Author interview, Linda Lingle

Hey guys. I’m still on hiatus, but here’s an author interview from Linda Lingle, author of Dear Heart and Sweet Heart. 

Tell us about your books.

Dear Heart and Sweet Heart are love stories about a couple who carry on a passionate affair and then are separated for nearly forty years. Dear Heart is told from the female character’s perspective and Sweet Heart is told from the male character’s perspective.

When did you realize that you were a writer?

When I published my first short story, many long years ago.

Do you have any books coming out this year?

I hope to finish Interoffice Romance so that it will launch this year, but I can’t promise that I will. At present, I have my hands full promoting Dear Heart and Sweet Heart, and that leaves little time for writing.

If readers are looking to connect with you, what’s the best way to do it?

https://www.lindalinglebooks.com/

https://twitter.com/lindalinglebks

https://www.facebook.com/LindaLingleBooks

What are you working on right now?

Interoffice Romance and a screenplay for Dear Heart.

Tell us about submitting your book. What was that like for you?

At first it was exciting, but I queried Dear Heart for two years before I found a publisher, so after awhile I realized that I either had to self-publish, which I didn’t want to do, or dig in for the long haul. I dug in.

What do you do to enrich your writing?

That’s a good question. I re-read books from authors I admire, and I research the details of whatever I’m writing. Other than that, I just trust my instincts.

How much does real life impact your writing?

Too damn much. I can’t sit down to write until my husband and dog go to bed because they think nothing of interrupting my concentration. Plus, as you probably well know, just getting through chores and running errands takes up a good part of the day.

What author would you say inspires you the most? 

Harold Robbins. His book The Adventurers is my all-time favorite.

Who is your current favorite author?

It’s a toss-up between John Grisham and Stephen King.

What was your first favorite book as a child?

Trixie Belden and The Secret of the Mansion. I still have the complete Trixie Belden series.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back to when you first started writing?

Be careful what you wish for.

What would you consider the best thing you’ve ever done for your writing career?

Sign with Solstice Publishing. I can’t imagine that there’s a more supportive and nurturing publisher on the planet.

What would you consider the most fulfilling moment you’ve experienced as a writer?

The moment I held the first paperback copy of Dear Heart in my hands.

What book would you suggest to anyone who wants to write?

On Writing by Stephen King.

DEAR HEART and SWEET HEART by Linda Lingle

Can love survive a nearly-forty-year separation? Can passion? And what happens to lovers who are separated for a life time? See how their destiny unfolds as the parted lovers dream about finding their way back to each other’s arms, and an unlikely guide emerges to light the path of their journey.

Deirdre Reid and Hartley (Lee) Tate feel an immediate attraction when they meet at the office where they will work together and fall in love.   There is only one problem:  they are married to others and Lee has four daughters to whom he is devoted.

For 15 months Deirdre and Lee carry on a passionate affair.  Then Lee’s wife is offered a big promotion across the country.  With his heart breaking, Lee leaves Deirdre in San Francisco and moves East with his family so his wife can advance her high-powered career.  

Soon, unforeseen circumstances have Deirdre second-guessing her insistence on a clean break.  She resists every impulse to fly to Lee’s side, but on the first anniversary of their parting, Deirdre grows increasingly regretful and melancholy. Then she receives a surprising Christmas present which sets in motion a 38-year ritual that, against all odds, keeps alive the love she shared with Lee. 

Get Deirdre’s story on Amazon

Heartbroken and resentful, Lee has a difficult time adjusting to his life without Deirdre and struggles to settle in to his new surroundings. Knowing he made the only decision a father could make does little to lessen Lee’s profound sense of loss. Although he tries to be upbeat and optimistic for the sake of his daughters, in the dark and quiet of his lonely nights, Lee relives the fifteen heady months that he spent with Deirdre and gives free rein to the anguish and bitterness he feels because he was forced to leave her.

Then, his youngest daughter enlists Lee to help her find an elusive Christmas gift for her favorite teacher and everything changes.

As if guided by fate, Lee stumbles across a poignant reminder of his time with Deirdre and sets in motion the 38-year ritual that eased his heartbreak and sustained his hope for the future.

In this companion book to Dear Heart, we meet the people who populate Lee’s world, and learn the shocking secret he promised never to reveal.

Get Lee’s story on Amazon

Linda Lingle began writing at a young age and had some early success with her whimsical short stories. Then life intervened and she took a break from writing to build a career in public service. When the storyline for Dear Heart, and its companion book, Sweet Heart, came to her out of the blue, it sparked her imagination and reignited her enthusiasm for writing. She is currently working on a screenplay for Dear Heart which incorporates the plots of both books. Linda lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Arthur, and her dog, Sam.

WEBSITE: www.lindalinglebooks.com

FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/LindaLingleBooks

TWITTER: twitter.com/lindalinglebks
G+: plus.google.com/s/lindalinglebooks