A few years back, I was generously offered the opportunity to read a story- a variation on Pride and Prejudice called Dearest Friends that captivated me. The author behind the story was equally personable and I was glad to know her a little through the venue of social media.

It was a joy to discover that she is venturing into a style of historical romantic suspense that draws me in and leaves me wanting more. The first book of her The Granville Legacy, Surrendering the Past is released and I invited her to stop by for a chat.
So, who am I having by for a visit during our local back to school week? None other than the peerless Pamela Lynne.

Welcome, Pamela! Glad you could stop by.

Hi Sophia! I’m so happy to be here. My husband is giving me tons of grief over that peerless comment. There’s no chance of getting a big head with him around to tease me!
Yeah, they are good for that, aren't they? Haha!

This is the tail end of the frenzied rush of Back to School here in Michigan. How did Back to School go in your household?

Back to school for me was much simpler. All I ever needed was a pencil box, writing utensils, and paper. I have two in school right now and their supply lists are long and specific. Every year we have trouble finding at least one thing and this year was no exception. We moved this summer and as I packed, I organized all the left over school supplies and went through them before we started shopping.
The one thing we could not find this year was a yellow book cover. I had several left over from previous years but none of them yellow. We live in a large suburb of Nashville with four Walmarts, three office supply stores, and countless dollar and drug stores. None of them had a solid yellow book cover! We finally gave up and I ordered one online, paying extra in shipping so it would get here in time. The other day I finally started unpacking all my desk stuff and guess what I found! LOL. The extra yellow book cover is now stored in an easy to remember place to hopefully be used next year. But seriously, every year it’s something. No kidding! I just had a charger turn up after a fruitless frenzy to find it three months ago and after I replaced it, of course.

Thought it would be a good call to offer some sugary restoratives and some hot comfort, all things considered. Care for some fresh baked jam thumbprint cookies, lemon bars, or Rocky Road layer cookies made fresh yesterday? I have some fresh brewed tea with a variety of flavored creamers…
I’m off sugar for the time being but I would love some tea. Ok, maybe just one lemon bar.

Speaking of restoratives and comfort, you just released the first book in a series and are become a veteran at the whole process of seeing a book from an idea all the way to the reader’s hands. What did you first find challenging as a writer? Has that changed now?

What was most challenging was finding the time to write and that has not changed. With three kids and another on the way, it’s almost impossible to find big chunks of time (and energy) in which to write. What I have had to do is adapt my writing style a bit and write more intensely during those times I get to disappear from real life. I write the big scenes and conversations when I’m alone and leave the movement and descriptions (what I call the necessary filler) for when I’m home and surrounded by noise. I give authors who are rearing small children big props for managing it all through the writing process since I know I could not do that.

What do you find helpful to work your way through the challenges of writing and publishing?
Three things: My husband, my fellow authors, and the professionals who polish everything.
I could not do this if my husband did not take over much of the household responsibilities while I’m writing. It gets especially hard toward the end when I pushing hard to finish, but he does it because he knows how much this has come to mean to me.
I learn a lot from other authors both in and outside of my genre. It helps when you are struggling to know that others have, too, and it also helps to see how people have succeeded.
Two very successful authors I look to are Stephen King and Julie Garwood. I read King’s On Writing last year and learned some valuable lessons about writing and publishing, like this is a long haul kind of business. Even the master of terror had to pay his dues. Julie Garwood is one of those authors who has had much success writing across sub-genres—under the same name! I see her and I know it can be done. It might take years and a lot of hard work, but it is not impossible.

Early on I learned that if you want to be a professional you must work with professionals.

I don’t just mean people who have business credentials, but people who behave professionally. It’s not about gossip, in-fighting, or choosing this person or this group or whatever. It’s about the work. I am very fortunate to have people around me who believe that same thing.





Congrats on the recent release. I had the opportunity to read and love Surrendering the Past which introduced the Granvilles and the cast of characters and their story. What led you to write this series?

