Author Spotlight-Josie Malone

A Woman’s Place

Trailing a serial killer, Homicide Detective Beth Chambers is thrust into 1888 Washington Territory where she encounters injured Rad Morgan, a ruggedly handsome marshal who believes A Woman’s Place is behind her man. Now, Beth must save Rad’s life, apprehend the killer, and prove herself capable as a law officer. Former soldier and survivor of Andersonville Prison Camp, Marshal Rad Morgan faces his toughest challenge in Beth Chambers, a determined woman from the future who’s never learned “her place.”  But when he is shot and left for dead, he must put himself in Beth’s hands if they both want to survive. Can these two headstrong people put their pride aside and work together to find the deadly killer and stop him before he destroys this world and their future?  As they fight for justice, love helps them discover A Woman’s Place is what and where she chooses to make it.

I see you write Western with elements of time travel and magic. This is a unique concept to me. What inspired you to give your Westerns that special twist? And was it easier or harder to sell to agents and editors?

Hi Ashlyn,

Thanks for featuring me this month.  I’m delighted to be here.  I write the kind of books I like to read and the magic just seems to fit into my stories. My first book, A Man’s World was a traditional mainstream Western – well sort of – it was about a woman who masqueraded as a man in the old West. My next book was about a divorced mom with two kids determined to replace their dad with a “real” one so The Daddy Spell evolved from there. My most recent release, A Woman’s Place actually linked both books. The heroine travels back to 1888 and discovers she has a Goddess-given “talent” for healing.

I don’t have an agent yet – but my editors at BookStrand like my stories – so I keep on writing from the heart. I will admit it took a long time for my books to find the right home, but they did so I’m glad that I never gave up on them.

You’re a substitute teacher and an instructor on your ranch. Why teaching? What memories made you laugh? Cry?

I’ve wanted to be a teacher since I was a child and learned to read at the age of 4. Everyone should follow their passion and for me, it’s sharing what I know whether it’s in a traditional classroom or the riding arena, even now, almost 50 years later. Snarky teens make me laugh – I love their confidence. Things that make me cry – sad movies, puppy commercials, losing my four-legged friends as they pass over the Rainbow Bridge – and watching my “snarky teens” grow up and become adults.

What advice would you give a new writer wanting to break into the publishing world?

Don’t quit! Everybody knows a ton of clichés on the subject from “You’re never given a dream, without being given the power to make it come true,” to “Write from the heart if you want it to work.” Okay, the last one is mine – I think I tweaked it from a country song. However, I really believe it.  There are so many options now for writers and much fewer limits. If you are determined to be a writer, then write. Study your craft and rewrite. Do your best and you will sell as long as you don’t quit!

If you could live in any other time besides the 1800s and on a ranch, what would it be?

Probably the 1960’s to 1970’s – that’s when I grew up and it was an exciting time with so many changes. But, I’d be on a ranch and there would be horses, dogs, cats and other critters.

What will readers absolutely love about your books?

The characters. When I go to the local butcher shop, the owner still wants to know when my next book will be out. The fact that I have to write it annoys her because it takes me so long – she can read it in days and she raves about the kids in The Daddy Spell. I had to promise her that they are still up to their “magic” tricks in my next book, The Hero Spell when they decide to find the new manager of the pony farm a “hero” of her own because she is one in her own right.

Where can readers find out more about you?

On my website, www.josiemalone.com

Thank you, Josie, for visiting!