I haven’t done this in a while, but I wanted you all to get to know this lady – Monica S. Martinez, Author of Tantalizing Erotic Thoughts & Encounters

Q: So, Monica, where are you from?
A:  I was born and raised in Queens, NY. I grew up in South Jamaica, where I attended elementary and junior high school. I then moved on to Forest Hills where I went to high school and met my first husband.

Q: What kinds of books do you like to read?
A:  I enjoy reading fiction, Urban writing, Poetry, Murder Mysteries and also some non-fiction such as memories, biographies. 

Q: What are some of your favorite authors?
A: James Patterson, Dean Kootz, Anne Rice, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Ivan Sanchez, and Esmeralda Santiago.   

Q: What inspired you to write?
A: I’ve always written, since I’m twelve. I was once sexually repressed and when I turned thirty and remarried I was able to let my inhibitions go. I opened an Adult Novelty company back in 2004 where I would go into women’s houses and educate them on how to keep their sex lives interesting and fresh. It was an eye opener as to how many women were really unhappy with their sex lives. I became sort of a sex therapist and I found myself writing stories to help ignite some passion into their lives.

Q: When will Tantalizing Erotic Thoughts and Encounters available to purchase?
A: Readers can go on my site http://monicamartinez.org or grab it form Amazon.com

Thank you so much for speaking to us.

Once homeless and living in his car, award-winning novelist Jeff Rivera writes passionate stories of those often forgotten and neglected by society. He believes even in the eyes of a gang member, even beneath the soiled clothes of a bag lady or behind the tears of a lonely kid in the back of the class, there lies a common thread that links us all, the universal human story.  He has made it his personal mission to help change the way the world thinks in a positive way through his stories. Mr. Rivera currently lives in Miami, Florida. Adopted by his Filipino stepfather when he was seven years old, his ethnic background is Black American and Native American.

Mr. Rivera was nice enough to let me interview him on the release of his book, Forever My Lady. Mr. Rivera has also donated a copy of his book to one of my readers. Just comment by Friday and I’ll chose a winner. I’m sure this is one you’ll want, gang, so make sure to leave me your email address (spaced out for security purposes, of course) so I can contact the winner!

Tell us the basic storyline of Forever My Lady?

It’s my first novel and I really wrote this from my heart. It tells the story of a teenager who feels like he has absolutely no body in the world until he mets a girl named Jennifer who is the one person who not only loves him just the way he is but promises never to leave his side.  Then, one thing leads to another, Dio ends up in prison boot camp and promises her he’ll marry  her when he gets out. He’s making all these changes in his life for her then he finds out from a friend that she has plans to marry someone else.
Why were you so passionate about telling that story in particular?
I felt it was a story that needed to be told, not one we see every day and it was one that I could relate to so I knew other people had to be able to relate to also.

Forever My Lady has been getting quite a bit of buzz even when it was self-published. Did you have any idea it would be so well-received?

No, I was scared that no body would like it actually but when I started getting great reviews from regular people then I knew it had struck a chord. Then the reviews from the pros came in and then that cemented things for me. I think as a writer you can feel a little insecure sometimes about whether people are “getting you” and it’s nice to know when people are.

What challenges did you face in getting the book published?

I think my greatest challenge was being shocked at the rejection. I mean, instead of getting depressed I was actually thinking to myself, “Are they crazy?” Haha. I must have received at least 20 rejections but the people at Grand Central really got it and I’m so grateful to be given the chance to finally show the world this story that I believe in so very much.

Is Forever My Lady available on Amazon.com?
Yes, Amazon.com, www.JeffRivera.com and bookstores everywhere.

Thank you so much for your time, Jeff! I’m sure we’ll be seeing your name much more in the future!

Today it is my extreme pleasure to introduce you to Heather Garside.

Heather grew up on a cattle property in Central Queensland. As a child she loved horses, books and the bush and these are still passions of hers. She and her husband now have a cattle and grain farm. She has two young adult children, a son who’s doing a boilermaker’s apprenticeship and a daughter who is presently living many miles away in South Australia.

Heather first began writing at the age of seven and published her first novel when she was in her early twenties. At that time many towns in Central Queensland were celebrating their centenaries, and this helped inspire her historical novels set in the pioneering days. Having babies interrupted her writing and she didn’t seriously return to it until many years later.

As well as being a member of the Queensland Writers Centre and the Romance Writers of Australia, she belongs to a local writers’ group which meets once a month. They’ve published two books of short stories, in which some of her work has been included. She has also had short stories printed in other anthologies.

