Interview with Leslie Scott Author of Two Hearts, One Stone
Give a warm welcome to Leslie Scott, author of Two Hearts, One Stone, just released September 26, 2018!
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Leslie and her Tow Hearts, One Stone.
Why should we read this book and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book unique?
With Two Hearts, One Stone I remember sitting in on a chat about Western romances and how publishers were looking for something different than Montana or Texas for contemporary novels. I live at the tail end of the Smokey Mountains and we have cowboys too! Down here we say farm not ranch (though most of us know farms grow food and ranches raise animals—but still it’s what we say) and don’t have thousands of acres of cow grazing pasture. We do have a strong horse culture though and raise some amazing animals. I wanted to show that and I think I did well.
Did you tell friends and family that you were writing a book? Or did it take a while to come out and tell friends and family you were a writer?
Well, most everyone who has known me my entire life, knows I write. It’s part of who I am. A few were surprised when my debut novel (The Finish Line) was published, but not many. My son is super proud—he’s eleven—and tells everyone we meet that I’m a writer. It’s cute.
One funny story though: I’ve known our church secretary for a few years (I met her at her previous job). I really like her, she’s one of my favorite people. I got a message from her not long ago about how she’d bought my book and read it, but didn’t want to tell me she had bought it until she finished (just in case she didn’t like it, or I ended up being a terrible writer, etc). Turns out she absolutely loved it and is now one of my ARC readers.
Do you see yourself in your characters?
Not really, no. Is that bad? Each character I write is like living in someone else’s brain for a few months. They are all so different from me and I love that. I want them to be someone else, otherwise I think writing them would be pretty boring.
Raelynn in The Finish Line is subdued, which I am not. She internalizes a lot and I’m a complete extrovert. She has multiple handsome men vying for her affections—I do not (ha!).
Hadley (in the upcoming Hot Lap) is upbeat and positive in the face of difficulties and hardship. I am not. I cave, I get angry, I lash out. She smiles and dusts herself off.
Emmy in Two Hearts, One Stone is by far way more intelligent than I’d ever be. Thanks to be son’s pediatrician for her help with that one.
BUT… they all have a piece of my heart and I think that’s what matters the most.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
Joy and entertainment. I want readers to feel like each character is a friend, a part of their family or better—like they were a part of the character’s family. A novel is about escape, transporting yourself to somewhere else. I want that for everyone that reads my book.
Speed Round: (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: I have two: Legends of the Fall or Robinhood Prince of Thieves.
Favorite book: Far too many to count. But, John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War comes close to the top.
Last book read: I just finished Lisa Cron’s Wired for Story.
Favorite color: Pink.
Stilettos or flipflops: Flipflops, I’d break my face in stilettos.
Coffee or tea: Neither? Or a fancy sweet, iced coffee.
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: No audiobook.
Pencil or pen: Pens, of varying colors.
Favorite song: All of them (I’m not picky with music).
Streak or not: I joke that God made me fat so I wouldn’t run around naked. So, no. lol
Favorite dessert: All of them (I’m not picky with food). See what I did there?
Favorite junk food: See above.
Favorite thing to do to relax: Write.
Champagne or gin: Champagne. I got drunk on gin in highschool and it wasn’t pretty. Nope.
Paranormal or Historical: Steampunk! (Ha! Take that!)
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Dude… WW for sure.
Favorite TV show: Sons of Anarchy (I love hot biker dudes, I cannot help myself)
Hot or cold: Cold
POV: Gah! First is the reel that plays in my head. However, I’m learning to love third limited.
I’d die if I don’t have: My kid, my cats, my dogs, my laptop… the list goes on and on and on.
Review or Not: Review!
See I told you, writers just cant do it! LOL
Click on the cover to read more or purchase.
So tell us a little about Two Hearts, One Stone. Interesting title.
Horse trainer Stone Dempsey’s life is all about the ride—with horses and women. He uses his equine talents to impress the country club set and earn money for Smoky Mountain Reining Horses. When his drug-addicted sister deposits her sick baby on his doorstep, he’s suddenly saddled with real responsibility.
