Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’m a native Texan, a wife, mother, grandmother and mother of an incredibly spoiled Cocker Spaniel who thinks she’s the queen of our household. I like to set stories in Texas and for the last few years, in Montana as well. My stories have also taken me to other states and countries. Sometimes for real and sometimes in my imagination.
I’ve published twenty-eight novels and novellas, with another coming out at Christmas this year. I’ve written for Bantam Loveswept, Harlequin Superromance, Belle Bridge Books, Tule Publishing and have just released a series independently. That’s been quite an experience.
My husband, who I’ve been married to for a long time, is a retired physician, and I love to pick his brain about medical things. Also, my daughter is in medicine as well, and I can ask her questions too. One time I texted her a question while she was at work–Which would you say nowadays? Come on to or hit on? She asked some of her co-workers and the ones who didn’t know I was a writer couldn’t figure out why I was texting her such a weird question. Of course, that’s far from the weirdest question I’ve asked.
I love to research books. Finding out about new to me professions or situations is such fun.
I like to knit and needlepoint, and of course, I love to read. I like to cook–sometimes. I like spring and fall in east Texas and summer in Colorado. Did I mention I like to read?
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Return of the Cowgirl, which will be out August 17. I’ve been writing a series set in Marietta, Montana about the Gallagher family. Four brothers, three of them doctors and one a rancher, and their mysterious sister who disappeared in Argentina where she’d been living and working for several years. Return of the Cowgirl is her story. My title for it is the Amnesiac Cowgirl.<g> I had sent her off and mentioned her and some of the things she’d done or had happened to her throughout the series. Which made it difficult at times when writing her book. I’d think, now why did I put that in there? Now I have to figure out why that happened. It turned out to be a lot of fun.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
To tell you the truth, most writers I know are weird. I think it’s something most of us have in common. As for unusual writing habits, I’d say I like to interview my characters, which involves sitting them down–they often resist–and asking them questions they usually don’t want to answer. But lots of authors do something like this. I write at all times of the day and night, depending on deadlines and inspiration.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I love Nora Roberts. I don’t know that she’s influenced me so much as provided me with wonderful books and a real appreciation for romance. I like romantic suspense. Some of the classic mistresses particularly. Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, Phyllis A. Whitney. And newer ones, Nora Roberts, Kay Hooper, Suzanne Brockmann, Justine Davis (she also writes futuristic romances that are fabulous), Kylie Brandt, Linda Howard…. I could go on. I have very eclectic tastes. I love Georgette Heyer’s Regency romances and one of my friends, Julia Justiss, writes Regency historicals which are wonderful. For inspirational romance, I think Lenora Worth’s books are great. And on the other end of the spectrum, Katherine Garbera writes sexy, emotional stories that I adore. Oh, and lately I just started Nalini Singh’s The Guild Hunter series, which is amazing. I don’t normally like or read vampire or angel books and these are both. But they’re totally unlike any vampires or angels I’ve ever read. Her world building is phenomenal. Fascinating. And Raphael, the Archangel of New York, is possibly the sexiest man ever to walk on a page. Yes, even more than Roarke!
What are you working on now?
I’m working on putting out my indie series in print. For new work, three of my friends and I are working on A Whiskey River Christmas Carol. Julia Justiss is writing the historical book, and me, Katherine Garbera and Nancy Robards Thompson are writing contemporary books, set in the fictional town of Whiskey River, Texas. I’ve just started, which means I have to talk a lot about my plot and characters, pore over Pinterest for pictures (poor me, having to look for pictures of good-looking men.:), and choose a music playlist for the book. So far I only have five songs and none of them are Christmas Carols!
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I’m trying to grow my BookBub followers and have been growing my newsletter list as well. I do a lot on Facebook and some on Twitter. Two of my publishers, Belle Books and Tule Publishing, have websites and my books are on there. Right now I’m experimenting with different methods and promotion mediums.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Persistence. Believe in yourself. Most writers go through a mountain of rejection both before and after they publish. I come from a traditional publishing background, but recently have ventured into the Indie world, and it’s a whole new story. But I think no matter whether you publish traditionally, independently, or both as I do, you have to be persistent and believe in yourself. (Some would call this stubborn.:)
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
A quote from Nora Roberts.:)
“My top three pieces of writing advice? Stop whining and write. Stop f*cking around and write. Stop making excuses and write.
What are you reading now?
Summer in Manhattan by Katherine Garbera. Wonderful contemporary romance. When I finish it I’ll be reading the next in the Guild Hunters series. I think it’s #6.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I’m going to a couple of writers’ conferences. RWA in Orlando this summer and Ninc at St. Pete Beach in the fall. I’m also working on ideas for a new series for Tule publishing.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Does it have electricity? If so I’d bring my kindle.<g>
Books or series? I don’t think I can narrow it down to three or four books. Or even three or four series. I regularly reread stuff. Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings, JD Robb’s in Death books, Georgette Heyer’s Regencies, Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters, Kay Hooper’s Bishop Files…and I suspect the Guild Hunter series will also be a fave to reread. There are more, of course, but you see why I find it impossible to pick.
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