Heather is one of a group of volunteers who once a month put together a newsletter of the happenings around her town. She works part-time at the local library and, of course, at home on the farm.

Thanks, Heather for agreeing to this interview!

You published your first book in your early twenties. How did that change your life?

It didn’t change it significantly. I spent a lot of time canvassing bookstores, and was young enough to take rejections to heart! Fortunately for me, there were a lot more openings for self-published books in those days, before the national chains dominated the marketplace.

You write both novels and short stories. How different do you find those two forms and do you favor one?

I prefer writing novels as my ideas are usually too big to be encapsulated in a short story. Most of the short stories I’ve written have been aimed at a particular project, and wouldn’t have been written otherwise. My favourites of them are on the long side – 5-6,000 words.

When I was growing up, all my friends who read romance wanted to visit Australia. As a resident of Australia, is there somewhere else in the world you consider exotic and romantic and you’ve always wanted to visit?

Earlier this year I was able to realize a dream by visiting Canada’s Rocky Mountains and Alaska. I would also love to visit Britain, Europe and the USA. I’m sure my desire to see Greece has been inspired by Mary Stewart’s use of that country as a setting for some of her novels.

What is your writing routine like?

I don’t have a set routine. My days vary with work on the farm, part-time work at the local library, and volunteer activities. I tend to write when I can fit it in!

What does your family think of your writing?

I’m sure my children (both young adults now) think it’s a bit weird having a writer for a mother, although my daughter enjoys reading my books. My husband is a rather blasé about the whole thing – or pretends to be! My mother and siblings seem to be quite proud of me.

Where did you get the idea for The Cornstalk?

In the 1980s many towns in Central Queensland were celebrating their centenaries. Most of them published books to mark the occasion, and one of these publications, featuring a tiny town called Banana, caught my imagination in particular. Banana was actually settled earlier, in the 1860s, and began life as a teamsters’ town. It seemed a fitting setting for my hero, an ex-teamster.

Is there a story idea that you’ve wanted to write for a long time, but for some mysterious reason, it just won’t let itself get written?

No, I haven’t experienced that problem. I do find my story ideas morphing somewhat from the original as I write.

Are you a member of a critique group and if so, how useful has it been to your work?

I’ve been a member of a face-to-face group for seven to eight years and an online group for the last two. The online group is very pro-active and has helped me a lot. The face-to-face group was also an enormous help in the early years, but hasn’t been as active recently.

What is one thing you learned since you first got published that you wish you’d known before?

The main thing that comes to mind, and this is specific to my situation, is that I would have ordered more books for local sales. Some of my orders have been extremely slow coming to Australia and I’ve been without books more often than I’ve had them!

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

Join writing organizations (such as RWA) and writing groups, although critique groups must be approached with caution. Some people can be negative in their critiques and this can destroy a new writer’s confidence. Study the craft by attending workshops and reading how-to books. Study how your favourite authors do it! And keep persevering.

Is there anything else you’d like my readers to know about you?

If you’d like to know more about me and my novels, visit my website at www.heathergarside.com or my Myspace page at www.myspace.com/heathergar

Thanks, Heather, for being with us today!

Rather than join her wealthy parents in England, Louise Ashford sets off to work as a governess in the frontier settlements of the Australian Outback. She finds herself in the company of a young cattleman of convict descent, a man she knows will never be accepted by her family.

Their passionate love affair is brought to a sudden end when Louise’s brother intervenes, carrying her off to England. The pain of separation is compounded by a cruel deception, and there is more suffering and shame in store for Louise. She finally returns to Australia, but can the issues dividing the lovers be resolved?

A review of The Cornstalk:

“With beautifully written prose Garside creates characters of exceptional depth–ones that take root in your heart and grow. Louise Ashford, a gutsy and strong Englishwoman takes her future into her own hands rather than allow herself be forced into marriage.

Set against an Australian backdrop, she faces both physical and emotional danger with a fortitude that commands respect and compassion. The Cornstalk is a fast-paced and engaging story of pride, jaw-clenching determination, and romance. This is a truly captivating story from a talented storyteller.”

Marilyn Gardiner – Author of Dancing Ladies, Flight of Angels, My Pretty Lady

Today it is my great pleasure to introduce you to Carol McPhee.

