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*What’s your next project? My next book scheduled for 2014 is A Change of Plans, a western historical romance. My heroine Maggie writes dime novels under a man’s pen name, and she jilts her bridegroom (whom she didn’t love) at the altar in order to travel west and experience first-hand everything she writes about. She interviews a cowboy fresh off a cattle drive for her new book and winds up falling for him. The trouble is, Ben isn’t a true cowboy—he’s a gambler running from a vengeful gunslinger and was simply hiding out on the Chisholm Trail. Will Ben run from his growing attraction to Maggie and the gunfighter’s promise of death—or will he make a stand for his life—and love?
*How do you feel about self-publishing? I’m not interested in it at this time. I’m happy that it’s opened up avenues for many writers to get their work out to the public, but I’m happy that my publishing house (Soul Mate Publishing) handles things for me such as editing, formatting, and cover design. That way I have more time to concentrate on the writing part. Those in self-publishing have to divide their time more between those activities.
*How important are friends in your life? I consider my friends a part of my family. They are my brothers and sisters by choice. I lean on them for advice. I share the good and bad times with them. They enrich my life and help complete it in a truly satisfying way.
*How many friends does a person need? That’s different for each individual. Where one person is comfortable with a single, trusted friend, others might enjoy the time they spend with a dozen or more. It can change at different times in your life, as well.
*What social issues interest you the most? Public education will always be my top priority, especially having been a teacher for so many years. Creating informed citizens who become servant leaders and contribute back to society should be our nation’s top goal.
*Do you find the time to read? I will always make time to read. Reading takes me to new places. I have adventures. I learn. I laugh. I cry. It challenges me. Informs me. Guides me. There will always be a place in my life for reading.
*Who do you admire? First responders and those who serve in our nation’s military. I believe those are the most noble calling.
*What is your favorite quality about yourself? I’m a loyal listener.
*What is your least favorite quality about yourself? I have a tendency to be impatient.
*What is your favorite quote, by whom, and why? It’s by Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher—“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” This quote really speaks to my heart. As a writer, I could be overwhelmed thinking about producing an entire novel, but something like that doesn’t happen overnight. Every book ever written started with that first word, then first sentence, then first paragraph. Alone, those few words don’t seem like very much, but together, putting paragraph after paragraph, chapter after chapter, taking your time crafting plot and characters—it all adds up to a wonderful whole. Breaking down any difficult task in life into smaller, more manageable steps is the best way to accomplish your goals.
*What are you most proud of accomplishing so far in your life? My daughter is, and always will be, mine and my husband’s greatest accomplishment. She’s creative, passionate, nurturing, intelligent, humorous, and caring. To see I had a small hand in the person she’s become is simply breathtaking.
Lily Frontiere returns from a costly European trip to find her mother has accumulated large gambling debts. Things grow worse as her mother’s health deteriorates and she can no longer run Lucky Lil’s, the most famous whorehouse in San Francisco. Though Lilian shielded her only child from house life by sending her away to boarding school, Lily takes over and poses as Madam Lil. Her intelligence and astonishing resemblance to her mother help, but she’s entering a world she knows little about. Lily tries to extract the house from impending financial ruin until a handsome stranger turns up with the deed to Lucky Lil’s in hand.
Gambler Jed Stone journeys to California to track down Simon Morgan, the man responsible for his best friend’s death. Arrested for robbery and murder upon arrival, he is shocked to see his face on a wanted poster. Jed escapes before his hanging, unaware that the man guilty of those crimes is the twin brother he never knew existed. In a case of mistaken identity, Jed acquires Lucky Lil’s in a rigged card game his twin is meant to win.
Jed asks Madam Lil to stay on as he learns the business. Lily clashes with the new owner over ways to make the establishment profitable, yet she is attracted to the charming risk taker at the same time. Jed is fooled by Lily’s charade until he stumbles upon the real Madam Lil and learns the truth behind Lily’s deception. His admiration for Lily blossoms into love.
But Simon Morgan seeks both Lily’s hand and ownership of Lucky Lil’s—and he will go to any means to possess both. Will Jed foil his nemesis while bringing his outlaw brother to justice?
Buy Now @ Amazon
Genre - Western Historical Romance
Rating – PG
More details about the author
Website http://www.laurenlinwood.com/
Thanks for hosting me today on The Reading Cat, James. I enjoyed stopping by!
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