Tuesday, October 22, 2013

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT ON THE LOVELY CAROLYN BROWN ( SPECIAL eBook Giveaway!!! )


Today we have a very special lady on Book Obsessed Chicks Blog. I would like to welcome the gracious and talented, Carolyn Brown and also wish her a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
I was very lucky to have met Miss Carolyn a few weeks ago in New Jersey, where she surprised authors, CH Admirand, Sara Humphreys, Judi Fennell and Stephanie Julian at their book event at the East Brunswick Barnes & Noble. I couldn't help myself going Fan Girl all over Miss Carolyn and I will never forget that meeting!





1.     Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?
 Oh, my, I’d much rather talk about my kids or grandkids or even my friends. But since you asked, I’m a full time writer with an office in my house where I can be as messy or as neat as I want, and that can change by the day or by the hour. I do try to clean it all up and make it presentable at the end of each book. I’ve been a published author since 1997 and have sold 75 books since that first call when the whole town thought the fire sirens were going off down on Sixth Street. Yes, I can squeal that loud.

2.    When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?
 Right after I figured out how to hold that fat pencil and make letters on the Big Chief Tablet. Stories have always been my escape but when my third child was born and would not sleep at night, I got serious about it. Trouble was I thought all I had to do was write one book, be rich and famous and walk on the red carpet on the night it came out in movie theaters. It does not work like that. The book was probably the worst written book in the world and nobody wanted it. So I put away all the writing and raised my three kids and wrote a humorous column for the newspaper each week. Then in 1997 when they were all gone from the nest, I gave it another shot, this time in romance and boom! Got the call from my first editor who said she wanted to buy not one but both of the books I’d sent to her.

3.    Tell us about your upcoming work?
 The next book on the docket is The Cowboy’s Mail Order Bride. It’s was so much fun to write because I’m a mail order bride and I could really relate to Emily, the heroine in the story. It comes out in Feb. 2014, which isn’t that far away! The rest of 2014 lines up like this: The Red Hot Chili Cook-Off (women’s fiction), April; How to Marry a Cowboy (the final book in the Cowboys & Brides series), May; Leather & Lace (A new cowboy series from Montlake Romance), August; Cowboy Boots for Christmas (The first in a brand new series set in the fictional town of Burnt Boot, Texas. Finn O’Donnell …from Cowboy Seeks Bride…is the hero.)

4.    Do you have any mentors? Heroes?
Heroes by the dozens. Some who lived in the past and some who are still alive today. Every author I’ve ever read has been a mentor because I learned something valuable by reading their works.

5.    Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why?
 I love Agnes from The Cadillac Trilogy…women’s fiction books. But then I also love Trudy from The Ladies’ Room and Natalie is so sassy from the latest. It would be difficult to pick a favorite. Most of the time I like the character I’m writing about that day and today it’s Callie from Cowboy Boots for Christmas. She was a spotter in Afghanistan for sniper Finn O’Donnell and they’re figuring out that there’s something more than a wartime partnership between them.





6.    Was it difficult for you to get published?
 I have enough rejection slips to wall paper the White House and I’m sure enough talking about the one on Pennsylvania Avenue, not the little two-holer with a moon cut into the door at the end of the back yard. But once I figured out that romance was where my heart was, I was off and running.

7.    Who are your favorite authors/reads?
 I’m an eclectic reader. How much room do we have for this list? I like Carl Hiaason, Randy Wayne White, Sue Grafton, Nora-the queen-Roberts, Margaret Mead, Leon Uris, Mario Puzo, James Lee Burke, Joanne Kennedy (my fellow smut peddler) and that’s just the ones I can think of right now. Give me another five minutes and I could fill up a couple of pages.




8.    Hobbies?
 Cooking! I used to sew but when I got serious about writing the sewing machine started drawing dust. Now I’d much rather write as make prom dresses and three pieced men’s suits.

9.    What is your dream job?
 I’m fortunate enough to be able to do my dream job. I wanted to be a writer. Now my dream has come true.

10.  Do you have any favorite TV shows?
Love Justified! And then NCIS and The Voice (I’m a big, big country music fan).




11.  What’s next for you?
 Right now it’s finishing up the contracts. Five more to write by next summer and then I’ve got this idea for another women’s fiction book and another couple of cowboy series.