Carol lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, with Karl, her husband of forty-five years. With their four children grown and flown, there is time to enjoy researching locations that will give authenticity to her novels. As soon as she finishes one story, another is burning in the back of her mind, its characters prodding her to let them out.

Hi, Carol! Thanks for joining us today.

You’re a multi-published author. Have you found that your life has changed since you sold your first book?

Yes, I don’t recall receiving such wide-spread admiration before. (And don’t I eat that up!!) Also I spend a great deal more time on things other than actual writing. Promotion is time-consuming, as is learning new techniques and critiquing other works so their writers will critique mine.

What is your writing routine?

I start my day at 4am answering emails from other writers and doing fresh writing on whatever story is my work in progress.

Where did you get the idea for Alaskan Magic?

I had been on two cruises to Alaska and loved the wildness of the state. When we decided to go again, I knew I had to begin a story that could evolve with our trip. I also wanted to use older characters to add additional texture to the rich setting.

Do you see yourself in Amanda Bennington? In what way?

Oh, yes. Amanda’s penchant for facing a challenge with whatever is at her disposal is definitely me.

How about Retreat to Danger? Where did that idea come from? Do you know?

I live in a coastal province of Canada and therefore the sea has a strong influence on me. It was natural to want to do a story with a marine setting. I think the idea of the story itself came from my two favorite movies…Man Without A Face and The Perfect Storm.

What kind of research did you do for Retreat to Danger?

The setting is Maine so I traveled the scenic route 1 along the coast to pick up the atmosphere and setting details. I visited wharves to study the types of fishing boats used and googled information on lobster fishing.

Now we come to Undercover Trouble. Did you interview members of motorcycle gangs to add realism to the story?

I interviewed a couple of motorcycle gang members, two prison guards, a local police officer and a Mountie. I like to have my facts realistic.

What is your advice for people wanting to write suspense?

Be thorough in your research, concentrate on creating tension through settings as well as through relationships and don’t make the ending predictable.

How do you blend the suspense and the romance?

I blend it with great care to not let one overpower the other.

Do you have a book idea that haunts you but you just can’t seem to make it work?

I have an idea for an historical romance but I’m not sure I can work a full length novel that will hold my interest that long, let alone a reader’s but time will tell. I need to do more research before I commit to it.

What kind of advice would you give a new writer?

I would recommend two things…persist with your dream and write something everyday. These have worked for me.

What are you working on next?

I’m working on another suspense. The wife of a famous artist is found dead at the base of his studio. Because the husband shows no sign of grief and has only a flimsy alibi, a detective suspects foul play. He sends a novie psychologist into the household to see if she can find any grounds for his hunch. Unforeseen circumstances interfere with her investigation in surprising ways. This may be my last suspense for a while. Suspense is harder to write than a straight romance because each plot point must be kept track of and eventually come to a satisfying conclusion for the reader.

After forty-five years of marriage, your husband must be your biggest fan. Has it always been that way and in what ways does he support you?

He has always been supportive–first by teaching me to use the computer to simplify my work load, taking me wherever I need to go to do research, bookkeeping, proofreading, helping me set up at craft fairs and just generally being helpful wherever he can.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell my readers about yourself or your work?

I love developing characters to the point where they take off on their own in a completely new direction than what I might have expected. From then on, each day when I sit at the computer, I have no idea what is going to happen and am fully entertained as I hope the reader will be.

I belong to two wonderful critique groups. One has been there for me from the start of my publishing ventures six years ago and I’ve benefited from their help tremendously. Several of them are men and surprisingly, they have provided terrific insight, though they profess to not like romance stories. The two women in the group have sharp eyes for keeping me on track. The other group is made up of women fiction writers who each in their talented way get into the nuts and bolts of the romance aspect itself. I would never submit a manuscript without going through a critique group to catch problems obvious to objective minds.

Thanks, Carol for joining us!

It’s been a pleasure, Nancy.

Mauri Ripley believes she and her son will be safe on Maine’s isolated coast. With the danger left behind, she can rekindle Sam’s spirit and work on her historical romance novel. The bull-headed next door neighbor confirms her retreat is not as safety zone she had hoped

.

The Harley-Davison revs up as it passes in the night. Jen Murray’s cabin walls shudder. She needs a clear mind to deal with the tragedy that forced her into hiding. Her need for peace calls for confrontation.

Mitch Waverley’s undercover mission heads for success when the gang he’s been infiltrating for months calls upon him to eliminate a social worker. He is flabbergasted to learn his target is the red-headed witch living next door.

