Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Author, author... The Lone Sheriff by Lynna Banning + #giveaway

...read all about it !!



Please welcome the best selling author, Lynna Banning !!
We were lucky enough to be able to interview her today :)



Do real life events find their way into your stories?


        Absolutely.  My first book (“Western Rose”) was based on my grandparents’ rather stormy courtship, and a later novella, “Gauchos & Gumption:  My Argentine Honeymoon,” is based on the true story of Grandmother Banning’s honeymoon on a cattle ranch in Argentina, where my mother was born 
(after a 1,000-mile cattle drive to Buenos Aires). 



Do you ever mimic family members or people you know when you choose characters?


        Yes!  My grandmother and my mother serve as role models for female characters, and my Grandfather Banning is often reflected in my heroes.  Grandma and Mama had smarts and courage in small, quiet ways; Granddad Banning was “old west” through and though—he always stood up for what was right.



Do you find yourself going back to the same inspiration for each story or is it always something different?


        Yes, I do find myself going back to characters who intrigue me (admirable but conflicted) and situations that are interesting—usually the “small person against the crowd” or a “fish-out-of-water” situation.”



When do you write?  Early morning? During the day sometime or all day?  After the kids go to bed?


        I write mostly at night, propped up in bed with a notepad on my lap (I start off writing in longhand, then transcribe it the next morning on the computer, print it out, and make revisions during the day). 


 
How do you feel about marketing your book?


        Actually, I dislike it, but what I value highly is the response from and connection with readers.  I don’t write for money… readers’ enjoyment is much more important to me.



What social sites do you feel work best for marketing?

        This blog/book tour is great!



Do you like to pitch stories to your publisher or do you wait until you have written the story and have a final manuscript to turn in?


        Since I work with an agent, I usually submit a story idea of about 3 pages to my editor, and if she is interested, I write the whole story and turn in the completed manuscript through my agent.



Is there any other genre that you would love to try writing?  If so, what is it?


        I’d love to try writing my autobiography… growing up/high school/college in the ’50’s and ’60’s; early married life; teaching school in the ’70’s, etc. etc. 


 
Do you always/ever see yourself as the heroine/hero when you write a story?


        Always.  All my life I admired my mother and try to be like her—I use her character (and myself) as the basis for my heroines.



Just for fun, I have a few personal questions, 
Favorite 5
1)     Favorite Male Actor  -       Robert Redford
2)     Favorite vehicle -              Subaru Forester (what I’m driving now)
3)     Favorite way to relax -       Reading or practicing music
4)     Favorite ice cream -   Peppermint stick with chocolate chips
5)     Favorite outfit -                 Jeans and a shirt

And for a bonus:  If you could pick any place in the world to live, 
besides where you are now, where would it be? 
 (Of course, without the hindrance of jobs or money needed)


        I’d pick Paris, because of its old, old history and because when I visited there some years ago I didn’t see nearly enough.  (Also it would improve my French…)


Where can our readers find you?? 
Mailing address:  P.O. Box 324, Felton, CA 95018
Email:   carowoolston@att.net
Facebook:  www.facebook/lynnabanning
            website:  www.lynnabanning.net
Amazon author page: https://www.facebook.com/lynna.banning?fref=ts
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/577280.Lynna_Banning?from_search=true



Is there an upcoming or current release you would like to share 
with us today and where can we find it?


       
My new September release is “The Lone Sheriff,” which is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and independent bookstores.
        Publisher:  Harlequin Mills & Boon
       
Blurb:  
  As if tracking down train robbers isn’t hard enough, now Sheriff Jericho Silver’s backup arrives and she’s a beautiful, rich, gun-slinging Pinkerton lady detective who sure spells trouble and won’t take No for an answer.



Buy links:      Amazon     B&N      Harlequin Romance





Excerpt:
None of them looked remotely like a Pinkerton man.  A Pinkerton agent would no doubt be wearing a proper suit.  But the only male who looked the least bit citified was Ike Bruhn, home from his honeymoon with his new bride. 
Sandy jiggled at his side.  “Ya see ’im?”
“Nope,” Jerico grunted.
“Maybe he missed the train,” his deputy suggested.
“Naw, must be here somewhere.  Look for a gent in a gray suit.”  Pinkerton men always wore grey to blend in with crowds.  He scanned the thronged station platform again.
“Check inside, Sandy.  Maybe he slipped past me.”
His deputy jogged off and Jericho perused the crowd a third time.  Nothing.  Maybe Mr. Detective had chickened out at the prospect of fingering an elusive outlaw gang that was robbing trains.  He narrowed his eyes and turned to check the station once more when someone stumbled smack into him.
“Oh, I am terribly sorry.”  An extremely pretty young woman carrying a green-striped parasol gazed up at him.  Her voice sounded like rich whiskey sliding over smooth river stones and for a moment Jericho forgot what he’d come for.  She only came up to his shoulder and on her dark, piled-up hair sat the most ridiculous concoction of feathers and stuffed birds he’d ever laid eyes on. 
He sucked in a breath to apologize, then wished he hadn’t.  Goddam she smelled good.  Soap and something flowery.
Made his head swim. 
He stepped back.  “’Scuse me, ma’am.”
She waved a gloved hand and peered at his chest.  “Oh, you are the sheriff.”
“Yeah, I am.”
She smiled and his mouth went dry.  “You are just the man I want to see.”
Jericho swallowed.  “You have a problem?”
“Oh, no.”  She twirled her parasol.  You have the problem.  I have come to help.”  She waited, an expectant look on her face.
“Help?” Jerico echoed. 
“Of course.”  The whiskey in her voice was now sliding over some pointy rocks.  “I am Madison O’Donnell.  The Smoke River Bank hired me to help catch the gang robbing their gold shipments.”
Jericho stared at her.
“I believe you were expecting me?”
He snapped his jaw shut.  He sure as hell wasn’t expecting her.  The last thing he’d expected was this frilly-looking female with her ridiculous hat.  In her green-striped dress and twirling her parasol like that she made him think of a dish of cool mint ice cream. 
“Whatever is the matter, Sheriff?  You have gone quite pale?  Are you ill?”
He jerked at the question.  Not ill, just gutshot.  “Uh, yeah.  I mean No, I’m not ill.  Just . . . surprised.”
She lowered her voice.  “Most Pinkerton clients are surprised when they meet me.  It will pass.”
Hell no, it won’t. 
Madison O’Donnell picked up her travel bag.  “Shall we go?”
Not on your life.  “Uh, my deputy’s inside the station house.  ’Scuse me, ma’am.”  He strode past her without looking back.  Inside, he found Sandy talking to the ticket seller.
“Charlie says nobody’s come in except the two Weatherby women.  You want me to hang around and – ?”





One last thing before we let you leave us today :) 
Do you have a favorite recipe you'd like to share?  I like to cook and 
am always looking for new recipes to try& share!


        Here’s a recipe for “Blondies” (like brownies):

        2 cups graham cracker crumbs
        1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
        1 package chocolate chips
        1 teaspoon vanilla
        Mix it all up together (it will be stiff) and press into a greased 9” pan.
        Bake at 350 for 23-25 minutes (don’t over-bake).
 



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