Don’t miss out….Enter!
Two hearts meant to be together;
One secret bound to rip them apart.
Chase Logan liked being a loner, a drifter, free and clear as amountain stream. But one look into Jessie Strong’s sky blue eyes and in the span of a heartbeat, he found himself agreeing to be her husband-and a father!
Jessie Strong knew it was all pretend. And only temporary. Just until the adoption went through for three-year-old Sarah. But the longer Chase stayed, the less she could imagine a long, lonely Wyoming winter without him. Times may be tough-supplies short and danger just outside the doorstep-but with the strength of the pioneer spirit and the warm glow of love in their herts, Chase and Jessie are determined to have a true family at last, no matter WHERE THE WIND BLOWS.
Welcome, Caroline!!!
1. What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
As most of you would think, I love reading AND writing historicals, mostly westerns. It’s just my passion. But, years ago, I started a reading binge where I read every—well it felt like it–Native American book I could get my hands on. Fiction and non-fiction. I wish I had retained all that knowledge! LOL That led into my Clan of the Cave Bear days. I read that series and went on looking for other authors who wrote similar stuff. Loved it.
2. What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
Presently I’m finishing up a historical western inspirational (that’s a mouth full). It’s a story of two sisters traveling to a gold mine in the Sierra Nevadas. I grew up in the Placerville area, just minutes from where gold was discovered in Coloma. I worked as a freshman in high school until my senior year in a soda fountain/restaurant, The Sierra Nevada House; in Coloma where we served gold strikes and sluce boxes (huge ice cream creations) It was great fun.
My debut book, WHERE THE WIND BLOWS, will be out possibly by the time this blog is posted. It’s a Lonesome Dove meets Little House on the Prairie story.
3. What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
The best compliment I ever received in my writing career was winning the 1999 Golden Heart with my very first manuscript. It was unbelievable. The year before I attended my first RWA conference in Anaheim. Not knowing what to expect I packed something nice for the awards ceremony but when my good friend and roomie saw my outfit she generously offered to lend me one of the two dresses she’d brought. It fit me to a tee and was so beautiful. She gave me some long, drop-down rhinestone earrings to wear and I felt like Cinderella. Then, when I walked inside the ballroom, I was bowled over by the immensity of it. I try not to ever lose that feeling. Then and there I stopped, closed my eyes and asked God to let me be a Golden Heart finalist the next year. Guess what? Wishes do come true. I joked later that I wished I’d asked to let me be a GH finalist AND sell! That took quite a few years longer.
4. What’s your writing schedule like?
I wish I could say I have a concrete writing program.—but that’s not true. When I’m in a good routine I jump out of bed at 4:30, get a cup of coffee, and fire up the computer. My boys are grown and gone so if my hubby doesn’t need me for anything I can write all day. And, I usually do. If I’m at a good spot I can turn out about ten pages.
5. If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
Wow, that’s a hard question. I guess it would be Laura Ingalls Wilder. I love that slow, small town feel, loving family and yes, she’s a writer! Perfect. But, there are so many other heroines that I’d love to be also, if I thought long enough, it might be someone different each day.
Caroline has generously offered a copy of WHERE THE WIND BLOWS to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer the following question:
Did you watch Little House on the Prairie? Who was your favorite character…or…what was your favorite episode?