Highlighting Historical Romance with Caroline Clemmons and her look into rail travel in Texas
When I start researching a book, I can easily fall down the rabbit hole. I see something interesting and—even though the information doesn’t pertain to my book—there I go. By the time I reached MONK’S BRIDE, book 5 in the Kincaid Series, I had done a lot of research specifically for the series.
The first book in the Kincaid series required tons of research on rail travel. My husband, who I call Hero, and I visited several rail museums in our vicinity. I wrote to others. At the KATY (Missouri-Kansas-Texas) rail museum in Denison, we were able to view books intended for railroad workmen. What a help that was. Diagrams showed how a boxcar could be divided to accommodate horses, which was one important detail I needed.
A bit of trivia I learned is Texas has more rail lines than any other state.
The first time we visited the KATY museum, it was on the ground floor of a nice building which also housed offices and the television studios. On our return visit we were shocked. Sadly, the museum was relegated to an open booth in an antique mall. Only one person was at the mall register and was busy most of the time. He said many irreplaceable things had been stolen because there was no way to protect them and no funds to safeguard them. Seeing a valuable museum evicted and diminished in such a heartless manner saddened and angered me.
(check out this menu from a railroad dining car)
I gathered my information and came home. I have a tremendous amount of research material on rail travel from 1870-1890. Many times I’ve shared my treasure trove with other authors. Naturally, I plan to continue sharing with anyone who contacts me.
About the Book: Monk’s Bride
A destitute widow; a reformed con man; the danger that links them…
Betsie Galloway Hirsch has escaped Memphis with her son. Her gambling husband tricked the wrong people and they’re demanding Betsie pay his debts—or else. She’s come to Kincaid Springs to stay with her mother and seek a safe place for her son. Being so far from her former home, she feels secure. That is, until danger confronts her.
After 34 years alone, Michael “Monk” Magonagle is falling in love with Betsie and is fond of her son. Monk is certain she is not free of the men her late husband cheated. Although he is not a violent man by nature, Monk is willing to fight for Betsie’s safety. He and the men of the Kincaid family prepare to meet the enemy.
How can Betsie and Liam be protected from the approaching danger? Will she and Monk be able to forge a love that endures or will one of them be silenced forever? What toll will the enemy exact?
MONK’S BRIDE is available for preorder and will be released April 12. It’s available in e-book or print and is KU. The universal buy link is: http://mybook.to/Monk
Excerpt
Monk hoped he wasn’t about to make a fool of himself. He took her hand. “Betsie, I know you’re recently widowed and I don’t want to rush you. When you’re ready to receive callers, may I call on you?”
“Well, of course. Mam’s said she’s told you you’re always welcome here…” He saw when his meaning dawned on her. She gaped and laid a hand at her throat. “Wait… you mean on me personally?”
He nodded, suddenly overcome by shyness.
A wide smile graced her face. “Oh, Monk, I’d like that.” She raised her chin. “I-I’m not mourning my late husband for several reasons. You may call whenever you wish.”
He released his breath. “Thank you. I’ll be by this evening after supper.” He realized he still held her hand and relinquished it.
She laid her fingers on his arm. “Why not come for supper? You have to eat sometime.”
“You’ve convinced me. I’ll see you later this afternoon. Goodbye.” He grabbed his hat and left before he did or said something goofy.
At least she hadn’t made fun of him for asking. She’d appeared pleased but she didn’t know many people in town yet. Would she change her mind after meeting other eligible men?
About the Author
Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To compensate for this illogical error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a tiny office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their three rescued indoor cats as well as providing nourishment outdoors for squirrels, birds, and other critters.
The books she creates in her pink cave have made her an Amazon bestselling author and won several awards. She writes sweet to sensual romances about the West, both historical and contemporary as well as time travel and mystery. Her series include the Kincaids, McClintocks, Stone Mountain Texas, Bride Brigade, Texas Time Travel, Texas Caprock Tales, Pearson Grove, and Loving A Rancher as well as numerous single titles and contributions to multi-author sets. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, reading her friends’ books, lunching with friends, browsing antique malls, checking Facebook, and taking the occasional nap. Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google+, and Pinterest.
Join her and other readers at Caroline’s Cuties, a Facebook readers group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/277082053015947/ for special excerpts, exchanging ideas, contests, giveaways, recipes, and talking to like-minded people about books and other fun things.
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She loves to hear from readers at caroline@carolineclemmons.com
Thank you, Caroline Warfield, for having me as your guest!
Caroline, thank you for having me as your guest today.