Welcome to our New Faces column, where we are pleased to introduce some of the debut authors to be found on your local bookshelves. This time we are visiting with Linda Goodnight, whose first book is For Her Child, a Silhouette Romance release.

Linda, welcome to TRR! Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in the small, ethnic town of Prague, Oklahoma, the only girl sandwiched between two ornery brothers. Naturally, I was a tom-boy, but when I climbed trees it was to escape the brothers so I could read in peace. After high school I attended nurses' training and worked as an L.P.N. for a long time. When my children started school I went back to college and graduated with my teaching degree.

Other than my relationship with God, my family is the single most important factor in my life. I've been happily, crazily married to the same talented guy for nearly 28 years. He had three children when I married him, and we added three more, so you can see our old farm house has been a noisy, busy place for a long time. We live in the country near Seminole, Oklahoma, with a host of animals, including a dog that climbs trees and a cat that doesn't.

Are you coming to romance writing from another job?

For several years I taught school by day and worked as a home health care nurse evenings and weekends. Oddly enough, that was when I began actively pursuing my writing dream. Can you believe anyone would be nutty enough to hold two jobs and try to begin another career at the same time? I think the writing must have been my escape from the frantic pace of life with three teenagers and two demanding jobs. Although I'm still teaching elementary school, I gave up nursing and now write in my spare time. Funny though, I think I accomplished more when I was so very busy.

What led you to write romance?

>From the time I was big enough to look at comic books (around the age of 4 or 5), I've been hooked on the magic and power of the written word. Romance grabbed me as early as Veronica and Archie, but I was really hooked in junior high when I began to read Victoria Holt. Since then, romance stories have been my passion and pleasure (along with chocolate, of course.)

Tell us about your road to publication.

In 1995 I joined a small writers' group where everyone was so helpful and encouraging. These wonderful people at PAWS led me to the Oklahoma Writers Federation and to the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America. Within a year I had won several contests and had begun selling "confession" stories to magazines. But the road to publication is littered with rejection letters and contest losses as well. Although I'd submitted three novel manuscripts to various publishers, all had been rejected. (Deservedly so. They were awful.)

In 1999 I attended the RWA National Convention in Chicago as a Golden Heart finalist. While there I heard about a "theme list" for the anthology novellas published by Barbour Books, a Christian publisher. Using that list I developed three proposals, all of which were eventually inculded in novella collections. But I still longed for what RWA considers a "real" publication--a full length book bearing only my name.

Fortunately, at that same conference I met with then Silhouette editor Tina Colombo. When she heard my idea, her eyes lit up and she said, "I'm looking for. . ." She tapped my tip sheet. "Send me a proposal on this." At that moment, I knew that if I'd written it well enough, she would buy it. Nine months later a different Silhouette editor sent a letter asking me to revise and resubmit. Critique partners Libby Banks and SuperRomance author, Darlene Graham (Gardenhire) helped me whip the manscript into shape. Another eight months passed before the "call" finally came offering a contract on FOR HER CHILD, this first book for Silhouette Romance. (Yes, it really does take that long.)

What kind of research was involved for your first book?

There are several real rodeo cowboys in my family so I called on them for accuracy in describing a bull ride. Otherwise, the story pretty much flowed from my surroundings and from the kind of down-home people I've been around all my life.

Who are your influences as a writer?

Oh my, there are many, but when Lavyrle Spencer retired, I went into mourning for days. I own all her books and would love to write with such beauty and integrity. I enjoy Lori Copeland's humorous western historicals, and, of course, I'm partial to all the Oklahoma authors. Probably the single greatest influence, though, has been best selling author Sharon Sala. Sharon is from my hometown. Her success made me realize that we are only limited by our dreams, not by where we come from.

What does your family think of having a romance author in their midst?

They're so proud, God love them. On the day I got "the call" they were ecstatic. By the time I came home from work, they'd prepared a celebration dinner and were calling everyone they knew. The next day, they sent a bouquet of flowers to my classroom. After a few days I realized the flowers were an artificial arrangement that I could keep forever. The beautiful yellow daisies now adorn my coffee table as a reminder that I have one of the most loving and supportive families around. They're great, even if they do think the voices in Mom's head are a little strange.

Tell us about plans for future books.

Nothing is set yet, but I have completed my option book and submitted it to Silhouette. My editor asked me to get started on another Romance for her to look at and also to complete a historical I have in the works because she's interested in that too. We'll see how that all goes.

How can readers get in touch with you?

Hearing from readers absolutely is the best part of this business. My website is at www.lindagoodnight.com and my e-mail is linda@lindagoodnight.com. I love to hear from readers and try to always respond ASAP.

Linda, thank you for joining us, and best of luck with your future releases! Readers, we have a review of For Her Child on our Category page. February 16, 2002