Interview and Giveaway with Keli Gwyn

Please join me in welcoming Keli Gwyn! Her first novel, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California  just hit the shelves.

Karen: Welcome to Write Now, Keli. Congratulations on your book!

Keli: Thanks so much for having me, Karen! It’s a delight to be here!                

  

Karen: I really enjoyed your book. :) Did the story idea originate in any special place?

Keli: I live in the heart of California’s Gold Country and wanted to bring one of the area’s historic towns to life. El Dorado is located just a few miles away from my town of Placerville. In researching El Dorado, I learned about a successful mercantile owner with the largest business in town. He was active in the community and well regarded. He became the model for my hero, Miles Rutledge.

One of Placerville’s historic sites is the Emigrant Jane building. Built in 1861, it’s still standing today. The building bears a plaque telling about Jane, an industrious woman who drove a wagon across the country, had her store built, and went into business. I did my research and learned that women were able to own businesses in California from the early days of the Golden State. That knowledge led to the idea of having Elenora open her own shop when Miles refuses to accept her as partner in his.

Karen: Interesting! I love how you tied local history and the story together. I wondered, too, as I read the book, did your work as a critique partner enhance your writing? 

Keli: I’ve been blessed to work with some amazing authors through the years and have learned a great deal from them. My longtime critique partner, Anne Barton, is the best cheerleader a gal could ever have. She’s been there for me the past four years, lifting me up when I’m down and rejoicing with me at every little success along the way.

Anne read multiple versions of my debut novel and gave me awesome feedback. I love that her literary fingerprints can be seen throughout the book. I was privileged to work with Jody Hedlund on this story, too. She helped me ramp up the tension and emotions. Both Anne and Jody pushed me, helping me take A Bride Opens Shop to the next level, and I’m ever so grateful. Because of them and their input, the story improved. When it comes to writing partners, I hit the Mother Lode.

  

Karen: Wow, I would say so, what a blessing! While we're on the topic of improving our writing, what is your all time favorite piece of writing advice?

Keli: Deeanne Gist gave me some great advice back when I was a florescent green newbie. I met her at the Romance Writers of America® conference in 2008. When I told her I was a Golden Heart® finalist but felt like my stories weren’t ready for publication and had endured two painful pitch sessions earlier in the day, she said she didn’t like rejection either. What she did was study craft so she could create a marketable story.

I took Dee’s advice, stopped querying, and spent the next year learning all I could about writing. I then chose the best of the five stories I’d completed, rewrote it, and entered it in several contests to see if it fared better than my earlier work had. It did, garnering me several wins and requests, one of which led to my offer of representation. I had to rewrite the story again for my agent, but once it was ready, she submitted it and sold it.

What I took away from this was that my time spent studying craft was a good investment. I’m so grateful to Dee for sharing her wise counsel with me and am happy to pass it on.

Karen: I like that - "a florescent green newbie". I'll have to remember that phrase. :) Now that your book is out, do you feel like a celebrity? Have you had any episodes at the grocery store with the paparazzi?

Keli: Oh, Karen, have you been watching me? I was at the supermarket just last week gently squeezing the avocados to find one just the right ripeness when I heard a squeal, turned, and found cameras from three local TV stations trained on me and three reporters shoving mics in front of me. What an amazing experience.

Um, OK. So that type of scenario only happens in my daydreams. The reality is that life has changed little. I did walk into Curves the other day and had one of the members I don’t know very well tell me she’d read and enjoyed my book. I gotta admit that felt pretty good.

This past Sunday several of my fellow church members who’d bought my book at my launch party the week before told me how much they enjoyed the story. They gushed so much that I got all misty-eyed. These dear people have supported me since I first began writing, and I’m ever so grateful for their encouragement.

And speaking of support, I really appreciate yours, Karen. Thanks again for hosting me. Spending time with you and your blog’s readers is a pleasure. I’d like to end with a question for all of you. What’s a time you were thrust into the limelight, and how did you feel about all the accolades coming your way?

Karen: You are too funny! You had me going for a minute there. And, you are more than welcome, Keli! It's been a pleasure to have you stop by.  I'm happy to help spread the word about your book.

My Review

Miles Rutledge’s mercantile carries everything a home in 1870 needs. He is looking forward to meeting his new business partner, confident that he will be an asset to the thriving business. Miles’ mother is not opposed to seeing him take on a partner; she just knows something Miles does not.

E. Watkins, also known as the widow Elenora Watkins, is eager for a fresh start for her 9-year-old daughter Matilda and herself. Her recently remarried, overbearing father has made it clear that she is no longer welcome in his home or working with his business. Elenora thinks that a partnership with the Rutledge Mercantile in El Dorado, CA is the perfect fit. That is, until she met the proprietor.

To say that Miles and Elenora get off on the wrong foot is an understatement. Miles is stunned to learn that E. Watkins is a woman, and rescinds his offer of partnership. Elenora is equally dismayed over the mix-up. Returning home is not an option, so Elenora decides to set up her own mercantile in El Dorado to support her daughter. This, of course, does not go over well with Miles.

For some reason, I suspected that Keli Gwyn would be a good storyteller. I am happy to report that I wasn’t disappointed. In this, her debut novel, Keli brings life to these stubborn, ambitious characters who butt heads at every turn. This engaging tale is sure to appeal to historical fiction fans. Although A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California just released, I’m already looking forward to Keli’s next book!

If you'd like more info on A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, click here.

To visit Keli's site, go here. 

To stop by her blog, click here. I am sure she would love to see you!



Giveaway Details
  

• You must be a follower and leave your email address with a comment. 

• Gain bonus entries (+1 each) by posting this on Facebook, your blog, and/or Twitter. Please total your entries and include link with your comment where applicable.

• Open to residents of the United States.

• Deadline to enter is midnight EST, Monday July 30, 2012. Winner will be notified via email and will have 36 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen. Winner will be announced Thursday August 2, 2012.

Don't forget, Keli turned the tables and asked us this question,

"What’s a time you were thrust into the limelight, and how did you feel about all the accolades coming your way?"

Please feel free to answer in the comments. 

Do you have any questions for Keli? What are you up to this weekend?

Happy reading and writing,
Karen