1.
Tell us about your newest release.
Rosa's Story is a sequel to Westridge.
Westridge focused on Gabby and Jason's romance, and it also happens to
be free on Kindle today! This novella takes place a few months later and
focuses on Jason's ex-wife, Rosa, as she struggles to deal with letting Gabby
into her daughter's life. She feels lonely and insecure, even as she tries to
keep a brave face. When she meets a rugged construction worker named Dylan, she
thinks he's exactly what she needs to get through it.
He's tall, dark,
tattooed, mysterious, and pretty damn sexy. He's also crazy about Rosa. But
there are things about Dylan's past that he's too embarrassed to tell her,
things that would definitely make her think twice about getting involved with
him. When those details are revealed, their newfound relationship may stay
short-lived.
2. What makes your story special to you?
As with Westridge,
Rosa's Story holds a lot of precious childhood memories. Going to church
at a little white church, zucchini bread, trips to the library, etc. Writing
about the town of Westridge is always nostalgic. But Rosa's story is especially
important to me because we're finally getting to see Gabby and Jason from
Rosa's point of view, and we also get to see her find her own happy ending.
3. When did you first realize you wanted to be a
writer?
Writing was just
this natural sort of hobby I always had. I think it was because my mom read to
me from the time I was an infant until I could read myself (and even a little
after that), and she encouraged me to write my own stories, too. I guess I
always thought the idea of being a writer was romantic and wonderful, but I
didn't really recognize that potential in myself until college. I wrote my
first sexy story, won a contest, and thought "Hey, I might have something
here!" Then I was accepted into a few anthologies, had some standalone
stories published, and I just couldn't stop. :)
4. What is a
typical writing day like?
Is there such a
thing as a typical writing day?? Haha. Most of the time I squeeze in writing
while the little girl I nanny for is sleeping or after work. I have a few
writer friends (Horror writers, actually. Go figure.) and we get together one
or two days a week after work to write/discuss the industry. Occasionally, I'll
get a whole morning on the weekend to myself. On those days, my husband plays
video games in the computer room, I fix myself a cup of coffee, and I sit on
the couch with the cat and/or dog and write on my iPad.
5. Do you have
an interesting writing quirk or habit?
I act out really
angsty scenes in front of my bathroom mirror/in the shower/in the car before I
write them. It helps me better describe facial expressions and tones and stuff.
It's gotten harder to execute said weird habit since getting married, though.
He wouldn't judge me, but I'm still grateful I've never had to have the
"Um....who are you talking to?" "My....muse?" conversation.
6. What was one
of the most surprising things you learned as a published author?
Big house
publishing isn't all it's cracked up to be. I had a very important conversation
with a fellow romance writer, Shari Slade (Three Nights With a Rockstar?
Have you read it? Do it! ;)), and she pointed out that authors can make a
really great living through self-publishing ebooks as long as they work to
develop a fan base, consistently put out good work, and are willing to put in
the time and effort. And to be honest I've found self-publishing very freeing.
I still like submitting to anthologies, but not having to worry about
acceptance or rejection letters, managing my own cover art, and making my own
executive decisions on my novels and novellas has been tons of fun and has
actually freed up a lot of time to write.
7. What authors
or friends influenced you in helping you become a writer?
Carly Phillips
was the first romance writer I ever read, so she was definitely an influence.
My mother's always been very supportive, as has my husband. Since my best
friend and I used to spend our weekends writing boyband fanfiction I have to
say she was a pretty big influence, too. Haha. I'm very lucky. I have a great
support system.
8. What does
your family think about your career as a published author?
They're very
supportive. Even my grandparents read my stuff. If you look at Scandal and
Other Erotic Tales on Amazon there's a review that says "Anyone who
does not like this does not like erotic literature. No matter your age this is
the book you should not miss." and that's totally from my Grandpop. I should
probably feel more awkward about it than I do....Haha.
9. Besides
writing, what other interests do you have?
Reading, kids,
Pinterest, travel, Netflix, coffee, board games...Anything that might appeal to
an introvert!
10. Can you tell
us about what’s
coming up next for you writing wise?
Thanks for
asking! I've just finished the first draft of the last novella in the Westridge
trilogy. It's called Caitlin's Story and it should be out in early
November. :) After that, I have a futuristic romance trilogy planned as well as
a standalone contemporary romance novel.
11. How can
readers connect with you online?
Like Heather Lin
on Facebook, follow @heatherlin88 on Twitter, or visit my website at http://www.heatherlin.com.
Thanks for
stopping by!
Blurb
Rosa has a beautiful
daughter and a great relationship with her ex-husband, Jason. But when his
childhood sweetheart returns to the small town of Westridge, she begins feeling left out and
insecure. She just can't get used to the idea of sharing her daughter with
another woman, and their picture perfect love story makes her lack of a love
life feel like a glaring failure.
