Season of Love Blog Party with MaryLu Tyndall!

Welcome to the first day of the "Season of Love Blog Party!" I'm so happy to be one of the hostesses of this week-long celebration of Valentine's Day!

Today author MaryLu Tyndall is helping us start this party off with a bang! Please give her a warm welcome, and read all the way through to see how you can win a copy of her upcoming March 2011 release.

Amber: Thank you so much for joining us today, MaryLu! To start, could you share with us your own love story and how that might have influenced your writing?

MaryLu: Wow, no one has ever asked me that! I found love late in life. Unfortunately, I rushed into marriage at a very young age and had two kids before I even realized that I had married the wrong guy. I wasn’t a Christian then, so my marriage fell apart and I ended up being a single mom for several years. Dating became almost impossible. Believe me, most men out there want nothing to do with a woman who comes with kids! So, I met a lot of losers and started a few relationships that went sour. Finally in my early 30’s, I had almost given up on finding my prince charming. Then I met my husband. He was a Harley-riding scientist at the company where I worked at the time. Tall, handsome, intelligent, successful and romantic. Wow, I fell madly in love within the first few weeks of dating. We married a year later and have been together for almost 20 years. I still get goose bumps when he walks in the front door.

How does my own personal romance influence my writing? Honestly, I don’t think you can write romance unless you’ve experienced true love. You can watch it in movies, read it in books, but unless you’ve felt that tingling in your belly or that hot flush race through you at the sight of him, unless you’ve felt as though your life would end without that person, how can you describe that in a story? Also aside from those wonderful feelings, being married so long has given me a perspective of what real love is about—a love that abides through time, struggles, heartaches, and trials and only comes out stronger.

Amber: Wow! Thank you so much for sharing that with us!

What inspired you to write Christian romance books?

MaryLu: My faith is very important to me, so when I write a story, I don’t want to just entertain people (although I strive to do that, as well), but I want to share the love of God with them. Writing Christian romance gives me a chance to tell the world through the use of story how real and wonderful and awesome God truly is.

Amber: I completely agree!

I have to say, there’s just something about the wide, mysterious sea (and handsome pirates!) that is very romantic. What do you enjoy most about writing seafaring books? Do you think that an exotic setting leads to a more intriguing romance story?

MaryLu: Like you said, there’s something so adventurous, so romantic about the sea! I’ve been obsessed with it since I was a young girl growing up on the beaches of South Florida. I suppose it’s the unknown, the adventure, the risk that draws me. Battles have been fought at sea, new worlds discovered, and men have sailed it for centuries in search of freedom and adventure. I suppose I love to write seafaring stories for all of those reasons. There seems to be no boundaries to the excitement that can happen out at sea. Does an exotic location help create a better story? Not necessarily. You must start with great characters and a great plot. But, an alluring setting can certainly add flavor to a great story like whipped cream on a scrumptious piece of cake.

Amber: Yum! ;) What’s next in your writing career?

MaryLu: I’m in the middle of a series entitled "Surrender to Destiny" about finding God’s destiny for your life. The series is set in Baltimore during the War of 1812. Very exciting stuff! Surrender the Night releases next month, and Surrender the Dawn releases in August. You can find out more information at my website: http://www.mltyndall.com

Next, I’m working on a single title, Veil of Pearls, set in Charleston South Carolina in the early 1800s. The story is about a runaway slave who falls in love with a spoiled son of a plantation owner.

Amber: Can't wait to read more of your books! Now, do you have a favorite Valentine’s Day memory you could tell us about?

MaryLu: Walking, arm in arm with my husband, down the beach in Southern California as we watched the sun set. It’s the simple times that you will remember the most. The quiet moments just enjoying each other’s company.

Amber: *Sigh.* Sounds lovely!

Thank you so much for joining us today, MaryLu, and happy (almost) Valentine's Day to you and and your husband!

Readers, here's your chance to win a copy of Surrender the Night!

Leave a comment for MaryLu along with your e-mail address, and you'll be entered in a drawing for a copy of Surrender the Night. Everyone can enter! The winner will be announced on Monday, February 14th (Valentine's Day!). Once the winner has been determined, I'll pre-order a copy of the book and have it sent to the person once the book releases on March 1, 2011.

Also, if you have a moment and you're interested in some tips for writers, today my first post in a 3-part series is up on "The Borrowed Book" blog. You can check it out HERE!

(Remember that the party continues tomorrow on Renee Ann's blog, Doorkeeper, with a True-life story of love and sacrifice plus Giveaway Trifecta! If you'd like to see the schedule for the rest of the "Season of Love Blog Party," click HERE.)