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The house, for all of its solitude, seemed incredibly noisy
The Farmhouse, having stood against time and history for nearly 160 years in the Virginia countryside, was forgotten and abandoned until Kyle and Jenny Dowling moved in during the summer of 1972.
The Dowlings, married just a year, were struggling to repair their broken marriage. It was to be the perfect place, away from it all, to heal their relationship. Jenny would write and Kyle would tend to minor renovations. The rent was cheap.
The realtor warned them, however, against staying beyond the final days of fall.
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Q&A
When and where do you prefer to write?
I usually write from mid-morning to early evening. I’d prefer to have a writing space set up in the spare bedroom but for now I mostly write at the dining table which also serves as my desk.
Do you need peace and quiet when you are writing?
Yes. I find it difficult to have music playing (although I use music to influence the tone of my writing (I often play the piano in an effort to build imagery and emotions). I can tolerate the television if it’s on in another room.
If you had the chance to co-write a book. Whom would it be with?
That’s a difficult one. Susan Hill would be at the top of the list. The Woman in Black is one of my favorite stories. If I could time-travel, then Sheridan LeFanu would be a top choice.
Say someone asks if they can use your name in a book. Would you rather be the ‘good one’ or the ‘bad one’?
I’d have to go with the bad one as I’ve always been known as the quiet one who rarely makes a peep. It would be fun to see how someone might turn my personality on its head.
Who would you like/have liked to interview?
Well, for authors I would have liked to have interviewed Shirley Jackson and Victoria Holt. Two of my favorite movie directors are M. Knight Shyamalan and Guillermo del Toro. Every now and then I send a tweet out to Mr. del Toro in hopes he might take a look at one of my ghost stories. It’s a long shot I know.
Where can I find you when you are reading?
I usually read on the sofa in the living room.
Where can I find you wen you are not writing/reading?
I spend a lot of time exploring historical areas, especially cemeteries. I live in an area of Virginia that is surrounded by U.S. Civil War battles and other notable historical sites.
What goes through your mind when you hold your new book in your hands for the first time?
It’s always an adrenaline rush for me as it serves as physical proof of accomplishing something after months of work in creating it.
How do you come up with a title for your book?
Most of my book titles are from the places that inspire the book. One of my Southern Gothic book series that is set in New Orleans, for the most part, is titled after what I decided described my daughter’s altered hair color. I had been struggling with a title and then walking in the door it came to mind-A Pale Shade of Winter-winter and nature’s elements are key influencers throughout the book. I am working on my first historical fiction book which will not have a “place marker” title.
How do you pick a cover for your book?
I actually use my own photography if possible. I have a lovely model which graces two book covers and for The Farmhouse at Peace and Plenty, its cover is also from my own collection of photographs. If at all possible, I avoid stock imagery and if I do use it whether in a cover or promotional materials, I make sure to drastically alter it to fit my artistic style. Historical photos, that are beyond copyright requirements, are also a go to, especially for my ghost stories.
Thank you, L.B. Stimson and ZooLoo’s Book Toiurs
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About the author
L.B. grew up in a one stop-light town in central Idaho. After earning a Bachelor of Art’s degree in cultural anthropology from California State University-Chico, she uprooted herself to begin a new life in Washington, D.C., where she began a varied career in professional communications in private business and education.
“I’ve always had a passion for photography, travel, writing, and history. I am thrilled to now be creating works of fiction that allow me to share these passions with others. One of my favorite parts of the writing process is the historical research required to bring authenticity to my characters’ lives.”
This is her fifth book and the second in her standalone series: Tales from the Parlor Room–a collection of gothic and ghostly tales.
She currently resides in Virginia where she enjoys cemetery walks, visiting abandoned and haunted places and working on more ghostly tales.
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Author Links
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/LBStimsonAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stimsonink
Website: https://www.lbstimson.com
Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/lbstimson
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lbstimson/
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/stimsonink
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Book Links
Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Farmhouse-Peace-Plenty-Southern-Collection-ebook/dp/B094YMW259/
Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/Farmhouse-Peace-Plenty-Southern-Collection-ebook/dp/B094YMW259/
B for Bookreview 
Thank you so much for this interview today and taking part in the tour x
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You are welcome 🙂
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