| There's
nothing quite like curling up on the couch on
a rainy day (and we sure have had a lot of those
lately) and crack open a hot and steamy Harlequin
Romance. Sure, I like to read the classics (not
in a long time, though!), mysteries, and captivating
works of fiction to escape the pressures of work
and family as I try to get everything done before
the next day begins. In my opinion, there is
a place for every genre of literature because
what we choose to read really depends on what's
going on in our lives at that time. The saying ‘The
grass is always greener on the other side” also
applies to books. It's nice to read about
something we don't have or perhaps read
about a place we can only imagine visiting. Television
can be entertaining, but books get your heart
pumping and your imagination flowing!
I first encountered Tina Leonard through a promotional
e-mail announcing her latest release. As you
know by now, my first book of choice is ALWAYS
a romance. I'm a sucker for a happy ending.
And unlike many of my friends (Stacy comes to
mind here), I love paperbacks. Everything about
them is perfect. I can throw them in my purse
for an emergency read because we all know; the
worst thing is being somewhere with time to kill
and not have a book to read! But also,
romance novels are a quick read with the required
happy ending. What's not to like?
 As for Tina, she is an accomplished writer who
knows the ins and outs of the romance business.
With over thirty novels under her belt, her fans
know a good thing when they read it and always
come back for more. Also, it doesn't hurt
that she's a really sweet person with an
adorable family. I'll be honest. My first
Tina Leonard book was her latest, My Baby,
My Bride , which I really enjoyed. It's
the first book in her new series, which we talk
about in the interview. So, as part of the column,
Tina has agreed to give away a bunch of her titles
so that we all can get to know her writing, myself
included!
 Please go grab a cup of steaming green tea (it's
really good for you!) and get to know Tina Leonard.
Don't forget to email me with the answer
to the trivia question at the end of the column
so that you can win a book! Good luck!
Jen: Please tell us a little bit about your
educational and professional background.
Tina: I have a degree in Merchandising from the University of Tennessee. I've
been very grateful for that degree, because it was really more like a business
degree. I was hired out of college to work in Virginia at Miller & Rhoads
as an assistant buyer, which I loved. I got to travel a lot on the east
coast—so pretty! I won't bore anyone with the details of all my professional
background, but I've worked as a legal secretary—have even talked on the
phone with Sandra Day O'Connor's assistant—and lately writing has kept
me pretty busy.
Jen: At what juncture in your life did you decide
to take the plunge and become a writer?
Tina: My daughter was eighteen months old. I'd
decided to stay home with her, and my grandmother—who
is distantly related to Willa Cather—was
determined that someone in the family was going
to be a writer. It turned out to be me.
Jen: Who surprised you the most by being supportive
of your writing career and why?
Tina: My husband. I wasn't sure what
he'd think when I told him—it's such a
long, uncertain road! Many years after
I was published, I asked him how he'd knew I'd
make it. He said that I always did what
I said I was going to, and that he figured this
time would be no different.
Jen: What is the title of the first book you
had published and how long did it take to write?
At the beginning of your career, what was the
most difficult part of the writing process for
you? And now? How has that changed?
Tina: It Takes Two was the title
of my first published book, working title The
Taking of Rattlesnake Annie. I
can't remember how long it took me to write,
but I loved writing it. I still love that
book. In the beginning, I wished I knew
more about the business. This was before
RWA and the internet and all that, so I was sort
of writing into a dark hole. I wasn't even
writing in the correct genre, at least for me
at the time. But a kind agent read my completed
manuscript and mailed it back to me in one day
rejected! She said I belonged in contemporary
to develop my strengths, and I trusted her opinion
and started over again. Present day was
a whole new world from historical romance.
Jen: To date, how many books have you had published
and which one is your favorite and why?
Tina: I've published over thirty books
and projects. I can't say one is a favorite
because I tend to write in series. I loved
the Jefferson Brothers of Malfunction Junction
in the Cowboys by the Dozen series,
and from there I spun off into the Tulips
Saloon so I could still incorporate some
of the characters. I'm one of those people
who like big, expansive projects.
Jen: How has your life changed now that you
have become a famous author? Any regrets?
Tina: I don't consider myself famous. But
no, I have no regrets.
Jen: Whose opinion do you value the most when
it comes to critiquing your work and why?
Tina: My editor, because she knows. My
agent, because she knows. My critique partner,
because she knows. I lean on people who
know what they're doing.
Jen: Do you feel pressure
to exceed your readers' expectations
with each new book? How do you shut everything
out and just let the creative juices flow?
