Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Interview- Linda Joyce- Bayou Bound


Hello Readers, boy have I got a treat for you. Today I'm interviewing author Linda Joyce and in exchange she is hosting a giveaway!!! I can hardly contain my excitement. The first one ever on this blog. Here's what you need to know.

Linda is doing a giveaway of an eBook--Bayou Born. Anyone who leaves a message with this post will be entered into the drawing. The winner will be announced on Nov. 20th on Linda's blog: Linda Joyce Contemplates   www.lindajoycecontemplates.com 

Now that I've tempted your literary taste buds, please, read on.




Linda, please tell me three words that describe yourself.

Perception of self is an interesting thing.

 Eclectic. I’m Asian-Cajun and Irish. That spills over into my tastes in food, music, and my surroundings. My home is a good reflection of who I am...well most of it.

 Tenacious. When I worked in corporate America, tenacious is the single word that regardless of which company I worked for, was included in every performance review I ever received. I love learning about all sorts of things, which makes me dig for information. Wish I’d had that same desire in college. Then, I just wanted to get through and get out. My grades were good, but I didn’t enjoy it.

 Understanding. I am able to see both the forest and the trees. I understand both sides of an argument and that’s difficult for people who want everything to be black or white. As my Southern daddy always says, “There’s his story. There’s her story, then there’s the truth.”

 What are your three favorite things?

Oh, wow. Only three? Things...as in tangible items. My Hero and my four-legged boys aren’t things, however my favorites of everything in my life. Beyond them, things...I’m very sentimental. It’s not about the financial value of anything, but the place they hold in my heart. Books are a favorite, but I don’t have just one. So maybe these three things:

A) A necklace. As a little girl, when Mother would let me play with her jewelry, there was one thing I always liked to hold--a pendant for a necklace. Back then, it didn’t have a chain. Later, I learned my Japanese great-grandfather gave it to my grandmother as an Obi pin when she was a girl. (Obi being the wrapped sash worn at the waist around a kimono.) My mother bought a chain for it and gave it to me as a birthday present about ten years ago. I cherish that necklace.

B) A diamond ring. Several years ago, before my Cajun grandmother passed away, she gave me the engagement ring my Irish grandfather gave to her. It had a center stone with three diamonds on each side in a platinum setting. I had the center diamond reset because the original setting was damaged. I gave the six diamonds to my sister. (She, too, was given a diamond ring, but she wasn’t as thrilled with hers...I hope someday she’ll have all of the stones set into one ring.)

C) My diamond engagement ring. My husband couldn’t afford one when we got engaged. Life together was more important that a diamond to me. We married at the end of my freshman year of college and barely had two nickels to rub together for years. Our big “date night out” was to go grocery shopping at midnight on Friday night. Being able to afford groceries was huge. After college, we needed jobs, clothes, cars, etc... so on our twelfth anniversary, my husband surprised me with a long weekend at a resort on the beach. On the balcony, under a full moon with the roar of the Atlantic surf in the background, he presented the ring. Since then, he’s offered to trade the diamond up for a larger stone, but I refused. The ring is perfect just the way it is.

I have to say, an obi pin passed down through the generations sounds like a book in the making to me.

How much is your character like you?

I have written five full novels, many short stories, (including a romantic short every month for Hidden Desires Romance magazine since the magazine’s inception) essays and poems. Every essay, every poem, every single character I have ever written contains some aspect of me. Male or Female, doesn’t matter. I’m there. It could be as simple as the wine they like with a particular type of food or perfume or flower. Or even the truck a Hero drives. One of my dogs frequently shows up in a story...or their name is the name given to a secondary character. Most recently, I wrote a short story, Cupid’s Arrow. There’s a third grade girl in the story and she’s doing the Cupid Shuffle. That would be me...dancing, that is. Also my characters get to do things I never dared. So, I get to live vicariously through them.

I love it.  Will there be more books in your series, or can you tell us about any previous books?

The Fleur de Lis series is a work in progress. Fleur de Lis is the name of an antebellum estate on the Pearl River in fictional Bayou Petite. The series is the saga of a family so the cast of characters offers endless possibilities. The first book, Bayou Born is the story of Branna and James, but their story doesn’t end there. Bayou Bound highlights the journey of Biloxi Dutrey and Nick Trahan, however, Branna and Biloxi are cousins, their lives are very intertwined, and with any large family, there’s going to be angst. I’m currently working on Back to the Bayou, book three in the series, which brings Branna’s younger sister, Camilla home just in time to witness Hurricane Katrina’s destruction of Bayou Petite, Mississippi.
That said, Branna and Camilla have a brother, Carson. Biloxi has a sister, Nola, and a brother, Linc. All of them have stories simmering. Then, there are other cousins, too. I love this family, their heart and their heated conflict. I hope readers do, too.

I love a good series. You've already got me hook. So when you're not writing, what can you be found doing?

