Hey, Howdy, Hey!!
Welcome back, ya'll! If you've been hankerin' for a John Wayne or a Jack T. Colton to ride in and sweep you off your feet, well, this here is your lucky day, partner! We're takin' a stroll through the wild, wild west!
The lovely Yellow Rose of Texas, CAROLINE CLEMMONS has mosied on over to share some writerly advice and give us the scoop on her new western romance, THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE.
We're in for a real hum-dinger of a good time, so why don't you tether up the ponies and stay a while!
Yipee-yi-O-kie-yay! Let's get along little doggies!!
1)If you were a book, what would your blurb be?
Harried, slightly eccentric writer finds happily ever after with hero husband.
2)Using three words, describe your voice.
intuitive, rhythmic, emotional
3)What has been the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome in your writing/career?
I don't write what is popular with the major publishers. Thank goodness I found a home at The Wild Rose Press. They recognize that many readers want diversity and have been gracious to me and let me write paranormal, western historical, and contemporary. I'm not chick-litty. I was not like that when I was 20 and I'm not able to write like that now. It would be faking sincerity. LOL My heroines are strong, sensible, and responsible women and the heroes are strong men who are both alpha and beta males. I think the new term is gamma. I like that. Just ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances that make them heroic. Okay, there's a little frivolity in some of them. We have to have fun in our lives, right? Same applies to our reading.
4)Plotter or pantser? Give us a sneak-peek into your writing style.
I am such a plotter. I write from an outline of my plot, which is like a road map for me. That doesn't mean I don't take advantage of brief side tours as they materialize, but afterward I always go back to the original outline. The outline keeps me grounded in my writing. I learned this method from Robin Perini and Laura Baker in one of their "Story Magic" all-day workshops. I would recommend this workshop to all writers. Even if it doesn't "click" with you as it did with me, you definitely will benefit from it.
5)Novice Writer to Published Author: How has your writing grown?
I've evolved as I've learned new techniques, studied the craft, and sort of gained my stride. I've also changed my goals. When I began, all I wanted was to write short romances for Harlequin. That wasn't the real me, though. (although I would love the royalties). I found I need some crime in the plot to keep me interested and also a subplot. A nice kidnapping, murder, larceny---something to add suspense. I also discovered that I prefer writing longer, more complicated plots for single titles. I have written a couple of novellas, and I have a couple of short free reads on my website, but what I really enjoy are the longer books--100,000 words. I am pleased with my reviews for my last two books and hope I continue to improve. I have lots more books in the works.
6)Tell us a little about your writer's journey. Looking back now, is there anything you would have done differently?
What I hate is those people who say, "If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing." What? Did they not learn anything? I'd change tons of things if I could redo my life. As far as writing is concerned, I would have joined RWA much sooner. Not that I knew it existed, but I would have been more aggressive in my research and found out. I would have studied the craft earlier. I would have been more organized in writing and marketing. In short, I would have been less insular and more global. Ha! At the time I began writing, I didn't even know what global meant. See how much I would change?
7)What's up next for you? Any news you'd like to share?
What's next is a departure. HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME is my next release and it's a sweet romance. No sex is a change for me, and I hope readers like it. I'm an eclectic reader, so I like to write a variety of romances--paranormal, historical, and sweet contemporary.
News I'd love to share is about my latest release. THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE has received tremendous (in my opinion) reviews which include a Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews, a 4.5 from Long and Short Reviews, and 5 Hearts from The Romance Studio. For anyone who'd like to buy the book, the link is www.thewildrosepress.com/caroline-clemmons-m-638.html Of course, it's also available at all the usual online sites in either digital or print.
Here's a blurb from that book:
Cenora Rose O’Neill knows her father somehow arranged the trap for Dallas, but she agrees to wed the handsome stranger. She’d do anything to protect her family, and she wants to save herself from the bully Tom Williams. A fine settled man like Dallas will rid himself of her soon enough, but at least she and her family will be safely away from Tom Williams.
Texas rancher Dallas McClintock has no plans to wed for several years. Right now, he’s trying to establish himself as a successful horse breeder. Severely wounded rescuing Cenora from kidnappers, Dallas is taken to her family’s wagon to be tended. He is trapped into marrying Cenora, but he is not a man who goes back on his word. His wife has a silly superstition for everything, but passion-filled nights with her make up for everything—even when her wild, eccentric family drives him crazy.
My blog is http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com and my website is www.carolineclemmons.com Please stop by my blog where I offer writing tips, book reviews, guest authors, occasional prizes, and miscellaneous ramblings. I'm also involved in a new team blog called Sweethearts of the West at http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com with a total of 14 authors whose contemporary and historical books are set under Western skies.
Sarah, thank you very much for hosting me. I've enjoyed our visit.
Thank you, ma'am, for letting me interview you! Cowboy heroes are always welcome and definitely appreciated. *wink wink* Best wishes for heaps of success with THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE!!
THANK YOU, TLN'ers!! Let's get a little countrified today! How about a little ditty from one of my fav Wrangler-wearin' hunks. So here's GEORGE STRAIT and THE FIREMAN!! Hope the rest of your week is super sweet, ya'll!! Catch ya back on Friday!
