Brenda, it’s such a pleasure to have you here today. You’ve been writing historical fiction for about ten years. Tell me, do you use a pen name/pseudo name? If so, why. If not, why did you decide to write under your own name?
My name is Brenda Beth. Family and friends call me, Beth, but I wanted to use my legal name for book publishing. I may use a pen name if I venture into writing in a different genre.
So, what’s one thing you absolutely can’t tolerate during your writing? One thing you can’t write without?
Probably as most writers, I do not like interruptions while I am writing. I get deeply involved in the story, and I do not want my train of thought broken. I write best while sitting in a green easy chair of the 1970’s vintage that sits beside a large window.
I completely understand not liking your train of thought broken. I’m the same way. What’s the funniest thing anyone has ever said to you about your writing? Or the unkindest? Or the oddest?
I put the cover of my next novel on my Facebook page as a precursor to the upcoming announcement of publication. One person told me they really enjoyed reading novel, and it had not been published.
I’m grinning. Sounds like when my poor niece called to tell me she bought my book. It hadn’t been release yet either. She accidentally bought the wrong book.
Follow Your Heart is set in Missouri. Can you tell us a place you absolutely want to visit before you die?
My husband and I have traveled to many beautiful places, but I love Scotland. During genealogical research, I discovered a Scottish ancestor who emigrated from Scotland to North Carolina in the late 1700’s or early 1800’s. Last year, my husband and I visited the place of his birth in Scotland and found my Munro family. We were able to meet the clan chief’s mother and she gave us a tour of Foulis Castle, the chief’s home. I wrote a historical fiction book set in 16thcentury Scotland that will be published in the near future. My desire is to return to the beautiful country of Scotland.
Scotland is where I want to go too! Why did you choose to write in this genre? Have you ever written any other genre? Do you plan on doing so in the future?
I chose historical fiction because I love history. I enjoy the research and losing myself in another time period. I may write in another genre in the future, but at present will stay with historical fiction.
That leads me to my next question then. What historical figure do you wish you could have met?
Catherine “Bonnie Kate” Sherrill, my ancestor, who was the wife of John Sevier, Revolutionary War hero and the first governor of Tennessee. They said of Bonnie Kate that she could out run, out shoot, and out ride any man on the frontier.
She sounds absolutely fascinating! What are you most proud of about your writing?
I am most proud of actually finishing a novel. For years I pondered writing a book. Thoughts of plots and characters swirled around in my head, but I had other things to do and could not sit down to write. At present I have three complete novels, one novella, and two novels partially finished.
Good for you! So, can you share how do you respond to negative reviews?
If the review has something constructive to say, I may use it to improve my writing. If not, I ignore it.
What’s one new thing you’d like to try?
I would like to ride in a hot air balloon.
You’re far braver than me! I’m terrified of heights. It sounds like you are a bit daring. What is something you are determined to do?
I am determined to publish all the novels I write. I feel my writing is a calling, and someone is waiting to read each book.
That’s wonderful. I believe writing is a calling too. Do you have a favorite quote?
“I bring to you with reverent hands the books of my numberless dreams.” W. B. Yeats
Tell us something unusual, quirky, or odd about yourself?
I can only write the first thing each morning before I dress while drinking my morning coffee and after a devotional time. Everything else is put on hold for about three hours, then I get up, dress, and prepare for the day. I usually never go back to writing during the day.
Okay, now for the quickie questions: Answer in three words or less. Ready? Go!
Favorite Disney Character: Cinderella
Favorite Fruit: Apple
Favorite Hero: Superman
Favorite Eye Color: Green
Best Vacation Destination: Scotland
Food you can’t stand? Liver
What annoys you? Noisily crunching ice
Coffee, tea, or something else? Coffee
Nightgown or Jammies? Jammies
Prefer dogs or cats? Dogs
Here’s a little something about Brenda:
Brenda B. Taylor and her husband make their home in beautiful East Texas where they enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and working in Bethabara Faith Ministry, Inc. Brenda crafts stories about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people in her favorite place overlooking bird feeders, bird houses, and a variety of blooming trees and flowers.
