What inspired you to write Texas Winds?

 I write very character-driven work versus plot driven and my stories always come me character first. Something sparks an idea for a character, then I build the story around it. For Texas Winds, I was thumbing through an online photo site and saw this picture of a cowboy on a mesa, just sitting there – the sun was setting and a storm was coming in. I was drawn to it immediately and my writer’s brain knew he had a story to tell, and started asking him questions: Who are you? Why are you here? Are you happy or sad? And just like that, I knew his name was Jake and he had a story to tell.

What can we expect from you in the future?

 I’m currently working on my ninth book called Into The Storm, a contemporary romance

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in Firestorm?

Donovan and Jenna are the ultimate opposites attract couple. She’s a wealthy socialite he’s a stoic fire marshal with a profound distaste for the upper echelons of society because of something from his teen years. Jenna used her trust fund to set up a charitable organization to help people in need.

Donovan fell head over heels for Jenna the first time he saw her picture in the paper. And, as fate would have it, the first time they meet in person he’s disillusioned because the image he had in his mind doesn’t fit the circumstances.  As a first responder, Donovan is very much about helping people and fate gives him several opportunities to come to Jenna’s aid—and he discovers his preconceived impression was off the mark.

How did you come up with the concept and characters for Firestorm?

I was attending a writing workshop and one of the exercises we did was building a character. In the course of building a female character, the instructor asked what she was afraid of and I immediately said “Spiders!” ‘cause I hate the little devils. So, we built this character who owned her own company, was divorced and afraid of spiders. I forgot what we named her, but she hung around in my head for a couple of weeks, insisting she, too had a story to tell. So, one day, I sat down with Jenna and said, “Tell me your story.”

What’s your favorite part of writing?

I have to say, characterization is my favorite part of the creative process. Consequently, I write very character-driven stories. One of the methods I use in character development is a character interview. This sounds weird to non-writers, I know. It’s like how can you interview someone who is a figment of your imagination? But, the fact is, because they are in my imagination, I can ask them questions and see what their answers are.

For instance, when I first got the idea for Jake Holloway’s story (Texas Winds), I had a lot of questions for him. Mainly, I didn’t know what his main issue was, why he was on the mesa that day. Because I’m a pantser—don’t plot or outline or anything, I just write—I sat down and started writing by describing the scene but didn’t get very far because I needed to know why he was there—because that was key to his story. So, I opened another document and had a conversation with Jake. Here’s the main snippet:

“Why are you here, Jake?”

He doesn’t look at me. His gaze is fixed on the valley below.

“I come here a lot.”

“I know that, but why? What’s out here?”

He shakes his head sadly. “I don’t know. Answers maybe.”

“Answers to what?”

He doesn’t answer right away. His brow creases and he frowns. I can tell he’s thinking. “You’re sad, aren’t you? Why Jake?”

He sighs deeply. “She died before I could find out.”

“She? Who’s she?”

“Mary. My wife.”

(Oh, nice plot twist I didn’t see coming.) “What did you need to find out?”

His dark eyes are filled with pain. “Why she wanted a divorce.”

I wait for him to continue. This is gonna be good.

“Why she didn’t tell me she was pregnant.”

Whoa. Big plot twist. I love it.

He pulls the reins, turning his horse for the ranch. “And is the child mine?”

And bingo—I had Jake’s story. It took me about an hour of thinking and typing questions, waiting for the facts my writer’s brain held to be discovered. Once I knew why he was there, I picked up the story.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

Names are always hard for me because it must fit the character. I seldom know my leads’ names when I begin the book. They typically surface over time. And I’ll try out different ones as I go along. I also have this book called Master Lists for Writers, and it has popular names covering different time periods and I’ll scroll through there for possibilities. I am what is called a pantser—meaning I write by the seat of my pants – I don’t outline or plot, I just write, so a name I had for a particular character when I begin may not suit him as we go along. The only time I knew the name when I started the book was for Jake Holloway in Texas Winds. When I saw that picture of a cowboy that sparked the idea, I knew right away his name was Jake.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Texas Winds and Firestorm are both contemporary romances, but so different in terms of the characters and their individual stories. I guess that’s what I love most about writing – finding all the little nuances that make them tick, that make them real and relatable. I had one reader tell me Jake Holloway was so real to her, she could easily fall in love with him! Greatest compliment she could give me!

