We are privileged to have Jamie Adams take a break from her busy schedule to visit with us today. Jamie, welcome!

Tell us a little about yourself as related to your writing. I’d like to know how you got started writing historical fiction and how long you’ve been writing.

  I began writing historical fiction ten years ago when I stumbled onto a fan fiction site called The Writing Desk. Fans of The Big Valley, a western television show from the 1960’s, this group of writers and readers played a big part in my growth as a writer. The show was one of my favorite westerns. I was surprised to find other fans that kept the show alive by writing and sharing short stories that were like new episodes. At that time I’d written several short stories but never shared them. The group of readers at the Writing Desk encouraged me to share my talent and gave me the confidence to seriously pursue my dream of writing.

 That’s wonderful! I think most of us have a fear that our writing isn’t good enough. Encouragement is so valuable to an author. And, Jamie, I’ve read a few of your stories. I know they’re good.

You’ve recently published a book. Would you be willing to share with everyone the journey to getting this book published?

It was long. At the start I had dreams of writing a story, sending it to an editor and having it published in short order, but it took more than two years for my first story to see the light of day. At the beginning editors turned it down. They claimed to like it but felt it wasn’t right for them. Finally I found an editor who wanted to work with me on it but she was swamped and didn’t know when she’d get to it. Finally, I decided to self publish and put it on Kindle as an ebook.

I’m so glad you did. Sometimes that journey is unbearable long!

So Love’s Golden Quest is your first published book. Can you tell us what type of story this is?

 It’s a Historical Inspirational Romance. Here’s what it’s about:

 Can the perilous unknowns of the Wild West and an arranged marriage heal a grieving young woman and a man determined to find a world to claim as his own?

Rose Hill never thought she would marry someone she didn’t love, but after the death of her parents, she believes she has no other choice. And if she follows the advice of her pastor and mentors, it will have to be soon.

During the height of the gold rush, Luke Townsend dreams of starting a ranch out west. When his fiancée learns of his plan she leaves him for a doctor back east. Brokenhearted, he’s determined to make a new start.

Sounds wonderful! But of course, I know it is because I’ve read it. LOL!

This story is the first of a series, isn’t it? Can you give us the titles of the books that will follow and approximately when you plan to have the next one ready for publication?

 Love’s Healing Touch should be available this summer and Love’s Redeeming Grace late this fall.

Great! You’ve given us something to look forward to.

What inspired you to write this series of books?

 After several years of writing short stories for a group of western fans I felt the Lord nudging me to write for Him. Up until Love’s Golden Quest I wrote stories that you could pass on to your daughters, but they were missing inspiration. I still write to entertain, but pray the message in my story will draw readers to a closer walk with God.

I happen to know you are now working on a novella scheduled for publication by the end of June. This is one of a set of three books written with Regina Tittel and yours truly about three sisters who help their parents run the Culp Hotel in Mammoth Spring, Arkansas. Would you give our readers a hint about your story?

I love this series! It’s been so much fun to write with two incredibly talented authors, although sometimes I feel like a dachshund in a greyhound race. Each of our stories revolves around a different sister. In Wishes and Whims I have the middle daughter, Cora. Of all the characters I’ve written or am working on Cora is most like me at that age. She is such a daydreamer that fantasies sometimes distort her view of relationships. My heart goes out to her when she eventually has to face reality and finds it’s not as pretty as the pictures she paints in her mind. Of course there’s a happy ending. Funny thing about dreamers, when their dreams are broken they just latch on to a new one.

And as one of your “daydreamed greyhounds”, I’ve had my share of running in writing this series to keep up with you and Regina. Your stories are so good. I can visualize your older sisters to my “baby of the family.” I agree that this series has been a lot of fun to write. Oh the trouble these sisters get into! I might add, they are set in the real small town of Mammoth Spring, although they are greatly fictionalized events. Watch for Rivalry and Romance, Wishes and Whims, and Friends and Foes coming in June.

What are your future plans concerning your writing and publishing endeavors? Will there be more books by Jamie Adams for your growing list of fans to enjoy?

I couldn’t stop writing if I tried. There will be more books, and as long as people will read them I’ll publish them.

Would you mind giving us a glimpse into your latest book?

 I’m finishing up a book title Emma’s Second Chance

 Emma’s Second Chance is a stand-alone story set in 1880′s Idaho and will be available this summer. When a school teacher learns her intended’s heart belongs to another, she leaves town the night before the wedding. Fleeing Boston to Idaho Territory where her cousins live, she meets a suspicious lawman determined to find out what she’s hiding, unaware that her jilted fiancé is hot on her trail. Here’s an excerpt from the book:

Disappointment registered on her face. As if she suddenly recalled the reason for her visit, words rushed out in one long breath. “Old man Caldwell’s goat’s out again and this time he’s eaten all of Ma’s strawberry plants. She’s fit to be tied.”

“Chester promised to fix that fence last week.”

“Well, he didn’t, and Ma’s back at the house looking for the shot gun shells.”

Sam pushed back the chair and pulled his hat from the wall. An angry woman with a gun, he shuddered at the thought. Mrs. Johnson could shoot too.

Prudence hurried behind him “She’s planning to enter her strawberry pie in the county fair. You know she makes the best pies…”

That she did, but it wasn’t reason enough to shoot Chester Caldwell. Prudence and her siblings lived with their widowed mother on the outskirts of town. All up hill, the jog to Clover Street had him nearly winded by the time he reached the Johnson homestead.

“Mrs. Johnson!” He called to the woman marching across the yard with a rifle in her hand.

“Don’t try and stop me, Marshal. Something’s got to be done about that old goat.”

Did she plan to shoot the animal or Chester? Some days he questioned why he chose to be a lawman. By law he couldn’t let her shoot either Chester or his livestock, nor could he bring himself to shoot an elderly widow raising three kids on her own.

Boom!

Oh thanks! What a place to leave us. Well, you’ve got me hooked, so hurry and get this one written.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

 Write what you like to read. When I first decided to write a book I didn’t have a plan and tried putting down words that I thought fit the popular genre of the day. Nothing came to me. I love westerns, and mail order bride stories. When I concentrate on writing the type of book I’d want to read the words come so much easier.

Do you have anything else you’d like to say? Don’t forget to tell us where we can find your book on sale.

 Thank you for having me, this was a fun interview.

I’m so glad to have you. We have a special announcement for your readers! Jamie Adams has published her second book, The Doctor’s Daughter.  You can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/kdpB00CW22KN4

Visit Jamie’s website: jladams-books.com

Twitter: @Roosgal

Book reviews on blogger:http://inallthywaysacknowledgehim.blogspot.com