Fifty-something socialite Amanda Bennington finds herself at an unbelievable fork in the road. Freshly divorced and bitter as hell, she can now add homeless to her life’s description.

You can find out more about these books and others by Carol at her site.

Today I want to introduce you to Anna Dynowski, author of For Better, For Worse, Forever, which will be released in just a couple of days from Wings Press.

Hi, Anna! Thanks for joining us today!

Your book, For Better, For Worse, Forever, is scheduled to be released in November. How long did it take you to write this book?

The rough first draft of the book took about a year to write…after I managed to bulldoze my way through the writer’s block. That’s the only way I can describe it. I had the premise for the story but I couldn’t write it no how. I couldn’t plot or outline it. Nothing. Never have I prayed so much over any book as I did for this one. At first, I thought it was something personal blocking my writing. You see, my husband and I have no children and I thought I’d laid my Isaac down, years ago. It turned out God just wanted to get my attention, for me to learn something new about myself and have a fresh revelation of Him.

Where did you get the idea for this intriguing story?

As I was finishing up my second book, Appointment With Destiny, the idea for For Better, For Worse, Forever popped into my head. I’m so glad my publisher, Wings ePress, Inc., didn’t suffer from any writer’s block. I love the blurb they have written for my book:

One thirty-something woman, desperate to silence her clanging biological clock, and one husband, terrified of becoming the tool to silence, clash until amnesia offers them both a chance to lay down their selfish wants and desires and take a leap of faith.

As an inspirational author, how do you balance the religious aspects of the story with the romance aspects?

I’m heavy on the romance, taking great pains to ensure my characters are far from perfect, even in their spiritual walk. But I am an overt Christian writer so my stories are laced throughout with prayers, scriptures, church services (and not always in church!).

Is there a “moral” to For Better, For Worse, Forever? A truth you’d like your readers to take away from it?

To trust God no matter what your circumstances are or how painful they may appear to be. He will give you the resources, not to go over, around, or beneath your mountain, but through it, to victory and blessing.

How long have you been writing fiction?Since 2000, with my first book, Full Circle being published in 2005.

What made you want to write inspirationals?I want to encourage and entertain readers with the truth love never fails, and Inspirational Romance is just the perfect match for me: I can write what’s in my heart–love–and what’s in my soul–faith in God.

You’ve been married for 23 years. Congratulations! Is your husband supportive of your writing?He’s awesome! Henry is my most ardent supporter, a great cheerleader. He believes in my ability and encourages me to keep on. And he’s very understanding when I hole up in my home office for hours at a time.

What is your writing routine?As I have a full-time day job in the Human Resources of my company, my writing is limited to evenings and weekend afternoons.

Do you have any tricks to get you into a writing mode?There’s nothing like a fast-approaching deadline to jumpstart the creative juices! When there’s the luxury of time, then a good book will do the trick. Or gardening.

Who are your favorite authors? What are your favorite kinds of books to read?My favorite kinds of books are romances, naturally. (I’m an incurable romantic.) I love character-driven books. A couple of my favorite authors are Nora Roberts and Robin Lee Hatcher. They do such a great job of creating characters, on paper, who are real and vibrant and demand you get caught up in their emotions and come along for the ride. Something I try to do with my characters.

Do you have any advice for aspiring authors?Never give up. Keep on learning and practicing the craft. Read in the genre you want to write in. And always remember the promise of Psalm 27:13-14

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait I say on the Lord…for slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. It it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient.”

Is there anything else you’d like the readers to know?

I love hearing from readers and I can be reached at annadynowski@yahoo.ca

Visit me at:

http://www.geocities.com/annadynowski

http://AnnaDynowski.bebo.com

http://www.myspace.com/annadynowski

http://www.facebook.com

Check out my books:

For Better, For Worse, Forever, Wings ePress, Inc., November, 2007, 4.5 Ribbon rating-Romance Junkies

Appointment With Destiny, Write Words, Inc., 5 Roses rating-A Romance Review

Full Circle, Write Words, Inc., 5 Ribbon rating-Romance Junkies

Thanks for joining us today!

“Pretend you’re happily married.”

Toronto bookseller, Catharine Taylor, is spunky. Smart. And separated from her husband of ten years. With her biological clock banging away, all she wanted from her husband was a baby–just one baby–but what she got instead was a pending divorce.

When an accident befalls construction boss, Hudson Taylor, she is summoned to his bedside and to her surprise, he now wants to start a family. Great! There’s just one little incidental marring her joy: he suffers from amnesia and doesn’t remember filing for divorce or not wanting children.

