This month we’re chatting with multi-award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, about her McKenna’s Daughters romance series.

Welcome, Lena! I’m thrilled to have you as a guest on my website!

In reading the homepage of your website, it’s apparent you are extremely busy. Family, travel, speaking, mentoring, blog radio co-host, and, of course, your writing with all that entails. How do you keep it all in perspective and be able to have balance?
I write, because God created me to write. Then He placed calling to write on my life. When I write, it’s as much fun as it is work. That keeps it in perspective. I do have speaking engagements, but I limit the number per year. The Blogtalk radio show is only once a month. So these things fit into the rest of my life. My priorities are God first, family second, then my career, and I trust the Lord to bring the things He wants into my life in that realm.

I see you have recipes on your site. Is cooking or baking one of your favorite things to do?
Yes, I like to cook, but I haven’t been baking much lately.

Lena, please briefly share about the three books in your McKenna’s Daughters series.
My McKenna’s Daughters series is about identical triplet sisters, who were born on one of the last wagon trains on the Oregon Trail. Near the end of the trail, their mother dies giving birth to the girls. Because of circumstances, they are separated, and they don’t find out about their sisters until near their 18th birthday. Each book is one of the sisters’ story. Because of the subject matter, these books deal with a lot of deep issues.

What inspired you to write about triplet sisters?
The only thing I can say is that I believe God gave me the idea. At the time I started thinking about these stories, there weren’t any Christian novels about multiples. There are a few more now, and I always get a copy of a novel about multiples. I love reading them.

On your website, you mention that you like to travel. Have you used any of the places you visited as a setting in any of your books?
Yes. I always make lots of notes and pictures when I travel in case I want to use the place in a book. I’ve been to San Francisco, where Catherine’s Pursuit starts and finishes. I’ve been to Arkansas and Iowa, where A Daughter’s Quest is set. My novel Never Say Never is set in Texas and on a cruise ship. I live in Texas, and I’ve been on cruises. Who Am I? is set in Texas, very near where I live, as well as Boston, which I’ve never visited. I do a lot of research about the areas I haven’t visited to make the books authentic.

The book I’m writing right now A Heart’s Gift is set in Summit County, Colorado. I’ve been there as well.

Which type of settings do you prefer for your books, fictional towns or authentic locations?
With historical novels, I use authentic locations. With contemporary novels, I’ve used actual locations in some books. In others, I’ve created a fictional town that is very near an actual location.

What are you currently reading, Lena?
Out of the Ruins by Karen Barnett. It’s a very interesting novel.

What can we look forward to from you next?
Two things are happening in my writing. I’m working on a new series, which my agent is marketing right now. And I’ll be working on a movie script for Higher Ground Films very soon.

Please tell us where readers can find you and your books online.
Website: www.lenanelsondooley.com
Blog: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley 
Official Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_Dooley
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1728796&sp=67484&event=67484|1728796|67484
Blogtalk Radio: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/gate-beautiful-radio-show/
www.linkedin.com

Do you have any last words for us?
I love connecting with my readers. And we interact on Facebook.
Deborah, thank you for featuring me this month. It’s such a blessing.

Lena, thank you so much for taking the time from your busy schedule to share about yourself and your books. It was certainly a pleasure hosting you.

If you would like to win a copy of Maggie’s Journey, just use my Contact page and type “drawing” in the comments box. U.S. winners receive print books, and foreign winners receive an electronic version. The deadline to enter the giveaway is December 23rd.