More Love and Laughter from Margaret Brownley
Bio: New York Times best-selling author Margaret Brownley has penned more than thirty
historical novels and novellas. Her books have won numerous awards, including
Readers' Choice and Award of Excellence. She's a former Romance Writers of
American RITA® finalist and has written for a TV soap opera. She is currently
working on a new series. Not bad for someone who flunked eighth grade English. Just
don't ask her to diagram a sentence.
Welcome back,
Margaret. Why did you become an author?
I was a writer even as a child. Every penny earned raking up
the neighbor's leaves or babysitting went toward the purchase of notebooks,
just so I could write. I wrote my first book in fifth grade. As a side note:
the first thing I do even today when starting a new book is to purchase a
notebook to jot down notes.
If you weren’t an
author, what would be your dream job?
I was a teacher before I was an author and still enjoy teaching.
I'm currently a Boy Scout merit badge counselor and conduct regular workshops
to help scouts rank. Working with young people gives me faith in the future.
There are a lot of great kids out there!
If you could have
lived at another time in history, what would it be and why?
I always loved the roaring twenties. Women bobbed their
hair, drove cars, flew planes, voted, and did things that had previously been
denied them. It was an exciting time. Unfortunately, it's not a popular era
with readers. I have no idea why. But if it ever does become popular, I have a
story I'd love to tell.
What place in the United States
I've been to all fifty states so this is a hard question to
answer. What I would really love to do if given the time is drive across
country without using the Interstates. I would love to wander from town to
town—the smaller the better.
How about a foreign
country you hope to visit?
I've done a lot of foreign travel but have yet to make it to
Italy .
That's on my bucket list.
What lesson has the
Lord taught you recently?
I always say that God made me a writer to teach me patience
and He's still working on it.
Tell us about the
featured book.
Pinkerton detective Jennifer Layne is no stranger to
undercover work. But posing as a lady companion named Amy at Miss Lillian’s
Parlor House and Boots is a first for her. She’s finally landed a high-profile
case and is on the trail of the notorious Gunnysack Bandit, when one of Miss
Lillian’s girls essential to her investigation meets an untimely demise. Only a
handful of people are in the house at the time of her death, including handsome
Tom Colton, a former Texas Ranger determined to clear his brother’s name. Amy
has many reasons to suspect Tom of murder—and one very personal reason to hope
that she’s wrong about him.
Please give us the
first page of the book.
1883
“Whoa!”
Former Texas Ranger Tom Colton reined in his horse and
stared at the sign hanging from the roof of the two-story brick structure: Miss
Lillian’s Parlor House and Fine Boots. In the faint glow of a full moon the building
stood tall, solid and proper as an old church. Only the red light shimmering in
a downstairs window suggested otherwise.
He fingered the letter in his vest pocket. Addressed to his
brother Dave and signed simply “Rose,” the letter had brought him to this very
address searching for answers.
The red light gave him pause. Perhaps coming here had been a
mistake, but he’d traveled too far to turn back now. He hesitated for several
moments before dismounting. Securing his horse to the hitching post, he stomped
up the wooden steps to the porch. For once, God, let me be wrong about my
brother.
The door opened to his knock and a stout-figured woman
peered at him from a painted face. Designed for a woman half her size, the
bright blue gown and exaggerated bustle did her no favors; nor did hair piled
on top of her head like frothy red frosting.
Her appearance quelled any doubt as to the nature of the
establishment, and his spirits dropped yet another notch. Dave, oh, Dave. . .
“Are you going to stand there all night, Cowboy? Or are you
going to tell me what you want?” Her lilting southern drawl seemed at odds with
her sharp-eyed gaze.
He pulled off his wide-brim hat. “Sorry to bother you ma’am.
Name’s Tom, Tom Colton. I came to see Rose.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t believe I’ve seen you around these
parts.”
“I’m new in town.”
The woman’s gaze traveled the length of his six-foot frame
like a worried mother scrutinizing a daughter’s suitor. The gun belt sagging
from his waist made her hesitate. She then glanced at his gelding tied out
front next to one other.
Apparently his horse, Thunder, gave him a good
recommendation because the woman stepped aside to let him in.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/margaretbrownly
Question for readers: The heroine of my book is a Pinkerton
detective. Who is your all-time favorite literary, film or TV detective?
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Petticoat Detective - Christianbook.com
Petticoat Detective (Undercover Ladies)
- AmazonPetticoat Detective (Undercover Ladies Book 1) - Kindle
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