I'm thrilled to introduce you to today's featured author, Merry Farmer. Her books sound refreshingly entertaining and romantic. Merry has kindly taken time to answer my probing questions. I even asked Merry what advice she would give to aspiring authors. After the interview, Merry has kindly included an excerpt from Fool for Love and a GIVEAWAY for the first book in her Montana Romance series, Our Little Secrets! Now, let's meet Ms. Farmer!
Merry, tell us a
little more about your newest release, Fool
for Love.
Fool for Love is
the second book in my Montana Romance series, but I’ll tell you a little
secret…. I actually came up with the
idea for this one and wrote an embryonic version first, about ten years
ago. It’s the story of an American
cowboy – a romance novel staple – and an English lady fallen on hard times –
another romance staple, but usually not in the same book – who cross into each
other’s worlds and fall in love.
An American cowboy
and English lady—sounds like an entertaining combination. What was your
favorite part about writing your hero, Eric Quinlan, and your heroine, Amelia
Elphick?
I loved writing Amelia because she gave me the chance to try
something new, something that would be a challenge to me as a writer. She’s already pregnant when the book starts
and has been left by the lover who she had hoped would marry her to make things
right. Throughout the whole process of
writing the novel I just wanted to hug her and tell her everything would be all
right, because her self-esteem has taken a huge hit and she believes she is
ruined. I think we’ve all been there in
our real lives.
Fortunately, Eric comes along. I loved writing Eric because he is just so
lovable. He’s one of the kindest heroes
I’ve ever written, but what made him such a treat to write was the fact that he
doesn’t think he’s much of a hero. He
has his own personal struggles, but he also has a sense of humor and a way of
talking that made him a joy to discover and to write.
Ooh, I do enjoy a
hero who must face his own inner struggles and inadequacies. What did you find most challenging when it
came to writing or researching for Fool
for Love?
The late Victorian era is one of my favorite periods of history,
but it’s tricky because so many things were changing so fast, from
technological innovations to personal attitudes to styles of dress, that I had
to constantly check myself to make sure the things I was talking about had been
invented and were in use. A lot of
people who haven’t studied history might be surprised about how advanced
society was at the end of that century!
Does one need to have
read your first Montana Romance, Our
Little Secrets, to enjoy this novel?
I don’t think so.
I’ve gone to great efforts to make this novel stand alone. But I do recommend reading Our Little Secrets first, if only
because the big, gasp-inducing plot twist from Our Little Secrets is mentioned in the course of a conversation in Fool for Love, which spoils the surprise
if you haven’t read it. All things
considered, though, if you don’t mind a spoiler, you could definitely read Fool for Love first.
What had you choosing
Montana for the setting?
I’ve had a bit of a fascination with Montana for years. Possibly since seeing the PBS reality show
“Frontier House”, possibly even before that though. It is the epitome of the Old West in my mind,
and such a beautiful state too!
So far you have
written historical romances from two completely different eras. Your Noble Heart
series takes place in England shortly after the crusades during the Middle
Ages. Your next series, Montana Romance, is set in the late 1800s in America.
What is your favorite time period to write, and do you prefer America or
England as your setting?
You know, I was just thinking about this and wondering if I
should be limiting myself to one place and era of history. My problem is that I love all of
history. I majored in history twice at
two different universities because I wanted more after getting my first
degree. And I also remember devouring
the books of Julie Garwood when I was younger, who took me from the West to
England to Scotland in all sorts of times.
I love the idea of being an author about whom people ask, “Where are we
going next?”
As for switching from the Middle Ages to Montana in the
1890s, it’s not as far of a stretch as you might imagine. Both were periods of great development and
change, both were more advanced than people assume, and Medievalism actually
enjoyed a huge revival in the late Victorian era thanks to the
Pre-Raphaelites. I think they would have
been interested in reading my medieval Noble Hearts series in Cold Springs,
Montana 1896.
What’s your favorite
part about researching for a new novel?
Reading history books!
I know, that makes me sound like a nerd (which I am). I love having the chance to delve into a new
era and to soak up all of the social history of that time as I can. I’ve read some great non-fiction books in the
last few years because of it.
From reading chapter
one posted on your website, you surely do leave your readers hanging. *tsk tsk*
I suggest you all head over to Merry’s site and read chapter 1. This series
sounds intriguing. Are you currently working on book 3 in your Montana Romance
series?
Yes, I am, although I have one other project to finish up
first before I can really dive into it.
