Wednesday, November 09, 2011

Laurie Kingery is Back!

A warm welcome, Laurie. It's always a treat to have such a talented writer here on this blog! AND she's giving away a copy of her The Rancher's Courtship!
Comments and email addys will put you in the running.

Laurie, tell us about your latest release. The cover looks fantastic!

THE RANCHER’S COURTSHIP is the fourth book in my “Brides of Simpson Creek” series for Love Inspired Historicals. It’s Caroline Wallace’s story. Caroline had lost her fiancĂ© in an influenza epidemic in THE DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE, book 2, and at the end of book 3, THE SHERIFF’S SWEETHEART, we see Caroline deciding to devote herself to the town’s children as a teacher, rather than risk her heart on love any more. Then Jack Collier arrives in town, trailing a herd of cattle, and with twin daughters who need a temporary home…

Oh, my goodness. That sounds great. What was the hardest part to write?

It’s always the middle. I have a great premise in mind, and of course, a Happily Ever After at the end, but when I reach the middle I always panic and wonder what I was thinking, HOW MANY WORDS ARE LEFT? and just what I’m going to do to get to the End. Of course, it always works out, but I leaned heavily on prayer and the advice of a trusted friend this time.

I think that's the hardest for most writers! lol. We all have choices of items that help us write. What’s yours? Can you give the readers a glimpse into your writing space? What’s your favorite writing reference tool?

I’m fortunate to have an office of my own complete with a desk, computer stand, and shelves for reference books and a chest of drawers for writing supplies—and a window that looks out on a maple tree. I’ve spent a lot of hours gazing out that window, watching the change of seasons. I always burn a candle while writing. My favorite general refence is Rodale’s SYNONYM FINDER and since I write books set in Texas in the 1800’s, Fehrenbach’s LONE STAR, a very comprehensive Texas history.

I love synonym finders. One of my favs too. If you had to choose one person to go with you for encouragement to a secluded cabin, who would that be?

My husband, because he wouldn’t expect me to entertain him. He’d be happy to go off and catch dinner in the lake (or shoot it, depending on the season) or at least grill a great pair of steaks or barbecued chicken.

What are you working on now?

The next book in the series, which will be Faith Bennett’s series. It’ll be called THE PREACHER’S BRIDE. Faith is an interesting person to have as a heroine of a Christian historical, because she doesn’t have any—faith, that is! It’s challenging to write an agnostic heroine, I’m finding, but I never want to write the same thing over and over again, so it’s fun. I’m hoping the readers will find her faith journey especially interesting, as well as her love story, of course!

What is one of the happiest moments of your life or an accomplishment that you’re especially proud of?

Happiest moments—when my two daughters were born, and when I married Tom. I’m proud of being nominated for a Carol award last year from ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) for a previous book, THE OUTLAW’S LADY.

How do you choose names for your characters? Do you do a lot of research on them?

I can’t say it’s terrifically hard in the western era because they used Biblical names a lot and generally common names for that era. But I do think it’s important—nothing will throw me out of another writer’s book faster than a name which is too modern, or has a modern spelling to it. Folks in the 1800’s weren’t into cutesy spellings, such as starting a name with “K” instead of the “C” it’s usually spelled with, if that makes any sense, and I don’t like names like that now. I have to really like a name before I’ll use it for a character, because I have to use it for a 75,000-word book—and longer, because these characters may appear in other books in the series.

I agree totally! Can you tell us some of your favorite books or characters that you cherish?

I confess I have a SERIOUS weakness for Roarke in JD Robb’s “in Death” series. Now, there is the perfect man—rich beyond words, yet nurturing of his heroine-wife at the same time. I’d like to be brave and bold like his Eve, too. I don’t write books with a lot of violence and gory detail, so these books are a nice vacation for me.

And fun things about yourself that the readers might enjoy knowing?

I made a book trailer this time for THE RANCHER’S COURTSHIP! You can see it on the home page of my website at http://www.lauriekingery.com/

I’m really thrilled with how it came out, and can’t recommend Paperbackflyers highly enough!!!

