-
Leave Yesterday Behind new #romsuspense @LaurenLinwood #RLFblog
Leave Yesterday Behind This quick interview includes info about the author, and introduces
the story.About the Author
Lauren Linwood became a teacher who wrote on the side to maintain
her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones. Her historical romances use history as
a backdrop to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense
desire for one another grows into the treasured gift of love. Her romantic suspense
novels feature strong heroes and heroines who unite to defeat a clever antagonist
and discover a deep, abiding love during their journey.A native Texan, Lauren lives in a Dallas suburb with her family.
An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga
with long walks. She plans to start a support group for House Hunters addicts—as
soon as she finishes her next piece of dark chocolate.Interview with Lauren Linwood
Why did you write this
book?I’ve written and published six historical romances, and I was
looking for a new challenge. I enjoy reading romantic suspense, so I decided to
see if I could write one. The result was Leave Yesterday Behind.What is your favorite
genre to read?Naming my favorite genre is like asking me to name my favorite
child! Actually, I only have one child (LOL – she is my fav!), but I have many genres
I enjoy reading. In romance, I lean toward historicals, suspense, and contemporaries.
I also read thrillers, biographies, mysteries, straight suspense, and even horror.Who is your favorite character
from fiction (not including your own)?I adore Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. He’s intelligent,
a great father, full of integrity, and a role model for everyone.What are you working on
at the moment, and will see from you in coming months?My career goal is to alternate releasing historicals with romantic
suspense novels. My next release is a medieval historical romance. A Knight for
Kallen will be out in November 2015. That will be followed by Illusions of Death,
a romantic suspense coming in March 2016. I’ve finished another western historical
romance and am putting the finishing touches on different romantic suspense. I’ll
pitch both of these to my editor soon. Hopefully, she’ll be in a buying mood!Please tell us about your
latest book.Callie Chennault vaulted to fame on the nighttime soap Sumner
Falls, but after a decade of playing the same role, she is ready for a new acting
challenge. When Callie is attacked by a stalker on the streets of New York, she
takes a leave of absence from the show and returns to her roots in Aurora, Louisiana,
to heal both physically and emotionally and determine her next career move.Former professional baseball pitcher Nick La Chappelle has also
come to Aurora to lick his own wounds after a messy divorce. A Cy Young winner and
one-time ESPN broadcaster, Nick longs for the quiet of a small town in order to
write murder mysteries under a pen name.Sparks fly when Callie believes Nick is taking advantage of her
great-aunt’s hospitality, but they resolve their differences—and surprise themselves
by falling in love. Their bond is tested when both Nick and Callie become the focus
of a serial killer nicknamed Lipstick Larry. Can they outwit a murderer bent on
seeing them dead and survive to build a lasting relationship?About the Book
Title: Leave Yesterday BehindGenre: romantic suspenseAuthor: Lauren LinwoodBook heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13Buy This Book
Publisher: http://www.SoulMatePublishing.comAmazon: http://amzn.com/B00WXJIXP0Author Social Media
Website: http://www.laurenlinwood.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/LaurenLinwoodFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurenlinwoodAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Linwood/e/B00CSSG8BC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1406670019&sr=8-1 -
Lauren Linwood’s Ballad Beauty @LaurenLinwood #cowboys #RLFblog
Ballad Beauty Romance Lives Forever welcomes Lauren Linwood, historical
western romance author.About the Author
Lauren Linwood became a teacher who wrote on the side to maintain
her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones. Her historical romances use history as
a backdrop to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense
desire for one another grows into the treasured gift of love. Her romantic suspense
novels feature strong heroes and heroines who unite to defeat a clever antagonist
and discover a deep, abiding love during their journey.A native Texan, Lauren lives in a Dallas suburb with her family.
An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga
with long walks. She plans to start a support group for House Hunters addicts—as
soon as she finishes her next piece of dark chocolate.Interview with Lauren Linwood
Why did you write this
book?I’d written five previous historical romances, but I’d never
mined the gold in my native state of Texas! I decided it was time to feature a hero
who lived here, and the first thing that came to mind was a Texas Ranger. They helped
tamed Texas from the wild land that it was. My twist? My hero is the son of an infamous
outlaw and chose to become a lawman because of what he’d seen in his childhood.
