Spotlight on Lyn Cote and The Desires of Her Heart

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When LYN COTE became a mother, she gave up teaching, and while raising a son and a daughter, she began working on her first novel. Long years of rejection followed. Finally in 1997, Lyn got "the call." Her first book, Never Alone, was chosen by Steeple Hill. Lyn has had over twenty-five novels published since then. In 2006 Lyn's book, Chloe, was a finalist for the RITA, one of the highest awards in the romance genre. Now, Lyn spends her days writing books that show the power of divine as well as human love.

She married her real-life hero and was blessed with a son and daughter. She loves game shows, knitting, cooking, and eating! She and her husband live on a beautiful lake in the northwoods of Wisconsin. Now that the children have moved out, she indulges three cats: V-8 (for the engine, not the juice), Sadie, and Tricksey. In the summer, she writes using her laptop on her porch overlooking the lake. And in the winter, she sits by the fireplace her husband installed with the help of a good neighbor during their first winter at the lake.

Lyn's inspirational novels feature American women who step up to the challenges of their times and succeed in remaining true to the values of liberty and justice for all. The story of America is one of many nationalities and races coming together to forge our one nation under God, and Lyn's novels reflect this with accurate historical detail, always providing the ring of authenticity. Strong Women, Brave Stories.


THE DESIRES OF HER HEART
by Lyn Cote
Published by Avon Inspire

ABOUT THE BOOK

In 1821, Dorritt Mott is a woman ahead of her time. When her family is forced to leave New Orleans, she meets Quinn. The New Orleans lady and the half-breed scout, become unlikely allies on the trek to the Austin settlement in Texas. Two armies, marauding Comanche and a traitor in their midst stand between them and their destination. All Dorritt thinks she wants is her own independence, but is it possible that she will gain the unrecognized desires of her heart? And teach Quinn to enlarge his vision also?

Buy Your Copy of The Desires of Her Heart today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I look for a setting where there is a lot of conflict, especially culture clashes. People who look different and think different ways are a rich setting for an exciting story.

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

There is a piece of me in each character because there are such things as universal emotions--love, hate, greed, selflessness, kindness, rudeness. We've ALL done them ALL, right? But I do not make each heroine me. Each heroine takes on a life and personality of her own as does the hero. I know I'm doing a good job with my characters when they begin to take over the story and do things I don't expect.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Ice cream-hmmmmmm-Ice cream was extremely rare in 1821 New Orleans and more scarce on the Texas frontier. I think of Dorritt more in the terms of a steady, quiet, attractive mare who is a good mother to her foals. The kind of steed a rider could always count on in an emergency or on a forced march. I always write about strong women who are ahead of their times and either unconventional like Dorritt or crusaders.


4. Are there any themes in The Desires of Her Heart that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

This is the first book in a 3 book series, titled "Texas Star of Destiny." I took this phrase from the Texas State Song, "Texas, My Texas." Interestingly, this song was written by an Anglo settler in 1829. Six years before the Texas Revolution, angloamericano settlers were thinking of Texas as their own, not a part of Mexico.

The themes for all three books in this series are taken from Psalm 37. The first theme is verse four: "Delight thyself in the LORD and he will give thee the desires of thine heart." (KJV) To me, this means that if a person goes about doing what pleases the Lord will in the end be blessed. This of course is based on trusting God which comes in verse five. "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." This is the challenge for Dorritt and her hero Quinn.

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

This book bucked like a unbroken bronco. I wrote the ending three times before I got it right. Or I hope I got it right. (GRIN)

And my favorite part is always doing the historical research so that every detail recreates the world at that time. Many readers appreciate this attention to historical detail. As much as possible, I try to portray what each era and each setting demanded of people at that time. (Of course, I don't mention the fact that indoor plumbing was not readily available till mid 20th century. Let's not go there.)

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

My next new book is the second in my Texas series, titled Her Inheritance Forever. This story takes place the year of the Texas Revolution 1836 and that is difficult because the heroine Alandra Sandoval (who is a little girl in the first book) is a Tejano, a Texan of Spanish-Mexican descent. The hero is of course an Anglo, Scully Falconer. I found out a lot of facts and events I never knew had happened. As always in US history, brave men with faith in God were able to do the impossible.

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

Readers, look below for 3 ways you can win a FREE copy of The Desires of Her Heart. We won't be doing a drawing from this blog for this book as all available copies the author has have been spoken for or included in the following ways you can still win.

Feel free to comment though if you have read this book or any of Lyn's, or if you wish to share anything connected to the spotlight.

To win books by Lyn Cote and more!

There are 3 ways to win books which include Lyn's.

1 - Enter the quarterly drawing at http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com/

2 - Drop by my blog http://strongwomenbravestories.blogspot.com/ in MEGA Month May. A large basket of goodies and autographed books will be given away in a drawing from the names of those who send in stories about brave women in their families (including their own) or a friend which I will post as a blog; also those who post a comment this coming May.

3 - Drop by my website http://www.lyncote.net/ and click Meet Lyn Page and scroll to the bottom to join the Chapter-A-Week Club. Several times a year, this group gives away a prize of 10 lbs. of autographed books by notable Christian Authors.

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