Sunday, August 29, 2010

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


Vigilante's Bride12 cover (59K)

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!

25 comments:

  1. I just visited Yvone's website and read her bio. I do enjoy reading historical and some westerns so this sounds like a good read. I have a few genre's that I enjoy reading. I like some christine romance, historical fiction, and some mysteries. I do go outside of my genre on occasion if a book sounds appealing to me.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    ladijo40(at) aol(dot)com

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  2. Just read Yvone's website and it is a really pretty layout. Can't wait to see more. My favorite genre's would have to be between mystery/suspence and christmas romance. I do like to read just about anything and I recently borrowed a sci fi book from my friends husband and really enjoyed it. This book sounds really intersting, I've already added it to my wish list of books. Please enter me in the drawing.
    Thanks
    Katherine

    peachykath79[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  3. I'm a follower and I visited Yvonne's website. I love to read historical or paranormal novels.

    hewella1 at gmail dot com

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  4. I visited Yvonne's blog and I'm a follower of Butterfly Journey. I read mostly Christian historical or romantic suspense. Rooms by James Rubart was something I loved in a different genre I'm not sure how to classify. Supernatural, maybe?

    worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

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  5. I'm a follower.

    My favorite genres are women's fiction and historicals.

    julesreffner(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. Hey Deborah!
    I've visited Yvonne's website, and I'm also a follower of your blog. I love to read comtemporary and historical romance. The most recent book I've read out of my genre is a suspense "Cowboy Protector"
    But, I have to admit I venture outside of my genre quite alot, because I never know what kind of treasures I may find.

    debracollins(at)tds(dot)net

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  7. I just finished this book and it was excellent. I highly recommend it. I just wanted to say that.

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  8. Hi Yvonne and Deborah,
    I enjoyed the interview very much. Yvonne, I love the plot for your book, and Deborah, I'm a fellow Georgian. Best wishes to both of you for much success.

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  9. I'm a follower. Enjoyed this new-to-me author's interview and would love to read Yvonne's book. I'm a fan of historicals, westerns, Christian fiction,romance and mysteries. I also like to read memoirs and travel or adventure stories for an in-between genre. Thank you for the entry in this giveaway. I visited Yvonne's website and wish her the best in future writings.

    Blessings,
    Sandee61

    Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

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  10. Found this post on ECFL! Sounds good!

    joyfulhutch[at]msn[dot]com

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  11. I am a follower and did visit Yvonne's website. I like reading historical romance. Right now I'm reading "The Seeker" by Ann H Gabhart. I just finished "Why Is The Sky Blue" by Susan Meissner...loved it and it is outside of what I usually read.
    Your book sounds great Yvonne...I really want to read it!
    God Bless
    Maureen

    alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  12. I am a new follower and just visited her website. I am all over the board when it comes to what I enjoy reading. From historical romances, horror, mystery, thrillers, childrens books. I really just pick something up that looks good to me and read it. I haven't read many westerns and am thinking about venturing into that genre.


    giveawaymommy at yahoo.com

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  13. Hi! I just found your blog through Carman! I'd love to be entered into the giveaway!!

    I just became a follower!

    And I checked out Yvonne's site - she sounds like an engaging author!!

    Katie

    legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. Carmen sent me this way, too. I'm a follower, and i visited Yvonne's site.
    The main genres that I read are young adult and Christian fiction of all kinds. The closest I've came lately to breaking out of my usual zone was The House of Dark Shadows. It was much creepier than the average book I read, but I LOVED it!! :)

    bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

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  15. Please enter me in the drawing.

    I am a follower.

    pepsi324[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  16. oh my goodness i've wanted to read this book for SO long!!
    I mostly read Christian historical fiction with romance in it. I like Christian YA, and i've just started reading Christian suspense.(before i was to scared to read it!:)
    I am a follower.
    dymesich(at)juno(dot)com
    Carman sent me.

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  17. I visited Yvonne's website.

    I am a GFC follower.

    My favorite genre is Christian Romantic Suspense but I have recently branched out and read some Christian historicals and now I'm hooked on them as well. Usually any book, if the characters are well defined, will grab my interest. I love to read period.

    Smiles & Blessings,
    Cindy W.

    countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  18. I am a follower of this blog and have visited Yvonne's website.

    Most of the time I read Christian fiction romance, British cozy mysteries (Agatha Christie, Dorothy Simpson), and older classics (Jane Austen,Florence Barclay,Elizabeth Gaskell). I've branched out some in reading western Christian fiction since watching some John Wayne films a couple of years ago. Before that I wouldn't have touched wild west type stories.

    nina4sm[at]gmail[dot]com

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  19. Wow! I am really excited about all the comments. We are starting off this month with a bang! This is a fun book and I wish everyone could win. Thanks again for being such a great support for my blog! I want to thank Yvonne again for giving us the interview.
    Deborah M.

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  20. thanks for the chance to read this fabulous novel :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  21. I am a new follower, I visited Yvonne's site and love the colors she chose-they match the "feel" of this book, from what I can tell. : ) It's hard for me to pick a favorite genre, but lately I've been leaning towards historical fiction/romances, like Mary Connealy's books. However, the book I'm reading now is The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker, and it is out of my genre because I don't usually read murder/suspense like that. I must say, it's really a good read though! Just be prepared not to sleep much :) Thanks for the opportunity to win such a fabulous sounding book, and thank you for the interview! : )
    potosrose(at)gmail(dot)com

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  22. I'm a follower of this blog and have visited Yvonne's website. I enjoy reading historical fiction and young adult fiction.

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

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  23. Wow! What a great response to Yvonne's book. I am so excited to have her as a guest. I had really not planned on doing giveaways because other blogs already do this. However, I have caught the bug. I love meeting the authors through interviews and I also enjoy recycling the books. Thanks again for all of your support.
    Deborah M.

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  24. Hello there, I'm a new follower and I visited the website.

    I love Historical Romance, recently I read a murder mystery and that was great read as well, a bit outside of my norm. but pretty good!

    Carman sent me.

    ~Lauri M
    http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com
    l_meinhardt@yahoo.com

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  25. I have to put this book on my "must buy" list. This is exactly the type of story that captures me and doesn't let go until I've read it from front to back.

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