Welcome My Latest Guest Linda McLaughlin!

I want to welcome Linda McLaughlin. First I’d love you to introduce yourself.

Thanks for having me today, Barbara. I’m a lifelong book junkie and history fanatic ever since I listened to my grandmother’s story about our family history when I was little. So when I started writing, it was natural that I would gravitate toward historical romance, though I’ve also written contemporary, fantasy and science fiction romance, with heat levels from sweet Regency to erotic male/male. The steamy stuff is written under my pseudonym, Lyndi Lamont.

Tell us about your latest release.

My latest release is a short holiday story, A Kiss and a Promise, in the Exquisite Quills A Holiday Anthology Volume 2 A Collection of Winter Holiday Tales. My story takes place at Yule and features a Victorian sleighing party to collect mistletoe. It’s a sweet story, with characters who fall into the “new adult” age range, but it’s also a prequel to my steamy Victorian short story, How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride. The anthology is free at Smashwords, http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/498109 Barnes and Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-holiday-anthology-volume-2-a-collection-of-winter-holiday-tales-rose-anderson/1120864121 and Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/a-holiday-anthology-volume-2-a-collection-of-winter-holiday-tales.

Now I have a few questions for you – I have found readers do like to know fun things about us writers.

1.) Who is your favorite villain – it can be from a book (even one of yours), movie or TV show. And why?

I love Killian Jones, aka Captain Hook, on Once Upon a Time. Why? Well, okay, aside from the fact that he’s gorgeous, he’s a charming villain with a core of decency, and it has been fun to watch the bad boy get it bad for good girl Emma. And a British accent never hurts either.

2.) Who is your favorite character out of your books? Why?

Oh, gosh, I don’t know if I can pick just one! My favorite hero is still Jacques Corbeau, my sexy French army officer from Rogue’s Hostage. Sexy Frenchman pretty much says it all.

3.) What do genre do you write? What made you pick that one?

As mentioned above, I’m a lifelong history nut, so historical romance is my default setting.

4.) What are you working on now?

I’m taking a little break from writing at the moment to deal with personal matters, but I have several projects in the works. One is a sequel to How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride, featuring the grown up characters from A Kiss and a Promise. Another is a contemporary paranormal novella involving a psychic and a cop.

5.) What got you to start writing?

I wanted to write when I was a kid, but my parents dissuaded me because there wasn’t any money in it. (They were mostly right about that part.) I became a librarian so I could work surrounded by books. At some point, I figured out that you could work a day job and write so I started doing that.

6.) Where do you get your ideas from?

There’s no good answer to that. Sometimes they come from a bit of history, a news bulletin, a dream. Sometimes a casual remark can spawn a story idea. Each story is different and has a different genesis.

7.) What would people who read your work be surprised to find out about you?

I don’t know. It seems to work the other way. People who know me are surprised when they read some of my writing. I’m a very quiet person, very much the librarian, but I have an earthy side that comes out in my writing.

8.) Do you have any special talents?

Not really. I used to play the piano, but I haven’t done that in years.

9.) If you could talk to any famous figure (present, past or fictional) who would it be and what would you talk about?

I’d love to talk to Jane Austen about her life and times.

10.) What song would you say describes your life?

I’m giving my age away with this one, but I’ve never been one to do things the standard or easy way, so I’d say I’ve Gotta Be Me pretty well sums it up.

11.) If you could come back as any animal – what would it be?

A lap dog. A life of luxury surrounded by people who love you sounds good right now.

Excerpt from A Kiss and a Promise by Lyndi Lamont

The younger Hammonds quickly donned their coats and mufflers, but Harry held Sophia’s coat for her. He rested a hand on her shoulder, before offering her his arm and leading her to the sleigh. The chill air stole her breath, though she felt oddly exhilarated.

“Pile in, everyone,” Harry ordered.

Gerald ushered Cora and Lydia into the back seat of the sleigh and squeezed in beside them. Little Phoebe climbed into his lap, leaving Sophia in the front between Harry and her brother. She leaned a little closer into Harry’s warmth, enjoying the closeness.

“Which way?” he asked.

Reggie gave directions to the best spot for gathering holly and mistletoe, and Harry steered the horses in that direction, bells attached to the harness jingling with each step. The weather had been beastly for the last month, but it had turned the estate into a winter fairyland. Silent snow-covered fields stretched as far as she could see, and each tree sported a layer of white, softening the stark look of the winter scene. The sky was overcast, and she suspected Harry was right to rush them along.

As soon as the sleigh stopped, Reggie jumped out, made a snowball and threw it at Cora as she exited the sleigh. She yelped and chased Reggie, Phoebe on her heels squealing with excitement. Sophia watched them with amusement. Oh, to be a child again.

But she was long past that sort of behavior. She’d had a season in London, after all. She glanced at Harry and caught a gleam in his eye. “Do not even think of joining those hooligans.”

Connect with me online at:

Website: at http://lindalyndi.com

Blog: http://lindalyndi.com/reading-room-blog/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthor

Twitter: @Lyndi Lamont https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont