Regina Rudd Merrick – Character Interview – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Regina Rudd Merrick shares insight into her heroine from her latest Contemporary Romance, Rebuilding Joy. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for winner’s choice, US only for print. Deadline: Feb 24th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Regina:

Hi, I’m Darcy Emerson Sloan. I own and operate the Clementville Café in Clementville, Kentucky. It’s a hop, skip, and a jump from Paducah, and if you look on a map, no way you’ll find it. My mom, Roxy Emerson Reno, used to run the café and still works part-time, but she remarried about a year ago and just up and gave me the café. It was totally unexpected, and I’m still not sure I’m up to the task.

My author is Regina Rudd Merrick, and she’s systematically telling stories about the Reno family who live in my community. I think she’s up to book three? Anyway, she’s busy working on a Christmas story about yet another Reno, and decided to let me handle the interview on my own. Hey, I’m a tough girl. I can do this.

Did you want to ask me about the incident that happened in my basement, or, um, are the questions of a personal nature? (fingers crossed they’re about the incident …)

• Are you open to your own romance?

That answers my question. The questions are gonna get personal. Sigh. Okay, here’s the deal. I’m a single mom. I have twin preschoolers. I was married to the love of my life, and he was killed overseas. Except for the death of my dad when I was twelve, that was the most traumatic thing I’ve ever lived through. I take that back – giving birth to twins, knowing they would never know their dad, was right up there in the trauma department. So no, I’m not open to my own romance. Who has the time, and who wants to subject themselves to all that, again? Nope. Not this girl.

• What’s the number one quality you’d require in a mate?

So if I WERE to be forced to consider remarrying, which, of course, I’m not, I guess the one thing I’d require is that they love my children, Alison and Benji, like they were their own. No question. My babies come first.

• What type of character traits are you attracted to?

Since I don’t plan to ever, Ever, EVER fall in love again, I’ll answer the question for fun, because there have been a lot of great men in my life. I’m not against men, in general, just men who could possibly own part of my heart, you know? Character traits … I guess I’d have to pick the best of all the men in my life and say being protective without being stifling. I want to make my own decisions. I don’t always have to be right (although I think I am, most of the time), but I like it to be acknowledged when I am.

• What type of features are you attracted to?

This is going to sound weird, especially since my author is the total opposite (or is she?). I like a guy who’s a little shaggy, in need of a haircut, but doesn’t take the time because appearances aren’t that important to him. I know what you’re thinking. Del Reno. I scoff at the very idea. My author? She gets annoyed when her husband’s hair starts touching his ears. LOL

• What would be the best gift a potential mate could buy for you?

The best gift? I guess, besides a new six-burner stove, I’d have to say the gift of time. He would be considerate of my feelings, my schedule, do little things that save me time, and do them for me without being asked.

• What simple gesture does your hero do that melts your heroine every time?

Not that I’m talking about any one man in particular (because, of course, I’m not open to my own romance – see question 1), but something that MIGHT melt my heart is seeing him care for my children. Watching him carry my daughter to bed and gently tuck her in, cleaning up the game they’d been playing before I got home, reassuring me that they were in good hands while I was gone … Uh, sorry. What was that question again?

• Who is most romantic, your hero or your heroine?

My hero. Definitely. I’m so busy trying to prove that I can do everything and be everything that I don’t take the time to do the little things for anybody but my kids. It might be nice to have the opportunity to try, though. For now, I’ll let my gift of pie-baking speak for me.

Question for Readers: What is your dream job and why?

About Regina: Regina Rudd Merrick is a multi-published author, church musician, wife, mother, former librarian, lover of all things fun, beachy, and chocolate, and grateful follower of Jesus Christ. Married to her husband of 40 years, she is the mother of two grown daughters and lives in the small town of Marion, KY. Learn more & connect:

Regina’s Website         Regina’s Facebook          Regina’s Instagram

Regina’s Pinterest          Regina’s Scrivenings Author Page

About the book – Rebuilding Joy:

A waitress, a contractor, and an FBI agent walk into a café …

Single mom Darcy Emerson Sloan has enough to do raising twins and running a restaurant. She’s doing fine on her own and doesn’t need the complications of a man in her life. But when her café turns into a crime scene, putting her and her children in danger, she begins to take interest in the handsome young FBI agent that comes on the scene.

Contractor Del Reno is as even-keeled as they come, but even he has his limits. And Darcy Sloan has pushed him too far. Every time he tries to help, it backfires. But now that Darcy and her kids are in trouble, he has no choice but to come to her aid and protect her. She’s just going to have to deal with it.

Secret tunnels, organized crime, adorable children, and a wedding.

Just another day in Clementville.

Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win?

Interested in Regina’s other titles?

Get your copy/copies now!

Preorder Rebuilding Joy – (Releases Feb 20)          Regina’s Books

Come back Feb 20th for Delores Topliff!