Meet Linda Lael Miller and her new book The Marriage Charm

You probably already know NY Times best selling author, Linda Lael Miller, but did you know she was the daughter of a town marshal? I didn't. This was the first book I read by Linda and I look forward to reading many more. Linda has a true love and understanding of the West and of animals. Both are featured in The Marriage Charm, the #2 entry in her Bliss County series which comes out today.
I got an advance copy of The Marriage Charm and sped through it. I love the cast of characters, both animal and human. (I adore Spence's dog, Harley and Melody's three identical cats who function as though one.) The background is Wyoming and her descriptions are right on.
Background:
The women of Bliss County have a pact—to find husbands. The right husbands.

One already has: Hadleigh Stevens, who married rancher Tripp Galloway a few months ago. Now Melody Nolan thinks it’s her turn. Melody has recently found success as a jewelry designer, and her work is the focus of her life. She’s not exactly unhappy, but she wants more. She’s always been attracted to Spence Hogan, the local chief of police, but she’s convinced that Spence, a notorious charmer, isn’t what you’d call husband material.
Spence is a good cop who isn’t scared of anything—except love. And he’s done everything he can do preserve his reputation as a womanizer—a reputation that keeps marriage-minded women, including Melody, at bay. And yet… there’s something about Melody he can’t forget. Something his heart can’t ignore.

I love firsts: Could you please tell us about hearing from your agent or publisher when you made your first sale?

On February 14, 1983, Pocket Books editor Kate Duffy called me with the best Valentine ever--an offer to buy my first novel, "Fletcher's Woman as part of their Tapestry line of historical romances.

This is Linda's Q&A about the book.

In THE MARRIAGE CHARM, Melody Nolan falls in love with Chief of Police, Spence Hogan. Spence has a reputation that he’ll never settle down. Is his reputation deserved? And just what is it about Melody that has grabbed the attention of womanizer Spence Hogan?
Spence has actually cultivated his reputation as a player, in order to avoid settling down, and it’s served him well—until now. He and Melody were in love, years before, but the time wasn’t right for marriage; Spence knew that, but Melody didn’t. Now, following their mutual friends’ romantic wedding, the old attraction is back.
Female friendships play an important role in THE MARRIAGE CHARM. Do you have female friends that support you the way Hadleigh and Bex support Melody?
 Oh, yes. I have a number of very close female friends, people I can confide in, and most of them go way back. I wouldn’t know what to do without these strong, smart, funny women. Through all the ups and downs, we’ve always been there for each other.
Melody is a talented jewelry designer and I love the description of her pieces in the book! Did you do research on jewelry design and jewelry making before writing the scenes where she’s working on some of her creations?
Some research, yes. I’m an artist myself, and I love beautiful jewelry, so this career made sense for Melody.
There’s some danger and mysteryin THE MARRIAGE CHARM. How did you decide to work suspense into this story? Was it always a natural part of the plot or did you want there to be some mystery involved?
 Sometimes an element of suspense fits the story and characters, and I decide to go with it.
Do you work with a specific ‘image’ in mind when creating your characters? Do you base them on people you’ve met or know, or are they more composites of real-life and your imagination?
I often base my characters’ appearance on a famous person, but then they evolve and become themselves, in my mind and, hopefully, the reader’s, too.
That makes me want to go back and puzzle out who they might be based on.

Whoever you did base them on, they've taken on a wonderful life of their own.
Thank you, Linda for doing this Q&A.
Linda can be reached via her Website. 
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I have a copy of The Marriage Charm to give away to some lucky reader.

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