Tina: I feel no pressure to exceed reader
expectations. I feel pressure to exceed
mine, however. I don't take on any projects
I'm not one hundred percent in love with. That's
how I deal with pressure.
Jen: Your latest novel, My
Baby, My Bride, (which
I loved and could not put down!) is part of Harlequin's
American Romance series. In the world of romance,
Harlequin is the queen. How did the opportunity
arise and what is it like writing for Harlequin?
A dream come true?
Tina: I submitted so many times to Harlequin
that I began to feel like an editor shadow. I
think writing is the dream.
Jen: Do you like writing a series or do you
prefer to write stand alone books? Why?
Tina: I prefer writing series because my
mind doesn't see one thing at a time. I
dream of doing a three book series of bigger
books; I'd have about twelve hundred pages to
develop my story and THAT would be a dream come
true for me. I wouldn't mind doing a stand-alone
if I had a story I really liked and enough pages
to tell it in.
Jen: How did you come up with the premise for The
Tulips Saloon?
Tina: I love female friendships, and it
grew out of the Union Junction/Malfunction Junction Cowboys
by the Dozen series because it's the flip
side, the softer equivalent of all those hunky
brothers! We still have the hot, opinionated
males, but the leather is definitely softened
by the lace, and that makes it fun.
Jen: Did you grow up in a small town like Tulips,
Texas? Please tell us about your hometown.
Tina: I grew up in Dallas, Texas but we
moved to a small town in Texas, and then I moved
to a smaller town in Tennessee. Then I
moved to Knoxville, Chattanooga, Richmond, Va.,
Oklahoma City, etc. I was born in Pensacola. I
like big towns and small; every place has a tapestry
in its history and its own characters.
Jen: Are the lead characters, Duke and Liberty,
modeled after anyone you know?
Tina: No. I could never write about
anyone I know or anything in my life—it
wouldn't be escapism then.
Jen: For the majority
of the story, Liberty is pregnant. When it
finally comes time for her to give birth, I
was quite surprised that Duke did not go into
the delivery room with her. Why?
Tina: Liberty is a pretty independent female,
and Duke wasn't ever sure where he was with her
emotionally. The baby was early, and they
don't always let the dads in when there may be
a medical concern. With my son, there were
no medical concerns, and the doctor told my husband
to wait outside, and Tim was mad! All they
wanted to do was give me a little shot, and I
suppose they didn't think Tim could handle it.
Jen: What do you like best about the series?
Tina: I loved every single page of it. I
was very grateful my editor let me do it. I
was sorry when it was over. The female/male
dynamic really kept me going. Everyone
had a secret and people with secrets they think
they need to hide are interesting.
Jen: The lead character,
Liberty, is a seamstress who makes wedding
gowns. An obvious question but…. is
sewing a secret passion of yours?
Tina: I don't sew anymore but I remember
many happy days of sewing with my grandmother. I
used to make my own dresses. We used to
love to chase around after fabrics and patterns. In
another life, I thought I might be a fashion
designer—I had shoe boxes full of designs--but
my father steered me toward merchandising, and
he was right. It may have been the only
time I ever listened to him.
Jen: What can you tell us about the next two
books and when can we expect to see them in stores?
Tina: The Christmas Twins is out
in November and Her Secret Sons is out
next March. These are the other two Forrester
siblings. What we learn is that Duke, stubborn
as he was, was a piece of cake compared to what
the other two are going to be up to. The
Tulips Saloon should stay fairly buzzing.
Jen: Do you have a
web site? Blog? Mailing
list?
Tina: www.tinaleonard.com. Sometimes
I blog, but rarely. I don't have time,
but I try when I have pictures or a new work
to share. My newsletter is at yahoo groups,
and there's a link somewhere on my website.
Jen: Any scheduled public appearances coming
up?
Tina: I actually avoid public appearances. The
internet has made communicating with vast readerships
so easy and inexpensive that it's worth it to
me to stay home and keep a great website and
newsletter list instead. J I reach
more readers, I spend more time developing new
ideas, and my family gets dinner. It's
a happy ending for everyone.
Thank you, Tina, for taking time out of your
busy writing schedule to speak with me! It has
been such a pleasure getting to know you and
I can't wait to read the next book when
it comes out in November!
Speaking of which, what is the title
of Tina's November release, the second
book in the Tulips Saloon series?
The first 5 readers to email
me at jensjewels@gmail.com will
win a book from Tina!
Good Luck!
Coming in November, I will be bringing to you
an interview with a sizzling British author named
Rebecca Campbell. Her book is called The
Marriage Diaries. You won't want to
miss it!
Happy Halloween! Until next month……Jen |
Meet
the Author: featuring Jen's Jewels