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PM: Thank you so much for joining us today, Denise! I appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me!

DW: Thank you for having me!

PM: If you couldn’t be a writer, what career path do you think you’d choose to be on?

DW: Probably the one I almost chose rather than a degree in journalism with a history minor — preservation/restoration. My parents took me to historic sites across the Southeast as I was growing up. They expected me to be bored during long-winded tours, but I was listening intently and would start asking questions. I just love old houses and how they whisper the stories of the past. In fact, my Restoration Trilogy and my new contemporary release, Fall Flip, are romances centered around restoration projects.

PM: I have a love for old homes as well, I always enjoyed looking at them and wondering about the people that used to live there! If we were to open you your refrigerator right now, what would we find in it?

DW: LOL. Not a lot, because my college age daughter and my high school age daughter keep it cleaned out. Eggs, fresh fruit, two casseroles, lunch meat and cheese, and, um, a whole shelf of various flavors of coffee creamers.

PM: I see you write both historical and contemporary fiction – which genre do you prefer?

DW: I enjoy both for different reasons, but my roots are with the historicals. Especially since I’m also an editor for historical fiction and romance.

PM: What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite gender?

DW: That question makes me smile because I just taught a class at the North Georgia Christian Writers’ Conference on that very thing. I actually love writing from the male POV. The differences in the way a masculine hero and a feminine heroine think and communicate makes for great romantic tension.

PM: I completely agree with you on that! I love getting the different perspectives, too. If there was a news story about your life, what would the headline say?

DW: Construction Zone: Work in Progress

(me AND my stories)

PM: That is so well said! Do you ever get “too attached” to your characters? And if so, do you want to share which one?

DW: Too attached in terms of not wanting them to be edited, or too attached in that I want to have conversations with them and I miss them when they’re gone? LOL. I’ve gone through enough editing rounds that I realize all characters need some polishing, but I did become rather sad when I finished writing my most recent work in progress this past spring. It’s about a mixed-blood Cherokee son of a chief — he’s actually a student at the mission school in The Witness Tree, my recent historical release — who grows up to fight in the Cherokee Regiment against the Red Stick Creeks in 1813-14. Sam falls in love with his colonel’s daughter, Susanna. It’s an exciting frontier romance that my publisher is shopping right now. It was hard for me to “come in from” the Alabama wilderness back to modern life.

Thankfully, I’m not the only one who seems to have trouble keeping my characters on the page. My Restoration Trilogy was inspired by the renovation my parents did on a doctor’s house and apothecary shop. They frequently have visitors who ask if their bedroom is “Michael’s room.”

PM: You have got me so interested in reading these books now! I take it you live in Georgia, which is where my hubs is from, have you lived there all your life? What would you tell someone who has never been there is the best part of Georgia?

DW: Oh, how neat! Where is your husband from? I have lived in Georgia my whole life — except for a brief stint at Asbury University in Kentucky. The thing I love most about our state is its varied topography — from the mountains to the coast to the piedmont to the South Georgia pines.

PM: My hubs is from a little near Augusta….GO DAWGS! What are you reading for fun right now?

DW: I’m part of Elva Cobb Martin’s endorsement/launch team for her November release, Marisol: Spanish Rose. When I’m not writing or editing myself, a lot of my fiction reading is to help endorse, beta read, and promote for author friends.

PM: That is so generous of you! I know they must appreciate your assistance so much. When do you find the time to write? Where is your favorite place to write?

DW: Whenever my family is gone to work and school — because I work from my kitchen island. One day … sigh … one day, I might have an office with a door that closes. 🙂

PM: How can readers keep up with you and your new releases?

Thank you so much for asking. I’d love to connect with new readers on social media.

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Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance and romantic suspense set in her home state of Georgia. She’s authored over nine novels and a number of novellas. As a managing editor at Smitten Historical Romance and Heritage Beacon Fiction, Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, she also helps others reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.

PM: Finally, coffee or tea? Cream, sugar?

DW: Coffee in the morning and tea in the afternoon. And for sure, Stevia and flavored creamer!

I am so thrilled to have Tanya Stowe in for coffee with us today! Please help me give her a warm welcome!

PM: I must tell you, I was so surprised when reading your bio on your website! What a fascinating life you have! One of my all time favorite authors from back “in the day” was LaVyrle Spencer! In fact her book Bittersweet was one of my absolute favorites, I was only in my twenties when I read it the first time and I searched high and low to get it in hardback after reading the paperback to the point of destruction, lol! Did you get to meet her in person?

