An Award-Winning and Amazon Bestselling author, Oklahoma native Linda Trout loves Happily-Ever-Afters. When she isn’t helping her husband remodel their home, she’s outside trying to tame a small portion of their ten-acres (a losing battle). Between her six rescue cats, who think they have to help her write, and planning where she wants to travel when the pandemic is over, she’s working on her next novel.
May 18, 2020
The Wild Rose Press
Kim Mendoza
Hi there! I’m a retired accountant, a magnet for lost cats/kittens, and ride a Harley. I grew up in a small farming town in northeastern Oklahoma, which is the oldest town in the state. I’m surrounded by history so you’d think that’s what I’d write. I love reading historicals, but not writing them. My true-life hero, my husband, is a retired Marine. I fell in love with their dress blue uniform when I was in the 8th grade, so it’s kind of fitting that I married an active duty Marine. I really didn’t marry him just for the uniform, but it sure looked good at our wedding.
I’m a romantic at heart and love happily-ever-afters, so naturally wrote romance. But I also love drama and suspense, so gravitated toward romantic suspense.
Women’s fiction. I think of women’s fiction as sitting down and telling a story about people you know; all the good and not-so-good things in their lives. If I can learn to tell a story without the drama or massive suspense that I naturally gravitate toward, that’s what I’ll write.
When I attended my very first conference, I met one of the speakers, Tom Sawyer, who had been the head writer on the TV show, Murder She Wrote. I told him that when I turned 50 (yes, I’m a late bloomer), I gave myself permission to write. That may sound weird, but that’s what I had to do for myself. I’d honestly thought he might blow me off or scold me. (I was still trying to figure out if I was a real writer or not.) Instead, he simply said, “Good for you!” He was very encouraging and that encouragement helped lead me to my first sale. Years later, he returned to that same conference and I was able to thank him. We never know how we might influence others, so always be positive and kind.
Easy. Going to conferences and meeting other like-minded people. I finally found my ‘tribe’ and have made numerous life-long friends. I wouldn’t trade any of them for the world. Oh, yes. Holding a book I wrote in my hands isn’t bad, either.
Plotting. And the sagging middle. I’m pretty much a pantser, but need to plot better. When I get to the middle of the book, the lack of preplanning always bites me in the rear. I swear to myself I’ll do better the next book, but so far…
I have two other titles published by The Wild Rose Press. My debut novel, Grave Secrets, was a double finalist for the National Reader’s Choice Award and is set in Oklahoma. My second release, Last Hope Alaska, is set in Juneau.
A Hero to Come Home To by Marilyn Pappano. It’s about the wife of a soldier who didn’t make it home from battle, and how she and other widows pick up and carry on with their lives. I laughed and cried as they struggled to find a new normal, which included someone new to love. Since my husband is retired military, I could have been one of those women, so the story touched my heart.
When I was 20, I drove a tractor and worked in the hayfields in order to make my car payments. One of the best jobs I ever had! I also could change a flat tire on my Toyota Corona in 8 minutes flat.
I think.
Definitely less than 10. Boy, are those days long gone!
I’m currently working on two more books set in the small town of Rock Ledge, Arkansas: Shattered Promises and Crushed Promises. I’ll also have a story in the anthology, Behind the Mask, coming out this winter…hopefully, before Christmas.
No matter what your passion is, no matter your age, never ever give up on your dreams. You can do it! I have faith in you.
Widow Melody Rose has already lost one man whose job involved guns and violence. She swore she’d never put herself through that again.
At first Sheriff Jake Bennett wants nothing to do with the taciturn café owner, but Melody intrigues him. When a stalker targets her, he’s determined to protect the woman he has fallen for. Can Melody overcome her greatest fear and save the man she never dreamed would claim her heart?
“I’m going with you,” a feminine voice said close behind him.
The café’s owner had pulled on her sweater, her jaw set in determination. He started to shake his head when the mayor piped up again.
“You can’t let her go out there! She’s a woman. No telling what you’ll find.”
A slender man about Jake’s age, wearing a white apron smudged with food debris, stepped through the swinging door leading to the kitchen and glared at the mayor. “Shut up, Frank. You go on, Melody.”
“Fine. Let’s go.” Jake didn’t have time to debate the issue and ushered her outside.
“Remind me later to buy your cook a beer.”
She glanced at him and grinned. “Yes, Roy pretty well speaks his mind and no one is brave enough to stand up to him.”
People were afraid of Roy? He wasn’t what you’d call a big man. Of course, a person’s size didn’t define who they were or their character. Jake reached the car and opened his door, his mind already back on the crashed plane. He had wanted some excitement.
He’d gotten it in spades.
The wagon came to a halt on the outskirts of town, and Nigel scanned the large warehouse, before which they stopped. Edgar and Sarah followed his gaze and surveyed the building too.
Weathered clapboards covered the windowless structure. A rutted dirt road ran from the main road to a pair of double doors, large enough to accommodate a wagon. Set into one of these large doors was a smaller door, the size one might have in one’s house. Everyone clambered off the wagon. Those from the back took a minute to brush the straw from their clothing.
