Monday, May 5, 2014

Author Interview & Book Spotlight: The Bull Rider's Keeper by Lynn Cahoon

The Bull Riders Keeper
by Lynn Cahoon

Publisher: Crimson Romance
Genre: Contemporary Western Romance

About the Book:
Jesse Sullivan isn’t afraid of any thing, any man, or any bull. But when he decides to take a chance and carve out a life outside his rodeo career, he’s feeling like he’s walking on shaky ground. In typical Jesse style, he jumps at a chance to purchase Main Street Gallery, a Boise tradition in the art world.
Taylor DeMarco has two goals for the next year. Getting the gallery on sound financial ground to prove to her parents that she can keep her grandfather's legacy alive is the first one. Moving out of the house and into her own condo by the Boise river, is the second. When she finds her folks are selling the gallery to Jesse, she vows to stop the sale, no hands barred. 

When sparks fly between Jesse and Taylor, family gets in the way of reason, and they have to decide what is more important, their desires or keeping Main Street Gallery open and successful.


MRP would like to extend a very warm welcome to Lynn Cahoon, author of The Bull rider's Keeper. Lynn, can you tell us where you're from, and where/whom did your love for writing come from? 
When I divorced, I started taking classes in the MFA-Creative Writing program. I spent a semester working on the literary magazine, reading the slush pile. I was hooked. Then I decided again that the degree wasn’t practical and I had lots of time. A bout with breast cancer taught me that tomorrow wasn’t guaranteed, so I started writing seriously again.

If you were to be left alone on an island, what three books would you take with you?
The Stand – Stephen King, The Complete Works of Shakespeare, and probably The Talisman- Peter Straub, Stephen King. (If it came with Black House-the follow up story- I’d be in heaven.) I chose Shakespeare because I haven’t read all of the plays. But the other two, these are books where the stories and the characters have stayed with me for years. 

What are your most and least favorite movie genres?
I love romantic comedies. Bird on the Wire, How to Lose a Guy in 10 days, Sleepless in Seattle. I hate war movies. (Except maybe Pacific – but that was a love story too)

If you could choose any man for your next book cover, who would he be?
Tall, dark, and handsome. Or Matthew McConaughey. Maybe Johnny Depp. 

When you are on a deadline, what aspect of your ‘regular’ life suffers most?
Besides my sanity? Housework. Typically, I like to give myself a good two weeks before the deadline to complete. But sometimes that doesn’t work out. The third book in The Tourist Trap mysteries gave me fits. I scheduled three months to complete it, I asked for an extension a month out, and I had a rough draft with two weeks to spare. It was the first time I had to come up with an idea in a very short period of time and execute the plot on a deadline.

What advice would you give aspiring authors?
Finish the book. Don’t worry about anything until you finish the book.

What advice would you give seasoned writers?
Lighten up. The world isn’t going to end if you don’t make The Times list. This is supposed to be fun people! And never complain in public. 

When reading for pleasure, do you prefer a physical or electronic book?
Physical books, please. I work on the computer for the day job, then write for an hour or more on the computer at home. When I’m reading and relaxing, I want to be curled up in a chair or in bed, not staring at a screen. 

From the first stroke of a pen (or laptop), how long did it take you get published?
I started taking classes in 1999. I published my first essay in a national magazine in 2007, Chicken Soup -2008, the Trues -2009, Women’s World-2011, and my first full length book –June 4th-2012. 12 and ½ years.

Did you ever feel like calling it quits?
I put the dream on hold from 2001-2006 – thinking I had lots of time. When I was diagnosed with stage III-C cancer, I figured it was now or never. Since selling in 2012 I’ve been frustrated, dejected, and overwhelmed at times. My personal life took a hit in 2013 and I really had to think about balance in my writing and home life. But I knew I couldn’t give up the writing. 

What did you do when you got your first contract? 
I was at the day job. I turned to Steve, my cube buddy who sat across from me and took a deep breath. “I think I sold my book.” Then I called my hubby and my mentor/best friend and probably squealed a bit. Then I started researching the publisher and comparing my options.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Lynn. We really enjoyed the visit and hearing about all you've overcome. Good luck and great sales with The Bull Rider's Keeper


About the Author:
Lynn Cahoon’s a multi-published author. An Idaho native, her stories focus around the depth and experience of small town life and love. Lynn’s published in Chicken Soup anthologies, explored controversial stories for the confessional magazines, short stories in Women’s World, and contemporary romantic fiction. Currently, she’s living in a small historic town on the banks of the Mississippi river where her imagination tends to wander. She lives with her husband and four fur babies.

Author Contacts:

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for having me over Cary!

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  2. Wow, Lynn, I found something different about you today. I can't imagine you writing such delightful romantic/comedic westerns, but enjoying Stephen King and Peter Straub. The type of stories they write seem incongruous with yours. I guess you're a multi-faceted author. :-) Congrats on overcoming the Stage III cancer - one of our daughters survived hers six years ago. Yea for pink ribbon research and technology! Continue to have fun on your tour and I hope you get many more new readers. jdh2690@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Yeah, Janice, I have a dark side. Loving 11/22/63 right now.

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