I should
probably blame that on my dad. He read to us lots. Even as teenagers, my
siblings and I loved to gather around while he read things like A Fine and Pleasant Misery by Patrick
McManus. I also have fond memories of raiding my grandma’s library that
happened to be in her enclosed back porch. I’d sit on her chest freezer and read
to my heart’s content…or until it was time to go home.
Sounds like a true book lover. :) What is your 'how I got published' story?
My favorite quote about getting published was always,
perseverance is more important than writing ability. Or something like that. So
I send out proposal after proposal, manuscript after manuscript with fingers
crossed and breath bated. Then after a while I stated breathing normal again.
Submitting became something I did. Write. Query. Write. Stash away another
rejection. Rewrite query. Rewrite story… you get the idea. In 2009 I finally
got an exciting note from a publisher. They liked my story and wanted to put it
in their to-be-published file. Then the next year they closed their doors. Permanenty.
Boot to the gut, but back to writing. Finally, I joined ACFW
and a world full of opportunities opened up. The first year I was a finalist in
a short story contest. The next year, I won two short story contests and sold a
fourth short story. I now had four anthologies in the works. Then I was given
referral to a small publisher for one of my novels and a month later received a
contract! Another month passed and I received a two book contract from another
publisher!
That's wonderful. How exciting! When did you realize you wanted to
become a writer?
I was
pretty young. Before I could even print my name, I have memories of sneaking
stacks of paper out to the playhouse. I would sit there and “write” squiggly
lines across the pages until I had a “book”. I know my dad influenced me a lot,
as well. I remember him at the typewriter working on stories and novels. His
father had done the same. But I was determined to do more than write—I was
going to be published.
I'm sure your dad must be proud of you. Tell us about your new book.
Mail-Order
Revenge is what happens when I decided to write a mail-order bride story. My
main question while trying to decide on a premise was, “What is one I haven’t
read yet?” Here is the blurb from the back cover:
Elizabeth
Landvick knows of one man to blame for her family’s loss of fortune and her
parents’ deaths. Now, she will stop at nothing to take her revenge and recover
their wealth. Even travel across the country to marry the man’s son.
With his
focus his sprawling Arizona ranch, Axel Forsberg has little time for wooing a
woman, so when his father finds him a bride from the east, he trusts he won’t
regret the convenience. Until horses go missing, barns burn to the ground, a
range war begins…and he loses his heart.
I had the pleasure of reading Angela's book and it's full of fun. You won't want to miss it. What is your passion as a writer?
This
might sound strange, but living is. I
love living and experiencing life. That’s why I write. While I absolutely love
my own life, it’s not sufficient. I enjoy immersing myself in the lives and
experiences of my characters and hope my readers will do the same.
Smile. What is your most difficult writing challenge?
I’m grinning now. It’s hard when my most difficult
writing challenge is the best part of my life. I have three kids under five. As
you can imagine, finding time, brain power, and not being constantly distracted
can be a bit of a challenge…doing the actual writing is
the easy part. :)
Wow! I didn't know that about you. You must be busy. What are you working on now?
I am working on the second book of my Hearts at War series. The first book, The Scarlet Coat, releases in January
and The Patriot and the Loyalist will
follow shortly. So lots of fun in Revolutionary War South Carolina while my
hero rides with the Swamp Fox and falls for beautiful British spy.
So lots of good things ahead for you. I wish you the best.
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