Thanks for joining me for a special Holiday Edition of Sunday Speed Dates. This week Linnea Alexis is joining me.
Linnea Alexis stopped stirring up trouble in the corporate world a few years ago and now satisfies her appetite for adventure by writing about second chances. She writes Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Historical Romance where flawed heroes and heroines find their Happily Ever After. You can find her at www.linneaslexis.com.
Welcome Linnea! Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello, Christina. Thank you for inviting me.
I was born and raised in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. After graduation, I moved around a lot. I lived in Dallas, Chicago, and Denver before settling down. I write contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and, most recently, historical westerns. I also write horror and paranormal under another name.
Wow, looks like you’re covering all your bases. :)
Tell us a little about your holiday story.
My holiday story, Snowbound, takes place between Christmas and New Year’s Eve—which, for many, is the loneliest time of the year. My characters are no exception. They meet in the bar where the heroine sings…then leave with the sole purpose of hooking up. But a blizzard alters their plans, and a one-night stand turns into so much more. (It’s a spicy story with a whole lot of heart!)
Spicy holiday stories are the best. How else are the characters supposed to keep warm in winter?
Where are you currently living?
Orange County, California
Are you a morning or night person?
I’m a night person, who stays up until the wee hours in the morning. So I guess, I’m both.
Oh, me too! #NightOwlsUnite
What is your favorite holiday story or legend?
This isn’t a “story,” but I love telling about the time I got to play Mary in our church’s Christmas program. The Nativity was set up in front of a backdrop, in front of the altar. I was so focused on my role, I totally missed what went on behind the backdrop. Apparently, our cat had broken into the church. During the production, the pastor chased her around the altar in a futile attempt to harness and remove the feisty feline from the church. According to my mother, who was in the congregation at the time, whenever the pastor caught our cat, she’d scratch him. He’d drop her…and she’d take off again. (Seems the more interesting drama took place behind the backdrop…instead of around the manger.)
Oh. My. Goodness. This has to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever heard!
Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
I’d made up stories forever, but actual writing didn’t happen until my fifth grade teacher promised to give us extra credit if we wrote a story and read it in front of the class (every Friday). Only two of us accepted the challenge.
There is always a teacher in the background encouraging kids. Where would we be without teachers?.
What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
Whenever I hit a wall while writing, I stop and watch a few music videos on the computer. Music inspires me.
It’s amazing how often music and writing go hand in hand. Art begets art.
Do you find it hard to find time to write during the busy holiday season?
Not at all. I’m retired (from a nuclear power plant, of all things…and no, I do NOT glow in the dark). My kids are grown. There’s nothing to distract me…except for a chatty husband and two attention-hungry cats.
Oh, I know all about needy cats…
Where did the idea for your holiday story come from?
From an actual incident. One afternoon when my daughter left work, it started snowing (in Southern California). The snow flurries quickly turned into a blizzard and she, along with a dozen other drivers, were stranded on the treacherous Ortega Highway overnight. Throughout the night, sheriffs patrolled the highway to make sure everyone was all right. One sheriff even helped stabilize my daughter’s car when it started skidding backwards down the winding mountain road. In the morning, after snowplows cleared the road, everyone was allowed to leave.
Oh, how scary! I’m so glad everything turned out okay.
Is there any aspect of your story that you would change if you had to do it over again?
Make it longer…add more detail.
What was the hardest part of developing your lead characters?
I wanted to make them/their problems believable.
Have you ever had a white Christmas?
I grew up in Michigan…and lived in Denver…and Chicago! ‘Nuff said.
Lol!
Who usually cooks holiday dinners?
When the kids were at home, I cooked. Now I get invited to my younger daughter’s home. Score!
Haha! Nice.
Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
Usually
Do you keep them?
Yeah…for about a week.
Yeah, that sounds about right. ;)
Ever been kissed into the New Year?
Of course.
Can you tell us a little about your next project?
I’m currently working on a follow-up to The Watchmaker and the Widow, which is part of the Montana Sky Series for Kindle World. It was my first venture into the historical western genre. Very exciting.
In 2017, I’d like to self-publish an anthology of previously published short stories…in the horror genre.
Those both sound like very exciting projects. I can’t waif robber what you come up with.
Where can we find out more about you and what you write?
Website (currently being updated)
FB Author Page
Amazon Author Page
Twitter
Goodreads
Wonderful! I can’t wait to see you around online. Thanks again for stopping by!
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