Meet Author Keli Gwyn!

Keli Gwyn writes stories that transport readers to the 1800s, where she brings historic towns to life, peoples them with colorful characters, and adds a hint of humor. A California native, she lives in the Gold Rush-era town of Placerville at the foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. Her debut novel, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California,* set in the heart of the Gold Country where she lives, will be released in July 2012. When Keli’s fingers aren’t hovering over the keyboard of her newfangled laptop, she enjoys strolling past stately Victorian houses in her historic town, burying her nose in reference books as she unearths interesting facts to include in her stories, and interacting with other romance readers. Her favorite places to visit are her fictional worlds, the Coach factory outlet store, and Taco Bell.

*See Keli’s question at the end of the interview to be entered into this week’s drawing.

Welcome to PASTimes. What does a typical day in the writing life of Keli Gwyn look like?
My days vary depending on what stage of a book’s development I’m in. When I’m deep in a story, I pour words on the page in a torrent. Right now I’m spending much of my time on promotion, since my debut novel has just been released. Because people are important to me, I allocate time for connecting on social media on a regular basis.

Due to a recent osteoporosis diagnosis, I overcame my exercise phobia and now enjoy working out at Curves 3x a week and walking the other days. Getting away from the house for a short time each day helps me keep in shape and fuels my creativity.


You're an inspiration to all exercise phobics, Keli!

Tell us a little about your current release. 

A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California takes place in the state’s historic Gold Country where I live. Elenora Watkins, a resourceful widow from the east arrives expecting to become partner in a mercantile, only to discover that the owner, one Miles Rutledge, is shocked to find out she’s a woman, a fact his meddlesome but well-meaning mother, Maude, kept from him.

After Miles informs Elenora that he won’t have a woman as his partner, she tells him she’s opening a shop instead—across the street from his. Maude and Elenora’s nine-year-old daughter, Tildy, are eager to get the couple together. Miles and Elenora, however, are intent on besting the other in business—and every other venture that comes along—all while battling the attraction they’re doing their best to ignore.

What was your journey to your first sale like?

a.      Long and winding

b.      Like a roller-coaster ride

c.      Like a rocket...blast off!

d.      Other

d. Other ~ A transcontinental train ride. 

The heroine of my story, Elenora Watkins, traveled across the country by train to reach California. Just as she encountered the fertile fields of the plains states, the steep mountain passes and breath-robbing drops of the Rockies, the dry desert landscapes of Utah and Nevada, and the lush forests of the Sierra Nevada Mountains that rejuvenated her weary soul, I met with much the same as I pursued the path to publication.

There were times when stories grew like corn in the summer, times when it took all my energy and determination to keep putting words on the page, times when rejections or contest disappointments plunged me into self-pity for a day or two, and times when my creativity all but dried up and left me feeling parched. But then came refreshment in the form of an offer of representation followed by my First Sale and the release of my debut novel. Through it all, the Lord has been by my side, supporting and uplifting me, just as my wonderful, godly husband does.

If you could be plopped down in any era and locale in history, when and where would you want to end up?

I’d like to stand in my historic Gold Rush-era town of Placerville, California and be whisked back to the year 1870, when my story takes place—but just for a visit. I do like my modern conveniences. While I was time-warped, I could discover what life was like for my characters and experience the sights, sounds, and smells they did, all of which would help me bring the past to life with greater authenticity.

Tell us a little about what you’d be doing to occupy your time in that era and locale, and give us a glimpse at what you’d be wearing and eating. (Come back tomorrow for the answer and part two of the interview with author Keli Gwyn.) Keli will be sending a copy of her book to one of our US or Canada readers who leave an email address and the answer to this question:

Elenora Watkins, the heroine of A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, is partial to the color purple and wears a spray of silk violets, her favorite flower, at her throat. What are your favorite color and favorite flower?

(We'll need at least five comments before we draw, so tell your friends to enter!)