Arlene James' "Baby makes a Match"

We're happy to have Arlene James with us today talking about her book, Baby Makes a Match. To learn more about Arlene and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
I had a pregnant friend whose car broke down on the side of the road, and neither her husband nor I could get to her. She had to accept a ride from a kind stranger, and though she was on the phone with her husband the whole time, it was an “uncomfortable” (okay, scary) incident. When I decided to do a contemporary “marriage of convenience” story for Chandler Chatam, who first appeared in Book 2 of the Chatam House series (A MATCH MADE IN TEXAS), I remembered my friend’s experience, and that became the catalyst for my premise.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I’ve been blessed to publish steadily for 3 decades and work almost exclusively on pre-sold book contracts. My agent negotiates a multiple-book contract with my publisher based on the popularity and sell-through figures of my previous books. Then I propose premises until I spark my editor’s interest, at which point I submit a formal proposal. We usually hammer out the details between us, and I go to work. Publishing was an entirely different world in the beginning of my career, and the truth is that God simply opened a door for me. I went through that door, and I’ve never looked back.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Hm, I’m not sure much would surprise my readers at this point. They know that I grew up on a ranch, love rodeo and hockey, and agreed to marry my husband of 34 years on our first date. What haven’t I told them? Let me see… Well, I sing (contralto/tenor); I love to throw large dinner parties (25-30 people), and I’m in the process of moving from Texas, where I’ve lived for the last 33 years, to northwest Arkansas.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on two projects at the moment: Book 2 in the Love Inspired Rocky Mountain Heirs continuity series (THE LAWMAN’S RUNAWAY BRIDE), and Book 5 of my Chatam House series. After that, I’ll be working on Book 6 of that series, at which point I’ll be at the end of my current contract.

5) Parting comments?
Writing has been the best of all possible worlds for me, and I thank God for putting me where I am. When my children were small, I was able to be at home with them AND work. When my husband’s career had us traveling all over the world, I was able to pack up my laptop and go without having to “take time off.” Now that he is retired, I’m able to work while spending time with him. I can’t imagine giving up this life until God calls me home, at which point someone will probably have to pry the keyboard out of my cold, dead fingers. Ha!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
In all the usual places (Facebook, Amazon.com, eHarlequin…) and at my two websites: http://arlenejames.com/ and––my personal favorite––http://chatamhouseseries.com. I’m available via email at deararlenejames@sbcglobal.net.