Most people that don’t write think that writing is a glamorous, easy job. This month I am speaking to authors about how they began writing and their journey to where they are now. Today’s guest is Linda O’Connor.
Hello Linda. How are you today? Is the weather beginning to look like spring?
Linda: Hi Cat! Thanks so much for inviting me to visit. I’m great! My part of the world in Ontario, Canada is still in the thick of winter with lots of snow and temperatures below freezing. No sign of spring quite yet.
Cat: How long have you been writing?
Linda: I’ve been writing for about six years.
Cat: Do you have another job or write full-time?
Linda: I’m a physician and work part-time at an Urgent Care Centre. Eventually I’d like to write full-time but I’m not quite there yet.
Cat: Tell us a little about your schedule.
Linda: On my favorite days, I write from 8:30 a.m. until about 2 p.m., and then I’ll take a break and cycle, swim, or cross-country ski, depending on the weather, and head to Zumba in the evening. Two days a week, I’ve arranged my work schedule around writing (:D) and head into work at 4 p.m. I also work one morning a week and use the afternoon to work on the marketing and promotion for my books. I write blog posts, and I’ll schedule posts to social media. Writing days are protected time and I try very hard not to book any appointments, meetings, or repairmen visits.
Cat: Do you have a publisher or self-publish?
Linda: I published my first two books with Soul Mate Publishing, a small press based in New York. I learned a lot from them and still enjoy the camaraderie of the “Soulies” – the group of SMP authors. Shortly after I published my second book, I attended a Romance Writers of America conference, which was abuzz with self-publishing success stories. Self-publishing was becoming more accepted and mainstream, and I loved the idea of having a final say in cover design, the choice of release dates, and even the freedom to pick who would edit my book. The responsibility is exhilarating and just a tiny bit scary at the same time.
Cat: How did you decide on this publisher and how many rejections did you get before getting accepted?
Linda: I was lucky with my first published story – I submitted it to 5 publishers, and Soul Mate Publishing was the first to request a full manuscript and ultimately a publishing contract. I liked the terms of the contract – it was for 6 years, I retained foreign, movie, and audio rights, and they published e-book and print versions. There is nothing quite like holding your own book in your hands!
Cat: Do you ever just feel like giving up? If so why?
Linda: Yes I do! Sometimes the pressure to market and promote my books gets to me or I get bogged down with other commitments. But when I don’t write, I miss it. I miss the challenge and being able to escape into my imagination for fun. When I get discouraged, I try to focus on the pleasure I get from the art of writing and try not to worry quite so much about the business side of things.
Cat: What book do you have coming out now?
Linda: I just released Time for the Doctor: A Copper Mills Novella. I joined a group of nine other romance authors and we each wrote a romance set in small town Copper Mills, set in the heart of Arizona. Lots of love and laughter…and really cute doctors!
Title: Time for the Doctor: A Copper Mills Novella
Author: Linda O’Connor
Publisher: Interlock Publishing
Cover designer: DCT Cover Art
Editor: Jenny Govier
Genre: Medical Romantic Comedy
Pages 143
Come visit Copper Mills, Arizona – a small town with a heart as big as the wide-open spaces and a history of making dreams come true.
Dr. Tash Bannon, the only internist at Copper Mills General Hospital, is a workaholic. After a couple of patient complaints, the board of directors realizes Tash needs a break and “suggests” he take a three-month vacation.
Dr. Melissa Sinclair is a single mom, and her adopted son comes first in her life. She’s used to the hustle of a big city hospital but takes the job to cover for Tash hoping to expose her son to his Hopi ancestry during their time in Copper Mills.
Tash resents having to take time off – and has an even harder time staying away now that Melissa is around. Now he just has to decide which is more important: his job or Melissa?
Make time for the doctor…especially if she’s the love of your life.
Excerpt (PG-16)
He knew this town and every single person in it. There was a lot more to medicine than just treating their illnesses. For that reason alone, he, and not some random outsider, should be the one sitting behind the desk in his office.
He strode down the hall. First things first.
The door to his office was wide open. He gave a perfunctory knock and stepped inside. She’d angled the desk in the center of the room. And moved the clock.
“Can I help you?” Melissa looked at him with raised eyebrows.
He rocked back on his heels. Defiance made the green of her eyes sparkle. He swallowed the comment about the clock. Make peace. “Good morning.” Her hair was a rich chestnut, the color of fine whiskey. She had it pulled up into some kind of fancy twist. It would have been intimidatingly sophisticated except for the one curl that had escaped at the nape of her neck. The hint of whimsy was intriguing.
“Good morning?” She tilted her head and looked at him with raised eyebrows.
“How’s it going?”
“Fine.”
She leaned back in her chair and folded her arms across her chest. Her body language said it all: he wasn’t welcome. So, she had a chip on her shoulder. He could work around it. “I thought I’d drop by and offer my expertise in case you were looking for advice about any of the patients. I figured you might need a hand…”
Surprise flickered in her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself. She pressed her lips together and looked at him with narrowed eyes. After a minute of uncomfortable silence, she leaned forward. “Actually, there is one thing you could help me with. The leg of that chair,” – she pointed to one of the chairs in front of her desk – “is broken. I was told to take it to the receiving bay, and they’d arranged to have it repaired. If you wouldn’t mind dropping it off, that’d be super helpful.”
Tash rocked back on his heels. “Of course.” He hadn’t come to deal with the furniture. “I heard that Lorne Henstock was admitted to the hospital a couple of days ago. He’s–”
She raised her hand. “I’m sorry. To protect patient confidentiality, I really can’t discuss individual patients with you.”
“That’s ridiculous. I’ve known these people a lot longer than you have. It’s nothing they wouldn’t share with someone on the street.”
“If they choose to share information about their health, that’s one thing. It’s another thing entirely for me to speak about it.”
“Even if it would make you a better doctor?”
Her eyes glinted. “I’m sure your carefully documented notes have all the information I need. Now if you don’t mind, I have to get back to work.”
Tash grit his teeth. “Of course.” He set a small burlap bag on her desk. “I brought a welcoming gift. It’s a bear katsina. The bear katsina has great strength that’s used to cure the sick.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind,” she said stiffly.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “You’re welcome. I’ll leave you to it, then.” He turned on his heel.
“The chair?”
Without a word he walked over and picked up the chair. “Glad to be of service.” The sarcasm was probably lost on her.
Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JLKJK3F
For the rest of March you can grab it for only 99 cents.
Meet Linda
Award-winning author Linda O’Connor started writing romantic comedies when she needed a creative outlet other than subtly rearranging the displays at a local home décor store. Her books have enjoyed bestseller status. When not writing, she’s a physician at an Urgent Care Clinic. She shares her medical knowledge in fast-paced, well-written, sexy romances – with an unexpected twist. Her favourite prescription to write? Laugh every day. Love every minute.
You can stalk Linda
Website: http://www.lindaoconnor.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaOConnorAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaOConnor98
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Linda-OConnor/e/B00S7CNLEA
Linda’s Backlist:
The Perfectly Series: Perfectly Honest, Perfectly Reasonable, Perfectly Planned, Perfectly Unpredictable, Perfectly Christmas, Perfectly Together
In the Game Hockey Romance: Between the Pipes, Behind the Bench, Beyond the Face-Off, Before the Whistle
3 responses to “The best prescription is laughter. Just ask the Dr. #romcom #medical #smalltownromance #awriterslife”
Thanks so much for hosting me! I’m so happy to stop by for a visit.
It was nice having you.
Loved that excerpt! I enjoyed his perception of her.