I'm amazed at how involved God
gets in my work, especially my lighter pieces, like the novels in the Circle
Bar Ranch series. He always supplies me with the verses I need.
However, in November,
Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas will be
releasing A Southern Season: Four
Tales from a Front Porch Swing, a collection which holds my Ice Melts in
Spring, the novella God became most involved with. Writing this was a far
different experience from anything else I've ever done, and I have no other way
of describing it but God-driven. I'm looking forward to its release through
LPC's Firefly Southern Fiction imprint.
That’s wonderful, Linda. I’ll want to feature that on my blog, too. My
next book release was like you’re talking about. God gave me the story, which
was requested by a publisher. I only had a short time to write it, and God led
me through it so much. That kind of writing is very exciting. Tell us a little
about your family.
I'm an Isaiah 54:1 woman
wedded to a man who already had five kids. By the time we got married, most of
them were grown and gone with families of their own—which means I was also an
automatic grandma. Now that we live so far away from everyone, we don't get to
see them often. We have great-grands who we have to re-introduce ourselves to
because we don't get to see them often enough.
Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?
Being both a writer and an
editor has changed the way I read. I've discovered that I no longer have
patience for books that aren't well written, but when I come across excellence,
I tend to study technique. I don't read the how-to-write books very often anymore,
but I learn so very much from other authors. Cindy Sproles' Liar's Winter
has become my new textbook. The depth of her POV, the exquisite development of
her characters, the sense of shivering with cold in the Appalachians
along with the cast of the tale—lands, Cindy can write!
I’ll have to check that one out. What are you working on right now?
Aside from promoting my
latest, Ride to the Altar, I'm trying my hand at historical romance with
Loving a Harvey Girl, for LPC's Smitten imprint.
I love Harvey
girl stories. What outside interests do you have?
Just about everything. Mostly,
I love people and being with them, hearing their stories, laughing. But I love
to fish, enjoy cooking and canning and other food preservation techniques,
watching little league baseball. I look forward to the Little League World Series
every year.
How do you choose your settings for each book?
For my western romance series,
I used the ranch my mother's family used to own. I'd been up there only two or
three times before we had to sell it, but it stayed ingrained in my mind. Such a
beautiful place. As for Ice Melts in Spring, my “back porch swing” is
actually a chair on the balcony of a beach house near Matagorda Bay , Texas .
Billy and I rented a house there with some family members and got to stay long
enough for the images to stick in my head.
If you could spend an evening with one historical person, who would it
be and why?
Since I'm dabbling in
historical fiction, I'd love a sit-down with Laura Ingalls Wilder. I've always
felt I am a bit of an anachronism anyway, always wishing I'd been born in the
little house in the prairie. If I'm going to write about that era, I'd love to
chat with someone who actually did—and understands the frustrations writers
face!
What is the one thing you wish you had known before you started writing
novels?
That getting the book written
is the easy part.
What new lessons is the Lord teaching you right now?
Lately, He's been letting me
know that I'm a little too much like the Hebrews wandering in the desert. All
complaint, little praise and thanksgiving. Considering everything He has done
for me, I'm totally ashamed of myself. Yet, whenever I look at where I am in
various aspects of my life and where I want to be, I seem to let my tongue wag
again. How thankful I am that He's patient with me!
His patient love is one of my favorite things about Him. What are the
three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?
To be a successful writer,
study the craft. To be a successful author, recognize the need for a
professional editor. To be a successful published author, study the
business end of this career inside and out.
Tell us about the featured book.
Ride to the Altar is the third novel in the Circle Bar Ranch
series, which depicts the love story between Talon Carlson and Patricia Talbert
from meeting to wedding.
In Ride
to the Altar, I throw overwhelming hurdles into Patricia and
Talon's path to wedlock. A past love, murdered years ago and now only a file in
an unsolved case, returns to haunt Talon. A long-held grudge demands release,
yet Patricia has no idea how very deep it runs until she confronts her mother.
An attack against the Circle Bar Ranch itself leaves cattle dead and one of its
hands injured.
Different from all the other
novels in this series, Ride to the
Altar forces the two to face their pasts individually before they can
face the future together.
Please give us the first page of the book.
A
handshake is the initial measure of a man. The grip provides the best and the
worst first impressions. Impossible through Skype, so Talon Carlson determined
to use the alternative: steady, eye-to-eye contact.
He
scrubbed his hands down his jean-clad thighs. Funny how he could propose to
Patricia Talbert in an arena of seventy-five thousand avid bull-riding fans,
yet he shook like a wobble-kneed colt in front of the blank computer screen.
But he was just old fashioned enough to want to do this the right way.
He
poked a button, Skype connected, and Patricia’s father, Dale McAllister
appeared on the monitor. At six o’clock in the morning Eastern time, the U.S.
Senator from New York
wore a suit and tie and looked ready for his Monday commute to DC. The somber
attire complimented his authoritarian expression. Gun-metal gray hair held
silver wisps at the temples, and dark eyes bore an intensity matching his
profession—or matching a father who was meeting his only daughter’s fiancĂ© for
the first time. Didn’t matter that the daughter was over thirty and the new
owner of a two-thousand-acre ranch in Texas .
“It’s
nice to finally meet you, sir,” Talon said. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“Believe
me, I’ve heard a lot about you too.” Mr. McAllister’s voice sounded deep,
gruff. Intimidating.