Today I’d like to introduce you to multi-published, Elaine Cantrell.

Elaine Cantrell was born and raised in South Carolina. She holds a Master’s Degree in Personnel Services from Clemson University and is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educators. She is also a member of Romance Writer’s of America and EPIC authors. Her first novel, A New Leaf, was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest and was published in 2004 by Oak Tree Books. At present she teaches high school social studies.

Elaine was gracious enough to sit for an interview about her writing and her book The Welcome Inn.

Hi, Elaine and thanks for agreeing to be with us today!

One of the things that always fascinates me is where authors get their ideas. Where did you get the idea for The Welcome Inn?

My father gave me the idea for The Welcome Inn. After he retired he worked part time as a desk clerk at a local motel. The stories he came home and told! I decided a motel would be a good setting for a story.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always wanted to be a writer. When I was five I dictated my first story to my dad who put it in a cedar chest where it stayed for over forty years. When he died my stepmother found it and gave it to me. More recently, I started writing after my son wrote a book. He told me that he always made up stories in his head to amuse himself, and since I did the same thing I flirted with the idea of writing myself. While I was thinking it over I had dinner with some friends, one of whom is an English teacher. She suggested we should each write a book and critique each other’s work. I jumped on the idea, and I’ve been writing ever since.

How long did you write before you got published?

Luckily, not too long. I entered a contest about a year after I wrote my first novel and when I won first place they published the book for me. The name of the book is A New Leaf, and it’s still available at Amazon.

What is your favorite scene from The Welcome Inn?

My favorite scene happens when Buck and Julianna are hiding from some bad guys at Buck’s cabin. Julianna is afraid to sleep in the room by herself, and Buck agrees to share a bed with her. Interesting things start to happen after a humorous beginning. My husband actually laughed when he read it.

How do your high school students handle your being a published author?

LOL. They aren’t nearly as impressed as I think they should be! Most of them are curious about the type of stuff I write. I’ve shown them a couple of covers, but I don’t think too many of them have read my work. I did have one student who bought A New Leaf for his mother’s Christmas present.

Given that you’re with teenagers all day, do you ever think about writing a young adult novel?

Probably not. After working with young people all day I’m ready for something else.

What are you working on now?

The name of my new novel is Rest Thy Head. It’s the story of two sisters who find love at a haunted inn, and there really is a ghost who plays a significant part in the story

Do you have any advice for new authors?

Don’t take no for an answer. I think the difference between those who get published and those who don’t is persistence. It also helps to belong to a critique group, and when you submit to publishers be sure to follow their guidelines.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell the readers?

Yes, I blog at My Space where I share lots of excerpts, contests, recipes, and glimpses into my own life. I’d love for everyone to take a look at it.

Thanks for taking the time to be with us today!

Thanks for asking me. I’ve enjoyed talking with you.

Julianna can’t stand Buck Abercrombie! He’s rude, chauvinistic, and exasperating, and he’s her new boss. Why couldn’t the bank see that she’s done a good job cleaning up The Welcome Inn? Why wouldn’t they loan her the money to buy the Inn? Now Buck comes along and reaps the benefits of all her hard work. Oh, and don’t forget his nasty, criminal brother Travis. He works for Buck, and her friend Melanie has a crush on him!

The Welcome Inn is available from Wings Press.

I’m thrilled to be able to bring you another wonderful author, Elaine Grant.

Elaine and I have been friends for over a year. She was president of our local RWA chapter, HeartLA last year and I was vice-president. We went to RWA’s National Conference in Atlanta last year. Elaine drove and I paid for gas! It was a hoot, so when she sold her book, Make-Believe Mom, I knew I wanted to do something special for her.

When Elaine was five years old, she decided she wanted to be a writer who illustrated her own books. Her first short story was published in the local weekly newspaper when she in third grade. There was no turning back after that!

Elaine graduated from Louisiana State University about ten years late with a degree in Computer Science and a minor in Creative Writing. She worked for several years in the chemical industry first in sales then as a computer analyst. When her son was born, she “retired” to start a second and more fun career as a stay-at-home mother–and to indulge her lifelong obsession to write.

Her first novel Roses for Chloe, a ghost romance set in south Louisiana, was released in 1998 by Penguin Putnam/Berkley Jove.

