- What is your story?
*smirking and arching a brow* Tell me your’s and I’ll tell you mine.
- Who are you?
My name is Angela MacCallister, I’m a report for the Channel 12 News and I’m doing a story on animal cruelty in the sport of rodeo.
- Do you have a problem that wasn’t mentioned in the story?
I don’t have problems, (laughs) I solve them.
- Do you embrace conflict? Or do you run from conflict?
I guess I embrace it as much as anyone does. I mean, if it gets me where I want to be in life, I’ll embrace it. I wouldn’t say I’m afraid of conflict but it’s not something I enjoy. If I can avoid it, I will.
- How do you see yourself?
I’m strong and independent. I have been since I was young. I had to be. I guess I’m kind of a loner. I mean, you can’t really ever fully trust anyone but yourself. And if you do, you’re bound to be disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, I’m loyal to those I love, there just aren’t many people who I let close enough to see that side of me.
- How do your friends see you?
(Laughing sarcastically) What friends? I don’t really have any. I never have. Like I said, you can’t really trust other people. They might want to help but when push comes to shove, they are going to do what’s best for themselves first. It’s just the way things are. The only person I’d even consider a friend is Joe and he looks at me the same way other people do – frigid, cold. But they also know I can get the job done.
- How do your enemies see you?
I don’t really have any that I know of. I mean, reporting is a cut-throat business but we all know that so it’s not something you hold against another reporter if they scoop you on a story. I guess there are probably some people who don’t like me but it’s probably for the same reasons other people do like me – I’m strong, independent and get the job done.
- How does the author see you?
It’s strange but she likes me. She has this notion that my independence is a coping mechanism, that it’s not who I really am. She sees me as this softie with a tough outer shell and worked really hard to try to crumble it.
- What, if anything, haunts you?
Is this really something we need to talk about? (pauses) I guess my mother’s death, the way she died, that there was nothing I could do to help her, that I watched it happen. No kid should ever have to endure going through that.
- Has anyone ever betrayed you?
(Bitter laugh) Yeah, over and over and, stupidly, I continue to come back for more. I guess it’s that loyalty thing to those I love but I can’t seem to give up and let my father cave to his demons.
- Have you ever failed anyone?
Do we really have to keep talking about this? (Shifting nervously in the chair) Yeah, my mother and my father. I couldn’t save my mother before she died and, as hard as I try, I’m not so sure I’m going to be able to save my father either.
- Have you ever betrayed anyone?
That would depend on who you asked. Mike, Sydney and Scott might tell you I betrayed Derek. I’m not so sure I’d call it a betrayal as much as a mistake. Other’s might believe I betrayed my friend, Joe, but I wouldn’t call it that.
- What was your childhood like?
Pretty bad. Horrible really. If my parents weren’t fighting about my father being drunk, Mom and I were trying to keep everything quiet while he was suffering from a hangover. After she died, I had to take care of both of us. When he had a job, I used to sneak his checks from his wallet before he could cash them and spend it all at the bar on the corner. I think he knew what I was doing but he never said anything. He wasn’t a mean drunk. (sigh) I can’t tell you how many times, as a teenager, I got phone calls from a bartender telling me to come get him.
- What in your past would you like to forget?
Most of it. I don’t really have those sparkly, rainbow memories most kids have. Don’t get me wrong, there were some good times before my mom died but I’d like to flush most of my past down the toilet.
- What in your past would you like others to forget?
Very few people know about my past at all. It’s my present I don’t want them to know about. Joe is the only person who knows about my dad’s drinking problem. If it got out…(shakes head) That’s just something I won’t let happen.
- Who was your first love?
It’s pretty hard to date or fall in love when you’re busy carting your father home from bars each and every night so I only went out on a few dates in high school and never serious. The only person in my life who’s been constant is Joe and we tried that once, in college. That’s just not happening. I care about him, love him even, but like a brother. So, I guess the short answer is when you can’t get close to people and you don’t do relationships, you can’t fall in love.
- Who is your true love?
