Linda, describe yourself for our visitors.
Oh my goodness, let me see. Among my favorite things is my late hubby’s Pound Cake, made with Superior (Brand)Vanilla/Butter/Nut flavoring. No other will do. I make it only on my children’s birthdays and Christmas because if it is there, I will eat it until I’m sick. And so will everyone else. The recipe is on the bottle for anyone interested. When the little antique shop that carried it closed, I found it after a three year search on the internet. (http://www.shopbettys.com/detail.aspx?ID=33) The people in my church bought me out and I’ll have to re-order, it’s THAT good. Also it’s the first cake to go on the bake sale table…before the sale opens! Even with a slice missing. (My son came home one night and not knowing it was for the church, helped himself to a slice. So I put a note on cake explaining what happened. It was first to go anyway<g>.)
So I guess I can say contributing to the delinquency of dieting readers is a favorite pastime:)
Music. Definitely music. I’ve played guitar and keyboard since I was sixteen. In the 80′s, my hubby and I had a country/old R&R band, but we played everything! Imagine the Pointer Sisters’ FIRE one minute and Sons of the Pioneers’ COOL WATER the next. We kept people scratching their heads in wonder. I love doing Irish/Scot/English ballads and story songs. I’ve kept kids entertained for the last forty years (oh my!) with them…and more than a few adults as well. I still have a music ministry, solo now. Although sometimes I can hear Jim’s harmony. It’s a part of me.
I love reading all kinds of books and researching early Christianity. I am a couch potato if you count being addicted to History Channels, National Geographic, Discovery and TLC. Although, in my defense, I do workout on my elliptical while watching these shows (or Judge Judy, in a pinch.) In fact, my measure of a good book is one that will make me forget how long I’m on that torture machine.
And my latest hobby is being a grandmother. My daughter married in January and I got instant grandkids–a boy (5) and a girl (7). They are precious. I love to get them and love to get rid of them. Boy can they suck the energy out of a grandma.
How do you find time to connect with God?
It’s getting harder and harder of late. But I try to do my devotions early in the morning before anyone is stirring. If they stir early, I’m hard-pressed. So now I’m thinking about doing my reading and prayers upstairs in my bedroom, since the routines of my household seem to be changing. But I feel it’s imperative to get that time alone with Him. If I don’t, my day just isn’t the same. It’s harder. End story. I have to MAKE the time.
Who are your favorite authors? Favorite books?
I hate this question because there are so many wonderful authors out there. I love Liz Higgs’ Highland Series. I love Sharon Hinck’s Restorer Series (fantasy). Athol DIckson spins suspense like no other and such poetic turns of phrase that it sneaks up on me. Dean Koonz’s Odd Thomas series. The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. Those are some of my recent reads, but there are so many more.
Tell us about your journey to publication.
My first two books were so badly written, I still shudder. I thought research meant the World Book Encyclopedia and a vivid imagination. But I re-wrote those two books, kept the stories, which were pretty good according to my husband, who rescued them from the trash. He said, “Even though I don’t read this stuff, they’re interesting.” Bless his heart. It was Jim who encouraged me to redo those books. And they were my first two published by Kensington Publishers in NY–historical romances. Yes, the steamy kind. I wrote sixteen historical and contemporary romances for the secular market before God gave me the boot over to the inspirational side. I stumbled into my success using the guidelines in the Writers Market. I’d never heard of RWA and ACFW wasn’t even a spark in someone’s mind.
Then the publishing houses started consolidating and shelf space shrunk. After four years without a contract (yet God enabled me to have a book come out every one of those years, books I’d written ahead), I finally decided to try inspirational romance. I didn’t think I could do it. I was recently born again and was sure that I wasn’t holy enough. Especially after reading Francine Rivers! But then I found out that they wanted books about Christians like me–people with flaws and trying to hold onto and grow in their faith. Boy, was I qualified for that! I re-wrote HI HONEY I’M HOME from secular romance to inspirational and God blessed me by making it a launch book for Multnomah Publishing’s mass market paperback line. It’s out of print now, but people still try to get copies. That was the start of my writing for God and it has changed my life. I’ve never regretted it.
Tell us about your current book?
FOR PETE’S SAKE is the story of a Harley-riding Cinderella who rescues Prince Charming (her new, sophisticated neighbor) from the roadside and turns his world topsy-turvy. Adrian has it all–the successful international security business, GQ covers, a gorgeous partner and a soon-to-be bride and mother for his troubled son. Yet, he’s not happy. And Pete certainly isn’t happy with Selena becoming his mom.