Not what I love, sadly. We bought a house that needed a lot of tender care three years ago and we’re still working on it...and the yard. When I graduated college, we bought a fixer-upper. I swore I would Never do that gain. But then, we found this house when we moved to Georgia and it needed love, so...I need my head examined or new medication. I hope to return to painting—on canvas. I clarify that point since there are several colors on the kitchen walls from our color testing days. We picked a color, but for some reason, paint just doesn’t smear itself during my sleeping hours. I’ve been waiting since February for that to happen, but so far, no luck.
The other big thing in my life is my dogs. My schedule revolves around them. Feeding, playing and sleeping. A tired dog is a good dog... which makes writing time easier.

You sound like a busy bee and a great multi-tasker. Thank you for being with us today. How about a blurb before you go?



Biloxi Dutrey grounds her jet-setting photography career and returns to Mississippi when she learns her family home, Fleur De Lis, is headed for financial ruin. She plans to save it by scooping up the job of Keeper. But that means breaking tradition, and her family isn't cooperating. 
 Veterinarian Nick Trahan is new in town and wants folks to stop matchmaking. He won't settle for just a pretty face. He wants the perfect woman, one who believes in family and commitment—the exact opposite of his parents.
 Nick rescues Biloxi during a raging storm, but the squall is tame compared to the tempest between them. Soon they experience the backlash from the long-standing feud between their families. If Biloxi surrenders her dreams for Fleur de Lis and toes the line with tradition, will she also be forced to give up on "forever love" due to the hate their families still harbor?

And now for the excerpt: 

A bit of an introduction here...Each year in Bayou Petite, Macy Lind, Biloxi Dutrey’s aunt, hosts a charity auction that requires all family members pitching in to make the event a success. Biloxi takes photographs of the individual winners along with the person who donated to the auction. She receives help from her younger brother, Linc.
Nick Trahan is offering a flying adventure with a lunch to the highest bidder, and he’s hoping the winner will be Biloxi...but Chantel had other ideas.

Meet Biloxi Dutrey and Nick Trahan:

“Nicky,” she said, sidling up to him after she tore out the check and handed it to Macy. She linked her arm with his, then stroked her hand down his sleeve as if petting a cat. “We made history tonight in this little place.”
The hair on the back of his neck stood up. Whatever Chantel was up to, he wanted no part of it. Her manipulative streak could appear out of nowhere. He’d witnessed the fallout whenever she didn’t get her way. Usually it involved a man and his money. He always pitied that poor guy. This time, he needed to be sure that “poor guy” wasn’t him.
He untangled from her grasp. “Hey, Linc. Know where your sister is?”
Linc rolled his eyes. “Nola’s too young for you, dude.”
“Very funny,” he snorted. “The older one. Beauty with brains.”
“Yeah.”
 “Well?” He waited, then added. “Where can I find her?”
“I’m here.”
He turned to see Biloxi standing a few feet away. He stepped toward her, but Chantel tried to block his path. She turned her back to him and faced Biloxi. “I hope there are no hard feelings.” No one could miss the condescension in her voice. He hated it when she got like this.
Biloxi smiled at him, a dreamy sort of expression, then batted her lashes. “Honey, hush! Hard feelings? None a’tall. The money’s for a good cause. Why, Nick takes me flying and to lunch often. It doesn’t cost me five grand.”

 Bio: Linda Joyce is an award-winning writer. Her Louisiana roots run deep, and they’re intertwined with her Japanese heritage. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband and three dogs: General Beauregard, Gentleman Jack, and Masterpiece Renoir. Linda writes romance with contemporary heroines on a journey of self-discovery. 

Linda Joyce is an award-winning author living in Atlanta with her husband and three dogs: General Beauregard, Gentleman Jack, and Masterpiece Renoir. Even after eleven years, Linda and Beau are still battling. He thinks Linda is HIS pet. Linda writes contemporary women’s fiction/romance with heroines on a journey of self-discovery. Her debut novel, Bayou Born, was released in February 2013. Bayou Bound will be released soon. Please connect with her at: 

Website: http://www.linda-joyce.com
Pintrest:  http://pinterest.com/LindaJoyceWorld/boards/

Don't forget to leave a comment and be entered to win a copy of Linda's book- BAYOU BORN.

8 comments:

  1. Hey Linda, Thank you so much for being here today. I really enjoyed our interview.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Angela,

      Thank you for having me as your guest. I loved the questions you asked. :-)

      I appreciate the opportunity to share will all of your readers about my Fleur de Lis series.

      Smiles,

      Linda

      Delete
  2. Of course your excerpt is great, Linda, :) but your story about the engagement ring on your 12th anniversary was so touching!!! I love that you haven't exchanged it for a bigger one. Barb Bettis

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Barbara,

      I'm glad you enjoyed the story of my ring. I think I'm pretty lucky. I've got a great Hero in my life.

      Smiles,
      Linda

      Delete
  3. Interesting interview. Can't wait to read more of your Fleur de Lis series.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gina,

      Thank you for taking a moment and catching up with me here. I'm waiting to hear about your next book...don't keep me waiting too long, please. What will follow The Storm After?

      Smiles,

      Linda Joyce

      Delete
  4. And the Winner is:

    Barbara!

    (Barbara, please email me with the email address where you want me to send your copy of Bayou Born.

    Smiles,

    Linda Joyce

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great interview, I love the excerpts; sounds like an interesting book!

    Coline

    ReplyDelete