Linda LaRoque's Musings: World Blog Tour

I'm honored to be invited to this World Blog Tour by Jody Day. Her debut novel, Washout Express, was released by Harborlight Books which is part of the Pelican Group. Jody writes inspirational romance, devotionals, poems, and articles that encourage folks to look at life through love colored glasses. Visit Jody at her blog at  http://jodysdevotionaljournal.blogspot.com.

This blog tour answers four questions:

1. What am I working on?

At present I'm working on a novella to be part of a boxed set. I can't tell you much about it as the theme is being kept quiet for now. I just finished a Women's Inspirational Fiction, Shattered Vows, that I'm shopping with several publishers. It's the first Inspirational for me and I'm rather proud of it. It took a lot out of me emotionally and I hope it will mean as much to readers as it does to me.

Seems I've been genre hopping, but I'm ready to get back to my major love, Western Historical Romances, most of which are time travels. However, a Contemporary Western Romance sounds appealing to me right now too.

2. How does my work differ from others in the genre?

I'd say that mine differ in that my heroine and hero are adults who are established in their careers. The stories revolve around conflicts that life throws their way—divorce, death of a spouse, infidelity, loss of a parent, and/or a secret that's been hidden away being revealed. Many of my couples are already married and face issues unusual for young dating couples.

3. Why do I write what I do?

That's a tough question, but I guess I'd have to say I write what I like to read. And I read a variety of genres which has led me to write in several genres—Western Contemporary Romance, Western Historical Time Travel Romance, Futuristic Romantic Suspense, a Contemporary Suspense, and a Women's Inspirational. I enjoy research so the stories I write usually require a bit. For example, I love native American lore and while writing Flames on the Sky, I visited New Mexico, Chaco Canyon, and the Zuni Reservation. Some of the travel was after the book was written, but it gave me the opportunity to see if I'd gotten details right from facts obtained from the Internet.

4. How does my writing process work?

Unfortunately I'm a procrastinator. Since I'm retired, I don't stick to a set routine. I get up in the mornings and while having my coffee, check my emails and take care of daily obligations that deal with promotion. Often it's not until after noon when I start on my WIP. I seem to be able to do my best writing at night. If a story is falling together quickly and smoothly, I may work for hours, afraid that if I don't I'll forget something.

I do not use an outline or any type of plotting device. I get an idea in my head, decide where I'm going to take it and what the conflicts will be, and start writing. Some of my best scenes have just dropped in my lap when I needed them. For example, the endings of both My Heart Will Find Yours and Birdie's Nest, and several of the novellas in A Time of Their Own worked that way. A Time of Their Own is available at The Wild Rose Press, Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobel and other online book stores.


I've selected several authors to tag, but won't post their names until tomorrow. So, please check back.

I'm pleased to have Judith Leger, Debra Jupe, and Ciara Gold join the World Blog Tour.

Judith and I have been friends forever, but we've never met in person. We started out in an online critique group probably 9-10 years ago and have stayed in touch ever since. She lives in Louisiana, so is almost a Texan and one of the sweetest people I know. Plus, she writes great stories. I'll let he tell you about those. Judith's blog is http://judithleger.blogspot.com

Debra and I met at our local chapter Heart of Texas RWA. She hadn't written much when she joined, but she hit the ground running and now has one published, one waiting for a publication date, and another one contracted. And she most likely has another one in the works. I hope I haven't missed any Deb. I'm sure she'll share details with you readers. Deb's blog is http://debrajupe.wordpress.com/

Ciara is another one of my online friends, but she lives here in Texas so we've met on several occasions. We've shared a table at several books signings and she invited me to attend a small town celebration and signing that is known for being a stop for the Orphan Trains. She wrote the play about the Orphan Train that local high school students performed. Like myself, she loves to write Western Historical but has ventured into other genres as I have. She writes about dragons, vikings, and children who were passengers on the Orphan Trains. Her blog is http://ciaragold.blogspot.com/

Thank you all for stopping by. Please check out Judith, Debra, and Ciara's blogs.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda
www.lindalaroque

Bremond Library Fund Raiser

The Bremond Public Library Fund Raiser was a great success. The theme was The Orphan Train as the train stopped in Bremond and several members of the community are direct descendants of those who found a home in the small town. Before the play, we enjoyed a delicious mean of cowboy stew, cornbread, and dessert.

School Students performed in a silent play depicting what it was like for children as they traveled from city to city until they were chosen by a family. Many were selected for their ability to work on the farm and were little more than servants. Others were treated as well-loved children. Regardless, their fate was, in most cases, was better than starving on the streets of New York or living out their lives in an over-crowded orphanage.

Ciara Gold, in period dress on the right, narrated the play. Her book, Once Jilted, is one in a series of books about the orphan train available from Champagne Books. With Ciara are several library patrons and members of Bremond's community.

Here are pictures of the cowboy cooks demonstrating their skills. They prepared peach cobbler, cherry cobbler and biscuits baked in Dutch ovens over an open fire. Ciara sampled the peach and I tasted the cherry and a biscuit. They were delicious!

In my book When the Ocotillo Bloom, Lynn Devry learns to cook outside over an open flame when she accompanies the children on a trail drive.

Here is a picture of me and Ciara with big smiles. I sold 12 books and I think Ciara sold more than I did. The most rewarding aspect of the library event was meeting many wonderful people and enjoying their small town enthusiasm.

Thank you for stopping by. If you have any orphan train experiences or have enjoyed a meal cooked out on an open fire (other than hamburgers or hotdogs), please share with us. Or leave a comment on whatever comes into your mind about the post. All comments will be entered into my monthly ebook drawing.

Happy Reading and Writing!

Linda

http://www.lindalaroque.com/