He knows exactly what his daddy is, but the heroine he falls for has no idea that
her father is also an outlaw—and partner-in-crime to the hero’s daddy!What is your favorite
genre to read?Since I was a history teacher for many years, I enjoy authors
who combine pieces of history within thrillers. Steve Berry, David Baldacci, and
Brad Meltzer are some of the best at this.Who is your favorite character
from fiction (not including your own)?Hands down, it’s Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird. He’s
a hero in every sense of the word, and I admire his moral core and what a great
father he is to his two children.What are you working on
at the moment, and will see from you in coming months?I’m pleased to announce that I’ve dipped my toe into the romantic
suspense pond after releasing six historicals. Leave Yesterday Behind will be released
in June. I have another medieval historical, A Knight for Kallen, coming out in
the fall, and early in 2016 my second romantic suspense, Illusions of Death, will
appear. I’ve just finished another western which I’m letting ferment a bit before
I send it off to my editor, and I’m 25 chapters into another romantic suspense that’s
set in Dallas.Please tell us about your
latest book.After ten years apart, Boston schoolmarm Jenny McShanahan receives
a letter from her beloved father that instructs her to join him in Texas. She has
no idea that he’s become Famous Sam McShan, the Robin Hood of the West. She arrives
to find Sam already gone, but he left instructions for Jenny to hire a guide and
rendezvous with him in Nevada.Texas Ranger Noah Daniel Webster knows Sam personally because
his father, Pistol Pete Webber, was Sam’s longtime partner in crime. When Pete is
killed during their last big score, Noah requests the assignment to bring Sam to
justice. Going undercover, he volunteers to act as Jenny’s escort across the dangerous
prairie, using her to track her outlaw father’s location.As they journey through rough country, love blossoms—but Noah
knows the second he arrests Sam, his betrayal will kill Jenny’s love for him. Should
the lawman do his duty as a Ranger, or should he let love rule? The choice Noah
makes will change their lives forever.About the Book
Title: Ballad BeautyGenre: western historical romanceAuthor: Lauren LinwoodBook heat level: PG13Buy This Book
Publisher: http://www.SoulMate.Publishing.comAmazon (Kindle Unlimited!): http://amzn.com/B00U9TV2XQAuthor Social Media
Website: http://www.laurenlinwood.com
Blog: https://laurenlinwood.wordpress.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/LaurenLinwood
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurenlinwood
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091840.Lauren_Linwood
Google+: https://plus.google.com/+LaurenLinwood/posts
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Linwood/e/B00CSSG8BC/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1406670019&sr=8-1 -
Character Interview: A Bit of Heaven @LaurenLinwood #RLFblog #medieval
A Bit of Heaven on Earth
by Lauren LinwoodThe character interview allows a hero or heroine to tell readers
about himself or herself. Today’s interview is with Gavin of Ashgrove.Tell us about yourself,
please.I am Lord Gavin of Ashgrove—or I was. I went to fight with the
Black Prince in England’s war against France and was captured in a battle where
we were far outnumbered. The French sent a ransom demand to my father. He refused
to pay it. I spent two years in a squalid prison until a sympathetic priest helped
me escape. I returned and confronted my father, wondering at his cruelty. He told
me my mother was dead, that I was a bastard, and I no longer could lay claim to
my good name or lands.In the story world your
author created, explain what it is you fear most and why.I fear that I have no place in this world. My entire identity
has been ripped from me. With my mother dead, I cannot ask her who my true sire
was. I have lost my name, my lands, my fortune—and now I have lost my heart to a
woman I can never marry. I do not know if this life is worth living if I cannot
have her by my side.Tell us about your significant
other, that person who makes living worthwhile.Elizabeth of Kentwood has claimed my heart. When my father banned
me from Ashgrove, I turned to Lord Aldred, whom I fostered with as a boy and who
has been England’s greatest warrior. I sought his sage advice. I came to Kentwood
to find Aldred now an old man, close to death, and his estate run by his much younger
wife, a famed and opinionated beauty. At first, Elizabeth and I butted heads like
rams. Then I came to know her, and it led to love. But with no children, Kentwood
will revert to King Edward, and he shall name a new husband for Elizabeth soon after
Aldred’s death. I know that Edward would never hear my suit, for I’ve become a penniless
knight and have no home to offer Elizabeth.What would that person
say about you?Ah, my sweet Elizabeth would say I was headstrong, honorable,
and yet tender of heart.If someone from your past
showed up, who would you NOT want it to be, and why?‘Tis already happened, and I cannot believe I feel such hatred
in my heart. My closest friend Robert was captured in battle with me, and he returned
to England once his family paid his ransom. His estate borders Kentwood, and I fear
the king will decide to join Robert and Elizabeth in marriage and combine the two
estates for defense purposes. To see my Elizabeth joined in marriage to Robert would
be my worst nightmare.Why are you happy (or
not happy) with the way your story ended?Suffice it to say that Mistress Linwood wove her magic and gave
Elizabeth and me a happy ending beyond our dreams. She made the impossible possible,
and we owe her a debt of gratitude that reaches from now till the end of time.About the Author
Lauren Linwood became a teacher who wrote on the side to maintain
her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones. Her romances use history as a backdrop
to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire
and yearning for one another grow into the deep, tender, treasured gift of love.Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family.
