A multi-published author and former RWA President, Jill Limber’s latest books are Montana Morning, A Heart That Dares and The Right Track. As a child, some of Jill’s tales got her in trouble, but now she gets paid for them. Residing in San Diego with her husband and a trio of dogs and one very ancient cat, Jill’s favorite pastime is to gather friends and family for good food, conversation and plenty of laughter.
You can visit her website at www.JillLimber.com.
About A Heart That Dares
Amanda Giles, an unconventional and free-spirited young artist, has to fulfill a deathbed promise to her brother before she can take up her life as a Bohemian in New York. She finds herself swept up in the perilous life of an undercover espionage agent for the Army of the North with handsome young Army Captain. Daniel McGrath. Daniel knows his preoccupation with the woman posing as his wife puts them both in grave danger, but he finds Amanda has no intention of abandoning their mission. As the danger increases, Daniel’s most vital objective is to secure a future for himself and the woman he loves.
Q: Thank you for this interview, Jill. Can you tell us what your latest book,A Heart That Dares, is all about?
Amanda Giles, an unconventional and free-spirited young artist, has to fulfill a deathbed promise to her brother before she can take up her life as a Bohemian in New York. She finds herself swept up in the perilous life of an undercover espionage agent for the Army of the North with handsome young Army Captain. Daniel McGrath. Daniel knows his preoccupation with the woman posing as his wife puts them both in grave danger, but he finds Amanda has no intention of abandoning their mission. As the danger increases, Daniel’s most vital objective is to secure a future for himself and the woman he loves.
Q: Can you tell us a little about your main and supporting characters?
The main character, Amanda Giles, is a woman ahead of her time. Her plans to work as an artist are interrupted when she is swept up in the American Civil War. She feisty and stubborn and independent. The hero, Daniel McGrath, reluctantly follows orders and works with Amanda, even though he is convinced a spy mission into enemy territory is no place for a gently bred woman. He is strong and steady, where she is impulsive and rash, a perfect match of opposites. The main minor character, a brave run-away slave women named Sylvie and her two children need to be rescued, and Amanda jumps right in.
Q: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?
Totally from imagination. I sometimes use personality traits from people I know, but the characters are totally made up.
Q: Are you consciously aware of the plot before you begin a novel, or do you discover it as you write?
Definitely, I’m a plotter. I need the structure of a plot to develop a story properly and keep it on track.
Q: Your book is set during the Civil War in various locations in the Confederate States. Can you tell us why you chose these cities?
For the plot of this book, the two characters needed to travel, and their adventures take them all over the South. I did a lot of research into where the armies were moving, and chose the cities that way.
Q: Does the setting play a major part in the development of your story?
Absolutely. I feel as if the setting was actually almost like another character in the book, totally necessary to the plot.
Q: Open the book to page 69. What is happening?
Amanda has been wounded by Rebel raiders and Daniel is racing to get her back to camp and to the doctor before she loses too much blood.
Q: Can you give us one of your best excerpts?
Sure. I always love the first kiss scene in any book.
“What do you mean, I don’t know how to kiss? How dare you?” Amanda sputtered, twisting away from him.
Daniel tightened his grip. “I mean you don’t know how to kiss the way a husband would kiss you. The way a lover would kiss you.”
Amanda glared at him. His eyes flashed back at her. Then in one swift movement he pulled her hard up against his chest, one arm circling her waist. He tilted her head back and slowly lowered his mouth to hers, staring directly into her eyes.
Amanda swallowed and tried to speak, but for the life of her she didn’t know what she would say even if she could find her voice.
Finally Daniel touched his lips, warm and firm, to hers and Amanda closed her eyes, savoring the feeling. She felt the strength leaving her tingling body and she leaned into Daniel for support.
He licked her upper lip with the tip of his tongue, then gently nibbled on the lower one. She gasped at the sensation, and when her lips parted, he ran his tongue inside her mouth.
Amanda found she couldn’t trust her legs and she swayed. When Daniel pulled away from her, she opened her eyes, but had trouble focusing.
His voice husky, Daniel murmured, “Goodnight Amanda.”
“Goodnight, Daniel,” she whispered as the door closed behind him.
He was right, she thought. She never had really kissed anyone else before.
Q: Have you suffered from writer’s block and what do you do to get back on track?
No, thankfully. I love to write and because I plot first, the story seems to come easily.
Q: What would you do with an extra hour today if you could do anything you wanted?
I’d do more writing. I find writing is the best part of my day.
Q: Which already published book do you wish that you had written and why?
This is a tough question. I suppose if I had to choose, I would say any of the Harry Potter books. Who wouldn’t want the royalties from that?
Q: What kind of advice would you give other fiction authors regarding getting their books out there?
Spend as much time as you can promoting. It is not what comes easily to most writers, but it is so important if you want to sell your work.
Q: Thank you so much for this interview, Jill. We wish you much success!
As The Pages Turn 