SEELIE KAY: Postcards from The Ledge: This week in The Loft: RomCom Author Linda O'Connor!

Joining me today in The Loft is Canadian author Linda O'Connor. Her best-selling romantic comedies draw on her experiences as a physician. They are fast-paced and sexy with an unexpected twist. Linda says medical school was challenging, but it was nothing compared to figuring out where commas go, POV, or sorting out verb tense! One day, she hopes to witness someone reading her novels on the train. Linda's favorite prescrption for writing? Laugh every day. Love every minute.

Linda O'Conner

S: Welcome back to The Loft, Linda!

What attracted you to the romance genre?

L: I read to escape and love that romances have happily-ever-after endings. Because I’ve read a lot, I know what romance readers expect in a story, so it made it easy for me to write in that genre. I also appreciate that you can query publishers directly when you write romance--you don’t necessarily have to have an agent. Romance also has a large market with a group of voracious readers which is great for sales, and there are a wide range of sub-genres in romance, so you can write anything from historical to suspense to romantic comedy, which is my personal favorite.

S: Complete this sentence, "When I started writing, I wish I had known…"

L: ...somebody famous who would help promote my books. I still do.

S: (Smiles.) You mean like Oprah? I think we all fantasize about having one of our books selected for her book club.

What makes you unique as a writer?

L: (Laughs.) Twenty-three pairs of chromosomes! While that’s actually true, what sets me apart as a writer is that I’m also a physician. I weave the best parts of medicine into my stories and try to educate as well as entertain. I teach fact through fiction.

S: Complete this sentence, "As a writer, my dream is to..."

L: ....have one of my books made into a movie. I’m thinking a Hallmark movie would be very cool. I was toying with the idea of taking a course to learn how to write a screenplay to inch toward that goal.

S: (Nods.) I have a writer friend who prepares a screenplay for every book. He is convinced his books would make good movies and is determined to get them on-screen. I wish I had the patience to do that. Still, almost every writer would love to see their stories made into a movie. That would be amazing validation.

Why did you write, "Don't Unravel the Past?" What was your inspiration?

L: This is the third book of the Dr. Brogan Matchmaking Doctor series. All the books in the series are stand-alone stories, but Brogan Corkie’s own romance arcs throughout the series, so it is preferable to read them in order. I love writing stories when the hero or heroine has a secret and revealing that secret adds a twist in the tale. In "Don’t Unravel the Past," the heroine, Dr. Brenna Locket, has a secret about… you guessed it…her past. She has to share it with the hero, Dr. Jay Landon, before they can move forward in their relationship. This secret was inspired by one of the resident doctors I worked with during my internship. I think she had the same secret!

S: (Laughs.) I wonder if she'll get the connection when she reads the book.

Is there anything abut this book that makes it special to you? To readers?

L: Every book I write is a labor of love, and I imagine handing it to the reader as a precious gift. But beyond that, no.

S: Tell me more about "Don't Unravel the Past."

L: Here's the blurb--

Dr. Brogan Corkie is happily semi-retired from medicine and now has time for other hobbies. Her passion for food is second only to her skill at matchmaking!

Years ago, Dr. Jay Landon kissed a sexy stranger with violet eyes. He was instantly enamoured – until he saw the engagement ring on her finger and the angry-looking dude by her side. She walked away with a piece of his heart.

Dr. Brenna Locket is in Mapleton for a conference and plans to stay for a six-month sabbatical to write a book. Her colourful past has prepared her well for a job she loves as an obstetrician-gynecologist with a special focus on sexual health. If her vivacious personality, natural empathy, and expert knowledge didn’t set her apart, her violet eyes and curly black hair certainly would.

Brogan doesn’t know their history, but the spark between Jay and Brenna is undeniable. She’s intrigued…and a matchmaking scheme is hatched. Now, if only Brenna could leave her past behind. Because unravelling the past might just derail the future.