Thursday, May 31, 2012

A Love of His Own: Interview with Author Linda LaRoque

Today we welcome author Linda LaRoque with her latest book A Love of His Own. Welcome Linda!
A Love of His Own
a sequel to
A Law of Her Own & A Marshal of Her Own

MK: Did you plan to be a writer or did it just happen? 

LB: It just happened. I’d always been an avid reader. I went through a period of time when I had trouble sleeping so decided to help me relax, I’d create a book in my mind. I never got past a certain spot before falling asleep. Not much praise for my creativity, huh? However, I loved the story idea so ended up writing the story. Seventeen years later and a multitude of rewrites, When the Ocotillo Bloom was published.

MK: What is your favorite non-writing pastime? 

LB: I love to read, travel, crochet and knit, and spend time with my family.

MK: Is writing a full-time career for you? If not, how else do you spend your work day? 

LB: Yes, I’m retired from public school teaching.

MK: What inspired the idea behind your book?  

LB: A Love of His Own is the third story in a short time travel series set in 1890s Prairie, Texas. In the first story, a father and daughter have an argument; she travels back in time and must plan her future there. My aunt read the story and was so upset. She asked, “But what about her daddy?” So, I wish my aunt was still alive. This story would make her happy as it answers her question.

MK: Tell us about your favorite character in this book! 

LB: Buford “Bull” Dawson is the hero. He loves his daughter and wants to live out his life with her and his grandson. His name is a good representation of his character as he charges forward in everything he does. A big man, he’s not beyond using his size and expertise to help those mistreated by others. I like Bull’s courage, attitude, and compassion.

MK: Will you share with us a short preview of the book?

LB: Bull Dawson, New York lawyer, mourns the loss of his daughter, who disappeared from a cabin in Fredericksburg, Texas four years ago. A history book found in his office safe leads him to believe she traveled back in time to 1888 Prairie, Texas.  He's determined that if she can time travel, he can too. Life will be different, probably hard, but practicing law can't be so difficult back in the Old West.

Widow Dipsey Thackson scratches out a living for herself and her young son on their farm. Shunned by the locals, she keeps to herself. When a man appears in her wheat field one day, life changes for the better. Then her brother-in-law arrives, claiming the farm is his and threatening Dipsey and her son. She fears for both their means of survival and their safety.
 
Her dilemma will take more than a knowledge of the law, but Bull vows to do his best to protect her and her boy.
 
MK: What message do you hope readers take away from the book? 

LB: Love of family, forgiveness, and strength.

MK: Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

LB: It’s all my imagination.

MK: While writing A Love of His Own, did you connect with one character more than the others? Who and how? 

LB: I’d have to say Dipsey, the heroine. She’s had a difficult life, is an outcast in the community, and struggles to support her son as a single parent.

MK: Do you have to be alone or have quiet to write? 

LB: I can work while the television is on, but I prefer quiet. I get the most writing done when I go to Starbucks, probably because I’m spending money on coffee and know I can’t procrastinate by surfing the web. Also, there is something about writing on a tablet rather than using the computer. On road trips I write on a tablet while my husband drives.

MK: What kind of research was involved for the series? Did you find it became easier with each book? 

LB: Yes, the research did become easier but only because I’d become familiar with the time period. In the first story, I had to familiarize myself with criminal technology in the Victorian era. In the second, my heroine was a reporter, so I had to hone up on what type of writing implements were available then. Of course, there are always the style of clothing, etc, that I want to get right. In this last story, I had to learn the directions given to mules, along with how much gold was worth in 1890. I love research though so it’s never a chore for me.

MK: I would read these books simply because of the covers – all in the series are beautiful! Did you have a part in their design?  

LB: Yes, I was able to submit my ideas for what I’d like. Then the rest was up to the cover artist.

MK: As a multi-genre author, how do you juggle going back and forth between the different genres? Do you have a preferred genre?

LB: It can be hard sometimes, but usually when a story idea attacks, I feel a compelling drive to get it written. I usually work on one story at a time though edits may come in and I’ll have to stop work for a while to complete them. The western time travels seem to be my favorite at the moment.

MK: Do you have plans for a new book?  Is this book part of a series?

LB: I have a paranormal romance set in New Mexico along old Route 66 with an editor. I hope to hear from her soon.  It involves a woman fleeing an abusive husband, an ex detective recovering from an emotional trauma, a ghost, and a set of missing Zuni prayer fetishes.

MK: What has been your greatest pleasure or personal success as an author? 

LB: Seeing my books listed on Amazon and other book store sites. 

MK: What is your favorite scene in A Love of His Own?

LB: Hmm, there are several, but I’ll pick the house raising scene because we see community coming together to help one another.

MK: What appeals to you most about your chosen genre?

LB: I think in all fiction the writer gets to live vicariously through their characters. This allows us to live in different time periods, experience various lifestyles, occupations, and ideas.

MK: Does where you live or have places you’ve been influenced your work?