Tell us about your main characters in Texas Winds – what makes them tick?

Jake has got to be one of my favorite characters to write. He’s a complex, complicated man whose heart was broken four years ago, leaving him closed off—even to his four year old daughter, Katie. He’s gruff and short with pretty much everyone—including her, because he fears being hurt again. Plus, he doesn’t really know how to be a dad, but, bless his heart, he tries. The scenes with him and Katie as he fixes her hair or prepares her breakfast…show his discomfort with the task and his determination to do it because it’s his job.

Lexie Morgan was literally left at the altar by way of a text message. Despite her own heartache, she’s a very open and loving person, who is instantly taken with little Katie – and Jake. These two characters are total opposites in attitude and outlook but together, they are dynamite. It was so much fun constructing their story, showing how love has the power to change anyone.

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?

My first book is called Secrets of the Heart, and that book title went through several changes before I settled on it, because that says a lot about the story. Tori, a hospice nurse, must pretend to be the fiancé of her handsome boss for the sake of his mother, her patient. But what happens when make- believe becomes real? That’s when the heart holds the secret.

Who designed your book covers?

Justwrite.creations is the genius behind my covers. JoAnna Walker with justwrite.creations is the genius behind my covers. She has designed them all and I couldn’t be more happy with the results.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

Like most authors I know, there is always something you think about after the fact that you would change, but I can honestly say for Firestorm and Texas Winds, I wouldn’t change a thing.

How did you come up with name of this book?

Titles are the hardest part of the process. The only book I ever the knew the title of when I started was Mail Order Groom. Everything else was called things like Jake’s story or Tori’s story until the title came to me. For Texas Winds, it came during a brain-storming session with my critique partner. We’d been tossing titles back and forth for like weeks but nothing fit. We’d been discussing cover ideas and I had some pictures of like Texas themed things and one had a windmill in it and Patty said something like “Windmill of Change”, which became Winds of Change and then Texas Winds, which is essentially a metaphor for the shifting winds that symbolize both uncertainty and renewal.

Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?

My characters definitely hijack the story at times. More than once, I’d write myself into a corner with no idea how to get out because I tried to take the lead and have the characters do things I wanted them to do versus letting them, and the story, tell me what to do.

But I love those ahh-hah moments that come with that process, though. I’m going along, letting them lead the way, just typing my little fingers off and then look up at what I’ve written and go, “Wow, that’s really good” or “Whoa, did not see that coming.”

And it does make for some interesting conversations, too, because when I’m in writer-mode, as hubby calls it, I sometimes blurt things out loud as I process them and my husband will go, ”Okay, are you talking to me or your imaginary friends again?”

Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.

A man hardened by betrayal, a woman determined to protect her own broken heart, and a child caught in the middle.

Love doesn’t erase the past, it challenges us to confront it. If you enjoy realistic, emotional and character-driven romance with all the feels, Texas Winds is a compelling and rewarding read.

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

Sagebrush. If you have ever been to West Texas and smelled the aroma of sagebrush, you’d know it fits the story. Sagebrush has a sharp, earthy aroma. Rather like a mix of camphor and pine with a dash of desert air. Well, if desert air had a smell besides dust.

Give us a Fun Fact/Behind the Scenes/Did You Know?’-type tidbits about you, the book or the writing process of the book.

I have verbal conversations with my characters which drives my husband crazy sometimes because he doesn’t know if I’m talking to him or my imaginary friends. But because I’m a pantser, and keep all this stuff in my head, sometimes I have to get it out where I can ‘see’ it before I can sort it out on the page.  

What made you decide to get the book made into an audiobook?

I love audio books and Katie Marchant, the narrator for several of my books does a fantastic job with Texas Winds.  Katie has great range and voice inflection that really brings the story and the characters to life. In fact, I have listened to the audio version several times myself. 

How many audiobooks do you currently have and are there any more on the horizon?

I currently have four books on audio and will add Firestorm to the list later this year.

What are your top 10 favorite books/authors?

