Please help me welcome today’s guest, Kim Janine Lignon…
Please tell us a little about yourself, where are you from? Where do you live now? Family? Pets?
I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. I’m the daughter of a veterinarian and the oldest of ten children. I have lived in central and southern Illinois, Philadelphia, PA, and for the last thirty-five years in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I have been married to my own real life romance hero for fifty-one years. I grew up surrounded by pets since each kid had to have their own dog or cat or both. At one point we had six Great Danes, a Siamese cat and a Pug. I do not currently have any pets or children.
Where did you get the idea for the title of Abby’s Gift?
The title was my working title and it seemed to fit for early readers.
Why did you choose this genre (is it something you’ve written in before)?
This is the fifth book I have written placed in the small town of Lansdale, Wisconsin. While it is not a series, characters from my earlier books appear in this one.
Was there anything unusual, any anecdote about this book, the characters, title, process, etc, you’d like to share?
My husband always volunteers to read my stories before anyone else. But he doesn’t want to do that until I believe the story is complete. Ten minutes after he started reading this manuscript, he came and said, “Janet (my heroine) will be arrested as soon as she crosses the state line. You can’t do what she does.” I should explain that he was a practicing attorney in Illinois where the story takes place. I was devastated. I didn’t know how to fix the plot and keep Janet out of jail. I was so disappointed, I didn’t even try to work on it. Three days later my husband came to me and handed me a sheaf of handwritten notes. He had taken the plot and revamped it to retain three-quarters of what I had written, but keep Janet out of jail. I still had a lot of work to do, but he’d given me the all-important starting point. Maybe that’s why we have made a good team all these years. Appearing today on this blog for this book is especially sweet since it is the 52nd anniversary of our very first date. Yes, we still celebrate it!
What is the most difficult thing about writing a book?
The marketing after it is published. Selling is not nearly as much fun as the writing.
What was the most difficult thing about this one in particular?
Reconstructing the story so everything is legal.
Do you collect anything?
I collect bunnies. All kinds of figurines and statuary. I also have a collection of elephant figurines which is quite large, but more than half of them I inherited from my mother.
What was your first job?
Working in my father’s veterinary clinic. I cleaned dog pens, clipped poodles, stocked shelves, answered the phone, sent out bills, posted payments—pretty much anything and everything that needed to be done. I also rode on calls with my dad to farms to help keep track of how many animals were vaccinated or dehorned or castrated. And to help keep my dad awake. He worked long, long hours and appreciated some company at the end of those days. It was fun for me to have some one-on-one time with him instead of being one of many at the house.
What’s the main thing that you could get rid of in your life that would give you more writing time?
Activities of daily living. Laundry. Grocery shopping. Bill paying. Loading and unloading the dishwasher. I would say house cleaning but I do so little of that it would hardly free up any time at all! I don’t mind cooking and my husband is good to take me out for dinner and to make lunch and breakfast for us both.
What genre have you never written that you’d like to write?
I have never written science fiction or fantasy. Sometimes I think I would like to try it. I know there is a lot of background you have to plan before you dive into those genres. Maybe someday I’ll move my small town mystery to an intergalactic location. I have discovered since I started reading my fellow Wild Rose Press authors that I enjoy genres I never thought I would.
What is your favorite quote?
As I get older, I appreciate the quote I found from Ingrid Bergman, the actress, who said, “Getting old is like climbing a mountain; you get a little out of breath, but the view is much better!”
What do you want your tombstone to say?
She had no dimmer switch.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes. I have several partially completed stories. They are two western romances, two Victorian romances, and two contemporary, mystery/romances. I have one mystery/romance currently under contract with The Wild Rose Press—Finding Kate—the story of three sisters when one of them goes missing. It is currently with the copy editor.
Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Family isn’t defined by solely biological ties. Sometimes the family we choose is much better than any we could have been born with or into.
Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
I love Kristin Harmel. Her stories focus on twists of fate that alter people’s lives and she never fails to surprise me with some nuance or plot detour I didn’t expect.
The best gifts are not wrapped.
Excerpt:
Throughout the night, Janet tossed and turned, sat up, fluffed her pillow, then fell back into a nightmare riddled sleep. In the dark dream, Abby was screaming. Aurora was crying. A huge, dark-haired man was pummeling her friend. Swearing she was his, Kirby Castor was trying to kidnap the child. As if she were paralyzed, Janet stood by helplessly watching the drama unfold.
What was that sound?
Janet sat straight up in bed. A child was crying at the top of its lungs just like in her nightmare—only this wasn’t part of her dream. She was awake—almost. And the child continued to wail.
Where was Abby? Was she intentionally not calming Aurora down? Some kind of new parenting nonsense? How could she sleep through this racket or ignore the crying?
Janet got up and put on her robe and slippers, then walked into the living room. The little girl was standing up in the middle of the playpen, red-faced and screaming bloody murder, and pulling on the sides of the crib. The smell of urine and poop assaulted Janet’s nose. Why would Abby leave her daughter standing in her own waste? Where was she?
Buy links: https://mybook.to/AllMyBooks and https://mybook.to/AbbysGift
Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Abbys-Gift-Kim-Janine-Ligon-ebook/dp/B0GPPJCQK5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
Amazon CA https://www.amazon.ca/Abbys-Gift-Kim-Janine-Ligon-ebook/dp/B0GPPJCQK5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Abbys-Gift-Kim-Janine-Ligon-ebook/dp/B0GPPJCQK5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/248946446-abby-s-gift
BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/books/abby-s-gift-by-kim-janine-ligon
About the Author:
I grew up in rural Wisconsin where my father was a veterinarian. We always had lots of pets around. And there was always a herd of children around too. Ten of us in all and I am the oldest.
I had a forty plus year career in healthcare information technology. When I retired, I finally had time to learn to spin fibers into unique, beautiful yarn that I make into gifts for friends and family. While I am spinning and weaving, I am writing in my head until the writing has to spill out onto the screen. My characters love to visit me in my dreams to make recommendations—or sometimes demands—to improve my story. I’ve learned that I’ll get a lot more sleep if I heed their advice.
I have been married almost forever to my own real life romance hero!
Follow me at www.spinningromance.com or email me at KimJanine@spinningromance.com I am happy to answer your questions and I love hearing from my readers.
Enjoy!!!!!!
SPINNING ROMANCE & SUSPENSE INTO HAPPY EVER AFTERS
Author Alicia Dean 