Elaine loves horses, cowboys, gardening, baseball, travel, and eating sushi with her son when he’s home from college. A native of Alabama, Elaine lives in Louisiana with her husband, son, a psycho cat, and a lovely Australian Shepherd, where her family enjoys the food and the unique culture of the area.

Hi, Elaine, and thanks for the opportunity to interview you and share your writing with the readers of my blog.

Your first book, Roses for Chloe, was published in 1998 and your second one came out this month. How did you stay motivated with so many years between books?

I write simply because I must. It’s an obsession I’ve had since I was about five years old. I wrote long, long before I published the first one, and will probably always write no matter what the circumstances. As for the specific period between books, I was incredibly busy during those years. My son was in high school, playing baseball with a very competitive state championship team. My husband and I never missed a game. I was a partner in a small non-fiction publishing company. After a couple of years doing that, I realized that I much preferred to lie–I mean create other worlds–so I “retired” from the publishing company and returned to my first love, fiction. I also finished two manuscripts during that period, one being Make-Believe Mom.

You have one son, yet in Make-Believe Mom the hero has seven children. Did you find it difficult to keep all those children strait and give them distinct personalities?

Actually, no, I had no trouble at all keeping up with them–maybe because they were stuck on paper and not able to get in real trouble. Each of them brought his or her own personality to the character. I did have to write down eye color and hair color, just to be consistent. They were sweet children, and I found myself in restaurants and malls, watching young kids. I often asked mothers how old their children were, to try and make sure mine “acted their age.”

When we were driving to Atlanta in 2006 for RWA’s National Conference, you shared an interesting story about the opening scene in the book. Would you share that with my readers?

Originally Jon called the vet to the ranch because his young calves had scours (a form a digestive upset). I needed to know how this illness would be treated and joined a cattle forum where a lot of ranchers and farmers discussed problems. It didn’t take long to realize that almost without exception ranchers would treat scours themselves with no need for a vet. I’d almost made my hero TDTL (Too Dumb To Live).

When I realized I needed something more complicated than scours I located a lady vet on that same Cattle Forum and she walked me through a cow-C-section, which was one of only a few things a vet would be called out to do. She was very helpful with her minute detail on this and also gave me some insight on the difficulties of being a female large animal vet in a predominately man’s world.

So that’s why Make Believe Mom begins with a cow C-section!

What inspired you to write Make-Believe Mom?

Good question. I don’t know. I’ve always loved cowboys, and this rancher named Jon came to visit in my head one day and brought along all seven kids. He mentioned there was this new lady vet in town and well, he’d like to …. So, I just took it from here.

What is your favorite scene from Make-Believe Mom?

I think probably Jon and Kaycee’s date at the Rainbow Ranch restaurant. Very romantic night, when they actually realized they were in love.

Have you always wanted to write romance?

No. When I was in college I wanted to write literary fiction. The trouble was the eternal manuscript I was working on was historical and had romance in it. So that wouldn’t work. I read a lot of different genres and like to write all kinds of things. My first published book Roses for Chloe was a paranormal Southern Romance. I’m working on a thriller. And I have three historicals gathering dust on a shelf. But the common thing is that they all have a strong love story in them, because I do like to write love stories.

I know you have another book in the pipeline. What can you tell us about that one?

My next Superromance is slated for 2008 and has no title at this point. It’s the story of Sarah James, the independent woman who runs the Little Lobo Café in Make-Believe Mom. She has plans to tear down the old, dilapidated mansion behind the café and build a brand new bed and breakfast–until her double-crossing brother sells his half of the property to stranger Cimarron Cole, who is determined to restore the house for his own use! Sarah and Cimarron battle each other and demons from their respective childhoods. Then four-year-old Wyatt, Cimarron’s orphaned nephew who calls himself Nobody’s Little Boy is dropped on Cimarron’s doorstep and two people who claim to never want kids have to decide this child’s fate.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on Sarah and Cimarron’s story, and the thriller set in Tennessee.

Anything parting words?

Thanks for inviting me! I hope readers enjoy Make-Believe Mom and I’d love from them at elaine@elainegrant.com. I also have a contest going at www.elainegrant.com

Elaine’s Book, Make-Believe Mom, a September 2007 release, is the rollicking story of a widowed Montana rancher who will do whatever he must to keep custody of his seven young children–even fake an engagement with the new lady vet in town.

