Sunday, October 25, 2009

FIT TO BE TIED - Robin Lee Hatcher - Free Book

I've been looking forward to this interview. Welcome back, Robin Lee. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

For my historical romances, it’s because I’m a romantic at heart and history has always been a passion of mine, going all the way back to junior high school. Combining the two is fun for me and hopefully for the reader as well. For my contemporary women’s fiction, it’s because God has been so gracious to me in a life where I’ve stumbled a lot. I want to share that with readers, to maybe cast a little bit of light onto their paths.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

I would have to name two of them, the days my daughters were born. When I look at the beautiful women, wives, and mothers they have become, I always realize that no matter how many times I messed up as a mom, I must have done a few things right.

I know what you mean about that. How has being published changed your life?

I have been published for nearly 26 years, so it’s kind of hard to remember how it changed my life. {{grin}} Seriously, becoming a published authors opened doors for me to know and become friends with so many different people—writers, editors, agents. It caused me to begin traveling more (I need to visit seven more states to be able to say I’ve been to them all). It opened doors for speaking engagements; leading women’s retreats is absolutely a favorite thing for me to do.

I love the opportunity to really become friends with people in the industry, too. What are you reading right now?

Son of a Witch by Gregory Maguire, the sequel to Wicked: The Life & Times of the Wicked Witch of the West which I read about 14 years ago. I’m a big fan of The Wizard of Oz, and I loved Maguire’s inventive spin on Elphaba (the green-skinned girl who became the Wicked Witch). I’ve been meaning to read Son of a Witch ever since I heard of its release and finally got around to it. I’m enjoying it, although I wish I’d reread Wicked first.

I’m also reading/studying the textbook, Grasping God’s Word by Duvall and Hays. It’s a course meant to teach students to go deeper, deeper, and deeper in their study and reading of the Bible. Challenging!

I love a good spiritual challenge. What is your current work in progress?

I’m awaiting the revision letter for A Matter of Character (Daphne’s story), the third and final book of the Sisters of Bethlehem Springs series. Next up is a stand-alone old-fashioned western romance, followed by a new historical romance series that is still in the fuzzy stage.

What would be your dream vacation?

A lengthy trip to visit England, Ireland, and Sweden, the countries of my ancestry. And then, just for good measure, a nice long stay in Tuscany.

I, too, have Irish and Swedish ancestry. How do you choose your settings for each book?

Most of my books are set in Idaho. I love living here and enjoy letting others get a glimpse of the beautiful country that makes up this state.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

I ran lots of people through my mind when I came to this question. I could think of several people on the world stage, especially some politicians, who I would like to meet. But to tell you the truth, I’m pretty fed up with the whole lot of them and I think I would spend the evening giving any one of them a piece of my mind. It wouldn’t be a fun evening for either one of us.

Then I realized that I would most like to spend an evening with Beth Moore. I’d love to pick her brain on her favorite study tools and how she goes about writing her Bible studies.

She does have a special gift. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

A couple of years ago, I took up knitting again after a 25 year break from it. And last Christmas I invested in a really nice camera and have hopes of becoming a reasonably good amateur photographer.

At ACFW national conference, I was talking to Camy Tang and a couple of other people, and I started knitting Victorian lace when I got home. What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Not letting life distract me from getting the behind in the chair and the words on the paper. The only way I know to overcome it is to say “No!”

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Read, read, read and write, write, write. For a novelist, no reading goes to waste, be it history, fiction, biographies, even articles in magazines or the dictionary. A novelist needs knowledge about all kinds of things and must be a student of the human condition. As for the second part, I firmly believe that a writer learns far more from the act of writing than they will ever learn in a class or workshop or from reading a how-to book. You need to write a book, then write another book, then write another book.

Tell us about the featured book?

Fit To Be Tied is Cleo Arlington’s story. Cleo is one of those characters who I fell in love with the instant I met her. I knew readers would become attached to her as they read Gwen’s story (they’re fraternal twins) in A Vote of Confidence. The trick was discovering who would be the perfect hero for the novel. I found him in Sherwood Statham, an English lord.

Here’s the blurb:

Cleo Arlington dresses like a cowboy, is fearless and fun-loving, and can ride, rope, and wrangle a horse as well as any man. In 1916, however, those talents aren’t what most young women aspire to. But Cleo isn’t most women. Twenty-nine years old and single, Cleo loves life on her father’s Idaho ranch. Still, she hopes someday to marry and have children.