Pete, like my own son, has Asperger’s Syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism that confines beautiful hearts and sensitivity within a shell of anger, frustration and social dysfunction. (see www.aspergers.com for more info). These kids are usually very intelligent and quite literal. They don’t get innuendo and that sort of humor. And this particular kid clicks with Ellen, who is also a square peg in a round hole society. As Adrian sees his son bloom under Ellen’s influence, he wonders if he’s made the right choice to marry Selena, who doesn’t really care for Pete and has boarding school in mind after the “I do.”
Add that to Adrian’s quandary of being investigated by the FBI for security espionage and it’s no wonder the guy feels lost. He wishes he had the strong faith that Ellen exemplifies, but his anger at God over the death of Pete’s mother has festered too long to change. Or has it?
As for Ellen, she loves Pete and is willing to risk heartbreak for his sake. But how can she compete with the femme fatale, who is everything Ellen is not? Somehow our tomboy must, because she won’t let Selena send Pete away. So enter the bosom buddies from WEDDING BELL BLUES with makeover madness. Until Ellen has to put more than her heart on the line for the boy. Now it’s her life.
How did you come up with ideas for this book?
I’ve always been a tomboy, so there’s a lot of me in Ellen. I grew up in a motor shop, actually working on the motors. Grease in the blood<g>. But instead of a Harley, I rode a horse. The Harley idea came from a friend of mine, a fifty-something widow, who took life by the tail and bought herself a Harley to see the world with other lady riders. My hat is off to her. We widows are tough cookies, ya know. We have to be. As for the bosom buddies, I grew up with these women right here on the Eastern Shore of MD (in the book, Piper Cove). But I changed the names to protect the innocent. I used to drive the 30 miles or so to Ocean City, MD from the age of 16 on, to study in the winter and to sun and play in the summer. It’s the resort across the Assawoman Bay (yep, it’s an Indian name)from my Piper Cove. I love this area, especially the ocean, which calms and inspires my soul
List your three most recent books.
WEDDING BELL BLUES is the first book in the PIPER COVE CHRONICLES. It came out in July 2007. (Warning and apologies: This was my first book after Jim died and the hardest I’ve ever written. I almost quit writing, but God provided a patient editor and the strength to keep on going. Still, I discovered from a reader when WBB came out, that my hero had sworn in a Rhett Butler moment, “D_mn, I still love you, Alex.” And a secondary character exclaimed “Oh my g_awd!” once. I say once, because I’d had her using that phrase with the intent of convicting her in her own book that it was blasphemous. Then I changed my mind and deleted the phrases. I missed one. And because I handed the book in so late, it didn’t get the many edits that usually go with a release. These two instances were simply missed. I didn’t even believe the reader when she reported it, I was so sure I’d not written these things. But there they were
in black and white.
The GOOD NEWS is they are not in any of the reprints of the book, including the future Crossings Book Club edition. So again, my humblest apologies for these editorial slips. They are not typical of a Windsor inspirational romance. I can only ask for your forgiveness and understanding.
My other recent books are from Thomas Nelson in my MOONSTRUCK Trilogy–Paper Moon, Fiesta Moon, and Blue Moon. All romantic comedies with a dash of suspense and a surefire GRACE-lift. This series kicks off with my real life adventure (sans the hero in real life) chaperoning a busload of hormone-crazed teens across Mexico. And I survived to tell the tale! Yep, the heroine’s bloopers are mine.
What’s next for you?
I’m currently working on the proposal for the next PIPER COVE book. It’s the story of shy Jan, the gal who always wants the wrong kind of guy. But this time around, Jan has had enough of being the underdog and takes charge of her life. She’s bold, she’s outspoken…and she’s trembling like a leaf inside. Until she discovers herself through God’s eyes and her low self-esteem is vanquished by faith. Now all she has to worry about are the thugs associated with her ex, who think… Ooops, almost let the cat out of the proverbial bag!
Where can visitors find you online?
I’m at www.LindaWindsor.com. Come on by. I’ve redecorated my great room fireplace for spring ( a replica of the real one in the 18th C. house my hubby and I restored—he made the green Windsor chair.) I always have contests going on. My web mistress was faster at putting away the virtual evergreen than I was. The last of my actual Christmas decorations went to the attic on St. Patricks Day. Begorrah!
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