My imaginary Prince Charming? If I were to pick an ideal man he’d be strong, physically and emotionally, and supportive. He would need to be able to understand and share my loyalty to family. And he would need a great sense of humor. That’s a must because you can’t deal with this much sarcasm without a sense of humor. It wouldn’t hurt if he was good looking but that’s not what’s important to me. It’s what’s in here. (tapping her chest over her heart). If he’s kindhearted without being a pushover, that’s better than looks. If you find a guy like that, hook me up.
- Was there ever a defining moment of your life?
When we got the call from the hospital saying my mother had died. I was in our apartment and heard my father make this God-awful wailing sound, like…I don’t know. He sounded like his heart was being ripped from his chest. He was still drunk but not to the point of falling over but I saw him fall to his knees. I took the phone and tried to sound like an adult on the phone but they knew I was just a kid. When I hung it up, I didn’t cry. I just put my dad back to bed and set a glass of water on the nightstand. I didn’t let myself cry until I was alone in my room. That was the last time I cried. For my mother, for my father, for the childhood I realized I would never have. From that night on, I grew up fast. I had to.
- What is your most closely guarded secret?
In my line of work, you have to be perfect and pleasing so no one at work knows about my father’s drinking except Joe. I’ve been able to keep it quiet and my life out of the limelight but he’s getting worse. I have to get him into a rehab or some sort of treatment program. If I do that, people are bound to find out.
- What is your most prized possession? Why?
My mother’s wedding ring. I keep it on a gold chain and never take it off.
- What one word best describes you?
Cautious
- What is your first memory?
My third birthday. Mom and Dad threw me a little party with the three of us but, I think, it was as the zoo. I remember them pretending the animals were eating cake for my birthday too. It’s one of my best memories as a child and one of the only times I remember my father being completely sober and my mother looked up at him holding me like he hung the moon. In spite of his flaws, she loved him.
- Any non-family member adults stick out in your mind? Who were they, and how did you know them? Why do they stick out?
- Who was your best friend when you were growing up?
That would be Joe. His family moved into our apartment building about a year before my mother died and, since we were the only kids in the complex at the time, we hung out together a lot. We’ve been inseparable since. We went to college together and now he’s my boss. He’s seen the worst times in my life and never turned his back on me. I can trust him when I trust no one else.
- What is your fondest, childhood memory?
Saturday mornings with my mother. I would wake up to her fixing pancakes, always a different flavor, and then we’d clean house together. I know it sounds strange but we had fun doing it together. We’d blast music since dad was working and we’d sing. Badly but it was fun.
- What habit that others have annoys you most?
There are so many things people do to annoy me but I hate it when people try to get away with things they shouldn’t do because they think they can. Maybe it’s why I’m always trying to do an exposé and bring down crooked politicians and scams. I definitely fight for the underdog, even when everyone might be taking advantage of them.
- Do you have any bad habits? If so, what are they, and do you plan to get rid of them?
I fidget. When I get uptight, I will start messing with my mother’s ring or the chain holding it around my neck. Either rolling the ring or sliding my fingers over the chain. I’ve learned to control it for the most part and usually only mess with it when I’m really stressed now.
- What kind of things embarrass you? Why?
There’s always the little things like toilet paper on my shoe, or food on my cheek but mostly things like crying or showing fear…I don’t like anyone to see weakness in me. It gives them something they can exploit.
- What don’t you like about yourself?
I don’t like the part of me that still hopes for a better future. Life would be so much easier if I could just face reality and accept the situation my dad and I are in. But that “root-for-the-underdog” thing comes back and I want more, a better life, and keep killing myself trying to get it. It’s only more disappointment but I can’t quite give up. Even admitting I want to irritates me but there are just those days when I wish I could just accept things as they are like other people seem to.
- Do you currently have a lover? What is their name, and what is your relationship like? What are they like? Why are you attracted to them?
- What is the perfect romantic date?
I really wouldn’t know. I guess, for me, it would just mean someone allowing me to be myself, to show my vulnerabilities and accept them without judging me. To be held, connected on an emotional level with someone who makes me feel…safe. We wouldn’t need to go anywhere or do anything, just be together. It would be more of a feeling with that person, not a specific thing we do.