Dr. Emmersyn Cole’s goal of starting a practice in her favorite place on earth is finally coming to fruition and she is not going to be sidetracked. Everything is going great until Stone swaggers into her life, half-dressed with a smile that could melt her insides. She’s determined to keep her distance…until he rushes into her grandfather’s home, clutching a feverish baby, terrified and vulnerable, and her heart’s hard shell begins to crack.
In only a few short weeks, Stone’s wayward heart suddenly relies on two women—one who needs him—and one that he might not be able to live without.
Can we have a sneak peak between the pages of Two Hearts, One Stone.
Sure.
He was spinning and dizzy because of Emmy. He hadn’t expected her to throw him for a loop like she had, have him waiting on her after work, cleaning up his cabin, and all the other silly things he’d done in the past few weeks.
Yet there he was, with a shoulder against the stall door, watching the sparkles of faded sunlight dance in her reddish, curling hair.
He was a goner.
“I feel naked when you look at me like that.” Her fingers trembled as she tucked a lock behind her ear.
“That’s not the way I look at you when you’re naked.”
Buy links:
About the author:
Leslie spends most days attempting to wrangle the voices in her head and often wishes she could clone herself so that their stories get told faster. She loves words, romance, and characters that feel like family and spends almost all of her free time with her own family; including a boisterous eleven year old that she homeschools and an assorted cast of rescue pets. She lives her own happily ever after with her soul mate and best friend in the northern part of Alabama and hopes you enjoy reading her stories as much as she enjoys writing them.
Leslie Scott on the internet:
Website: http://lesliescottromance.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lesliescottwrites/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/leslieSwrites
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lesliescottwrites/
Youtube Playlists: http://bit.ly/2O6IDea
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Two Hearts, One Stone!
Visits: 49
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Leslie Scott, One Stone, Two Hearts, Western by Tena Stetler with 8 comments.
The Finish Line by Leslie Scott
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Leslie Scott, author of The Finish Line available for pre-order, release date 12/11/17. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets see what The Finish Line is all about. Thanks for joining us Leslie and I see you brought guests!
Yes, this is Jordan Slater and Raelynn Casey from The Finish Line.
Wonderful. (rubs her hand together gleefully) Always glad to have fresh blood… ahh… guests.
Jordan, Tell us about the real you— What you see is what you get. I love my family (my friends), I love cars and racing, I say what I mean and I mean what I say.
What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you? When my grandfather took me in when I was a kid, showed me that family is what you make it, not who you’re born to. Real family is worth protecting, no matter the cost.
What do you most value? A win.
What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with? The sort of woman who knows the difference between a turbo and a pro-charger, doesn’t mind waking up in the middle of the night for a street race, and blues eyes and a dimple doesn’t hurt.
What do you consider most important in life? Family. The people you surround yourself with are the most important thing you can have.
What is your biggest secret? If I told you, it wouldn’t be a secret, would it?
You wouldn’t believe how many times I get that answer. But I still consider it cheating! LOL
Hi, Raelynn Casey, great to have you on Authors’ Secrets.
Tell us about yourself. Who are you really? I think I’m afraid to know who I really am. That if I look in those dark corners, around all the mistakes and pain, I won’t like what I see.
Who were the biggest role models in your life? My parents. They are honest, hard-working, good people. Even if Jordan thinks they are carbon copies of the Cleavers, they are special to me.
What kind of man do you want to spend the rest of your life with? There isn’t a “type” of man I want to spend the rest of my life with. There has and will always be, one man I want to spend the rest of my life with. It’s Jordan Slater or nothing for me. Now, I just have to convince him that our love is worth fighting for.
What kind of man would you never choose? I actually chose, once, the man that fit this description and it didn’t bode well for me. Just because a guy is all shine and polish, says all the right things, doesn’t mean he’s better than the street racer with grease under his nails.
