Today, we’re interviewing Linda Yezak, who lives in a forest in east Texas and writes uplifting books about second chances, love, forgiveness, and new beginnings.

 Jim:  Linda, you’ve written books with other authors.  Tell us about that experience.

 Linda:  I’ve done that twice and both experiences were different. Terry Burns invited me to include my thoughts for Writing in Obedience, but he already had a contract with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. I started working like mad in December, 2013, and the book came out in February, 2014. So far as I know, that’s a record!

 I wrote the conspiracy thriller The Simulacrum with New Hampshire author, Brad Seggie. He had a great idea for a Dan Brownesque thriller and did some in-depth research. He worked out the general outline, and gave me carte blanche while writing the story.

 In both cases, there was a lot of give and take going on and ideas being tossed around. Writing with a partner can be tons of fun, but there are times when we disagree on things. The secret is not to take these spats personally and to consider the other’s comments carefully. Mutual respect is important when picking a writer to partner with.

 Jim:  Your novel, The Cat Lady’s Secret sounds delightful.  Tell us about it.

 Linda:  I love this one, because I love to play with eccentric personalities, and Millie is as eccentric as they come. She dresses in bold colors and seeks feral felines throughout the town of Dogwood, Texas. While she’s hunting, she hears of people’s needs and wants, and arranges for these to be fulfilled. But who is the real source of these blessings? A journalist wants to know. Is her secret a deal-breaker? This novel is about love, forgiveness, and second-chances.

 Jim:  You have said you live in the middle of a forest in east Texas.  Describe the area where you live and how you happened to move into the middle of a forest.

 Linda:  Around 20 years ago, Billy’s company closed down their plant in our hometown of Bryan, and gave us the choices of Iowa, South Carolina, or Nacogdoches, Texas to move to. Since all our family is in Texas, we couldn’t bear to move out-of-state. Nacogdoches is a beautiful town, located in the wooded east Texas hills, and we wanted a home that reflected its charm. The small forest here, the pond, all the wildlife– when we found this house, we knew it was perfect.

 I got so homesick that first winter in the new house. Billy had gone to work and I was totally alone. I grabbed a box of tissues and sat in front of our patio windows overlooking the pond. It was overcast that day, and everything was gray and gloomy. But just as I settled in for a good long cry, the sky sliced open and a ray of sunshine peeked through. It caused the ripples on the water to dance with brilliant diamonds, and I was so dazzled, I didn’t feel like crying anymore. God put on a wonderful show that day, just for me.

 Jim:  And tell us about your writing space.  Does it look out on the forest?  Is it perfectly quiet?  And when do you write?

 Linda:  I replaced the love seat facing the patio windows with an antique drop-leaf table I’d refinished and work there. The pond, the trees, and birds and squirrels and the occasional deer are all in full view and often draw me away from my work just to watch life go on outside my windows. It’s amazing I get anything done. The windows are to my right, and the fireplace is to my left, which can also distract me on cold days with its colorful blaze and soft crackling. 

 My work hours are two to five, though anytime I’m alone, I work. I prefer the quiet, but sometimes I have the TV or music playing quietly in the background.

 Jim:  Simulacrum seems to be very different from your other work.  Tells us about it and how you came to write it.

 Linda:  The Simulacrum is the conspiracy thriller I wrote with Brad Seggie. He advertised for a critique partner on the ACFW site a long time ago, and I answered the call. I love his ideas, and he loves my writing style, so we made a great team.

 We wrote the novel in the style of Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code, but instead of tweaking the noses of Christians, we tweak the noses of avid evolutionists. Brad thought it would be best to present the arguments to characters who weren’t Christian and predisposed to believe in Intelligent Design in hopes of reaching others with the truth about Creation and the extent to which evolutionists will go to protect their “science.” Wrapped around all the scientific argument and evidence is a fast-paced action/adventure/thriller that we’re both proud of.

 Jim:  What is your WIP?  Can you tell us about it and when we might expect to see it?

Linda:  Right now, I’m writing the sequel to Give the Lady a Ride. That novel was published by Port Yonder Press in 2011, but released by the publisher in 2014. I put it back out myself and was amazed at the difference in royalties I received when I had no middlemen to pay. Although I still intend to pursue the traditional route, I also want to keep the cast of Ride alive, so I’m continuing the story and self-publishing it. 

  Jim:  Any advice to yet-to-be published writers?

 Linda:  Keep plugging. The wheels in this business turn slowly–painfully so, particularly if you’re walking the traditional route. Keep writing, keep studying the craft and striving to improve, and try to be patient. 

Jim:  Thanks for visiting with us today, Linda, and for sharing a little of your life.  Readers, you can find more about Linda’s books by visiting :http://amzn.to/1qlDM9I

And it will take only a second to click on the “Like” button, and/or the “Tweet” button just below.  Thanks for visiting.