As all my blog readers know, I'm a huge Wayback fan. Every month I highly anticipate the next release from The Wild Rose Press. I can't read them fast enough and when they're over I pout until the next month's release. I'm very honored and happy to report that two of the authors, Abbey MacInnis and Marguerite Arotin, of the latest releases to the western line are stopping by for a little visit to talk about their stories, Delighting Miss Daisy and Return of the Prodigal Daughter.
Last time a Wayback author was featured here on my blog, we got to talk about all the fun stuff we love about Wayback and westerns. Today we're going deeper, right into the heart of these two wonderful stories.
ALW: Both stories have a major healing theme throughout. What is it about a story of healing in romance especially that draws readers?
Abbey: I think readers like to see characters' flaws and hardships. Writing wouldn’t be fun if our characters were perfect in every way. We wouldn’t have stories to tell. *g* We like to see how they’ll overcome the conflicts they face. I like reading and writing stories where characters overcome obstacles and challenges. We root for people who fight for what they want, whether it be love, independence, or in my heroine’s case, self-confidence and trust that she’ll believe in herself to make the right decision.
Marguerite: The healing process shows the vulnerability of the heroines and even the heroes in a great romance. When you’re trying to recover from a tragedy and rebuild your life, there’s a rollercoaster of emotions there and emotions are what give the story depth and make the characters and plot line come alive.
ALW: Both stories also deal with the issues of abuse and drunk driving. Did you set out plotting to cover these important themes or did they come together with the characters and build into something more?
Marguertie: We brainstormed a lot of our plot via Instant Messaging and I think I came up with the idea for Daisy and Sherrie to lose their parents to a drunk driver. They have an older brother, Max, who completes the trio and I just figured it would be cool for them to have a strong male figure who raised them. When Abbey came up with the idea for Daisy’s back story, I loved it because I knew it would bring on more conflict.
ALW: These stories have something really unique. They not only take place at the same time. They have sisters as heroines. Tell us about Daisy and Sherrie.
Abbey: I wanted to show that Daisy could be any woman. She is your average woman, working, intelligent, attractive. She just happened to make a wrong decision. I think the reader could empathize with her situation, and the inner battle she has to fight to overcome. We all make bad choices, but when that happens we need to learn from them and move on, and not get hung up on what we didn’t do right. Or at all.
Marguerite: When I set out to create Sherrie, I wanted to tell the story of a young woman who left her hometown because she believed she could find bigger and better things. But then it takes the tragedy of losing her Malibu home and her modeling career to a fire to make her realize that she had everything she needed in Wayback. I’m a sucker for homecoming tales *G*. Sherrie can be stubborn and a bit temperamental, but in her heart, she loves her family and would do anything for them.
ALW: It takes some really strong, special men to make these girls happy. Sam and Jake don't disappoint as Wayback heroes although Sam's an out-of-towner (albeit a very rich and sexy one with a very rich and sexy car *wink*).
Abbey: Sam’s perfect for Daisy. *g* He gets her to open up to him when she believes that there’s absolutely no one who could understand what she’s went through. Telling her of his own struggle through poverty and what would have been a life of crime if someone wouldn’t have come along and helped him, shows Daisy that he isn’t just some rich guy with a nice tie. *g* I think readers can relate to Sam for what he’s went through in his past. His life hasn’t always been plentiful. He works for every penny he makes, while maintaining a conscience by educating kids about the consequences of drinking and driving. He too, is compassionate, while firm in his resolve to help Daisy regain what she lost. I really loved creating Sam’s character. He’s protective when called for, and gentle too. I tried to think of how any man who respects women would react if they knew that a woman they care about was abused. Most guys would react just as strongly, maybe even more so than Sam.
ALW: Jake's a daredevil, which just makes him even more irresistible of course. I happen to married to one (a Jake AND a daredevil) so I know there's room for all kinds of good story there! LOL
Marguerite: My Jake’s a rodeo clown. The kind of guy who’s not afraid to take risks. When I researched rodeo clowns/bull fighters, I really fell for these guys and the way they put their lives on the line to protect the cowboys at rodeos. Jake also has commitment issues, basically because his mother left him when he was a child, and he doesn’t think he’s worthy of Sherrie’s love. But like I said, Sherrie’s headstrong, and she’s determined to make him see that they belong together.
ALW: Both stories also explore the importance of inner beauty. What can each of you tell us how this works for your stories?
Abbey: Daisy, because of what she went through, had a lot of self-esteem and self-confidence issues to overcome. Her ex not only beat her down physically, but emotionally as well. She had to learn to love and truly accept herself again before she could love Sam. She made a bad choice, but that one choice didn’t have to hang over her head like a looming dark cloud for the rest of her life. She had to realize that she was never weak – that it was her inner strength that helped her through the difficult times. She never really lost that strength. She just had to find it again.
Marguerite: Sherrie thought she was on top of the world while she modeled in California, but the fire and the burn to her hand sent that world crashing down. But like Daisy, she’s a strong woman and her inner beauty and determination keeps her going and helps her find a new career and life in Wayback. Plus, she’s able to teach the meaning of inner beauty to Jake’s half-sister, Soledad, a tomboy she takes under wing as she coaches her for the Wayback Rodeo Queen competition.
ALW: Okay, one fun question. I just can't resist! Sherrie might be champion of the runway, but Daisy just happens to be champion of the kitchen. I drooled over all the goodies from Daisy’s Down Home Delights. Abbey, are you a baker or like me would the subject require a bit of *ahem* research? *sheepish grin*
Marguerite: I know I drooled over Daisy’s concoctions too ;-)
Abbey: lol Well, I’m not much of a cook. It was fun creating those confectionary goodies, but alas, I didn’t do as much research as I wished. Besides, I don’t need anymore inches added to my hips or waistline. Lol
ALW: Thanks for chatting with me, ladies! I can't wait to have you back :)
Abbey: Amber, thank you so much for having us here today. It was fun.
Marguerite: Thanks Amber for having both of us.
ALW: We'll wrap up with all the info you need for these two great tales! Get your copies of Delighting Miss Daisy and Return of the Prodigal Daughter today from The Wild Rose Press and check back soon for updates on Blackest Heart, another installment in the Wayback series coming soon from yours truly *wink*
Delighting Miss Daisy
When Sam Howard, CEO of Sam’s Smooth Sliding Ale, arrives in Wayback to advertise his product for the rodeo, bakery entrepreneur Daisy Porter goes on a crusade to tear down every poster in town. Can Daisy look past the businessman to the compassionate man underneath, or has the lock to her heart finally rusted shut? Sam is a patient man, who doesn’t force his way through the walls she’s placed up to guard her heart. With the threat of someone from her past shadowing her, can Daisy reclaim her self-confidence and strength to find happiness with Sam?
Return of the Prodigal Daughter
Famous prodigal daughter Sherrie Porter comes home to Wayback after a wildfire destroys her Malibu home and ruins her supermodel stardom. While she longs for the comfort of family and friends, there’s one person she wants to avoid— her ex-boyfriend Jake Serrano. Jake thought he did the right thing by leaving her to her modeling career, but when they meet again, he can’t deny the flames that never died. Can they rekindle their passion or will stubborn pride tear them apart?
Visit Dana at http://www.ohioromance.net and check out her time travel romance One Enchanted Summer now available from The Wild Rose Press!
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