with Margaret Daley

Welcome to the Barn Door Book Loft, Margaret!
People talk about life before children—what was your life before writing?
That was so long ago I don’t remember it well. I was just teaching rather than teaching and writing. I didn’t have my son yet so I had more time. I read more than I do now. But otherwise it has been basically the same--just more busy now. Even though I have retired recently from teaching, I have four granddaughters and I’m president of American Christian Fiction Writers.

What book have you recently enjoyed reading?
I read two books recently for endorsements and really enjoyed both of them. They were Shadowed in Silk by Christine Lindsay and Wolves Among Us by Ginger Garrett. I also highly recommend Vickie McDonough’s new book, Finally a Bride.

Which character in your new release most interested you while you wrote?
Cara Madison is a bodyguard who is on the edge of burnout. She is dealing with a lot of baggage and doesn’t know what she wants to do with the rest of her life. She is a strong woman who is flawed and hurting.

If you were a dessert, what would you be?
I love this dessert--light and not as fattening as some.
Angel Lush with Pineapple

This is my recipe for spring although I’ve had it at other times during the year. It’s delicious and easy to fix.

1 package (4-serving size) Jell-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding and
Pie Filling
1 can (20 oz.) Dole Crushed Pineapples in juice, undrained
1 cup thawed Cool Whip Whipped Topping
1 package (10 oz.) prepared round angel food cake
10 small strawberries (I used other fruit, too)

Mix dry pudding mix and pineapple with juice in a medium bowl. Gently stir in whipped topping. Cut cake horizontally into 3 layers. Place bottom cake layer, cut side up, on serving plate. Spread 1 1/3 cups of the pudding mixture onto cake layer, cover with middle cake layer. Spread 1 cup of the pudding mixture onto middle cake layer; top with remaining cake layer. Spread the remaining pudding mixture. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or until ready to serve. Makes 10 servings.
*This is a recipe from Kraft Foods.

If you were to find a purple polka-dotted monster in your kitchen one morning, how would you respond?
I would probably laugh, decide I was dreaming and go with it.

What's one of your dreaded things to do?
Getting up in front of a crowd to make a speech.

Are there spiritual themes you like to write about?
I often write about forgiveness and giving control over to the Lord.

What is the Lord teaching you, or recently taught you?
Giving control over to the Lord and not to worry about everything.

When is your next book due out and can you tell us about it?
I have a third book in the Guardians, Inc. series from Love Inspired Suspense out in September. Here's the blurb for Hidden in the Everglades:

Bodyguarding is Kyra Morgan’s business--but this was supposed to be a vacation. Still, she can’t refuse the request from childhood friend and neighbor Michael Hunt. Michael’s sister Amy ran away after witnessing a murder. Michael needs Kyra’s help to find her and keep her safe. Yet as Kyra and Michael follow the trail along the Florida coast, their search grows more dangerous by the day. Terrorists are at work, and the stakes are perilously high. It will take everything they have--including trust they’re both reluctant to give--to escape the Everglades alive.

Also I have a historical romance coming out from Summerside Press called From This Day Forward. Here's the blurb:

Rachel Gordon is stranded in South Carolina, pregnant, a recent widow when her husband fell overboard on the voyage to America. Nathan Stuart, a physician who came home from serving in the American army during the War of 1812, disenchanted with his life and the Lord, rescues Rachel and saves her life. Feeling responsible for her, Nathan tries to discourage her from living at a rundown farm her husband bought to start a new future in America. He wants her to return to England.

Rachel refuses to go back to England where her father disowned her for marrying against his wishes. The farm is all she has, and she is determined to make it on her own. But Nathan has other ideas and becomes her farmhand to discourage her from staying in America. Instead he ends up protecting her and being challenged by her. Can two wounded people heal each other?

Purchase at CBD

Purchase Protecting Her Own at CBD.

Margaret is giving away a copy of Protecting Her Own. To be entered in the book giveaway, leave a comment. You can enter the book giveaway twice--once on each spotlight post.