Tara Randel's "Orange Blossom Brides" interview & book giveaway

Hello, All! Please join me in welcoming Tara Randel to my blog. She's here to tell us a little about herself and her book "Orange Blossom Brides."

It's time to announce the winner. Congratulations goes to . . .  MARY L. BALL

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been writing for many years and finally got published in 2000. In between projects, I helped my husband with our business and raised our two daughters. I still work for the business, but have concentrated more on my writing career. I’ve had seven books published, including my new Harlequin Heartwarming release and have an upcoming release next year for the Quilts of Love series by Abingdon Press. I also just picked up another contract with Harlequin to continue in the Heartwarming line.

                                                                                                      

Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I write wholesome romance. The type of love story that can be read by young adults all the way up to grandmothers. The love story is always the focal point, the attraction between the hero and heroine that is the readers journey. I believe love is the greatest gift of all. I couldn’t imagine writing any other type of story.                                                                                      

Besides writing, what are some of your favorite hobbies?

I love to read. My husband thinks it’s funny that I can spend the day on the computer working on my WIP, then relax at night with a good book. My TBR pile is huge, so I have no choice but to keep reading. It’s a tough job but someone has to do it!

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Not really. LOL. When I was in high school, I didn’t like creative writing and when it came time for college I went to school to be a dental hygienist. Since I’ve always been an avid reader, I jumped at the chance to try writing when a co-worker expressed an interest in working on a story idea together  many, many years ago. I took her up on it and although that first story is still hidden away in my closet, I couldn’t ignore the story ideas that would pop into my head so I kept learning the craft and years later became published.

What advice would you give to a beginning writer?

Learn the craft of writing. All the focus on publicity and getting your name out there is great, but if you don’t learn the basics you never evolve as a writer. I still attend workshops and read books about craft. There are certain books I pull out every time I start a new project to help me get into the zone.

What book are you currently working on?

I just received the okay from Harlequin to start work on the proposals they’d been considering. My current Heartwarming is set in a small town in Florida. The other books will also take place there. I love small town settings and bumping into characters from previous books. I’m nosy, so I like to find out what they’ve been up to. Writing for Heartwarming allows me to create new characters while catching up with others. I’m having a blast.

Please tell us a little about your book.

In my August Heartwarming release, Orange Blossom Brides, Lilli Barclay needs a groom—and she needs one now.  Not for herself, of course, but for her mother's glamorous wedding-themed benefit. Then Lilli can get back to what really matters, earning a promotion at work. Just her luck that Max Sanders, the ideal candidate, still holds a grudge against her for an incident that happened twelve years ago.

Persuading Max to volunteer will take longer than Lilli thought. Much longer. And the more time she spends with him, the further she ventures down Memory Lane. Pretty soon Lilli can't help wondering if Max could be more than a pretend groom. He still makes her heart race. But will he ever be able to forgive the past and consider a future…with her?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

There are a few ways to find me. For the list of  my previous books, notices about upcoming releases and current news, please visit http://www.tararandel.com/

 I blog at http://tararandel.blogspot.com/, http://heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com/, and http://christiansread.wordpress.com/. Come visit!

As always, if you mention in with your comment that you're a new or old follower your name will be added a second time to the drawing!

Drawing will be held, September 7