Welcome Guest Author - Paisley Kirkpatrick

STEPH: What's the plot for Night Angel?

PAISLEY: Sassy Amalie Renard, a poker-playing saloon singer, shakes up Paradise Pines, a former gold-rush mountain community by turning the saloon’s bar into her stage. Her amazing voice stirs the passions of the hotel owner, a man who anonymously travels tunnels at night providing help to the downtrodden as the mysterious Night Angel. Declan Grainger agrees to subsidize the building of a music hall to fulfill Amalie's dream, but a bounty for her arrest could spoil his plans. Distrust and jealousy stir flames of malice and revenge threatening to destroy their town. Drawing from past experiences, Declan and Amalie turn to each other to find a way to save the community.

STEPH: Where did you find the inspiration for the main story?

PAISLEY: My great grandmother sang and danced on the Tivoli Stage in San Francisco in her younger years. Reading through the genealogy books my mother put together sparked the first idea. She had a quick tongue and sparked controversy. Choosing her as the quirky lady in this story sounded perfect.

STEPH: How do the hero and heroine meet?

PAISLEY: The hero owned a classy hotel in the mountain community of Paradise Pines. The heroine arrives during a snow storm seeking lodging. Because his rooms were full to capacity, he offered her the use of the settee in the hotel lobby. Sparks fly immediately as she tries to convince him to let her use his bed for the night, and he misunderstands her request.

STEPH: How does the cover reflect the story?

PAISLEY: The art department created a great depiction of the Night Angel as the mysterious man who travels through the tunnels of Paradise Pines at night. It portrays his sense of secrecy to the cover.

STEPH: What genre is Night Angel, and why do you like to write that genre?

PAISLEY: Night Angel is set in the historical west1853 gold rush era when the mountain community is trying to rebuild itself after the gold ran out. I prefer to read historicals and, since we live where the gold rush happened, I have all the research I need at my fingertips. We still have a lot of the original gold rush buildings and several tunnels still exist. My favorite place to explore is the Gold Bug Mine, where you can travel under the mountain and experience how these miners spent most of their lives.

STEPH: How long have you been writing?

PAISLEY: I've been writing for 22 years, but didn't get serious about having a career until about 13 years ago when I joined Romance Writers of America and Sacramento Valley Rose Chapter. I have learned so much from other authors and all the classes I've taken throughout the years. Writers are the best kind of friends to have.

STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

PAISLEY: I am definitely a pantser. I turn my story over to my muse and let the characters tell their stories as they see fit. My plots are living entities changing from day to day until a perfect story develops.

STEPH: Do you prefer to read ebooks or print books?

PAISLEY: I love reading stories in my Kindle. The books in my floor to ceiling bookshelves also call to me, so I try to have both kinds of books going at the same time. It does seem I turn to the Kindle more often.

STEPH: Who is your favorite author?

PAISLEY: I have so many favorite authors, it's hard to choose just one. One of them is Lisa Kleypas. I was lucky enough to meet her at the RWA author's signing a couple of years ago. She was so pleasant spending time with me sharing her method of plotting. I like reading series about families and she is an expert.

STEPH: Fun question: What's your favorite children's book?

PAISLEY: Morris the Moose absolutely delighted me. For some reason the story tickled my fancy and I always struggled to read it out loud to my daughters because we laughed so hard.

EXCERPT

Different colored bottles of whiskey and beer reflected in the mirrors along the wall behind the long wooden bar. Perfect. That's where she'd start her evening.

She slipped off her cape and handed it to Declan. His appreciative gasp brought a smile to her lips. Having men ogle her appearance was hardly new. She'd learned early to use her looks to her advantage. The way Declan's eyes heated with appreciation when he cast a glance at the deep cut of her décolletage reminded her how good it felt to be a woman.

"Now you'll see who I really am."

Declan grabbed her arm. "Don't let them forget you're a lady, Amalie."

She cast him a wicked smile. "The name's Lily Fox. Believe me, honey, Lily's no lady."

She approached a couple of gamblers and leaned over slightly to give them full effect of her daring dress. "Would you mind helping me, gents? I have need of your table for a moment."

The men jumped to their feet in unison, their cards forgotten. Amalie took the nearest man's outstretched palm, stepped onto a chair, over their cards and up onto the long wooden plank bar.

"Good evening, boys." She strutted along the length of wood, avoiding whiskey glasses and kicking away eager hands.

The saloon girl stopped caterwauling. The room went still. She had everyone's attention, just the way Lily liked it.

"Get down, young woman. This ain't no place for you to prance about," the barkeep snarled in outrage.

Ignoring the scowling face with the handlebar mustache, she kicked up her heels. Adding a dance step, she pranced back and forth the length of the makeshift stage. Lily reveled in the whistles and disregarded the uncouth remarks. She was in her element. "My name is Lily Fox and I'm here to entertain you tonight."

With the flick of her hand, she caught the attention of the stunned piano player.

"Play something quick and lively, will you, honey?" She glanced around the room of excited faces and turned on her brightest smile.


FIND ME AT:
Website: http://www.paisleykirkpatrick.com/

Blogs:
Sweethearts of the West http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/
Scandalous Victorians http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com/
Voices from the Heart http://voicesftheart.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1272262167