Today I’m so happy to
host Naomi Rawlings, one of my good friends, as she celebrates the release of her latest book, The Wyoming Heir. Naomi is a lot of fun,
super sweet, and—amazingly—shorter than I am! LOL.
host Naomi Rawlings, one of my good friends, as she celebrates the release of her latest book, The Wyoming Heir. Naomi is a lot of fun,
super sweet, and—amazingly—shorter than I am! LOL.
So glad to have you
over, Naomi! Grab a cup of your favorite winter beverage and tell us a little
about yourself.
over, Naomi! Grab a cup of your favorite winter beverage and tell us a little
about yourself.
Well, my favorite winter beverage would be coffee, and where
I live, we need lots of it to stay warm. My family owns ten acres near the
southern shore of Lake Superior, which means we get lots of lake effect snow
every year—think an average of 200 inches! I’ve got two little boys who keep me
very busy, constantly surprised, and usually a little grossed out. Somehow
through all of that, I also etch out some time to write, but it gets kind of
crazy around our house some days. You can check out more about me at www.naomirawlings.com.
I live, we need lots of it to stay warm. My family owns ten acres near the
southern shore of Lake Superior, which means we get lots of lake effect snow
every year—think an average of 200 inches! I’ve got two little boys who keep me
very busy, constantly surprised, and usually a little grossed out. Somehow
through all of that, I also etch out some time to write, but it gets kind of
crazy around our house some days. You can check out more about me at www.naomirawlings.com.
I have sitting here by my side your latest novel, The Wyoming Heir, and it is so
beautiful! Could you tell us about it?
beautiful! Could you tell us about it?
Didn’t the art team do a great job with the cover design?
I’ve actually got a giveaway going on right now, and all because of the cover.
If you stop by Inspirational Romance Ratings (my novel review blog), you can enter
a contest for a cowboy picnic package, complete with a picnic basket, blanket, snacks,
and copy of The Wyoming Heir.
I’ve actually got a giveaway going on right now, and all because of the cover.
If you stop by Inspirational Romance Ratings (my novel review blog), you can enter
a contest for a cowboy picnic package, complete with a picnic basket, blanket, snacks,
and copy of The Wyoming Heir.
Oh, and here’s a little about the actual book:
Given a choice, Luke Hayes wouldn’t ever leave his Wyoming
ranch. Yet when his estranged grandfather dies, leaving him everything, he’ll
travel to Valley Falls, New York—but only to collect his sister and his inheritance.
He won’t be roped into saving a floundering girls’ school, no matter what
mathematics teacher Elizabeth Wells says.
ranch. Yet when his estranged grandfather dies, leaving him everything, he’ll
travel to Valley Falls, New York—but only to collect his sister and his inheritance.
He won’t be roped into saving a floundering girls’ school, no matter what
mathematics teacher Elizabeth Wells says.
Elizabeth has defied social convention and her own family
for the sake of her beloved Hayes Academy. Luke is pure rancher, from the tip
of his Stetson to the scuff on his boots, yet he’s also becoming her unlikely
ally. Only he can help save her job and school…but how much will she lose when
the time comes for him to leave?
for the sake of her beloved Hayes Academy. Luke is pure rancher, from the tip
of his Stetson to the scuff on his boots, yet he’s also becoming her unlikely
ally. Only he can help save her job and school…but how much will she lose when
the time comes for him to leave?
I’ve heard a bit
about this story over the years, and I can’t wait to dive in. =) What inspired
you to write it?
about this story over the years, and I can’t wait to dive in. =) What inspired
you to write it?
It’s actually a bit of a funny story. The Wyoming Heir is the first American set book that I’ve written.
Most of my work has been European, relating to the French Revolution and
Napoleonic Wars. While I was writing the first of my French novels. I had so
many people tell me that nothing set in France would ever get turned into a
book. The Wyoming Heir was my answer
to that. I decided to take one of the most popular subgenres out there—the
Western romance—and flip it. Hence I have a story about a cowboy who goes east
rather than a socialite who goes west. When I was writing this novel, I
actually called it Cowboy Goes East.
Most of my work has been European, relating to the French Revolution and
Napoleonic Wars. While I was writing the first of my French novels. I had so
many people tell me that nothing set in France would ever get turned into a
book. The Wyoming Heir was my answer
to that. I decided to take one of the most popular subgenres out there—the
Western romance—and flip it. Hence I have a story about a cowboy who goes east
rather than a socialite who goes west. When I was writing this novel, I
actually called it Cowboy Goes East.
That’s what I knew it
as! LOL. Well I for one can’t wait for some free time so I can read it. =) Not
that I have much of that, and I know you don’t either with those boys of yours.
But when you do have a spare hour
that you don’t spend writing or working, what do you like to do?
as! LOL. Well I for one can’t wait for some free time so I can read it. =) Not
that I have much of that, and I know you don’t either with those boys of yours.
But when you do have a spare hour
that you don’t spend writing or working, what do you like to do?
Yeah, you pretty much just answered that. READ!
