Today I’m happy to welcome Margaret Daley back to the blog, this time to talk about her latest book, A Daughter for Christmas. Nothing like a fabulous holiday novel to get you in the spirit!

Margaret has been awesome enough to offer a copy to one lucky reader, so please leave your comment below with an email address to be entered. And make sure you’re a follower!

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About Margaret

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian Romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold seventy-five books to date.

Margaret is currently the Volunteer Officer for ACFW. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She served as vice-president for two years in WIN-ACFW and is still on its board as an advisor. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community.

You can visit her web site at http://www.margaretdaley.com and read excerpts from her books and learn about the ones recently released and soon to be released.

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What’s your latest book?

My latest book to come out is A Daughter for Christmas, a November Love Inspired book. The back cover blurb is:

Dr. Max Connors had no idea he had fathered a child 13 years ago. Or that his baby girl had been given up for adoption. He locates his daughter in a small Oklahoma town and moves there, hoping to become a part of her life. But when he meets her widowed mother, Max is unsure how to reveal his identity. As he helps Rachel Howard with her plans to home school the girl, he’s welcomed into the family. But with the holidays approaching, Max must tell Rachel who he really is. Can he make his dreams of family come true by Christmas?

Ah, sounds good! Is there a theme to this book?

The theme for this book is forgiveness. Max must learn to forgive his deceased wife who never told him he had a child. I often use the theme of forgiveness because I think it is so important in life.

Definitely something we all have to deal with, so always a fabulous theme. What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?

 My favorite genre to write is romantic suspense. My favorite type of book to read is suspense with at least a little romance. I do enjoy reading lots of different types of books from mysteries to science fiction.

What are you reading right now—and what do you want to read next?

 Right now I am reading several books having to do with research on my next novel for Summerside. This historical romance is set in 1816 in South Carolina.

 What I would like to read next is any book for pleasure. But I’m afraid I have a stack of books to read for research.

Sigh. The life of a novelist sometimes, isn’t it? Here’s hoping you get back to pleasure-reading soon! What would your dream office look like—and what does your REAL writing environment look like?

 I actually really like my office that I have right now. It has all my research books in it on bookshelves, a filing cabinet, a desk and chair as well as a couch. The window next to my desk looks out on the front garden. The walls are hot pink with white trim and my husband has framed every book I have written. Those books are up on my walls in my office.

Cool! Loved the framed books. That is some inspiring decor! =) What lessons have you learned through the publication process that you wouldn’t have guessed as a pre-published writer?

 The main lesson I have learned is that it doesn’t get any easier once you have sold a book. When I sold my first book, I thought the whole publication process would be much easier. Not!

Are there any people (family, writing group, editors) who you rely on when writing?

 I have wonderful editors that I have worked with who have a sharp eye for what works and doesn’t work. I also have a wonderful critique group who are amazing writers. I value their opinion a lot.

Aside from writing, what takes up most of your time?

 Besides writing, my family takes up most of my time. I have four grandchildren from the ages of 18 months to 10 years. They keep me hopping.

I bet! My two kiddos sure do. =) What are you writing right now?

 Right now I am writing a historical romance set in South Carolina right after the War of 1812. My editor and I are still working on a title for the book, but it will come out next September for Summerside Press.

Oh, cool! I’m noting an increasing interest in books with similar settings. I know I love them! Any upcoming releases we should keep our eye out for?

 I also have a Love Inspired Suspense coming out in December called Christmas Bodyguard. This is the first book in my Guardians, Inc. series about female bodyguards.

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Thanks for visiting, Margaret! Readers, you can check out her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com and her blog at http://margaretdaley.blogspot.com. Look for her book at eHarlequin.

Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Chance of winning depends on number of entries. Contest ends 11/11/10. Winner will have two weeks to claim prize.