14 Days of Sweet Stories: Pamela's book, "Second Chance Love"

Interview with Pamela S. Meyers, author of Second Chance Love: 

Alexis: Why did you choose a rural location in Illinois for the setting of this story?

Pamela: I’ve attended the Pioneer City Rodeo in Palestine, IL every Labor Day weekend for over ten years and it’s such a fun weekend. It’s about a five-hour drive from Chicago and I needed a rodeo within a day’s drive of the city.

Alexis: Does the entire story happen over one weekend? Explain the time span. 

Pamela: The story happens mostly the week leading up to Labor Day and then moves ahead about a month or so as it wraps up. The actual rodeo event covers Friday through Sunday and the festivities end with a Labor Day parade on Labor Day. To give them more time together than a three-day weekend I have Jace arriving there early to prepare for a rodeo clinic he’s to teach to kids and Syd’s boss sends her down there then to convince him to make the right legal decision. It’s still a fast few days, but they spent time together two years earlier. Jace is Sydney’s boss’ nephew and the boss asked Syd to show him around Chicago while he was in town. They were strongly attracted to each other that one day, but went their separate ways and now, they are suddenly together again.

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s heroine Sydney Knight. Why did you choose Chicago as the place where she hails from? What is it about Sydney that makes her special? What are her hopes and dreams?

Pamela: I live in the northwest burbs of Chicago and know it well. It’s also a city young professionals flock to for work and socializing. Syd has dreams but they have been blunted by the loss of her dad in a horse accident when she was in high school and being dumped by her groom on her wedding day. These setbacks have caused her to shelve her original dreams and become a lawyer like her dad was. She’s determined to keep her focus on advancing in her job, despite the strong attraction she feels with Jace McGowan.

Alexis: Why did you choose that particular rodeo? 

Pamela: You know the adage, “Write what you know.” Because I’ve attended the Pioneer City Rodeo so many times, I’m very familiar with it. But, it’s more than that. Located on the Illinois prairie about five hours south of Chicago, the town of Palestine is like taking a step back in time. Main Street is lined with storefronts that date back to the late 1800s in some cases, and everyone knows everybody else. It’s so small there isn’t even a hotel or motel and visitors to the rodeo must find lodging in nearby Robinson about five miles away. Also, cell phone service is spotty. A perfect setting for a couple who seems to have nothing in common to discover they have more in common than they thought. No distractions.

Alexis: Tell us about your story’s leading man Jace McGowan. Why did you choose Texas as the home of your bull-riding hero? What makes him strong? What makes him weak? What are his life goals?

Pamela: Isn’t Texas where all the cowboys live? LOL. Seriously, I have a lot of friends who are Texans and many bull riders come from Texas and Oklahoma. I wanted him to live on a large ranch and Texas just seemed to fit. Jace is strong in his resolve to keep the family ranch going despite his dad dying a couple years ago and leaving the finances of the ranch in bad shape. He’s always been a strong guy, both physically and mentally, but his newfound faith in Christ has made him strong spiritually in a way that passes physical or mental strength. His greatest weakness is impulsivity, something he has to work on.

Alexis: What was the most challenging aspect of writing this story? Why? 

Pamela: Making my protagonist (the one who needs to change the most) likable at the beginning of the story always challenges me. I was so intent on showing all Syd’s flaws from the get-go that I “forgot” to show her softer side. Part of the problem, too, was that I hadn’t correctly nailed down what was driving her resistance to see where a relationship with Jace would go. Once I had that figured out, everything else fell into place. 

Alexis: What was the most rewarding part of writing this story?

Pamela: Being able to vicariously go to the rodeo I enjoy so much and relive that experience on a daily basis while I was writing was a blast. On a deeper note, seeing my characters deal with their issues, both spiritual and practical, and overcome them. 

Alexis: What was your go-to snack or beverage when writing this book? 

Pamela: Anything chocolate and Diet Coke. Although since writing the story, I’ve been trying to cut back on Diet Coke and I’ve discovered a fruit flavored sparkling water at Aldi’s that I drink more often than the soft drink these days. 

Alexis: If you could spend a weekend with Sydney and Jace, what would you all do together? Why?

Pamela: I would love to travel to Jace’s family ranch and spend a couple days there. Of course, Sydney would have to come with me. Since we both live in the Chicago area, we could fly to San Antonio together and Jace could show us around the ranch, maybe take a trail ride. Then I’d like to go into San Antonio and go to the River Walk I’ve heard so much about. I’ve been to Teas several times but never to San Antonio.

Alexis: Complete this sentence: When I wrote "the end" to this story, I thought _______________________ because _________________________.

Pamela: When I wrote “the end” to this story, I thought it was time for the sequel because Clint and Lacy’s story needs to be told next. I’m working on the plot now!

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Pam! God bless you!

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Author bio: 

A native of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, author Pamela S. Meyers lives in suburban Chicago with her two rescue cats. 

Her novels include Thyme for Love and her historical romance Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Her novella What Lies Ahead is part of a novella collection called The Bucket List Dare, which is now available at Amazon in both print and Kindle formats. 

Second Chance Love from Bling!, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, releases in January 2017. When she isn’t at her laptop writing her latest novel, she can often be found nosing around Wisconsin and other Midwestern spots for new story ideas.

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Blurb for Pamela’s book, Second Chance Love: Chicago lawyer Sydney Knight and Texas bull rider Jace McGowan have nothing in common but everything to lose when they are thrust together during a weekend rodeo in rural Illinois. Neither one of them would have imagined two years ago that the deep attraction they sensed during a day-long outing would resurface when Sydney’s boss assigns her to Jace’s legal case.

Sydney has been through a world of hurt since losing her dad when she was sixteen, then being dumped the morning of her wedding. She’s sworn off romance and instead devotes her time toward a partnership in her father’s law office.

Jace has found faith in God and wants out of his sponsor contract with a risqué restaurant chain that requires him to pose with scantily-clad women. He’s about to bail on the contract and pay steep penalties—something he can ill afford, given that his deceased father left the family with unpaid taxes.

Sydney is determined she’ll get Jace out of his contract and return to Chicago with her heart intact, but Jace is just as determined to help her see they are meant to be together. Can a city girl with roots deep in Chicago and a bull-riding rancher with roots deep in Texas give themselves a second-chance love?

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Buy Pamela's book on Amazon

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Connect with Pamela:
Website - www.pammeyerswrites.com
Blog - www.pamelasuemeyers.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/PamelaSMeyersAuthor/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/pamelameyers

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