Bruce MacAlister is a West Texas cowboy. The genuine article, he was born and raised in a large, loving family in the Texas Panhandle. As a boy, he dreamed of two things – training top-notch cutting horses and starting a family of his own. Tall and handsome, Bruce has plenty of opportunities to connect with women, but he is growing weary of casual relationships. As he gets ready to move back to the Texas Panhandle, he knows the opportunities for finding the right woman will soon be few and far between. Just as he has resigned himself to being everybody’s favorite bachelor uncle, he meets Abby. When Bruce first meets Abby, the most attractive thing about her is that she’s standing in an office with a working air conditioner. When he finally coaxes a smile out of her, she reveals a single dimple in her right cheek. It is this one feature that gets under his skin and begins to infect his thoughts. Intrigued by the fact that she seems immune to his charms, he begins his pursuit. The harder he tries to get to know her, the more evasive she becomes. Slowly, Bruce learns more about this mysterious and captivating woman who has stolen his heart only to discover she has enough secrets to fill the state of Texas.
Today I’m joined by the romantic suspense author Susan Byrde, to chat about the first novel in the Abbey Road series, ‘Bruce’s Fall’. Susan, thank you for spending a little time with me today to tease us a little about the secrets behind Abby and Bruce’s relationship. The first thing that I want to know about is where the story behind this relationship started?
These characters have been living inside my head for so long, I don’t even remember how their story started.
It sounds like you have a very strong internal relationship between your characters and yourself. Do you ever picture themselves outside of your head, perhaps played be some current actors? Can you think of any actors who might be able to do your characters justice?
Chris Hemsworth to play Bruce – but he’d have to dye his hair black, and I’m not really sure about Abby.
Maybe an unknown would be a good choice for Abby, someone without any preconceived notions about what they would bring to the character of Abby. As you don’t remember exactly where Abby and Bruce started do you remember more about their journey in this book? Was their journey something that you needed to research?
Yes, I researched things like the number of cattle you can have on an acre, road and highway routes, things about trucks, and some things about Texas A&M University.
Are you a writer at heart?
YES! I can’t NOT write. It makes me happy.
I love happy writers! They are so much fun and they write lots of books. Has work commenced on the next installment in this series yet?
Yes, I am working on the second book in this series, Abby’s Road.
When you started writing either book in this series did you know where you were going to end up?
I have an idea of how it will end but some things change.
What keeps you on track while you are writing through these changes?
I do my best writing when I’m the only one in the house, when I have good music, and when the characters and I want the same things.
What kinds of good music do you listen to?
It depends on what I’m writing. I listened to a lot of Classic Rock and 80’s Country for Bruce’s Fall.
When you have a fair chunk of writing completed, how do you go about the editing process?
When I get stuck or when I finish a section, I edit. When I get the whole thing put together I edit. And I ask friends to read through it all and point out issues.
Once you’ve cleaned up all of the issues I’m assuming that you then publish. What can you tell us about your self-publishing experiences so far?
Do it! Jump in and do it. Write for yourself first and foremost! KDP is awesome.
I have to agree, KDP and the ability to publish your own work is awesome. Now, I’d like to redirect the awesomeness of this interview into the quick fire round where questions are tossed to you quickly to be parried back with all of you might. Let’s start with: Are you a valuable asset on a quiz team?
Yes
Great! I will add you to my list of super strong quiz team candidates. What is your zodiac sign?
Leo
Are you introvert or extrovert?
Both
Have you ever danced in the rain?
Yes
I’m glad to hear it :). Speaking of rain, how are the colours in rainbows made?
Sunlight filtering through the water in the air
Would you have a cast party with the characters in your book if they could come to life?
Absolutely
If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature what new animal would you create?
A horse and an eagle to make a flying horse
That’s an awesome choice. I always love a flying horse. And finally to wrap up today’s interview I’m hoping that you can leave us with your favourite line from your book that you think might entice the readers a little more.
It was difficult to pull away, like fighting gravity with nothing more than a hopeful leap.
I hope that our readers take the hopeful leap today and take advantage of the sale on your book and pick up ‘Bruce’s Fall’. Susan, I’d like to thank you again for setting aside time today to chat and I wish you the best of luck with the next instalment in this series.
Want to find out more about Susan Byrde? Connect here!