What happens when a professional liar finally runs into someone that he actually wants (but is afraid) to tell the truth to? Find out in Counterfeit Cowboy, the newest novel from author Lacy Williams.
Q: WHAT WAS YOUR INSPIRATION DRIVING THE STORY IN COUNTERFEIT COWBOY?
I am a self-admitted research junkie and picked up a book at a library book sale on historical trains. That spurred the idea of “what would happen if two people fell in love while traveling on a long train journey?” and from there, I started thinking of what obstacles they would have, etc. and the story started to develop.
Q: WHEN WRITING FICTION, HOW MUCH DO YOU DRAW ON YOUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES AND PEOPLE YOU KNOW, VERSUS DRAWING ON RESEARCH ABOUT COMPLETE STRANGERS?
I draw on my life experiences for the emotions my characters go through—for example, the joy of first love, the frustrations we go through with family situations, the devastation of loss. But as for the people in my stories, they are totally fictional. Some characteristics are drawn from research if it fits, but usually they are all made up.
Q: IN YOUR NEW NOVEL, WHO IS THE CHARACTER IN THIS STORY WHO SURPRISED YOU MOST?
Pete, the orphan boy that Jesse and Erin meet on the train. He started out rather flat until my critique partners pushed me to make him a better character—and then he just got more and more ornery, and then cynical, until he’d told me his whole story. He pushes Jesse to face the things that haunt him and in the end, they both overcome. He’s a good kid.
Q: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHICH STORY TO WRITE?
Sometimes it is a story that I can’t forget, that won’t let go of me. Sometimes, it is a suggestion from someone else, like my editor. She’s the one who suggested the upcoming series “Wyoming Legacy,” which tells the stories of Jonas White’s (the hero from The Homesteader’s Sweetheart) sons. The first story is Courted by a Cowboy (Sam Castlerock’s story – ebook only, July) and the second is Roping the Wrangler (Oscar White’s story – August), both from Love Inspired Historical. Then Maxwell’s story will release in December 2013. While my editor suggested writing about the boys, it was up to me to develop their stories. Getting to know the boys as they’ve grown into men has been fun.
Q: WHAT DO YOU WANT READERS TO TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK?
In Counterfeit Cowboy, I really hope that readers take away that love can change your life. Not only can the love of a good man or a good woman make you want to be a better person, but God’s love can ultimately change your life into something better than you ever could have imagined.