I’m starting a few feature here. I decided that with so many wonderful authors and books out there, my readers might like to know a little more about some of their favorites and maybe find out about some authors they didn’t know before. I hope you find something here you’ll want to read!
Today’s author is Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy is the author of Petticoat Ranch and Golden Days. She has recently signed an exclusive contract that includes Calico Canyon, a sequel to Petticoat Ranch.

She writes for three different divisions of Barbour Publishing; Trade Fiction, Heartsong Presents, and Heartsong Presents Mysteries. She also teaches GED by day and writes her novels by night, which sounds like a transformation worth of Superman so she’s always looking for a phone booth!

Mary’s dream is to tell love stories that make people laugh while drawing them closer to God. She lives on a farm in Nebraska with her husband, Ivan. She just moved the last of her youngest child to college and the nest is so empty it echoes. She has four daughters, Joslyn, Wendy, Shelly and Katy. Writing is great but her family is her true life’s work.

She has two books out.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Mary recently.

Mary, welcome and thank you for finding time to speak with us about yourself and your writing. First, let’s talk about you a little.

You write for three different divisions of Barbour Publishing; Trade Fiction, Heartsong Presents, and Heartsong Presents Mysteries. Do you ever find yourself confused as to which division you’re writing for today?

It’s been okay, Nancy. I worried about it some, but I just finished a three book series for HP that will be out in 2009 and it’s contemporary, my Heartsong Presents Mysteries are contemporary too, but cozy mysteries. They’ve very different from a regular HP in voice and style, it’s pretty off the wall, the characters are supposed to be quirky.

So, when I finished that third HP I went straight to a historical romantic comedy that I had finished but needed to revise. I wondered if I’d have trouble catching the drawl and the attitude of historical characters.

But the first time I had my cowboy tip his Stetson back and say, “I reckon so, Ma’am.” Well, it was just fun. I love that style of writing.

So, I’m doing okay. I probably helps that I wrote for years…many, many years…before getting a contract. In those ten years I wrote everything, cop dramas, sweet romances, spy thrillers, gothic romances, romantic suspense, westerns, anything and everything that had a story idea I wanted to pursue. So I’m used to writing for different genres.

How do your books for Trade Fiction and Heartsong Presents differ?

The basic difference is length of course. An HP is 45,000 words and a Trade Fiction is more like 90,000…those books aren’t as chained to a word count as the HPs so they can be longer or shorter, but 90,000 is a good ballpark figure.

Also an HP is two POVs. We’re party to the thoughts of the hero and heroine. Once in a while we get a bit of the villain, but that’s it.

In Petticoat Ranch I’ve got…I’d say eight Point of View characters. And several of those only have one scene. So that’s a big difference.

And the other thing is an HP is very straightforward. It’s just to short a form of writing to be otherwise. No subplots, just the love story. Of course there’s an underlying story, but in Petticoat Ranch I’m jumping to major subplots, which I love, I find the shorter style difficult to rein myself in. And I also find myself closing in on the end and I’ve got a lot of story left to tell. But it’s challenging to NOT go off on a tangent and I find I like writing both ways.

You’re in the “empty nest” phase of your life? As the mom of a recent 18year old, I’m dying to know how you’re coping with that.

Honest, Nancy, the day my husband Ivan and I moved Katy to college…yikes, I can’t even tell you how it felt. It was just shocking. Devastating, really. We barely spoke to each other the whole hour plus drive home because there just wasn’t a way to put it into words, this sense of a huge chapter of our lives…the MAIN focus of our lives for thirty years, being over.

We see our children a lot. It’s an unusual week that we don’t see our girls, although one of them didn’t show up last week. But we talked to her a dozen times. They’re just not that far away and we are really close and just enjoy them so much.

But it’s different.

Ivan and I sat in our living room watching TV after we got home from moving Katy and I just had this awful sense that this was it. Our lives. We’re both fifty-one and we’re from long lived people. Possibly we could just sit there in front of that TV for the next forty years. Awk!

We even talked about it. We need to find a hobby, a group, and activity. But we can’t think of anything. We’ve just been parents forever. Maybe something will come to us.

As the mom of daughters, I can understand that writing heroines might come easily to you, but do you find it hard to get into the minds of your heroes?

Well, I think of Petticoat Ranch as my husband’s story. So I hope I got the hero right.

My husband, Ivan, is from a family of seven sons. Now we have four daughters. Sometimes, watching Ivan react to the girls, doing the very normal things the girls do, is hilarious. They just shock him. One time, during an extensive discussion of control top panty hose, Ivan shook his head and said, “This is a conversation we never had at home.”