We’ve got a lot of beautiful wilderness where I live, so I
also enjoy exploring that with my family, everything from snowshoeing and
snowmobiling in the winter to hiking, canoeing, and fishing in the summer.
also enjoy exploring that with my family, everything from snowshoeing and
snowmobiling in the winter to hiking, canoeing, and fishing in the summer.
Let’s dive into some
fun, silly questions now. Like…if you had to wear the fashions of any
historical era, which one would you choose and why?
fun, silly questions now. Like…if you had to wear the fashions of any
historical era, which one would you choose and why?
Oh goodness! Probably the 1920s. That seems kind of fun.
Skirts weren’t nearly so long and you didn’t have to wear a bunch of petticoats
beneath them. I could have never dressed the way Elizabeth does in The Wyoming
Heir. (Though her clothing does make for a rather pretty cover, doesn’t it?)
Skirts weren’t nearly so long and you didn’t have to wear a bunch of petticoats
beneath them. I could have never dressed the way Elizabeth does in The Wyoming
Heir. (Though her clothing does make for a rather pretty cover, doesn’t it?)
The next period that comes to mind is Biblical. Loose
dresses and sandals. Who can complain about that?
dresses and sandals. Who can complain about that?
I love the
petticoats. =) I’d be totally happy dressed as Elizabeth. 😉 Okay, now you’re
stranded on a desert island. Let’s say a warm one, with an unending food
supply. And two books. One is the Bible, let’s assume. But what would you want
the other one to be?
A Voice in the Wind
by Francine Rivers . . . and that’s only because I’ve read An Echo in the Darkness as well, so I know it all ends well.
Actually, on second thought, I’d need one of those two book volumes that has
both novels inside it. Is that allowed? 😉
by Francine Rivers . . . and that’s only because I’ve read An Echo in the Darkness as well, so I know it all ends well.
Actually, on second thought, I’d need one of those two book volumes that has
both novels inside it. Is that allowed? 😉
*Sigh* I suppose… 😉 And now one more serious
question to part with. What message do you most want to send to your readers?
question to part with. What message do you most want to send to your readers?
Ultimately, that nothing in life is too great for God and
His love to overcome. Each of my books look at different elements of God and
His love, but they all boil down to the same principles. God is good. His ways
are best. And He loves you with an everlasting love. Armed with those Truths,
both real life people and fictional characters can defeat any obstacles.
His love to overcome. Each of my books look at different elements of God and
His love, but they all boil down to the same principles. God is good. His ways
are best. And He loves you with an everlasting love. Armed with those Truths,
both real life people and fictional characters can defeat any obstacles.
So true. And so good
to have you here, Naomi!
to have you here, Naomi!
Naomi has a fun
giveaway going on over on her site for a picnic basket much like the one on the
cover of The Wyoming Heir. She’s also
offering a copy of the book here for one lucky winner! Giveaway will run a
week!
giveaway going on over on her site for a picnic basket much like the one on the
cover of The Wyoming Heir. She’s also
offering a copy of the book here for one lucky winner! Giveaway will run a
week!
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. 
Great interview, the book sounds interesting. Congrats on your latest release, Naomi.
Thanks Sylvia. It was a fun story to write. 🙂
I've been hearing great things about this book and your writing in general. Love the plot about the heroine working at a ladies' academy. It's good for that time period, but not what everyone else is writing.
Great interview, Naomi! Would love to read your book. 🙂
I love finding new to me authors. Loving the sound of this.
Thanks to everyone who's stopped by and show interest in The Wyoming Heir. It was fun being here. 🙂
LOL! Well, it certainly has been cold enough, hasn't it? We're currently having a heat wave here. It's almost 0 out. Almost. Don't think we'll actually hit the single digits quite yet though. Maybe tomorrow . . .
Thanks Merry. It was certainly fun to put that spin on the story. 🙂
Sounds like a great story line. Love the change up too, having the cowboy come East. Looking forward to reading it, soon I hope!
nancycooks4u(at)gmail(dot)com
Love the idea of this book – and I was feeling like a yooper the past couple days in Grand Rapids, MI. Thanks for the lovely story, Naomi!
Enjoyed your interview, Naomi, and would love to read "The Wyoming Heir"! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy!
bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com
I like the twist on a Cowboy heading east and finding his inheritance is more than he expected. Thanks for the chance to win The Wyoming Heir!
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com
I wanted to say welcome. I love Roseanna's books and if she is promoting your books I am sure that they are wonderful. I'd love to get one of your books to read. God Bless!
Ha! Well, far be it from me to give away the ending . . . 🙂
I hope Elizabeth becomes Mrs. Hayes and moves back to Wyoming with her husband ~ more flexible than he moving his ranch to the East! Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
Thanks for stopping by, everyone!
Thanks, Susan. It was fun to put that twist on the classic story set-up. 🙂
Love cowboy stories. Would love to read this! Thanks for the interview. 🙂
Thanks for sharing your answers with us. I love that you write for HIM! Keep writing and I will keep reading.
I think my first comment was eaten by cyberspace! Lovely interview. I like that a cowboy travels east for once. 🙂
This is Roseanna, who is currently without power and so at my mom's. Glad to have you, Naomi! Everyone stay warm! =)
Thanks for having me today, Roseanna!