Author Spotlight - Q&A with Delores Goodrick Beggs

STEPH: I don't know much about Substitute Lover. What's it about?

DELORES: Substitute Lover is the story of Tennyson Wells, sister of hearing-impaired Mauranie Wells in Book One of the Place in the Heart series, and Caleb Cameron, who follows bad boy Jasper Greon to Mescal Flats New, Mexico, and appoints himself Tennyson's protector when Jasper's
proposed larks go beyond fun.

STEPH: How long did it take you to write?

DELORES: I wrote the story during a period of time when I worked overtime and before captions were readily available on television (I have a severe hearing loss.) I usually got upstairs to my writing desk at home in time to watch the owl that nested in the palm tree in front of my bedroom window fly past on its nightly hunt. Then I'd sit at my desk and write for several hours. Completing Tennyson's story a few hours at a time took me the better part of a year.

STEPH: How much research did you have to do?

DELORES: Regarding research, I knew markers had been responsible for bringing a couple together, but I didn't know anything about how they were used or the tradition they represented, even though they were in universal use back in the 1800's. The family relation who had marker experience in her family line explained to me how they worked back then.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story within?

DELORES: I think the cover is perfect, thanks to Gwen Phifer, who seems to effortlessly envision illustrations that capture the essence of my stories in her creations. Tennyson Wells loves to be in town and wear pretty dance gowns.

STEPH: Tennyson Wells is the heroine. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses?

DELORES: Tennyson is much more than a pretty woman who loves to wear new gowns and dance. She has a warm heart and she loves to help people, sometimes too much, because she sees the good in everyone and doesn't distinguish when bad has unexpectedly been thrown into the mix.

STEPH: What does Caleb Cameron find appealing about her?

DELORES: Caleb notices Tennyson because bad boy Jasper Greon, whom he has been trailing for some time, takes up with her, and Caleb feels a need to protect her when Jasper's larks take a wrong turn. Caleb is himself drawn to Tennyson's kind heart and her desire to help people.

STEPH: What is the theme of the novel?

DELORES: The theme of the novel is finding ways to help persons who need help. It has seemed to me everybody needs someone sometimes.

STEPH: As a writer, where do you draw inspiration from?

DELORES: I draw inspiration from everywhere as a writer. An act, an incident will stay upon my mind and formulate itself into the basis of a story. Or just jump into my mind unexpectedly when I am concentrating upon another task, and then I have to jot myself some quick notes before it will let me be to finish the task I was on when it struck me. I have scorched the breakfast bacon more than once because of this.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

DELORES:I have a kindle e-reader and I love it. I always have a book on it ready to read when I have spare moments, usually to relax before bedtime.

STEPH: Fun question: do you have any New Year's traditions you'd like to share? How did you celebrate New Year's?

DELORES: Usually I make a small list of new things I'd like to try in the coming year. But this year I got waylaid by the idea for a new story and it wouldn't leave me alone until I captured the essence in words on paper. So I guess writing the new story is my plan for this year.

Find Substitue Lover at:
http://goo.gl/X3f5l (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1oqYI (Amazon.com)
Also available at Barnes & Nobel, major e-book publishers

Also available by Delores Goodrick Beggs:
Place in the Heart Book One: Breaking Point, May 2012
http://goo.gl/lH5NE (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/1BIuN (Amazon.com)

Charming Champion, August, 2012, Contemporary single title
http://goo.gl/mfYCR (www.desertbreezepublishing.com)
http://goo.gl/r8J1U (Amazon.com)

Coming June, 2013 - Place in the Heart Book Three: Perfect Tenderfoot