Monday Author Meetup: Kit Morgan

My guest today is best selling author of sweet historical romance Kit Morgan.

About the author: A consistent Top 100 lists bestseller, Kit Morgan, aka Geralyn Beauchamp, has been writing for fun all of her life. When writing as Geralyn Beauchamp, her books are epic, adventurous, romantic fantasy at its best. When writing as Kit Morgan they are whimsical, fun, inspirational sweet stories that depict a strong sense of family and community.

Welcome Kit! Let’s begin with you describing your favorite place to write.

I live in a log cabin on twenty acres with a creek. I like writing on a bench down by the creek. I also have chairs set up around the property where I can go sit and write. I use voice recognition software a lot, and many times just walk the property while I write.

Do you ever wear your PJs or nightgown all day while writing?

Haven’t done it … yet…

LOL There’s always a first time. I don’t suppose you ever write naked either, right?

Egads! People do that?!?!?!?!

So I hear. Getting serious, have you ever written a book together with another author?

Yes, kinda sort of. Cassie Hayes, Kirsten Osbourne and I wrote a trilogy of sorts. We each took one of three identical triplet brothers, and wrote their story which was taking place at the same time the other brother’s stories are taking place. Was quite the chore coordinating scenes with each other and having that particular scene be told from our character’s viewpoint.

That does sound challenging. What project(s) are you working on now?

Book 11 of my Holiday Mail Order Bride Series (book one is The Christmas Mail Order Bride and is a freebie on amazon if one hasn’t discovered the series yet), and another trilogy book.

A freebie, oh goodie! Mind telling us how you unwind and relax when not writing?

Ironically by reading! I’ve also gotten into listening to audio books lately which are a lot of fun!

Do you play any sports? What about hobbies?

I’m a hiker, and love a good trail! Also a flute player (I was an opera major with a flute minor in college) and of course biking!

Opera, wow! You are very versatile! Back to writing, are you a plotter or a pantser? Why?

Definite panster! Though I might have a slim outline just so I know kinda sort what direction I’m going, it often still takes a turn and I’m writing wildly along! But the story always turns out great!

Tell us about your latest release.

My latest release is book ten of The Holiday Mail Order Bride Series: His Mail-Order Valentine. I love creating towns and their quirky, odd residents. Independence is no exception. Readers are first introduced to this town in Love In Independence, where one is introduced to the antics of Mercy, Martha, and Maude, three matrons of trouble! And they create plenty when they order a mail-order bride for the new town pastor, and fail to tell him! You can start this particular series with The Christmas Mail-Order Bride, or start in with Love in Independence and go from there. The books can be found on amazon:

                    

The Christmas Mail Order Bride http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FVGRX9O

Love in Independence: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00L83QEHG

His Mail Order Valentine: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SZNUM20

And if you’re interested in the trilogy you can find it here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R0PZEEK

Book Blurb for Love in Independence:

They say love covers a multitude of sins, and for matchmakers Mercy, Martha, and Maude, it’s a good thing! Fearing the town’s new pastor is lonely, they decide to take matters into their own hands, and order him a mail order bride! Imagine his surprise when he finds out? Only he doesn’t! Mercy, Martha, and Maude see to that!

Winnie Longfellow has spent years caring for her sick mother, and now that she’s passed, has nowhere to go but her Aunt Eugina’s. But her aunt has other things on her mind, other problems to deal with, and so Winnie accepts a proposal from a pastor out west looking for a mail order bride. Little did she know, he was looking for so much more, anything more! He had no idea he’d sent for one! Now Winnie finds herself at the mercy of three madcap matrons, determined that love will find a way. Despite multiple misunderstandings, a horrid bully/gossip, and a woman she’s sure her intended will marry instead of her, Winnie discovers some things about herself, and finds that love really does find its way …

Excerpt:

“More tea, Mrs. Vander?” Betsy the cook/maid asked.

“Why, thank you, Betsy. Don’t mind if I do.” Betsy poured her another cup before she moved on to the guests.

“I think we should write the young lady back and accept,” suggested Martha.

“Let’s not be too hasty. What about other applicants?” asked Maude. “Has anyone else written?”

“No, Mrs. Ridgley sent a note along with the letter,” Mercy told her. “It says Miss Longfellow is the only bride available. If we reject this one, who knows how long we’d have to wait for another to come along.”

Maude set down her teacup and sighed. “Very well, then. Martha, take a letter.”

“Why do I have to take a letter? I wrote the last one.”

“Betsy dear?” Mercy asked. “Would you mind?”

