I started reading your books when you wrote for Silhouette Intimate Moments and loved your books ever since then. I still snatch up your back list when ever I'm able to.
Can you tell us when did you publish your first book and the title of that book?
My first book was Guardian Angel, a western historical romance that was published by Leisure Books in 1994.
Can you tell us what this book is about?
I’ve always loved westerns. In Guardian Angel the hero, Gabriel, is a gunslinger looking for revenge for his father’s death. He comes to the heroine Melanie in disguise, pretending to be one kind of man by day and another by night. I have used that kind of setup a time or two in the years since. It’s just FUN. This was truly my first book, and I have to say -- it has enough plot for at least three books. :-)
What influenced your desire to become a romance writer?
I am a lifelong reader, and like so many others my love of books led me to try to write one myself. At first I planned to write mysteries, but whenever I sat down to play with a story idea the relationships were always more important than the whodunnit. When the relationship is the focus, that’s romance.
Are you currently working on a new book and if so, where did this idea come from?
I’m working on my next book with Linda Howard, a sequel to Running Wild. I also have several other ideas cooking, as always. More Columbyana stories I hope to be able to write, as well as some new contemporary ideas.
Several authors today have different pen names for different genres. Do you write under a different name and if so, for which genre do you write with this name?
I’ve written as Linda Winstead, Linda Jones, Linda Winstead Jones, Linda Devlin and Linda Fallon. Right now I use Linda Jones for the books I write with Linda Howard, and Linda Winstead Jones on my other books. I never actually chose to use a pen name; it was always suggested by a publisher for a new type of book. Now, as I republished older books I have the rights to, I’m marketing them all under one name -- Linda Winstead Jones. It’s long, I know, but there are a LOT of Linda Joneses out there.
Bride by Midnight, which is book 10 in the Columbyana series is brand new. Don’t let that 10 scare you. :-) This is a standalone book in a world I created with The Sun Witch. It’s also my first new self-published book, so this has been a real learning experience.
Running Wild, a contemporary western that was written with Linda Howard, is still available. When it comes to e-books, almost every book I’ve ever written is available! Check out my website at www.lindawinsteadjones.com and go to previous releases for a complete list.
Would you be willing to share an excerpt with us?
From Bride by Midnight:
A thief or a nunnery? A complete stranger or a life lived alone? What did it say about her that the thief seemed a better choice? “We must hurry,” she said, tugging on his stolen uniform and leading the way to the church at the center of town. It had already been a while since the newly installed palace clock had pealed, announcing the eleventh hour. She wasn’t certain how much time she had left to wake Father Kiril and convince him to perform an untraditional wedding ceremony before that clock struck midnight. “By the way, what’s your name?” she asked as she turned into a narrow lane.
“Blade Renshaw,” her prospective groom said.
Blade. Unusual name. For a brief moment, Lyssa pictured the sword from her latest dream. The dangerous, sharp, gleaming blade had swung so close...
“My name is Lyssa,” she said, pushing the memory of the dream to the back of her mind. “Lyssa Tempest. Soon to be Lyssa Renshaw, I suppose.”
Considering her unfortunate history with prospective grooms, she wondered if she could keep Blade Renshaw alive and willing until they reached the priest and the marriage could be done.
Read, write, and find other writers. For me the connection with other writers came with Romance Writers of America and my local chapter of that group. This is not an easy business, but it’s not an impossible one, either.
How can new readers find out more information about you and your books?
I have a newly updated website at www.lindawinsteadjones.com, a twitter account I’m just getting started (@LWJbooks), and a couple of facebook accounts I visit regularly. https://www.facebook.com/linda.w.jones.92?ref=tn_tnmn, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Winstead-Jones/103936415079, and https://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-HowardLinda-Jones/338468330887.
Thanks so much for having me here!
Thank you for stopping by, Linda!