What is most important to you in life? My family, my friends, and the love that binds us all.
What is your biggest fear? Growing old without Jordan, watching him have a family with someone else.
Leslie, Tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?
Writing in general, is always fun for me, literally my favorite thing to do. There were parts of this novel that were incredibly difficult to write, because I’d become so invested in Raelynn and Jordan, in their community of family. When you have to write things that cause that family to crack, even break in some instances, it’s like a punch in the chest.
But, finishing? Taking Raelynn and Jordan to their happily ever after? That was a total rush. The feeling of accomplishment was exhilarating. They became a part of me and will always be, that’s one of the reasons I decided to make The Finish Line the first novel in a series. I love this town, the people in it, and the stories they have to tell. I hope your readers do as well.
Give us an insight into The Finish Line.
Another night at the races is more than burnt rubber with a hit of nitrous. For one young woman, it’s navigating trauma, love, and loss in the stifling Texas heat under the watchful gaze of her brother’s best friend and reigning King of the Streets, Jordan Slater. Home in Arkadia again, Raelynn Casey starts to heal from a terrible incident at college. She finds love in Jordan, a member of her brother’s circle of racing buddies. When another in the racing circle, the guy who took her to her high school prom, exposes his feelings for Raelynn, tragedy erupts like a tank of race fuel. Guilt, remorse, and pain must be overcome before Raelynn and Jordan can race to The Finish Line.
A Peek Between the Pages of The Finish Line!
The night was an off night for everyone, Jordan’s time slips proved it. Not that he’d ever been a huge fan of testing at the track. We were all on edge, all worried about Devin and my sister. Nobody’s head was in the game.
“It’s a street car, meant to be raced on the street,” Jordan grumbled as he sat in the car with a laptop propped on his knees.
“There’s some rubber on it man, the street can’t get
any better,” Vic argued.
It wasn’t the surface or the car that was the problem. It was the driver. The look Aiden shot me over the roof of the car was in agreement. Jordan hadn’t been right since we’d got word that Devin was testing almost a hundred miles away to avoid us. Devin had never tested without Jordan before and it weighed heavily on him.
“Hey.” I leaned in the open door. “You all right?”
He glanced at me before pulling off the hat and rubbing his head. “No, not really.”
I closed the distance between us and pressed my lips against his. My kiss was soft and meant to be fleeting, but he pulled me close and held me there. Jordan took his time with it, as if he were committing every part of my mouth to memory.
“Cut it out!” Aiden called from the other side of the car. “You can’t kiss my sister in front of me. It’s weird.”
Jordan’s response was to kiss me again, this time slower, more lingering, and with a considerable bit more tongue than before.
Aiden groaned and tossed a wrench, loudly, into a
tool box.
“I’m with him, it’s going to take some getting used to,” Vic commiserated.
Jordan eyed me in an almost predatory fashion as I moved out of the car so I didn’t offend my brother’s sensibilities. “You’re gonna have to get used to it. I like kissing your sister, Aiden.”
Available for pre-order now, release date December 11, 2017.
The Finish Line, Paperback http://bit.ly/2isnD4u
The Finish Line, Nook http://bit.ly/2A88mjH
The Finish Line, Kindle http://amzn.to/2A875ZX
More about the Author:
Leslie Scott thrives in the middle of chaos. Not because she home schools her son and rides herd over the family’s zoo of indoor pets or listens to her soul mate wax poetically about all things car and related. Oh, no. That’s nothing. The real chaos is the characters in her mind, elbowing and tripping each other to get to the front of the line so they can be the next romantic couple in one of her stories. Her family is her passion. Writing romance is her dream.
Readers can find Leslie on my
website: lesliescottromance.com,
Twitter @leslieSwrites,
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/lesliescottwrites.
She’s really active on twitter/facebook and would love to hear from readers!
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with The Finish Line!
Visits: 395
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary, family, Leslie Scott, Racing, Romance, The Finish Line by Tena Stetler with 10 comments.
