Please help me welcome fellow OKRWA author, Maxine Douglas with an interview and her latest release!
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I am originally from Wisconsin (born and bred) where the UW-Wisconsin Badgers reside. Go Bucky! And home of the Green Bay Packers, yes that makes me a cheese head. LOL My husband and I know live in a small city southwest of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. We traded 6 months of winter for a few weeks, and have enjoyed being here. My oldest son lives in the same city we do with his family, and our three other grown children live in Wisconsin. We have two grand-daughters: one is a senior at UW-Whitewater majoring in Marketing and the youngest will turn 10 this summer. We currently have two horses and one dog.
Where did you get the idea for The Brides Along the Chisholm Trail series?
I was asked by Callie Hutton if I was interested in joining a western historical boxset. Of course I said, than immediately went into panic mode when I learned I had to have it done by September, and it was June. I was in the midst of my first mystery and needed to finish it before delving into a new genre…again. But I finished Simply to Die For (sold it to MuseItUp Publishing), and finished The Reluctant Bride for the Wanted: One Bride boxset on time.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
I’d not written western historical before even though I do have three historical time-travels published.
Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
The idea for The Brides Along the Chisholm Trail series actually came from the director of our local Chamber of Commerce. He approached me at a three-day event last October and said he had a great story idea for me. I mulled it over and came up with three book ideas. I’d already had The Reluctant Bride set in Dodge City, The Marshal’s Bride takes place in Fred, Indian Territory which was about 7 miles southeast of Chickasha and is now available, The Cattlemen’s Bride takes place in Texas and will be available late summer.
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
If you are writing a historical you want to make sure you have even the small things right, and that you don’t bore your reader with too many facts.
What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?
The research for Fred since it is so close to where I live. I spent several hours at the Grady County Historical Museum where Patricia Cunningham was a great help.
Are there any tricks, habits or superstitions you have when creating a story?
Even though I have a home office I do like to go to one of the following places once in a while: the library, McDonalds, a park, or on my back patio. I also will watch/listen to movies in the genre that I’m writing to keep me on track and my mind set in the right place. I have found that if family is around I can’t write. I think it’s because in the back of my mind I know that they’ll talk to me, whereas in a public place the chance of that happening is very slim.
What book have you read that you wish you had written?
Oh my, there are so many. Some of my favorites are The Kent Family Chronicles by John Jakes, Outlander, Game of Thrones, anything Heather Graham writes…need I go on? LOL
Do you collect anything?
Like most authors I collect books. At one time I had an extensive collection but have since pared it down to only the books I really want to keep in print. I’ve been picking up the old Nancy Drew books as I find them as they were my favorites when I was in grade school. I also will pick up any horse story books I find because I love horses (what girl doesn’t?). Plus I do have a collection of S&P that was started by my maternal grandmother.
What was your first job?
Babysitting. But my first actual paycheck was from a department store called Prange’s. I remember when it opened in the East Towne Mall in Madison back in the 1970s, it was amazing.
What do you want readers to come away with after they read The Brides of the Chisholm Trail?
A sense that they read a good story, that they lived the lives of my heroes and heroines.
What is your favorite quote?
I find a new quote each month for my newsletter, but I think this is one by Ernest Hemingway is one of my favorites: “There is no friend as loyal as a book.”
If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could have 3 (inanimate) objects, what would they be?
Hmm, let’s see–books, my laptop, my phone.
What celebrity would you most like to be stranded on an island with?
This is going to sound strange but Drew Cary – he’s so funny and seems down to earth. If he wasn’t available, then I’d go with Kevin Costner.
Your most prized material possession? Why?
My wedding rings because I didn’t get married for the first time until I was 46 years old. A high school friend and I reconnected in January of 2001 and in August of that same year we said “I do.” Ladies, it was definitely worth the wait! *wink*
What do you want your tombstone to say?
Loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend, romance author. Spark your imagination, read a book.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes! I have an erotica that I just can’t seem to finish. Plus, I have a number that have a paragraph or two written as a reminder of what the story is about. I keep a spreadsheet where I have titles, character names/descriptions, and blurbs all waiting to come to life for my readers.
Who is the most famous person you have ever met?
There have been a few. When I lived in Nashville I became good friends with Charlie Dick (Patsy Cline’s husband), I dated James Monroe (Bill Monroe’s son) for a while, and I had the privilege of having a good chat with Heather Graham and Jodi Thomas a few years ago.
Your favorite…
Movie White Christmas
Music County
Place you’ve visited Galveston, TX
Place you’d like to visit England
TV show from childhood Zorro
TV show from adulthood Outlander
Food Seafood
Sports team Green Bay Packers / UW-Wisconsin Badgers
Thank you so much, Maxine! I enjoyed getting to know you better. ha, I will have to say I find Drew Cary an odd choice. 😀
Readers, check out her latest release:
Find Maxine here:
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