Blog Tour: Hemphill Towers by Leona Pence

Romantic Suspense

Date Published: 10/25/2013

Riley Saunders has her dream job. As an art director at a leading advertising agency, she works every day with her two best friends, Stella and Birdie. All three have been assigned to ensure that the Grand Opening of the Peterson Art Museum is nothing short of a success.

When a girl’s night out at a hot new Italian restaurant ends with a spilled bottle of wine, it sets in motion a series of events that leaves Stella and Birdie caught up in whirlwind romances, and Riley fearing for her life at the hands of a deranged stalker. But, when the handsome museum curator, Trent Peterson, learns of her situation, he vows to keep her safe.

In a quick-paced tale of fine art, wine forgery, and the Russian Mafia, Riley and her friends soon discover their pursuit of love will require them to expose a crime, thwart a murder, and trust the one thing that has never failed them…their friendship.

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INTERVIEW

What is the hardest part of writing your books?
For me, it’s the constant editing and rewrites in preparation for submission. Writing the first draft was easy in comparison. The synopsis and query letters came in as a close second choice.

What songs are most played on your Ipod?

Since I’m deaf, I don’t use an Ipod, but I have memories of so many songs from before I lost my hearing. I hum songs by Elvis, Fats Domino, and Johnny Horton, to name a few.

Do you have critique partners or beta readers?

Yes, I use the Novel Group in Writer’s Village University, and a couple of Mentor friends from F2K.(Fiction for 2000) I could never have submitted my novel without their help.

What book are you reading now?

I just finished two historical romances by H.K. Carlton called The Devil Take You, and You Found Me. Dr Sleep by Stephen King is next on my list. I try to read three books per week.

How did you start your writing career?

My romance novel, Hemphill Towers, started as a joke between me and two online friends. We projected ourselves as career women, described a love interest, and I was to write a short humor story around our ideas. Well, the words just kept flowing, plot twists came in my dreams, and what started as fun between friends became a full-fledged novel. But even then, I had no plans to be published. I sent the novel to family and friends in fifteen installments as I wrote them. God forbid if an installment was late in their inbox. This kept me going when I felt like quitting. I just couldn’t leave them with half a story.

Tell us about your next release.

I am currently writing a second book using some of the characters from Hemphill Towers. I need to set a writing routine to get it completed. I’m not a dedicated writer who is driven to write each day. I have to wait for my muse to pinch me and tell me to get busy.

Leona Pence started reading romance novels as a teen. She graduated from Nancy Drew stories to Harlequin Romance, and then to her favorite author, Barbara Cartland and her vast Regency romance collection. Happy endings were a must.

Leona began writing late in life after the death of her husband of forty-four years. They married on her 19th birthday after a three month courtship – and yes – love at first sight really did happen.

She enjoys reading, writing, online pool, and especially being a Mentor in F2K, a free online writing course.

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