1. I hear you have dogs in two of your novels. Tell us about the books.

Dogs have always been a part of my life. It’s just natural that dogs appear in two stories of the Fitzpatrick Family series: When Love Trusts and When Love Comes Home.

When Love Trusts

Growing up together in a small Texas town, Josh Fitzpatrick and Mara Burke always had each other’s backs, right up until Mara dated—then dumped—his best friend. A relationship built on love and trust…until it wasn’t.

Josh is an Army sniper home on medical leave with wounds that go deeper than the shrapnel dug from his thigh. While his body recovers, he wrestles with guilt over what happened in Iraq and waits for news of possible disciplinary action.

Mara is a single mom and administrator at a home for boys, still hiding the terrible secret that created the ten-year chasm between them.

When the boy’s home needs volunteers after a grass fire, Josh steps in. The sparks from their youth soon ignite a new passion, but will sharing their secrets be enough to overcome the pain and hurt that lies between them?

When Love Comes Home

Sammy Fitzpatrick and Tiffany Fischer eloped on prom night. The next day her father forced them to sign annulment papers and then whisked her off to art school. Sammy and Tiffany made secret plans to go to Guatemala with a mission group.

When she and her parents disappear without a trace, Sammy heads to the mission field missing a chunk of his heart and resigned to a life alone.

Ten years later, he discovers the annulment papers were never filed. Tiffany is still legally his wife, but she doesn’t know it. She’s engaged to someone else. His heart has never let him forget. But is he too late?

 

2. Why did you add dogs to these books?

Next to Ireland and all things Irish, I love Old English sheepdogs (OES). We’ve had six. The American Kennel Club describes the breed as smart, gentle, and adaptable. They’re also clowns and gentle giants who don’t realize their size.

Our Finnegan thinks he’s a lap dog. If I sit, he’s on my lap:

We’ve given all our OESs unique names: Azariah, Obadiah, Micah, Rhinestone, and Tobias. Finnegan MacCool, pictured above, is named after Fionn mac Cumhaill, the legendary Giant’s Causeway giant in County Antrim Ireland.

I model dogs in my books after our pets. You’ll find the OES Moo in When Love Comes Home. Like my Finnegan, Moo senses Tiffany’s moods. He doesn’t climb into her lap, but you’ll find him nudging her hand and plopping his head down whenever she sits. Moo got his name because her farm manager warned her, he’d be as big as a cow.

In When Love Trusts, Bear is an OES mix that Josh rescues and gives to Mara’s son. Bear’s a big reason Josh and Mara reconnect. Mara’s son chose the name Bear [because he’s] big and black and walking like a bear.

 

3. What other books have you written?

I write sweet small-town romance, romantic suspense, a blend of women’s fiction and romance, and military romance.

You’ll find a total of six books in the Fitzpatrick series. All are heartwarming stories about siblings finding second chances for love. Link for all the Fitzpatrick Family series: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08W8CTXY7

You can find the other books and series listed on my website along with blurbs: https://www.JudytheMorgan.com

 

4. Tell us about your kudos or reviews.

Before I became published, I entered writing contests and placed in many. That affirmation persuaded me to pursue publication. Now reviews on Amazon and Goodreads–the good, the bad, and the ugly–are my confirmation.

I love hearing from my readers. Their comments and emails with personal messages like those below keep me writing:

“… waiting with bated breath for your new book.”

“Finished When Love Come Home last week. Wow, a lot of twist and turns. Love the read!”

 

5. How do you promote your books?

I promote my books with guest blog appearances like this one, my weekly blog at https://JudyTheWriter.com/ and my newsletter, which you can subscribe to here: https://JudytheMorgan.com/

 

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

Your blog readers are invited to follow me on any (or all) of these social media sites:

Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/judythemorgan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Judythe2
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JudytheMorgan/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6450879.Judythe_Morgan
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/judythe-morgan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/judythe2/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judythehixson/

WIN A JUDYTHE MORGAN EBOOK! 

Judythe: “I’ve shared the names of the two dogs in my Fitzpatrick Family books and how the dogs got those names. If you have a pet, how did you choose your pet’s name?”

Answer the above question in this interview’s Comments section for a chance to win either When Love Trusts or When Love Comes Home (winner’s choice).

 

From Marcia: Thank you, Judythe, for being my March interviewee! I love discovering romances that feature pets and look forward to reading your books! And thank you for offering an ebook to one lucky commenter!

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!