Welcome back, Mary. Tell
us how much of yourself you write into your characters.
Well, in this book, Deb is a journalist and that’s what I am
by education and for a while, back a long time, I worked at a small town
newspaper. A lot of the work Deb had to do, is what I had to do. A newspaper
has all these jobs that are NOT writing. And for a small paper an employee can
end up doing them all.
What is the quirkiest
thing you have ever done?
Me? Quirky? Wouldn’t it be weird and interesting if I do
wildly quirky things all the time but I don’t even know it? I mean, what is
quirkier than writing books, huh? Strange occupation.
Okay I’ve been thinking too long. I remember once going to
an amusement park with a teen group from church. They all ran off to play and I
had a day to spend in this park and amusement park rides are NOT my thing. So,
I set out to ride a roller coaster and found out that if I SCREAMED every time
the roller coaster swooped (which is really…constantly) I wouldn’t get sick. So
I decided to ride every single roller coaster and pretty much spent the whole
day screaming. It was pretty fun.
When did you first
discover that you were a writer?
I wrote one book when I was twelve. I wrote a romance novel
and I shudder at what it must’ve been like. I started my second book 25 years
later, and I loved doing it from the start. I just loved it. I figured out
really fast that writing isn’t what I do, it’s who I am.
When we’re doing what
God created us to do, it really is who we are. Tell us the range of the kinds
of books you enjoy reading.
In recent years I’ve developed a love for a list of series
that are mainly cop dramas and/or suspense. Michael Connelly, Lee Child, C.J.
Box, David Baldacci, Vince Flynn, a whole long list.
I love those kids of
books, too. I’ve even written a couple of suspense novels. How do you keep your
sanity in our run, run, run world?
I don’t run, run, run. I suppose that means I’ve let the
world leave me behind, but my life is home, writing, grandkids. That’s about
it. I watch very little TV. I don’t belong to lady’s clubs. I have a couple of
friends I have coffee with once a month or less! As for keeping my sanity,
well…have I? That’s open to debate.
I love you, Mary. You
are so genuine. How do you choose your characters’ names?
I just discovered this and it’s pretty cool. I go to
imdb.com. It’s a place that tells details about movies and actors. I pick
western movies and go down the list of characters. It’s a great source of names
someone else thought fit in a western.
What is the accomplishment
that you are most proud of?
My children, four daughters, all four wonderful, honest,
hard worked, sweet-hearted women.
If you were an
animal, which one would you be, and why?
A sloth…a typing sloth. I can sit around a LOT .
I’m not saying I’m proud of it.
I have to set timer
to remind me to get up and walk while I’m writing. What is your favorite food?
Apricot torte from the Lithuanian bakery in Omaha , Nebraska .
Oh My Gosh, Lena , this is the most delicious
stuff!!!
Sounds like something
I’d really like, too. Too bad they don’t ship them to Texas . What is the problem with writing that
was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?
Getting published took my ten years. I overcame it by not
giving up. And while I strove for publication, I kept writing. So I had twenty
finished books on my computer when I earned my first contract.
It took me eight
years to get published. Tell us about the featured book.
The novella contained in All for Love is the
prequel novella for the Cimarron Legacy series. It’s called The Boden
Birthright and it’s the love story between Chance Boden and Veronica Chastain,
the rich daughter of a New Mexico rancher who got a half million acre ranch
from a Spanish Land Grant. Frank Chastain was awarded this when New Mexico was still part of Mexico . Then the border changed and
the Chastain land is now disputed. Frank needs to be an American and here comes
Chance Boden, a pioneer from Boston .
Frank makes a deal, marry my daughter and all this will be yours. Chance is
insulted…but Veronica is real pretty and she loves Chance’s young son…in fact,
she loves the boy a lot more than she loves him. He gets the land. She gets the
boy. But how will them find love?
Please give us the
first page of the book. Boden Birthright, Cimarron Legacy
prequel
“Bad boy!” Grandmama Bradford slapped Cole’s wrist. “You’ve
sloshed tea on the lace of your shirt.”
Tea on the lace of his
shirt? What? Chance Boden felt like he’d taken the slap himself, with a ten
day old, ice cold mackeral.
When had his son started wearing lace?
He woke up at that instant to realize he’d been in a daze
ever since Abby died. He’d loved her so much. Abby, precious Abby dying in his
arms. He never should have let her have another child.
The grief almost dragged him back under. The guilt. The
emptiness. The pain
The lace.