An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga
with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for Pinterest
and House Hunters addicts.Why did you choose this
character for the interview today?I decided to reveal a bit about the story from Gavin’s point
of view because most romance writers immediately think of how the woman feels. I
wanted readers to see that Gavin is every bit as romantic and heartbroken over the
possibility of losing his love as a woman would be. He might be a stoic warrior,
but he is as passionate in his love for Elizabeth as she is for him!What genre(s) would you
like to write that you haven’t tried yet?Actually, I’ve started on a new journey. I’ve released five historical
romances and have a sixth coming out in March. Although I love writing historicals,
I wanted to challenge myself a bit and push my creative limits. The result? Leave
Yesterday Behind, a romantic suspense, is coming out in June of 2015, and my editor
just bought a second romantic suspense entitled Illusions of Death. My goal is to
start alternating and publishing historicals and romantic suspense books each year.What would your readers
be surprised to learn about you?Believe it or not, as a reader, romance is not my favorite genre!
Don’t get me wrong—I read a ton of romances and love them—but my favorite book to
pick up is a thriller. I enjoy books by authors such as Steve Berry, David Baldacci,
and Jeff Abbott.Why should readers who
haven’t picked up one of your books before give this one a try?I’ve had readers tell me that this is their favorite book of
all the ones they’ve read of mine. They’ve said there’s just something about this
couple and storyline that touched them. It’s also the favorite of my critique partner.Is there anything you’d
like to say to your readers?I appreciate every book of mine that you purchase and every email
when you share how much you enjoyed my characters and their love story. It’s a thrill
each time to hear these words, and it makes me want to keep telling my stories for
many years to come.About the Book
Title: A Bit of Heaven on EarthGenre: medieval historical romanceAuthor: Lauren LinwoodBook heat level (based on movie ratings): RWhen Gavin of Ashgrove and his closest friend are captured in
a fierce battle during the Hundred Years’ War, their captors demand a hefty ransom
from their fathers for their return. Robert is quickly set free, but Gavin’s father
refuses to pay for his son’s release, leaving him to rot in a squalid French prison.
Aided by a sympathetic priest, he escapes and returns home to England, only to find
he has been proclaimed a bastard and disinherited.With nowhere to turn Gavin journeys to Kentwood, where he fostered
as a boy, hoping Lord Aldred will take him on as a knight in his guard. The old
warrior is close to death, but he soon realizes Gavin is his son. Aldred plots to
have Gavin inherit Kentwood and marry his much younger wife, Elizabeth, a famed
and opinionated beauty who remains a virgin after a decade of marriage.Will the king recognize Lord Aldred’s first request of a marriage
between Elizabeth and Robert, uniting Robert’s estate with Kentwood—or will the
temperamental Edward reward Aldred’s years of service and honor a dying man’s final
request?Buy This Book
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing: http://www.SoulMatePublishing.comAmazon: http://amzn.com/B00QHMH0IUAuthor Social Media
Website: http://www.laurenlinwood.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/LaurenLinwoodFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurenlinwood -
Timeless and Tender Romance: Lauren Linwood @laurenlinwood #RLFblog #Historical
A Bit of Heaven on Earth
As a young girl, Lauren Linwood could barely wait for the library’s
bookmobile to arrive every Saturday at the local shopping center. She would check
out the limit of six books and return them, completely read, the next weekend. Her
favorite game was “Let’s Pretend That…” – which still helps jumpstart
her when she sits down to write today.Lauren fell in love with history, reading every biography in
her school’s library, and continued telling the stories of individuals when she
became a history teacher. Focusing on medieval and western historicals, with a few
romantic suspense and contemporary novels thrown in, Lauren tries her best to steer
her characters on the course she plots for them – only to find that oftentimes they
have a mind of their own and veer off in new, unpredictable directions.A native Texan, Lauren lives with her family in a Dallas suburb.