In the midst of her emotional upheaval, she meets Dylan, a
burly, tattooed construction worker who soothes her wounded pride and aching
heart. They enter into a fast-paced, passionate affair, and Rosa
finds herself falling for him in just a matter of weeks.
Against his better judgement, Dylan falls for Rosa, too. But he's in no position to be in a
relationship. He doesn't have a car, he doesn't have a place of his own, and he
has the kind of past that matches his rough appearance. He's made mistakes Rosa couldn't possibly forgive, and he may never get up
the courage to admit to them.
The result? A ticking time bomb of a romance that's sure to
rock both their worlds and leave neither unscathed.
Excerpt
“Mommy, I want to
pick flowers.”
Rosa glanced in her rearview mirror. Penny was strapped
in her booster seat, looking out at the wildflowers by the edge of a wide,
green cornfield.
“Later,
baby.”
The
field belonged to Mr. Dawson, and half a mile back it met with the Joneses'
field. In one more minute, they’d be at Jason’s house, the one he and Rosa had once shared and he now shared with Gabby Jones.
The families were all connected, as if it were always meant to be.
She was separate,
living ten minutes east, close to the library where she worked, barely outside
of the tiny trailer park in which she’d been raised. She was back to being Rosa
Nelson, mother of Penny Dawson, ex-wife of Jason Dawson, and, as she pulled
into the familiar driveway and parked in front of the garage, intruder in Gabby
Jones’s new home.
Rosa had been the one to leave. She’d taken Penny and
moved out after a year of trying to make it work, a year of trying to be
someone she wasn’t. She was happy for her ex-husband. She’d encouraged him to
reconcile with his childhood sweetheart, but she couldn’t help feeling tiny
stabs of jealousy and disappointment. She didn’t fit in.
“Mary
had a little lamb, little lamb…”
Penny
swung her legs back and forth, singing to herself, waiting patiently for her
mother to release her from her restraints. This was the first time Rosa would be dropping her daughter off at the house
without Jason present.
Gabby
had been back in Westridge for two months now, except for a brief trip to the
city to get her affairs in order. The pretty redhead was set to open a new
branch of Flowers by Gabby in Middleford in one month. Today, Rosa
had to work, and Jason had an emergency repair. “Why not let Gabby have her?”
he’d said. He’d meet them in the afternoon for lunch.
Rosa couldn’t say no. Of course leaving her daughter with
Gabby was fine. Why wouldn’t it be fine? Rosa
was Penny's mother. She couldn't be replaced.
She
glanced in the mirror again, this time angling it so she could see herself. Her
curled hair was perfect, shoulder-length at full volume. Her ruby red lipstick
was flawless. She was in great shape.
She was not the type of woman whose
confidence should be failing.
Rosa readjusted the mirror and stepped out of her car.
She opened the back door to let Penny out of her seat.
“Are
you ready to visit Gabby, baby?” she asked the four-year-old.
“Yes,
Mommy. We have fun together.”
“I’m
glad you do.”
Rosa lifted the round-faced girl into her arms. She was
the spitting image of her mother—those same big blue eyes and curly blond hair.
Rosa had relied too much on those good looks
in high school, throwing herself at boys and compromising her self-respect. She
was ashamed now of the way she’d acted, especially toward Jason. She prayed
every day her daughter would make better decisions than she had.
They
approached the front steps of the white and blue rancher. The door opened, and
Gabby stood there with a friendly smile. She wore a cute, dark blue romper that
screamed city girl, but the flannel shirt—which Rosa
was quite sure belonged to Jason—spoke of her small town roots. She was cute.
She’d grown up.
“Hi,
Rosa,” she greeted. Her tone was pleasant
enough, but Rosa knew she still wasn’t
comfortable around her. “And hello, Penny.” She smiled warmly and tugged gently
on the little girl’s hair.
“Hi,
Gabby.” Penny squirmed, and Rosa let her down, smoothing the little yellow
dress her daughter wore before letting her run inside to play.
The
two women were left standing alone together. Rosa
was a pro at seeming confident, even when she wasn’t. Gabby never had been. Her
hazel eyes flitted nervously between Rosa and
the door. Neither of them knew what to say. Rosa
held nothing against Gabby, but that didn’t mean it was easy to see her
standing in the doorway of her old home. And she was sure it was just as
difficult for Gabby to see her boyfriend’s ex-wife standing in the doorway of
her new home.
“Would
you like to come in for coffee?” Gabby asked.
Rosa blinked. She hadn’t expected that. She knew Gabby
only said it to break the awkward silence. She expected Rosa
to politely decline and be on her merry way. But Rosa
didn’t have the desire to make it that easy. They were in this together, no
matter how awkward it was, and they needed to be able to sit down and have a
cup of coffee together.
“Sure,”
she agreed.
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