CHARACTER BLOWOUT. Caroline Clemmons', HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Chance to WIN!!!

Welcome! We’ve arrived once more at A Writer’s Mind, End of Week Character Blowout. For those of you unfamiliar, this particular blog event is sort of like The Newlywed Game. On Thursdays, I invite over the heroine from some of your favorite tales. On Friday, the hero. It’s all about seeing how well they really know one another when asked the same questions.

Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over Courtney Madison from Caroline Clemmons’, HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Caroline joined me last week for A Writer’s Mind, Monday Covers It feature to chat a bit about the ‘story’ behind the cover for HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME. Click HERE to check it out.

CONTEST! One lucky commenter will win an Ecopy of HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME! Those who commented on Caroline’s Monday Covers it feature are also in the race.

Before I begin the interview, let’s learn a bit about this fabulous book…

Two million dollars? What a fortune to inherit! Coutney Madison has battled poverty her entire twenty-five years but is determined to make a safe and happy home for her teenaged brother after the death of their mom. She thinks her inheritance in West Texas is the answer to her prayers--but Courtney's problems are definitely not over yet.

Derek Corrigan suspects the worst of his new neighbor and vows to fight his attraction for her. He knows what women do to him--they always leave and take chunks of his heart with them. He's been there, done that, had the vaccination and is cured. Isn't he?

Time for the interview!

SKY: Tell us a little bit about you, Courtney.

COURTNEY: I’m twenty-five and grew up in Dallas, Texas. My dad died was a policeman. My mom had two miscarriages before my brother Jimmy was born, and we were so happy when he arrived when I was ten. When Jimmy was only an infant, my dad stopped to help a motorist change a tire, and a drunk driver hit him. Dad and the woman he stopped to help were killed. My mom had never worked and didn’t even know how to balance a checkbook. She went to work in the school cafeteria, and I sort of took over the finances. Then, when I was starting high school, she was diagnosed with ALS and became increasingly ill and difficult. Poor Jimmy hardly remembers the wonderful Mom she was before Dad died and before she became ill. I worked part-time in high school for an independent book store in downtown Dallas, and eventually became the store’s manager.

SKY: Remembering the moment you first laid eyes on Derek, what thoughts come to mind?

COURTNEY: Dear heavens! He was the handsomest man I’d ever seen. His cobalt eyes and dark hair, his height and regal bearing--a prince couldn’t have looked more impressive. He wore a western cut dark gray suit and carried a light gray Stetson. Honestly, people stare at him he’s so handsome. And I was in such a hurry I ran right into him. What a horrid first impression of me he must have had.

SKY: He has one trait you adored from the start. What is it? You know without doubt he appreciates one of your traits. Share what you think that is.

COURTNEY: His eyes. Oh yes, you mean a trait, but you shouldn’t have made me think about his eyes. They are this amazing shade of blue and they twinkle when he’s mischievous. Of course, they also ignite sparks when he’s angry. Sigh, where was I? Oh, yes, you want a trait. Right away I noticed he’s an amazing father and had been a wonderful son to his adopted father, the man who left me my fortune.

What he seems to like about me is that I always get nervous around him and do odd things. Drat! I always do something outrageous when he’s around and embarrass myself something awful. It’s as if just looking at Derek subtracts IQ points from my brain.

SKY: He has one trait you’d change if you could. What is it? Oh yeah, there’s a trait you know he’d change about you…fess up!

COURTNEY: If I could change one thing about him, it would be to make him more trusting and realize what a wonderful and lovable man he is. Sigh. I told you how he’s the best father ever, but I didn’t mention how much he helps people in the Sweet Springs community. Everyone admires him. I mean everyone!

About me, well, he’d probably like it if I weren’t so impulsive. He thinks things through very slowly and analytically, you know? I do analyze, but not slowly, then tend to jump in.

SKY: Ah, love is in the air. What is the single most romantic thing he’s done for you?

COURTNEY: So many things, but the first thing was, Derek took me to Dallas when he went on business. Oh, I should add he also took his children and my brother, and that my brother and I stayed in one suite while he and his children stayed in another. But he took me to a lovely dinner atop Reunion Tower and then sightseeing the next day. Sigh. I’d lived in Dallas all my life, but had never seen the places we went--except the natural science museum. I couldn’t believe the luxury of the hotel or the restaurant. Secretly, I pretended that we were married and the kids were ours. But something so embarrassing happened at the restaurant. You know it revolves, don’t you? Yes, the entire restaurant moves slowly around so diners see the entire city by the time they’ve finished their meal. Oh, I can’t even talk about my “event,” as Derek calls it. He says I’m “event prone” and he’s right.

SKY: He has a feature that draws your eye every time. Care to share? His eye constantly roams to a particular part of your person. Tell, tell!

COURTNEY: I can’t keep from looking at his eyes, did I mention that he has gorgeous cobalt blue eyes? Sigh. He also has the most kissable mouth of any man in the world. I mean the world! Totally! So, I guess I’d better say his face, so that I can use his eyes and mouth. He is so handsome, and he’s interested in ME. Really, I have to pinch myself sometimes to believe I’m so lucky.

SKY: How do you think Derek would answer the following… Our favorite thing to do together is…?

COURTNEY: Just spending time together. Whatever we do is better if we’re together. We try not to overdo leaving the kids, but Jimmy babysits Meg and Warren whenever we ask. Most times the five of us go places together, though.

SKY: You and Derek just don’t see eye to eye on what issue?

COURTNEY: Well, at first, it was me coming to West Texas. Derek thought I should just sell out to him for all cash, but I desperately needed a reason to get Jimmy away from his awful new friends who encouraged him to cut classes--and who knows what else? Besides, Sam Warren left me the estate because he wanted me to live there. In exchange for two million, the least I could do was go along with Sam’s wishes.

SKY: He said one thing to you that you’ll never forget. What was it?

COURTNEY: Before he even said he was attracted to me, he said I was a good businesswoman. You have no idea how much that meant, and still means, to me.

SKY: Courtney, it was great having you over today. Can’t wait to chat with Derek tomorrow!

Caroline's Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Blogspot  (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)

Team blogs http://sweetheartsofthewest.blogspot.com/ on the26th

http://slipintosomethingvictorian.wordpress.com/ on the 20th

http://seducedbyhistory.blogspot.com/ on the 7th

Contact address: caroline@carolineclemmons.com

Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win an Ecopy of HOME SWEET TEXAS HOME! Be sure to join as tomorrow as I welcome Derek Corrigan to A Writer’s Mind, End of Week Character Blowout.

Cheers,

~Sky