Genre: Historical romance
Format: ebook, paperback
Buy: Liberty Belle
plenty of action, romance, and hope. Liberty Longstreet was left at the altar, but that wasn’t the worst of her day. She awakens to the fact that she needs to declare independence from her controlling mother. Wanting her freedom and to find a man of her choosing, Libby leaves home for faraway Denver. She just doesn’t count on being robbed, falling for a wayward sheriff, or being accused of murder.Sheriff Wade Calder throws down his badge in a quest for revenge. Instead, he takes responsibility for his enemy’s young son. Wanting only to be free, Wade runs into Libby, and she wins what is left of his heart. Unfortunately, he has nothing to offer her until he picks up his badge. His honor is restored, but it may cost Libby her life.
Together they learn the cost of freedom and the wealth of forgiveness.
1. Tell us your latest news?
I am about to publish Golden Dreams, another prairie romance set on the California Trail. I’m still editing and getting her ready to go but am very excited to put this book on Amazon next to Liberty Belle. And I have two more completed waiting for their edit job and many unfinished books waiting for me to get back to them.
2. When and why did you begin writing?
In 2006, I became serious about writing. I had many books started and my friends referred to me as the “book of the month” writer. I finished my first book in August of that year. Since then I have spent my time learning the craft and in May of this year I published Liberty Belle. I love the process and am amazed at how the story takes on a life of its own.
3. What inspired you to write your first book?
Actually, stories attack me. They might start as a sentence rolling through my mind or a movie snippet. Liberty Belle began as a joke with an editor friend. She knew someone who wanted to read a story about a sheriff, school marm, and crippled boy. From those nuggets, Liberty Belle emerged. And of course once my characters hit the page, they were off and running with the story they wanted to tell.
Sometimes I have to stop what I am writing and let my brain play and out pops the beginning of another story. Ask my friends about the story with Victoria the chicken. LOL
4. Do you work with an outline, or just write?
I just write. Outlines make me feel trapped, and I have to jump that fence. I think I like the freedom to experience the story as it is happening.
Once I was writing on Bounty – should get that one out in 2013 – and a couple of characters were riding during a storm and stopped at an abandoned line shack. Now I am just typing along when all of a sudden one of my characters said, “There’s a body in here.” My fingers sped up. A body? Who is it, I think to myself. The characters told me. I was shocked. Then one of the characters looked at the body. “Been shot in the back.” Who did it I wondered. Then reality hit me. I am writing this story. Aren’t I? And I love that I don’t know what is going to happen until it falls onto the page. I may get an inkling of what needs to happen, but more often than not, my stories and characters surprise me.
5. What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?
I think in Liberty Belle, the most surprising part was the spinster aunt, Flora. She was only going to be a bit part in the first chapter or two. I thought she was older and heavy. UNTIL, I was writing along and Flora threw me this line. “Oh, I’ve spent most of my life unnoticed by others, but I assure you I notice everything.” I was shocked. This was not the Flora I had thought of.
I imagined her staring at me. Younger, maybe 30, thin, and demanding to go along on this story. And she did. Looking back, the story would not be the same or have worked without her. Now, there is a book begging to written about Flora and Harley. Five chapters are already written, so it may well be the next book I finish.
6. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Hope. I want readers to know that no matter what they have been through or are going through there is hope in the Lord. I won’t back down from writing my books with the message of hope in the Lord, Jesus. It is why I write and a gift He has given me.
7. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I would say to my readers that I want to give the best story that I can so that they may be encouraged and their faith encouraged. While I certainly do not want my books to be preachy, I do want to write stories with the reality of Christ in their world as He is in ours. Not perfect characters, but flawed human beings muddling through life the best they know how and growing in Christ as they grow in character. And of course my books will end happy.
8. What is the most challenging part of being an indie author? The most rewarding?
I love being an indie author. Remember, I love freedom. I am thankful that the opportunity wasn’t available when I finished my first book. I needed to learn more about the craft. I feel I am ready now.
The challenge is you must wear all the hats of a publisher and author. Write the book, edit it, publish it, cover design, promote, and market. But I have to say that I enjoy it all. And I enjoy the readers and other authors.
Patricia PacJac Carroll writes stories of adventure, romance, and hope with a little fun added in. She loves the freedom of the old West and you can find her stories set during this exciting time. She lives in Texas with her wonderful husband, 91 yr. old father-in-law, and Jacs the wonder dog. She also has a son, Joshua, who is truly a Texan and man of the west.
Her imagination is free to roam about the country and time. And she loves every minute of it. Her desire is to write stories that encourage, entertain, and leave the reader smiling after finishing her books.
Visit Patricia at her website: http://patriciapacjaccarroll.blogspot.com/, on Facebook, or on Twitter.
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Thanks for the post, Karen.