RomanceEverAfter

Romance Authors Corner

Peggy Moreland

Visit Peggy at www.eclectics.com/peggymoreland.  There is a terrific photo of Peggy barrel racing!  Peggy also shares information about her life and work.

You're probably expecting me to say something like, "moonlight, roses, soft music and wine." Not so! I believe that anything and everything has the potential for romance if the persons involved are in love. I've spent many a romantic evening curled up on the sofa with my husband doing nothing more than talking. One of our favorite things to do since moving to our ranch is to build a fire in our outdoor fire pit, whip up a batch of margaritas and spend the evening enjoying the panorama of a moon- and star-lit sky.

Basically, I'm a sucker for a happy ending. There is so much in our world today that is scary, tragic and/or depressing that it is a relief to be able to escape for an hour or two into the world of romance, where love blooms and there is always a happily-ever-after. I like writing it for the very same reasons. As a career, writing romances enabled me to be at home with my children when they were young. It has also provided me with a Cinderella lifestyle, in that I can go to work in sweats if I want, yet provides the opportunity to get all gussied up to do booksignings or attend award programs.

What characteristics do your heroines possess that your readers admire?

I'm not sure that I can answer that. It would probably be better to ask a reader. But for me, I love a heroine with spunk, the kind of woman who meets challenges and obstacles square in the eye and works to overcome them alone. At the same time, I like a woman who appreciates her femininity and doesn't mind allowing the man to be the "stronger" of the two sexes.

You have mentioned that "contemporary cowboys are representative of the gunfighters, gladiators and warriors of historical times." What three characteristics do these modern day men possess that you like to incorporate into your fictional heroes?

Integrity is number one on my list for a hero; i.e., honesty, high moral character. Beyond that, he must be brave and willing to do battle for those who are not strong enough to fight for themselves. Though this may seem contradictory, I want my heroes to also have a tender side. He might not always be able to show it, but through his actions the reader knows that he has a soft heart.

You have written numerous books under the Silhouette Desire line. What do you enjoy about writing for the Silhouette Desire line?

First, I enjoy the length. I'm sure there are other readers like me who are so busy with "life" that they don't always have the time to devote to a larger, more complex novel. The Desire line offers a satisfying and spicy story that can be finished in one afternoon or can be equally enjoyed if required to spread the reading out over several days.

I mentioned spicy, so I'll add that I enjoy that aspect of the Desire line, too. Love scenes and sex scenes are not necessarily synonymous. I want to read and write loves scenes that fit within the natural progression of the couple's relationship and ones that are emotionally compelling. I'll share a little secret with you. When I first started writing romance, my love scenes read like dot-to-dot drawings-his hand was here and her leg was there. I asked a professor of mine at the time what I could do to improve them. He told me that I needed to get involved in the love scene, crawl in the bed with the lovers, feel what they feel, think what they are thinking. That little bit of advice made all the difference in helping me find the emotions in the scenes that I write.

What is your most recently published romance book/upcoming books?

My most recently published book was a March release, THE LONE STAR PROTECTOR, which was a part of the ongoing "Texas Cattleman's Club" continuity series. I wrote another book for this series a couple of years ago, MILLIONAIRE BRIDEGROOM, and absolutely loved being involved in a series with multiple authors. In May, one of my "Trouble in Texas" series books, A LITTLE TEXAS TWO-STEP, is being re-released and included as a bonus read in Rebecca Brandewyne's BOUNTY.

What are your three favorite bookmarks (web-sites)?

Is this true confession time? If so, I have to 'fess up and admit that ebay is the site that I frequent the most. My husband has threatened to put some kind of block on my computer-similar to what parents use to keep their children from visiting "adult only" sites-if I don't stay off ebay.

I honestly can't list two other sites, as I visit so many. I'm on the internet daily and popping from site to site to verify information for whatever book I'm currently working on and sundry other purposes. The internet offers us all a far larger view of the world and a wealth of information at our fingertips. I honestly don't know what I would do without it.

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