A Beggar’s Bargain follows a discharged Army soldier during WWII who returns home to fulfill his dying father’s last wish to save the family farm. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?

I am an avid fan of Texas music and the artists who create the songs. I listen to the radio anytime I’m in the car and one day I heard a song that caused me to pull over and jot down a note. The lyrics of the song said, “It’s fool’s gold, a beggar’s bargain…” I knew A Beggar’s Bargain had to be the title of a book. I didn’t know much more than that, but as the creative juices began to flow, I saw the time period and the story set-up. I know it might sound crazy, but the characters talked to me and basically told me their names and the story. That’s how it all started, with just one line from a song.

Your book touches on the harsh realities that faced many American’s during WWII. What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?

As I was working on the story, I visited the area in and around Everton, Missouri. Through the Dade County Library, I was able to look at newspapers from 1947 on microfilm and took lots of notes from them. They gave me a good view of things the country was still dealing with from the war, such as shortages. One newspaper article was about President Truman calling for all families in America to have one day per week with no meat, as it was still in short supply. I had to include that in the book. Also, the prices of goods in 1947 were way different from today and the newspapers were also super helpful in keeping that accurate. I found the people in that area to be super interested and helpful with stories and historic facts about their community that were instrumental in keeping it authentic. I love that I was able to do hands-on research, rather than relying on the internet. I think it helped make it all more believable.

Layken and Sara Beth are forced into a marriage as strangers but must find a way to make it work. What was your process in writing the character’s interactions to develop the bond they have?

First of all, I didn’t want this book to be a romance. I wanted it to be about two people thrown together by fate and circumstances, working toward a singular goal. So, while their relationship started out awkward, as two strangers would be, through their working together and facing each hardship with determination and resilience, their feelings for each other grew slowly from admiration and respect to something deeper. While some reviewers refer to the book as a romance, it is truly historical or literary fiction. I loved allowing and facilitating the organic growth of their relationship, in response to the obstacles they faced.

What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?

I am currently working on the second book in The Bargainers Series. A Noble Bargain begins in Arkansas and ends up at Layken and Sara Beth’s farm in Missouri. So, the reader gets to catch up on the couple while meeting a new cast of characters and circumstances. I am hoping to publish it in the fall of this year.

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