Let's Talk

We live in a world where a lot of communication is via text, tweets, and social media posts, all enhanced with emoticons. Things were different in the nineteenth century. Then, if people wanted to communicate, they did something  that might seem very old-fashioned: they talked.

That's one of the reasons why I had so much fun when blog hosts asked for interviews with the characters from A Tender Hope.

Let's start with Thea, the heroine. When she's cornered by one of the biggest busybodies in Cimarron Creek, the conversation becomes interesting.
Thea's Encounter with the Busybody

Jackson doesn't get away any easier. Silver, the owner of the town's one and only saloon, wants to know much more than he's willing to share.
Jackson's Uncomfortable Moments with Silver

Aimee, the woman who joined Thea on her journey to Cimarron Creek and who has a story of her own, tells more than she intends in a conversation with Novel Pastimes.
Aimee's Interview with Novel Pastimes

And then there's Warner, the town's apothecary and a man who's known more than his share of heartbreak. He's convinced that he'll never marry, and as for being a matchmaker, well ... only one person has accused him of that.
Warner's Thoughts about Marriage and Matchmaking

I hope you enjoyed the insights into four of the most important characters in A Tender Hope. And, if you wondered what happened to Wednesday in Wyoming, those blog posts will return in June.

Meet the People of Cimarron Creek

While we're waiting for A Tender Hope to be released, I thought you might enjoy connecting (or reconnecting) with some of the people who make Cimarron Creek their home. (Many thanks to Kathy F, who reminded me that not everyone has seen my posts on other blogs and that it would be a good idea to compile a list of the most interesting ones.)

We'll start at the beginning, with A Stolen Heart.

You probably remember that the hero is Travis Whitfield, the town's sheriff, but you might not be aware of the reasons why he agreed to take that position. After all, he was already busy as the town's only attorney, and although Whitfields were raised to serve the town, surely that was enough.

But it wasn't, as I discuss on Chirp and Chatter.

Then there's Aunt Bertha, the town's matriarch and one of my favorite secondary characters. She's a feisty woman, as you'll see from this conversation on Welcome to Jenn's World.

If you've read A Borrowed Dream, you know that Catherine Whitfield's life hasn't been an easy one and that her path toward happily-ever-after takes more turns than she'd ever expected. Here's a bit of her story told in her own words on Stitches Thru Time.

We wouldn't want to neglect Austin Goddard, would we? After all, he's the hero, and he deserves his own interview. You'll find that on Novel PASTimes.

And, for a different look at both Catherine and Austin, click over to Relz Reviews for a character spotlight.

Tired of reading? I hope not, because I have one more post to share with yoiu, this one about the influence that families have on both Catherine and Austin. You'll find this one on Takeover Tuesday

I hope you enjoyed these interviews and that you're almost as excited about the upcoming release of A Tender Hope as I am.

Getting to Know the Characters

What's a book without characters? If it's a novel, the answer is "nothing at all." It's true that setting is important, and historical facts can enrich a story, but characters are the heart of a novel. That's the reason so many bloggers ask for special insights into a book's characters.

Whether you call them spotlights, interviews, or simply conversations, the goal is always the same: to learn more about the people in a story.

Rel Mollett, who's the person behind the popular site RelzReviews, asked me to create character spotlights for both Catherine and Austin. We talk about  their strengths and vulnerabilities as well as what inspired me to create them.

Heidi Main's Stitches Thru Time blog features a conversation with Catherine, where they discuss everything from dreams to fears to the reason Catherine teaches school. You might discover something new about the heroine of A Borrowed Dream.

Of course we can't neglect Austin. He has his own conversation on the Novel PASTimes site. It's a bit of an uncomfortable time for Austin, but he manages to hold his own, even though he reveals a bit more about himself than he planned.

I hope you enjoyed these insights into Austin and Catherine. Thanks again to Kathy F for suggesting that I summarize my guest blogs so that you don't run the risk of missing them.