Today, Five on Friday features Western Romance author, Caroline Clemmons. 

 

Jeannie Luttrell’s passion in life is piloting airplanes. She doesn’t mind the low pay, long hours, or the fact that as a World War II Women’s Air Service Pilot (WASP) she has to pay her own expenses. When a faulty oil pressure line causes her P-51 Mustang’s engine to fail, she has to bail out during a storm. When she lands the wind drags her across the ground and into a small ravine where her head strikes a rock.
When Caleb Knight sees a person struggling with a parachute on his cousin’s ranch, he knows what has happed. Another woman has landed in the small part of a ravine that appears to be a time portal from the past. Twice before a woman has come forward in time at this spot. He stops and takes the stranded pilot to his cousin’s home but then he plans to be uninvolved. Darned if he’ll let the family rope him into their shenanigans.
No matter how hard he tries, Caleb can’t avoid Jeannie. Soon, he isn’t so certain he wants to. But, how can two strong-willed individuals who view the world differently build a relationship? Especially, now that they have the same enemy plotting against them?

 

Caroline’s Five on Friday questions and answers.

 

If you could change one thing about yourself, physical, mental, emotional, what would it be and why?

I would be one of those energetic people who rises early and accomplishes tons before falling quickly asleep at bedtime. I am NOT a morning person but have always envied those like my sweet husband who are. He is also one who lays down at night and falls right to sleep. I toss and turn for hours while my characters are still creating book scenes in my head. When it comes to moving quickly, I’m left behind. While I can sit and write for hours and hours, moving physically is not easy for me. I say the world is off and days should begin at noon and end about three in the morning.

Ann: I’m just the opposite, Caroline. I’m an early riser. Always have been. I get the most done during those early hours when no one else is around to interrupt me! However, like you, my characters keep me awake at bedtime.

What is one of your favorite quotes?

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Ghandi
A second one is by Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never give up.”

Ann: Good advice.

What is your favorite book and why?

That depends on my mood. There are four books I reread to lift my mood while reviewing great writing.

FALLON by Louis L’Amour is the story of a man who is better than he believes and of his redemption. The character development in this novel is superb. (I love all this author’s books.)

PRINCE CHARMING by Julie Garwood is the story of a woman who overcomes tremendous challenges and the man who assists her. I can’t overstress how much I love this book, which is the successful combination of English Victorian and U.S. western historical.

LORD PERFECT by Loretta Chase is the story of a man used to perfection who falls in love with a widow woman struggling to survive respectably. Of course, she upends his world. The author’s descriptions are a tutorial while I enjoy each of her stories.

THE PROMISE OF JENNY JONES by Maggie Osbourne is a tutorial in doing the opposite of what the reader expects to prove the unusual heroine is honorable and always keeps her promises.

Ann: I never reread anything! And, I almost never watch the same movie twice. But then again, with my memory as bad as it is, I’d probably think it was the first time!

What’s the best advice you ever got?

Don’t let anyone steal your dream—persevere. An author (actually everyone in any field) meets so many road blocks and discouragement that many give up. Fortunately, my family members are very supportive but I know many authors who aren’t so lucky. We have to build a shell around us to lock out negativity the same way a science fiction space ship sends out an invisible protective force field. In the meantime, we keep honing our craft and producing content. Never give up!

Ann: That is great advice!

Are the names of characters in your novels important?

Character names are extremely important. They should fit the theme of the book. In a historical novel, the name must be one that was used during that time period and for that social status. For this, I use names from my family tree.

The hero’s name should be strong. In a seminar I heard years ago, the speaker suggested that hard consonants evoke a stronger name for a man, such as Grant, Kade, and Kirk. The same is true of last names such as Kincaid, McClintock, and Stone.

Using names beginning with the same consonant can become confusing—don’t use Mary, Margaret, and Millie in the same novel. This is something I have to watch as I tend to pick a consonant each book. LOL Keeping a good character list is important.

Ann: I break the same consonant rule all the time. Since Texans seems to like naming their kids with the same one, I follow that tradition in my books.  I’ve used John, Jared, and Jace in one book, and in my most recent, I really went overboard with Todd, Tess, Tanner, Thacker, Teague, and True. LOL.

 

Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To make up for this tragic error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a small office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their rescued cats and dogs. The books she creates there have made her an Amazon bestselling author and won several awards.

Follow her:

On her blog  http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/

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Her website:  http://www.carolineclemmons.com

Find all of her books at:  https://www.amazon.com/Caroline-Clemmons/e/B001K8CXZ6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1526164687&sr=1-1  

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She loves to hear from readers at caroline@carolineclemmons.com