LEFT AT THE ALTAR - Margaret Brownley - One Free Book

Welcome back, Margaret. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?

First, thank you for letting me visit today. It’s always a treat to be here. To answer your question, my books are normally set in the nineteenth century, but I just had a contemporary novella published. Right now, I’m contracted for a new three book historical series, but I may do more contemporaries in the future. We’ll see.

What conferences will you be attending next year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?

I haven’t really made up my mind as to which conferences, if any, I’ll attend. This year I attended the Romance Writers of America conference in San Diego and it was great fun. I have a pretty tight writing schedule next year, so I may just stay close to home and write.

I’ve missed three years of attending conferences. Next year ACFW national conference is really near where I live. I plan to attend that one. If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why? 

It seems like the biggest challenge for writers right now is discovery. With so many distractions commanding a reader’s attention, it’s hard for a writer to stand out from the herd. I learned a lot about marketing by watching Debbie Macomber, so I would probably invite her to be on the panel. She has such a nice way of promoting her books, you don’t even realize what she’s doing. I’d also ask my agent to speak because she’s so knowledgeable about the industry and is always trying out new ideas.

How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?        

I wouldn’t be where I am today had I not been active in a writing organization. I met some of my closest friends at national conferences. I also met my agent at one, and it’s basically where I learned my craft.

Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?     

I’m a Boy Scout merit badge counselor and that keeps me hopping.

Good for you. Who are the five people who have made the most impact on your life, and how?       

The number one person would have to be my husband who, I’m sorry to say, passed away this year. He’s the one who encouraged me to keep writing through years of rejection. He was and always will be the wind beneath my wings. The next person on my list is my agent, Natasha Kern. She’s taken me to places I never thought I could go. And of course there are my children. Nothing changes a person or makes you feel more inadequate at times than motherhood. But the rewards are the greatest.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?         

Are we there yet?

Love it! Tell us about the featured book.  

Left at the Altar is the first book in A Match Made in Texas series (books standalone)

In the wild and untamed West, time is set by the local jeweler...but Two-Time Texas has two: two feuding jewelers and two wildly conflicting time zones. Meg Lockwood's marriage was supposed to unite the families and finally bring peace. But when she's left at the altar by her no-good fiancé, Meg's dreams of dragging her quarrelsome neighbors into a ceasefire are dashed.

No wedding bells? No one-time town.

Hired to defend the groom against a breach of promise lawsuit, Grant Garrison quickly realizes that the only thing worse than small-town trouble is falling for the jilted bride. But there's something about Meg's sweet smile and determined grit that draws him in... even as the whole crazy town seems set on keeping them apart.

I want to read that one! Please share the first page with us.      

Two-Time, Texas—1880 

 “Fifty-four minutes.”

           

Her father’s booming voice made Meg Lockwood want to scream. But airing her lungs in church wasn’t an option and, thanks to the whale-bone corset beneath her wedding gown, neither was breathing.

           

“Mama, make him stop.”

           

Her mother straightened the garland of daisies in Meg’s hair for perhaps the hundredth time so far that day before turning to her husband. “Henry, must you?”

           

Papa kept his gaze glued to his gold pocket watch rather than answer, his wagging finger ready to drop the instant the minute hand moved. Not by any means a formal man, he'd battled with Mama over his wedding attire until, like a defeated general, he’d thrown up his arms in surrender. Unfortunately, the knee-length coat Mama had chosen emphasized Papa’s ungainly shape, which bore a striking resemblance to a pickle barrel.

           

The finger came down. “He is now fifty-five minutes late.”

           

Meg’s hands curled around the satin fabric of her skirt. Where was her bridegroom? She hated keeping the wedding guests waiting, but she honestly didn’t know what to do. Time meant nothing to her erstwhile fiancé, but he’d promised not to be late for their wedding. She’d trusted him to keep his word.

           

Just you wait, Tommy Farrell!

           

When he finally did show up, she wouldn’t be responsible for her actions.

           

Tommy wasn’t the only reason for her ill temper. As if her too-tight corset wasn’t bad enough, the ruffled lace neckline of her gown made her skin itch, and the butterfly bustle hung like a brick at the small of her back. Worse, the torture chambers disguised as dainty white slippers were killing her feet.

           

The church organ in the nearby sanctuary moaned louder, as if even the organist’s patience was spent. The somber chords now rattled the walls of the tiny anteroom, threatening the framed picture and forcing the glass beads on the kerosene lamp to jiggle in protest.

             

“Fifty-six minutes late,” her father exclaimed, and Meg’s already taut nerves threatened to snap.

           

Clenching her hands tight, she spun around to face him. “You never change!”

           

“Change? Change!” Papa looked indignant as a self-righteous preacher. “Why would I? Someone has to maintain a healthy respect for time.”

           

The door swung open. Thank goodness. Meg whirled about again, ready to give her errant fiancé a piece of her mind, but it was only her older sister. The worried frown on Josie’s face told Meg everything she needed to know, but still she had to ask.      

           

“Anything?”

           
Josie shook her head. At twenty-three, she was two years older than Meg, and at five foot ten, stood a good six inches taller. Today she wore a dusky rose gown that complemented her dark hair and gave her complexion a pretty pink glow. She took after Papa’s side in looks, but of the three Lockwood girls, she was most like Mama in calm disposition.

             

“Ralph looked all over town.” Ralph was Josie’s husband, who owned the saddle shop at the end of Two-Time’s main street. “You don’t suppose something might have happened to Tommy, do you? An accident?”

           

“It better have,” Meg muttered.

           

Gasping, Mama looked up from straightening Meg's gown. “Of all things to say!”          

“Sorry, Mama.” Hands balled at her side, Meg gritted her teeth. Her mother was right, of course. Such uncharitable thoughts didn’t belong in church.

           

Neither did thoughts of murder.

I’ve loved all of your books, and I know this one is destined to be one of my favorites. Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

Website:

www.margaret-brownley.com

Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor/timeline/?business_id=1570988766476777

Twitter: https://twitter.com/margaretbrownly

Book links: 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Left-Altar-Match-Made-Texas/dp/1492608130/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1466809552&sr=8-1&keywords=left+at+the+altar

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/left-at-the-altar-margaret-brownley/1123276729?ean=9781492608134

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/left-at-the-altar/id1128527793?mt=11

Thank you, Margaret, for sharing this new book with us today. I'm sure my readers are as eager to read it as I am.

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