Meet Debut Author Linda O'Connor.

Please welcome author Linda O'Connor, whose debut novel, Perfectly Honest came out last week. I've read the preview chapters on Amazon and it's definitely my kind of read. 
Linda, please tell us a little about yourself. 

 I live in Ontario, Canada. We have a house on the water and I usually sit and write where I can look at the lake. When the weather is warm, I’ll write outside.
I balance writing with my work as a physician at an Urgent Care Clinic and being a mom to three sons (luckily grown and capable of throwing together a decent meal, in a pinch).
I wrote my first book 3 years ago and can’t believe how much I’ve learned. It’s also hard to believe I didn’t own a laptop 6 years ago. – Now for writing, online courses, editing, connecting with readers, I couldn't live without one. And I’m at the point where I can type as fast as I think!   I am so jealous! I wish I could do that.
I love firsts, so tell me about the moment when you found you’d made your first sale.
 Debby Gilbert from Soul Mate Publishing sent me an email. I was checking my email late at night before I shut off my computer and there it was! I’m pretty sure I threw my hands up in the air and jumped about 3 feet. Did a happy dance. Raced to tell my husband. Twirled, a little merengue, cha cha’d, did a bit of the moon walk. Texted Lesley Rooke, one of my best friends, salsa-stepped to my computer, and sent emails to my family (it was too late to call). It was like Christmas morning as a kid, but more intense! The next day I sat down to write and I was at a place of conflict between my characters – the heroine was frustrated and sad. It was so hard to stay in her head because I was bursting with happiness!
 How about the first time you kissed your true love?
 I married my true love.
 Our first kiss was on our second date. We had gone out for dinner and then went to enjoy the waterfront before he drove me home. When I got back to my apartment, my roommate asked me what kind of car he drove. I hadn’t really paid attention, it was a little red car. Years later, my husband laughed when he found out I wasn’t impressed by his ‘chick-magnet’ Mazda RX7 sports car.
Other than your own, who are your favorite (heroes/heroines/writers) in your genre? 
My favorite romance author is Nora Roberts. I think I’ve read all 200+ of her books. I love her MacGregor family series, especially Alan and Shelby’s story. (Her book The Witness is my all-time favourite.) Me too. MacGregors' first, and then The Donovan's.
 I also really enjoyed Sophia Kinsella’s Twenties Girl and Marne Davis Kellogg’s Priceless. I love comedies and can never get enough of the happy-ever-after endings! I haven't read Priceless. Thanks for the new author.
 What is the most exciting moment, so far, in your writing career? 
Seeing the cover of my book the first time. Or getting the ARC (Advanced Release Copy – the final version). Both were very cool! I get such a rush when someone tells me they love my story.
What is your favorite pastime, other than writing?
 Zumba. I love dancing. Not that I’ve ever taken any formal lessons, but it hasn’t mattered! I really love being outdoors too, so if it’s a day without a Zumba class, I’ll go cycling or cross-country skiing.
 What’s your snack of choice while writing? 
Well, I type when I write, so it’s hard to snack. Don’t want to get a sticky keyboard!
Any advice for new writers just starting out? 
I think joining the Romance Writers of America is key. Their website is an excellent resource for romance writers. I put my early stories up on www.wattpad.com. It’s a website where authors can post their work for free and readers can read it for free. (And there are some pretty big names like Margaret Atwood, Dan Brown, Sandra Brown, Talli Roland, Marian Keyes, me haha). It’s a wonderfully supportive community. I find it very encouraging when people read my work (you see the number of ‘reads’ climbing), vote for it (equivalent to liking it) and comment. Wattpad also provides statistics to the author and it was really helpful as a writer to see which chapters people read and enjoyed most.
I will try that with my WIP.
What genre or genres do you write?
Contemporary romantic comedies. One story I wrote has a bit of a mystery to it, but it’s still a comedy.
 Tell us about Perfectly Honest .
You never know where your words will take you… When Mikaela Finn agreed to be Sam’s ‘fiancée’ for a weekend, she probably should have told him that she’s a doctor. Sam O’Brien, aka ‘Dr. Eye Candy’, is trying to shed his playboy reputation and convince a small town hospital that he’s ready to settle down. But when his ‘fiancée’ helps deliver a baby in the middle of the meet and greet, it’s a bit of a shock. If he’d known the whole truth, he might have done things a little differently because somehow his ‘fiancée’ ends up stealing his job and his heart. Not exactly the change he wanted. Lies and deceit – it’s a match made in heaven!
Love the blurb. I really want to read this.
Here’s a video book trailer of it;
What’s your current WIP?
 Currently I’m working on book 3 in the Perfectly… series. Perfectly Honest is Book 1. Perfectly Reasonable is Book 2 - I just signed a contract with SMP for it (Woohoo!). And I’ve written about two-thirds of Perfectly Planned, Book 3.
And finally, where can we find you? 
I love to hear from readers. My website: www.lindaoconnor.net
My Facebook Author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-OConnor/229838333874258
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lindaoconnor98
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/lindaoconnor98
Book Buy Link for Perfectly Honest.
Thank you for visiting Linda. Linda is offering two e-books to the lucky winners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
To comment on this post and leave Linda some love, please go back to the top of the post to the line that says Posted at 2:00 AM by Susan J Berger (Why can't I get it to use Susan B. James) and hit the little thingy that says comments. Linda and I both love feedback.

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