Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing someone very special. Aside from being an author of a hilarious romantic comedy, she is also a mainstay of the DIY MFA community. This person is, of course, Tammy Lough.
Growing up, Tammy had dual-career goals, she wanted to be a nurse and a writer. When she was three she played nurse to her dolls when they got sick, fell off her bed, or broke their bones. She also began writing poems and stories and never stopped.
In later years, when multiple sclerosis forced her to leave her career as an intensive care nurse-manager, she came back to her writing with the same passion and drive she brings to everything. This past year, Parallel Pathways published her first romantic comedy and debut novel, Lacey’s Deception.
Tammy is a mom of two sons and grandma to three adorable grandchildren. She writes a monthly column, “On the Back Page with Tammy,” for Saturday Writers, a Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild, and is an active member of the Romance Writers of America and South West Writers. She is also the Romance Columnist for DIY MFA.
In this episode Tammy Lough and I discuss:
- How mistaken identities can be a vehicle for humor, especially in a rom-com.
- Why she thinks the middle can be the best part of the writing process.
- What role the rule of three plays in building the tension and humor in her novel.
Plus, her #1 tip for writers.
About Tammy Lough
Growing up, Tammy Lough had dual-career loves. A nurse and a writer. When she was three years old, all of her dolls got sick so that she could play nurse. When she was older and played with Barbie dolls, they repeatedly fell off her bed, broke bones, and required her nursing skills. In second grade, she began writing poems and stories and never stopped.
In later years, when multiple sclerosis forced her to leave her career as an intensive care nurse-manager, she picked up a pen and wrote a medieval romance novel. Parallel Pathways recently published her first romantic comedy, Lacey’s Deception.
Tammy is the mom of two sons and grandma to three adorable grandchildren. She writes a monthly column, On the Back Page with Tammy, for Saturday Writers, a Chapter of the Missouri Writers Guild, and is an active member of the Romance Writers of America and South West Writers.
You can find Tammy on her website or follow her on Twitter.
Lacey’s Deception
When hellcat tomboy meets wickedly handsome rancher, sparks fly—in more ways than one.
Lacey Autumn Kendall doesn’t want no stinking man. Hell no. Maybe she shoulda stayed in jail till rot set in like Pa threatened. Sure beats getting dumped in Montana to suffer lady-lessons shoved down her throat by Pa’s teacher-sister, Aunt Molly.
When Lacey steps from the stagecoach she darn near feels bad when she hears her aunt done passed away and is taking a dirt nap outside the little white church with the red steeple. Oh, and Lacey inherits auntie’s homestead if she marries before turning 20 and she’s—gulp—19. Sheesh!
When Brandon Lee Chandler meets Lacey standing on the dusty street of Miles City, he desires three things: Shut her the hell up; buy her land with its rich promise of gold; and press her full, seductive lips to his flaming kiss of desire. This muscle-ripped cowboy will do anything to own her land. She’ll do anything to keep it. The two are oil and vinegar swirling in a dizzying sizzle of sexual tension. Despite himself, Brandon discovers he also wants this vixen for his own.
Mayhem ensues in this delightful romp through 1873 Montana as Lacey takes on a passel of jobs to earn money and lickety-split gets fired from every darned one. But Lacey’s deception could cost her not only her land and her life but also the man she didn’t think she wanted. Guess what? She wants him more than hot possum stew on a frigid winter night. You betcha.
If you decide to check out the book, we hope you’ll do so via this Amazon affiliate link, where if you choose to purchase via the link DIY MFA gets a referral fee at no cost to you. As always, thank you for supporting DIY MFA!
Link to Episode 386
(Right-click to download.)
If you liked this episode…
Head over to iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Spotify, or Google and subscribe so you’ll be first to know when new episodes are available.
Also, remember that sharing is caring so if you know anyone who might enjoy this podcast, please tell them about it or leave us a review so other listeners will want to check it out.
Until next week, keep writing and keep being awesome!
