Susan Page Davis and Free Books!

In the far north, a grandmother finds herself chasing polar bears and falling in love.

Before we revisit with today's novelist, I'd like to announce that the winner of the drawing for Pearl Girls is:

debracollins@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right in order to participate in future book give-aways!

And now let's chat with novelist Susan Page Davis, author of Polar Opposites (Barbour Publishing, late April 2010).

Susan Page Davis is the author of 30 novels, mostly in historical romance, mystery, and romantic suspense. She's a Maine native and the mother of six (all home-educated) and grandmother of six adorable children. She spent many years as a news correspondent and started writing fiction in 1999. Her husband Jim is a recently retired news editor, now freelance editing books.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Polar Opposites.

Cheryl Holland is the receptionist at her son-in-law Rick's veterinary practice in Wasilla, Alaska. When Rick invites his grad school roommate to join him, Cheryl expects a young man Rick's age. To her surprise, the man she meets at the airport is in his 50s, and very charming. But she can't see herself becoming attached to Oz Thormond. He's a sophisticated cosmopolitan who does scientific research. She's a country woman who fixes her own car and takes care of her aging father-in-law.

They're polar opposites. It takes a trip into the Arctic Circle, where she helps Oz do research on wild polar bears, to open Cheryl's eyes to potential romance.

Which character in your novel most interested you while you wrote?

I loved writing about a heroine in my own age bracket. Cheryl has to overcome some preconceived notions, a bad case of low self-esteem, and the fear of losing a loved one that she's had since her husband's death in a plane crash. The Lord brings her through all of that, into a wonderful new stage of her life.

Why will readers enjoy your novel?

It's got cute polar bear cubs, a feisty heroine in her 50s, a little danger, and a dashing hero. What more could you ask?

This month we're looking at opening lines. What are the first lines (or the first line, if you prefer) of your novel? What did you hope to convey with those opening lines?

Cheryl Holland left her car in short-term parking at the Anchorage airport and hurried toward the terminal, zipping her jacket. Late October winds held a biting promise of snow.

I hope this will transport the reader to Alaska right off the bat.

I'm shivering already, Susan.

What is the last book you read that moved you?

I just re-read Anne of Green Gables, and I cried again. Yes, it's an old fashioned, sentimental tale, but it's good writing and a wonderful story.

What are you working on now?

I just finished the rough draft of a western romance--the third in my series called The Ladies' Shooting Club. Now I'm writing a contemporary mystery called Pieces of the Past. It will be the sixth book in the Patchwork Mysteries series from Guideposts.

Where else can readers find you or your writing online? 

Visit either my Website at www.susanpagedavis.com or my author page on Amazon to see all my books. Some of my books are also found on www.christianbook.com

Polar Opposites will go out to members of the Heartsong Presents Book Club in April and May, and to the general public in about six months. But after release it can be ordered directly from the publisher at 1-800-847-8270 for shipping in late May.

Thanks, Susan, for visiting with us and telling us about Polar Opposites. Readers, Susan has offered to give a copy of her novel to the winner of our drawing on Monday, April 5. To enter, leave a comment for Susan, below. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Check out my interviews with Louise Gouge and Virginia Smith below, and leave a comment under their interviews to be entered in drawings for signed copies of their novels.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.