Welcome back, ya'll! If you've been hankerin' for a John Wayne or a Jack T. Colton to ride in and sweep you off your feet, well, this here is your lucky day, partner! We're takin' a stroll through the wild, wild west!
The lovely Yellow Rose of Texas, CAROLINE CLEMMONS has mosied on over to share some writerly advice and give us the scoop on her new western romance, THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE.
We're in for a real hum-dinger of a good time, so why don't you tether up the ponies and stay a while!
Yipee-yi-O-kie-yay! Let's get along little doggies!!
1)If you were a book, what would your blurb be?
Harried, slightly eccentric writer finds happily ever after with hero husband.
2)Using three words, describe your voice.
intuitive, rhythmic, emotional
3)What has been the biggest obstacle you've had to overcome in your writing/career?
I don't write what is popular with the major publishers. Thank goodness I found a home at The Wild Rose Press. They recognize that many readers want diversity and have been gracious to me and let me write paranormal, western historical, and contemporary. I'm not chick-litty. I was not like that when I was 20 and I'm not able to write like that now. It would be faking sincerity. LOL My heroines are strong, sensible, and responsible women and the heroes are strong men who are both alpha and beta males. I think the new term is gamma. I like that. Just ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances that make them heroic. Okay, there's a little frivolity in some of them. We have to have fun in our lives, right? Same applies to our reading.
4)Plotter or pantser? Give us a sneak-peek into your writing style.
I am such a plotter. I write from an outline of my plot, which is like a road map for me. That doesn't mean I don't take advantage of brief side tours as they materialize, but afterward I always go back to the original outline. The outline keeps me grounded in my writing. I learned this method from Robin Perini and Laura Baker in one of their "Story Magic" all-day workshops. I would recommend this workshop to all writers. Even if it doesn't "click" with you as it did with me, you definitely will benefit from it.
5)Novice Writer to Published Author: How has your writing grown?
I've evolved as I've learned new techniques, studied the craft, and sort of gained my stride. I've also changed my goals. When I began, all I wanted was to write short romances for Harlequin. That wasn't the real me, though. (although I would love the royalties). I found I need some crime in the plot to keep me interested and also a subplot. A nice kidnapping, murder, larceny---something to add suspense. I also discovered that I prefer writing longer, more complicated plots for single titles. I have written a couple of novellas, and I have a couple of short free reads on my website, but what I really enjoy are the longer books--100,000 words. I am pleased with my reviews for my last two books and hope I continue to improve. I have lots more books in the works.
6)Tell us a little about your writer's journey. Looking back now, is there anything you would have done differently?
What I hate is those people who say, "If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing." What? Did they not learn anything? I'd change tons of things if I could redo my life. As far as writing is concerned, I would have joined RWA much sooner. Not that I knew it existed, but I would have been more aggressive in my research and found out. I would have studied the craft earlier. I would have been more organized in writing and marketing. In short, I would have been less insular and more global. Ha! At the time I began writing, I didn't even know what global meant. See how much I would change?
7)What's up next for you? Any news you'd like to share?
What's next is a departure. HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME is my next release and it's a sweet romance. No sex is a change for me, and I hope readers like it. I'm an eclectic reader, so I like to write a variety of romances--paranormal, historical, and sweet contemporary.
News I'd love to share is about my latest release. THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE has received tremendous (in my opinion) reviews which include a Top Pick from Night Owl Reviews, a 4.5 from Long and Short Reviews, and 5 Hearts from The Romance Studio. For anyone who'd like to buy the book, the link is www.thewildrosepress.com/caroline-clemmons-m-638.html Of course, it's also available at all the usual online sites in either digital or print.
Here's a blurb from that book:
Cenora Rose O’Neill knows her father somehow arranged the trap for Dallas, but she agrees to wed the handsome stranger. She’d do anything to protect her family, and she wants to save herself from the bully Tom Williams. A fine settled man like Dallas will rid himself of her soon enough, but at least she and her family will be safely away from Tom Williams.
Texas rancher Dallas McClintock has no plans to wed for several years. Right now, he’s trying to establish himself as a successful horse breeder. Severely wounded rescuing Cenora from kidnappers, Dallas is taken to her family’s wagon to be tended. He is trapped into marrying Cenora, but he is not a man who goes back on his word. His wife has a silly superstition for everything, but passion-filled nights with her make up for everything—even when her wild, eccentric family drives him crazy.
My blog is http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com and my website is www.carolineclemmons.com Please stop by my blog where I offer writing tips, book reviews, guest authors, occasional prizes, and miscellaneous ramblings. I'm also involved in a new team blog called Sweethearts of the West at http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com with a total of 14 authors whose contemporary and historical books are set under Western skies.
Sarah, thank you very much for hosting me. I've enjoyed our visit.
Thank you, ma'am, for letting me interview you! Cowboy heroes are always welcome and definitely appreciated. *wink wink* Best wishes for heaps of success with THE TEXAN'S IRISH BRIDE!!
THANK YOU, TLN'ers!! Let's get a little countrified today! How about a little ditty from one of my fav Wrangler-wearin' hunks. So here's GEORGE STRAIT and THE FIREMAN!! Hope the rest of your week is super sweet, ya'll!! Catch ya back on Friday!
