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Friday, February 5, 2010

GetToKnowTheBook: 'Single Status' by Author Linda Swift


Single Status is a book that had a difficult "birth." It remained in my head for almost ten years. I had discussed the idea with my agent and he discouraged it as not believable. But with an inside knowledge of how big companies worked, I felt the story could have happened so I never gave it up. I worked on other manuscripts in the years that followed but wasn't able to place them. So while living in Northern England one winter, I began to write this book. My study overlooked the muddy, turbulent River Humber, the days were short and the weather was bleak. What better time to write of a tropical island with balmy days, a calm blue-green sea, and warm sunshine?

The story flowed quickly except for the technical details of power plant operation but my husband was home every evening to talk me through that. He also gave me pointers on a golf match since I'm not a golfer myself. When we came back to the States, I submitted the book a few places but it was rejected and I began to think my agent who had vetoed it was probably right. Then I began to research ebook markets and this book was one of the first that I submitted. Almost immediately, I received a letter of acceptance from an editor who said she was snowbound in her office. I think the setting of this book surely held great appeal for her.

This publisher requested that we select our own cover artists. When I contacted one whose work I liked, she was able to create a perfect cover almost overnight. And in the process, we discovered that we had met in the Dallas airport years earlier when we both were en route from an RWA conference and were stranded by engine trouble. Before the book could be released, another publisher bought the one I'd contracted with and this required a new book cover. Then through a mix-up, the original cover was used with the first books released. So to explain the confusion for readers who try to order the book, I have used both covers on my web site Books Page.

Single Status was my first ebook to be accepted but two others with another publisher were released before it became available in December. And I'm expecting release of the print book at any time. Meanwhile, I have a video of the book which you can see at the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu1T2jQt31U

I hope you'll enjoy reading B.J's and Dana's story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Here is a brief glimpse of what their story is about.

B.J. is a woman with a mission--to show that she can handle a start-up engineer's job as well as any man. Then maybe she can prove to her ex that she is not the helpless wife he left for another woman. Dana is a man grieving the deaths of his wife and young son in a terrorist plane crash. Through a mix-up at stateside headquarters, they are forced to share a villa in the single status job in St. Croix. B.J. is the scapegoat when things go wrong at work and Dana becomes her reluctant defender when he is not defending himself against her unjust conclusions about him. Despite their attempts to prove otherwise, the powerful attraction between them grows. B.J. is blamed for a bad accident at

the plant and her job is on the line. When Dana is almost killed trying to find the real culprit, will B.J. finally admit that the love they have found together is the most important thing of all?

www.lindaswift.net
Author, Women's Fiction & Romance

17 comments:

  1. Good morning, Suzannah. Thank you for having me as a guest at Romance Alley today. I hope you are not snowed in, wherever you are. It's chilly here on the Gulf Coast today but I'm not complaining. I could be snowbound! I'll be checking back to respond to any reader comments as the day goes on. Traffic may be slow due to weather problems and Super Bowl Sunday activities. But I'm hoping to meet new friends today.

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  2. PS. And I'm always happy to see old friends who stop by. I appreciate the wonderful support they give me. That's the best thing about being an internet author.

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  3. Hi Linda!
    You are always welcome. We got lots of snow too :(

    Be safe,and enjoy your day!

    Suzannah Safi

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  4. LINDA--since I've read your wonderful winning book, I especially enjoyed the tale of its conception and birth. Isn't it lovely, when the story "behind the story" is just as interesting--well, almost. I listen to a morning radio show, Bucky and Bob--Country Western, but the part I listen to is old songs and their backgrounds--"the story behind the song." It's my favorite part. So, your post here was right UP MY ALLEY! Oh, this is Romance Alley, isn't it? Wonderful! Good luck with tons of sales--your friend and fan--Celia

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  5. Always like to read your posts and interviews and especially how the characters and settings originated. You do great research to build authentic characters and situations that draw readers into the story from beginning to end. That's a successful writer in my opinion!

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  6. Hi Celia. Wait till I tell my husband you are a country-western fan. He jams with C-W pickers two or three times a week when we're in Kentucky. And my son-in-law is doing a documentary movie right now on Hank Cochran who wrote for Willie and Patsy and just about everbody that is anybody in Country. Well, one more thing we have in common here, dear friend.

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  7. Thanks for stopping by, Kaye. I can always count on you for support. Enjoy your Super Bowl Sunday evening. Any snow in Nashville?

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  8. Hi Linda,
    Sounds like another one of your great stories. It is interesting to read the history behind a story. Being an Aussie, I don't understand the Super Bowl bit, and it is very hot here. You can send a bit of snow and some cold weather my way if you like, it would be gratefully received.

    Cheers
    Margaret

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  9. Great story and the covers were beautiful--I've seen them both. It's interesting how you didn't give up on this story in the long run--and having your husband help you with the details was smart of you and sweet of him! My husband is an air traffic controller and I don't know if I've have the patience to explain all the details of what he does to me! I think tropical stories work well for any romance lover--who doesn't want to get away? Wishing you lots of sales!

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  10. Hi Linda,
    Always enjoy your posts! You're such an interesting person/writer! I really like your cover posted here. I think you mentioned some cover confusion. If I remember the other cover correctly, I like this one over the other.

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  11. Hi Margaret. I think it's summer in your world right now, isn't it? And normally, we'd be much warmer in Florida where we are but this winter has had weird weather so far. Is it humid where you are? Our KY and FL summers are both so humid you feel as if it's raining sometimes. As for the Super Bowl, I don't understand it either. But it has become almost a national holiday like Thanksgiving and Fourth of July. Any excuse to party, I suppose. Thanks for stopping by and good luck with books.

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  12. Hi Danielle,
    Thanks for your nice comments about the book and covers. And I think you really should write a book involving your husband's job. It could be a great "white-knuckle story" I imagine with all the stressful situations that work involves. And I agree all of us who love romance can visualize the tropical setting as a good background for love.

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  13. Hi Ellen, thanks for you sweet comments. And for giving your input on the book covers. It's always good to get opinions on that. We go back a long way, don't we? And I look forward to seeing you again soon.

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  14. Linda, what a gorgeous book trailer! It made me desperate for a tropical vacation. =)

    This sounds like a perfect read for frosty February.

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  15. Linda, your book sounds very interesting. Love the cover. The background on your book idea, goes to show that we should never give up. Good luck with it.

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  16. Hi Lainey,
    Thank you so much for your kind comments about my book trailer. My son-in-law made it for me. And the power plant photos were taken by my husband at a plant where he worked. Of course, the plant was in Oswego, NY so I had to choose carefully as some of them had visible snow and the plant in this story was in St. Croix! I'll pass along your compliments to my S-I-L and my husband. They'll be thrilled

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  17. Hello Zequeatta, (I love your name) And yes, I had hoped to inspire a few writers to keep on keeping on when they get discouraged. It really takes "lunatic persistence" as a writing teacher I had once told his class, to be a published writer. A rejection only means you haven't found the right niche for your work. Thanks for stopping by and good luck to you, too.

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