Molly O’Keefe has more than 30 romantic novels behind her. She is living in Toronto, Canada, and is planning to make a big statement in 2015 with her books. We’ve got a chance to speak with her about the latest release Tempted and her future plans. Let’s say welcome to our next guest Molly O’Keefe.

– Molly, what is your book Tempted about?
– Tempted is the second book in my historical western series INTO THE WILD. It’s basically a friends-to-lovers story between two people who have been utterly changed by the Civil War. Steven is haunted by his time in Andersonville Prison and Anne is pushing the envelope of the freedom allowed her in Denver after the war. It’s a gritty love story that I am really proud of.

– How did you decide to write Into the Wild series?
– Historical Westerns are my first love in terms of romance and I have always wanted to write one. With independent publishing really changing the landscape for authors – I decided there was no better time to write the Into The Wild trilogy! And I’m so thrilled I did. It’s sort of like using different muscles. It’s so different from my contemporaries and the challenge is really exciting.
– What was the biggest challenge during the write up process?
– Every book is different. Everything I Left Unsaid – the first in my erotic series – just flew out of my head. The characters the setting all of it was just so clear. It’s one of the few times I felt like I was running downhill the entire book. Just so fun. The second book The Truth About Him needed a complete rewrite just before I handed it in. It was so hard – a huge puzzle I had to take apart and put together again. In the end I think it’s the best book I’ve ever written – but WHOA. So hard. After that Tempted – which I had been working on in pieces, was tough to get right. It’s a really simple story that I was over complicating. So, once I took a breath and settled down it just clicked together.
– Tell us something more about your main characters Annie and Steven? Are they close to someone that you met in your real life?
– Annie and Steven are interesting – they’re like people all of us know. Annie is really brave and for the first time in her life is acting selfishly. Steven is a man who works so he doesn’t have to feel anything. He keeps everything at arm’s distance but Anne is his only friend and when she gets hurt and really needs someone he finds he’s unable to stay away.
– How much time did you need to finish the story and to publish it?
– The story took about three months to write (longer actually because I did it in pieces, but 3 solid months) and then my editor was able to get it back to me really fast and so was my copy editor and formatter so once the ball started rolling it was ready to go in about a month.
– Tell us more about your The Boys of Bishop series?
– Oh, those boys. I’ve got a good-guy Mayor who wants to be bad (Wild Child). A bodyguard having to protect the only girl he’s ever loved and can never have. (Never Been Kissed) I have a single-father who falls for woman in town who has been humiliated on public television and is deeply wounded (Between The Sheets) and finally a modern day marriage-of convenience between a would be public figure and the street smart bartender he got pregnant (Indecent Proposal). They’re big sexy books with lots of conflict and a fantastic and fun cast of characters.
– Who are you?
– I am a wife and mother. I am an American living in Canada. I am a reader and writer. I try to run, but usually walk. I try to eat salad and usually eat fries. I’m a Bruce Springsteen fan (sort of fanatic) and wake up every day thrilled to do what I get to do as a mom and a wife and a writer!
– What are your writing habits?
– Well, my husband takes the kids to school and I pick them up, so I have from 8:45-3:15 every day to do what I need to do. I try to write for at least three of those hours. When I’m in the thick of things, it’s more. And then in the evening when things have quieted down I get a few more hours in. I’m a big believer in the writer’s retreat – I get a lot of work done in 3-5 days. I can’t work out of order – I write scene by scene and I also can’t work on more than one project at a time…
– Are you satisfied by the sales of your books?
– I’m completely over the moon that anyone is buying my books. I’m thrilled by every letter, review, tweet and facebook message I receive. Of course, like most writers, I’d love to reach even more readers. And I really appreciate this interview and the chance to reach your readers. THANK YOU!
– What are you doing to promote your book by the best possible way?
– Hmmm… what is the best possible way? It’s so hard to know. I’ve done blog tours. I’ve done facebook parties. I’ve done book tours and signings. Each thing has its own rewards and problems. For Everything I Left Unsaid I’m going to do a facebook release party and some giveaways as well as a blog tour. I’m also really excited that between Everything I Left Unsaid and it’s follow-up The Truth About Him going to be releasing – through my newsletter – a series of flashbacks in Dylan’s life. So, my newsletter readers will get a very exciting glimpse into the hero. I’m pretty excited about it!!
You can sign up for my newsletter at http://www.molly-okeefe.com . I also do monthly interviews with authors and giveaways!
I think the best marketing is doing what doesn’t make you crazy. And doesn’t bankrupt you. There’s a lot of room between those two things…
– When we will see your next novels Everything I Left Unsaid and The Truth About Him, and would you unveil something more about it?
– Those books come out in October and November. It’s about Annie McKay who is on the run from an abusive husband and she’s holed up in a campground, hoping she’s safe. She answers a cell phone that someone left behind and starts a dangerous and sexy relationship with the man on the other end. She gets sucked into a life of secrets and phone sex and motorcycle clubs. Dylan Daniels, the man on the other end of the phone is nothing but secrets and ghosts and a sexy, sexy voice. It’s very exciting and I’m so thrilled by the early and GREAT reviews it’s getting.

– Do you remember the moment when you select the romance genre to be your literary field?
– I have loved romance novels forever. A friend’s mom used to read Harlequin Desires like candy and she started giving me some of her favorites. It was a fast and powerful addiction. I decided I wanted to be a writer after reading the Emily of New Moon books by L.M. Montgomery. It wasn’t too long until I knew I wanted to writer romances.
– How important for you is to keep contact with readers and did you ever were influenced or inspired by some comment that produce a new story?
– Oh, it’s so important. A letter from a reader can make my week. My month. It’s just amazing. I love twitter and facebook and how easy it’s made it for readers and writers to interact. I’ve had a few readers ask questions about some characters in some books and it’s made me think of new stories. I haven’t had a chance to write any of them yet, but I look forward to the chance!
– If you may ask yourself one question in the interview what it will be?
– What are you reading right now? Oh! Great question! I’m eagerly awaiting the last book in the Captive Prince trilogy. I just picked up All The Light We Cannot See. And I’m halfway through The Raven Boys.

To learn more about Molly O’Keefe check out her Website
Facebook
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Take a look at her books:
The Truth About Him: A Novel
Everything I Left Unsaid
Tempted (Into The Wild Book 2)
Wild Child: A Novel (The Boys of Bishop Book 1)
Can’t Buy Me Love (Crooked Creek Ranch Book 1)