We welcome today another fabulous award-winning author with more than 20 books to her name and no signs of slowing down. Welcome Mary!
MK:
History, Romance, Humor--and
Cowboys! What a great way to describe your books! What is your favorite thing
about writing cowboys?
MC:
I have this working understanding of the old west that I've developed from
reading Louis L'Amour books. The American West stripped away pretense and
allowed men to be as strong as they could be, or if they were weak, it drove
them back East or killed them off. That makes for great characters. Larger than
life characters and they are really fun to write. The heroes, heroines and
villains all become really fascinating.
MK:
Because these are set in a place I love, please tell us a little about the Montana Marriages Trilogy. Do you have
a favorite among the stories?
MC:
Belle Tanner from The Husband Tree is possibly my favorite character of all
time. She is just the toughest lady rancher you've ever seen. To find a man
strong enough to handle her, even … TAME her … took all my writing skills. That
was a really fun book to write.
MK: Will you tell us a little something about
Ethan and Audra in your latest book In
Too Deep? What inspired these characters?
MC:
Ethan is the middle child in the Kincaid series. I tried to have three brothers
with fairly typical traits based on their birth order. A bossy, protective
older brother. A social, likeable, easy going middle brother, a spoiled,
reckless little brother. Then I had a terrible tragedy that almost took the
little brothers life, change them. I tried to leave them with their natural
traits but twist them in a reaction to a traumatic event. So the bossy brother
becomes a tyrant. The social brother becomes a shallow charmer. The reckless
little brother becomes so daring he risks his life to the point of madness.
Audra
has been under some man's thumb all her life and her life hasn't gone that
well. She'd taking charge of her life and doing it right now. And if Ethan doesn't
like it, she'll leave him trampled in the grass. Except it doesn't come
naturally to her and Ethan's not real apt to issue a bunch of orders, so she'd
having trouble finding someone to boss around. She and Ethan could probably go
along happily for fifty years and never have much trouble, if people would just
stop trying to kill them. Ethan find out when Audra's at risk, that his shallow
feelings for her are getting deeper all the time.
MK:
What got you started on the path to becoming a published author? Was it an easy
road or did you have a few rewarding bumps along the way?
MC:
It was a very hard road. I wrote for ten years before I got my first book
published. I had twenty finished books on my computer on that fateful day. I
did well in writer's contests and that kept me going. But honestly, looking
back, I can't believe I persevered as long as I did. I may have just not wanted
to dust my house!?
MK:
What has been your greatest pleasure since becoming published?
MC:
I love everything about writing and take great pleasure in all of it. I don't
know if there has ever been a sweeter moment than the day I held my first book
in my hands. I danced with it. I slept with it. I broke out into
semi-hysterical laughter at unexpected moments. I can still remember the pure
pleasure of that day.
MK:
If you had to pick a time and place in
one of your books to visit, which would it be and why?
MC:
In the book, Deep Trouble my hero and heroin go into the bottom of the Grand
Canyon. I would love to do that. I think I'll wait until they build a nice four
lane highway down, though.
MK: What is your favorite non-writing pastime?
MC:
Reading, crossword puzzles, sudoku puzzles. I know, all sedentary. Like it
would kill me to go for a walk once in a while.
MK: Reading is such a fun pastime and worth every moment curled up with a book! So, you’re a regular contributor to the wonderfully named Petticoat & Pistols
blog. What can a reader expect to read from you on the blog and when can they
find you there?
MC: I try and bring comedy to the western flavor
of the blog. I love that blog, everyday there is some really interesting tidbit
of information about the west that is just fascinating.
MK:
What is the best piece of advice given to you before becoming published?
MC:
Write and keep writing. If you want to be a writer, you've got to write. You've
got to finish something. You can learn everything you can about the craft of
writing but if you don't write you won't get better.
MK:
What do you have in store next for your readers?
MC:
Coming in August, Book #3 or the Kincaid Brides Series, Over the Edge.
This
one was so fun to write. The crazy brother, Seth Kincaid. And his wife is tired
of having to do all the thinking in the family.
THE BOOKS
In Too Deep
History, Romance, Humor--and Cowboys!--from Bestselling Author Mary
ConnealyIn 1866 Colorado, Ethan Kincaid agrees to a marriage of
convenience with the same casual disregard he gives every decision.
Audra Gilliland, young mother of two, accepts his proposal because she
wants to stop being a burden to her newly married stepdaughter.And
suddenly both of them are in far deeper than they'd planned.Ethan
doesn't expect Audra to affect him so profoundly, and when she begins
to, he's terrified of the pain he's felt before when someone he loved
was seriously injured on his watch. He's determined that his new wife
will do as he says so he can keep her safe from the dangers that lurk on
their ranch.Audra has been cared for all her life by one man or
another--and they've done a poor job of it. Now she's planning to stand
up for herself. And her new husband had better agree or get out of her
way! What will it take to transform two wayward hearts fearful of
getting in too deep into two trusting hearts ready to risk falling
deeply in love?
Out of Control
Julia Gilliland has always been interested in the natural world around
her. She particularly enjoys her outings to the cavern near her father's
homestead, where she explores for fossils and formations, and plans to
write a book about her discoveries. The cave seems plenty safe--until
the day a mysterious intruder steals the rope she uses to find her way
out.Rafe Kincaid has spent years keeping his family's cattle ranch
going, all without help from his two younger brothers, who fled the
ranch--and Rafe's controlling ways--as soon as they were able. He's
haunted by one terrible day at the cave on a far-flung corner of the
Kincaid property, a day that changed his life forever. Ready to put the
past behind him, he plans to visit the cave one final time. He sure
doesn't expect to find a young woman trapped in one of the tunnels--or
to be forced to kiss her! Rafe is more intrigued by Julia than any woman
he's ever known, but how can he overlook her fascination with the cave
he despises? And when his developing relationship with Julia threatens
his chance at reconciliation with his brothers, will he be forced to
choose between the family bonds that could restore his trust and the
love that could heal his heart?
Find Mary Online!
THE GIVEAWAY
Mary will be giving away a signed copy of Out of Control, Book #1 in the Kincaid Brides
Series to one lucky commenter. Drawing will take place June 10th!
