Lynn has won numerous awards for her writing on both the local and national levels. And after years of "keeping her day job" in the world of retail sales, she is now in a position to write full-time. For Lynn, it's a dream come true. For the rest of us, it's a blessing! Bi taingeil (bee TAHNG-kel) - thank the lucky stars! And best of all, Lynn is as delightful as the characters she writes about! She is a nice, warm, and witty person who cares very much about her readers.

And now for the interview ...

Lynn: When I'm not writing, I'm usually looking for excuses to write. My mother raised me to be a fastidious housekeeper. Unfortunately, it didn't stick, so all my life I have been concocting excuses to avoid cleaning the house. Writing works perfectly! Up until the last couple of years, I worked outside the home full-time. I spent a lot of hours staring off into space during those workaday years, my thoughts turning to far-off people and places. These days, I help with my husband's business whenever I'm not on an immediate deadline. I think I've almost convinced him that, even though I work for free, I'm not worth it in the bookkeeping department. I have another type of books to keep!

Donna: What do you read for enjoyment, and what is your favorite book? Do you have a favorite author?

Lynn: For enjoyment, I read a lot of research material about the ancient Celts. I'm a big believer in the idea that some of your best inspirations come from visual sources, so oftentimes, even though I can't afford to buy them, I like to sit in bookstores and browse through the big, glossy picture books. I'm particularly fond of "Above Ireland" and the "A Day in the Life of ..." books. In terms of fiction, I have a lot of friends who are terrific authors - Barbara Freethy, Penny Williamson, Barbara McMahon, Ciji Ware, Georgia Bockoven, Amanda Scott, Sue Krinard. I hesitate to name only these few, because I could fill a page with all the wonderfully talented authors just in my local RWA chapter! But I also enjoy Dean Koontz, Laura Kinsale, and our dear lost friend, Arnette Lamb. I only wish I had the time to read more than my own work these days!

Donna: When did you decide to write fiction, and why did you choose romance?

Lynn: I don't think it was ever a conscious decision on my part to write fiction. From the time I was little, I was always a storyteller - some of them rather tall when it came to excuses for being late for supper! I wrote a lot of poetry at a very early age. From there, it went to stories for my children. Then it progressed to short stories for local competitions. But the appetite was always there to come up with something long enough to really submerge myself in another world. And because I cry over dogfood commercials, it was plain to me that I would have to write stories that ultimately ended happily, no matter what I put those poor folks through on the way. Romance was a natural choice. Although, if you look at the shelves these days, there are very few bestsellers which are without a love story at the heart of them. Hey, folks, we're up to 53% of all popular paperback sales! You can't beat those numbers.

Donna: How long did it take you to write "The Starry Child?"

Lynn: That's a little tricky to answer. From the initial thoughts to going to press, approximately a year and a half. I had completed five other books before TSC, none of which will probably ever see the light of day. But I feel it was extremely important for me to go from beginning to end on these other books to learn the art of pacing. And I will always be fond of the books I wrote during that pre-pub time period. They were all valuable to me in learning my craft. And they were fun!

Donna: What was your reaction when you found out "The Starry Child" was accepted?

Lynn: On my knees, tears in my eyes, after twelve years of trying to get published. But I was cool ... I said to my agent, "A two-book contract, eh? How soon do they need the second book because I have a couple of ideas?" Of course, once I hung up, I was speechless for half an hour. Then the shrieking began!

Donna: "The Starry Child" is a combination of historical, contemporary, reincarnation, and fantasy. Did this make it harder to write?

Lynn: I'm one of those writers who feels like she is only there to record and relay the story. I was never uncomfortable with the notion of so many elements interplaying. Although, I must say that this combining so many elements was daunting to some editors who were lacking in the courage to try something new. Crossing genres made it hard to sell my other work. Fortunately, luck and timing were with me on this one - and a terrific agent and editor who both had more courage than the rest!

Donna: What was your inspiration for "The Starry Child?"

Lynn: Another tough question. Right up there with reciting the phone book. I've always loved Celtic things. I have a lot of Scots-Irish in my background, and my husband is of Scots descent. He was researching his family tree when we went to a number of Scottish fairs. It opened up a whole world of possibilities for me. The true inspiration came from that Big Pond in the Sky where all the ideas swirl around and occasionally tip over the side. Somehow, they land in my brain. Sorry I can't be more specific.

