Welcome, Author Linda Swift!
I’m happy to have a fellow Desert Breeze and Whimsical Publications author here today. It’s nice to share two publishers with such a talented lady. Linda writes the kind of books I love to read - thrilling romances. Grab a cup of coffee, tea, or pop (where I live we say pop instead of soda) and enjoy Linda’s wonderful interview!
Let’s get started. Linda, share a bit about yourself with us.
Wow, what a wide-open question this is. Well, I was born…no, let’s skip that. I married young and still have my one and only husband. We have a son and daughter and son-in-law who live in Nashville. And my husband and I are natives of Kentucky and now winter in Florida. This is one of the few advantages to being old enough to retire. Did I say retire? I spend more time working now than I did when I was employed in public education. I love reading, traveling, beach picnics, and ballroom dancing. But most of all, I love writing.
Winter in Florida sounds lovely. What genre or genres do you write in?
Fiction is my love, both historical and contemporary. I have evolved from first writing poetry to articles to plays and short stories to books. I gave up writing articles, although it paid best, for two reasons. I wrote mainly profile articles and I always found the best stories people told me they also said “Don’t quote me on that” which left me with a bland article. And anyway, it is more fun to write made-up stories than the truth.
What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I soon learned that when I create characters they come alive and take control of “my” story . Once I get characters talking with each other, and sometimes this is hard to do, they take over. After that, I record what happens. I have found if I try to take their story in a different direction, it just doesn’t work as well.
How did you and your husband meet? What was it about him that made you know he was “the one”?
We met at a teen dance. And we didn’t go to another dance on a regular basis for years. You see, I was a very poor dancer and so this wasn’t fun for either of us. Then about ten years ago we signed up for a ballroom dance class. Now we dance once or twice a week.
At the dance where we met, he was asked to play the piano. I always dreamed of playing piano well, had taken lessons but they didn’t “take” on me. So what could be better than to marry a piano player and have beautiful music in my life? And our children are musicians, too, so I got my wish in a round-about way.
How would your husband describe Linda Swift?
I’m tempted to ask him but I won’t cheat by doing so. I know he would say that I am persistent. I suffer from “Dog With A Bone Syndrome.” I think he would say I’m loyal, ambitious, very organized, a good mother, and a good writer. Notice I did not mention cooking or housekeeping here?
Tell us about your new release, Summer Love. Where can readers buy it?
Summer Love is a story about a woman whose husband left her to “find himself.” Paula is forced to go back to school to get certified to teach and here she meets a retired Naval Officer who is also training for a new career. But the story is more than falling in love again; it is also about Paula’s relationship with her children and her mother. And it is about making friends with other women and realizing her full potential as a person.
The book will be available April 1 at Desert Breeze Publishing: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-152/Linda-Swift-Summer-Love/Detail.bok
An anonymous person left you a gift of $10,000 on your front porch. How would you spend it?
First, I’d invest some of it in my children’s names, then I’d establish a number of scholarships for needy college students, and last I’d ask my husband to go with me to England for a month’s visit.
I like all your great ideas how you would spend your $10,000. Where can your fans find you on the internet?
I invite you to visit me at www.lindaswift.net
Available April 1!
Readers, enjoy Linda’s excerpt of SUMMER LOVE!
Amy fastened her hair into a neat ponytail as Paula completed her makeup. “I hope you haven’t neglected studying because of me. Everyone but you seemed to be spending an awful lot of time on class assignments.”
“Let’s just say I planned ahead,” Paula said, knowing it was worth whatever it had cost her to have this weekend with her daughter.
“I wish Sharon could have gone with us,” Amy said. “She’s missing a great opportunity to be with Derek.”
“I don’t think she’s interested in Derek,” Paula said mildly.
“Well, she should be. He’s a great guy.”
“But he’s old enough to be her father, honey.”
“Well, Dad is dating someone that young.”
Paula drew her breath in sharply. “He is?”
