Interview with Tina Leonard

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: 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. 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 enter the Fresh Fiction contest 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