Interview with Author Lois Greiman and Giveaway

Today I am happy to welcome back to RFTC author, Lois Greiman. Lois has stopped by to answer a few questions and to chat about her newest release, Finding Home. Please give Lois a warm welcome.

Lois Greiman was born on a cattle ranch in central North Dakota where she learned to ride and spit with the best of them. After graduating from high school, she moved to Minnesota to train and show Arabian horses. But eventually she fell in love, became an aerobics instructor and gave birth to three of her best friends.

She sold her first novel in 1992 and has published more than thirty titles since then, including romantic comedy, historical romance, children’s stories, and her fun-loving Christina McMullen mysteries. A two-time Rita finalist, she has won such prestigious honors as Romantic Times Storyteller Of The Year, MFW’s Rising Star, RT’s Love and Laughter, the Toby Bromberg for most humorous mystery, and the LaVyrle Spencer Award. Her heroes have received K.I.S.S. recognition numerous times and her books have been seen regularly among the industries Top Picks!

With more than two million books printed worldwide, Ms Greiman currently lives on the Minnesota tundra with her family, some of whom are human. In her spare time she likes to ride some of her more hirsute companions in high speed events such as barrel racing and long distance endurance rides.

Places to find Lois:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter |

First off, can you tell us a bit about you?
I was raised on a cattle ranch in North Dakota, spent several years as a horse trainer and was bitten by the writing bug decades ago. Since then I've been able to combine all my favorite things by continuing to show horses while writing. And now, with the advent of my new Hope Springs series, I can also WRITE about horses. Ahhhh, life is good.

Did you always want to be a writer?
No, but I always fantasized and made up stories in my head. In actuality, it was difficult for me to learn to read. My sister was very instrumental in instilling in me the love of literature. Finally I had no choice but to start writing. I like to think of myself as a prisoner of fiction. =)

What kind of writer are you? Panster or Plotter?
I'm a panster, but there's a time in every book, usually around page 150 that I wish like hell that I had a plot of some sort to go by.

Where do your ideas come from?
Life. I know that's cliché, but there's so much life all around us. It keeps coming at me like meteorites. The most difficult part for me is not thinking of something to write about, but trying to keep the 'poor' ideas, the ones that aren't viable, at bay.

A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
Twitter has taught us so much, hasn't it? So here goes: Finding Home is the story of a young woman finding her place in the world. It's about grit and hope and the invincibility of the spirit. Whoops, I might have over-tweeted.

What are some of your favorite kinds of stories to read?
I love big fantasies. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see Bilbo on the big screen. Tolkein has been my favorite since I was 12. I also love romance…not particularly the really steamy stuff and not the sweet stuff…I love the snarky, irreverent, love/hate kind of stuff…is that still romance?

Do you have a favorite book and if so what is it?
Hmmmm, today I'm going to go with…All Creatures Big and Small…(Surprised you, didn't I?) I've loved James Herriot's beautiful, pastoral prose for decades…but tomorrow my answer will be different.

What are the scenes that are the hardest for you to write?
Anything in the middle of the book…that's when I start to flounder around and doubt myself and wonder why on earth I ever thought I could write a novel. I mean, I HAVE written more than 30 of them, so you'd think I could keep the faith…but no. I always doubt myself.

If you could have dinner with any three authors, who would you choose and why?
Tough question. But ummm…Terry Pratchet is one. I looove his diabolical sense of humor. If you haven't read his disc world series, you have yet to fulfill the fantasy. Baxter Black looks like a lot of fun. He writes poems and stories about the west. I'm infatuated with his handle bar mustache. Janet Evanovich is the third. Love her and she was kind enough to give me a quote early on in my career. She's still a genius in my book.

Last question, are you working on anything right now? 
I'm working on several things: Chrissy McMullen's eighth mystery will be out sometime in 2013. Home Fires, the second book in my Hope Springs series, will be out in April '13, so I'm now working on the third title. And just to round things off, I'm writing a witchy type of book with my daughter. Mixing Magic will be released sometime in 2013 too. It's good to keep busy, right?


So how about you? What's your favorite type of book to read and/or write?

1 broken down mare
2 baby lambs
3 lost teens
And a busted up bronc rider with more balls than brains

It all adds up to trouble in Casie Carmichael’s book. She’s come back to Hope Springs, South Dakota with only one thing in mind—selling the family’s tumble-down ranch and returning to St Paul and her very practical fiancé. But leaving isn’t as easy as she imagined, not when bedraggled strays desperately needing T.L.C. keep turning up on her doorstep.

Suddenly, angry parents, hairless goats and a former flame’s all-too-tempting seduction tactics aren’t Casie’s most pressing problems. Her own mixed-up heart is at the top of the list, and as she throws herself into making a safe haven of the Cowgirl Academy, she realizes she will be the first one to find her way home.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Check out the Hope Springs series: 

Click for more info. 

Check out whats up for grabs.

Up For Grabs:

• 1 lucky winner will win a $10 Amazon Gift Card

To Enter:

• Please answer Lois' question: So how about you? What's your favorite type of book to read and/or write?
• Please fill out the Rafflecopter form. 

Good Luck =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway