Monday, September 27, 2010

Margaret Brownley's "A Suitor for Jenny"

We're happy to have Margaret Brownley with us today talking about her book, A Suitor for Jenny To learn more about Margaret and her book, read on!

More Love and Laughter in the Old West from Bestselling Author Margaret Brownley: A SUITOR FOR JENNY
Some timely advice for landing a husband from Margaret’s new book, A SUITOR FOR JENNY

• Charm and composure must prevail at all times. If a gunfight erupts, exit the scene with grace and serenity.
• If you don’t know whether or not to kiss a handsome man, give him the benefit of the doubt.
• Never engage in boisterous laughter. If you must show mirth, a polite smile or titter will suffice.
• Never criticize your beau. If it wasn’t for his faults he’d probably be courting someone else.
• A woman more knowledgeable than a man is obliged to hold her tongue and feign ignorance in all matters except, of course, childbirth.
• Never show affection in public. Love may be blind but the townspeople are not.
• Once your vows are exchanged devote yourself to domestication—his.
• Eschew secrets, for they are normally discovered at the worst possible time. If confronted, weep and deny everything.—

Blurb:

Jenny Higgins is certain falling in love and finding a husband are matters of the mind. But her heart has other plans.

After their parents died, Jenny felt responsible for seeing that her two younger sisters were well-taken care of. Tipped off by an article naming Rocky Creek the town with the highest number of eligible bachelors, Jenny rolled into this Texas town with a clear objective: find suitable husbands for her two younger sisters and then start fresh somewhere far, far away. Jenny believes that women who fall in love at first sight often wish they’d taken a second look, so she diligently begins to follow all the rules set forth in her handy manual on how to land a husband.

But while Jenny is interviewing the less-than-promising candidates, her sisters are falling in love the old fashioned way--with men of their choosing. And the longer Jenny stays, the more her sense of control slips away. The town isn’t living up to her expectations, her sisters are rebelling against her practical choices, and soon her own heart starts to betray her, as US Marshal Rhett Armstrong stirs up emotions in her that weren’t part of her plan.

To relinquish her control to God and calm her restless spirit, she’ll need to give up her foregone conclusions about marriage, love, and faith.

1) How did this story come to you?
This is the 2nd book in my Rocky Creek Romance series, and it was really fun to write. I came across a meeting notice in an old Kansas newspaper for The Society for the Protection and Preservation of Male Independence and my creative mind went in overdrive. I have no idea what happened to the society or if its members succeeded in staying single and independent, but I knew I had to write about it. Naturally in my book, all the suitable men belong to it—and that leads to a lot of headaches for a heroine determined to find suitable husbands for her two younger sisters.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This book was part of a three-book contract, so there really wasn’t much of a journey. The book had been perking at the back of my mind for years so when I actually sat down to write it, it pretty much wrote itself. This is rare. Most of the time writing is the process of hammering out each word with something akin to a sledgehammer.

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 the 3rd and final book in my Rocky Creek series. A Vision of Lucy is scheduled for publication June 2011. I’m currently working on the first book in a new series, and I’m very excited about it. I can’t wait to share it with my readers.

5) Parting comments?
I just want to thank my readers for helping to make the first book in my series, A Lady Like Sarah, a bestseller! Please keep those letters and emails coming.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
You can find me at http://www.margaretbrownley.com/
I’m also a resident blogger at http://www.petticoatsandpistols.com/
If you want to enjoy a laugh, check out my book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prY2q9Oasp4
To order A Suitor for Jenny: http://bit.ly/98waTr
Have a little faith!

29 comments:

  1. I didn't like history and English very much in high school either! This book sounds great! Thanks for the the chance.

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  2. Just my kind of book.

    ~Steph
    soklad@hotmail.com

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  3. I passed English with an A but I can't diagram a sentence and other than teaching my children it and Algebra, I've never found another practical real life use for either. :) I did love history but also struggled with the dates.

    This book and the whole series sounds absolutely fun and delightful!

