I'm very happy to have Veronica Lynch here today. Welcome, Veronica. Tell us about your current release.
“For Keeps”
is part of the Candy Hearts series published by the Wild Rose Press, and due
for digital release on February 10, 2016.
Set in the late 1980's in
Western New York state, it is about Keenan Rossi, a sheriff's investigator and
Meghan Muldoon, a victim advocate. Keenan is ready and anxious to settle down
and make their romance permanent while Meg isn't so sure. She likes her
independence and loves her vocation—which is often at odds with what she must
do to assist her clients' recovery.
Why did you choose this setting for “For
Keeps”?
I have lived in the area for the last forty years and know it fairly
well. I always wanted to live in a home on the shores of Lake Ontario; “For
Keeps” has given me the opportunity to live vicariously.
Nope, I lived it. Except for the ongoing relationship with a cop. All I had to
do was think about a typical day around a human services agency and went to
town.
What made
you write this particular story?
For many years all I wrote was full length
romantic suspense and had the urge to try something different. I saw an article
in the RT magazine for a new ePress which was looking for novella length subs
for their new Late Escape line [over 40 heroes and heroines]. I decided to give
it a shot and they contracted the story. Back then For Keeps [which had a
different title then] was much shorter. I liked the story and the characters
and was pleased I met my goal. Eventually I retained the rights to the story
and when the opportunity to write something for the Candy Hearts series, Meg
and Keenan's story came to mind, especially since it ends on Valentine's Day. I
probably tripled the length by adding new scenes, especially the one about the
day they met and Keenan knew immediately Meg was 'the woman his mama always
warned him about'.
How
old were you when you read your first romance book?
It was 1983 so I would have
been in my middle 30's. I worked the Surgical Intensive Care Unit in those
days, because I needed the experience in order to work in the ER. I knew from
day one the ICU was not for me but I made myself stick it out for six months.
Working the night shift in the Unit put me at two ends of an emotional
spectrum: I was either scared spitless a patient might crash or fighting tooth
and nail to stay awake. One night I discovered a grocery bag filled with used
Harlequin-Silhouettes bearing a sign “free for the taking”. The first one I
picked was written by by Billie Douglas. I never forgot it. In fact, I still
have it on a shelf in my office.
Part of my job as director of a victim advocacy agency included supervising interns who were criminal justice majors. One of the perks was free tuition for one course each semester. Over the years the interns raved about a course titled Terrorism and Hostage Taking. Part of the course involved being taken hostage by officers from the county sheriff's hostage negotiation team. It changed my life. In more ways than one.
To purchase For Keeps, or any book by my alter
ego Kat Henry Doran, go to www.WildRosePress.com and
click on the author search button for Veronica Lynch or Kat Henry Doran. That
will bring up all of my books available in the store.
Thanks, Diane! Great questions. They made me
think.
Veronica Lynch
PS I will be giving away a Valentine's theme zippered cosmetics case to one visitor.
Victim advocacy sounds challenging and exciting and probably often frightening. What a super background for fiction. Good luck with your new project!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Susan. I'm so glad you liked the interview. Best wishes. Veronica
DeleteHi Veronica! Enjoyed reading your book. The characters were so in your face. Best wishes with For Keeps.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tena, my cohort in the Candy Hearts series! So glad you liked the story!!
DeleteBest wishes, Veronica
Great interview. Loved both questions and the answers, Ladies. I remember Keenan and Meg from back in the day. Can't wait to read their new and expanded story.
ReplyDeleteAwww, Margo, my friend. it's great to hear from you again. I'm so glad you lked the interview and the story.
DeleteHope all is well with you and yours.
Veronica
Very interesting interview and sounds like a great story!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marissa. Glad you could stop by.
DeleteBest wishes.
Veronica
I love your cover. Hope you have great sales.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Katherine! The cover is . . . unique I must admit.
DeleteGlad you liked it.
Best wishes
Veronica
Diane,
ReplyDeletethanks so much for this opportunity to blow my horn and brag about two of my all time [so far anyway] characters. This was great fun.
Veronica
I always enjoy reading the story behind the story. :)
DeleteGreat post. Interesting occupations of characters. I hope you get lots of sales.
ReplyDeleteHi, Judy
Deletethanks for dropping by. This was a fun interview. Glad you could make it.
Veronica
Sounds like an intriguing tale -- and I like the setting too!
ReplyDeleteHi, Deniz
Deletethanks for stopping by. As for the setting, there is nothing like Lake Ontario, Queen of the Great Lakes. It can be as calm and serene at times. At others it's Mother Nature at her most fierce. And those are the times I like best.
Veronica
Congrats, Veronica! I enjoyed the interview, and I love that cover for For Keeps!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry I'm late to the post. Excellent interview. I love how you discovered romance. Better late than never, right? :) Playing for Keeps sounds like an awesome read. Very interesting careers you've had. I can imagine being a victims' advocate would be rewarding, yet at times very difficult.
ReplyDeleteI, too, like to hear the story behind the story (maybe growing up with Paul Harvey pre-conditioned me!). But what I'm most curious about is how that course changed your life in more ways than one.
ReplyDeleteThis book, and its characters, sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing!