What is the title of your latest release?
BLUE JEAN SUMMER
What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?
A down-on-her-luck pageant queen strikes a deal with a reluctant cowboy where he’ll pay her debts as long as she marries him to save the land his parents are buried on. Now, they must convince the town – and his brother – that they’re in love for real.
How did you decide where your book was going to take place?
BLUE JEAN SUMMER takes place on the Wilder Estate in the fictional town of Honey Hollow, Virginia – a small town nestled in the Shenandoah Valley. It is loosely based on my late great-grandmother’s farm in Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, where I spent many summers running through the pastures, exploring her expansive flower gardens, and watching movies projected on the side of the barn. Winters were spent making hot chocolate on the wood stove and sledding the “big hill” while trying to avoid the cows that wandered over to see what we were doing. When I sat down to plot the world that would hold all the stories of the Wilder Estate, I could not think of a more picturesque setting that would give readers a sense of escapism, peace, and adventure.
Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?
Absolutely! Catherine is a true girl’s girl who would be down for anything! She has a fun spirit, but cares deeply and selflessly.
What are three words that describe your hero?
Calm, self-assured, and determined.
What’s something you learned while writing this book?
On the technical side of things, I learned more about the developmental editing process. It really shaped how I approach outlining, first drafting, and storytelling as a whole. It was a fantastic experience that I grew from. On the personal side, BLUE JEAN SUMMER addresses grief head-on. It’s a theme I’ve written about quite a lot, but it’s typically more of a looming cloud in the story rather than direct conversations. BLUE JEAN SUMMER lays it all out and gives readers (and me) a safe place to sort through those emotions. I found a lot of peace in writing Hayes and Catherine’s story.
Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?
I wait until I am totally done to edit. Even though I am an aggressive plotter, I learn so much about the characters and the story during the first draft. By the time I type the final words of the first draft, I have pages of revision notes ready to go. My first drafts are messy and riddled with plot holes, but I often remind myself that the only job of a first draft is to exist. The lengthy second-draft edits are really where the story starts to take shape for me!
What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?
This is so hard to answer because I truly LOVE food! I have been told by many readers that my books always make them hungry! My daily indulgence is probably a fun little beverage! I don’t drink anymore, but I love a flavored lemonade or a crispy Coke with lime. If I’m traveling, I always try to find a hidden gem restaurant to try!
Describe your writing space/office!
I recently built out my first official home office, complete with bookshelves full of my favorite books, retro movie posters, a couch for reading or recording social media content, and a display shelf of all my books. I even added a bistro table and chair similar to the ones at my favorite coffee shop, hoping it would encourage me to write from home more often. Spoiler alert: I still write from the coffee shop almost every day!
Who is an author you admire?
If I could plot like Aly Carter, world-build like Lucy Score, banter like Ali Hazelwood, and write with the emotional authenticity and heart of Catherine Cowles, I would be unstoppable!
Is there a book that changed your life?
PROTECTING WHAT’S MINE by Lucy Score and INTO THE FIRE by Meredith Wild were two of the first contemporary romance books I read. After that, there was no going back! They gave me an insatiable appetite for romance books with strong leading ladies. (And firefighters!)
Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when you decided to self-publish.
BLUE JEAN SUMMER has been a long time coming! (At least for me!) “The call” came alongside confirmation that my Griffith Brothers series (originally indie) would be traditionally published in print by the fantastic team at Berkley Publishing. I took that call while standing in the freezer section of the grocery store.
What’s your favorite genre to read?
Contemporary romance hands-down! I LOVE love stories and need the guarantee of a happily ever after!
What’s your favorite movie?
I actually have movie posters on the wall of my office! Miss Congeniality, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, The Parent Trap, The Notebook, and A Cinderella Story were so formidable for me as a young person and really shaped what I love about storytelling.
What is your favorite season?
Summer! I detest being cold so much that I don’t even like writing books that are set in cold seasons or climates! As I’m writing this, it’s 100 degrees out (hello, July heatwave) and I’m wearing a sweatshirt.
How do you like to celebrate your birthday?
It differs every year. Last year I had a weekend in a hotel by myself. (Highly recommend!) This year I’ll be on the road with an author friend to celebrate her book release!
What’s a recent tv show/movie/book/podcast you highly recommend?
My obsession with Ted Lasso has not waned in the slightest. I’m more than slightly addicted and cannot wait for season four! As an avid podcast listener, I’m tuning in weekly to Love Letters and Books, Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, House of Maher, The Comment Section with Drew Afualo, and the Page by Page Book Club. My most anticipated read of the year, INTO THE FADING TWILIGHT by Catherine Cowles, releases tomorrow and I already have my out-of-office email auto-reply ready to go. Along with the rest of the Starlight Grove series, I cannot wait for THE DADDY’S GIRL by Sara Cate!
What’s your favorite type of cuisine?
I could survive only on Mexican food and be extremely happy about it.
What do you do when you have free time?
Free time is rather rare for me these days. Midnight neighborhood walks or silent drives through the country have become one of my favorite things to do to unwind. I love when the world feels silent.
What can readers expect from you next?
STEEL-TOED SLOW DANCE, book two in the Wilder Estate series, releases March 9! This book follows my sexy silver fox, Mason, and single mom Hallie as they navigate the ghosts of their past and finally get their happily ever after! I cannot wait for readers to dive into it!
BLUE JEAN SUMMER by Maggie Gates
Wilder Estate #1
Opposites become unlikely allies when a desperate cowboy needs to marry in order to save his grandfather’s land.
Hayes Wilder needs to find a wife—pronto. After returning to the small town of Honey Hollow before his grandfather’s death, he’s shocked to learn that the sprawling Wilder Estate was left to him. All Hayes wants is the one thing money can’t buy—more time with his grandfather. Failing that, he’ll do whatever it takes to save his grandfather’s legacy from falling into the wrong hands. Even if it means marrying in order to satisfy the terms of the will.
Catherine Foster, reigning Miss Virginia and former Honey Hollow native (who had a childhood crush on Hayes), is saddled with mountains of medical debt ever since her mother’s death. Running out of time to figure out her next move, Catherine reconnects with Hayes at his grandfather’s funeral.
Hayes and Catherine impulsively strike a bargain: He’ll pay off her debts, but only if they get married. Despite the situation, Hayes and Catherine look forward to getting to know each other as adults—after the wedding. Which is tougher than anticipated when the entire town has eyes on them and his half brother keeps circling the property like a vulture, determined to poke holes in their marriage. Most troubling of all, this pair may have miscalculated how much they have in common—enough for this cowboy to fall in love for real.
Romance Western | Romance Small Town [ Berkley, On Sale: September 15, 2026, Trade Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780593955901 / eISBN: 9780593955918 ]
Buy BLUE JEAN SUMMER: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Apple Books | Kobo | Google Play | Books-A-Million | Indie BookShops | Walmart.com | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
About Maggie Gates
Maggie Gates writes raw, relatable romance novels packed full of heat and humor. Maggie calls North Carolina home. In her spare time, she enjoys daydreaming about her characters, jamming to country music, and eating all the barbecue and tacos she can find! Her e-reader is always within reach due to a love of small-town romances that borders on obsession.
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