Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy…with cowboys. She is a Carol Award winner, and a Rita, Christy and Inspirational Reader’s Choice finalist. She is the author of bestselling Kincaid Brides Series, Trouble in Texas Series, Wild at Heart Series, and Cimarron Legacy Series. Her work also includes Lassoed in Texas Trilogy, Montana Marriages Trilogy and Sophie’s Daughters Trilogy. And several novella collections including; Calico & Cowboy Romance Collection, Hearts Entwined, A Bride for All Seasons, Four Weddings and a Kiss, A Match Made in Texas and many more books.
Mary is married to her very own romantic cowboy hero and has four grown daughters and a small bevy of spectacular grandchildren.
Visit her at http://www.maryconnealy.com
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Welcome to the blog, Mary. I’m so excited to have you here today. Congratulations on your recent release, Too Far Down. I canβt wait to read it!
What do you love most about your hero and your heroine in this story?
I love to play against type in my romances. The heroine is a tough, smart, highly skilled western woman whoβs an only child and sheβs been raised to take over her fatherβs ranch. The hero is also a western man but with roots back east. His wealthy, meddling grandparents lured him back east to live with them for a while. Heβs a Harvard graduate and wealth in his own right, unlike his little brother and sister, who have a different mother.
Feisty Melanie Blake is the perfect match for Cole Bodenβs little brother, the tough rancher, Justin. So Cole has always noticed how attractive she is, all their growing up years, but he figured sheβd end up married to his little brother. Now Justin is safely married to someone else, but after his years back east, Cole isnβt sure if he wants to stay in the west. So Melanie is wrong for him. Except everything about Melanie feels so right.
Awww, sounds like such a fun read! π
Do you have a favorite scene from the book? Without giving too much away, can you tell us a little about it?
The beginning is all out madness, explosions and caved in mines and mayhem. Cole is hurt but heβs fighting for the life of his buried miners. The moment when his little brother, the tough as nails, Justin, gets to the mine to help, with the rest of the family. Cole, who never stops fighting with his brother, they are so different. But when Justin arrives, Cole knows someone he trusts is there to help. That moment is one of my favorites. There are others but theyβre later in the book and give too much away.
Love it! I’m already intrigued. π
What is one of your favorite book covers?
I am madly in love with the cover of my NEXT book, The Accidental Guardian, coming April 2018. A tough cowboy and a little girl. Heβs accidentally become her guardian.
If you were to give a tour of your home state, what would be your first stop and why?
Iβd bring them home to my modest little old house in the bluffs along the Missouri River. Iβd show them my cows. Then theyβd know meβ¦and the state. I should probably show them Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, NE, too. On football Saturdays, Memorial Stadium..seating for 90,000, is the third biggest town in the state.
Which heroine from a book would you like to be?
None, I mostly write women exactly the opposite of me. Theyβre all feisty and people can get in line or get out of the way. Iβm more of a non-confrontational pacifist. And I think thatβs for the best. Not real fun, but wise.
Is there anything else you’d like to add? Any upcoming projects you can share with us?
Iβm really excited about a novella collection Iβve got coming in December. Itβs called Calico and Cowboys and contains 8 novellas, many of which relate back to the characters in some of my oldest books. I think itβs really a fun collection.
How cool. Love the cover too! π Thank you so much for joining us today, Mary. It was great meeting you at ACFW in September and hope our paths cross again someday.
GIVEAWAY!!
Mary has graciously offered to give away a copy of Too Far Down. Enter below and it could be YOU!
Thanks for entering! Contest is open only in the U.S. and ends December 12, 2017.Β The winner will be notified by email. Happy Reading, everybody! π
Not sure what heroine Iβd want to be but I like reading Maryβs books.
Hi Ola! I think I’d end up being Melanie Wilkes from Gone with the Wimp…uh, I mean Gone with the Wind. It’d only be Melanie’s story if it was Gone with the Wimp.
Hi Ola! Aren’t Mary’s books great? So glad you could join us. π Good luck in the drawing.
