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Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Spotlight on Vickie McDonough and Virginia Brides

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vickie McDonough is an award-winning inspirational romance author. She has written six Heartsong Presents novels and six novellas, with more books coming out later this year and next year. Her third Heartsong book, The Bounty Hunter and the Bride, placed in third in the Top Ten Favorite Historical Romance category in Heartsong's 2007 annual contest. Her stories have also placed first in several prestigious contests, such as the ACFW Noble Theme and Book of the Year contests, the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, and the Texas Gold contest. She has also written books reviews for over six years and enjoys mentoring new writers.

Vickie is an Oklahoma native, wife of over thirty years, mother to four sons, and has a two-year-old granddaughter. When she's not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, gardening, watching movies, and traveling. Vickie loves hearing from her readers at vickie [at] vickiemcdonough [dot] com.

VIRGINIA BRIDES
by Cathy Marie Hake, Vickie McDonough and Susan Page Davis
Published by Barbour Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

Historical Romance: The Shenandoah River Valley is full of romantic history that you will enjoy exploring along with the fictional Walsh family. Meet Garnet Wheelock whose indenture has been sold to a respectable widower. Sympathize with Amy Rogers who has lost all her family only to gain motherless children. Ride along with Sadie McEwan as harbored secrets bar the road to love. You relive a gentler time as love and faith are rooted in Virginian soil.

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for your story in this anthology?

I can't say any one thing gave me the inspiration for Spinning Out of Control, which is the second book in Virginia Brides. It was more a thing of playing "what if." What if a young, destitute woman had to beg sanctuary from her only living relative, a cousin? What if said cousin was in the middle of a rough childbirth when my heroine arrives? What if the cousin dies, leaving the heroine to care for a newborn and a three-year-old? What if the cousin's husband is nowhere to be found? Something like that. I tried to put my heroine in a tough situation and then made it worse.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I don't know that any of my experiences influenced my heroine in Spinning Out of Control, except that I've been the mother of four boys. I know the difficulties of raising young children and having to keep a home.

Amy, the heroine in Spinning Out of Control, doesn't trust men. Her father abandoned her and left her and her sickly mother without support. So, when her cousin's husband fails to show up at first, Amy immediately distrusts him and thinks badly about him.

3. What themes exist in Virginia Brides that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

That no matter how bad your situation is, God can help you if you turn to Him.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

It was hard to kill off the cousin, Kathryn. I think she is the first good person I ever killed in a story. But Kathryn's death was crucial to the plot. Here's something funny. At first, I named Kathryn after Kathleen, a close friend of mine. When my friend found out I killed off her character I could tell she was upset, so I changed the name to Kathryn.

My favorite part of the story was watching the romance develop between Micah and Amy. Micah felt like a failure because he wasn't around when his wife died. At first, he thought his own newborn daughter was Amy's child. He grew a lot and had to overcome his feeling of feeling like Amy was an intruder in his home. Writing Rosie, the three-year-old daughter was fun, too.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book is a Barbour anthology called A Bride by Christmas. Four people must marry by Christmas to avoid some awful things happening. Also coming out is Oklahoma Brides. This is a repackaging of my three Oklahoma historicals published by Heartsong. Last, is Wild At Heart. This is the first book in a historical series set in North Dakota.

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Thank you, Vickie, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Virginia Brides.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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12 comments:

Cherie J said...

Enjoyed the spotlight. Sounds like a really good story.

Paulo Dantas said...

Hi Amber, you are beatiful, good bye.
PS: I love´s Gabriel Garcia Marquez

apple blossom said...

Oh, I'd love to win this book. And I'm especially interested in the ND story series to come out later in the year. I love my state and try to read books about it. I'll have to keep my eyes pealed out for this series.

windycindy said...

Thanks for the spotlight with this author. She gives a lot of insight to her book! It sounds like a heart warming story,even though there are tragedies involved! I would appreciate being entered in your drawing. Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Carolynn said...

All of those stories sound wonderful, I can't wait to read them!

Carole said...

I am really drawn to the Shenandoah theme and can't resist entering this contest. Thoughts of both the Jimmy Stewart movie and the song by the name of "Shenandoah" come to mind. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!

cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

Pamela J said...

From reading about it, this book looks like it is going to stir all kinds of emotions, a trait I love in a book. Another bride story to come? Another trait I love is more in front of and/or behind. Please enter me in the drawing.
Pam
cepjwms at yahoo dot com

Maureen said...

I like the sound of this story. A simple story about family and hardship.
mce1011[at]aol[dot]com

tetewa said...

Include me for this one! tWarner419@aol.com

windycindy said...

Hi Amber, I find the theme of this story a remarkable one. The unique relationship between the grand daughter and grandmother, then the daughter wanting to find out more about her mother. Sounds like an intricately woven story line. Thanks for the review and interview. Please enter me in your drawing. Thanks,Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

ChristyJan said...

I haven't had the chance to read any of Vickie's books yet. They sound like wonderufl historicals and I'm looking forward to reading her story, Spinning Out of Control in Virginia Brides.

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

We have a winner for this drawing, and that is:

MAUREEN

I've sent your mailing information to Vickie, so she can send out your book.

NINE other drawing winners announced. Check out the posts on Rene Gutteridge, Tina Ann Forkner, Donita K. Paul, Nancy Moser, Marlo Schalesky, Gayle Roper, Tamera Alexander, Allison Pittman, and Sandra Robbins.

Thanks, as always, for your support.