Joining us today for Writer’s Window is historical romance author Karen Witemeyer.

One lucky commenter* will win a signed copy of Karen’s latest release, To Win Her Heart. Deadline for leaving a comment to enter the drawing is Friday. To enter the drawing, you must answer the question posed by Karen at the end of the interview. Only one comment per person will count toward the drawing. Please do not include your e-mail address in the body of your comment—just make sure it’s correct when you sign in to leave your comment. The winning name will be drawn next weekend and the winner will be notified via e-mail.

*U.S. residents only, void where prohibited. If you win the drawing, you will be ineligible for the next three drawings, though hopefully you will still come back and join in the discussion.

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A blacksmith with a criminal past. A librarian with pacifist ideals. Do they have a fighting chance at finding love?

Having completed his sentence for the unintentional crime that derailed his youthful plans for fame and fortune, Levi Grant looks to start over in the town of Spencer, Texas. Spencer needs a blacksmith, a trade he learned at his father’s knee, and he needs a place where no one knows his past. But small towns leave little room for secrets. . . .

Eden Spencer has sworn off men, choosing instead to devote her time to the lending library she runs. When a mountain-sized stranger walks through her door and asks to borrow a book, she steels herself against the attraction he provokes. His halting speech and hesitant manner leave her doubting his intelligence. Yet as the mysteries of the town’s new blacksmith unfold, Eden discovers hidden depths in him that tempt her heart.

Levi’s renewed commitment to his faith leads Eden to believe she’s finally found a man of honor and integrity, a man worthy of her love. But when the truth about his prodigal past comes to light, can this tarnished hero find a way to win back the librarian’s affections?

Welcome, Karen!
What do you like best about being a writer?

Definitely, the fan mail. There is nothing better than hearing that my story impacted a reader’s life. I’m amazed at what God can achieve through storytelling. And those notes of thanks are such an encouragement, often arriving when I’m feeling the most down and doubting my abilities. The Lord is surely working both sides of this system.

What do you like least about being a writer?

I hate when I stare at the computer screen and my fingers freeze. Ideas hide. Characters quit talking to me. Or the perfect word eludes me despite all the thesauruses I’ve perused, and my brain refuses to take one more step into the story until that word has been found and employed. Grrr…as if battling laziness and distractions weren’t bad enough.

Pop, Soda, or Coke? What do you call it, and what’s your favorite variety?

I’m a soda gal. In California where I grew up, I remember calling it Coke, but now that I’m in Texas, it’s always soda. I try not to drink it too often, but when I do, it’s Sprite. I stopped drinking colas years ago when I was pregnant with my first child and never reacquired the taste.

What’s your favorite dessert?

Mmmm…There are so many. I’m an ice cream lover, Blue Bell chocolate chip being my favorite, but it’s hard to beat a streusel-topped blackberry cobbler. Maybe I’ll have to compromise and have that blackberry cobbler a la mode.

What’s the most fun/interesting/crazy/scary/unique hands-on research you’ve done for a book?

In my first book, A Tailor-Made Bride, there is a scene where the characters attend a founder’s day picnic. I had such a great time researching all the games they would have played, that when it came time to host my launch party, I set up the same types of games for my visitors and their children. We did hoop rolling (with extremely large wooden quilt hoops), three-legged races, and my personal favorite, the game of graces. Graces is played with two people, usually girls. Each girl holds two throwing sticks. (I used dowels.) The first player dangles the ribbon-decorated hoop on the end of one stick then dips the second stick through the circle, making an X with the stick ends. When she pulls the sticks apart, the hoop flies toward her partner. The other player tries to catch the hoop on her sticks. We used this game at my daughter’s birthday party one year, too. It was a hit, even with the boys.

What’s your favorite movie from childhood?

I loved all the Disney fairy tales as well as the adventure stories like Swiss Family Robinson. I’m still a huge Disney fan. I watched Tangled over the holidays with my kids and loved it as much as they did.

If you were to write a novel about what your life would have been like if you’d become what you wanted to be at eight years old, what kind of character would the story be about?

The story would revolve around a schoolmarm. When I was a youngster, I couldn’t image much past my immediate experience. My mother didn’t work outside the home, so my understanding of the career options available to women was greatly limited. All I knew was that I liked math and loved to read. Surely that meant I should be a teacher.

What makes you happy?

Hugs from my kids, snuggling with my husband, singing in the car, and getting to the happy ending of a good historical romance novel.

What makes you nervous?

Events where mingling is required. I’m a full-blooded introvert, and though I can make myself be outgoing when the occasion calls for it, I dread gatherings where I don’t know anyone well and am expected to make small talk. Writing clever dialog is much easier than speaking it when on the spot.

What’s your biggest dream for the future?

For my writing career, I’d love to win a RITA or a Christy or have a book hit the best seller list, but in truth, my biggest dream for the future is to see my children grow into godly men and women who love Jesus with all of their hearts and serve him faithfully throughout their lives.

Tell us about your newest release and what you’re working on now.

To Win Her Heart pairs a blacksmith with a criminal past with an uppity librarian who holds lofty ideals. But attraction definitely sparks between these two opposites.

This story plays on the question – what happens after the prodigal son returns? So many times, we focus on the wonderful homecoming the lost son received from his father, but have you ever asked what life was like for him after the celebration was over? How did he relate to his bitter older brother or the servants and townspeople who were only too aware of his past arrogance and wild living?

In To Win Her Heart, I play on those very questions. My hero is a man recently released from prison who has returned to his faith roots and rededicated his life to the Lord. The heroine is a woman who has been disappointed by men in the past and has little tolerance of those who don’t meet her high standards. In an effort to make a clean start, Levi hides his past and Eden believes she has finally found a man of honor and integrity. But when his prodigal past comes to light, old hurts are exposed, and Eden must decide if she can give her heart to a knight with tarnished armor.

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I’m currently working on my fourth historical romance for Bethany House. The working title is Short-Straw Bride. Four brothers draw straws to see who will marry the heroine in this twist on a marriage of convenience story. Here’s the tagline: All he’s ever cared about is his brothers and his land. But when a good deed goes awry, he’s stuck with a bride who endangers both.

One fun tidbit about the brothers in this story – they are all named for heroes from the Alamo. Travis is the main character, the next oldest is Crockett, the kid brother is Neill (for the Alamo’s commander who missed being at the fight because of a family illness that called him away), and the third brother’s given name is Bowie, but he refuses to answer to anything except Jim. I don’t blame him. Poor guy. What we authors do to torture our characters.

Where can people find out more about you/connect with you online?

I’d love to have you visit me at my website: www.karenwitemeyer.com. I host a monthly giveaway of historical Christian novels from a variety of well-known authors as well as post interesting tidbits about my characters and the research behind their stories.

You can also find me on Facebook. Send me a message sometime. I’d be honored to chat with you.

Now it’s your turn to ask the question. What question do you want to ask the commenters to answer?

Besides physical appearance, how would you describe your ideal historical romance hero?

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Karen Witemeyer is a deacon’s wife who believes the world needs more happily-ever-afters. To that end, she combines her love of bygone eras with her passion for helping women mature in Christ to craft historical romance novels that lift the spirit and nurture the soul.

Karen holds a master’s degree in Psychology from Abilene Christian University and is a member of ACFW, RWA, and her local writers’ guild. She’s an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. Karen makes her home in Abilene, TX with her husband and three children.