Lissette E. Manning

Can you tell readers a little bit about yourself and what inspired you to write in this particular genre?

Sure. My name is Darcy Flynn and I live with my husband and son on a horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. It’s about twenty miles south of Nashville. I raise beautiful rare breed chickens and enjoy their fresh eggs every day.

I enjoy all types of romances, but the sweet ones hold a special place in my heart. They’re my first love. I particularly like the ones where they start out hating each other. Sparing with their verbal foils until the ‘melt in your arms bliss‘ kiss.

I started reading romances in my teens and absolutely loved them. My inspiration to write this genre came when I discovered a box of old Harlequin and Silhouette romances in my attic. It was like Christmas morning. I read them again and every time I’d read one, I’d think, I could write one of these.

What inspired you to write this book?

After reading all of those romances I definitely had stars in my eyes. My son had recently started college and my husband was working in London so I seized the day and began writing.  I love lighthouses and all things related, so I chose a fishing village on the Chesapeake By as my setting. When you love something it’s a lot easier to write about it.

Please tell us about your latest release.

It’s about a young woman who must face the death of a dream of owning the lighthouse compound and providing a home for her and her grandfather when she is outbid at the town hall meeting by the new stranger in town.

Here’s the blurb:

Katie McCullough doesn’t know it, but Max Sawyer, the over confident, insufferable thief who outbid her for the lighthouse property, is none other, than her mystery lighthouse sailor. The one man who captured her heart five years earlier, the one man who has since been the plum line for every other unsuspecting male who has crossed her path. Unfortunately for Max, he doesn’t measure up either.

Still reeling from losing the property she’d planned to call home, sparks fly when Katie assumes Max is turning her beloved lighthouse compound into one of his ‘Serenity Spa Resorts.” Outraged, Katie sets out on a mission to dismantle the property…and his plans.

Except Max’s plans have absolutely nothing to do with hotels and everything to do with winning Katie’s heart.

Was one of your characters more challenging to write than another?

Yes. My hero, Max. None of the books in my ‘box’ had any hero point of view. They were that old! So, I had to read a slew of more recent titles to get the feel for writing from a guy’s point of view.

Is there a character that you enjoyed writing more than any of the others?

Yes. Max. It was fun trying to live in Max’s head and to figure out what he was thinking. What he wanted. What he needed. Trying to understand his heart was a special experience for me.

Do you have a formula for developing characters? Like do you create a character sketch or list of attributes before you start writing or do you just let the character develop as you write?

I employ a bit of both. I definitely plan but am also flexible. I create a simple character sketch using over sized index cards. I buy the multi colored pack and assign each character a color. Heroine-Pink, Hero-Blue, Best Friend-Yellow, etc. I list key physical traits, personality traits, and a little about their background.  If I’m writing and forget the color of the hero’s eyes, I just refer to the card. As I write, other attributes will come to me and if they’re right on, I’ll include them.

What is your favorite scene from the book? Could you share a little of it, without spoilers of course?

Oh, I have more than one, but one of my favorites is a scene that takes place in the lighthouse. It surrounds the action and dialogue leading up to the first kiss. She’s terrified, but dying for him to do it.

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? How do you deal with it?

Sure I do. When I get stuck, I take a walk on my farm and listen to music that depicts the scene or the mood I’m looking for. When I listen to music, scenes form in my head-my own private music videos. Usually, this breaks the block and I can get back to work.

When did you consider yourself a writer?

When I developed severe hip flexor problems as a result of sitting for a year writing this book! LOL Now, I make myself get up and walk around every hour.

What are your guilty pleasures in life?

Dark chocolate, a great cup of coffee and a long hot soak in the tub.

Where can readers find you on the web?

www.darcyflynnromances.com and they can follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

Would you like to leave readers with a little teaser or excerpt form the book?

Absolutely.

 

Bits of oyster shell spewed out from under the tires of Katie’s Jeep as it screeched to a halt. Without knocking, she stomped into the keeper’s house to find Max working on an open windowsill on the bottom floor.

“So you’re in the hotel business.” Katie threw the sheaf of papers down on the table near where he was working.

“Yes and good afternoon to you, too.” Max stopped for a brief moment then continued to sand the windowsill. “I see you’ve been doing some research.” His firm lips twitched.

“If you think you are going to turn this,” she said, waving her arms through the air, “into one of your…Serenity Spa Inns, then you are dreaming Mister.”

“Is that so?” Max straightened and his eyes locked with hers.

“You bet. I’ll never let that happen.”

His tawny eyes gave her a once over. “And you think you’re big enough to stop me?”

“Yes,” she spat out, “Don’t think I can’t. I’ll rally the entire town if I have to. This is not what the council agreed to when they accepted your bid.”

Max’s brown eyes turned glacial. “Careful Angel. That sounds like a threat. If it is, you’ll come off the worse for it.”

Katie inhaled sharply. “You may have been master of all you commanded but you won’t master me.”

Max stopped working and turned toward her. Even in her anger, Katie noticed his shirt, unbuttoned and clinging to his muscular form with the sweat of his labor, his forearms glistening with perspiration mingled with tiny particles of wood shavings.

“Maybe we should put that to the test?” he drawled.

“There’s no maybe about it.” Inhaling sharply, Katie gathered up her papers and stormed out of the house.

 

 

Thank you so much for having me today,

Darcy

 

Now for the giveaway, Darcy is giving away 5 ecopies of Keeper of My Heart to 5 lucky readers. To enter, all you need to do is fill out the following form below with the needed information. GL to all those entering!

 

 

Synopsis:

Katie McCullough doesn’t know it, but Max Sawyer, the over confident, irritatingly handsome hotel developer who outbid her for the lighthouse property, is none other, than her mystery lighthouse sailor. The one man who captured her heart five years earlier, the one man who has since been the plumb line for every other unsuspecting male who has crossed her path. Unfortunately for Max, he doesn’t measure up either.

Still reeling from losing the property she’d planned to call home, sparks fly when Katie assumes Max is turning her beloved lighthouse compound into one of his ‘Serenity Spa Resorts.” Outraged, Katie sets out on a mission to dismantle the property…and his plans.

Except Max’s plans have absolutely nothing to do with hotels and everything to do with winning Katie’s heart.

 

 

About The Author:

Darcy was born into the rich culture of New Orleans, La.  As a city filled with colorful historical intrigue and broad creative energy, her natural bent to the arts coupled with her love for one of the most romantic cities in the world has been the inspiration and anchor of her artistic multi-dimension endeavors. Darcy was always compelled by the need to express herself and like her mother’s famous gumbo, her previous expressions included a little bit of everything – art, music, acting and dance.

Although, published in music, art and the Christian non-fiction market under another identity, it was the empty nest that turned Darcy to writing romantic fiction. A lover of lighthouses, Darcy’s first novel, Keeper Of My Heart, unfolds in a small Maryland fishing village on the Chesapeake Bay.

Darcy, a former Mrs. Tennessee, continues to be surrounded by all things creative in Music City and when not in writing in her London flat, lives on a beautiful horse farm in historic- Franklin, Tennessee with her husband, son, two English Setters and a calico cat.  Darcy enjoys stargazing, raising rare breed chickens and gardening.

Visit Darcy at www.darcyflynnromances.com