Shannon Vannatter's "White Pearls"

Title: White Pearls
Publisher: Heartsong Presents

Cover blurb: Shell doesn't have a good reputation...But no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas, thinks of her, she's back in town with a job to do. She'll stick it out and make the best of things. But why does Ryler have to be the landscaper on this project? She was just getting her heart under control. Ryler has his own reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they don't include Shell. Spying on his birth family was going to be hard enough. He doesn't have time to worry about a woman who dumped him...even if his heart says otherwise.

1) How did this story come to you?
The heroine's character was mentioned in the first book of the series, White Roses, as the bleached-blonde clad only in a towel who broke up a pivotal relationship. From the moment I wrote that description of her, I wanted to explore Shell's character and understand why she was like that. After the second book, White Doves, I had a long-lost brother, so the hero in book three tied up all the loose threads.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Once I got the offer from Heartsong Presents for White Roses, my editor asked if it could be a series. I felt like the bleached-blonde was too fresh in readers' minds for the second book, but by book three, they'd be ready for her conversion.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I love jigsaw puzzles. The 1000 and up piece ones. They relax me, but I don't want to do anything else when I've got one going, like make supper or go to bed. I just want to do my puzzle and that's all.
2) My graduating class had 20 seniors and that was considered a large class for our small school. The school was consolidated a few years ago. Now it's just a bunch of empty buildings.
3) I often use names that I wanted to name our son, but my husband wouldn't agree to for hero names in my books.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on the 2nd book in a Texas rodeo series. The first book, Rodeo Dust will release to Heartsong book club members in October.

5) Parting comments?
It was kind of sad for me when White Pearls released because the series came to an end. I miss the characters and the setting. What better place to set a romance than in towns called Romance and Rose Bud, Arkansas?

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