In describing her stories of second chances and redemption, readers and reviewers use words like, “emotional punch, hometown feel, core values, believable characters and real life situations.”

What was the first Western historical novel you remember reading?

That would undoubtedly have to be Little House on the Prairie.  I was an avid Laura Ingalls Wilder follower as a child.  In adult years I graduated to Louis L’Amour and all those cowboy and Native American westerns.

When did you know you were hooked on Western historical novels?

Remember when Sylvie Summerfield wrote about white women captured by hunky braves? Francine Rivers created unforgettable western romances like Kathleen and Sycamore Hill.  One of my all-time favorites is Redeeming Love (the first edition).  Suzannah Davis, Margaret Brownley, Maggie Osborne, and Jill Marie Landis came on the scene with wonderful western-set stories.  I was hooked.

What part of the writing process do you enjoy most when you write—the research? creating the characters? developing the plot? providing the historical context?

I love the creative process, the brainstorming and what-ifs and seeing the story and characters take shape.  I enjoy taking initial notes and then making sense out of them.  I like to organize my characters and their motivations on grids that help me see if I have all the elements of conflict I need.  I’m in a very small percentage of writers who actually like to write a synopsis.  It’s part of the creative process for me.  I love figuring out the exact right place to start the story and setting up a promise to the reader in those first pages.

Tell us about your new book, The Preacher's Daughter, published by Harlequin Historical.

I had wanted to write a story for Benjamin Chaney for a long time.  We saw him as a boy in The Doctor's Wife and again at seventeen in The Lawman's Bride.  Because of his past, I knew that a relationship with a woman would be difficult for him--especially the physical aspect.  And I wanted to develop his growth and see him be the man I knew he could be.  But all along I knew it would take a special woman to break through those barriers of the past and show him he was worthy of love.

Occasionally I would ruminate on Benjamin's predicament, but the right time was coming.  When I decided it was time to write his story, I developed it the way I always do.  I start with a grid on which I chart the characters, one for each of them, and I listed the things I knew about him.  He's competent and stubborn and inside he's filled with anger.  His motivation is all about sex and self-control.  In his eyes passion is a weakness.  He has sworn to honor and respect women.  He's kindhearted, but jaded.  He knows the dark and seedy side of life and feels tainted.  He has to learn how to be a man, the good man he wants to be.

A woman would have to come along of course.  A woman who would challenge his strictly held beliefs and rattle his all-important self-control.  Being a good man has been easy until now.  Until this woman.  So who would she be?  After much deliberation I came up with three possibilities.  I drew three columns on a sheet of paper and headed each one. 

Prostitute's Daughter.  Preacher's Widow.  Preacher's Daughter.

Under each heading I listed the reasons she would create emotional conflict for Ben.  The prostitute's daughter was obvious--his mother was a prostitute.  This person's seen as much dirt as he has.  She's the last woman he'd ever want.  All good.  The Preacher's Widow didn't have much going for her.  She provided another man for Ben to compare himself to, but that's about it.  The preacher's daughter on the other hand had a list: She's untouched, pure and innocent; He'd place her on a pedestal; She's his heart's desire; He's see in her all he values; He'd believe she was perfect; He'd feel unworthy; She grew up in a life he only dreamed of.

Her name came next.  Prudence was obvious, but not pretty.  I liked Carrie because it was sweet.  But Lorabeth..now there's a name that brings a picture to mind.  You can almost see her by her name, can't you?  She's hungry for love and affection -- love he doesn't know how to give.  She's passionate.  She's impulsive and expressive, warm and emotionally intense.  Thirsty for life.  Her greatest fear is that she'll only be wanted and loved because she's perfect.

And then I placed the two of them together and let them develop their story.  It was a delightful experience.  Once I created and defined Ben and Lorabeth, they did all the work.

If you were to choose two actors to play Benjamin and Lorabeth who would they be and why?

You’re forcing me to think outside my normal pattern because I normally use pictures of faces who are not celebrities, so there’s no association with previous roles.  So this is a stretch for me, but I like to stretch.  And this isn’t a tough call: Skeet Ulrich would make a good Benjamin.  He’s young looking, but as he proved in Jericho, he can turn on the macho when need be.  He can be incredibly vulnerable and expressive, and that’s what makes him, well, sexy.  His simple delivery of lines in The Magic of Ordinary Days makes me cry every time I watch, so I’ll go with Skeet.

This one’s more difficult.  For Lorabeth, I had to use my picture and do face recognition online.  The closest match was Kristin Davis, but I can’t see her playing a pure and innocent character, so next best choices are Renee Zellweger and Alicia Silverstone.  Tough decision there.  Lorabeth is pure and innocent with an underlying current of passion, so…Renee Zellweger it is.  Now I’m going to have to find pics of them and place them side by side to see if there’s chemistry.

Can you tell us a little bit about your next book?

Of course.  My next release is a novella in Harlequin’s western Christmas anthology, A Winter Wonderland, and it’s titled Christmas Day Family.  Marvel was a character I’d had waiting in the wings for several years.  I had tried to pair her with the appropriate hero a couple of times, but nothing ever really worked out for her.  Once I was determined she would have her story, I wiped the hero slate clean and started over from scratch with a man who would turn her comfortable spinster world upside down.  A younger man.

 I held a contest on my blog to name the hero.  When one of my readers suggested Seth Paxton, I knew I had her man.  Seth comes to Patton Bend Colorado to start over.  In Marvel he sees all the things he wants for himself and his young children.  Seth makes Marvel want more than what she’s settled for, but his presence noses her secret out of its hiding place and taunts her with it.  She’s too old for him.  Or is she?

 Each of the three authors in this anthology contributed a recipe that represents Christmas tradition in their family.  I’m excited to see what Pam Crooks and Jenna Kernan have added to the holiday mix! 

What are some of your favorite western romances by other authors?

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

The Wives of Bowie Stone by Maggie Osborne

The Seduction of Samantha Kincaid by Maggie Osborne

The Rainbow Season by Lisa Gregory

Courting Miss Hattie by Pamela Morsi

Coming Up Roses and Annie’s Song by Catherine Anderson

Promises to Remember and Parting Gifts by Lorraine Heath. 

We’ve heard some people say western historical romances aren’t popular anymore and, of course, we at www.lovewesternromances.com don’t agree. As someone with an awesome backlist of western historical romances and new ones coming out regularly, how would you characterize the readership for western historical romances?

Every time I’ve participated in the book fair at the Romantic Times convention, readers come through in droves and I can’t tell you how many stop and ask why there aren’t more westerns.  My experience tells me that readers want western set historicals.  Across the message boards readers bemoan the fact that their favorite western writers have switched to other genres.  Here’s the thing, people, the bottom line for the publishers, because they are a business, is to make money.  So when you see a western romance on the shelf, plunk down your cash.  By showing your support, you’ll be doing a service for the genre and for the writers who ARE trying to sell westerns to the publishers.  Tell your friends and pass along the word about westerns you’ve enjoyed.

 Recently there has been a renewed interest in the form of websites and My Spaces devoted to western romances.  I’m excited to say I’m part of a group of western romance writers who are launching a new site devoted to the genre. PetticoatsandPistols.com will be devoted to western romance, contemporary and historical. Besides myself, there are Pam Crooks, Elizabeth Lane, Geralyn Dawson, Pat Potter, Lorraine Heath, Karen Kay, Stacey Kayne, Charlene Sands, and Linda Broday.

Besides blogging and featuring guest bloggers, we will host an updated listing of all new western releases, so readers won’t miss any of their favorites.