Gail Sattler. . .

. . .and I have been friends since sometime in the early 1990s. We both have written for Heartsong Presents since then. Actually, Gail was chosen favorite author by the readers of Heartsong five years in a row, so she's in the Hall of Fame. Way to go, Gail. I know that when one of her books comes out, I read it as soon as I can. That girl can really spin a yarn!

Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of her featured book Kentucky Keepers.

Gail, tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

It varies. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot, and sometimes none. Each character is an individual, just like in real life, each person is an individual

Well said, what is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I once ordered a custom designed screen for the bay window in my living room, which is on the 2nd story and opens onto the roof, to have a special opening for my dog. Over a period of about 10 years I allowed our dog, a Standard Schnauzer to jump out the window onto the roof to watch the neighborhood and let the day go by. It was her favorite pastime. We've had people stop their cars and point. People who were out walking stopped and stared, then jumped in shock when the dog moved, because they didn't think she was real. Strangers have knocked on our door to ask if we knew our dog was on the roof. The only times I didn't allow her to go onto the roof was when it was raining or if it was too hot out there.

I've seen pictures of that. When did you first discover that you were a writer?

February 1995. A few months before that I had lost my job when the company I worked for closed. A friend gave me a bunch of books to read, which I really enjoyed because up until that time, I didn't have the time to read like I used to. When I was reading, the thought struck me that I wanted to try to write a book, too, and the rest is history.

Wow, that's very time specific. Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Mostly I enjoy romantic comedy, which is why that's what I write. I also enjoy cozy mysteries, because I don't want to read anything violent. In a cozy mystery, any violence happens offscreen, and I like it that way. I also enjoy women's fiction.

Kentucky Keepers has quite a lineup of wonderful authors. What other books have you written, whether published or not?

So far I've had over 30 category romance novels and/or novellas published. What hasn't been published so far is one cozy mystery, which isn't finished, and one mainstream fiction, which also isn't finished.

Readers, you can see all her books at www.gailsattler.com. How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

When I need a break, I take one. No one will fall down and die if the housework isn't done, and I'm on a first name basis with the people at the local pizza take-out joint. When I need a break, I read something that someone else wrote that I don't have to comment on.

Sounds like a good plan to me. How do you choose your characters’ names?

I have no pattern or formula. The names just come when I'm thinking the story through as I'm setting out my plot. I look in my local phone book for last names.

I never realized how many authors use the phone book that way. Now why didn't I think of that? What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

That one's easy. My biggest accomplishment is being a multi-published author. It's a lot of work, but it's fun work.

Here are some fun questions. If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

This isn't mine, I copied this off the internet somewhere, I don't have the source – I wanna be a bear. If you're a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that. Before you hibernate, you're supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that, too. If you're a bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you'resleeping and wake to partially grown, cute cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that. If you're a mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that. If you're a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs. Yup..... I wanna be a bear.

Don't we all? What is your favorite food?

Chocolate. And don't think chocolate isn't a food, because it is. It's soul food.

I totally agree. It especially must be soul food for authors. A lot of them have mentioned chocolate as a favorite in these interviews. Thank you, Gail, for spending time with us today. Readers, leave a comment for a chance to win this book. If you don't win it, go out and buy a copy. You won't be sorry.