June Q&A with LIH authors

[Karen]

Born and raised in the bayou country of southeast Louisiana, Winnie Griggs moved to the opposite corner of the state when she married her college sweetheart over 25 years ago.

With a BS degree in mathematics and a minor in Computer Science, Winnie has held an 8:00-5:00 job in the Computer Programming/ Information Technology field since she graduated from college. But her first love has always been reading and writing romances. During the years preceding her sale she submitted to numerous writing contests and won or placed in many of these. Her biggest thrill, however, came in May of 2000 when she received that dream-come-true call heralding her first sale.

Winnie belongs to numerous writing organizations, including Romance Writers’ of America and several of its local and special interest chapters. She is active in these groups as well as in her church - after all, she’s a firm believer in the adage that you reap in proportion to what you sow.




Rescuer Turned Husband?

Plucky Ivy Feagan is headed to Turnabout, Texas, to claim an inheritance, not a widower's heart. That all changes when strapping schoolteacher Mitch Parker rescues her in the wilderness. Straightlaced Mitch has never met a woman like Ivy—beautiful, adventurous and good-hearted—but he already lost love once and doesn't dare try again.

When Turnabout's gossips target Mitch and Ivy's friendship, he proposes to save her reputation. But Ivy doesn't want to marry for honor, and she doesn't need to marry for money. Ivy will only agree to a proposal made for love's sake—but will Mitch make his heart part of the marriage offer?

Texas Grooms: In search of their brides…

Winnie is giving away 2 copies of her book today!

Winnie, your cover is beautiful! How do you go about choosing cover scenes?

[Winnie]

Hi Karen - thanks for the introduction! (though I think t's time I update that particular bio!)

And thanks for the kind words on my cover. Choosing a cover scene doesn't come easy for me. Unfortunately, I usually put the task off until my editor asks for the input and by that time I'm already deep into the writing of my next book. But when choosing a scene I try to come up with something that will not only look pleasing to the eye but that will also convey the overall tone of the story to the reader.

And the art department at Harlequin always does a fabulous job of turning my and my editor's vision into a beautiful image.

[Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance]

I have loved all the books in the Texas Grooms Series and can't wait for Mitch's story. Unfortunately when I made an order last year and trying ordering A Family for Christmas it turned out to be out of stock. :( I will have to see if I can find a used copy on amazon or paperback swap.

What are you currently working on Winnie? I take it this is the last story in the Texas Grooms series?

[Winnie]

Hi Laura. I'm so glad you are enjoying the Texas Grooms series. (Contact me off list for how to get a copy of the last book).

And actually, my next four books will all be set in Turnabout, Texas, the same town that these four were. I'm very excited to be able to revisit this town and tell the story of some of the secondary characters the readers have already met.

The first of these, Her Holiday Family, will come out in November and will feature Eileen Pierce as the heroine. She's the flirtatious wife of the town's banker we met in the first book, who was widowed and shunned by many in the town for her role in her husband's death.

[Brittany]

Hi Winnie! You know I have enjoyed all of the Texas Grooms so far and am really looking forward to Mitch's story.

I am beyond excited to know that your next series will also take place in Turnabout and I LOVE that it will be about Eileen. I bet she has an emotional story to tell!

[Paula-O]

Hello Winnie, this sounds like a great character and she knows her mind..were there many men in teaching positions in those days more so then women? usually I read about women. I like to read about small towns, have not read this series -is Turnabout a small town?
always love to see all the comments on author days on the site.

[Winnie]

Hi Brittany. Thanks so much for those kind words! And yes, Eileen's story was one I've been wanting to tell since I finished the first book. I hope readers will love this one as much as I do!

[Winnie]

Hi Paula. I'm not sure what the ratio of men to women teachers were in this time period, but they were fairly common. And yes, Turnabout Texas is a small town (fictional) with a rich cast of secondary characters.

The four original books follow the stories of 4 men who arrive there from Philadelphia to take part in a matchmaking scheme and start new lives.

The next four will turn to some of the other characters in the town who have showed up in the original books, such as the widow I mentioned above, the sheriff and the dressmaker

[Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance]

That is great! I love Turnabout and am excited that we get to spend some more time there.

[Britney]

Hi, Winnie! I am eager to read Mitch and Ivy's story in Lone Star Heiress!

Of the books you have written, do you have a favorite or one that is especially close to your heart?

[Wendy]

Sounds like another great book...and I too love the cover! The way she's sitting on the swing and looking up at him smiling, & he's smiling back at her...Sigh!

[Wendy]

Deborah wrote: "Hi Jane -- I always love questions about research since that is one of my favorite things about writing historicals. Several scenes in the book take place at a church "fete" which was a summer funfundraiser and community tradition in England (and still is in places, as Wendy can probably attest!)..."