 Let’s see…Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, Pretty much anything by Sandra Brown, Rebecca Zanetti, Kat Martin or Toni Anderson, Stolen Obsession by Marlene Bell, Duncan’s Bride, Mr. Perfect and MacKenzie’s Mountain, by Linda Howard.

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing something pretty much my whole life, but didn’t publish my first book until 2016. Since then, I’ve released a total of eight books with number nine in the works.

Do the characters all come to you at the same time or as you write?

My characters come to me one at a time. Obviously, the main character is first, and the others come along as the story progresses. Once I have the lead – sometimes I start with the male sometimes the female – usually depends on who needs to change the most, then the other characters filter in. And once the lead is set, their counterpart is next – finding that perfect match for them takes a little time, but, like love itself, it’s worth the wati.

What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a book?

I do very little research before I start because I don’t always know where I’m going. Well, I know how my story starts and that it will have an HEA – happily ever after, but not all the stuff in the middle that may or may not require research. Sometimes, depending on where/when my story takes place, I may need to do some research first, but generally I don’t do it until I need to know something specific.

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

I LOVE to read and will read anything that catches my eye, but romance/romantic suspense is my favorite genre.

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I have to have silence. In fact, I sometimes write with headphones on to drown out extraneous noise. I have writer friends who listen to music, but I can’t do that, not even instrumentals because if I recognize the tune, I’ll be distracted by the words. I do sometimes play nature sounds—ocean waves, rain, wind, that sort of thing because it helps me concentrate.

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?

A day in the life of the author?

 I write every day except Saturday and Sunday – well, unless I’m on a roll. My ‘creative time’ is like from about ten to two or three in the afternoon.

We are early risers so my husband and I have coffee, usually outside watching the birds, and talk about whatever is going on in our world. After that, I fix breakfast, do the dishes then head back to my office and write till the words quit coming.  

What are they currently reading?

Sandra Brown’s newest book, Bloodlust. Just got it and have only gotten to the first chapter and it’s pretty intense.

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?

 I cannot plot or outline in any form or fashion. If I write it down, it has to happen. I am a pantser all the way – I write by the seat of my pants. I sit down at the computer and write till words stop coming, then move on to other things.

It’s really crazy how my brain works. I can plot or develop entire scenes in my head, complete with dialogue, on the way to the grocery store, while I’m crafting or cleaning house. All that stuff gets stored on the writer side of my brain, rather like putting things in a file cabinet. When I get back to my office and sit down, all that stuff slowly bubbles up as I write. If I try to jot it down, the thread breaks and I lose my place.

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

As a writer, I love to challenge myself, and writing opposite sex POV and children is a huge challenge. I grew up in the country. Male cousins were my closest playmates and as a young woman, I worked in a male dominated field. I am a people watcher, so I watched and learned. When I get stuck, I’ll ask hubby for input.

Once, when I was writing Mail Order Groom, I had the main male character, Tyler Roundtree, say something and I asked Bud if it sounded right. Since I talk about my characters like they are real people, he knew who Ty was and immediately said “No, Ty is a man’s man, he wouldn’t say that. You need to change it.”

Well, I did change it but didn’t tell him I did. He’s a bit OCD and came back to my office three times ask if I’d changed it yet.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Start to finish, it usually takes me a year to finish a book. That includes edits, rewrites, beta reader input, etc. The only exception to that was Mail Order Groom which I finished in eight months because the words just flowed, almost without effort.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

Yes, mainly because I’m a pantser and sometimes write myself into a corner. When that happens, I have to step back, take a break and see if I can pick it up later. If not, I’ll go through my to-be-written file and just pick something and see if I can get any words out. If not, I’ll choose something else because it’s very important to keep writing, even if it’s not on my current work in progress. And nine times out of ten, after a short break, I’m able to pick up where I left off.

That tenth time is usually because I’ve tried to steer the story or character in a way they didn’t want to go, so I backtrack to see where I took the reins out of their hands. Once I find that, I cut everything out after that – I don’t destroy it, though, I put it in my to-be-used-later file for that story, and I am able to move on. Most of the time I will pull some of that info out and use it in the story, just not where I had it initially.