INCOGNITO, her 6th novel, was the first made-for-TV movie from BET. With the release of THE TURNING POINT, her first mainstream, she established The Turning Point Legal Fund to assist women of domestic violence. The fund is administered by The Family Place, a woman's shelter in Dallas.
Her writing awards include the EMMA, Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, Atlantic Choice, Golden Pen as well as several awards from libraries and book clubs.
NOT EVEN IF YOU BEGGED, her 37th title, is the fourth book in the popular Invincible Women Series was released January 24, 2008 and made Border's and WalMart bestselling list. September 2008 saw the release of THE WAY YOU LOVE ME, Book One in her new Grayson Friends Series. In November UNTIL THERE WAS YOU, Book One, in the Graysons of New Mexico Series was reissued.
2009 promises to be a busy year for Ms. Ray. NOBODY BUT YOU, Book Two, in the Grayson Friends Series was released March 03, 2009 and went on make both the New York Times and USA Today bestselling lists.. Her 40th book, AND MISTRESS MAKES THREE, Book Five in the Invincible Women Series, hit book shelves June 23, 2009. Closing out the year is ONE NIGHT WITH YOU, Book Three of the Grayson Friends Series.
Latest Release: One Night with You
November 03, 2009
Series: Grayson Friends Series
ISBN-13: 9780312365066
ISBN-10: 0312365063
Contest: Read the excerpt at the end of interview. Leave your email address and the names of the characters, from the excerpt, in the comments section below. A random drawing will be held on Nov. 27, 2009 and select 5 winners of a copy of One Night with You! Shelfari, Facebook, MySpace, BlackPlanet and Black Pearls readers are all welcome to participate. All the comments will be combined and the winners selected. You may email us for a list of winners as well: edc_dg@yahoo.com
Intimate Conversation with author Francis Ray and Ella Curry, EDC Creations
Ella: Tell us about your passion for writing.
Francis Ray: Although writing is a challenge, I'm almost compelled to. It's wonderful being able to tell a story of love and triumph where the good guys wins and the bad guys get theirs. I began writing many years ago because I didn't see people of color as main characters in literature. I wanted to change this. I had a wonderful father, a loving family, a great husband, but I didn't see "us" on the pages of books I was reading. I wanted to show the world that black people have honor, integrity, intelligence, and love in abundance.
After 40 plus books, I receive mail from all over the world. In reading my books people come to know and understand what motivates people of color and learn that we're no different that any one else. We love and want the best for our family and children.
Ella: A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. Finish this sentence-
Francis Ray: My writing offers the legacy to future readers to learn that, as a race, African-American have contributed much to society, and continue to do so. In my book they'll find strong family values and men who stand up for women, their family and their country.
Ella: Introduce us to your book One Night with You.
Francis Ray: ONE NIGHT WITH YOU, is Book # 3 in the Grayson Friends Series. Duncan McBride is a successful Montana rancher, who, after a disastrous marriage, stopped believing that there was a woman out there who could love him and his sprawling ranch past the first, hard winter with six feet of snow. When Raven LaBlanc, a stunning archaeologist, shows up at his ranch to authenticate primitive cave drawings on his property, Duncan wants her gone. He doesn't want to feel the attraction to a woman he knows has no intention of staying. As for Raven, her main reason in going to Duncan's ranch was coming one step closer to tenure at St. Johns' College in Santa Fe. She wants permanence in life. Her attraction to Duncan, a hard, but good man, is totally unexpected and unwanted.
Each has to learn to trust their heart and accept that there are honorable men and women in the world. It won't be easy, because both have been betrayed in the worst possible way. But as Duncan and Raven are thrown together more and more on the working ranch, they see the good in the other, and the faith that they had lost in the opposite sex begins to be rebuilt. But an unseen force is determined to keep them apart. Their fragile love will be tested to the limits.
Ella: Introduce us to your message and the main characters.
Francis Ray: I hope you'll enjoy ONE NIGHT WITH YOU. Duncan and Raven, two people who didn't expect love. They would like for you to know that, like them, love sometimes happens when you lease expect it. Always keep your heart open.
Ella: What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
Francis Ray: In Montana, as in many states, there are fewer and fewer ranches. The land is being sold off to developers, the young people leaving for the city. In ONE NIGHT WITH YOU, Duncan is exactly where he wants to be. He resists selling one inch to a developer. The land is his legacy that he intends to leave to his niece or nephew since he never plans to marry. He is aware that his life is hard, the land unforgiving, that predators roam the land, but he relishes and looks forward each day to living in a country blessed by God.
Ella: How difficult was it to complete the novel?
Francis Ray: The book was very difficult to write, but it was also a pleasure. I had to do extensive research on ranching in Montana, the livestock, the land and predators. There was even the birth of a colt. Perhaps the most challenging aspect of writing the book was the authenticating of the primitive drawings on Duncan's ranch. I have a notebook of symbols, what they mean, how they were drawn and by whom. The Ancient Ones followed the water and mountain rims for food and game. They left behind an indelible print of their lives centuries before.
Series: Grayson Friends Series
ISBN-13: 9780312365066
ISBN-10: 0312365063
Pick up a copy at Amazon
Pick up a copy at Barnes and Noble
Connect with Francis Ray Online
Website: http://www.francisray.com/
Blogspot: http://www.francisrayblog.com/
Myspace: www.myspace.com/francisray
Fanclub: readersoffrancisray@yahoogroups.com
One Night with You by Francis Ray
Read the First Chapter Excerpt-List the Characters in the Comments Below.
New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray continues her captivating series about the Grayson family and their circle of friends with One Night With You, as two people with no plans for romance find themselves blindsided by desire…
THE THRILL OF THE CHASE
Cougars, brush fires, snow storms—rancher Duncan McBride tackles it all without a flinch. But the archeologist who’s come to authenticate cave drawings found on his property is the kind of trouble he’d sworn to avoid. Far from the aging academic he was expecting, Raven La Blanc is a stunning woman…and definitely not sticking around this small Montana town once her job is done.
THE PASSION OF A LIFETIME…
The primitive drawings at Duncan’s ranch are Raven’s ticket to the tenured position she’s worked so hard for back in Santa Fe. But there’s no denying the attraction between her and Duncan. Maybe, just this once, she can put her work aside and explore the depths of her own heart and soul? One night may be all it takes for Raven to really find what she’s looking for…
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