Jo Ann Durgin's Twin Hearts

Title: TWIN HEARTS (Book #3 in The Lewis Legacy Series)
Publisher: TORN VEIL BOOKS, WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

Cover blurb: Josh Grant is a man seeking redemption. He’s not looking for love, but finds it in a most unexpected and tender way. His twin sister, Rebekah, is an elementary schoolteacher torn between two very different men: a dashing, British aristocrat offering her the world, and the other a humble, faithful Louisiana lumber man. When family tragedy strikes, the twins lean on Sam and Lexa Lewis and their fellow TeamWork Missions volunteers for encouragement. Together they learn lessons in faith and family and what's most important in life as they discover it’s time to stake their claim on love, which means a road trip from Louisiana to . . . the peace to be found in seeking and finding the sweetest desires of the heart.

1. How did this story come to you?
It’s the natural progression in my series, but I must stress this: all my books can stand alone, but like most series, they build on the other with the background events and characters. In this one, I felt the need to bring back Josh Grant, the wayward sheep of my TeamWork crew, and have him find his redemption. Writing this book presented a unique challenge: two simultaneous love stories—one in Texas and one in Louisiana. There’s a shocking, but very sweet surprise revealed very early, and the spiritual “takeaway” from that storyline is to show how God’s people aren’t perfect and sometimes fall prey to the same temptations and sins as others. It’s how we ultimately deal with the consequences of our sin that makes the difference and can impact others.

2. Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The answer for this particular book isn’t very dramatic since it’s the third in the series. The first two have done well for a new author and small, independent publisher or I wouldn’t be here promoting this one! The Lord opened all the doors in His timing (and a 10-year hiatus to raise my children). I’d invite you to read all about my journey to publication at my website at www.joanndurgin.com. The Lord knew the right publisher for me; Torn Veil allows me the freedom as an author to write “outside the box” of formula romance in both content and word count. What a blessing!

3. Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
A. I sleep with a backrest and about five pillows; it’s amazing I don’t have neck pain.
B. I’m related to an honest-to-goodness Master’s and U.S. Open Golf Champion (his oldest daughter was the flower girl in our wedding).
C. I sat on the front row of a Broadway theatre once and can say I was sit on my Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor looked me straight in the eye and winked. What a thrill to see those two legends together!

4. What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have a proposal currently being reviewed by another publisher for a Christmas novella, and the fourth book in my series, Daydreams, releases from Torn Veil Books in early December. This one takes place only a few months after the end of Twin Hearts and includes a TeamWork wedding and goes from Manhattan to Louisiana and Texas and back again. It’s a fun and romantic adventure for your 2012 holiday reading season!

5. Parting comments?
Thanks so much for hosting me on your wonderful blog again! It’s always a pleasure.

6. Where can fans find you on the internet?
I’d love for readers to visit my website at http://www.joanndurgin.com/ or send me a friend request on Facebook. One of my very favorite things is to interact with my readers!