On the Corner of Heartache and Hopeful

Let's get right to it – stand up and welcome – Lynda Bailey (loud applause)


My name’s Lynda Bailey and I’m promoting my newest release, On the Corner of Heartache and Hopeful—MIC. This is a contemporary, erotic novella and is the first in a four-part anthology.  
Tell us about yourself.  Where were you born? Where do you live now?I was born and raised in the great state of Iowa. After getting a BA in Technical Theatre from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, I moved west to Reno, NV. I had several friends working the huge stage show, Don Arden’s Hello, Hollywood, Hello. For a couple of months, I “worked the bounce” then got hired fulltime to work on the Stage Right crew. My future hubby worked on the Electric crew and the rest, as they say, is history. J
How long have you been writing?  What inspired you to write?I’ve been making up stories since I was a little girl, usually to my favorite TV show. I’d lay awake in bed, thinking “what if this” and “what if that” until I had an entire story mapped out in my head. My inspiration for actually putting words on paper was the utterly fabulous Lorraine Heath. Her stories always touch a deep, emotional chord with me. My goal as a writer is to have readers feel about my stories the way I feel about Ms. Heath’s.
Was there a moment when you first thought "I'm a writer."?Um, not without some prodding. LOL. A couple of years back, when I worked as a substitute teacher, a 6th grade teacher wanted me to talk with her students about being a “working” writer. I scoffed at the idea because I wasn’t a writer, not really. I had nothing published. But Jolene insisted and that was my turning point. Since then, I proudly refer to myself as a writer.
What genre do you write in? List names of published books.I write mostly contemporary romance with heat levels ranging from hot to sizzling. J But I also penned Wildflower, an erotic western. My “other self” (Bailey Lynn) has written a YA romance. Currently I have five titles available through Amazon.com. Battle-Born Love (sexy, contemporary romance; first in my Battle for Love series), Boy Next Door(contemporary, erotic romance-novella), Wildflower(erotic, western romance), Fulfilledand Glad to Be Home (erotic short stories.)
What is your latest book about?On the Corner of Heartache and Hope—MICis a total “ugly duckling” story, as are most of my stories. It’s set in the fictional town of Tatum, Nebraska. Michaela (Mic) runs an automotive garage. Her most loyal customer, Ester, died when Mic was out of town. Ester’s grandson, Scott, comes to Tatum to settle the estate. A misunderstanding leads to a dinner date which leads to an interesting proposal on Mic’s part. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that. J 
What is your favourite moment in the story (one that doesn’t give away any secrets)Aside from typing “The End,” I think my favorite part is the planning/plotting stage. I love to think about my characters and all the various ways I can make their lives miserable. <wink> I even jot down snippets of dialogue for stories that I probably won’t start for at least a year, if not longer.
Have any of your characters ever been based on people you knew from real life?Actual people don’t end up on my stories, but they do inspire my characters. For On the Corner of Heartache and Hopeful—MIC, the heroine is based on a gal I met in passing years ago. She worked as an auto mechanic and helped me out when I stupidly locked my keys in my car.  
When you aren't writing, what are some of your hobbies and interests?My husband and I moved into a new house earlier this year. My hobbies and interests these days pretty much are centered on getting the yard up to snuff.
Tell us something your readers don’t know about you.I’m a totally metal-head when it comes to music. My favorite band is Disturbed.
If you could meet an author (dead or alive) who would it be and why?Since I’ve already had the pleasure of meeting Lorraine Heath in 2010, I’d have to say Ernest Hemmingway. The Snows of Kilimanjaro is one of my favorite short stories.  
Where do you write? Office, kitchen table, computer, laptop?  Where would the perfect location be for you?I use a laptop and alternate between being in my office and sitting in my La-Z-Boy recliner. I had back surgery last September and sometimes sitting at my desk can cause my back and neck to ache. That’s when I switch to the recliner. The perfect spot for me to write is where I’m physically comfortable and can look outside at the quail, rabbits and squirrels that populate our new neighborhood.
Short question time.Chocolate ice cream or chocolate gelato? Ice cream, hands down.Baseball or hockey? Hockey. Baseball’s too slow for me.Hot red finger nail polish or bare nails? Bare nails. I work too much in the dirt for anything fancy.Spaghetti or steak? Spaghetti. I’m a vegetarian. Laying on a beach or skiing down a mountain? Considering I don’t think God ever intended for man to strap boards to his feet and see how fast he could go down a mountain of snow, laying on a beach. LOLWhite roses or red roses? Ohhh, tough choice. Red.Last one – tell us 1 thing about you that's fun. I love to sing along—badly—with the radio.
Blurb - Beautiful auto mechanic, Michaela Anderson, has never known a man’s touch and, at twenty-six, she questions whether she ever will. Then high school heartthrob, Scott Trehune, comes home and she sees the opportunity to fulfill her dream.When his beloved grandmother unexpectedly dies, Scott goes back to Tatum. Drowning in grief, he turns to Nonie’s mechanic, Mic, for comfort and finds much more than he bargained for.Lives, like streets, can run parallel or they can cross. Sometimes those crossroads lead to heartache or they lead to hope.

Buy button: 

 http://amzn.com/B009FEDO3W

My favourite part of writing is also typing – The End! And I agree – humans were not meant to throw themselves down the sides of mountains on skis. Thanks for dropping by – it's been fun.