An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga
with five mile walks. Follow Lauren’s blog, Write Up My
Alley, as she saunters through her writing journey, fun facts from history,
and life in general.A Bit of Heaven on Earth
When Gavin of Ashgrove and his closest friend are captured in
a fierce battle during the Hundred Years’ War, their captors demand a hefty ransom
from their fathers for their return. Robert is quickly set free, but Gavin’s father
refuses to pay for his son’s release, leaving him to rot in a squalid French prison.
Aided by a sympathetic priest, he escapes and returns home to England, only to find
he has been proclaimed a bastard and disinherited.With nowhere to turn Gavin journeys to Kentwood, where he fostered
as a boy, hoping Lord Aldred will take him on as a knight in his guard. The old
warrior is close to death, but he soon realizes Gavin is his son. Aldred plots to
have Gavin inherit Kentwood and marry his much younger wife, Elizabeth, a famed
and opinionated beauty who remains a virgin after a decade of marriage.Will the king recognize Lord Aldred’s first request of a marriage
between Elizabeth and Robert, uniting Robert’s estate with Kentwood—or will the
temperamental Edward reward Aldred’s years of service and honor a dying man’s final
request?Buy This Book
Written in the Cards Amazon http://amzn.com/B00QHMH0IUWritten in the Cards
FREE ON AMAZON DEC 15-17 — click the link below.
Maggie Rutherford jilts her too-perfect society groom at the
altar and flees to the AmericanWest, where she turns her travels into dime novels
that she writes under the pen name Lud Madison.Civil War veteran Ben Morgan marries his childhood sweetheart
and takes her to homestead on the Great Plains. Losing her
in an Indian attack, Ben becomes a roaming gambler. When he kills a cheating opponent
in self-defense, the man’s gunslinger brother swears revenge.After Ben joins a cattle drive and brings in a herd to Abilene,
a waiting Maggie interviews him for her next story. Sparks fly as they wind up living
in the same household, running a general store east of Abilene. But with Black Tex
Lonnegan on his trail, will Ben run from his growing attraction to Maggie and the
gunfighter’s promise of death–or will he make a stand for his life–and love?Buy This Book
Amazon http://amzn.com/B00KGM0M1OAuthor Social Media
Website: http://www.laurenlinwood.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/laurenlinwoodFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurenlinwoodGoodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091840.Lauren_LinwoodAbout Me: http://about.me/LaurenLinwoodAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Linwood/e/B00CSSG8BC -
Character Interview: Maggie from Written in the Cards @LaurenLinwood #RLFblog #western
Written in the Cards About the Book
Title: Written in the CardsGenre: western historical romanceAuthor Name: Lauren LinwoodBook heat level (based on movie ratings): PG13Maggie Rutherford jilts
her too-perfect society groom at the altar and flees New York for the American West, where she turns
her travels into dime novels that she writes and illustrates under the pen name
Lud Madison.After the Civil War,
veteran Ben Morgan marries his childhood sweetheart and takes her to homestead on
the Great Plains. Losing her and their unborn child
in an Indian attack, Ben detaches from emotion and becomes a roaming gambler. When
he kills a cheating opponent in self-defense, the man’s gunslinger brother swears
revenge upon Ben.Ben hides on a cattle
drive and brings in a herd to Abilene,
where a waiting Maggie wants to find a rough and tumble cowboy to interview for
her next story idea. Sparks fly as the dangerous
drover and popular novelist wind up living in the same household, running a general
store east of Abilene.