LB: I live in Texas, grew up in Waco, but have lived all over the state. Though all of Texas is beautiful, I’d have to say west Texas is my favorite area. There is nothing like the sunsets, the lack of humidity, the cactus, and the scenery. Let me add, I’ve visited many states and find beauty in everyone. One of my goals in life is to visit Europe.

MK: Are there certain characters you would like to go back to, or is there a theme or idea you’d love to work with?

LB: I’ve always wanted to write a sequel to When the Ocotillo Bloom and tell the story of the heroine’s daughter, Abby. Also, I’d like to write another Futuristic Romance and write Shelia Callahan’s story. She’s the daughter of Brock Callahan in Born in Ice.

MK: How long did it take to get this book from idea to being published? What was the most grueling process?

LB: For this story, A Love of His Own, it didn’t take that long, probably six weeks to get it written and then another six to nine months for it to get published. Once the story idea hit, I couldn’t stop writing until it was done.

MK: When did you write your first book and how old were you? 

LB: I was 47 when I started and it was published when I was 62. A lot of learning took place in those 15 years.

MK: Laptop, desktop or notebook and pen for writing? 

LB: Mostly laptop.

MK: What do you have in store next for your readers? 

LB: Another time travel set in 1890s Waco, Texas. It is similar in style to My Heart Will Find Yours, my first full length time travel.

MK: Is there anything else you’d like to share with your readers today? 

LB: I love the comment from you website “With her heart deeply rooted in the past…” I echo your sentiment. Nothing is more exciting than history, especially if a storyteller adds a special spin.

Thank you so much for having me here today. It’s always an honor to meet new authors (meaning ones I’ve not met before) and get acquainted with their readers.

The Book

Bull Dawson, New York lawyer, mourns the loss of his daughter, who disappeared from a cabin in Fredericksburg, Texas four years ago. A history book found in his office safe leads him to believe she traveled back in time to 1888 Prairie, Texas.  He's determined that if she can time travel, he can too. Life will be different, probably hard, but practicing law can't be so difficult back in the Old West.
Widow Dipsey Thackson scratches out a living for herself and her young son on their farm. Shunned by the locals, she keeps to herself. When a man appears in her wheat field one day, life changes for the better. Then her brother-in-law arrives, claiming the farm is his and threatening Dipsey and her son. She fears for both their means of survival and their safety. 
Her dilemma will take more than a knowledge of the law, but Bull vows to do his best to protect her and her boy.

Excerpt

“Whoa, boys.” Dipsey pulled the wagon to a stop and set the break. She hopped down, her leather boots hitting the road with a thud. Sam, the lead mule had been favoring his right front leg the past few minutes. She’d better take a look before he went lame.
          “Let me see, Sam.” She lifted the mule’s big hoof and held it between her knees. “Ah, a rock. No wonder. Hurts, doesn’t it?” With a small twig, she flipped the stone out. “Now, that’ll feel better.” She let his foot drop and patted his neck. Joe snorted and butted her shoulder, so she turned and gave him a pat too. The brothers were jealous, afraid one would get more attention than the other. They were the same when it came to feeding time. She had to separate them lest they try to horn in on the other’s grub.
          Dipsey walked back to the wagon and placed a foot onto the spoke of the front wheel to climb into the wagon. A snorting sound from behind her made her pause. Grabbing her rifle from under the seat, she whirled and peered into the field of winter wheat gently waving in the cool morning air. Sunlight glanced off the stalks giving the field a slight iridescence, but no movement caught her attention.
          The noise stopped, then resumed with a loud bleating resonance. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Thomas was asleep in the wheat field, but she’d buried her husband two years past. Who trespassed on her land?
          Rifle cocked, she stepped in the direction of the snoring. Thomas always said she could sneak up on Satan himself. She hoped her skill served her well today.
          Lying on her precious wheat, breaking the stalks flat and making it useless, was a big, burly man. Wrapped in someone’s finely stitched quilt, he had a brown felt hat over his eyes. One arm lay across his chest, the other cradled a new-fangled model Winchester, so new the shine hadn’t yet worn off.
          She snatched the rifle from his arm. The dang fool didn’t open his eyes. Dipsey thumped him on the shoulder with the butt of his weapon. He farted and rolled to his side exposing a muscled butt and legs encased in denims. She stumbled back a few steps. Disgusting man!



http: www.lindalaroque.com
http://lindalaroqueauthor.blogspot.com


GIVEAWAY!
Enter below or comment to win an eBook copy of 'A Love of His Own'.
Winner will be drawn June 5th! 

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations Jeanne B.T.!

4 comments:

  1. Great interview:) The book cover is gorgeous and the book itself sounds very good.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is a beautiful cover. Thank you so much for visiting with us today Linda.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for having me as your guest, MK. Your blog is beautiful and it's an honor to be here.

    Kimberly, thank you for your comment. Kimberly and MK, Kim Mendoza is the cover artist and does a beautiful job.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jeanne B.T. was the winner of this giveaway. Congratulations Jeanne!

    ReplyDelete

This is a happy place for book lovers. Please keep all comments kind and clean. All unhappy comments will be removed. Thank you!