Oh Sophia! We might need more tea. You’ve probably heard me say before that this started out as JAFF. It was to be my Colonel Fitzwilliam book. I went back and forth several times wondering if it was actually JAFF. I had finally decided that it was only to be confronted by two characters who did not want to be Darcy and Elizabeth. I could make Richard anybody. I could make Jane anybody. But Darcy and Elizabeth are Darcy and Elizabeth and there are places I refuse to take them. And might I insert- wise writer move. Once I let go of them it all fell together. That was the first thing that told me I was going in the right direction. The other was finding out that I am pregnant. We talked earlier about how hard it is to find time to write and my work tends to be long. It is such a blessing that this series came to me when it did. It is one saga, but three separate stories are told within it. Three shorter books work much better with my current situation than one long one. Serendipity, true!

And, out of my own curious musings post-reading, did you deliberately infuse it with gothic tones or was that just me, old-style gothic romance lover that I am, sensing something that isn’t there?

You’re not off, but what you call gothic I call dark. I did not consider it gothic until I read your review but it fits! I think gothic might even be a better fit than suspense, at least with Surrendering the Past. Woohoo, so glad I could help!

Do you like gothic-style stories? If so, do you have a favorite?
I do! I grew up with the southern gothic works and that style has stayed with me, I think. The problem with those books is that there is no romance! So if I had to pick a favorite gothic novel it would have to be Jane Eyre. Bronte manages to get both in there.

But ahem, I got off track there. Back to your book and series. I love a good dastardly villain who has depth and is a worthy antagonist. Did you have a good time bringing Lord Litchfield to life?

I was pretty terrified of writing this guy. I had never written a proper villain before. All my previous antagonists, except for maybe Caroline in Family Portraits, had reasons for doing what they did and were not beyond redemption. Litchfield is just pure evil. I worried that he would come off as a caricature instead of the truly nasty man I needed him to be.

Do you have a favorite literary villain?

Until recently I would have said no. I prefer stories where the characters fight inner struggles and so they are both hero and villain. However, as I expand my scope of reading I have found that antagonists outside of one’s own character can be interesting, too. I really like James Dennis in the Captain Lacey series by Ashley Gardner. He reminds me a little of my own Mr. Gardiner from Dearest Friends—a Regency era gangster who is likely more than he seems.

So many characters in the story face challenges both internal and external. My own favorite was the brooding and conflicted older brother of the hero, Richard Granville. Did any of the characters surprise you and demand something different or more?

Ah Wesley. I just finished a scene with him and I’m feeling a little swoony over him at the moment. That doesn’t surprise me, though. The two who did are Julian and Amy. They were supposed to be my Darcy and Elizabeth but then Julian made a very un-Darcy like confession and that was the end of that. Also, Amy has a certain immaturity that I do not like to see in Elizabeth. I am glad they have developed the way they have, though. They are more charming as original characters I think, and I can explore all the aspects of their personalities rather than being confined to my vision of D&E.

With this being a series, do you know at this point how many books we can expect? Any future release dates yet?

As of now, this will be a three book series. I have an idea for a fourth but it would likely be a companion piece because it does not fit the “past” theme. Book two, Redeeming the Past, will be out early next year with the third book following in early fall.

And I have a cover for that which I filched off Pamela's Facebook page.



Sofa Starters
Stapler or Tape? Stapler because I can never find the tape!
Museum or Park? Both. 😊
Cake or Pie? Cake
Morning Person or Night Owl? Night Owl
Drama or Comedy? Dramedy
Stitches or Shots? Shots are over faster.
Catherine Morland or Anne Elliot? Catherine Morland, though Anne is quite capable.
Science or History? History


I appreciate you dropping by for a chat, Pamela. I know things must be pretty busy for you back home so I’ll let you get on the road with plenty of time to spare. More tea or cookies before you go?
I’m good, thanks. I had a lovely time chatting you, Sophia! Thanks so much for having me over.

You bet, Pamela! And I'll lead our readers with a link to your book trailer on YouTube to whet their appetites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6F2s...

Aaannnd, just before she leaves, Pamela would like our guests to know that she has a giveaway running at her own blog. Drop by, enter, and get cozy. Follow her blog for more time with Pamela: https://pamelalynnewrites.com/blog/

If Pamela is not hanging out here on Goodreads you can find her at:
Twitter: @pamelalynne1
Instagram: pamelalynnewrites
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Pamela-Lynne...
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