Vickie McDonough ~ Interview + Giveaway!

**I have recently changed the rules for entering my giveaways and there are new ways to earn extra entries, so be sure to read that section at the bottom of this post. =)**

Today author Vickie McDonough is telling us about her new book, The Anonymous Bride. She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Welcome, Vickie! Tell us a little about yourself.

Besides being a writer, I’m a wife of almost 35 years, mother of four grown sons, grandmother to a feisty four-year-old girl, and primary caregiver for my invalid mother. I love reading historical Christian fiction, especially those set in the West in the late 1800s. I also have some fav TV shows I watch like Chuck, Castle, NCIS—and okay, I’ll admit it—I also like V & Fringe.

I also love to travel and like working in my flower garden.

How long have you been writing? How many books do you have published?
About 9 ½ years. As of this month, I have 18 books that have been published, with five more coming later this year and early next year.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in you books?. 
That’s hard. I’m not sure that I can personally compare writing styles with another author, but reviewers have compared me to Lori Copeland and Mary Connealy. If you like historical western romances with adventure, you’ll probably like my books.

It varies some between books, but probably G-Pg. My books are sweet romances, but I love having chemistry between my hero & heroine. I love showing their sensual attraction to the other, while tossing in things that cause conflict. My h & h always kiss at least once and maybe twice.

In your own words tell us a little about The Anonymous Bride.
The Anonymous Bride is the first book in my Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, which is set in the fictional town of Lookout, Texas. The town has some quirky characters, which add humor to the story, as well as conflict. The main theme of the story is learning to forgive past offense, but I also deal with issues like single parenthood and having a rebellious child. The premise of the first book is “what if a mail-order bride suddenly shows up, expecting to marry the town marshal—but he didn’t order a bride?” Then I took it a step further and said, “what if 3 brides showed up, expecting to marry the same man?” And what if the town held a contest to see which bride would make him the best bride?

Second Chance Brides, book two in the series, tells the story of two of the leftover brides. It releases September 1st.

Finally A Bride is the story of Jacqueline, the ornery tomboy from the first book and a surprise person. It releases on April 1, 2011.

Blurb:

Three mail-order brides arrive in Lookout, Texas, each expecting to marry the local marshal. But—he didn't order a bride. When a contest ensues to discover which bride will make him the best wife, there is a surprise fourth entry--an anonymous one. Mayhem occurs as the whole town tries to figure out who the anonymous bride is, and the mayor pressures the marshal to pick a bride or lose his job. Will Marshal Davis tuck tail and run for the hills? Or will he lose his heart and his bachelorhood?

What made you want to write this story?
I was trying to think up an idea that I hadn’t read before and then thought of the “what if” questions I mentioned above. Those questions morphed into my Anonymous Bride book.

What research did you have to do for this book?
Since I live in Oklahoma, I have visited Texas many times, so I’m pretty familiar with the northeastern part where my story is set. Still, I visited the Denison area and took lots of pictures. I also had to research what type of lawman a small town in the late 1800s would have. I was expecting it to be a sheriff, but in Texas, it was actually a town marshal. He did everything from picking up trash, carrying parcels for elderly citizens to chasing away stray dogs, and occasionally, catching outlaws. I also research flowers and trees and birds and animals of the area, plus information about trains.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
I’d like to see Brandon Routh play Luke. My hero is a brooding character, and brooding looks good on Brandon Routh.

As far the heroine, I can’t decide. None of the actresses I know seem to fit this character. Maybe your readers could offer suggestions. Rachel has medium brown hair and light blue eyes. She’s a serious person because of her past and her struggles with her daughter, but she likes to have fun too.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I just finished a historical set in 1788 in Charleston for Heartsong Presents. Now, I’m working on the third book in my Texas Boardinghouse Brides’ series.

How can readers get in contact with you?
My website is www.vickiemcdonough.com There’s an email link on the “Contact” page. I’m also a regular contributor to http://www.bustlesandspurs.com/

What are you currently reading?
I just finished reading Sixteen Brides by Stephanie Grace Whitson. It was a very interesting read.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I lived on a kibbutz in Israel with my husband for a year, right after we were first married.

If you could be any animal, which would you choose? Why?
A horse. I have always loved horses. I used to have three of them—but not all at the same time. I use horses a lot in my stories and would like some more current riding experience.

FAVORITES:

Color?
green

Childhood memory?
Special time with my dad. He bowled two nights a week for several years. After my mom went to bed, sometimes I’d tiptoe into my parents’ bathroom and tape a note on the mirror for my dad. He’d wake me up when he got home and we’d eat popcorn together. I think about that now—how tired he must have been after working all day and then bowling all evening, but he never complained. It didn’t happen all that often, but it was a special time when it did.

Era to write about?
Late 1800s, Midwest or western settings

What is/was this book’s release date?
April 1, 2010

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter of this book?
http://thestorybeginnings.blogspot.com/2010/04/anonymous-bride-chapter-1.html

~~~~~

**USA residents only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of The Anonymous Bride!

TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

+2 Read and leave a comment on one of my recent book reviews.

**You can earn a total of 4 entries if you do all of the above requirements. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (April 30) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (May 6). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner on Friday the 7th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.