Nigel spat the dust from his mouth and looked up again to appraise the structure. “I appreciate the fine accommodations the reverend has arranged for us.” Nigel’s voice dripped sarcasm. “I believe this is Petersburg’s answer to the Willard Hotel.”
Reverend Green chuckled. “No, I’m afraid not. You’d find these accommodations a might cold. It’s our ice-house.” He approached the smaller door, opened it, and ushered them in. “If you’ll all step inside, I’ll take you to the body.”
“The body?” asked Nigel, incredulous.
Professor James nodded.
“Welcome to our fair city,” said Nigel, “And over here is the body of which we are so proud.”
Are you an aspiring or established author with a new novel? Do you have some author, publisher, editor or agent insights you’d like to share?
Do you have some advice to making the writing life a little easier? Jeny would love to hear from you! Whether it’s via blog, video or podcast this is your platform.
Favorite movie: P.S. I Love You
Best place you’ve visited: Sitka, Alaska
Place you’d like to visit: New Zealand
Favorite food: Pasta. Or Mexican. Actually, both.
If a movie was made about your life, who would you want to play you? Glenn Close
What song best sums you up? Jesus Take the Wheel by Carrie Underwood
Oxford comma, yes or no? Yes
Pen or pencil? Pen. Which is weird because when I was an accountant, I ALWAYS used a pencil.
Favorite music? 70’s soft rock and Country and Western
Coffee or tea? Sweet iced tea
What does your desk look like? A horrible mess, but I do keep a corner of it cleared for a cat bed. If I didn’t, my oldest female cat would be in my lap all the time.
What is your writing vice or must-haves? I like to have pictures of my characters close by. Other than that, not much.
Plotter or pantser? Pantser
Mac or PC? PC
Favorite dessert? Carrot Cake, Bread Pudding, and Cheesecake. Not all at the same time, but please don’t ask me to decide between them.
What is your favorite thing to learn about in your free time? Free time? What’s that?
You have a time travel machine. Where and when? Good question. When I get to the future and figure it out, I’ll come back and let you know.
Are you earth, wind, fire, or water? Water
22 thoughts on “Linda Trout”
Thank you so much for having me today, Jeny! I had a blast with the interview. And good luck with your new release, also.
Linda, you are so welcome! It was so much fun getting to know you!
Congratulations on your books💐
Thank you so much, D.V. I appreciate you stopping by!
Great interview! Good luck with the book.
Thanks a bunch, Jennifer!
Thanks for the excerpts. Congratulations on the new release, and best wishes for many sales.
Thank you so much, Patricia!
What a wonderful interview and post! LOVE learning more about fellow authors.
Good luck and God’s blessings with your books.
PamT
Awe, that’s sweet of you, Pamela. Thank you!
Love getting to “visit” with you again. Boy, I’ve missed you!
I’ve missed you, too, Susan! Wish we could visit in person again, though. One of these days… {sigh}
Love your books Miss Linda! I really think someone needs to make a movie from each one. Can’t wait for the next ones.
Sue, if you know of a producer, let them know I’m open to a movie. 😉
I sure appreciate your love and support over the years. Course, I think it’s required since you’re my sister. LOL
I’m a later boomer, too! Wrote my first novel at 56! It’s never too late to follow your dreams! Great interview!
Good for you, Joy! As long as we’re on the green side of the grass, it’s never too late, right? I was sure scared Tom Sawyer would make fun of me, but he didn’t. I was glad he came back to the conference years later so I could thank him. He took me by surprise and kissed me on the cheek. By telling him that, it made HIS day. Good lesson there. Doesn’t matter what a person has done before, we can always help uplift their day.
Thanks for dropping by!
Great to learn things I never knew about you, Linda. There is something special about a man in uniform, eh? Hoping your books grow wings, and your fingers, too, so we can get a new one to read soon.
Thanks a bunch, MJ! I try to keep a little mystery about myself. 😉 Yes, I definitely love a man in a uniform! I know you do, too. Hopefully, my books (AND my fingers) will grow wings. Need to get some more crunched out.
Another late bloomer! I started at 55. I think there are a lot of us writing today.
Love the interview, and congrats on finaling in the the contest. Such a great honor!
I love meeting late bloomers, Alina! I honestly think we have a little more to bring to the plate, like decades of experience. I was surprised and thrilled to find out I was a double finalist in such a great contest.
I hope your sales are going well and that your career takes you to the places you want to go. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m so sorry I’m late. What a great interview. I learned such interesting things about you I didn’t know. And you know I’m a fan of your writing. Congrats on the new release!!
Hi, Alicia! You have more irons in the fire than anyone I know, so I appreciate you taking the time to pop over.
I honestly had a great time doing this interview, and Jeny made it even more fun. I tried not giving away ‘all’ of my secrets, but now you have a better idea of what makes me tick. Scary, isn’t it. 🙂