I’m also writing a novella that involves some of the minor characters of
the world of Cold Springs while taking a step back from the four main books of
the series. I’m hoping to have the
novella, Sarah Sunshine, ready by
late this summer, and if I’m lucky, In
Your Arms, the third Montana Romance book which centers around Christian
Avery (yes, the man does actually have the capacity to fall in love) either very
late this year or early in 2014.
Have you always been
a writer? What is it that got you to take that leap to become an author and
have your books published?
Yep, I have always been a writer. I remember the magical feeling of learning
how to write when I was in first grade, the pride I felt the day I learned to
spell “grasshopper” (my longest word!).
I started writing stories in third grade, when I was 10, and haven’t
stopped since. My childhood wasn’t an
easy one for many reasons and I both read and wrote to escape and to entertain
myself and my friends.
I toyed around with the idea of publishing about ten years
ago or so, but something about the publishing world and the process didn’t sit
well with me. I attended some
conferences, submitted to about a dozen agents, and then dropped the whole
thing. I just wanted to write! Then about two years ago, when I was at the
Philadelphia Writers Conference, the buzz was all about self-publishing. I knew that was the right fit for me. It gave me the independence and
self-accountability that I need to be motivated. So I hired an editor to work with me on The
Loyal Heart (first in my Noble Hearts series and my first published book) and
the rest is history! I do still
entertain the idea of taking a step back and trying the traditional publishing
route, but I waffle so much about it that it’s not even funny! And I just want to write!
Recently, several of
my readers made mention that they would love to someday write and publish their
first work. What advice would you give emerging authors?
Write! I know that
seems trite, but it’s what you need to do.
Write everything, from original novels to fan fiction to poetry, if the
spirit moves you. You learn so much by
writing, and if you don’t have finished work to publish, well, the next step is
impossible. I also recommend hiring a
professional editor to work with you.
Friends are nice (too nice), beta-readers are helpful, but there is no
education more valuable than what you will experience working with a professional
editor. I owe just about everything I
know to my editor. What she taught me
about the craft was as magical as writing “grasshopper” for the first time.
Then, once you’ve done that, do a little research to find
out which publishing means is right for you.
The answer isn’t always going to be traditional publishing and it’s not
always going to be self-publishing. Both
have their advantages and drawbacks. But
keep an open mind toward both. I hear
about self-published writers who want to go traditional quite a bit (I might be
one of them, not sure) but I’ve also started hearing stories of traditionally
published mid-list authors leaving their contracts and “going indie”. No one knows what the future of publishing
looks like, so embrace all of it!
Oh, and one more thing: Be nice! This is a small world and I have it on good
authority – not to mention personal experience – that the industry wants to
work with nice people and it will back away from mean, discourteous, and
selfish people. Deal kindly and honestly
with your fellow writers and readers and help each other out whenever possible.
Great advice, Merry! I’m
sure if my readers have any further questions, they will post them in the
comments section.
Thank you so much,
Merry, for allowing me to interview you about your newly released novel, Fool for Love. It was a pleasure having
you on Leatherbound Reviews. I wish you the best of luck with this series, and
I look forward to reading it!
Thanks Jakki! It was
my pleasure.
From the publisher:
Eric Quinlan was born a cowboy and a rancher and intends to
die a cowboy and a rancher. But when his
ranch is in danger of failing, he travels to the wilds of London looking for a
business deal to save it. What he finds
there are stuffed shirts, odd manners, and a damsel in distress.
Amelia Elphick’s life is over. She may have been born a lady, but when she
finds herself jilted by a lover who leaves her pregnant and refuses to marry
her, she seems destined for a life on the streets. When her employer’s rough but handsome
houseguest, Eric, offers to rescue her from ruin, she has no choice but to say
yes, even if it means moving halfway around the world.
But Amelia finds herself saying yes to more than a ticket
west. What starts with a harmless lie
tangles Amelia and Eric in a web of desire and deceit that exposes passions and
turns their worlds upside-down. Eric
believes Amelia holds the key to saving his beloved ranch and giving him the family
he always wanted, but can he save her from the demons of her past without
losing himself in the process?
People do foolish things when they’re in love….
Excerpt from Fool for Love:
“Miss Elphick,” Mr. Quinlan began. He stopped twirling his hat with a long,
drawled, “Yeeeaaah.”
Amelia could do nothing but stand there, her brain foggy from
shock and tears and betrayal.
