Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Margaret Brownley's "A Lady Like Sarah"


We're happy to have Margaret Brownley with us. Read on to learn more about Margaret and her book...

1) How did this story come to you? The story was inspired by the escapades of Pearl Hart. Desperate to help her seriously-ill mother, she stopped a stage and, with the help of a loaded pistol, convinced its passengers to help pay her poor mama’s medical bills. (Bet you didn’t know that health care was highway robbery even back in the Old West.) The question that kept running though my mind was, how desperate would a person have to be to rob a stage? Suddenly Sarah popped up on the page and demanded in no uncertain terms that I tell her story.

So I had my outlaw. Now all I needed was the hero. That turned out to be disgraced preacher Justin Wells who finds Sarah handcuffed to a dying marshal on the dusty trail to Texas.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I entered the book in a bunch of contests at first to get reader feed-back. It won the contests but judges were adamant that I’d have to tone down the heroine if I ever hoped to see the book published. One day, I sat down at my computer to follow that advice, but I felt like I was losing her, losing the person she was meant to be. So I put her back as she was and was determined to keep her that way even if it meant the book would never see the light of day. Fortunately, my agent liked the book the way it was written and she landed me a three book contract. Sometimes, you just have to go with your instincts.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
• I pretty much failed English in school (still can’t diagram a sentence).
• Ditto history (Who can remember all those dates and battles?)
• A historical writer who failed English and history in school isn’t surprising enough?

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just finished book 2 of my Rocky Creek series, A Suitor for Jenny. I’m currently working on book 3. I haven’t had time to think about what’s next.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me on your blog—and thank you all for visiting. Have a great 2010!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet? You can visit me at www.margaretbrownley.com. I’m also a regular blogger on www.petticoatsandpistols.com

44 comments:

  1. I like the concept of the book...so different. I am looking forward to getting my hands on the book now and reading it. Thanks you!! Maureen

    alekee02@yahoo.com

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  2. This sounds really interesting. Thanks for the interview too. Makes me really want to read this book.

    Please put my name in the hat.

    Blessings

    HAPPY NEW YEAR

    Nora :D
    Finding Hope Through Fiction
    www.psalm516.blogspot.com

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  3. I feel the same way about both subjects. It's actually really encouraging because I am thinking about writing a book some day. I don't think that it will have anything to do with history, but I really hated English.
    ~AnGeLa
    adiefenderfer@liberty.edu

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  4. Hi, I found the interview interesting. Good to know more about Margaret and her book. This sounds good. Please put my name in the hat for the drawing.

    Sincerely,

    Nora
    Finding Hope Through Fiction
    www.psalm516.blogspot.com

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  5. I'd like to win this book!

    Deborah
    comfortjoydesigns AT gmail DOT com

    I found out about the giveaway through Facebook.

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  6. The inspiration for your story, Pearl Hart, is intriguing. A story of a disgraced preacher & an outlaw sounds very interesting and something I am certainly adding to my "to be read" list. It's nice to hear I wasn't the only person who had problems with all those dates & battles in school! Thank you for taking the time to be interviewed by K. Dawn & sharing part of yourself with us. K. Dawn, I already receive your blog updates, but would love to be entered for the drawing, please. God bless you both!

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  7. Now this sounds like my kind of heroine! Strong and determined, if a bit on the wrong side of the law! :) And I would have to say that as a writer who failed English and History, you must be able to spin quite a tale to land a 3 book contract! Congratulations!

    sherrinda(at)gmail(dot)com

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  8. Hi,
    That was a great interview! I enjoyed it. Please enter me in the drawing for the book. It looks like a wonderful read. Thank you.
    Happy New Year!
    Linda Cacaci
    LinCaca3@aol.com

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  9. Great interview! I am always interested in finding new authors. Your book sounds just like my kind of reading!!! Please enter my name in the drawing for the book....Happy New Year!!

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  10. I read and reviewed this book so don't enter me. I just wanted to say that I loved it!

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  11. Sounds like an awesome book! Please enter me!

    writer_weaver at yahoo dot com

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  12. Great interview! I've been wanting to read this book. Please enter me.

    Blessings
    Michelle V
    m.vasquez[at]grandecom[dot]net

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  13. I enjoyed the intrview. I could neve digram sentences or remember historical dates either. looks like a great book. Please enter me in the drawing. agreatdayin2003@yahoo.com Thank you, Happy New Year!

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  14. Anita Draper wrote a post at Inkwell Inspirations about Pearl Hart and I've been intrigued ever since. I'd love to read this!

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  15. Hi Margaret! I've been wanting this book since I first saw it in Crossings (and tried to buy it at ACFW). I'd love to win a copy.

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  16. I would love to win this book, A Lady Like Sarah. I have just been getting into cowboy/historical romance type of books so this one would be perfect! I also love the fact that Margaret Brownley didn't like English or History in school! LOL Sounds like me...and I love History and am sooo much better at English now that I'm out of school. Who would have known? ha!