Even though I was named after Melanie in Gone With The Wind, I would choose Scarlett. She faced a great deal throughout life but she always got through it and kept moving forward..shaking off the dust!
Love it! So glad you stopped by, Melanie.
Princess Leia in Star Wars? Heroine is so not me! Thanks for writing such fun stuff and for the giveaway opportunity.
It’s been forever since I’ve watched Star Wars! π I always liked Princess Leia. Thanks for stopping by, Perrianne.
oh my there are so many. I would want to be like Jordana Baldwin in Westward the Dream by Judith Pella and Tracie Peterson. Jordana is a strong believer, sensitive, tough when needed, friend to others, sassy at times, wants to see others know Jesus, etc.
I’ve not read that book, but she sounds like a wonderful heroine, Lori. So glad you mentioned her. π
How dare you ask me to pick JUST ONE of your heroines to be, they are all wonderful so I choose to be any one, and all, of them. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of “Too Far Down”.
wfnren at aol dot com
Haha! Smart girl, Wendy. π Love your answer. Good luck in the giveaway!
I’m not sure who I would want to be.
It’s hard when there are so many wonderful choices, I know. π Thanks for stopping by, Jan. Good luck!
Even though Scarlett had her faults, I admired her spunk and determination and her taking care of her family when everything fell apart.
Yes, those are definitely admirable traits. π It’s been forever since I saw that movie. I need to watch it again. Thanks for visiting, Cathy.
There are just too many heroines to pick from, and I’m not really heroine material. LOL I’d like to be someone that doesn’t have to go through a lot of angst and trials to get her guy! Thanks for the lovely interview and the giveaway.
I can totally relate to your comments, Winnie. I’m always amazed by the heroines I read and their bravery and conviction. It inspires me.
Must confess that Iβve been a little obsessed with Ronie Kendigβs Tox Files lately. Iβd love to be Haven.
I need to read her books. I hear so many good things about them. π Thanks for sharing!
Must confess that Iβve been a little obsessed with Ronie Kendigβs Tox Files lately. Iβd love to be Haven or Tzivia.
I really have never thought about it.
Marilyn
It’s hard for me to think of one myself, honestly. I read so many books! π
If I could be any heroine I would be Ingeborg Bjorklund from An Untamed Land by Lauraine Snelling. Ingeborg had to endure a lot when she immigrated to America from Norway in the late 1800’s. She grew into a very strong and inspiring woman.
I really want to read that book. She sounds like a special leading lady! Thanks for joining us, Debbie.
Iβve never pictured myself as a heroine. Maybe Laura Ingalls. Thank you for the chance and the nice interview. Blessings
Ahhh, yes, dear Laura Ingalls. Can’t forget about her. π So glad you enjoyed our interview, Lucy. Happy Holidays!
I don’t remember characters names! Since Christy is getting lots of attention now, I’ll say Christy.
Oh, I love Christy! So glad you mentioned her, Joan. π
Ann Silver, in Dee Henderson’s Full Disclosure—because she’s very intelligent, has many friends who protect her privacy, knows how to fly, loves dogs, lives in the Midwest, and most important of all, has a personal relationship w/ Jesus Christ!
She sounds like someone I’d like to know! π Love your summary of her, Barb.
I would say Scarlet from Gone With the Wind. She just kept going no matter what came.
She’s a favorite, no doubt! π I’m glad you stopped by, Donna.
Hmm. I think possibly Jo in Little Women. I’ve always been the tomboy type. Thanks for the giveaway, Mary and Savanna! God bless!
Hi Cynthia! Awww, yes, I always loved Jo. Such a good book too!! Thanks so much for joining us.
Oh, I want to be Anne with an E. A fiesty girl with so much character. Love her.
Love her too, Arletta. Great choice! π
Such a fun interview! I absolutely love Mary’s books and snatch them up whenever I can.
Thanks for visiting, Kathleen. I agree, Mary’s books are always such fun! π