Monday, November 8, 2010

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/

23 comments:

  1. KDawn, thanks so much for interviewing me and letting me promote MAIL ORDER COWBOY. I appreciate what you do to promote Christian fiction.
    Blessings to you and all your readers!
    Laurie

    ReplyDelete
  2. Oh, I've been to San Saba! I've even been to Sunday worship at a little Church of Christ there. There were about 10 people there beside my family. We get there and they ask my husband to preach and my dad to lead singing. Good times...

    I absolutely LOVE the twist on the mail order brides! I'm always amazed to hear unique twists like this one! Can't wait to read this series!

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  3. What an exciting and new concept: mail order grooms!
    I love it!
    I am anxious to read this book!
    Chakasa58 at gmail dot com

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  4. Laurie,
    I love books with strong female characters in historical settings. So many stories show them as being weak and frail. I cant wait to read this series of mail order grooms...
    heidijohnjeff@verizon.net

    Heidi

    ReplyDelete
  5. Please register me for the giveaway.Great interview.
    chaarmedone1512@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. subscriber thanks.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  7. Mail order grooms...what a clever idea! I look forward to reading this one. It might even be a good fit for my book clubs. Something different for the dreary days of winter.

    Thanks for doing the interview.
    Brandi
    vi2005@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi, Laurie! You're a new-to-me author--I like the sounds of your latest, and how neat that God used eHarmony to lead you to your husband! Blessings to you!

    f dot chen at comcast dot net

    ReplyDelete
  9. Please register me to win!!!

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  10. Laurie,
    I always love a new twist on an old idea. I think your series sounds fun and quirky! And who doesn't love a cowboy?! I'd love to be entered for a copy of the book, so please sign me up. I'll have to check out Brides of Simpson Creek as well.

    Thanks for sharing today!
    -Emily
    hendrickson_emily(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I love the idea of mail-order husbands. Great premise!

    freda.mans[at]sympatico.ca

    ReplyDelete
  12. This books looks so cute!! Thanks for the opportunity:)
    kristengjohnson at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I would love to win this book, I am a follower on facebook and also just joined twibes. Please enter me


    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love mail order bride stories, so why not a cowboy! Please include me, I'd love to win Laurie's book.
    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Please enter for the contest for 'Mail Order Cowboy'.
    I think Laurie Kingery has a great imagination. I would love to read her book.

    CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I love that instead of a mail order bride a mail order man and so cool that you are an e harmony bride, I've tried to get my daughter to do it but she afraid to end up with a wierdo.
    Zina

    ReplyDelete
  17. I never read a book about Mail Order Grooms but I like mail order bride books so why not grooms? Especially cowboys whom I love.
    Would love to read Laurie's book. Thanks for the opportunity to enter this giveaway.

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I just love the sound of this book! Mail order brides, old west, cowboys:) Sounds heavenly! Please enter me. Thanks!

    esterried[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Please enter me would love to win.

    Lourdes11743[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sounds like a book I would enjoy! Thanks for putting me in the drawing.

    Pegg
    twinwillowsfarm at gmail dot com

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  21. What a interesting concept! I would love to win this book.

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

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  22. What a switch and great idea for an interesting story. Laurie is new to me as are her writings. I enjoy Love Inspired Historical books very much. Thanks for the giveaway and the chance to win this book with the great cover. Sure hope I do!

    Blessings,
    Barb Shelton
    barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Freda Manns is the lucky winner of my book, MAIL ORDER COWBOY! Congrats, Freda, and I'll be contacting you for your address separately.
    Blessings, Laurie Kingery

    ReplyDelete

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