But with Black Tex Lonnegan hot on his trail, will Ben run from his growing attraction
to Maggie and the gunfighter’s promise of death–or will he make a stand for his
life–and love?Buy This Book
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00KGM0M1OInterview with Maggie Rutherford:
Tell us about yourself,
please.I’d be delighted to. My name is Maggie Rutherford, and I grew
up in New York City.
I was theone who spoke up and objected to being married at my own wedding. I rushed
out, leaving hundreds of society gossipers to rake me over the coals. I decided
that I couldn’t marry a man I didn’t love or respect, and so I’ve made my way across
the West. I write dime novels under a pen name for my family’s publishing company.
I thought my stories of adventure would sell better under a man’s name, and I definitely
didn’t want my brother, the head of Rutherford House, to give me a pity publish.What is your family like?My mother died when I was quite young, so I don’t remember her
at all. Papa totally ignored me for his publishing empire, disappointed that I was
a girl. I worshipped my older brother Marcus, and I’ll admit he spoiled me rotten.
I traipsed after him and his best friend Frank, who’s truly family to me. If they
rode, so did I. If they took fencing or boxing lessons, then I was their shadow
and learned every move. My aunt Harriet feels she’s failed me somehow because I’m
not interested in needlepoint or the necessary social graces to be a success in
society.What special skills do
you rely on?Outlaw Muse My brain is my largest muscle, and I flex it every chance I get!
I don’t understand these empty-headed females—or at least those who pretend to be
empty-headed. I’m blessed with two skills that are helping me support myself since
I’ve moved to the West. I have quite an imagination, and I draw upon it heavily
as I write my dime novels. I’m also quite handy with pen and ink or charcoals, and
so I also illustrate my books. The money I’ve made as a dime novelist has helped
me pay my way without relying on my family’s publishing fortune.If someone from your past
showed up, who would you NOT want it to be, and why?I would not want to spend a single minute in the presence of
my former fiancé. Richard was not the man I thought he was, and that was bitterly
disappointing. He would never have let me spread my wings and soar. He wanted to
keep me in a cage that would have become my prison.Are you happy with the
way your story ended? Why or why not?I couldn’t imagine being any happier than I am at this moment.
I’ve found a career that I can be proud of. I’ve discovered the town I’m meant to
settle down in, with my dearest friends Frank and his fiancée Rebecca, who’s become
as close as a sister to me. Most importantly, I plan to spend the rest of my days—and
nights—with the man who has changed me for the better. Ben Morgan brought love and
laughter into my life. He respects me. He challenges me. He’s almost too good to
be true. I can’t wait to build a life and have a family with him.About the Writer
Why did you choose to
write about this character?I thought it would be interesting to create a heroine who was
a writer as I am. It’s funny just how much we have in common as we try to research
and write our stories—even if we’re writing more than a hundred years apart. I’ve
always loved the name Maggie and saw her in my head for a long time. She was smart,
feisty, and talented, and I just loved her red hair! I simply had to wait till the
right story for her came along.Was there anything you
discovered about this character that was a surprise to you?Maggie was much more vocal (in my head) than some of my characters
have been in the past. When I wanted to make Ben the dime novelist in my story,
she wouldn’t hear of it! She believed she had the talent and drive to be the writer—and
she was exactly right. That freed Ben up to become a gambler on the run, and it
made for a unique, stronger storyline.When you wrote about this
character, what made you the most happy? What made you the most sad?I was always happy writing about when Maggie was experiencing
new things, especially her growing attraction to Ben. Maggie’s just as much a gambler
as Ben is. She will try anything and relish the opportunity she’s been given. It
was hard to allow her to let Ben go when Black Tex Lonnegan came to town to kill
him. Rationally, she knew he needed to leave to save his life . . . but giving him
up was like cutting away pieces of her heart and soul. That was difficult to write.Why do you write?I am compelled to write. I feel I have so many stories to tell.
I want to bring the kind of pleasure to my readers that I’ve known as I’ve read
books over the years. I want readers to be entertained. To laugh aloud. To cry.
To feel they’ve discovered new friends.What other character from
this book do you want to write about? Care to tell us why?I might try to write Marcus’s story one day. He’s such a terrific
older brother to Maggie. He’s a good friend to Frank. He’s a successful businessman.
