I am very excited to have Carolyn Brown on the blog today. And thanks to Danielle at sourcebooks, she is giving me the opportunity to host a giveaway for two lucky winners. So, she sure to read the interview, fill out the form, and leave a comment for Carolyn, she will be by the answer any question you might have.
Now, let's get to know this author just a little bit better.
Welcome Carolyn, I am so glad to have you on the blog today.
Hello, everyone! I'm so excited to start my blog tour for Love Drunk Cowboy here today. Thank you so much for inviting me to come by and visit a while.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
CB: I started writing when my third child was born and refused to sleep at night. She wasn't a crying baby just an awake one. She was quite content to sit in front of a huge aquarium and watch the fish, but she would not sleep so there I was up half the night (or more) so I sharpened a couple of pencils and bought a spiral back notebook and started writing. When Husband bought me a used manual typewriter at a garage sale, I thought the writing gods had smiled upon me and my manuscript was the next big thing. Movie rights and actors danced in my head. And it did not sell! The baby started sleeping at night and with three kids under the age of five, my time was pretty well defined as motherhood. But alas, they all grew up and I picked up the writing again and this time around I found an editor who loved me.
I am a big fan of your work and you were the first western romance writer that I enjoyed. Why is this the type of romance you chose to write?
CB: Thank you, Beck, for that compliment. I'm flattered and love the title of being the first western writer that you enjoyed! Why do I write western romance? I like cowboys. I like ranch life and small towns and it's so much fun to write about what you like. My grandmother used to tell me that success is doing what you love so that makes me a big success! I have also written historical (both single title and series) and contemporary (both single title and series) for the library market. Many of those have cowboys or a western flair to them also. There's just something about a cowboy's swagger ( I swear, they can strut in their sleep), a Stetson hat, boots and a belt buckle that makes for a good hero. Not to mention the fact that they treat their woman like a girl likes to be treated!
Tell us a little about your newest novel, Love Drunk Cowboy.
CB: Rye O'Donnell thinks love at first sight is for country songwriters and saps, not a rough old cowboy but that's just what happens when he first sees Austin Lanier. He's ridden bulls and broke broncs but being near her sets his heart to galloping like never before. Now Austin just wants to sell the watermelon farm she inherited from Granny Lanier, scoot on back to her big city life and get back to the business of climbing that corporate ladder. Too bad she didn't count on Rye living right across the road or being so damn sexy. He's tall, dark and definitely interested...and it's driving her wild. But his boots have spurs and hers have stilettos. Seems like the only way to level the playing field here is for both of them to take off their shoes, boots and...guess I'd best stop there.
Is this book part of a series?
CB: Oh, yes ma'am! It started out as a trilogy and then turned into four when a Christmas book got thrown into the mix. And just recently we stretched it out to seven with another three books sold. Red's Hot Cowboy will be out in Sept., followed by Darn Good Cowboy Christmas in October and One Hot Cowboy Wedding in the spring of 2012. We haven't titled the next three yet but one of them will be a Christmas book. I'm so excited about all of them that I can't wait to see them in print.
What do we have to look forward to in terms of new books from you?
CB: Guess I got ahead of myself when I got all wound up in the answer the previous question. There are more cowboys in store like I mentioned, plus on the library scene the last in a historical series, A Trick of the Light, is scheduled for release in August. Then a single title contemporary, The Ladies Room, in October. And then the Three Magic Words trilogy is on the calendar for 2012. Titles: A Forever Thing, In Shining Whatever and Life after Wife.
Any writing quirks?
CB: All writers have quirks...except me! Actually, I'm not aware of any quirks but I'm sure if you asked Husband, he'd ask you how much time and space you had for him to list them.
What gets you into the mood to write?
CB: Music! I often write to music. Floyd Kramer's country piano is a favorite but I also like several of the country music artists as my custom made (by Husband) CD cabinet can testify to. When I hit a snag in the process, usually a song or two will smooth it all out and I'm right back on track. If not, then a long ride in the car does the trick. There's just something about not being able to get up or do anything but watch the countryside speed by at 75 (or 80) miles an hour that develops plots and character dialog.
Favorite book, if you can choose one?
CB: Whew! I don't think I could possibly choose one. Let's do it this way. The three books that influenced me the most were Gone With the Wind, The Godfather and Exodus. I'm an eclectic reader who will dive right into all genres and enjoy them all. I've said before that I read everything from the Cheerios box to Faulkner and love it all. I've always loved romance books: Nora (of course), Victoria Holt, LaVyrle Spencer (my all time favorite romance author) and a whole host of others. Oh, we were trying to narrow this down to one, weren't we?
What are you currently reading?
CB: Right now I'm reading Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews. I finished Cowboy Fever by Joanne Kennedy a while back and haven't had nearly enough time to read lately with my deadlines.
How about an “interesting” fact about yourself that everyone might not know.
CB: My first four books were not written under Carolyn Brown. I chose the name Abby Gray when I first started writing because it was going to be my secret vice. My maiden name was Gray (that's right folks, I just changed colors). And Abby was my one eyed black and white cat. But my sister was so tickled that I'd finally gotten off my fanny and started writing again that she used her contacts and put it in about four newspapers. I just knew she was going to rent out one of those old snake charmer wagons and get a couple of mules to pull the thing so she could drive around to different towns and hawk my books. When I changed publishers (after the Precious Gems line died) I decided to write under my own name.
Lastly, is there anything else you would like to share about your books?
CB: Just that I appreciate my readers. Without them writers would soon top the list of the endangered species lists! So thank you everyone for reading my works. For telling your neighbors over the backyard fence about them; for donating your used copies to the library for others to read; for buying two copies at the book store so you can share one with your friend; and everything else you do! And thank you, Beck, for a great visit today. I'll stick around all day to answer questions so everyone out there in cyberspace, talk to me? Got questions? I'll do my best to answer them!
I have to say, I loved interviewing Carolyn! I recently read Savannah Blue's by Mary Kay Andrews too, a very good read, as was Cowboy Fever!
So onto the giveaway! 2 winners who are in the US or Canada will win a copy of
Love Drunk Cowboy, the winner will be announced on May 18th.
Be sure to check back in the next few days as I have my nose currently in this book soaking it up and will have my thoughts posted soon.
One way or another, terror will reign tonight. 