Enter Sherwood Statham, an English aristocrat whose father has sentenced him to a year of work in America to “straighten him out.” Sherwood, who expected a desk job at a posh spa, isn’t happy to be stuck on an Idaho ranch. And he has no idea how to handle Cleo, who’s been challenged with transforming this uptight playboy into a down-home cowboy.

Just about everything either of them says or does leaves the other, well, fit to be tied. And though Cleo believes God’s plan for her includes a husband, it couldn’t possibly be Sherwood Statham. Could it?

I love the premise. Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue

Dunacombe Manor, England
March 1916

“Your father is waiting in the library, my lord.”

“Thank you, Chadworth.” Head pounding from the previous night’s enjoyments, Sherwood Reginald Wakeley Statham, the youngest son of the Duke of Dunacombe, shrugged out of his coat and handed it to the butler, followed by his hat and gloves. “Is Mother with him?”

“No, sir. I believe her grace has taken to her bed.”

Sherwood flinched. That didn’t bode well for this meeting. His mother had acted as a buffer between him and his father’s anger since he was a boy. “Is she ill? Maybe I should go up to see her first.”

Chadworth lifted his eyebrows but said nothing. He didn’t have to. Sherwood knew he was expected in the library immediately, not fifteen or thirty minutes from now. The duke hated to be kept waiting, especially by Sherwood, the son who disappointed him at every turn.

“I’ll go straight in.” Might as well receive whatever dressing down his father wanted to mete out.
“Very good, my lord.”

Sherwood followed the long hallway to the library, accompanied by the sound of his uneven gait—a sharp click upon the tiled floor followed by a soft slide. He hated it. Hated even more how the walk down this hallway for a meeting with his father never failed to make him feel ten years old again. Not a good feeling for a man of thirty years.

He caught a glimpse of himself as he passed a large, ornate mirror and was immediately sorry. The ragged scar on his face blazed a bright red against his pale skin. Dark circles ringed his eyes, evidence of the many nights he’d gone without sleep, instead drinking and gambling till morning.

When he entered the library, he found the duke standing near the windows that overlooked the extensive gardens of Dunacombe Manor, hands clasped behind his back.

Oh, I love it. I can't wait until my copy comes. How can readers find you on the Internet?

My web site: http://www.robinleehatcher.com/
My blog: http://robinlee.typepad.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=robinleehatcher
Twitter: http://twitter.com/robinleehatcher

Thank you, Robin Lee, for spending this time with us.

Readers, here's a link where you can order the book:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment. Here’s a link.

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41 comments:

Katherine said...

this book looks very good. Please enter me for the drawing.

kefarley89(@)gmail(.)com

Mark said...

I'd like to enter, thanks

Unknown said...

I have fallen in love with your work ever since A Vote of Confidence! I love that Cleo gets her own book. I so look forward to reading this book. I loved getting to know you through your interview! Any of your work is an automatic add to my reading list.

Val Pearson
lastnerve2000@gmail.com

Lori (sugarandgrits) said...

Wonderful interview!

Fit to be Tied sounds like a great book! I have A Vote of Confidence, but haven't read it yet. I like to have all series books, so I can read them one after the other. :) I'm excited for A Matter of Character to be released, too! I saw the cover on Robin's website...love it.

Thank you for a chance to win!
~ Lori

sugarandgrits{at}hotmail{dot}com

Anonymous said...

Would enjoy this book...

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Renee (BlacknGoldGirlsBookSpot) said...

Oh I'd love Fit to Be ied!...Who doesn't love an English Lord right?! LOL! If this is anything like Robin's other books..I'm sure this will be awesome!

xoxo~ Renee

Anonymous said...

Great post. I have been waiting for this book to come out. I love yours books.I have read most of them. Please enter me. Blessings.
tarenn98[at]yahoo[dot]com

Linda Cacaci said...

Loved the interview. The book sounds so intriging. Please enter me in the drawing.Thank you.

Laney4 said...

Hi! I like the premise of this book. A "cowgirl" back in those days would have been a rarity, I would think, so getting the author's spin on this is intriguing, to say the least. Throw in a rogue who apparently will be a "changed man" could make it quite comical, I imagine. I look forward to seeing how this book transpires. Thanks for sharing!