His eyes focused on his son. He had on pastel blue velvet
short pants. His dark hair was in…in…God have mercy it was in ringlets.
There were high heels on his shining black boots.
Cole, four, flinched at the slap and said in a cultured,
quiet voice, “I am sorry for my carelessness, Grandmama.”
What four-year-old talked like that?
When Chance was four he’d lived in Indiana on the frontier. He’d spent his time
trying to grab his pa’s shotgun to shoot squirrels. Pa hadn’t slapped him
either. He’d laughed and taught Chance how to fire the gun…then carefully hung
it out of reach between lessons.
“I should hope so young man. Your new shirt is ruined.”
Chance opened his mouth to start yelling. To drag his son
out of this room, and this house, and for heaven’s sakes out of that lacy
shirt. He’d get the boy some proper trousers…and a haircut. The lace was bound
for the fire.
Then he clamped his mouth shut, stood, excused himself and
left the room. He knew his mother-in-law Priscilla too well. Nope, if he
started yelling he’d lose this fight the minute he started it. He had to do
something radical and he thought of exactly what as he marched out of the
mansion.
He’d always been a man who faced things head on. Being
clear-eyed and fast thinking had helped him get very rich in Boston .
Now he faced the fact that his in-laws would fight him for
control of the boy who would be their only heir. And even considering that
Chance was very well off, his wealth wasn’t a patch on Priscilla and Davidson
Bradford. They had enough money and connections in Boston to take his son from him.
Love. It. How can
readers find you on the Internet?
And I’m on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryconnealy
And Twitter: http://twitter.com/maryconnealy
Readers, here are links to the book.
All for Love - Christianbook.comAll for Love: Three Historical Romance Novellas of Love and Laughter - Amazon.com
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book.
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24 comments:
I always look forward to reading Mary's books, plus I look forward to the calf updates on Facebook (especially the stories with the mean mom-cows!). Elaine from Wisconsin
Sounds like a wonderful book! Mary never lets you down with a great story!
Blessing
Diana
Mary's creativity is such a gift. When you want something fun but has a great message of hope - she's the first I turn to. The Kincade Brides series has saved my husband's life, but don't tell him. :)
Susan
Leavenworth, KS
I like Mary's real-life adventures too! Please add me to the drawing for these Novellas! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House in Missouri
I always look forward to books by Mary!
Beth from Iowa
Hi EJ, you watch for the calves??? We have a new one today. And one more to go...and then we're done. I haven't gotten it up on Facebook yet! I'm always sad when calving season is over!!!
Aw, thanks Diana.
Susan, all of you...are so nice. Thank you!!!
Hi rubynreba! I hope you enjoy the prequel to the Boden Birthright! It was fun to write an origin story.
Mary's books are some of the best! Go girl!!!!
Always love Mary's books, funny cowboy reads! Can't wait to read this one.
Maaike - the Netherlands
This sounds like a very good story. I like historical fiction and stories about the west. Vivian Furbay of CO
Oh this sounds like it's gonna be a good one! Run Chance run! Grab Cole, cut those ringlets & burn that lace! Love it! Thanks for sharing Ladies!
Robin in NC
I really enjoy novellas. It gives you a chance to read great stories from several authors. Sometimes it's best to have a novella to read due to life being so hectic.
ALL FOR LOVE sounds wonderful and Mary Connealy's story of THE BODEN BIRTHRIGHT is the type of story that I enjoy reading. Lovely cover too.
I would love the opportunity to read these novellas. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of the book.
Kay Garrett from Mountain View, AR
2clowns at arkansas dot net
I always enjoy Mary's books. I else enjoy the pics she post on facebook during calving season.
Mary Connelley's sense of humor is contagious and comes through in her writings. I've read the other Boden books but not this "intro" to the series. I'd love to. Here is hoping I win this one.
Thanks Ms.Lena for hosting Mary C. and promoting this compilation.
Vera in central North Carolina
Thank you for the chance to win a copy of a book I know I'll love. Danielle from Michigan
Great authors! Would love to read this!
Abigail in VA
I love the cover, and I love the first page. I would grab the boy and run also.
I would love to win a copy of the book.
Connie in Texas
What a beautiful cover and wonderful authors! Thank you for the interesting interview and the opportunity to participate! Jane in TX
I'm SOOO excited for this collection!!!
Elly -Indiana-
We have Mary's books in the church library.
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to win her newest book.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Florida
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!!
Conway SC.
Sounds like a great book! Love Mary's books. Shelia from Mississippi!
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