1–What’s the title of your latest release? FORGED IN LOVE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new novel? Mariah survives a stagecoach robbery by a gang who leaves no witnesses. Then she starts having “accidents.” Clint wants to get close to Mariah and finds himself standing between her and the ruthless gang who wants her dead. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The book is set in Wyoming against the backdrop of the women’s suffrage movement. Wyoming was the first state in the Union to grant women the right to vote, and this attracted tough, independent women and the men who respected them. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Oh, yes. Mariah is both tough and vulnerable. She’s grieving her father and brother, who died in the holdup that almost killed her. She’s strong enough to take over her father’s blacksmith shop but woman enough to be interested when Clint, who runs the town’s diner, becomes her champion. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Strong, sweet, and loyal. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? The research was fascinating. Once I started reading about the fight for…

Excerpt:   A loud rustling in the trees made Zane surge to his feet and draw his pistol. “Don’t shoot. It’s me,” Jilly said. Zane almost fell over backward. Almost shooting a woman shook him badly enough he missed his holster when he tried to shove his pistol into it. “I made noise deliberately, afraid you’d be jumpy.” Jilly came in. Her red hair glowed against the green leaves. Her eyes were so green it was like the trees had shared their color. She led the pinto gelding she seemed partial to. “What are you doing up here?” Zane heard the snap in his voice. That wasn’t fair. “Wow, that’s a rich vein of gold.” Jilly barely glanced at Michelle or Zane. He noticed she only had eyes for the gold, and who could blame her? Michelle gave Zane one very sassy glance, then went to walk with Jilly to study the gold. “I estimate we’ve found around three thousand dollars’ worth of gold this morning.” Jilly picked up one of the rocks Zane had busted the quartz off of. She studied it, turning it in her hand. “I’d say more like four thousand five hundred.” Michelle picked up a…