“No, ma’am.” Betsy set down the teapot and went to a small desk near the fireplace. She took out a piece of stationery, picked up a pen, dipped it in an inkpot, and turned to her employer.

“Isn’t she a dear?” Mercy asked her friends. “I don’t know what I’d do without her.”

Betsy fought the urge to roll her eyes.

Maude turned to her. “Dear Miss Longfellow,” she dictated. “I think you’d make me a very happy man …”

“Should he sound so eager?” interrupted Martha. “The word ‘happy’ makes him sound too eager.”

“A man out here ought to be eager for a wife,” countered Mercy. “Any wife!”

“She’s going to make him happy, and what woman wants to marry a grump?” added Maude.

Betsy sat and stared at the three, her mind racing to decipher who the women were talking about. If she were a man, she’d think twice before letting a group of old biddies attend to something as private as his personal love life. What idiot let himself get talked into allowing them the task of obtaining a mail-order bride?

“Betsy,” her employer called across the room. “Leave in the word ‘happy’.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Betsy scribbled it down.

“My dear Miss Longfellow,” Maude began again. “Ah, let’s see, a happy man, yes … ah ha! And I think we shall be very happy together. You’ll be a fine addition to the church and community.”

Mercy stared at her. “That’s not very romantic.”

Betsy shook with suppressed laughter. The poor sap they’d suckered was even letting them answer his bride’s letter for him? Was he off his rocker? Who was this man?

“Romance is irrelevant at this point,” Maude snapped. “The important thing is to have her delivered … I mean, shipped out … brought here …”

“We all know what you meant,” Martha stated as she reached for her cup. “Which of us is she going to stay with when she arrives? We can’t just spring her on the poor man.”

“Why not?” asked Mercy.

Betsy’s mouth dropped open as her eyebrows rose in amusement. Was she saying what she thought she was saying?

“Pastor Luke has a lot on his plate – we have to be considerate of that,” added Maude.

Betsy snorted with laughter and almost fell out of her chair. All three heads turned to her as she quickly righted herself and resumed her position.

“She can stay with us,” added Maude. “If need be, we can rotate until Pastor Luke and this Miss Longfellow marry.”

Betsy could stand it no longer. “What are you talking about? Can’t Pastor Luke send for this woman himself? He’s not that busy!”

“Oh no, that would never do!” Mercy exclaimed. “You see, he doesn’t …” She quickly glanced at her counterparts. They sat as stoically as ever. “That is to say … he can’t be bothered.”

Betsy stood. “Mrs. Vander?” she began, then looked at all three faces in turn. “Has Pastor Luke given his consent for you to do this for him?”

The matrons glanced at one another with fleeting looks. “Well …,” Mercy replied haltingly. “Like I said, he can’t be bothered with such trivial things right now.”

“Trivial? A bride is trivial?!” Betsy gasped.

“I must say, Mercy, your hired help’s respect is sadly lacking,” huffed Maude.

“Now, Betsy,” Mercy began in a panicked voice. “Promise us you won’t breathe a word about this to anyone? Especially Pastor Luke!”

Betsy was about to comment when Maude cut her off. “If you do, we’ll see you fired!”

“You’ll do no such thing!” Mercy squeaked indignantly. “Why, Betsy’s been with us since we came west from St. Louis!”

“Dock her pay, then!” countered Maude. “We’ve got to get this settled and done with. Who’s in charge of the train and stage tickets?”

“I am,” answered Martha. “I’ll go down to the station first thing tomorrow morning and purchase them.”

“It’s settled, then,” said Maude. “Betsy, sign that letter, Pastor Luke Adams.”

Betsy could only stare. “You three are some kind of trouble, and you’re gonna be in a heap of it if your husbands find out.”

“They aren’t going to find out, are they?” Maude said with her eyes narrowed to slits.

“Don’t look at me,” said Betsy. “I ain’t gonna be the one to tell them. Besides, they’ll find out just as soon as that mail-order bride steps off the stage and goes looking for poor Pastor Luke!”

“Then we’ll just have to make sure one of us is there to meet her so that doesn’t happen,” said Martha.

Betsy shook her head. “You do that, and good luck. Because once Pastor Luke finds out what you three have been up to …” She sighed. “… he’s gonna be preaching nothing but fire and brimstone every Sunday for a month!”

Find a complete list of Kit’s books on her website, as well as links to her Facebook page and twitter. You can also sign up for her newsletter and link to her alter ego, Geralyn Beauchamp’s website.

Kit Morgan | Bestselling Author of Sweet Historical Romance