- What is more important – sex or intimacy? Why?
(Laughs) Sex is just sex, just another thing you do, without intimacy. I should know. I’ve had sex, meaningless, unfulfilling, unemotional sex. I’ve never had intimacy. I can’t trust anyone.
- What was your most recent relationship like? Who was it with? (Does not need to be sexual, merely romantic.)
My most recent relationship was about a year ago. I went out with a guy from work, a new reporter who was only at the station a few weeks. We had dinner, went back to his place after a few drinks and had sex. I went home. That was all, one date. Two months later, he got picked up by a bigger station. I like it that way. No complications, no emotional connections and I’m completely in control.
- Do you think redemption is possible? If so, can anyone be redeemed, or are there only certain circumstances that can be? If not, why do you think nothing can redeem itself?
I certainly hope there is redemption. I’m the poster child of someone who needs it. I mean, there must be. Everyone needs to be forgiven for something. I’ve seen the secrets people hide, I know what happens when they are revealed. Everyone had something that they need to be redeemed for. I think redemption is available to everyone but you have to want to pay the price and for most people, it’s too high.
- Is it okay for you to cry? When was the last time you cried?
No, next question.
- What do you think is wrong with MOST people, overall?
Do you have all day for me to list everything? I guess, overall, it would be a lack of empathy. I see the underbelly of society every day, even if I am only reporting the sweet stuff on television. People in general only care about themselves and their own little world. They forget there are other people out there worse off. It’s where greed stems from, people hurting other people, taking what doesn’t belong to them. If people would open their eyes, consider the ripple effect of actions before they take them, the world would be a much better place.
- What is the thing that has frightened you most? Do you think there is anything out there that’s scarier than that? What do you think that would be?
Complete and utter vulnerability. I’m sure there are other things out there – terrorism attacks, brutality, acts of nature – that would scare other people but for me, right now in my life this would frighten me most. A close second would be giving up control, trusting someone else with an outcome. If I fail, I know who is to blame and who is responsible, but I also know what I put into it. Trusting someone else? (shakes head) I just don’t think I can do that.
*~*
Blurb
From our NaNoWriMo author T. J. Kline comes the stunning follow up to RODEO QUEEN. When a sexy cowboy falls for a not-so-angelic reporter, secrets and sparks abound.
Reporter Angela McCallister needs the scoop of her career in order to save her father from his bad decisions that have depleted their savings. When the chance to spend a week at the Findley Brothers ranch arises, she sees a chance to get a behind-the-scenes scoop on rodeo. That certainly doesn’t include kissing the devastatingly handsome and charming cowboy, Derek Chandler, who insists on calling her angel.
Derek has a rodeo to run and a chip on his shoulder. He has no time for the fiery woman who is clearly hiding something. But for some reason he can’t keep his hands off of her. Their connection is instant and explosive but Angela’s secrets could threaten his family and Derek needs to prove that he’s not the irresponsible kid brother anymore.
When the rodeo dust has settled, will the Cowboy and his Angel allow themselves to give in to the attraction that threatens to consume them both?
Link to Follow Tour: http://tastybooktours.blogspot.com/2014/06/now-booking-tasty-virtual-tour-for_9536.html
Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22493055-the-cowboy-and-the-angel
Buy Links
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JZOX5CM/ref=cm_sw_su_dp?tag=avonromancehc-20
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-cowboy-and-the-angel/id870615758?mt=11
Author Info
T. J. Kline was raised competing in rodeos and Rodeo Queen competitions since the age of 14 and has thorough knowledge of the sport as well as the culture involved. She has written several articles about rodeo for small periodicals, as well as a more recent how-to article for RevWriter, and has published a nonfiction health book and two inspirational fiction titles under the name Tina Klinesmith. She is also an avid reader and book reviewer for both Tyndale and Multnomah. In her spare time, she can be found laughing hysterically with her husband, children, and their menagerie of pets in Northern California.
Author Links
https://www.facebook.com/TKlinesmith
https://twitter.com/TinaKlinesmith
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7379969.T_J_Kline
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