The US
was on the brink of change at this time in history, and it might be interesting
to see those changes through Marcus’s eyes. Another character that would be fun
to follow would be Tim, the teenager Marcus takes under his wing. To go from being
the son of a hotel desk clerk to helping develop a new town and a publishing empire?
Hmm…I’ll have to think about this one!A Game of Chance Is there anything you’d
like to say to your readers?I just want to express my gratitude to those readers who have
bought my books and told me they’ve enjoyed my characters and their stories. That
puts a smile on my face.Author Bio
Lauren Linwood became a teacher who wrote on the side to maintain
her sanity in a sea of teenage hormones. Her romances use history as a backdrop
to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire
and yearning for one another grow into the deep, tender, treasured gift of love.Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas suburb with her family. An avid reader,
moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress by alternating yoga with five mile
walks. She is thinking about starting a support group for Pinterest and House Hunters
addicts.Author Social Media
Website: http://www.laurenlinwood.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/LaurenLinwoodFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurenlinwoodAmazon Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7091840.Lauren_Linwood -
Character Sketch: Jed Stone from A Game of Chance @LaurenLinwood #RLFblog #Western
About the Book
Title: A Game of ChanceGenre: western historical romanceAuthor Name: Lauren LinwoodBook heat level (based on movie ratings G, PG, PG13, R): PG13Gambler Jed Stone journeys
to California to track down Simon Morgan, the man responsible for his best friend’s
death. Arrested for robbery and murder upon arrival, Jed is shocked to see his face
on a wanted poster. He escapes before his hanging, unaware that the man guilty of
those crimes is the twin brother he never knew existed. In a case of mistaken identity,
Jed acquires the most famous whorehouse in San Francisco
in a rigged card game his twin is meant to win.Lily Frontiere takes
over running Lucky Lil’s from her dying mother, the house madam who shielded her
by sending her away to boarding school. Lily’s intelligence and astonishing resemblance
to her mother help in her charade, but she’s entered a world she knows little about.
She clashes with the handsome stranger who turns up with the deed to Lucky Lil’s
in hand, yet she is attracted to the charming risk taker.But Simon Morgan seeks
both Lily’s hand and ownership of Lucky Lil’s—and he will go to any means to possess
both. Will Jed foil his nemesis while bringing his outlaw brother to justice and
win Lily’s love?Buy This Book:
Soul Mate Publishing: http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Game-Chance-Lauren-Linwood-ebook/dp/B00HQVHR98/About the Character
Name: Jed StoneAge: 25Gender: maleBirthplace: New York CityProfession: gamblerEthnicity/Species (if not human): whiteDescribe his/her body build, skin tone, height and weight. Include
any unique features such as dimples, freckles, or scars:Jed is 6’2″ and 180 pounds, with a muscled chest and thick,
dark-blonde hair and a mustache. He has crystal blue eyes and a killer smile that
melts hearts on both sides of the Mississippi. Think
Robert Redford as the Sundance Kid. Jed could be his younger brother!Who is the significant
other in your character’s life (hero/heroine)?Lily Frontiere, who is the daughter of the most famous whorehouse
in San Francisco. She was shielded from the house
life and sent back east to a fancy boarding school and has returned to her home
to find her mother dying and in debt. Lily wanted to be an actress, which her mother
refused to allow her to do so, so she is using her acting skills and incredible
similarity to her mother to “play” Madam Lil. With a dark wig and heavy
make-up and her curves poured into one of Lil’s dresses, she is Madam Lil—but incredibly naïve and having
to learn quickly on the job how to manage her girls and the clientele they service.How educated is this character?
Is he/she book smart, self-taught, widely-experienced?Jed went to public schools, where during recess he played poker
with his teacher during recess and honed his math and gambling skills. He dropped
out as a teen because the midwife who raised him grew ill, and he needed to support
them. He worked at everything from a boot factory to a brewery, even keeping the
books at a pub while pouring drinks. He fought for the Union
in the Civil War and after the war ended, he put his street smarts and luck together
and became a gambler, mostly playing poker.What is your character’s
family like?Jed is an orphan, raised by Elmira,
the gruff midwife who delivered him. He doesn’t know many details about his background,
but will find out the truth when he arrives in San Francisco.
His father Gordon was an actor who pretended to marry a young Boston Brahmin teenager.
