Meet author Alicia Whittle

The West has always been a fascinating subject for Alicia Whittle’s writing, especially romance. Later in life, she was able to settle in Colorado, which helped inspire her. Cowboys have influenced her since childhood when the TV was full of stories about them. She has enjoyed reading romance since a very young age. Travels with her Air Force husband and later with RVing have also inspired her stories.

Tell us about your newest book.

Madeline Westwood has been widowed for three years. While vacationing in Colorado with her twenty-six-year-old daughter, she literally stumbles into a handsome rancher whose uncanny resemblance to her deceased husband causes her to question her attraction to him. Are her new feelings actually for Clint or echoes of her lost love, and how will she resolve them?

Horseman Clint Remington is intrigued by the woman staying at the ranch where he is stabling his horses. He’s sworn off relationships, but Madeline and the secret she may be harboring prove irresistible. Is two weeks enough time to heal past wounds and find new love in the face of unrelenting truth?

What inspired you to write Dead Ringer Cowboy?

I was watching my husband and wondered if I passed away (sorry if that sounds maudlin) would another woman be attracted to him because he looks like her deceased husband?

How would you describe this book to someone in a 30-second blurb?

A vacationing widow finds her world turned upside down when she encounters her late husband’s double.

What genre do you focus on?

I enjoy romantic westerns stories about cowboys and independent women. I grew up watching TV shows on Saturday mornings with cowboys like Sky King, Cisco Kid, Roy Rogers, and the Lone Ranger. I’ve always been a romantic. I think it’s just in my nature.

Why do you write?

I never thought much about writing although I used it in a different form most of my life in letters to family and friends and spent many years as an administrative assistant (business writing). Not until I took some classes in college later in life did I realize there might be potential to write books when I retired. After praying about it, the Holy Spirit’s nudge kept telling me to write. I want to share encouraging hope mostly to women that there are good men out there.

Who is your main character and how did you choose the name?

The main character for my book was Madeline Westwood. I’m not sure how I stumbled on the name, but it seemed like a woman of that age would be named Madeline. Westwood was a switch of Eastwood, since my stories are out west.

What is your work schedule like when you are writing a book?

I’m not as disciplined as I would like to be, but it seems that my window to write is in the afternoon. I can write for two or more hours straight, with occasional breaks.

What is the hardest part of being an author?

Marketing. When you self-publish a book, you become not only an author, but a publisher and have to know the ins and outs of marketing if you want your book out there for others to read. It takes a chunk of time away from your writing schedule.

What’s the best part of your author’s life?

For me, it’s a form of escaping from stress. I love to get into the characters, setting, and the story line itself. This world has so many negatives going on, that it’s nice to take your mind to a place of hope and happiness.

What’s one unusual fact about you?

I have owned dachshunds most of my life.

How have you changed or grown as a writer?

After about eight years, I think I’ve learned that writing a book is not what I learned in high school English or college courses. It’s a journey of growth. It takes time and support from other authors to write a good book. I believe I’ve come a long way in understanding what makes up a decent manuscript.

What is your favorite pastime?

Two actually: spending time with family whenever possible and reading a good clean western romance.

Do you have other books? We’d love to know.

At this point, I don’t have other books published, however, Dead Ringer Cowboy is the beginning of a series.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on Natalie’s Cowboy.

Website: https://aliciawhittle.com

Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Dead+Ringer+Cowboy&crid=6NW5RK28BNU1

Social media links: Instagram: alicia.r.whittle.author, FB: Alicia Whittle, author