Love Inspired Historicals discussion
Monthly Author Q&A
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Q&A With February 2014 Authors!
Dorothy wrote: "Patty wrote: "Good Morning everyone! Thanks so much for being here this morning!Wendy and Deb--I'd never heard of a homeland informant either, not until I met this elderly lady who along her husb..."
Dorothy, being a research nurse, my favorite part of writing historicals is the research! I love it! But I'm a hands-on person so it's not unusually for me to climb in the cockpit of a P-51 or go panning for gold in the North Georgia mountains. I believe being involved brings all my senses into the writing(at least, I hope so!) One thing I did for the gold rush series was actually work with a blacksmith so that I knew how it felt to pound a piece of heated metal--I won't forget that any time soon!
Karen wrote: "Jennifer wrote: "Karen Kirst, My favorite cupcake is the Midnight Chocolate ; the cake part is chocolate, the frosting is chocolate and is sprinkled with chocolate chips. Yum!"It sounds divine!"
Anything chocolate works for me!
Karen wrote: "Hi Patty,First of all, I really like your unique cover! Congrats on this new book. I enjoy reunion stories, too. So full of emotion."
Karen, thank you! The art department at LIH always amaze me with the way they can take a scene and make it come alive on the cover!
Just putting a little plug in here for another of Patty's books that I happen to be reading right now. The Doctor's Bride is a Heartsong book, also published by Harlequin. I'm really enjoying this book, part of a continuity series with Laurie Alice Eakes and Gina Welborn.
Louise wrote: "Just putting a little plug in here for another of Patty's books that I happen to be reading right now. The Doctor's Bride is a Heartsong book, also published by Harlequin. I'm really enjoying this ..."Thank you, Louise! That book was so much fun to write, and I love arranged marriage stories too!
Congrats on this new book, Milinda! The premise sounds great. I love to include kids in my stories too.Wishing you a great many sales!
Cher :-)
So Patty, of all the different historical time periods out there, why WWII?
Naomi--because there's so many untold stories about women in WWII. Land girls and homeland informants and women pilots--all that history appealed to me. And as the mother of two girls, I wanted them to know that women play such an important role in history. Most of our history books leave out women's contributions so if I can write about them, I do. Plus, don't you just love a man who can handle such a determined woman!
That doesn't mean I won't write other time periods(double negative there!)--I will. Just started with WWII.
Patty wrote: "Naomi--because there's so many untold stories about women in WWII. Land girls and homeland informants and women pilots--all that history appealed to me. And as the mother of two girls, I wanted the..."I do indeed admire men like that, and women too. It looks like an awesome story. :-)
Your book sounds so interesting, Patty. I can't wait to read it!I love that part of Georgia--I have a good friend who lives up there, and my children and I spent most of our vacations up there. Happy memories, and beautiful mountains and parks. Do you prefer writing historicals or contemporaries and why?
Milinda, North Georgia is beautiful, especially in the spring(which I'm hoping gets here soon!) As far as a preference to writing historicals or contemporaries, I'd eventually like to do both. I started writing historicals after my agent asked me what was on my personal bookshelves--75% were historicals--and I'll admit, I love writing them. But there are some contemporary issues I'd love to tackle--I'd like to write a heroine with a physical disability and the feelings that go along with that, and a hero who's worth his weight in gold for loving her through it.
I love learning new things being a homeland informant would be an interesting job. Being in the factory they would hear things others wouldn't. I hadn't heard of it before. After my uncle died (before I was born) they found out he was in the z force which here was the spy force. They didn't know until he died they knew he was in the army but didn't know he was in the spy force and that he was often doing secret things like going behind the lines to get information or to carry out secret missions. he never talked much about the war.
Sounds like you found out some interesting tibits in interesting ways.
Ausjenny wrote: "I love learning new things being a homeland informant would be an interesting job. Being in the factory they would hear things others wouldn't. I hadn't heard of it before. After my uncle died (b..."
What a cool job your uncle had, Jenny! The elderly lady I talked with probably felt that if she didn't speak about it, she might never have the opportunity. I feel privileged she shared her story with me.
Wow I am glad she did. My uncle from what mum said rarely spoke about the war and after finding out his job they realised why. He would have seen some horrendous things. Often he would be gone for months with no contact at all. My other uncle was a prisoner of war and there was no contact there til the war ended.
I hope she gets to read your story.
Patty wrote: "Milinda, North Georgia is beautiful, especially in the spring(which I'm hoping gets here soon!) As far as a preference to writing historicals or contemporaries, I'd eventually like to do both. I st..."That sounds wonderful, Patty. I look forward to reading that book!! Enjoy the spring if it will ever come!!!
I'd like to thank everyone for coming by and spending part of your day with me! Visiting with folks is one of my favorite past times.
Jennifer wrote: "For any author: What has been the turning point in your writing carriers? As far as determining whether or not you were committed to writing as an author."Jennifer, my turning point actually came at a writer's conference several years ago. I was frustrated at how long it was taking me to finish my first book so I went to a class called '8 Minutes a Day to Finish Your Novel.' What I heard in that class changed how I viewed my writing--it became my mission field.
I'm very glad you took that class Patty!
Patty it was a fun day and our power came on an hour after we came home!
Patty, almost forgot you would be here today, better late then never they say, so here I am to say a big Hello... your historical with a strong woman sounds good to me -women are now doing more but we tend to foget there were many strong ones in earlier days too that just didn't get the recognition. I look forward to reading your book. thanks for all the comments today everyone -enjoyed reading.
