Interview and Contest: Joanne Kennedy - Tall, Dark and Cowboy

Today I am having Joanne Kennedy over for an interview and at the end you can win her new book Tall, Dark and Cowboy.

Welcome!

1.Could you tell me a little about yourself?

JK: Someone recently pointed out that my own life has been similar to the stories I write. I went through a couple of unsuccessful relationships and had trouble finding my place in the world until I moved to Wyoming. I built an independent life here and was happy with my home, my career and my friends, but  I certainly wasn’t looking for love. Of course, once I’d sworn off men I met the right one, and he inspires me to write romance novels that encourage my readers to hope for their own happy ending.

2. What is Tall, Dark and Cowboy about?

JK: Tall, Dark and Cowboy is about building a new life. When runaway trophy wife Lacey Bradford discovers her ex-husband is a criminal, she sets out with nothing but a beat-up car and an ugly dog, determined to make a fresh start. Chase Caldwell is starting over too, turning a played-out ranch in Wyoming into a growing cattle concern. He’s hoping to find the right woman to share his life, but that woman couldn’t possibly be the rich, spoiled golden girl who broke his heart in high school—or could it? 

3. Give me 3 reasons why readers will fall for sexy Chase Caldwell…

JK: He’s been through enough hardship and heartache to harden his heart, but he still loves deeply—no matter how much he tries to resist. He cares about his family, his friends, and his community and takes responsibility for those less fortunate. And he is one hot, sexy cowboy, with those broad shoulder muscles and a classic Wrangler butt!

4. Would you rather take the Geek or the Cowboy?

JK: I have nothing against Geeks. Really, I don’t. But I love cowboys.  Maybe if the geek wore chaps… no, scrap that. I’ll take the cowboy!

5. Lacey and Chase are very different, is this a good example of how opposites attract?

JK: In some ways, yes. Her strengths are his weaknesses, and vice versa, so they complement each other. But while they seem different on the surface, they share the same values, the same inner strength, and the same soft-hearted core. They just have to make their way through all their superficial differences and realize what really matters.

6. Why did you start writing contemporary westerns?

JK: The first time I drove out west and saw the Great Plains with those long stretches of land under the big sky, I knew I belonged here. I’ve always loved cowboys, Western history, and horses, and I enjoy the way history lives on in the traditions and values of the West. They say to “write what you know,” but I believe you should write what you love, and I love showing readers how unique and beautiful this world is.   

7. What is the best advice you could give an aspiring writer?

JK: I would say that if you truly love to write, if you have stories in your head that are begging to be told, if you treasure the time you spend in your fictional world and can’t imagine ever giving it up, then don’t let anything deter you from your dream. Keep writing, keep learning, and don’t let the inevitable rejections and roadblocks stand in your way. Dedication and persistence are as important as talent. 

Thanks!

Giveaway

2 copies of Tall, Dark and Cowboy

1. US and Canada

2. Ends Nov 13

3. Go ahead and enter :)

Or if you want tell me if you want a cowboy ;)

Tall, Dark and Cowboy by Joanne Kennedy—In Stores November 2011

She’s looking for an old friend…

In the wake of a nasty divorce, Lacey Bradford heads for Wyoming where she’s sure her old friend will take her in. But her high school pal Chase Caldwell is no longer the gangly boy who would follow her anywhere. For one thing, he’s now incredibly buff and handsome, but that’s not all that’s changed…

What she finds is one hot cowboy…

Chase has been through tough times and is less than thrilled to see the girl who once broke his heart. But try as he might to resist her, while Lacey’s putting her life back together, he’s finding new ways to be part of it.

About the Author

Joanne Kennedy is the author of three previous contemporary Western romances for Sourcebooks. She brings a wide variety of experience, ranging from chicken farming to horse training, to her sexy, spicy cowboy stories. She is a 2011 finalist in the prestigious Romance Writers of American RITA© Awards, for One Fine Cowboy. Joanne lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she is working on her next book, Cowboy Crazy (June 2012). For more information, please visit http://joannekennedybooks.com/. 

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