Yes I can! They are very popular. A favourite event at a church fete in my locality is teddy bears parachuting off the church tower.

Just checked out your pinterest boards ~ yes I recognised some familiar faces!

(I did stop by yesterday #27, but I was a bit early so was before your introduction :) looking forward to the last friend finding true love!)

[Ausjenny]

I love the look of this book and love the cover.

on a side note loving Allies book.

[June]

I know I'll enjoy this one as much as the others :) When the first one came out I knew we were In for some exciting stories and am overjoyed to hear there will be even more!

It would be interesting to read about the whole school teacher history. The rules were interesting too, being different for men and woman. Today my experience is that teachers are about 1/1 ratio men to women.

I also love to see how things turn out when it's gossip and propriety to bring about the 'need' for marriage! Can't wait to get this one read!!

[Winnie]

Britney wrote: "Hi, Winnie! I am eager to read Mitch and Ivy's story in Lone Star Heiress!

Of the books you have written, do you have a favorite or one that is especially close to your heart?"

Hi Britney - thanks for your anticipation for LSH. As for a favorite book, that's sort of like asking me which of my children is my favorite. I like them each for different reasons. But I guess if I just HAD to pick one, it would be The Hand-Me-Down Family. Mainly because it was my first Love Inspired book and was nearly 3 years in the writing to get it just right for this line.

[Winnie]

Wendy wrote: "Sounds like another great book...and I too love the cover! The way she's sitting on the swing and looking up at him smiling, & he's smiling back at her...Sigh!"

Hi Wendy! The art department at Harlequin always does such a FABULOUS job with the covers. This is a scene I picked out and described for my editor as the one I wanted on the cover - I'm so pleased they chose it!

[Winnie]

Ausjenny wrote: "I love the look of this book and love the cover...."

Thanks Jenny! As I said in an earlier post, all the kudos go to Harlequin's fabulous art department.

[Winnie]

June wrote: "I know I'll enjoy this one as much as the others :) When the first one came out I knew we were In for some exciting stories and am overjoyed to hear there will be even more!

It would be interesti..."

June, Thanks for the kind words - I'm so glad you're enjoying the series! I hope you like Mitch's story just as much!

[Karen]

Thanks to all the authors and readers for taking part in this month's Q&A! Dorothy Clark will be handling the book giveaways. See you next month!

[Deborah]

Actually, I'm helping Dorothy out with the giveaway as she has a lot on her plate this week. I've been trying to post the winners for awhile, but GR has been very laggy.

And the winners are Jane, Katie and Valri. Congratulations, ladies and thanks to everyone who took part in the Q&A!!

[Paula-O]

Congrats to all the ladies, enjoyed the comments.
I got my book from last months authors today,Thanks Karen.

[Winnie]

And since I had planned to give 2 books away, we have one more winner. The winner of the second copy of Lone Star Heiress is June!

I echo Deborah's sentiments - thanks to everyone who participated in the Q&A this week. It's always such fun chatting with everyone!

[Britney]

Thank you so much for a great Q&A! Congrats to the winners!

[Wendy]

Thanks for hosting, Karen.

Congratulations Jane, Katie, Valri & June!

[Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance]

Thanks for another great week everyone! Congrats to all the winners!

So since July starts on a Tuesday and that Friday is July 4th is the Q & A for July going to be that week or the following week?

[Brittany]

Congrats ladies and thanks to the authors for the fun chat!

[Karen]

Wendy wrote: "Thanks for hosting, Karen.

Congratulations Jane, Katie, Valri & June!"

You're welcome, Wendy! It's a pleasure "chatting" with everyone! ;)

[Karen]

Paula-O wrote: "Congrats to all the ladies, enjoyed the comments.
I got my book from last months authors today,Thanks Karen."

Paula, I'm glad you got it. Sorry for the delay! May was a crazy month for me.

[Karen]

Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance wrote: "Thanks for another great week everyone! Congrats to all the winners!

So since July starts on a Tuesday and that Friday is July 4th is the Q & A for July going to be that week or the following week?"

Great question, Laura. Patty will be hosting next month's Q&A. We'll check with her and get back to you.

[June]

As always, great to chat with everyone and I'm excited to get Winnie's book. Such great stories!

[Allie]

Ausjenny wrote: "I love the look of this book and love the cover.

on a side note loving Allies book."

Glad you're enjoying it, Ausjenny!

[Karen]

We've decided to move July's Q&A to the first full week. The dates are July 7th-11th. We'll post a reminder for everyone. Thanks Laura, for pointing that out!

[Laura AKA Loves 2 Read Romance]

Karen wrote: "We've decided to move July's Q&A to the first full week. The dates are July 7th-11th. We'll post a reminder for everyone. Thanks Laura, for pointing that out!"

Your welcome!