TS: Yes, I did meet LaVyrle Spencer at a conference many, many years ago. She was a very gracious, kind lady who did not enjoy the spotlight.

PM: That is so nice to hear! I was also shocked about you having 20 grandchildren! Are you able to spend time with most of them?

TS: I actually have 21 grandchildren, my youngest is 3 and the oldest is 28. In the past I was very close to my grandchildren. It has been more difficult to sustain that closeness since we’ve been on the road. But we always spend Christmas with the family and we’re working on spending time in the summer with our grandchildren. We like to take them on the road with us whenever we can and we always take the high school graduates on a road trip. I look forward to those especially!

PM: I bet they will have some wonderful memories! When do you find the time to write? Where is your favorite place to write?

TS: I used to have an office which gave me a lot of silent time. My husband is very good about giving me time and space to write but we’re in a small space and he can’t help but rattle around. So I get up at 5:30 every morning to write in that silence, just to get me started. Once I get rolling, nothing stops me.

PM: What was your favorite subject in school?

TS: I had two. English and history. I took every English class available at my high school and usually ended up working ahead because I loved it so much.

PM: Do you have any family pets that currently own you?

TS: No. Our dog passed away while we were still overseas and since we knew we would be in transition when we returned, we decided to leave things the way they were. Because we are always on the move or sight-seeing we have no regrets.  

PM: Aww, so sorry for your loss! What have been some of your favorite travels in the motor-home?

TS: Once we were parked on a high mesa on the Navajo reservation with no electricity or running water. Our camp looked out over the vast flat lands south. When the sun set the sky turned pink and mauve and purple and in the distance, we could see storm clouds and lightning that streaked the sky downward and seemed to hit the ground. It was beautiful. Last summer we were in Oklahoma City after a beautiful day. Later that night when we were preparing for bed, I saw lightning in the sky, flashing like a strobe light. A storm with 60-80 mile an hour winds and hail the size of softballs was headed our way. Fortunately, it passed us by, but it gave me a taste of what life in tornado alley is like. I love feeling, smelling and tasting our country at its grass roots. Those are the things that add depth to my stories.

PM: That sounds absolutely amazing! What’s your favorite color? Any reason why?

TS: Mauve. I have no idea why. I do know my favorite color has changed over the years. Maybe it has something to do with what colors look good on me. LOL. When I was younger, I loved red and purple…all those jewel tones. Now I like something a little softer.  

PM: If you couldn’t be a writer, what career path do you think you’d choose to be on?

TS: I don’t know. I’ve wanted to write since I was eleven years old and I’ve worked toward that goal ever since. I suppose it would be something to do with public relations. I love meeting new people and I do a pretty good interview. I suppose that would be the way I would go.

PM: Can you tell us what was the one thing that stood out to you most when living in the Middle East?

TS: That’s a really hard question because there were so many amazing things that stood out. Looking back, I was part of a very large international community and knew people from India, Russia, Europe, Australia, the Philippines and China. We all had very basic fundamental differences in how we saw the world. At the same time we were all people who loved our children and our parents, wanted security and a good quality of life. It was important to accept people where they were and to find that common ground. When I did that, I found those differences weren’t so very important after all.

PM: With so many published novels, what book would you tell a new to you reader to start with of yours?

TS: I laughed when I read this. Like most authors I’m basically insecure. I like to think I’m always improving so the latest book is always the best. Read Fatal Memories!

PM: I know what you mean, I am always so insecure, lol! How can readers keep up with you and your new releases?

TS: I have a monthly newsletter where I share my latest travels as well as my releases, book signings and social media adventures. You also receive a short read just for signing up. Here is the link if you’re interested. https://www.subscribepage.com/c7i1q9

You can find other ways to contact on my website https://tanyastowe.com

I’m also easy to find on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

PM: Finally, coffee or tea? Cream, sugar?

Latte. Coffee with lots of cream and a little sugar.

Tanya’s newest release:

She was framed! Or was she?

If only she could remember…

Border patrol agent Jocelyn Walker has no memory of how she turned up unconscious with a cache of drugs—or why a gang is dead set on killing her. With evidence stacking up against her, Joss takes refuge with driven DEA agent Dylan Murphy, who guards—and suspects—her. But will finally trusting each other lead them into a trap they’ll never escape?

About Tanya Stowe