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  4. We must be kindred spirits, Margaret. I didn't care for English or history way back when I was in school either, and now I'm writing historical fiction too. :) I love your book premise.

    fictionfan1 [at] cox [dot] net

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  5. oh this book sounds delightful- I love this =Some timely advice for landing a husband from Margaret’s new book, A SUITOR FOR JENNY especially this one If you don’t know whether or not to kiss a handsome man, give him the benefit of the doubt. Would love to win a copy of this book .

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  6. Wow this sounds like such a fun read! Please enter me!

    Sarah

    sarahsantanablogs@gmail.com

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  7. You write and you could not diagram? I like your books better now!!! = ) i am already a subscriber to your blog! martha(at)lclink(dot)com

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  8. oooo..I would love to read this book! Thank you for these contest to win great books like these.

    Linda Ortiz (strgth4yu@hotmail.com)

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  9. I like the topic of your book,it sounds so realistic! I also like your sense of humor..."A historical writer who failed English and history in school isn’t surprising enough?"

    Please include me!

    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  10. I chuckled just reading the blurb :) Look forward to this book! Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy.

    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

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  11. Hi Margaret,
    I have a granddaughter who is having some problems with some of her classes in school and one of teachers told her she would not be able to get a job at McDonald's if she didn't learn all the rules for english...I was not to thrill with this teacher but I showed my granddaughter your blog and you made her week... so I Thank You, greatly.. I told her she could do anything she want to, that you don't remember all that stuff you learn in highschool.... I would love to win your book for her to remember she can do anything, plus I want to read it. Its on my TRL.
    God Bless
    Heidi

    heidijohnjeff AT verizon DOT net

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  12. This story sounds great!!! (like anyone can resist a Rhett? At least not us southern girls :) I always wanted to read your Lady Like Sarah, but haven't gotten to a bookstore in a while...
    Please enter me! I would love to read and review this book!

    Rae Byuel
    raebyuel(@)gmail(.)com

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  13. thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  14. This looks like a fun read.
    wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com

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  15. I'm a subscriber thanks.

    Love this book cover

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  16. This was a great interview, with my favorite part being the honesty about English class. It was the bane of my existence trying to diagram those sentences! Thanks for sharing, and the opportunity to win!
    potosrose at gmail dot com

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  17. I love the timely advice! Guess I'm going to have to back up and read "A Lady Like Sarah" so I can then read "A Suitor for Jenny". That's what I love most about this blog...new authors for me to discover! Thanks for doing the interview. The book looks like a great lite read for my books clubs during the dreary days of winter. I'll add it to my list.

    Amazed by Grace,
    Brandi
    vi2005@aol.com

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  18. I am unfamiliar with the author Margaret Brownley but I enjoy reading this type of book. Thanks.

    gahome2mom/at/gmail/dot/com

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  19. Sounds fantastic! Plz enter me in to win :)
    randomness.is.awesome@gmail.com

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  20. I would love to read this book. Please enter me.

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

    ReplyDelete
  21. Most enjoyable and humorous interview with Margaret. I got a good chuckle at the book cover, it is adorable. Funny you found those rules in a Kansas newspaper, I was born and raised in Kansas. LOL It would give me a lot of pleasure for sure to read this story. Thanks for the giveaway and I appreciate the chance to win it. I hope I do.

    Blessings,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi all, sorry I'm late posting but I've been out of town and my wi-fi was acting up (oh, the joys of modern technology!). I loved reading your comments and wish I could send you all a book!

    BTW: All the books in the series stand alone. So you don't have to read them in order.

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  23. This looks like a great read!
    Please enter me!

    Emreilly303@gmail.com

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  24. I absolutely love the cover of this book! Thanks for the giveaway!

    Dreilly316@gmail.com

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  25. I'm entering this for my daughter. She's an avid reader,and I think she would enjoy this. Thank you so much for letting us be a part of your giveaway!

    Jreilly316@verizon.net

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  26. I love what you can find in old newspapers, who would think there would be a society for men aiming to stay single! Please add my name, I'd like to win Margaret's new book. Thanks.
    I'm a subscriber.
    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

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  27. Great story line...
    I enjoy reading plots with family relationships
    and how they evolve.
    Many thanks to you!
    Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I passed English and gained the title 'Most improved in English 11/12!' I didn't do well w/History though. :(

    purposedrivenlife4you at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

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