I used his well intentioned efforts to figure out women as the background for Clay, my hero in Petticoat Ranch. At least Ivan had a mother, girl cousins and classmates. Then we dated and married, then added the daughters one at a time.

Clay came from an all male world, first in the Rocky Mountains, then in the war. He was dropped into his all-girl family with absolutely no preparation. Believing it is his Christian duty to protect and care for these women, he marries Sophie about four hours after he regains consciousness in her care.

And then the shocks start coming. The giggling, the hair pulling, the tears. He handles it all as badly as possible all while being charmed and drawn to his wife and daughters. The man is wildly conflicted and the comedy of his confusion just floods the entire book.

The next book in this series, Calico Canyon is about the prissy Grace Calhoun, the school marm and the father of her most unruly students. She gets his kids kicked out of school. He gets her fired. A completely innocent compromising situation forces them into marriage. NOT a happy marriage. So this is the flip side of Petticoat Ranch, a woman thrust into an all male world. We’ll see if I get it right.

Now, Golden Days doesn’t sound, from the blurb, like it would be as funny as Petticoat Ranch. Am I right and if so, is it hard to switch from one to the other?

No, there is a lot of comedy in Golden Days. You know, I can’t seem to not write comedy. I don’t even mean to. When I’m writing along I just always seem to go with the sassy choice in dialogue and the wackiest choice in action. I can’t stop myself.

What advice would you give an author who is interested in writing humorous books?

I guess see if you actually write humor first. I don’t think it’s necessarily a natural choice. It just kind of happens. I mean, I can control the comedy to a point, but it’s always there. I’ve talked to people who are really fun and funny to visit with who then write really serious books and I always say, “Your humor is a gift from God why isn’t it in your books?” They just act like it’s not what comes out of them. Do people really sit down to a book and think, “Okay, I’m making this one a comedy?” I don’t know.

Do you find it difficult to tackle serious spiritual truths with humor?

I haven’t found anything that I can’t lace with humor. I think the humor makes everything more accessible to the reader. One of my favorite scenes in Petticoat Ranch is a church service. A service where the sermon is a very powerful, fire and brimstone like preacher telling them to forgive their enemies, and the whole service has the kids flinching from the shouting and the parents feeling guilty. We hear very little of the service, it’s more about the families reaction to it. It’s a very funny scene with a fundamental scriptural truth about love and hate and forgiveness.

Thanks for being with us today, but before we go, do you have any final words you’d like to say?

I want to make a pitch here for Christian fiction. I think it’s the most exciting time possible to be involved with Christian fiction. It’s growing steadily and expanding into all genres and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.

Anyone who is reading you blog, I want you to think about what you like to read, then, if it isn’t Christian fiction, go see if there isn’t a Christian version of it. Fast paced, well written books in all genres but with a Christian viewpoint. So, no profanity, no nudity, heroes and heroines making moral choices. But the bad guys are just as bad, the problems go just as deep. It’s just done in a way that isn’t offensive to a Christian reader.

Thanks for having me on your blog, Nancy.

Petticoat Ranch

Sophie Edwards’ life is one long struggle for survival, and, more importantly, the survival of her four daughters. She wants to avenge her husband’s murder, but she has no idea how to do it. And as if she hasn’t got enough to do, now a wounded man is disrupting her family’s lonely
life.

Clay McClellen left an idyllic, all-male world in the mountains. But, after plunging headfirst over a cliff, Clay finds himself at the mercy of a widow and her four girls.

Petticoat Ranch is a suspenseful romantic comedy about a mountain man trapped in a pretty, sweet smelling, confusing all-girl world, from Barbour Publishing

Golden Days

After a mishap on a bustling Seattle street nearly kills her, Amy Simons is going home to Alaska.

Braden Rafferty, devastated by the loss of his wife and child, needs to get away from his home. His brother’s new life in Alaska lures him north in the midst of the Klondike Gold Rush.

Amy, frail from her recent injuries, reminds Braden too much of his fragile wife. Amy’s independence on the trip north is crushed when she has to accept Braden’s help getting home, and she vows that as soon as her strength returns, she won’t depend on anybody. But Amy finds out she has no home to go to, and Braden steps in and takes her to his brother’s.

After Amy has another near death experience, she begins to wonder if her accidents aren’t accidental at all.

Golden Days is available through Mary’s website, www.maryconnealy.com or the Heartsong Presents website. www.heartsongpresent.com

Heartsong Presents, a division of Barbour Publishing