“Oh, I thought you knew. Haven’t your friends–?”
“I’m not in touch with anyone back home,” Paula said quietly and sat down on the closest bed, feeling as though she had just received another blow to her solar plexus. “Do you know — who she is?”
“No, Mom. I don’t know her name, and I don’t think she’s from Tuscumbia. I’m sure he met her through the band.”
“Band? What band?” Paula asked faintly.
“Haven’t you talked with Dad lately? The country-western band he plays guitar for.”
“I didn’t know… about that either.”
“Well, neither did I until I went home to get my things. As Dad was driving by our house, he saw Chris’ car so he stopped to talk with us.” She shook her head. “He looked so… different.”
“How do you mean?” Paula asked, dreading the answer.
“He was wearing faded Levis and a tee shirt with the band’s logo and gold chains. His hair is a lot longer now, and he’s grown a beard.”
“I see.” And she could see it all in her mind’s eye. Quent changed into a man she didn’t know, a hip musician who moved in a world that was totally alien to the life they had shared together. “And the… girl?”
“She was sitting in his convertible, and the top was down so we saw her clearly, but we didn’t meet her.”
What did she look like? Was she pretty? “Convertible?”
“Yes, a red BMW. And Dad just said she was a singer in the band. He seemed sort of embarrassed about it.”
“Then maybe they’re not–”
“Oh, yes, they are. I asked a couple of my friends who follow the band. And they said Bootsie was about my age, and they’d seen her out with Dad.”
“Bootsie?”
“That’s her stage name, because her trademark is all the different boots she wears. But they didn’t know her real name.”
“I… see.”
Amy crossed the room, put her arms around her mother. “Don’t look so shocked, Mom. Chris says it’s just a stage Dad’s going through. He said he wouldn’t be surprised if Dad came back to you when he gets it all out of his system.”
“That isn’t going to happen, honey,” Paula told her sadly.
“I’m really sorry if I upset you, Mom. But I thought you already knew.”
“I didn’t. But it’s okay.” Paula made an effort to sound more cheerful. “And I’m glad I heard this from you instead of someone else. I’m sure the whole town knows about it.”
“I guess so. Oh, Mom,” Amy’s voice was tearful, “I wish everything could be the way it was before…”
“Me, too, honey.” Paula hugged her daughter closer. “But it can’t be. So we have to make the best of the way things are.”
“I know.” Amy sniffed and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. “And I’m proud of you for what you’re doing. You have some really nice friends and you’re different, too, but not in the silly way Dad is. I could never imagine you going out with a younger man.”
Amy’s words reminded Paula of Derek. “We should have been downstairs by now. Derek is probably double parked and wondering where we are.”
Amy picked up her flight bag. “All set, Mom. Let’s go.”
~~~~
Linda, thank you for visiting my blog! It’s been a pleasure. Readers, hope you leave a comment for Linda. If you do, you’ll be entered in my EARLY SPRING GIVEAWAY and have a chance to win ONE of these books in ebook format: SUMMER LOVE by Linda Swift, LETTING GO by Michelle Sutton, WHERE LOVE ONCE LIVED by Sid Frost, and DEFENDING GLORY by Anne K. Albert.
March 31st, 2011 at 7:26 am
Good morning, Diane. My, we’re up early, aren’t we? It’s going to be a rainy day here in Florida which suits me just fine as I plan to visit your blog throughout the day. Thank you so much for having me as your guest and for your nice comments. And I’m so excited that tomorrow is the day SUMMER LOVE will be released by Desert Breeze Publishing. I hope the readers here today will want to read more of it.
March 31st, 2011 at 7:33 am
Oh, I almost forgot. Here’s the link to purchase or read more about SUMMER LOVE.
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/StoreFront.bok
March 31st, 2011 at 7:41 am
Hi Linda,
Glad you included the buying link! Thanks! Today will be fun.
March 31st, 2011 at 8:59 am
Great interview! I love your humor, Linda. That cover is absolutely beautiful! Congrats on another release!
