Corralling Alicia Whittle's Debut Book, Dead Ringer Cowboy

I'm on my high horse this week, excited as a spring colt, to bring a brand new author moseying  your way! Not only is this her debut book, but she and I sat next to each other last month in a writing conference. I love meeting new writers, and Alicia Whittle is one interesting cowgirl. Her new book Dead Ringer Cowboy has hit the shelves! Let's jump in the rodeo and find out more about this new author.

PT: What drew you to writing and the genre you write in? 

AW: I remember reading Victoria Holt’s books when I was 13 years old from my school library. I think I was always a romantic, growing up with movies about knights and ladies, cowboys and cowgirls.

 PT: Give a little background on you as an author, where you grew up, where you live (area), what influenced you?

 AW: I grew up in St. Louis, but after marriage moved around a great deal falling into an administrative assistant career over the years. As an air force wife (my initials are afw), I spent part of those years living and traveling throughout Europe experiencing different cultures. The rest of my experiences with my husband, daughter and dogs were in the United States. I finally received my BA in English. I grew up watching cowboys on TV and fantasized about living in the West. My dream came true as I currently live in Colorado.

PT: You and I sat next to each other recently in a writing conference. What was the biggest positive take-away you had from being at the conference?

AW: First, you were so friendly! I think my biggest takeaway were the bits and pieces of things I didn’t know from each workshop session. I’ve been with ACFW for close to eight years, so this wasn’t my first conference. Networking was also a big takeaway for me and visiting with authors who don’t live in my state.

PT: How important is the Biblical message in your book? Does it happen intentionally, or does it happen spontaneously?

AW: I think in this case, it came spontaneously. My character ideas came first and then the “what if” portion caused the message to appear.

PT: Tell us the best book you’ve read recently.

AW: The Western Trail by G. L. Snodgrass

PT: You traveled in a fifth wheel for a number of years. Give us why you hungered to do such a thing, what it was like.

AW: My husband and I traveled for 13 years in our 39-foot fifth wheel. He was active-duty Air Force for almost 30 years, so I was accustomed to moving around. It was hard to give up our home and everything in it, but he wanted me to experience places I didn’t get to see like he did. The benefit was you always had everything with you, including our two dogs. We met fabulous people and made quite a few friends that we keep in touch with. The experience for me was priceless and contributed to ideas for writing.

PT: Give your favorite: season, color, clothing style, hobby, vacation spot.

AW: Winter, purple, tailored but feminine, baking, Colorado.

PT: Tell us how you came up with the idea for your first book, Dead Ringer Cowboy. 

 AW: While my husband and I were driving into a small town in Colorado during our RV years, I was studying his profile in the car. Thinking if I passed away and he met someone else that she’d be attracted to him because he looked like her first husband. The setting of the book was inspired by the area where we were staying at the time. The release date took many years as life interrupted us with health issues and the steps of pursuing publishing.

 PT: Tell five things about Alicia Whittle that have nothing to do with writing.

 AW:

1)       My Dad sent me to gymnastics at age 13 because I was too skinny.

2)       Learned how to sail in Hawaii.

3)       Didn’t finish my English degree until I was 53 years old.

4)       Ziplined in Alaska after retirement.

5)       Have owned dachshunds most of my life—am an avid dog lover.

 PT: What are your future writing plans? What book is coming next?

 AW: I plan to write two more books in this series, possibly three. The next one being Natalie’s Cowboy.

PT: Thank you, Alicia, for letting us have a peek into your life! And thanks so much for joining us here on The Diamond Mine.

YOU KNOW THE DRILL. Alicia is giving away a book, people. A free book! Yeehaw! Get those fingers ready and add a comment or leave a note on our contact form. Don't forget to leave your email address or I won't know what ranch you're from when you win. Ready? Type out those comments! Good luck to everyone!