G.R.I.T.S. said...

Sounds like a good one!! Can't wait to see who gets it...

Rae
raebyuel(@)gmail(.)com

Robin Lee Hatcher said...

Hi from Idaho! Great to see some readers who have already enjoyed this series and/or my other releases. Good luck, everyone, in the drawing for a copy of Fit To Be Tied. I'm terribly fond of Cleo and Sherwood and have been delighted by the feedback from readers that I've received so far.

Robin

Michelle V said...

Oh I loved Vote of Confidence and have been looking forward to Fit to Be Tied!

Blessings
Michelle
m.vasquez[at]grandecom[dot]net

Cherie J said...

Enjoyed the interview. Please enter me. Thank you!

Casey said...

I have been interested in Robin Lee's books for sometime, just haven't had the time to check them out. Would love to read this one!

Sarah R said...

I'd love to read this book. I have almost all of Robin's books and enjoyed every one of them. Please enter me in the drawing.

Sherry Kuhn said...

Enjoyed the interview. The book sounds like a lot of fun. Please enter me in the drawing.

Thanks,
Sherry K
love2stitch(at)hotmail(dot)com

The Herd said...

I would love to read another of her books! I have a great memory from Robin Lee Hatcher--her testimony is a wonderful thing to hear, if you have the chance! Thanks for the interview!

Theresa N. said...

I liked the sneak peek of the book and I wanted to say I love to set in with your visit with Beth moore. :)
Theresa N
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mimi N said...

I'd love to win this 2nd installment in this series! Loved book 1! Man, I'd take that trip with her, especially if it were extended! :)

Blessings,
Mimi
mnjesusfreak at gmail dot com

Molly said...

Please enter me! This book sounds wonderful!!!

Giveaway Lady said...

Please enter me in the contest:)
Thanks!
esterried@yahoo.com

Wendy said...

I love her books. Thanks for the chance.

Judyg said...

Enjoy Robin Lee Hatcher's books and would love to have this one to add to my collection. Please enter me in this contest!
judyg54(at)juno(dot)com

Kristen said...

This sounds fantastic!
Please enter me!!
Thanks

Anna Weaver Hurtt said...

Sounds awesome! Please enter me!

Anna W.

JJ said...

Neat! I grew up in a town called Statham. lol

gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com

Marla said...

Sounds like a good book. I've read Robin's books in the past and have never been disappointed. Thank you for the entry.

koinonia572001@yahoo.com

Sheila Deeth said...

I like it. Thanks for the introduction.

Anonymous said...

Robin is one of my favorite authors!
Please enter me. Thanks.
jackie.smith(at)dishmail(dot)net

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

Me me me me, oh did I forget to say it? Me!

dancealert at aol dot com

Megan said...

That sounds like a great book, please sign me up! And Robin, when you get to Tuscany on that trip, stay at a winery, it's amazing!

Meg

Edna said...

I really like Robin's books and to read about her, please enter me into the contest to win one of her books.

may God bless

mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Julie said...

This sounds like a good book. I'd love to win a copy! I've read some of her other work and really enjoy it!

Julie
sweetpea{dot}hull{at}gmail{dot}com

Robin Lee Hatcher said...

Hello again from Idaho. Had no idea so many more readers would leave comments between my last visit and this one. Thanks for all the nice compliments about my books and also about my testimony. Bless you all.

Robin

Michelle said...

Thank you so much for entering me!! I'd love to win this book!!

Blessings,

Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Carole said...

I always look forward to a new book by Robin, and Fit to Be Tied is no exception. Please enter me for the drawing.

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Hope said...

I would love to read this book! Sounds like a good one.
Please enter me!
onepilgrim86(at)yahoo.com

Rose McCauley said...

I love Robin and all her books so would love to win this one.

Linda said...

Love historicals. Please enter me. Thank you!
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

CherokeeTeaRose said...

I hope I'm not too late for this one! I absolutely love Robin's books and this one I just have to have! I hope I win this one! It would be the best Birthday present ever! Today being my birthday! I did a review for the book before this one. So I'd love to read this one! Please put me in for the drawing for this book!

adge said...

I just recently read the first book and I felt like Cleo would be a good heroine so this should be a good book. Please include me in the giveaway. Thank you.