Laurie Kingery's "Mail Order Cowboy"

We're happy to have Laurie Kingery with us today talking about her book, Mail Order Cowboy. To learn more about Laurie and her book, read on!

Publisher: LOVE INSPIRED HISTORICALS

Cover blurb: With beaux scarce in post-Civil War Texas, practical Milly Matthews and her "Spinster Society" friends have their hands full protecting their ranches. Their only hope: advertising for mail-order grooms. But aristocratic British cavalry officer Nicholas Brookfield isn't exactly Milly's idea of a cowboy—or a man she can trust. And the more Nick proves himself as a ranch hand, the more he must hide his past from the woman he longs to make his own. Now Milly and Nick will need all their courage to face hidden dangers…and believe in a love that can answer all their prayers.i

1) How did this story come to you?
I wanted to start a series, for series are popular in Christian fiction, and was trying to think of a great story concept that hadn't been done in inspirational western fiction, so I used one of the staples of western stories, the mail-order bride, and turned it around so that the series involved mail order grooms instead.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
 This did involve a literal journey. I am a "Texan-in-exile" living in Ohio, so when I started devising this story, I picked out a location in the hill country of central Texas in San Saba County, and situated it on a real creek, Simpson Creek, near the county seat, San Saba. When I took a trip there to survey the area and take pictures, imagine how thrilling it was for me to read a roadside historical plaque that told me there had actually been a community with the same name as my town of Simpson Creek. My first story involved the plucky lady who started the Simpson Creek Spinsters' Club, Milly Matthews, known as "Marrying Milly" in the town. In the aftermath of the Civil War, Milly was not content to be an old maid in a town devoid of bachelors and set about finding her own solution—advertising for mail-order grooms for herself and her friends. I'm pleased that my editor at Love Inspired Historicals is as excited about my mail-order groom series as I am.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I am an eHarmony.com bride, so perhaps writing about mail-order grooms comes naturally to me. 
2. I am an R.N. who is a 40-year veteran of a big-city ER that is a Level One trauma center. And yes, I would love to write medical stories (suspense), but so far, the right plot hasn’t' come to me. I tried a couple of them, but they didn't sell.
3. I am terrified of spiders!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently working on the 4th book in the Brides of Simpson Creek series, working title COURTING CARO, featuring a schoolteacher who's loved and lost and a trail boss who has no intention of settling in Simpson Creek. If by "next" you mean the next book out, I'll have another Brides of Simpson Creek book out in January from Love Inspired Historicals, THE DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE, with a northern doctor who's matched sight unseen with Sarah Matthews (Milly's sister from MAIL ORDER COWBOY), who refuses to be courted by Dr. Walker as soon as she finds out he's a hated Yankee.

5) Parting comments?
I want to thank K.Dawn Byrd for giving me this opportunity to promote my book. She's so supportive of other writers, and I wish her all success in her own writing.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.lauriekingery.com/