More from our Sue's Clues Mystery Author,

6. You've met quite a few famous people. How did you manage to meet George Bush (V.P. at the time), Dolly Parton, Wynonna Judd, and Emmylou Harris?


Ah, you've been looking at the photo album. My family was in politics - both my father and my uncle. So I actually met a lot of politicians. We had a dinner with George Bush at a political fundraiser. I also was fortunate enough to attend the formal ball and other events in January 1981 in honor of President Reagan, where I (literally) ran into Elizabeth Taylor, and got to meet Jimmy Stewart, and was in the crowd when President Reagan was sworn in and then announced that the hostages had been set free by Iran. These were really awesome experiences for a teenager. Wynonna and I met when the Judds were pretty new on the scene. She has an amazing sense of humor. On New Year's Even 1985, we stayed up all night talking. We were having breakfast when it was announced that Ricky Nelson had died. I remember both of us being in shock. Emmylou Harris has been one of my favorites since I was a kid. She has such an ear for interpreting music, and I've always been impressed with her ability to go from a Bruce Springsteen song to a Bill Monroe song without missing a beat, and making both songs sound like they were custom written just for her. I've met Emmylou on a few occasions - twice at concerts and once at the Country Music Association Roundtable.

Dolly... remember that you asked:)

Dolly Parton is my all-time favorite artist. I was a Dolly fan when I was three years old and she was pitching bath towels in "boxes of Breeze" on the Porter Wagoner Show. In my opinion, she's one of the best and most prolific songwriters of our time.

I first met Dolly when I was a teenager. I had a drawer full of over 100 songs that I'd been writing since I was in fifth grade, and I hadn't a clue what to do with them. She came to town to play the big theater one summer, so I decided I would simply ask her what I should do with my songs, now that they were written and were ready to be recorded and become the next number one hits on Billboard (OK, I admit, I was overly optimistic and more than a little naive!)

Security around Dolly was very tight, and it would be no small task to get close enough to ask my question. So I did the only thing I could do - I sat under a tree outside the hotel exit, near her bus. I figured she'd eventually have to leave the hotel to go to the theater, and when she did, I'd be there, and she'd have to walk by me to get to her bus.

I waited... and waited... and waited. It was August, and it was hot. I was drinking a lot of Tab to keep cool, and after a few hours, I was really hungry and really needed to powder my nose, but dared not move from my spot beneath that tree, for fear that would be the precise moment she'd leave the hotel and my chance would be lost. So I continued to wait.

Several people asked me what I was doing sitting beneath that tree all day, and without the least bit of shame, I told them - I'd come to meet Dolly Parton and find out what to do with my songs. Now, I'd been there since eight o'clock that morning. By around 4 or 5 pm, a crowd had begun to gather near her tour bus. This had me a little worried - I did not want to have to compete with them for her attention, and I hadn't brought gifts and balloons and flowers like they had!

A few men came out of the hotel exit and headed for the bus. The crowd behind me began to stir. A few more people came out and went to the bus. The crowd began closing in on me as they hedged closer to the exit door in anticipation. I stood up - no small feat after a six pack of Tab cola over the course of nine hours - and prayed those other fans would just stay back long enough for me to ask my question.

Suddenly, the exit door opened. Some men and women came through the door, and in their midst was Dolly. The crowd of fans raced toward us, pushing their way closer, but the men with Dolly stood in their way.

And then, the most amazing thing happened. Dolly walked straight up to me. In her hand was a piece of paper, with her publishing company's name and address on it. She said, "Send your songs to my company, care of Roger Sovine at Tree Publishing. Just tell him Dolly told you to send them."

I took the paper she offered, but I couldn't speak (those who know me will not believe there was ever a time I couldn't talk!) I think I finally managed a quiet "Thank you" - at least I know I *thought* it really hard. I remember thinking she was so very pretty up close - even prettier than the pictures. And then she pinched my cheek and said, "You're cute!"

Then she walked into the crowd of fans, signed some quick autographs and then got on her bus to head to the theater. I don't remember how long I stood there afterward, in total awe. But it was the coolest thing - she'd come to me, wanted me to send my songs to her, *and* told me I was cute. What kid could ask for more? If I'd have died right then, I'd have died happy.

I did send a demo tape to Roger Sovine (Red Sovine's son for those who remember "Teddy Bear"), and later, when I moved to Nashville, my first Monday in town, Roger invited me to come into the publishing company's studio with my guitar to record another demo. It was a wonderful experience.