March 31st, 2011 at 9:23 am
Your great sense of humor made this an enjoyable read. I expect the same to be true of your books. May you have many sales and always good reviews.
March 31st, 2011 at 10:37 am
Hi Diane and Linda, fabulous interview, ladies. Linda, congratulations on Summer Love. From reading the excerpt, it will be a best seller and I’m getting in line to buy my copy. Can’t go wrong with a character named Sharon. Love you, dear friend.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:03 am
Hi Destiny. It’s so nice to see you again. Thanks for coming by and for your nice comments. And for your good wishes re this new release. I’m excited about it as this book is dear to my heart. It takes place mostly on a university campus and I spent one summer there and loved the place. But no, I didn’t meet Derek! But my husband visited for one weekend and that was nice.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:07 am
Hi J.R. and thanks for the compliment re my sense of humor. I hope it carries over in my books and most times I think it does. But there is this one book…..TO THOSE WHO WAIT comes with a warning to prepare to read with a box of Kleenix handy. But SUMMER LOVE does have a lot of lighter moments and a HEA.
March 31st, 2011 at 11:12 am
Hi Sharon, and thanks for your comments. And the Sharon in SUMMER LOVE is a sweet person just like you. I’ve never known a Sharon who wasn’t a lovely person. Have you ever noticed how people seem to follow a pattern that way? I won’t name any specific names here but certain names seem to belong to people who have a certain type personality. Is it only I who have noticed this? I hope you enjoy the book, Sharon. Do you think an April Fool’s Day release is a sign or something?
March 31st, 2011 at 12:08 pm
Hey Linda, great excerpt. You’re definitely on my “to read” list. Blessings =-)
March 31st, 2011 at 12:19 pm
What a wonderful excerpt - it shows the depth of the relationship with her daughter as well as her heartbreak from her husband’s middle age crisis…so common too. Grrr. I think this book is probably a wellspring of emotional ups and downs.
Sounds like my kind of book!
March 31st, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Diane,
Sign me up for a copy!
Linda, I started reading this fascinating excerpt and lost all track of time and space. I was so disappointed when it ended. Shoot! LOL.
The story sounds wonderful. I’d compare it to Debbie MaComber’s style. My dream is to write a Women’s fiction like this. So far, I’ve written only romance.
I enjoyed learning about how you and your hubby met and the ballroom dancing. You go, Girl!
March 31st, 2011 at 2:04 pm
Dana, I’m happy to be on your list. And I do hope you enjoy this book. Please let me know. I always welcome comments about my work. Thanks for stopping in and for your comments.
March 31st, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Hi Donna. Yes, Paula loved her family very much, including that stupid husband. I think the end of the book would surprise you. This was one of those stories where the character made the choice and I wasn’t sure what she was going to choose until she did it. And you were spot on. This book does have lots of ups and downs but hopefully enough ups to satisfy any romance reader. Thanks for your compliments.
March 31st, 2011 at 2:09 pm
What a fun interview. You’ve got a bit of every thing in there… dating, music, dancing, vacataioning, investing… LOL even housework!
Nice job! Best wishes for much success with this upcoming release~
March 31st, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Laurie, you have made my day! Naw, you have made my week, my month, my year. To even have my name mentioned in the same post with Debbie MaComber’s is beyond gratifying. She, along with Lavyrle Spencer and Maeve Binchey, are my all-time favorite authors. And to say you lost yourself in the story, well, that was a supreme compliment and I thank you sincerely.
And I’m glad you enjoyed Diane’s interview. She asks some different questions than I’ve had to answer before. And just for the record, I did ask my husband to describe me
March 31st, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Well, I hit a wrong key and that went too soon. As I was saying when I rudely interrupted myself, I ask my husband to describe me AFTER I sent in the answers, and I was really surprised. We only agreed on one item, that I was a good mother. And he said I was a good cook, but he didn’t mention writing at all. I guess this proves that his perception and priorities are differnet from mine.
