Bonnie Leon's "Wings of Promise"

Book title: Wings of Promise
Publisher: Baker Revell

Cover blurb: Her spunk has always gotten her through tough times. But does she have what it takes to go the distance?
Kate Evans may be a woman in a man’s profession, but as Alaskan bush pilots go, she is one of the best. If only her personal life wasn’t so complicated. Torn between her affection for fellow pilot Mike Conlin and doctor Paul Anderson, Kate longs for clarity in her heart. But when a terrible tragedy occurs, her mind may be made up for her.

1) How did this story come to you?
My mother is a native Alaskan, who spent many years on a remote homestead. She and her family depended on bush pilots for their mail, emergency supplies and an occasional lift into Anchorage.

My mother used to tell me stories of the pilots who kept them connected with the outside world. She had great respect and affection for them. Because my mind is always looking for a good story my mother’s history seemed a natural. And my imagination kicked in and I started to wonder what it would have been like to be a woman bush pilot back in the 1930’s. The story flowed from there.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
While this story was working its way through my mind so were a couple of others. I submitted three story ideas to my agent. She liked the Alaskan Skies best, thinking it was just right for these tough times. Although the books contain a good deal of drama they are also fun adventures with just enough romance for romance readers.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I feel the best thing that ever happened to me was becoming a mother. My children have made my life richer and more fun. But there was a time when I decided I’d never have children. I thought it cruel to bring them into such a harsh world. I’m so glad I changed my mind.

I had a dreadful speech impediment as a child. It was so bad people could not understand what I was saying. It was a devastating disability that broke my little girl’s heart and it took Christ to heal those wounds. I went to speech therapy for two years, which corrected it. And now I love to speak for readers groups and women’s groups and teaching writing workshops is always a blessing.

I live on a winding mountain road, and I truly hate these kinds of roads, they terrify me. Years ago when my husband and I looked at the property we eventually built on I told him there was no way I could drive this road. Over time, I’ve gotten used to it, but put me on an unfamiliar cliffside road and I reach for my Xanax.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have two separate projects. One is a series placed in 1920’s USA, and though I usually have difficulty finding titles, this time I found the titles before the stories. If my publisher accepts them the titles presently are—A Square Peg, Susie Sunshine, and A Rose by Any Other Name. I’m looking forward to telling these stories. I also have another book I hope to write while I’m working on these. It is the story of my heart and very unlike anything I’ve written previously.

5) Parting comments?
I simply want to say thank you to my readers. I love to write and if it weren’t for you I wouldn’t be able to do that. So . . . keep on reading. : - )

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My web address is easy. It’s http://www.bonnieleon.com/.

Bonnie Leon's "Touching the Clouds"

We're happy to have Bonnie Leon with us today talking about her book, Touching the Clouds. To learn more about Bonnie and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
My mother grew up in Alaska where she and her family lived on a homestead. The only way to get in and out was either by boat or plane. Bush pilots were her connection to the outside world. She loved and admired them.

The stories my mother shared about those days have stuck with me, and throughout the years she’s given me several books about the bush pilots of Alaska. One day while reading one of these books I had a glimmer of a story. It grew and soon I was ready to tell the story of a woman named Kate who flew the Alaskan bush.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
How did you know this was a journey? When I first came up with the idea for this story I thought it would be easy to write. After all, I’ve written several books set in Alaska and I’ve done a good deal of writing placed in the 1930’s.

I couldn’t have been more wrong about it being easy. The flying sequences were extremely difficult because I wasn’t a pilot. I needed to find one and I did—Gayle Ranney. She’s been a bush pilot in Alaska for more than fifty years. She’s amazing. I couldn’t have written the book without her.

When I finished the book I felt that something was out of sync with the story. My editor confirmed my fears and I had to go back and rework the book, beginning with my characters. When the characters change, everything changes. I basically had to rewrite the entire book. But, I feel good about the finished product.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1)Back in the 60’s and early 70’s I was part of the hippy movement, a “flower child” at heart. I experimented with drugs and life and was actually arrested at one point. The real secret, though, is that I have good memories of those times—they were fun and weird, and filled with good friends.

2)After four years of marriage, my husband and I separated and filed for divorce. We had only to show up in court when God stepped in and saved us and our marriage. We will celebrate our thirty-ninth anniversary in August. God is good.

3)The first book I ever wrote (The Journey of Eleven Moons) sold to the first publishing house to look at it and it became a bestseller. That whole process really took me by surprise.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on book three in the Alaskan Skies Series. Actually I haven’t started the process of writing yet. I’m thinking mostly and doing some reading. I know how the book begins and how it ends, but all the stuff in the middle is still a mystery.

5) Parting comments?
Remember that God is good all the time. Even on our worst day, He is good. We can trust Him.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love to hear from readers. You can contact me at http://www.bonnieleon.com/