After I wrote THE BRIAR AND THE ROSE, because I'd specifically based it on Dolly's version of "Barbara Allen", in order to use it within the story, I had to get her permission. The ballad itself is public domain, but Dolly's version is copyrighted because of the little changes she made to the ballad. So I sent her the manuscript. Two weeks later, I had a letter from Dolly, giving me permission I'd requested, and telling me she'd enjoyed reading the book. In her letter she said, "I am proud you liked my version of 'Barbara Allen'." And *I* am honored that she read my book and liked it.

I've met a lot of celebrities over the years. Most have been very nice people and it's been a pleasure meeting them, but I've met a lot of people who weren't famous that I liked meeting just as much. But if I could choose one person to spend a day with, one on one, it would be Dolly. Not because she's a celebrity, but because she just seems like the sort of person I would like to know.

7. You have a beautiful family!


Thank you:)

I think it is wonderful that you have shared pics of your kids and husband. I have to admit, I was rather surprised and saddened to see that your husband passed away in 2002. I can't begin to imagine how this has changed your life. Do you mind telling us how things are going?

Andy and I had been divorced for many years, but had gotten past the bitterness that comes with divorce, and had spent the last several years as friends. It was nice - we both knew that if we needed the other, they'd be there, and when it comes to raising children, it's always best if the parents can stand as a united front in all aspects of child raising. Then in May 2002, very unexpectedly, Andy took his own life.

The last year and a half has been very difficult for all of us. For me, because Andy and I had kind of grown up together, and he'd really always been a part of my life in one way or another. And of course, for the children. The four of us have cried a lot of tears, prayed, and clung to those memories that make the really hard times, sad times, a little easier. The most difficult part is not understanding - not knowing "why", except for what we can piece together from those last days and hours.

How are things going? Not a day goes by that we don't think of Andy. My children have amazed me with their strength and ability to comprehend the situation. They have their bad days, when they cry and feel as though Andy should be pulling in the driveway at any moment. They have their angry days when they want to tell him just how bad it hurts. Then they have those days when they get to laughing at something silly they remember him doing.

It's times like these we cling to our faith and each other. Because of this tragedy, they have, in some ways, matured beyond their years, and realize that suicide only hurts those who truly love you and it's a choice that, once made, cannot be changed. They've seen - and experienced - the heartache and pain of those left behind, and understand that suicide is not a solution, but a lifetime sentence you render on those you leave behind - those you never intended to hurt, those who love you most.

Time is the great healer. The children have come a long way. They are survivors.

8. Your book begins with the hero losing the love of his life and the tragedy of it all. I was wondering how much of yourself came through in this book and if the writing was cathartic for you?


Actually, THE BRIAR AND THE ROSE was written before Andy's death. I was making revisions to the manuscript the week after Andy died, and the pain was so raw at that time, that I'm sure there were moments that I transfered what I felt onto the page. There are scenes where death and regret and loss are the focus of my characters, and while revising those scenes, I remember being so totally overwhelmed by emotion. But there were other times I really had to try to keep that pain buried, locked inside, while I was revising, because I was writing "hope" at a time I felt hopeless, and a "happily ever after" at a time when I wondered if I'd ever be truly happy again.


9. You mentioned at your site that you are "...in the midst of remodeling a 1955 Cape Cod (which is a book in itself, but it has not been decided if it will be classified as non-fiction or horror)." LOL We've all been there at some point or another! Are you finished yet?


I don't think I'll ever be finished. As soon as I get one thing done, there's something else.

10. Your next book, THE LOCKET, is also set in the early 1800's. While I realize it may be a little early in your career to ask this, *G*, do you think this will be your preferred time period or do you think you might set future books in another time period?


I really don't know. So far, I have several stories outlined, and they are all set during the years 1827 and 1828. However, there will be children who may beg a story of their own, which would be the Victorian era by the time they are old enough to have a romance. And there are older characters in two of my books who have stories to tell, which would put them in the late 1700s and very early 1800s.

11. How was your trip to Kansas for the Romantic Times Convention?


The Romantic Times Convention is... well, there's nothing like it. Kathryn Falk and the staff at RT have made it a blast, with something for eveyone to enjoy. There's always something fun going on, and every year, we make new friends to add to the friends we've made at previous conventions.

They are transitioning the convention from fall to the spring so there are less conficts, so the next RT Convention will be in New York City, March 24-28, 2004 (yes, that's only 5 months from now). I would recommend every reader and author attend this convention if there's any way possible. It's too much fun to miss..

Thank you, Laura!

You can visit Laura at her website: http://romancereport.com/authors/laura/default.htm

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