Today, my guest is historical romance author, Linda Weaver Clark. Welcome, Linda. I’m so happy to have you here today. Tell, me, Linda, Love at first sight. Is it possible?
Linda: Yes, it is possible. My parents didn’t meet the traditional way. They met through letters. As they wrote, they began to have feelings for one another and decided to meet. She didn’t know what he looked like and visa versa. I asked my mother what it was like and she told me how she felt when she first saw my father. She said, “When our eyes met, my heart leapt at the sight of him and a warm glow filled my soul.” My father said that he fell in love with her at that very moment. Wow!
Edith and the Mysterious Stranger: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho is a historical romance inspired by my parents’ courtship. I even inserted some of my father’s love letters because they were so romantic. This is the second book in a series of historical romances. Can people really fall in love through letters or at first sight? Absolutely!
Donna: That’s so romantic! I just love stories like that. So tell me more about your newest books .
Linda: I wrote sweet historical romance series called “A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho” and a mystery/adventure series called “The Adventures of John and Julia Evans.” This series does have a bit of romance, also. I think it’s because I have a bit of romance in my soul. All my romances are “sweet” so they are suitable for both teens and adults.
Donna: Why did you choose to write in the romance genre?
Linda: I love historical fiction because I learn so much about the past. It’s fun to imagine myself in that time period and living the simple life without phones, cars, and Internet. I like to imagine what it’s like to be romanced back then, to ride a horse and buggy and feel the breeze on my face, to know your neighbors and not be too busy for them, etc. My husband is a lot of my inspiration behind my male characters.
I also like mystery/adventure stories because I love going on adventures and living on the dangerous side for a while. Haha! Of course, there has to be a bit of romance in each of my books because that’s part of me.
Donna: You also have a mystery series out. Tell me about it.
Linda: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans is my last series of books, which are mysteries. This series was inspired by one of my favorite TV shows long ago called Hart to Hart, which featured a married couple investigating and solving crimes staring Robert Wagner and Stefanie Powers. The couple was madly in love–-I laughed at the humor and sighed at the romance. I wanted to create something similar with a little suspense and adventure. In this series, Julia is a reporter for a daily newspaper and John is a professional knife maker. Just like Hart to Hart, because of her curiosity, Julia gets herself into a bunch of trouble. Before long, she finds herself and her husband up to their necks in danger and running for their lives. There is one difference. John and Julia Evans have three college-age daughters. I feel this makes the couple have more appeal to a larger audience.
My interest in the ancient American Indians is what got me started with this series. First, I’m teaching people a little about the ancient American Indians, artifact theft, the Mayans, Montezuma’s treasure, etc. The last book, Desert Intrigue, surrounds the legends of Superstition Mountain and the lost Dutchman’s goldmine. Second, I’m teaching people that we can still have romance in our lives, even after 20 years of marriage. We must keep our marriage alive with a bit of teasing, playfulness, forgiveness, and romance. In this series, we find out what a marriage can be like if we give and take a little. In fact, I patterned John and Julia’s marriage after my own. I even add a few true experiences in my book, just to bring a bit of humor into my story. The books are Anasazi Intrigue, Mayan Intrigue, Montezuma Intrigue, and Desert Intrigue.
So tell me about your newest published book in this series.
Linda: Desert Intrigue (ISBN: 978-1470084219): When Julia’s brother announces that his dude ranch is haunted, she believes that someone is trying to sabotage his place and force him to sell. The mysterious happenings have to do with Superstition Mountain, the lost Dutchman’s goldmine, and the great Thunder God. Is it possible that the legend of the Thunder God is actually true? After a terrible thunderstorm, everyone begins to wonder. John and Julia quickly head to Mesa, Arizona and discover a few mysterious events. Will they find out who is behind these disasters before Uncle Kelly’s dude ranch is ruined?
Donna: What are you working on now?
Linda: A novel called The Rebels of Cordovia. As a teenager, I remember hearing the stories of Robin Hood and I was spellbound by each story. I watched every movie that came out about Robin Hood and how he cared for the people. I thought about how awesome it would be to live during that time period just because of Robin Hood. As I thought about it, I decided to create something similar but centuries after the legend of Robin Hood. But this time, I wanted two major groups of rebels fighting for the rights of the people. A man and a woman would be their leaders and they would be expert archers and swordsmen. After creating the characters, I began writing the story.
In this battle for freedom, a tender love story begins to blossom. Daniel, a rogue and a leader of the Freemen, doesn’t realize that the sweet feminine woman he has met and is falling for happens to be the leader of Robin’s Rebels. Realizing the importance of uniting all the rebel groups, Daniel tries to recruit Robin’s Rebels but they refuse. Now he has to find a way to convince them. When he finds out the leader is actually a woman, what will his reaction be? It should be out sometime this summer.
Donna: Ah, sounds like my kind of tale!
Donna: That sounds great! Okay, here’s the power round:
Donna: Favorite food?
Linda: Roast beef, red potatoes, and fresh peas
Donna: Favorite dessert?
Linda: Cheese Cake: any berry flavor
Donna: Jeans and T-shirt, or designer clothes?
Linda: Jeans and T-shirt
Donna: Guilty pleasure?
Linda: Watching Jane Austen movies (They are so long.)
Donna: One word that describes you?
Linda: Simple
Donna: Favorite flower?
Linda: Iris
Donna: Favorite sport?
Linda: Baseball
It’s been great getting to know you a little better, Linda, and to learn about your newest books.
Linda’s Website is www.lindaweaverclarke.com
Blog: http://lindaweaverclarke.blogspot.com
Author bio: Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching and encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She has taught in 17 states and given over 300 workshops. She is from Color Country in southern Utah and the mother of six daughters.
Clarke is the author of the historical romance series A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho: Melinda and the Wild West – an awarding winning novel, Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, Jenny’s Dream, Sarah’s Special Gift, and Elena, Woman of Courage.
The Adventures of John and Julia Evans mystery series includes Anasazi Intrigue, Mayan Intrigue, Montezuma Intrigue, and Desert Intrigue. She has also written two non-fiction e-books: Reflections of the Heart and Writing Your Family Legacy.
All her books can be read by both young adult and adults.
