his hand and set it on the end table. “Don’t put me in this position. You know what would happen. Grace is his mother. She’s the one who needs to stay with him.”
Regret tugged at her heart. “I wouldn’t take any time away from her.”
Parker groaned. “Just you being there would make her feel uncomfortable.”
“Why?”
“You know why.”
“But I’ve stayed away for seventeen years,” she whispered.
“That was the adoption arrangement.”
She bit her lip. “I can’t stay away any longer.”
“You agreed to those terms in the contract. You terminated all parental rights.” Parker stood and paced to the kitchen.
“But it’s not fair!” She put down her water and began wringing her hands.
Straightening his arms, he leaned against the bar. “Hailey, please don’t start. I know how you feel…”
“You couldn’t possibly know how I feel. I need to see him.” She fought to control the bitterness in her voice.
“No.”
She rose, knocking over the water bottle. “He’s my son!”
“Not anymore, he isn’t.”
The rebuke stung. “He’ll always be my son!”
“When you gave him up, you promised to keep your distance.”
“I have.”
“Forever.”
The reminder lanced her heart. “You’re being unfair. He’s dying.”
He slammed his fist on the bar. “Don’t say that. He can’t die.” Parker pushed himself up and stomped near the window, raising his hands to rest on top of his head as he faced the curtain.
A muscle twitched in her hand. Her knees buckled. She sat on the edge of the couch, wringing her hands. “I was young. I couldn’t give Justin the life he deserved. I’m not asking to take him back. I only want to see him.”
Rubbing his jaw, he walked back to the couch and sat. The hard lines on his face softened. “The adoption papers were clear. No contact.” He placed his hands on top of hers and stilled them. “If the decision was mine, I would allow it, but Grace would lose it if she found out you’re Justin’s biological mother.”
Her hands squeezed into tight fists. The urge was unbearable. “I wouldn’t tell her.”
Parker ran a hand through his hair. “Argh! Don’t you understand? She’d take one look at your face and know the truth. Don’t forget, you’re the one who wanted us to protect him.”
She stood. “Well, you did a hell of a fine job, didn’t you? You divorced Grace and deserted him. Parenting takes sacrifice, Parker. You were too busy changing careers, and now he’s messed up with drugs. How did that protect him?”
Standing, he reached for her.
“No. You stay away from me.” She extended her hands and backed up a step. “Justin’s dying! Dying, Parker! And I don’t know him…You won’t let me see my own son.”
He wrapped his arms around her.
She pushed him, pummeling her fists against his chest with all her strength.
He silently took his beating.
About C. Becker:
A native of western Pennsylvania, C. Becker earned a B.S. degree in Medical Technology and MT (ASCP) certification. She has worked in clinical settings analyzing body fluids and testing drugs of abuse.
As an author, C. Becker has published multiple stories in various genres.
C. Becker’s Social Links:
- Website C.Becker website
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- Amazon Author Page Amazon Author Page C. Becker
Love the premise for the book! Good luck with it.
Thank you, Jennifer!
Thank you, Jennifer!
Great interview.
I really, really enjoyed your book book and I’m looking forward to the next installment. All best in this release.
Thank you, Barbara! I’m glad you liked the novel.
Thank you, Barbara. I’m glad you liked the novel.