Interview: Kristy
McCaffrey
Tell us a bit about
yourself.
I live in Arizona with my husband and two chocolate labs,
Ranger and Lily. Our four children are mostly grown but still return home to
litter the floor with laundry and eat all our food. I love to read, do yoga at
home, and travel. I’ve been writing professionally for 13 years (historical
western romances) and have published 6 novels, 1 long novella and several short
stories.
How much research goes
into your books, and how do you tackle that?
Since I enjoy research so much I can’t say if I do too much
or too little. Over the years, however, I’ve gotten better at it—I don’t waste
a lot of time investigating useless avenues. When I wrote my first book, THE
WREN, I read an entire tome on the history of Texas. Needless to say, I was
overwhelmed with information. These days, I begin with a preliminary pass on
setting and general history of an area before writing anything. After the first
draft, I do specific research based on the needs of the story.
In your new release,
THE BLUEBIRD, what sets your heroine Molly Rose Simms apart from all the other
women in your hero’s (Jake McKenna) life? Why is she perfect for him?
Molly Rose is a dreamer but she’s never gone anywhere.
Because Jake is an adventurer, she’s naturally drawn to him. In her, he sees
the one thing he’s traveled the world to find—a sense of awe and wonder. He’s
also in need of an anchor and doesn’t realize this until she blasts into his
life.
Can you give us a
little background on your hero Jake McKenna that’s only in your author notes,
and not found in your story? What inspired you to create this character?
My initial impression of Jake was happy-go-lucky. The first
4 novels in my Wings of the West series were serious and heavy in the
plotlines, so I really wanted to make this novel fun and adventurous. Jake has
evolved into a worldly man, having traveled to far off places. I read a lot of
historical memoirs and they helped to shape his character.
Do you have any words
of inspiration for aspiring authors?
Keep going. It sounds cliché, but you truly learn by doing.
It doesn’t seem like writing should be that hard, but it takes skill to work
with words and imagery. I’m constantly learning new things. I really love it.
You’ll know if you’re not meant to be a writer because the tediousness of it
will easily drive you away. But if it doesn’t, then you’ve found your passion
and your tribe.
Now Available
Amazon or read for FREE in Kindle
Unlimited.
Can be read as a
standalone novel.
Molly Rose Simms departs the Arizona Territory, eager for
adventure, and travels to Colorado to visit her brother. Robert left two years
ago to make his fortune in the booming silver town of Creede, and now Molly
Rose hopes to convince him to accompany her to San Francisco, New York City, or
even Europe. But Robert is nowhere to be found. All Molly Rose finds is his
partner, a mysterious man known as The Jackal.
Jake McKenna has traveled the bustling streets of Istanbul,
exotic ports in China, and the deserts of Morocco. His restless desire to
explore has been the only constant in his life. When his search for the elusive
and mythical Bluebird mining claim lands him a new partner, he must decide how
far he’ll go to protect the stunning young woman who’s clearly in over her
head. A home and hearth has never been on The Jackal’s agenda, but Molly Rose
Simms is about to change his world in every conceivable way.
Please note: Contains mild violence and a sensuous love
scene.
Excerpt
As Jake contemplated getting a good stiff drink himself, he
glanced to the staircase and froze.
Molly descended slowly, her eyes cast downward as she lifted
the front of the ornate gown she wore. The dark blue material showcased a
figure her clothes had only hinted at before, and her hair swept away from her
face into an array of curls that made Jake itch to bury his fingers into the
tresses. Her bosom peeked enticingly from the ruffled edge of the gown, the
creamy hue of her skin reminding him of a full moon in the warm embrace of a
starless night.
His legs carried him closer to the bottom step as his eyes
remained fixed on her, his heart racing. He hadn’t been this nervous around a
woman since…well, ever.
He’d lost his virginity at age sixteen with an experienced
madam in Casablanca, and from that moment on, women had been a pleasant
diversion, nothing more.
Molly glanced up, startled by his presence, then an elated
smile spread across her face. She hurried toward him but tripped on the gown
and flew into his arms.
Jake caught her just in time before she hit the floor. “Too
much sherry?” He gently eased her to her feet, holding her a tad longer than
appropriate.
With a flushed face, she stepped back from his support and
laughed, smoothing her hands down the gown. Her gaze swept around them and she
cleared her throat, then she looked at him. “This dress is too long,” she
whispered. Then she gushed, “I’m very happy to see you.”
Her enthusiasm jolted right through him, and his mind went
blank as he basked under her attention. It was far more potent than he’d
recalled, and he’d been doing nothing but recalling
everything about her since they’d parted ways…her eyes that shifted from
sea-green to the deepest azure depending on the light, her heart-shaped face,
her stubborn tenacity in standing up to Lannigan, and her obvious deep love for
Robert. He’d even missed her sarcastic wit. She’d been on his mind almost nonstop.
“I’m glad you didn’t forget me,” he murmured.
“I’ve been worried ever since I left you and Pedro…I didn’t
think I’d see you tonight. Does Lannigan know you’re here?”
Jake recovered himself. “He does. It’ll be fine. I doubt
he’ll make a scene—there are too many witnesses.”
Molly tugged at the bodice of the gown, then at the tiny
sleeves.
“Stop fidgeting,” he said. “You look beautiful.”
“I do?”
Bridget strode up to them. “Mister McKenna, Papa didn’t tell
me you were here. Have you been introduced to Robert’s sister?”
“Yes, we’re acquainted.”
Bridget snagged Molly’s gaze and raised an eyebrow. Subtlety
wasn’t Bridget’s strong suit.
“Splendid,” Bridget said. “Molly is visiting from Arizona.”
“I know.”
Bridget’s nose crinkled in frustration. “Then you won’t mind
if I borrow her so that she has the opportunity to meet some of our other
guests.”
Bridget hooked an arm into Molly’s and dragged her away but
not before Molly cast a glance over her shoulder. Jake wanted to think it was
filled with longing from having to leave his company, but he suspected she just
wanted to escape Bridget.
He exhaled his disappointment over the brevity of the
encounter and tried not to gawk at her retreating backside.
He needed a whiskey.
It was going to be a long night.
Copyright © 2016 K.
McCaffrey LLC
Bio
Kristy McCaffrey has been writing since she was very young,
but it wasn’t until she was a stay-at-home mom that she considered becoming
published. She’s the author of several historical western romances, all set in
the American southwest. She lives in the Arizona desert with her husband, two
chocolate labs, and whichever of their four teenaged children happen to be in
residence. She loves to travel and frequently blogs about her adventures.
Connect with Kristy
Website: http://www.kristymccaffrey.com
Blog ~ Pathways: http://www.kristymccaffrey.blogspot.com/
Newsletter: http://kristymccaffrey.com/Newsletter.html
Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/2erVsze
2 comments:
Paty,
Thanks so much for letting me stop by!
Hugs,
Kristy
Happy to have you, Kristy!
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