I would not be good at doing undercover work because I'd give myself away.
Me neither Jennifer. I can't lie even for a good cause. ;)
Patty, I'm late getting here, but I've enjoyed reading over all the posts. I'm eager to read your books because I suspect they're set in an area that I'm somewhat familiar with, as I live on the south side of Atlanta and until retirement, my husband worked at a military aircraft company. So glad you could be with us today, Patty!
Mod
That is so true, Paula!
Mod
And speaking of strong heroines...JoBeth McCoy, the heroine of Sherri Shakelford's February book The Marshal's Ready-Made Family certainly qualifies!
Gentlemen don't court feisty straight shooters like JoBeth. Just when she's resigned to a lifetime alone, a misunderstanding forces the spunky telegraph operator into a marriage of convenience. Wedding the town's handsome new marshal offers JoBeth a chance at motherhood, caring for the orphaned little girl she's come to love.
Garrett Cain will lose guardianship of his niece, Cora, if he stays single, but he knows no woman could accept the secrets he's hidden about his past. The lawman can't jeopardize Cora's future by admitting the truth. Yet when unexpected danger in the small town threatens to expose Garrett's long-buried secret, only a leap of faith can turn a makeshift union into a real family.
Welcome, Sherri! I'm itching to ask about Garrett's secrets, but I don't want any spoilers. I do love a good marriage of convenience story! Is The Marshal's Ready-Made Family connected to any of your past books or your upcoming ones?
Jennifer wrote: "Patty it was a fun day and our power came on an hour after we came home!"Good! I'm glad you had a fun day.
Melody wrote: "Me neither Jennifer. I can't lie even for a good cause. ;)"Jennifer and Melody--I wouldn't be a very good homeland informant because I just can't lie. It makes me feel too bad so I'm confessing all most as soon as the words leave my lips!
Paula-O wrote: "Patty, almost forgot you would be here today, better late then never they say, so here I am to say a big Hello... your historical with a strong woman sounds good to me -women are now doing more but..."I like how Renee Ryan described my heroines once--strong women who buck the conventional thinking of their time. I consider that a huge complement!
Sherri, I'm reading your book right now and thoroughly enjoying it! And I love JoBeth--just the kind of heroine I love!
Welcome Sherri! Your book also sounds great. What are you currently working on?
Good morning, Patty! I remember meeting you for the first time at ACFW in 2011. What an experience!! JoBeth is a lot of fun! I knew she was such a strong character, I really needed a worthy hero for her. I think Garrett was a perfect fit...eventually :)
Laura,I just finished up my August book - The Cattleman Meets His Match. I hope readers enjoy the book as much I enjoyed writing the story! It's an all-girl cattle drive. I had SO much fun torturing my hero with all those girls.
As for next year, I think Caleb is going to get his own story in early 2015. Caleb McCoy, JoBeth's brother, is unlucky in love in The Marshal's Ready-Made Family. He's going to need a happily-ever-after, don't you think?!
Good morning Sherri, Your young lady sounds like a great character to read about, I like your thoughts for Caleb McCoy too. Women like to get hold of a guy that thinks he is not ready for love and lead him right to it. thanks for sharing today about your characters and the books.
Sherri how many books do you have out? And how many with Love Inspired Historical?
I can't for Caleb's story since my sons name is Caleb. The all women cattle drive sounds like it would be funny!
Melody and Patty I'm glad I'm not the only ones who'd not be good spies!AusyJenny how cool about your Uncle being a spy!
For all authors: Have any of you found any information during your research that made you scratch your heads? Or some cool info?
Sherri wrote: "Laura,I just finished up my August book - The Cattleman Meets His Match. I hope readers enjoy the book as much I enjoyed writing the story! It's an all-girl cattle drive. I had SO much fun tortur..."
This story sounds like a really fun read, Sherri. Talk about predicaments! I feel sorry for your hero having to deal with all those women already. Of course, he does have a rich wealth of women from which to find his heroine...
I love your cover, Sherri. I'm a sucker for strong heroes that love children, so this book is definitely one I will enjoy. And having a fiesty heroine is always another draw for me. And topping it off with secrets to mine for...even better.
Jennifer - I have two books out currently - Winning the Widow's Heart, and The Marshal's Ready-Made Family. They both feature crossover characters. It's fun to explore the relationships!
Dorothy, My poor hero in the Cattleman has his hands full! He's a good guy, though. But those girls give him a run for his money :)
Her's a question for readers: What's your favorite kind of story? Do you like marriage of convenience? Mail order brides? Fish out of water?
I tend to lean toward Mail Order bride stories but I will read them all.
I'm very excited to read your new book Sherri! I love all of those, though marriage of convenience and mail-order brides are my favorite. JoBeth sounds like a fun character - where do you get the inspiration for her? Do you base any of your character's traits on people you know?
The Marshal's Ready-Made Family is a great story. Garrett and JoBeth were perfect together.
I love feisty heroines, Sherri :) I'll be adding your book to my TBR pile. Congrats on your new release!
Love Inspired Historicals
Books mentioned in this topic
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Her Roman Protector (other topics)
Her Roman Protector (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Dorothy Clark (other topics)Naomi Rawlings (other topics)
Patty Smith Hall (other topics)
Karen Kirst (other topics)
J.R. Griffith (other topics)
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Renee--you're such a sweetie! Your WWII stories gave me to the courage to finally submit! And yes, my hero suffers quite a bit in this story--but you'll have to read it to find out how! ~grin~