Mr. Quinlan cleared his throat, pulling her attention back to
him. He shifted his weight to his other
leg, let his arm drop, hat in one hand, and looked her in the eyes. She had never seen a man so anxious, as if he
was the one in utter disgrace.
“Look, I’m really sorry about everything that happened last
night.”
Amelia lowered her head.
“I … I am so sorry you had to witness that, Mr. Quinlan.”
“Yeah, well so am I,” he mumbled. “That Mr. what’s-his-name was a total ass,
treating a lady like that.”
She looked up, her stomach twisting. “Oh no, sir,” she corrected him. “I’m afraid I was the one in the wrong.” It was all she could do not to choke on the
words. “Mr. Hayworth was perfectly
within his rights to react as he did. I
… I am not a lady, I-”
“If he had tried that where I come from,” Mr. Quinlan
interrupted, striding across the room to her, “he woulda had about a dozen men
all over him. It’s pitiful to dismiss a
lady such as yourself like that.”
An ironic smile twitched at the corners of Amelia’s
mouth. “I’m afraid you misunderstand,
Mr. Quinlan. I … I am a fallen woman
now. My disgrace is complete. It was not my place to cause a scene.”
He puffed an annoyed sigh and threw his hands out, narrowly
missing a vase of hothouse flowers with his hat. “You know, I never understood you English
people and your ‘places’. A lady’s a
lady as far as I’m concerned.”
“But my family,” she fumbled, no desire to explain the past.
“Your father did something bad, I dunno,” he finished for her,
his tone not caring. He paced a few
steps to a small table and fingered the edge of it, picking at an invisible
spot. He flicked his hair out of his
face and darted a glance out the window at a passing carriage. Amelia bit her lip as she watched his antics.
Finally, he shook his head and turned away from the pouring
rain outside the window. “Well, this
isn’t how I wanted to start things.”
Amelia fidgeted with her skirt. “Start what, Mr. Quinlan?”
He ran a hand through his hair and paced back to where Amelia
stood. When he reached her, swaying too
close for a moment then backing off a step, he screwed up his mouth as if
something were trying to escape from it and he wasn’t sure if he should let it
out or keep it in. His back and
shoulders were stiff as he glanced to Amelia, then at the floor, out the
window, and back to Amelia again. It
struck her that his awkward ways were uncommonly charming.
As soon as the dangerous thought entered her mind, she pushed
it away.
Finally Mr. Quinlan sighed and let his tension drop. “It’s like this.”
Amelia raised her wary eyes to meet his.
“I suppose a fine lady like you is mighty attached to a fancy
place like this, but I understand that you’re in a heap of trouble after last
night and got no place to go. Now, I
know it’s short notice, but I’m leaving London to head back to Montana tomorrow
and I was wondering if, well, if you might want to come with me.”
Amelia’s sore eyes widened.
Her breath caught in her throat.
“Go with you?”
“Yeah.”
“To Montana?”
He shifted. “I’ll pay
for your passage and all. I don’t mind
doing it at all after what I saw last night.
It seems to me that you’re pretty much sunk here. But Montana is just lousy with opportunity
these days, even for women. Cold Springs
could use a smart, pretty girl like you, and ... and, well, that’s it.” He ended his speech by blushing and lowering his
head, looking up at her through his lashes.
Amelia’s heart fluttered, but it had nothing to do with Mr.
Quinlan’s charm.
Montana. It was a world
away, a world where no one knew about her father drinking away his fortune and
leaving his wife and daughters to make their own way. It was a world where no one knew how her
mother had positioned herself and two of her daughters in rich men’s beds so
that they could continue to afford the luxuries they were dependent on. Most importantly, it was a world where no one
knew how she, Amelia Elphick, had foolishly thought going to a man’s bed would
solve all of her problems.
***GIVEAWAY TIME***
Merry Farmer has offered up one copy of Our Little Secrets, the first novel in her Montana Romance series, for giveaway. To enter, please leave a comment for Merry asking her a question or telling her what intrigues you about Fool for Love. Make sure you leave your email address so I know how to contact the winner. Tweet daily for extra entires (leaving a comment you tweeted).
*ebook will given to international winner. US winner will have reader's choice: paperback or ebook!*
*ebook will given to international winner. US winner will have reader's choice: paperback or ebook!*
Giveaway ends Monday, May 6! Best of luck!
Connect with Merry Farmer
Read It Now!
