An Interview with Morgan Ludlowe
Forever bored of my Midwest upbringing, I read voraciously as a child, falling asleep to the sound of my grandparents reading me Rudyard Kipling as a child. My parents fed the storyteller in me at every book fair; they knew that they were forming my brain to create tales of my own. I wrote stories from the time I could hold a pencil — always romances. Romance remains my homeland.
By the time I was a teenager, I had a Wattpad account and a steady following but never felt like my writing would be taken seriously. I always wrote fiction, working on a number of novels in college, where I earned a degree in literary studies.
It was a year and a half ago that I decided to work on a story I began in college since it wouldn’t get out of my bed. For the first time in over a decade, I finished a novel. It bolstered my confidence, and I ended up taking a twelve-week course under author Wren St Claire. That course changed my life, and I’ve begun a series about my region’s unique history.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
My mentor encouraged me to write what is called a lead magnet, so I did.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
This novel is called A Bride for Redbud Ranch. Despite the fact that it chronologically takes place first and will be published first, I wrote the second book in the series first. Redbud Ranch is a nod to the Oklahoma state tree, and they have meaning in Cherokee culture, which is part of the focus of this novel. It came easily.
Describe your dream book cover.
Give me an old school clinch cover or give me death!
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
What a great question. I’ve listened to Ashokan Farewell from Fiddle Fever as I write this book, and The Kiss from The Last of the Mohicans.
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
– Cherokee Renascence in the New Republic by William McLoughlin
– Murder and Mayhem in Northeast Oklahoma by Larry Wood
– The Romance Writers’ Phrase Book
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
I currently work in the nonprofit sector in adult literacy. I worked in a country club and sales and didn’t like either.
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
I was born to write, but I find endless inspiration in Shakespeare and modern romance writers.
Where is your favorite place to write?
Anywhere I can.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
Someday, you’ll have an opportunity for mentorship under Wren St Claire. Take it. It will change your life.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
Romance is an exploration of the human condition. I hope they see something of themselves and in turn feel seen.
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