She gave birth to a son, and Gordon took off with the child. He wanted the baby
to show his millionaire grandfather that he’d become respectable, hoping Max would
put him in the will. Little did he know his dying “wife” gave birth to
a second son minutes later—an identical twin to the first son. Jed possess a locket
with his mother’s initials, which will play a key role in unraveling the tangled
web of his past.What inner doubt causes
your character the most difficulty?Jed learns that his twin brother is wanted for robbery, rape,
and murder. He also discovers his father was a pretty shady character with a checkered
past. His fear is he’s got their “bad blood,” and he’ll never be able
to rise above it. He’s fallen in love, and he wants to be the best possible man
he can be for the woman he loves, but finding out about these two relatives creates
doubt in his mind.What is your character’s
biggest need at the beginning of the story? As the story opens,Jed’s biggest need is to get out of jail! He’s been arrested
based on a wanted poster and sentenced to be executed, but it’s actually his twin
who’s committed the crimes. Jed has no idea why his picture is on the poster, but
he’s not about to hang for another man’s crimes, so he needs to escape—and fast!How emotionally expressive
is your character to others?Jed is very self-contained, a reflection of his gambling skills
and instinct. He studies people and picks up on the little things about them. He’s
used many aliases in the past and holds his cards, literally and figuratively, close
to the chest. As he begins to fall in love with Lily, though, he opens up to the
possibilities of a life beyond gambling, and we see a very playful side to him.About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.
Why do you think your
writer chose to write about you?Lauren Linwood wanted to tell my story because she sees me as
very vulnerable. She was fascinated by the idea that identical twins could be separated
at birth and resemble each other so closely, yet turn out very differently.What do you wish your
writer had not told others about you?I can’t believe she let the cat out of the bag and told people
how I donate a portion of my poker winnings to various orphanages in each town I
pass through. Just because I’m an orphan and know how hard that life can be, I feel
she had no right revealing something so personal.Why do you think your
writer loves to write?Lauren loves to tell stories—the more complex and twisty, the
better. She loves creating people and their worlds and sharing them with readers.
She wants to entertain and make readers happy when they get that happily ever after
ending. I’m grateful that despite all the complications she threw at me, I was able
to find my golden ending with Lily, the love of my life, and learn about my true
roots.What do you wish your
writer would write next?When I have kids with Lily, I think their story would be an interesting
one to read about. They would come of age at the turn of a new century in America, so that alone would make for a special story. Besides,
who wouldn’t want to read the love story of their own children? Mine turned out
so well, and I hope Lauren would give my kids their own soul mates for life!What other character from
your book do you think your writer should write a book about? Care to tell us why?Lauren would never admit to this, but her two favorite characters
in A Game of Chance are Harold, the butler, and Cleveland Armstrong, a bank clerk.
Harold has a great sense of humor and is incredibly loyal. I think she should give
him a good woman to share his laughter and love. And in the epilogue, Lauren reveals
Cleveland is doing something very special with his
life. He’s the true hero in A Game of Chance, and I believe he deserves his own
book and happily ever after, just like Lily and I got.Is there anything you’d
like to say to your writer?Lauren knows how grateful I am to her for bringing Lily and me
together. We definitely had some bumps along the way, but I want her to know that
I truly am the man she thought I was, and I plan to be the best man I can be, for
both Lily and me. I’m ready to start a new chapter in my life, and I look forward
to my future—all thanks to Lauren and her vivid imagination.Author Bio
As a child, Lauren Linwood gathered her neighborhood friends
together and made up stories for them to act out, her first venture into creating
memorable characters. Following her passion for history and love of learning, she
became a teacher who began writing on the side to maintain her sanity in a sea of
teenage hormones.Lauren’s novels focus on two of her favorite eras, medieval times
and the American Old West. History is the backdrop that places her characters in
extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire and yearning for one another
grows into the deep, tender, treasured gift of love.Lauren, a native Texan, lives in a Dallas
suburb with her family. An avid reader, moviegoer, and sports fan, she manages stress
by alternating yoga with five mile walks. She is thinking about starting a support
group for Pinterest and House Hunters addicts.Author Social Media
Website: http://www.laurenlinwood.comTwitter: http://twitter.com/LaurenLinwoodFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/laurenlinwoodAmazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lauren-Linwood/e/B00CSSG8BC