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Hey Mandi! I’m so glad you are joining me today for an interview. I am excited to learn more about you.
What do you drink when you’re writing? Hot tea! I visited Scotland a few times, and I got used to ordering tea everywhere. Now, I find it helps me step away from any stress and focus on writing.
What author(s) has/have really influenced you? I started reading Denise Hunter’s books when I was eighteen. I worked at a book store, and my boss recommended them to me. I read so many books, but hers always stand out to me. I’ve also recently come to love Emma St. Clair’s books. I’m thankful she writes fast because I can’t get enough of her stories.
What does your family think of your writing? They’re supportive. My daughter is four years old, and she is very encouraging. My husband tries to give me time to sneak away and write when things aren’t too crazy. I’m still working full time right now, so I write in the stolen moments. My mom and sister read all of my books even though they don’t typically read as a pastime.
How did you come up with the title for your book (and what is the title)? Remembering the Cowboy was difficult to name. I knew I wanted to write this story months before it happened, but I couldn’t settle on a title. I asked dozens of my friends for their opinions, and it actually changed after it was available to pre-order. Remembering the Cowboy is an amnesia story, and Camille spends the majority of the book trying to remember her best friend, Noah. Their relationship could have been easy, but there were so many odds stacked against them. While she’s remembering the wonderful times they had, she’s encountering obstacles as if they’re new.
How quickly did you connect with your MC? From the beginning. I loved these 
characters, and I wanted to immerse myself in their world. I grew up on a cattle farm in Alabama, so I was able to pull from my past as I researched. I got to remember my childhood as Camille remembered her history with Noah.
Did any part of this story make you cry while you were writing it? I don’t think I cried while writing this one, but I have done that before while writing. I think this story gave me a rush as I was writing. The tension between the characters kept me interested in their story as I wrote even though I knew how it would end.
What part of writing this book did you struggle with? Camille’s memory loss. I tried to put myself in her shoes. She was confused, always the last to know, and often misled because she wasn’t sure who she could trust.
When a reader reaches the end of your book, what do you hope you’ve left them with? Hope. This book deals heavily with forgiveness, and I know I struggle to forgive those who hurt me. It was a lesson for me as the writer. I put myself in the characters’ positions and thought, “Would I be able to forgive?” It was eye-opening for me, but I needed to test myself.
Blurb from Remembering the Cowboy:
They have unfinished business. She just can’t remember what it is.
Camille Vanderbilt is headed back home to Wyoming with one goal: find her old best friend and give him a piece of her mind for ghosting her six years ago. She won’t let anyone stand in her way… until a deer runs into the road and causes her to wreck and forget almost everything.
Noah Harding lives a simple life as a firefighter and rancher until Camille crashes back into his life. When a call at the fire station sends him to save his old best friend’s life, he thinks he might get a second chance until her influential stepdad gives a reminder that his old threats still stand.
When Camille runs into Noah in town, she knows he’s important to her, but her memories are still fuzzy.
Noah is hesitant to get close to her when it means having to sacrifice everything to be with her.
She thinks it’s a new beginning, but he knows it shouldn’t have ever ended.
When the threats are carried out, who will be left hurting at Blackwater Ranch?
Remembering the Cowboy by Mandi Blake
This final question will wrap up our interview:
What is your dream writing space and do you have it already? I have a nice office, but I can write anywhere that has a window. I need to see outside! I actually write best in the car while my husband is driving or on vacations where I have a new and exciting view out my window.
Mandi Blake was born and raised in Alabama where she lives with her husband and daughter, but her southern heart loves to travel. Reading has been her favorite hobby for as long as she can remember, but writing is her passion. She loves a good happily ever after in her sweet Christian romance books and loves to see her characters’ relationships grow closer to God and each other.
Where can we find you online?
You can sign up for my newsletter to get weekly updates from me. I have a new book every other month, so I have lots of updates.
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z0u6n7
You can Like my Facebook Page to get book-related updates.
https://www.facebook.com/MandiBlakeAuthor/
I would love it if you joined my reader group on Facebook where members get to help me choose things about the stories including names and scenes. They also get early reveals.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/558018854712714
You can follow me on Instagram to see cute photos of my daughter and pretty pictures of books.
https://www.instagram.com/mandi_blake_author
You can follow me on Amazon or Bookbub if you only want new release updates.
http://www.amazon.com/author/mandiblake
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mandi-blake
Thank you for spending time with me today! It’s been a pleasure having you on the blog and getting to do this interview with you. Do you have any final words for our readers? Thank you for taking a chance on so many authors. I love writing Christian romances, and connecting with readers who share my love of books is so much fun.
Regina Walker 