Interview/Giveaway with Yvonne Harris and "Vigilante's Bride"

Montana Territory 1884

Back Cover: Robbing a stagecoach on Christmas eve and abducting a woman passenger is the last thing Luke Sullivan expected to do. He just wanted to reclaim the money stolen from his pa, but instead ended up rescuing a feisty copper -haired woman who was on her way to marry Sullivan's dangerous enemy.

Emily McCarthy doesn't take kindly to her so-called rescue. Still, she's hoping Providence will turn her situation for good, especially when it seems Luke Sullivan may just be the man of her dreams. Then Lucas crossed a vicious man, a powerful rancher not used to losing, and Emily is the prize he's unwilling to sacrifice.

Yvonne Harris

About the Author: Yvonne Harris earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Hartford and has taught throughout New England and the mid Atlantic. She lives in southern New Jersey and teaches writing at a local college. She's a winner and three time finalist for the Golden Heart Award. The Vigilante's Bride was a 2009 finalist and is her first historical romance novel. Though Yvonne and her husband live in New Jersey to be close to family, she was raised in Alabama and considers herself a Southern writer.

My Take: Vigilante's Bride is a great read especially for a debut novel. Yvonne Harris has packeda lot into this historical western. Luke Sullivan has decided he doesn't want to be a vigilante anymore and sets out to find a new life. During his adventure he meets Emily McCarthy an independent young woman. Well, I guess I should say he kidnaps her - with the intention of letting her go. But now, Luke has crossed a powerful and mean rancher who is out to make Emily his wife. Will Luke be able to keep Emily safe? What happens between Luke and Emily? I wish I could tell you - but you will just have to read and find out for yourself. I wouldn't want to spoil it for you.

INTERVIEW WITH YVONNE

Yvonne, thank you so much for taking the time to visit with us and answer a few questions for inquiring minds.

1. How did you come up with your plot and characters for "Vigilante's Bride"?

I've always loved "western" books and movies. Vigilante's Bride is loosely based on fact and on historical events surrounding a real vigilante group in Montana in 1884. Like the group in the story, the real vigilante group were good guys. I started with a young Chicago teacher whose present life is about to change. The hero is a fast-draw vigilante who quits his job to put his past behind him. Later, as these two travel to new destinations and new lives, their paths collide.

2. This is your debut novel - can you tell us some of the rewards and challenges you experienced during the writing and publishing?

It is and it isn't my debut novel. Vigilante's Bride is my first or debut Western Romance novel, but it is not my first novel. I started off writing magazine articles, and then wrote political thrillers. Hindu Kush was published. After that, I took time off from writing--sick parent, family responsibilites, and virtually commuting from Jersey to Alabama. When I went back to writing, I experimented with different genres until I slid into into Western-Historicals, and it was a perfect fit. Action/Romance/Suspense but based on fact and history. Exactly what I love. This time, the hero rides a horse, instead of a helicopter.

3. What is your next project?

My next book is A River to Cross and is set in 1880. It's a Texas Ranger story. It will be out in August 2011.


4. As an aspiring author I always like to ask what advice you would give to those of us still working on our manuscript.

Contests. As soon as you have 20 to 30 pages polished, enter it in a couple of contests. They are the best way to get impartial feedback on your writing and later to get your work in front of an editor and or agent. Don't enter a contest to win. Enter only contests that provide feedback, for tips on how to make it better. Check the contest ahead of time. You want three judges, if possible. As soon as you final (not win, just final) start querying editors and agents, telling them you've finaled in XXXXX contest. It's an accomplishment and makes a good first sentence to a query letter. Don't wait to win. You might not. Publication doesn't just happen. You have to work at it to make it happen.

TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: (JUST USE ONE POST FOR ALL ANSWERS)

1. BE A FOLLOWER OR SIGN UP AS A FOLLOWER

2. VISIT YVONNE'S WEBSITE AT http://www.ylharris.com/bio.html AND LET ME KNOW.

3. SINCE I'VE HAD MY BLOG I'VE READ MANY DIFFERENT GENRES AND I'M SO GLAD I HAVE. I'VE FOUND THAT I ENJOY A VARIETY OF READING NOW. LET ME WHAT YOUR FAVORITE GENRE IS AND IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO BRANCH OUT TO DISCOVER OTHER GENRES? WHAT IS A RECENT BOOK YOU'VE READ OUTSIDE YOUR GENRE?

4. THE CONTEST WILL END ON SEPT. 18TH - BE SURE TO LEAVE A CONTACT EMAIL ADDRESS.

HAPPY READING!