Friday, October 21, 2011

PASSIONS THAT INSPIRE


My guest is romance author, Caroline Fyffe. She's writes historical westerns and the McCutcheon Family Series.

Her topic today is about passions that inspire and how they've influenced her stories. 


I’m so happy to be here today at Thoughts OVER COFFEE.  Thank you for the opportunity to talk about my new release, TEXAS TWILIGHT.  I’ve brought along a carafe of La Minita coffee made by Caribou for all to share.  The coffee has a fine, rich, chocolaty, taste--yum.
 
A little about me…I grew up with horses, so my thinking and my friends in the corral shaped reading preferences.  I loved westerns by Zane Grey, Max Brand and Lois L’amour.  A bit strange for a teenage girl, I know.  Then, after college, I sort of fell into my 20- year-long career of Equine Photography, which has been good to me. So, when I started writing in 1997, is it any wonder that westerns were my choice?

With the help of an incredible and generous critique group, I won a Golden Heart in 1999. I was thrilled!  But I was also spoiled. I wasn’t prepared for the reality of how long—and hard—the road to publication can be.  The manuscript was titled Chasing Jessie, and is now WHERE THE WIND BLOWS, the book that landed me a publishing contract in 2008 with Dorchester Publishing.  MONTANA DAWN, my second manuscript (then titled Montana Sky at Dawn), finaled in the GH in 2007—a good bit after the first.  In between starting and selling, I became a little discouraged and quit writing for a span of four years.  But, finding I was unhappy without it, I went back to it, just for the fun—and the contests, LOL.  Interestingly, it was when I stopped trying so hard that the dream actually happened.
 
Now, I must admit, the month of October has been a whirlwind for me.  I’m launching my third title, TEXAS TWILIGHT, the sequel to MONTANA DAWN.  If that weren’t enough to keep me jumping between social media, blogs and such, this marks my first foray into self publishing!  So much to do—but, I’m not complaining.  It’s been wonderful so far….


  • Now I’d like to ask your readers if any passion of their childhood formed who they are today?  If so, I’d love to know….



Texas Twilight

Once settled in Rio Wells, Texas, John tries to ignore the fact that his cousin has taken a shine to Lily. When a bounty hunter shows up looking for a priceless jewel that Lily has found stashed away in her aunt's belongings, Lily fears her dreams of owning her own shop--and of finding true love--are about to go up in flames...or, could that just be the glow of a beautiful ... Texas Twilight? Excerpt

BUY: Amazon, Smashwords









And, in celebration of my launch, I’m offering not only an E-Book of TEXAS TWILIGHT, but also a signed copy of MONTANA DAWN, Book One of the McCutcheon Family series.  Two books, two winners.  Two chances to win! 







Caroline Fyffe grew up in the little town of El Dorado, CA, the youngest of five girls and whose main interest was the family's horses.  An equine photographer for over twenty years now, she has worked throughout the United States and Germany.  Long days in the arenas present plenty of opportunity to dream up all sorts of stories.  Her love of horses and the Old West is the inspiration behind her books.  



Her debut book, WHERE THE WIND BLOWS, was the recipient of the prestigious Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award and also the Wisconsin RWA's Write Touch Readers' Award 2010.  MONTANA DAWN was voted BEST WESTERN ROMANCE of 2010 by readers at Loves Western Romances!  


Married for many years, Caroline's most cherished achievements are her two grown sons. 


Caroline's Website (which is cool)

Blog and you can find her on Facebook

Caroline's Equine Photography (Which is WOW!)