Is there one piece of advice that’s been especially valuable to you?

Write down the time you spend writing on a calendar that you see every day. That way you cannot fool yourself about how much time you are or are not writing. I use different colored dots to indicate the type of writing day I’ve had, too—red for when the story’s coming “hot,” yellow for average, and blue for when I just can’t get going or am interrupted a lot. I write down time spent in writing-related activities, like blog-writing and conferences, too, but they get a different kind of sticker. It’s a really kindergarten-style form of encouragement, but it works for me. And it’s proof that this isn’t just a hobby if the IRS suddently starts to question my commitment to this as my job—if advance and royalty checks aren’t enough. J

Oh, I like that. Never thought about posting it on a calendar, but I think I'll use that advice. I use a calendar for lots of other things; why not that? Thanks! Please share information where readers can check out and buy your books:

My website is http://www.lauriekingery.com/
My books are available in places like Barnes and Noble, Walmart, etc. as well as online at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book Distributors (CBD.com) and Harlequin.com

Thanks, Laurie!
Readers, comments and email addresses will give you a chance to win her book.

Blessings to all.

18 comments:

Jo said...

Sounds like quite an interesting story. Would love to win a copy of this book.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Rebecca said...

Oh this looks like an amazing book. I would love to read this. Thanks for the chance to win.

agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

Laurie Kingery said...

Jo, thanks for commenting. Good luck on winning the book--at time that I'm writing this, you have a lock on it.

Caroline,thanks so much for inviting me to visit. Your blog is so well done.
Blessings, Laurie Kingery

Lisa Nelson said...

I enjoy your Love Inspired Historicals!
Thank you!
Lisa Nelson
storyreader617(at)gmail(dot)com

Caroline said...

Hi can you please enter me in the contest? Thankyou!
~Marissa
marissamehresman@aol.com

Laurie Kingery said...

Rebecca, Lisa and Marissa, thanks to all of you for commenting! I hope whoever wins the book really enjoys it.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone,
Blessings, Laurie Kingery

Kathy said...

Laurie, the trailer is wonderful! I have not read any of your books, yet, but I would like to, especially this western. I raised my girls in West Texas. Thanks, Kathy

Patricia Bradley said...

Great interview! The book sounds so interesting, especially after watching the trailer. Good job!
I'd love a chance to win your book.
ptrainum(at)comcast(dot)net

Anonymous said...

HI Laurie,
I enjoyed reading that you burn a candle while you write. My quirk is to wear a shawl,(yes, even in summer as that air conditioning gets to me)and it might sound weird, but that cloth around my shoulders puts me in the 1800s, which is my fav writing time period.

Congrats on the book. It sounds great, as do your other projects.

Best and Blessings,
LyndeeH
spooler(at)comcast(dot)net

Laurie Kingery said...

Kathy, where in West Texas? I lived for awhile in San Angelo and my grandparents lived in the little town of Christoval nearby. These days when I can visit, though, it's usually around Austin and San Antonio, where I have family.
Blessings, Laurie Kingery

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this novel :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Merry said...

I am loving this series by Laurie, please toss my name in the hat for The Rancher's Courtship.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

Lady DragonKeeper said...

I can relate about character names -it can really jolt me out of a story if I see a name that is too contemporary in historical fiction. I appreciate that you take the time to make sure that's not the case with your characters. "The Rancher's Courtship" sounds wonderful --thanks for the chance to win!

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

Mozi Esme said...

I'd love to read this!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Trinity Rose said...

Thanks for the interview and giveaway. Sounds like a fantastic book.
Blessings,
Trinity Rose
wandaelaine at gmail dot com

apple blossom said...

love the love inspired books thanks for a chance to win. nice interview

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Giveaway Lady said...

Not sure if the giveaway is still open but I would love to be entered! I like Laurie's style of writing and the historicals are excellent:) Thanks!!

esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

Laurie Kingery said...

Mozi, Charity, Apple Blossom, Trinity Rose, thanks for your comments too. Trinity Rose, you have a great name for a heroine too. Can I use it some time? :)
Blessings, Laurie Kingery

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