Donna: You use Gaelic throughout "The Starry Child." How did you come to be so fluent in this language?

Lynn: As I was writing TSC, I would come to places where I would have to write, "She said a telling phrase in Gaelic." This just wouldn't fly. Even though I knew no one would be able to pronounce the Gaelic phrases, I had to include them so that the reader would get some feel for the words, but also so they would understand the kind of adjustments Rainey was having to make as she tried to understand Sasha's world. I found a wonderful class in Gaelic and have been taking lessons for years. I've only just begun to scratch the surface of this amazing and perplexing language. You really have to have humans instead of tapes and books to help you learn it. Aspirin only helps a little!

Donna: Can you tell us about the sequel, "Circle of Time?"

Lynn: In "Circle of Time," you get to meet Kyle, the love of Sasha's life. If you love Matt, you'll want Kyle standing next to your hearth each night - or perhaps your nightstand. He's an amazing guy - also a teacher of languages and more than a match for the independent Sasha. You'll also meet Sasha's new little sister, Carrie. Carrie has a legend of her own. And when Matt's flight is lost at sea at the height of a terrible storm out of the north, Carrie and Kyle discover that, like Rainey and Sasha, they have ties to the ancient past. These ties between Kyle and nine-year-old Carrie will help them in their search for Matt. Kyle is plunged into Sasha's world. He loves her on sight, but the nature of her extraordinary family takes a bit of adjustment. We'll make a Believer out of him! It's two love stories, really. The bonds Matt and Rainey share are very much in play here. But the love that Sasha and Kyle discover between them is aided by little Carrie's ties to the past. Lots of mystery, legends of old, and love that crosses the centuries in this one. And a few surprises!

Donna: Any hints about your current work?

Lynn: Book Three of "The Starry Child" series is currently in the works. Sorry, too early for hints, except to say we'll be back in the Highlands for much of it.

Donna: You really had me worried near the end of "The Starry Child!" Would you ever write a story without a happy ending?

Lynn: Hmmm, thinking here. I could imagine a couple of possibilities. If the story were something ongoing, where the sorrow of the first would be eased in the next book. Or, if the sorrow made things better in the long run for those involved. In terms of leaving a murder unsolved or someone going down for the third time purely for effect, I don't think so. Like I said, I'm a notorious crier.

Donna: Do you have any advice for the aspiring authors here at RBL Romantica?

Lynn: It's been said a million times, but WRITE FROM YOUR HEART. If you try to please the industry, or your mother, or your critique group, you'll end up chucking your work for lack of your own interest. Also, learn your craft. Learn how to submit your work in a professional manner. It's only fair to all involved. The stories you may have heard about somebody getting published after they submitted their work on a tablecloth are probably fiction. Bad fiction. Once you decide you want to get published, enter contests, join RWA, get to know other writers. Listen more than you speak. Keep what you can use and catalog the rest. Find out which editor is buying what, which agents are worth hiring, and address things to them personally. Much of this information is available through RWA. Attend the RWA conferences if you can possibly afford it. You get a feel for the industry and you never know who you'll rub elbows with in the elevators! Learn the names and the faces. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. And, back to contests, judge them as well as enter them. You'll be amazed how many of your own mistakes you'll discover in other people's work. Then, when you see the problems on your own pages, you'll recognize them for what they are. Lastly, DON'T GIVE UP! Although there are many very nice people out there, this can be an extraordinarily cold and detached business. Writers tend to be overly-sensitive, reclusive people by nature. These stories are our children. We want to nurture and protect them. We want them to do well and reflect well on us. But, eventually, you have to send them out into the big, wide world, away from the warm raves of friends and family. You hope you've done your best to make them ready for what they'll encounter out there. But now and then, you have to bail them out or feed them chicken soup just to make things better. Be patient with yourself. Stay in touch with other writers, both online and in person. Have faith in yourself. And tell the stories you were born to tell.
And again, many thanks for inviting me to participate. Hope I didn't chatter on too long. I'll look forward to seeing the new newsletter!