Saturday, October 02, 2010

A Suitor for Jenny

In  A Suitor for Jenny, Margaret Brownley takes us back to Rocky Creek, Texas where Jenny Higgins arrives with her two younger sisters, Mary Lou and Brenda. Determined to find husbands for them, she posts notices around town and relies on one Miss Abigail Jenkins and her manual for attracting and procuring a husband. However, while Jenny scouts around and interviews prospects, her sisters manage to find their own beaus. Frustrated and losing control, Jenny is at her wits end and on top of that, the handsome Marshal Rhett Armstrong is needling his way into her own heart, and she doesn’t like it. Her sisters are rebelling, Jenny’s losing control, and God has plans for them all. How this all works itself out makes for a delightful story with memorable characters who will make you laugh and forget your troubles for a spell.  

Read further for Margaret's Interview and leave a comment to win a copy of this delightful return to Rocky Creek, Texas


A SUITOR FOR JENNY


Timely advice for landing a husband from Margaret’s new book, A SUITOR FOR JENNY


• Charm and composure must prevail at all times. If a gunfight erupts, exit the scene with grace and serenity.


• If you don’t know whether or not to kiss a handsome man, give him the benefit of the doubt.


• Never engage in boisterous laughter. If you must show mirth, a polite smile or titter will suffice.


• Never criticize your beau. If it wasn’t for his faults he’d probably be courting someone else.


• A woman more knowledgeable than a man is obliged to hold her tongue and feign ignorance in all matters except, of course, childbirth.


• Never show affection in public. Love may be blind but the townspeople are not.


• Once your vows are exchanged devote yourself to domestication—his.


• Eschew secrets, for they are normally discovered at the worst possible time. If confronted, weep and deny everything.—


Margaret, tell us how this series came about.


First, I want to thank you for letting me stop by for a chat. To answer, your question, it started with the first book A Lady Like Sarah. I became so fond of Rocky Creek and the characters living there, I didn’t want to leave. They practically had to boot me out.
I understand that. I felt the same way about my characters in Barton Creek. Have all your novels been historical?
I started by writing contemporary novels. It took me so long to sell my first novel that it became historical by default. I did eventually sell four contemporary novels for Harlequin, including three Super romances.


I hear you. My first novel is now a historical. What do you like or not like about writing historical?
I love the language, especially in the old west. Has there ever been more fun words to work with than picklement, caboodle, fluff-duffs (bake goods), and fiddlefooted? Hey, I even get to use ain’t and druther.


It is kind of fun. How much research did you have to do for this story?
I read a whole bunch of old books on etiquette and how to land a husband. Some of the advice made me laugh. It’s a wonder anyone got married back then.

What is the underlying theme of the series and what do you want your readers to remember?
Each book in the series explores a different theme. One of the main themes in A Suitor For Jenny is the many different ways in which people hide grief or guilt. What I hope readers will remember is that God has a plan for our lives—and it’s better than anyone can dream up for themselves.

And it takes some of us longer to learn that. What brings you the most joy in writing?

The pleasure of putting words on paper is what I love most. When the writing is going well, all is right with the world. Next, I love getting letters from readers telling me that something I wrote touched them in some way.

Ah, yes, those letters from readers like that are a blessing. What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

Putting the words on paper. Okay, so this contradicts what I said earlier, but there are those days when everything I write looks like chicken droppings.


Laughing out loud at that. Do we all feel that way? What or who has helped you most in your writing?

Prayer has helped a lot, especially on those chicken “you-know-what” days. But the person who has helped me the most is my friend and mentor Lee Duran. She’s my first reader and can make “This stinks” sound like I won the Pulitzer.


When does the next book in the series come out?

A Vision of Lucy will be out June 2011


Where can readers find out more about you?


My homestead is http://www.margaretbrownley.com/

If you want to have a laugh check out Stagecoach Etiquette for Readers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prY2q9Oasp4

I’m also a resident blogger at:www.petticoatsandpistols.com
Have A Little Faith
Thank you, Margaret. I'm sure others will enjoy this book as much as I did. Leave a comment below and you might win a copy of A Suitor for Jenny.

13 comments:

Vickie McDonough said...

I love the advice on landing a husband. They made me chuckle. This sounds like a fun book.

fictionfan1 [at] cox [dot] net

Martha A. said...

This book sounds really fun! martha(at)lclink(dot)com

Pain SUX said...

Oh, I have been hearing so many good things about this book. I really hope I win a copy, I want to review this book for my blog, and I want to ask Margaret if she'd also do an interview :)

~Steph
soklad@hotmail.com

Julie Lessman said...

MARTHA AND MARGARET -- GREAT interview!! I would love to win a copy of Margaret's book, so please toss my name in the hat and thanks for the giveaway!!

Martha, it was SUCH a pleasure to meet you in Indy -- like I said, I'd been hearing your name for so long it seemed, that finding out you are a relatively new author shocked me!! Looking forward to reading your books -- your covers are GORGEOUS!!

Hugs,
Julie

gsus(at)charter(dot)net

Jan Marie said...

As a rule, I usually prefer contemporary over historical. However, this one sounds like a really fun book and I would love to read it. Margaret Daley is an excellent writer and never fails to engage the reader. Great interview!

janmarien[at]embarqmail[dot]com

Linda said...

I have to admit, I'd never be able to follow all those "timely advice." But it sounds like a great book. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thank you.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Jo said...

I loved reading all the advice. Please enter me in the drawing.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

misskallie2000 said...

I love this story and would really love to win. I am a romantic and love romance books with great stories. Jenny sounds like someone I would like to know.

Thanks for this opportuinty to enter giveaway.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Ann Lee Miller said...

I'd love to win A Suitor for Jenny!
Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com

Anne Payne said...

Love the "Timely Advice"! Will look forward to reading this one.

homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

Pain SUX said...

Hmm. I thought for sure I left a comment for this last night.
I'd love to win this book, heard nothing but great things about it.

~Steph
soklad@hotmail.com

Martha W. Rogers said...

Thanks everyone for stopping by. Anne Payne is the winner of Margaret's book.

karenk said...

thanks for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com