Interview of Author Linda Kage

Today it's my honor to present an interview of fellow RBRU Member Author Linda Kage...someone I've known for years and am thrilled with her success!

Latest Book: The Trouble with Tomboys
Buy Link: http://www.thewildrosepress.com
Video Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p34LALqd2uA

BIO:
Linda is a contemporary romance author from the Midwestern USA, where she lives with her wonderful husband, daughter, and nine cuckoo clocks. The eighth and final child of dairy farmers, she was forced into having a vivid imagination if she ever wanted to do something one of her siblings hadn't already tried.

Q: What part of the book is the easiest for you to write? Why?
A: Dialogue is easiest for me, which is really strange because if you met me in person, it wouldn’t take you long to realize I’m not much of a conversationalist; I suck at it in fact. Maybe I’m a good listener though because I simply love to craft fun, witty banter.

Q: Who is your favorite character in your book and why?
A: B.J., the heroine in The Trouble with Tomboys, is my favorite character because she’s so UNLIKE me. She’s loud, unashamed, confrontational, and says whatever she likes. It was a blast to write her because I’d always think, “okay, what would I NEVER say in this situation? What would I NEVER have the guts to do here?” In a way, I’m in awe of her because she’s so bold. But her blunt attitude is also her biggest character flaw because it can occasionally make her a little rude. Neat, huh? She’s an oxymoron; her best and worst feature is the same attribute.

Q: If one of your books became a movie, which celebrity would you like to star as your hero? Tell us about your hero.
A: My hero, Grady, is a great foil for the heroine. Where she’s outgoing, he’s reserved. Where she will say whatever the hell she wants, he only speaks the bare necessities. Since I compare him to George Strait from the movie Pure Country in my story, I’ll stick with that celebrity. They both have a similar quiet, compelling strength about them.

Q: What hobby do you enjoy when not writing?
A: Whenever I have a free moment, I read. But I tell the hubby I HAVE to because it’s research for my writing. So, if that doesn’t count, I like to take walks, watch movies, and hang with my family. Oh, and go out to eat. I swear I could eat out every day.

Q: You’re on a remote island with a handsome man, a computer, and a “mysterious” source of electricity to power your computer. What do you do?
A: Hey, I’m a woman. I can multitask. Besides, how hard could it be to stretch out on a towel, take in the sun, receive a full-body oil massage from a hunk, and type out my masterpieces all at the same time?!

Q: Facebook, MySpace, Blogs, Chats, or Twitter. Which do you like best and why?
A: Facebook. More people I know are on there. Seems like as soon as I make a comment, someone is responding to it. Plus, I can keep up with my family and friends better there. But Blogging comes in a close second. I’ve met a lot of wonderful people in the writing network from my blog.

Tell us where to find you: website(s), publisher’s page(s), blog(s), Facebook page(s), etc. List them all!
Website: http://www.lindakage.com
Publisher, The Wild Rose Press: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/linda-kage-m-635.html
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/lindakage
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-Kage/1415237991
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lindakage
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/LindaKage
Blogger: http://lindakage.blogspot.com
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3213942.Linda_Kage
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003ILJHKM

BLURB:
THE TOMBOY

Pilot B.J. Gilmore is Tommy Creek, Texas’s tough tomboy who loves to fly planes and gamble and doesn’t give a whip what anyone thinks or says about her…until Grady Rawlings steps into her life.

PLUS THE WIDOWER

Heir to an oil dynasty, Grady has inner demons to battle. Ever since his wife and unborn child died two and a half years ago, he’s developed a deep-seated hatred for sympathy and can’t handle anyone feeling sorry for him or treating him like some pitiful widower.

EQUALS TROUBLE IN TEXAS

Grady hires B.J,'s plane service to fly him to Houston for an overnight business trip. While there, she coaxes him into accompanying her to a late dinner, where she decides it’s time for him to move on with his life. A month later, she turns up pregnant with his baby, and neither of them is prepared for the chaos that follows.

EXCERPT:
He lowered his face, thinking she might not recognize him if he kept walking by.

“There you are,” she called.

Damn.

He glanced up and fell to a pause. She’d moved closer to him, was only about five feet away. A pair of big brown eyes hit him full in the chest. She blinked as if startled to see him dressed in his business gear. Her gaze ran down his suit, missing nothing as it slid over his jacket and slacks. The blatant female appreciation in her stare made his throat constrict. He itched to tug at his tie and breathe again, but refused to show her any sign of weakness.

She licked her lips before meeting his eyes. A strange sensation rushed up the back of his spine and neck as he watched the dart of her tongue. The feeling tickled the base of his skull, but he wasn’t sure what it was. Could’ve been his own awareness of her, he guessed, but it’d been so long since he’d felt anything—toward anyone—he dismissed the idea as soon as it came.

Grateful she’d moved away from his door, he nodded his hello and pulled a key card from his pocket as he stepped around her and approached his room. Hopefully, she’d realize he wanted to be left alone.

No such luck.

She turned as he passed her, falling into step with him. “I was fixing to head downstairs and find myself some vittles. You hungry?”

“I’ve already eaten.” He unlocked his room to emphasize how much he wanted to be alone.

She set her hands on her hips. “Well, you look like you could do with an extra meal here and there. Why don’t you come along? Keep me company.”

He shook his head. “I’m not hungry.”

Sighing, B.J. tugged his briefcase out of his hand and tossed it into the opened door of his room. He frowned but didn’t react. If his head didn’t hurt so bad, if he hadn’t been thrown off track by the incident at the end of the meeting with Weatherly, if he could only see Amy smile again when he closed his eyes, he probably could’ve come up with a suitable comment to scare her off. Something scathing and dry. But his head went blank, so all he could do was gape at her for her daring.

To further confound him, she hooked her arm through his and started walking them toward the elevators. He could’ve been rude and pulled away. But for some reason, he followed.

“Don’t matter none if you’re not hungry,” she said. “You just sit there. I’ll eat enough for the both of us. I hate going to those fancy, shmancy hotel restaurants by myself.” She grinned at him. “I won’t even make you talk if you don’t want. Hell, I’ve been known to carry on a whole conversation by myself. So you don’t have to worry about a thing. Just having a presence like you around will do me well enough.”

“It’s been a long day,” he said as she stopped to press the elevator button. A last attempt for escape. “I’d like some rest.” He unhooked her arm from his.

She grinned up at him, her brown eyes hopeful and encouraging. “You can sleep the whole way home tomorrow if you like,” she told him. Then her grin faltered, and the gleam in her eyes died. She gave him a serious, probing look. “Just don’t make me eat alone tonight, Rawlings.”

Grady froze as a sensation similar to pity slammed through his windpipe. He knew exactly what it was like to eat alone every night.

Anything else you’d like to add?
Thank you so much for stopping by and visiting with me. It was wonderful to be here today to talk about my story. I love blathering on about The Trouble with Tomboys. There’s just a certain soul behind the plot that endears me to it and makes me proud my name’s on the cover.