12.  Where can we find you?
 I have a website: www.carolynlbrown.com and my email address is ccbrown66@att.net (I love to hear from readers) and I’m on FB (send me a friend request or like my author’s page).

13.  What would you like readers to know about you?
 I appreciate my readers, love them and would give them all a hug if I could. Readers are what keep us, as writers, from topping the extinct species list and they are the wind beneath our wings. So every time you buy a book, share it, tell a friend about it or talk about it at your book club meetings, know that we love you all!




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23 comments:

  1. Good mornin' Miz Kim! Loved meeting you in NJ, too! And thank you for the privilege of being on your site today! Now I've got coffee and I brought Natalie and Lucas with me (The Cowboy's Christmas Baby) so we're ready for questions or comments!

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  2. Aloha, Carolyn! I love the energy you project, even in this interview! Where can fans find you in the coming year - are you attending any cons?

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    1. Thank you! I will be attending RWA in San Antonio this year and someone mentioned Lora Leigh's RAW but that's not official yet. I adore all my fans and LOVE meeting them!

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    2. Miz Carolyn, if you attend RAW.... I am going to stalk you...

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    3. Not if I see you first...I'll be the sassy one with gray hair who's standing right beside you! LOL!!

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    4. Wow did you surprise me in NJ.... I was floored because I thought right away it was you, but thought, no, this lady is supposed to be in Oklahoma!

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  3. I Love, Love, Love Miss Carolyn's books and I would love to win, thank for the chance. I always feel such a part of all of her books...and I love her cowboys tooooo...

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    1. Darlin' you just gave me my ego trip for the whole day!

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  4. Happy Birthday! I love your books and I share them with all my friends and even give them to my local library! I don't have an e-reader!

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    1. I preach and speechify all time about word-of-mouth advertising. THANK YOU for all you do and share. Big old Texas sized hugs for the birthday wishes and for all your support.

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  5. I've been stalking Carolyn Brown, well, her books really since I discovered her Honky Tonk series. Her cowboy books have been an "auto-buy," with each new book eagerly anticipated since Honky Tonk. I have one of the women's fiction novels and will get to reading that soon. I just love you and your books, Carolyn.

    I've read and absolutely loved The Cowboy's Christmas Baby (may be my all-time favorite) so I leave winning that to someone who doesn't already have the book.

    I am hoping that you will consider attending Lori Foster's Reader and Author get together next year. I may not be able to attend RAW and I would just love to meet you, Carolyn..

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    1. I love stalkers! So glad that you liked Natalie and Lucas' story. Greg and Emily are next...you met him and Clarice, his grandmother, briefly in The Cowboy's Christmas Baby. I'd love to attend Lori Foster's get together...just need an invitation! Would love to meet you, too...

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    2. Carolyn, I think all you have to do is let Lori Foster know that you are interested in her Get-Together. I don't think it's such a formal invitation thing like RAW is. And I think you would enjoy the con. Kimberly and the Book Obsessed Chicks will be there. You would have lots of adoring fans there.

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    3. I just checked the dates...we have a granddaughter getting married during that time in 2014...maybe I can arrange it in 2015, though! And I love that about adoring fans!

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  6. Happy birthday Carolyn! Your the best! Me and my bf Lisa love your books.

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    1. Big hugs to you and Lisa both! Y'all are absolutely amazing!

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  7. Great interview! Can't wait for next book!

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    1. Thank you Denise. Next up is The Cowboy's Mail Order Bride which was so much fun to write because I'm a real mail order bride!

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  8. I just love your books!!! Loved your interview and can;t wait to read more of your great books. Happy Birthday!!

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    1. Bless your heart for reading my books and thank you for the happy birthday! It's made better knowing I have wonderful, awesome fantabulous fans like you!

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  9. Love the interview. CB is one of my favorite authors. I've won a book in the past and love to read her books. Lucky Kim got to meet her too.

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  10. Happy Birthday! Thank you for the many hours of reading pleasure!!!! 8-)

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  11. Oh my gosh, I love, love, LOVE Carolyn Brown and all of her sassy heroines!!

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