    Blessings to you all!
    Lucie Buchert

    lucieluvsca (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  17. Margaret's books are just wonderful, really fun! I have always been a history fan and she displays a great deal of knowledge in her writing. I'd never have known she was a poor student! I would love to win this book, looks like another quality piece from her.

    Pam
    bookworm1414 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  18. Thought I'd stop by and say howdy and thank you all for your interest in my book. It's amazing how many of you didn't like English or history in school. English is a left brain subject like math and I'm not even sure I have a left brain. When I went to school, history was taught from a male POV, which explains all those battles. Then I read Gone With The Wind in my teens and I suddenly realized that history is about people. That book changed my life.

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  19. Would love to win A Lady Like Sarah. I love historical books of all kinds.
    Emma Bedford
    elbedford@comcast.net

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  20. Glad you followed your gut and it was published the way you saw her to be. Blessings!
    estrella8888 at roadrunner dot com

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  21. Hee-haw a rootin' tootin' cowlady or is it outlaw gal? Sounds like an interesting read. Please put my name in yur cowboy hat to win Ms. Brownley's book titled, A LADY LIKE SARAH.

    Blessings to you in your promotional endeavors!

    Jewel Sample
    FLYING HUGS AND KISSES award-winning author

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  22. I love historical books. I would love to win your giveaway. Sounds interesting. Sometimes I find that people who do poorly in HS were more interested in socializing.???? Please enter me.
    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

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  23. I would love to win this book! Please enter me in the contest.

    booklovercb[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  24. Awesome interview! Carmen sent me over here to check it out! Please enter me!

    Hugs & Blessings
    MollyBuuklvr81
    mollydawn1981 at aol dot com

    BookReviewsByBuuklvr81

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  25. Please enter me in the contest!

    pepsi324[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  26. I would love to read this!! Please enter me:) Thanks!!


    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  27. This sounds like an entertaining book! Please enter me!

    Thanks & Happy New Year - Andrea

    andreaschultz[at]gmail[dot]com

    I have a book giveaway - Mark Batterson's 'Primal' - on my blog. Please stop by and comment and follow for your chance to win! Thanks bunches!

    http://andrealschultz.blogspot.com/2009/12/primal-by-mark-batterson-book-review.html

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  28. Nicely done! Please enter me. I learned about your contest from Carman's blog.

    Thanks & Happy New Year - Andrea

    andrealschultz[at]gmail[dot]com

    I'm hostessing a book giveaway - Mark Batterson's 'Primal' at my blog. Please come by and comment and follow my blog & tweets for your chance to win!

    http://andrealschultz.blogspot.com/2009/12/primal-by-mark-batterson-book-review.html

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  29. Well anything that pertains to Arizona history always catches my eye and I'm curious to learn how the inspiration of the story of Pearl Hart translates into your new novel creation. I loved history (even all the battles and dates! *-) and history is a spectacular well of creative ideas and jumping off points.

    BrendaAtTheRanch at Yahoo dot com

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  30. I've been wanting to read this book for a long time, now. Please enter me in this giveaway:~)
    Happy New Year,
    ~Ashley
    i95fahrenheit[at]ymail[dot]com

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  31. i'M ANXIOUS TO FIND THESE BOOKS AND READ THEM.i WOULD LOVE TO WIN ONE...Thanks

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  32. I'd love a chance to meet this lady and preacher. Please include me in the drawing for A Lady Like Sarah. Thanks!

    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

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  33. thanks for the opportunity to read this fabulous book ;)

    karenk
    kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)Com

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  34. Enjoyed the interview and would love to read the book. Please enter me in the giveaway. Thank you!

    Happy New Year,
    Sandee

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

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  35. I need to find out how she came to be handcuffed to a dying Marshall. I, too, had trouble with history in school. I was interested in how people thought and did things, but was forced to memorize dates of wars etc. How dry can you be? Now I love history.

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  36. This looks just wonderful and refreshing! Your interview was wonderful, made me anxious to read the book! Great giveaway, too!

    Kari
    monkeykab2003 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  37. This book sounds great and the cover is wonderful. Would really love to read the book. Very refreshing. Please include me in the drawing.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

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  38. THe book sounds intriguing. Hope it does well.

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  39. Your book sounds really good. I like historical pieces. Please put my name in the drawing. I would love to have a chance to read it.

    LaTawnia Gray
    walkinfaith4him (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  40. A disgraced preacher and an outlaw...hmmmm. Definitely room for God's grace to work and be seen! If I don't win the drawing I'll have to see if my library has the book or can get it by Interlibrary Loan.

    cw4jesus@hotmail.com

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  41. Looks like a very entertaining read for sure! I'd love to be included in the drawing for this book, please!

    Blessings,

    jjsweep (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  42. Sounds like a great read-you sent me the invite to the contest on facebook!
    Hope to win

    paulbethurem@att.net

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  43. This book sound very interesting! I'd like to enter this giveaway. I got here because Carman sent me!

    Samitude[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  44. great interview, made me want to read the book. Imagine robbing a stage to pay medical bills. Hope I win thanks agreatdayin2003@yahoo.com

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