Thursday, June 25, 2015

High Country Spring & Interview with author Genevieve Turner

Q ~ Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I never intended to become a writer. I always loved reading, but I fell into writing almost by accident. I became a stay at home mom with my first kid and I needed to find something to do during naptime. I could do the housework (blech) or I could try to write a book. You can guess which one I picked.

Q ~ What’s one habit that you have that you’d like to break?
Slouching. I have terrible posture from spending my life hunched over a desk or a book.

Q ~ If you could be any animal, which would you be and why?
Hmm. When I was little, I would have said a horse, since I was crazy for horses. I guess now I’d have to say dolphin, so I could find out if they’re really as intelligent as we believe they are.

Q ~ How do you think people perceive authors?
I think people think authors’ lives are more glamorous than they really are. But I am definitely the worst dressed mom in the car line—putting on yoga pants is getting dressed up for me.

Q ~ Do you have a favourite author? Do they influence your writing?
Cecilia Grant is hands down my favourite author. She writes very lush, complex characters—and her use of POV is amazing to see. I wish I wrote even half as well as she does.

Q ~ How did you begin writing? Was there a single catalyst or a series of events?
Well, I wanted something to do during the day that wasn’t housework or childcare. Something just for myself. And at the time, authors were beginning to share their experiences on the internet, so I learned that you didn’t need an MFA to be a writer—romance authors came from all walks of life. And once I started writing, I found I couldn’t stop.

Q ~ What’s the best thing that’s happened since you began writing? The worst?
The best thing is all the wonderful people I’ve met through my writing—both authors and readers. I don’t want to say the worst because I don’t want to tempt fate into sending me something worse.

Q ~ Do you have any writing rituals that you follow? What is your go-to snack while writing?
My ritual is to put the baby down for his nap and work as fast as I can for the next three hours.

Q ~ Can you tell us a little bit about your latest release High Country Spring?
High Country Spring is the story of the youngest Moreno sister, Franny, who’s a bit of a wild child and a tomboy. She and Felipe have been clashing for the entire series now and finally they’re going to figure out that it’s not just frustration that’s been simmering between them.

Q ~ Have you written an outline for the Las Morenas series or do you make it up as you go?
I have a mental outline and have had it since the first book. It’s hard for me to write unless I know where I’m going. I also spend quite a bit of time just thinking about the books when I’m not writing, which helps me to work out exactly what will happen next.

Q ~ What is your process for choosing character names?
Sometimes names just come to me—with Isabel, Franny, and Felipe, I just knew those were their names. With others, it can take a lot of research to find just the right name. I searched for Sebastian’s name for over a week before I found one that fit him.

Q ~ If you were stranded on a desert island with one of your characters (from any novel you’ve written) who would you choose and why?
That’s a tough one. I have written a character who’s pretty much exactly like me, but I think that having to put up with myself all the time would get old.

I’d choose Franny, because she’d be really good at surviving, always have a good attitude, and she’s funny.

Q ~ Do you have anything in the works at the moment? Care to give us a hint about it?
I have a couple things in the works. I’m slowly working on Juan’s story (the lone Moreno brother) which will be the start of a new historical series.

But before that comes out, I’ll be releasing a contemporary Western series, A Cowboy of Her Own, which will feature a new generation of Morenos and Merrills in modern Cabrillo. Look for the first book, Her Billionaire Rancher Boss, in August!

Q ~ If you could give aspiring authors one piece of advice, what would it be?
Writing is like any other skill—it takes lots of time and lots of practice to hone your talent. Your first attempts at writing will be pretty bad. But if you keep at it and always try to learn something new about the craft, you will get better. So practice patience, keep writing, and do lots of reading!


About the author:

Genevieve Turner writes romance fresh from the Golden State. In a previous life, she was a scientist, but now she’s a stay at home mom studying the intersection of nature and nurture in her own kids. (So far, nature is winning!) She lives in beautiful Southern California, where she manages her family and homestead when she’s not lost in reading and writing romance.

Genevieve Turner~Romance Fresh From the Golden State

Title:  High Country Spring
Series:  Las Morenas #3
Author:  Genevieve Turner
Publication Date:  June 25/15 by Penny Bright Publishing, LLC
Length:  450pgs
Genre:  historical romance
Shelf:  review
Rating: ★★★★★

Back Cover Blurb:

Francisca Moreno was born to rope and ride on the rancho she loves. But she can’t escape her mother’s attempts to lace her into the corset of propriety. So she makes one last grab for a grand adventure—and lands square in the path of the one man who’s never thought of her as anything but a pest.

Felipe Ortega is friendly and open to everyone he meets—and attached to no one. Loss has taught him that love can shatter a man. He’s spent half his life ensuring his best friend’s little sister never breaks her neck doing a man’s job. But when Franny stows away on a dangerous hunt for a cougar menacing the ranch, they are trapped together in the mountains of California… alone.

One long night by the campfire, the two crash into a passionate encounter and discover that familiarity can breed more than contempt. Much, much more. As their repressed desires dare Felipe to step from the shadows of the past, the two will discover how much they must risk for the one person they were never meant to love.

My Review:

Once again Turner has created a western romance that will capture your heart and spark your imagination while taking you back in time. The well-crafted plot combined romance with the everyday hardships of the time, all the while painting California before the eyes of the audience. The realistic outlook of the novel served to bring it even closer to my heart. I love the technical yet eloquently fluid way that she writes about working horses. It really brings the scene to life, both for those who know horses, and those who simply dream of them.

Turner creates fantastic characters who won’t be forgotten. I loved getting to know the main characters in previous novels of the series, but seeing them and getting to know them better in their own novel took them to a whole new level. Franny’s need to be herself is in direct conflict with Felipe’s need to see her safe. Their mutual misunderstanding and assumptions lead to some intriguing and comical interactions, all the while allowing readers to get to know them better. These two may have been among my favourite supporting characters in past novels, but they definitely rank high among my favourite romance couples of all times. They were so genuine and loveable that I couldn’t help but fall for (and cheer for) them throughout. Being surrounded by the well-developed supporting characters not only served to highlight Franny & Filipe’s characters but also to bring the story into the wider context.

This novel pulled me in from the first page and I was sad to let it go at the last. Turner is one of those rare authors who holds you captive through every word while creating an unforgettable story that will stay with you for the long haul.

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