And Laurie, you keep on writing those books and you will reach your goal of writing whatever you want to write in due time. Key word here is due, as we all have to pay our dues, you know.
March 31st, 2011 at 2:27 pm
Hi JoAnn, thanks so much for your comments and your good wishes. As for the variety, I use the shotgun approach to most everything, inclusing my books. You’re bound to hit a target once in a while that way!
March 31st, 2011 at 3:29 pm
Great Interview! I really enjoyed the excerpt. This book sounds like something that I would enjoy reading, so it’s on my list to get.
March 31st, 2011 at 4:06 pm
Well, thank you so much, Becky. I think any wife or mother or daughter could relate to this story. We’ve all had some of the experiences in this book and the feelings, both good and bad that went with them. Happy reading.
March 31st, 2011 at 10:46 pm
Hi Linda. Loved reading your answers in the interview, and your book excerpt. The cover is beautiful…love it!
Ellen
April 1st, 2011 at 8:24 am
Thanks for visiting this blog, Ellen, and for your nice comments. I love the cover, too. And I thought you might get a smaile out of this interview since you know both parties in the answers to the interview.
April 1st, 2011 at 9:20 am
Great interview! Love the book cover and many congrats on another release!! Really excited about all your success and look forward to reading “Summer Love” on my new Kindle.
April 1st, 2011 at 9:33 am
Thank you, Kaye, for your good wishes and for reading my books. And for all your support of my work. Love you, Mother
April 1st, 2011 at 10:47 am
Hi, Diane. Lovely interview, Linda. Envy all he music in your life. My mother loved to ballroom dance, but as you say, it didn’t “take” on me. Love the idea behind Summer Love.
April 1st, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Hello Nan, and thank you for your nice comments. Yes, I am fortunate to have all these musical people in my life. I neither sing or play an instrument (though I’ve always wanted to do both) but belated in life I have learned to do a mean rhumba and cha-cha! And yes, the idea behind this book is a pretty universal issue for women and in my book, Paula rises above it very satisfactorily.
April 1st, 2011 at 4:50 pm
Thank you, everyone, for dropping by to learn more about Linda and for supporting her.
Happy April Fool’s Day and have a terrific weekend. All of you are entered in my contest - winner’s name will be drawn on April 8th!
April 1st, 2011 at 7:12 pm
And thank you, Diane, for having me as your guest. It’s been fun and I have enjoyed meeting some new authors here. And did I tell you that you have the easiest blog to use for posting comments that I have ever visited? Have a Happy April’s Fool Day and a happy weekend. And good luck to all in the book drawing. Linda
April 1st, 2011 at 7:40 pm
Hi Linda,
I’m so glad my blog is easy to use to post comments. That’s nice to hear.
April 1st, 2011 at 8:09 pm
Linda and Diane–I love your questions, Diane. A little different, and very good to elicit good responses. Of course, you had the master on interviews–Linda–who know just what to say and when to shut up. I mean it! I see no reason to read answers to interview questions that go on, and on…and….
Oh, and Hi, Kaye! Your mom is a firecracker, one of my very dear friends. I don’t know what I’d do without her daily missives.
Choose someone to win your book. I already have all of them. You need new fans. Celia
April 1st, 2011 at 10:11 pm
Celia, you always say the nicest things! And you know how much I depend on your knowledge and experience in this cyber world to keep me grounded. Or maybe in space? And the fact that so much of our lives have paralleled is amazing. Are you sure your mother didn’t give your twin away? Do we have a story plot here??? Just wondering. Linda
April 2nd, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Hi Celia,
Thanks for visiting! I like to ask different questions. LOL It’s fun! Celia, you get to choose an ebook from a list of 4 and I have your name in for earlier posts.
So wonderful you and Linda have a great friendship.
April 15th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Linda,
Summer Love sounds really neat. I look forward to reading it.
Marion