NIGHT ANGEL -- Paisley Kirkpatrick

I've got a special guest today. A sweet, supportive and charitable online friend--Paisley Kirkpatrick. We both belong to From the Heart Romance Writers. In addition, we both love romance and anything Western. Oh, and men in kilts. Let's not forget that. Paisley's release of her first book is this week and she's agreed to answer some questions about her writing and long road to publication.

Paisley, what is the story behind your book title? 

A New York best-selling author judged my story in a contest. She asked why I hadn't titled the book Night Angel, a name referring to my hero. Bells went off. She was right. I've never regretted making the change, especially after I saw the book cover. The Desert Breeze artist gave my mysterious hero an attitude.

What authors and genres do you like to read?

I fell in love with historicals when I read Kathleen Woodiwiss' Shanna. In fact, reading Shanna inspired me to try my hand at writing. I have all of her books and enjoy reading them over and over. Spending the last thirteen years with authors has led me to enjoy new genres, but historicals are still my favorites. I have most of Victoria Alexander's stories, as well as Jude Deveraux, and Julie Garwood stories. I am having fun filling my Kindle with books of friends no matter which genre they write. It's always fun to experience something new.

How do you research your storylines or locations?

I am so lucky to live in the area where my stories are set, except for Marriage Bargain which brings the middle Benjamin sister to Paradise Pines on a wagon train. The journal my great, great grandfather kept during his trek from Illinois to California in 1849 is my personal goldmine. We live near Placerville, California, where the 49er gold rush happened. I've had the chance to visit Victorian houses, explore gold mines, and even entered one of the many underground tunnels dug under the town.  

Tell us, has your road to publication been a walk in the park or a steep mountain climb?

I wrote my first story 22 years ago. I was offered my first publishing contract last December. I'd call that quite a steep mountain climb, but no regrets. The techniques I acquired along the way, the friends I made, the conferences I was able to attend, made every moment of my writing career worth the extra work and long wait. Some people say I am very stubborn to never have given up on my dream. I love writing. I couldn't imagine ever giving up. What would I do with my time if I didn't put words to the page? I've contracted five books with Desert Breeze Publishing, a great home for me and for my stories.

What is your life like away from the computer?

Our home sits in the El Dorado forest halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. I prefer staying close to home rather than fight the crowds. Gasp -- I don't like shopping. I'd rather sew or write to my foreign penpals than hit the malls. In the past ten years I've made and given away 37 quilts -- flannel baby quilts, photo quilts with book covers, family events, or favorite entertainers. It's a must once a year to donate a baby quilt to Brenda Novak's Childhood Diabetes Silent Auction. My penpals have been part of my life for 22 years. I've had the pleasure of meeting three of them. At one time I had up to 41 friends around the world, but over the years my list has dwindled down to 15. We still correspond the old-fashioned way -- stamps and envelopes.

Tell us about your current release.

Paradise Pines Series: Night Angel's release date is August 21, 2012.  Set in 1853, hero Declan Grainger owns a high-class hotel in the former gold rush town of Paradise Pines, California. When the saucy Amalie Renard shows up in town looking for a way to start a new life, Declan loses his heart. Amalie, who performs as saloon-singing poker player Lily Fox, turns the town upside down with her vibrancy and desire to have a theatre of her own, not a box in one of the town's saloons. Declan would do about anything to keep Amalie in town until he can figure out his feelings for the high-spirited lady. Can she learn to trust and accept the hotel owner's offer to make her dream come true?

BLURB:

Sassy Amalie Renard, a poker-playing saloon singer, shakes up Paradise Pines, a former gold-rush mountain community by turning the saloon’s bar into her stage. Her amazing voice stirs the passions of the hotel owner, a man who anonymously travels tunnels at night providing help to the downtrodden as the mysterious Night Angel. Declan Grainger agrees to subsidize the building of a music hall to fulfill Amalie's dream, but a bounty for her arrest could spoil his plans. Distrust and jealousy stir flames of malice and revenge threatening to destroy their town. Drawing from past experiences, Declan and Amalie turn to each other to find a way to save the community.

EXCERPT:

Different colored bottles of whiskey and beer reflected in the mirrors along the wall behind the long wooden bar. Perfect. That's where she'd start her evening.

She slipped off her cape and handed it to Declan. His appreciative gasp brought a smile to her lips. Having men ogle her appearance was hardly new. She'd learned early to use her looks to her advantage. The way Declan's eyes heated with appreciation when he cast a glance at the deep cut of her décolletage reminded her how good it felt to be a woman.

"Now you'll see who I really am."

Declan grabbed her arm. "Don't let them forget you're a lady, Amalie."

She cast him a wicked smile. "The name's Lily Fox. Believe me, honey, Lily's nolady."

She approached a couple of gamblers and leaned over slightly to give them full effect of her daring dress. "Would you mind helping me, gents? I have need of your table for a moment."

The men jumped to their feet in unison, their cards forgotten. Amalie took the nearest man's outstretched palm, stepped onto a chair, over their cards and up onto the long wooden plank bar.

"Good evening, boys." She strutted along the length of wood, avoiding whiskey glasses and kicking away eager hands.

The saloon girl stopped caterwauling. The room went still. She had everyone's attention, just the way Lily liked it.

"Get down, young woman. This ain't no place for you to prance about," the barkeep snarled in outrage.

Ignoring the scowling face with the handlebar mustache, she kicked up her heels. Adding a dance step, she pranced back and forth the length of the makeshift stage. Lily reveled in the whistles and disregarded the uncouth remarks. She was in her element. "My name is Lily Fox and I'm here to entertain you tonight."

With the flick of her hand, she caught the attention of the stunned piano player. "Play something quick and lively, will you, honey?" She glanced around the room of excited faces and turned on her brightest smile.

Tell us something about you, personally. Who is Paisley Kirkpatrick?

My husband of 43 years and I raised two daughters. Now that he's retired I am working at my chosen profession of author. It's great that he supports my love of writing and lends a comment every now and that helps with plots. We have been fortunate enough to travel -- his favorite place is Germany and mine is Scotland. I have been a member and on the board of the Sacramento Valley Rose Chapter of RWA for 13 years, and online chapters From the Heart, Hearts Through History, and Celtic Hearts.

BUY LINKS:

DESSERT BREEZE PUBLISHING: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-333/Paradise-Pines-Book-One-cln-/Detail.bok

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Paradise-Pines-Book-One-ebook/dp/B00909PON0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345607395&sr=8-1&keywords=night+angel+by+Paisley+Kirkpatrick

BARNES & NOBLE: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Paisley-Kirkpatrick?keyword=Paisley+Kirkpatrick&store=ebook

My website is: http://www.paisleykirkpatrick.com/ 

You can find me blogging at:

Sweethearts of the West http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/

Scandalous Victorians http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com/

Voices from the Heart http://voicesftheart.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1272262167