1. I hear you have a Pet Rescue romance series. Tell us about it.

Yes, I do! This is a sweet series weaving pet rescue and adoption into the love story. Rescue Road is the first novel, about a woman (Rhiann) who moves to Montana from Washington state to set up an animal rescue sanctuary. She meets EMS captain Levi Butler, who claims the land Rhiann purchased belongs to him. Enter another person who desires the property, and you have a bit of drama mixed into the story. The book is available in both paperback and e-book formats on Amazon and other platforms:

Buy Links for Rescue Road:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2W7fpBe

Draft2Digital Universal Link for Barnes & Noble, Kobo, etc.: https://books2read.com/u/4DE9Oe

Rescue Road Blurb: Freelance writer Rhiann Kelly shelved romance for years. Her dream of starting an animal sanctuary takes deep roots after finding the perfect location in southwestern Montana and purchasing the property for back taxes. Emergency medical technician Levi Butler knows his elderly friend left the ranch to him in his will. Levi anxiously awaits the probate to be complete so he can plan his retirement and begin his dream of raising and selling horses. When Rhiann and Levi find each other at the ranch simultaneously, sparks fly–and not the romantic kind. Yet their mutual attraction deepens, especially after Levi finds Rhiann injured in an accident.

Meantime, land developer Dallas Patterson sets his sights on charming Rhiann to obtain the land. Can Rhiann and Levi work together to detour Patterson and find a solution in which neither needs to give up their dream, or will the fence line of their hearts–and the property–separate them forever? Can their broken paths weave their hearts together as they travel the rescue road?

Other books follow Rhiann and Levi, including a Christmas novella published last year. Paws-ing for Love also brings in some drama as Rhiann experiences a significant health issue and the community of Colter, Montana, where Rhiann and Levi live, experiences the loss of a special community member. Rescue dogs and cats are part of the story as well. Readers can find Paws-ing for Love on Amazon and other platforms, again either in paperback or e-book format.

Buy Link for Paws-ing for Love: https://books2read.com/u/3RJdPj {this includes Amazon}

Paws-ing for Love Blurb: Christmas Hope or Heartbreak? Colter, Montana waltzes in brilliance during winter, with glistening snow on mountain peaks and diamond-like frost on trees and rivers. Romance and dreams flourish in this Christmas card setting. However, news of friends missing after a raging blizzard and a later accident and subsequent illness disrupt the lives of Rhiann and Levi Butler, who operate a horse ranch and pet rescue sanctuary. Will the joy of Christmas be silenced or strengthened after a pair of stray animals take refuge at the Butlers’ property? Can a cat named Mina and a Corgi christened Maverick deliver hope, or will they add more heartache for a couple and community struggling with fear and sorrow?

 

2. Why did you add rescue pets to this series?

I have a heart for rescue animals. My husband and I adopt our pets, dogs and cats, from various groups. We currently have an English Springer Spaniel named Sadie, whom we adopted in 2019 from English Springer Spaniel Rescue, and a puppy mill survivor, a Shih Tzu named Jeremiah.

In fact, Jeremiah is the model for a dog in both Rescue Road and Paws-ing for Love (in the stories the dog’s name is ‘Jax.’). Our two 17-year-old cats are sisters whose pregnant mom was rescued, and we adopted two kittens from the litter. Our pets delight our hearts!

I volunteer for various rescue organizations, helping transport dogs and cats either into rescue from animal shelters or transport to their adoptive families. I once helped transport a Great Pyrenes mix going from Colorado to Canada! (A short story about her appears in an edition of Chicken Soup for the Soul.) I also donate a percentage of book sale proceeds to rescue organizations and animal shelters.

 

3. What other books have you written?

I began my author career as a children’s book writer. I wanted to inspire children to face difficulties in life with courage and perseverance. At the time, I had a blind English Springer Spaniel named Sage; she became blind over time due to Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). I knew she could be an inspiration to kids, and so I wrote Sage’s Big Adventure: Living with Blindness; the book published in 2007. The next year, we began school and library visits. Sage was amazing! Kids loved her and enjoyed her story.

I wrote several more children’s books about the next springer my husband and I adopted after Sage’s passing. Her name was Mary. I wrote three books about her, teaching kids about kindness and about nature. Now that we have Sadie, adopted six months after Mary’s passing, I envision a children’s book titled Sadie, the Smiling Spaniel, a book joy and gratitude in little–and big–things, like watching butterflies, listening to birds sing, finding friends, and having a loving home. Sadie is a joy-filled dog, and her big spaniel smile delights my husband and me! Readers interested in my children’s books can find them all on Amazon. Here’s a link to my Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/37WMk0V

 

4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.

I’ve won several awards from Wyoming Writers, Inc., the state-wide writers’ group in Wyoming, where I live. One of the awards was for the education my children’s books provide, for I often put activities in the back of the books, especially the three ‘Mary’ books. My romance series is well-liked also, with people leaving reviews that include “should be a Hallmark movie!”, “What a delightful book!”, “If you love dogs, you will love this book!” and “What a clever idea for a sweet, clean romance.”

 

5. How do you promote your books?

I’m on social media promoting my books and the works of other authors I enjoy, and I use Book Funnel group promotions. Joining Book Funnel group promotions has helped bring greater awareness to my romance novels (I haven’t yet tried with the children’s books), and I love being part of such a community of similar authors. The most recent one I joined was called “Animal Sidekicks,” in which several romance authors and mystery book writers joined.

Speaking of Book Funnel, anyone interested in reading the prequel to the series, titled Rhiann’s Rescue, can do so for free by going to Book Funnel and downloading the book. The story is about Rhiann and her grandmother and what set Rhiann on the path to establishing an animal sanctuary in Montana.

Here’s the link to the FREE story: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/g828yqfh5h

I also do speaking engagements for various groups, and I guest on other author blogs, like this one. I am grateful to authors like you hosting authors like me!

 

6. Where can readers learn more about your books and connect with you online?

There are several ways people can follow me online and learn more about me and my writing:

My author Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/GayleMIrwin

I’m also on Twitter: https://twitter.com/wyoauthor1

I joined Pinterest and hope to become more active on it this year: www.pinterest.com/gaylemirwin

I have a new website, as I’m garnering freelance writing jobs with magazines and newspapers, and I’m promoting that part of myself as a writer through this new website: https://gaylemirwin.com/. I blog on my website twice a month, and people can sign up for a twice-monthly newsletter on my website as well.

Here again is my Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/37WMk0V

Thank you for hosting me on your blog! I appreciate the opportunity!

 

From Marcia: Thank you, Gayle, for being my March interviewee and for offering a FREE story! I love discovering romances that feature animals and look forward to reading your books!

MONTHLY BLOG EBOOK CONTEST! Would you like to win a Marcia James’ ebook? Visitors to this pro-pet blog can join in the fun, comment, and/or share photos of their pets for a chance to win one of my ebooks! Each month, I’ll randomly pick one commenter to win. To leave a comment and/or a photo, click on the word “Reply,” which is just below the social media icons for THIS interview. (Don’t scroll past this interview to the next interview.) Go Pets!