Behind the Scenes

Post by Doris McCraw/ Angela Raines



Book Covers, the joy and bane of a writers existence. The right cover can draw a reader in, tell the story in pictures. It could be they are reasons for sales. For myself, I look at a cover, then the title. When the two are in sync it's gold. I still remember reading a new author because I loved his book cover and title. It was the first book of his I ever read, and yes,  I did go on to read more of his writings.

As some of you may have noticed, I like to have a different look to my romances. Livia has been so gracious to allow me to use my own models and photographs. I thought you might enjoy some of the 'shots' that didn't make it on a cover. I used the same two models for "Angel of Salvation Valley" and "Never Had A Chance".

In many ways I'm a lucky person. My models are actors who work with me in Red Herring Productions Murder Mystery shows. A coworker at the Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau is also a photographer. Between my own photos and Nadine's, I'm one lucky lady.

Here then are some 'candid' shots. Enjoy, we sure did.

When I was writing "Angel" Ken was always in my mind as the hero

Colette was who I pictured as I wrote the  heroine

The chemistry between these two was priceless

When we were shooting, cars kept coming by. We would laugh and comment how we had guns, dusters, and cameras. I will say, both were such good sports. I couldn't have asked for better models.

I'll end with a couple of shots from my camera:

If you look close, you will see Pikes Peak reflected in the window

One of the action shots that didn't quite make it.

Here is one of the background shot that Livia used for "Angel"

Hope you enjoyed this short, behind the scenes look at the photo shoot to bring my characters to life. I've done a couple of others shoots with different actors. With luck you'll be seeing them soon. Until next time, 'you outta be in pictures' .

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw. Doris also writes haiku posted five days a week at – http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com and has now passed one thousand haiku and photos posted on this blog. Check out her other work or like her Amazon author page:  http://amzn.to/1I0YoeL

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TRAINS, WARS AND A MURDER MYSTERY

Post by Doris McCraw/Angela Raines-author

An evening of murder, mystery and a bit of mayhem aboard the
Royal Gorge Route Railroad.

On Saturday October 3, 2015 I was on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad for an evening Murder Mystery. It is one of the jobs I have, as an actor/casting director for Red Herring Productions.  This was the first train show I'd done since the season started on Memorial Day Weekend. During the summer, my other job, that of telling people where to go and how to get there, has me working weekends. 

The fun, of course, is in being someone unlike myself. Interacting with people as, in the case tonight, the matriarch of a dysfunctional family. To say was not liked by my family is an understatement. The real fun, once I get past the motion sickness, is the trip through the gorge. From the town of Canon City where the Arkansas river flows along placidly to the narrows of the gorge, under the Royal Gorge Bridge, and out to Parkdale is a scenic bonanza. There is also some fun history that flows along with the Arkansas.

Royal Gorge  USGS photo.

When the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad was heading up to Leadville in the 1870's, the route they chose was through the Royal Gorge. Unfortunately the Santa Fe Railroad also wanted to use this rounte. The two railroads vied for the right to lay tracks in the gorge. The crews lined up for a shooting war. In Pueblo, where the Santa Fe had headquarters, they imported Bat Masterson to head their crew. 

Much has been written in Colorado about this 'war'. For those who wish, here are some links to "The Rest of the Story"

https://www.royalgorgeroute.com/about-us/our-history/

http://cozine.com/2011-january/the-%E2%80%9Cwar%E2%80%9D-for-the-royal-gorge/

As I traveled the gorge on Saturday, my mind tried to picture those days. In the early part of the year the Arkansas runs high and fast, giving the white water rafters class III to V thrills. In the latter part of the season, the river has slowed down, becoming a peaceful place to fish. I also noticed the wooden pipes, now almost gone, that supplied water to Canon City. Story is that it was built by convict labor, since the territorial prison is located in Canon City. The institution opening its doors in 1874. For more history: http://www.canoncity.com/history-ca%C3%B1-city

Royal Gorge photo by William Henry Jackson

So you can see, even when I'm working, I'm still living with the visions of history, and I like it that way.

Doris McCraw/Angela Raines-author also writes haiku which is posted on the blog:

http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com


Home for His Heart: http://bitly.com/1Ibnw5U



Cowboy Celebraton: http://bitly.com/1MiguNL