“Yes,
sir. I’m sure you have.” He gulped. “Sorry that we have to meet like this. We
intended to fly to New York —”
“Yes,
Patty told me. No need to apologize. I understand you have a responsibility to
your church, and performing funeral ceremonies is part of it.” The senator
offered a sympathetic nod.
“Sorry
for your loss.”
“Thank
you.” The funeral had been for one of the most beloved women in the county,
Beth Griffith. Her husband, Griff, had asked Talon personally to perform the
eulogy. As a bullfighter, Grif had saved Talon’s hide more than once, so there
had been no question that Talon would say yes, even if it meant missing their
flight to New York .
Mr.
McAllister leaned back, though the distance between his face and the monitor
didn’t lessen the effect of his scrutiny. “I understand you have something to
ask me.”
“Yes,
sir,” Talon squeaked, then cleared his throat. He tried again, clasping his
hands between his knees to stop their shaking. “Mr. McAllister, I love your
daughter, and she loves me. I’d like your permission to marry her. Your
permission and your blessing.”
Pat’s
father tapped his fingers together. “You know she’s been married before.”
“Yes,
sir. I know.”
“You
know she was hurt.”
“Pretty
badly, yes.”
“I
never did like that boy.”
Nothing
Talon could say to that. Since the older man’s gaze seemed distant, best to
just wait him out. He would never hurt Pat the way Kent Talbert had, but proof
accompanies action. Mr. McAllister would know the kind of stuff Talon was made
of as time went on. His saying so now wouldn’t be convincing.
“Sometimes
I think if he hadn’t died, heaven help me, I would’ve killed him myself.” The
senator focused on him again. “You know what was wrong with him?”
Besides
the fact he was a no-good, opportunistic, cheatin’ womanizer, no. “Got my
thoughts. What do you think?”
“He
was a city boy. City folks—especially rich city folks—have different ideas from
those of us raised on farms and ranches. Different priorities.”
This
seemed strange from a man who divided his time between DC and New York , but Talon nodded. “Yes, sir.”
After all, Mr. McAllister had been raised on a ranch, and it was his brother,
Jake, who’d willed this one to Pat.
“I
want a man for Patty who would make her happiness his top priority.”
“As
it should be.”
“Are
you that man?”
That’s a really good hook. I can hardly wait to read the book now. How
can readers find you on the Internet?
Website: http://lindawyezak.com
Newsletter: http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda
Facebook: Author
Page
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/
Twitter: @LindaYezak
Amazon Page: http://dld.bz/LWYAmazonPage
Goodreads: Linda W Yezak
Linda is offering a giveaway
prize to one lucky entrant on her blog tour! As pictured, the prize includes a
signed print version of the series, a 16-ounce Christian cowboy mug, a
horseshoe picture frame, a Ph. 4:13 stretch bracelet, a cute set of magnetic
page markers, and a Texas Rubiks cube just for fun. All you have to do to enter
is to leave a comment.
The more posts you comment on
during my tour, the better the chance you have of winning the drawing! If you'd
like to play along, the next blog to check is Cindy Ervin Huff’s Jubilee
Writer blog, and tomorrow (7/18) check Cecilia Marie Pulliam's blog.
The winner will be announced
Monday, August 6, on Linda's blog, 777
Peppermint Place.
Thank you, Linda, for allowing me to share this book with my blog
readers. I know they will be as eager as I am to read it.
Readers, here are links to the book.
Ride to the Altar: a Circle Bar Ranch novel (Volume 3) - PaperbackRide to the Altar: a Circle Bar Ranch novel - Kindle
Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book
on this blog. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please
tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America . (Comments containing links may be subject
to removal by blog owner.)
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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.
If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz,
Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave
your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link:
21 comments:
Sounds like a good one! Thank you for sharing! Melanie Backus, TX
Thanks for the comment, Melanie! Good luck in the drawing!
I found the first printing of book one in my daughter's room so I "borrowed" it to see if I would like it. I need my own now as well as the rest of the set. Thanks for the chance!
Linda - South Carolina
rayorr@bellsouth.net
Linda--I'm excited that you liked it enough to want the set! Thanks for making my day, and good luck in the drawing!
Enjoyed this interview - the books sound interesting, and the covers are beautiful! Laura Conner Kestner, TEXAS
Thanks for the comment, Laura! My cover designer, Lynnette Bonner, does a great job, doesn't she?
Good luck in the drawing!
Thanks for the giveaway! Sounds like an interesting book and I like historical fiction. Vivian Furbay of CO
I love Linda's books!
Vivian, thanks for the comment. Good luck in the drawing!
Kassy--you made my day! Thank you! Good luck!
Thank a for the interview. We live in Colorado!
Thanks for the comment Faith. Colorado is a beautiful state.
Sounds like a great story! Shelia from MS
Thanks, Sheila. Good luck in the drawing!
This sounds like a wonderful read. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings!
Connie from Kentucky
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks, Connie. It was a fun series to write.
Good luck in the drawing!
Enter me in your awesome giveaway!!
Conway SC.
Happy to, Sharon. Good luck!
I would love to read this beautiful story with a gorgeous cover!
Thank you for sharing <3
Natalya from CA
Glad you like the cover, Natalya. Good luck in the drawing!
Linda's book sounds really good, and right up my alley. Would love to win a copy!
Pam in OH
Thank you, Pam! Good luck in the drawings!
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