Now a little something about Follow Your Heart:
Follow Your Heart is a poignant tale of a young couple’s struggles to overcome the problems of the early years of marriage in post Civil War Missouri. The novel tells about a love strong enough to survive the difficulties with the cords of family values and faith intertwined throughout the story.
Enjoy an Excerpt of Follow Your Heart:
Cuba, Missouri, September 1869
An early autumn gust of wind pushed through the open window, past the lace curtains, and across Leann’s shoulders. The stiff breeze jerked the wrinkled faded paper from her hand, taking it to the floor. She shivered then rose to close the window.
Sue picked the paper up and examined it. “Are you still reading this letter from Sonny Wade when you’re marrying his brother in two days? I thought you threw it away ages ago.”
“Hand that to me.” Leann did not hear her sister enter the room. She snatched the letter from Sue’s hand, tearing the fragile paper. “Really, Sue, my letter is none of your business. I should have thrown it away, but I felt sorry for Sonny, being in the war and a Union prison camp. And besides, I forgot about it being in my drawer.”
“You were hiding that letter.” Sue’s eyes narrowed when she looked directly into Leann’s.
“I didn’t hide it. You and the family read it.”
“Several years ago. You’ve been hiding it ever since and probably secretly reading it.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“Have you seen Sonny since he got out of the army? Or do you just read his letter and dream about the handsome man?”
“No, to both questions. He works on a Mississippi River steamboat and has only been home a couple of times. Pa told me he saw Sonny in town last year. They talked for a while, then Sonny headed for the saloon when Pa walked away.”
“Well, you should have thrown it away. What if Ralph finds out you secretly kept his brother’s love letter?” Sue’s locks bobbed with her shaking head.
Leann tore the already ripped paper into tiny pieces and threw them into a small trash basket sitting beside the bedroom door. “Are you happy now? It wasn’t a love letter. You read it. He only wrote about the war and being homesick. I didn’t answer, so he never wrote again.” She could not explain to herself or to her sister why the letter had remained in the drawer for years.
Leann grabbed her younger sister by the arm while looking directly into the girl’s light brown eyes. “And don’t you tell anyone about me keeping the letter. I forgot about it until I started packing. Do you want to cause trouble with Ralph or the family?”
Sue stared back with the same velocity. “I won’t tell if you will let me keep your pretty green parasol when you leave.” Sue pushed Leann’s arm off her own.
“That’s my only good one. It matches my green voile dress. I won’t have anything to take to the socials.”
“Make your husband buy you a new one.” Sue was unrelenting.
“Okay. I will leave my green parasol with you. Just don’t tell I kept the letter. Sonny Wade means nothing to me.”
“Well, he must mean something or you would have thrown his letter away. He may not have put in writing that he loved you, but he came around here pretty often before he joined the army and gave Ralph room to move in.”
“I was only thirteen when he left.”
“I’m thirteen and I love Johnny Townsend. I plan to be married when I’m eighteen, just like you. What if Sonny hadn’t gone to war? Would he have won your heart instead of Ralph?”
Would he have won her heart? Maybe. She had felt an attraction for him. He always seemed so adventurous and daring. She was shy and timid, so daring excited her. “No. I’ve always loved Ralph and always will.”
“Well, let’s hope so. After all you’re marrying him not Sonny. Ma wants you to come help with breakfast. She said we have a lot to do today with finishing your wedding dress so you can wed your beloved.” Sue gave a small giggle, opened the door, and headed downstairs to the kitchen.
Leann followed. How could she have been so careless as to let Sue see Sonny’s letter? It should have been thrown away years ago. She forgot it lay hidden in the back corner of her undergarment drawer until she began packing her things to take to her new home. She loved Ralph and the excitement of becoming his wife filled her heart and soul. Hopefully, Sonny would stay away forever and she would never have to face him again.
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