The Forest Ranger's Husband by Leigh Bale Interview

How exciting to have Matt Cutter, the hero from The Forest Ranger’s Husband, written by Leigh Bale, a November 2012 release from Love Inspired Romance .

1. Matt, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

Well, I’m a hotshot wildfire fighter. I work mostly on Type D (very large) wildfires. I love the thrill of planning strategies and putting out fires.

2. What do you do for fun?

I used to eat, drink and sleep my work. But recently, I discovered I have a five year-old son. You see, I left my wife to pursue my career as a hotshot. She soon found out she was expecting and didn’t tell me about it, because she didn’t want to use a baby to get me back. I wish she’d told me about my son. I wish I’d never left them in the first place. It took me a long time to figure out what my greatest priority in life is. Now I know. My family.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Forgiving myself, forgiving God, and apologizing to my family for things that I’d done. I lost one of my crewmen on a wildfire and almost died myself. For a long time, I suffered with survivor’s guilt. It took a lot of soul-searching, and the help of my estranged wife, to discover that God had a purpose for me. That he loves me. And that I wasn’t finished with my mission in life. Now, I never hesitate when I have an opportunity to be with my wife and son. They’re everything to me. Everything that matters.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

Losing my family. I walked away from them once. I lost them because I turned my back on them for my career. When I almost lost my life, I realized how fragile we all are. I realized what was most important. Family is all you get to take with you when you leave this life. That and yourself. I’ll do everything in my power to keep my family’s love. Because I want them forever.

5. What is the most important thing to you?

I think I answered that pretty well just above. Family is everything to me.

6. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

Sure! I read lots of books on the latest fire fighting techniques. In the old days, they fought wildfire by sticking a lone man up on a mountain with a shovel and telling him to build fire line. Now, we would never put someone alone out there. We have equipment, fire shelters, training, etc. Fire science is fascinating to me.

7. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’ve actually been working on that. You see, I was an adrenaline junkie at one time. Nothing was more important than my career as a hotshot wildfire fighter. I was self-absorbed and hurt the people who love me, and who I love most. I’ve been changing that around. Giving of myself to them. Putting their wants and needs above my own. And in doing so, I’ve learned there’s no greater joy in this life than service.

8. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

My son, Davie, keeps asking for a dog. I’m sure we’ll get one soon. Every kid ought to have a pet. As they feed and clean up after the pet, kids learn to work. They learn affection and kindness to animals. They learn respect for all God’s creatures. So yeah, we’re gonna get a dog. Just as soon as I can convince my wife that it’s a good thing to do. J

9. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I like to go back to about 1920, when the U.S. Forest Service was first established. I’d like to be involved in those first wildfires and add my input to help find better ways to combat the loss of life and property. And I’d like to tell all those wildfire fighters thank you for their service to our country.

FEATURED BOOK: THE FOREST RANGER'S HUSBAND BY LEIGH BALE

Standing before Fire Control Officer Matt Cutter is a five-year-old replica of himself—the son he never knew he had. All Matt wants to do is hug little Davie and make up for the lost years. But forest ranger Andie Foster, the boy's mother whom Matt left behind, is understandably afraid. How can Matt possibly explain the lapse of faith—in God and himself—that drove him away from what he loved most? And will the lovely forest ranger give him a second chance to be a husband and father forever?

Leigh Bale Remembers 9/11

September 11, 2001, started out as a beautiful, clear day. Nothing unusual about it. Just another workday for people to go about their business. But it wasn’t just another day. It was a day of courage and valor, proven by ordinary people who didn’t care at all about the ridiculous things that seem to divide us. In the aftermath of what happened, all that mattered was helping one another and surviving the devastation caused by cruel, hateful people.

How ordinary do you think today might be? Will anything unusual happen to make us cherish our family members more? To reprioritize and value our lives? That’s what 9/11 has given me. A deeper appreciation for the sweetness of my life and all it has to offer.

In honor of those valiant people who fought for their lives and participated in the recovery effort, I’ve decided to celebrate a great victory. When the worst happened, the people of our nation rose up and met the occasion. We showed our mettle. Because we never know when an ordinary day might become extraordinary and test the very fabric of our souls.

God bless America, the land that I love.

Leigh Bale and Her Flower Garden

Most of you already know my daughter recently got married. We held the reception in our back yard. I admit it’s my favorite place in the whole world. If you're like me, you have the best chats with God in your flower garden. You feel peace and create while you're there. Nothing to disturb you except a little dirt and worms. Unless your roses have aphids...then I have to get tough. :)

During all the hub-bub of greeting guests and ensuring everyone’s needs were met during the reception, I didn’t notice the photographer taking pictures of my flowers. I was charmed and delighted when we received the photos. Following is just a few pictures. Daisies, lydia broom in full bloom, my daughter's shoes resting beside the chives, sweetheart gnomes, and lastly my daughter and her new groom at the garden gate.

And I mustn't forget to tell you about my new book! The Forest Ranger's Promise is now available. It's the first in a new series. Book #2 will be available the first of November. Enjoy!

Leigh Bale Gets a New Baby!

No, I didn't have a new baby. I'm too old. Just ask my married children. And no, I didn't get a new grandbaby, which I would dearly love. But I did get my hubby a new puppy for Father's Day. He was raised with dachshunds. And in the thirty years we've been married, we've owned two long-haired, miniature dachshunds too. Well, my husband's dear friend we called Didi died this past winter and broke our hearts. With our daughter getting married, we have officially become "empty nesters." It didn't last long. My husband has been missing the cuddling of a dog in the evening. He'd dropped a number of hints about getting another puppy, but he knows I always take the brunt of care and training of any new dog, so he waited and didn't push. And dropped a few more hints. :)

My husband has named our new addition Sophie. The name fits her. She doesn't lick, has become my little garden buddy, takes instructions very well, is intelligent, gentle, and NOT hyper! (That's a big plus, right!?!)


Sophie curls up in my lap or at my feet when I'm working on my new book titled The Forest Ranger's Husband, to be released in November 2010. When I need inspiration, I play with Sophie for awhile. Everything in the world seems so easy from a dog's point of view. Sophie's beautiful brown eyes are so trusting. She's brought a sweet spirit into our home.

What about you? Do you have a special pet who brings out the best in you? A sweet animal friend who loves you unconditionally and never holds a grudge? If you're so lucky, then enjoy them! (Oh, and I love my kids, too. :)

Bridal Showers and Rain

Leigh Bale says howdy! Okay, we’re almost there. My daughter’s wedding is coming up soon. But the weather has been horrible. Not a good thing if you’re having the reception outside in your back yard. Freezing temperatures and rain. Our tomatoes, green peppers, squash and marigolds froze the night of June 2nd. Yes, we’re replanting in hopes that it will be pretty for the wedding day.

It was fitting that we had my daughter's bridal shower last week. Inside. Because it poured rain outside. But it didn’t dim our fun time one teensy bit. We laughed, teased each other, my daughter opened gifts, took wise advice from the grandmothers in the room, and we ate a wonderful luncheon prepared by the future sister-in-law. We had flowers, silly games and delicious cake with a squeeze of raspberry sauce and fresh raspberries. Delightful. Isn’t it funny how comfortable you can feel with family and friends during such a happy occasion?


Oh, and if the rain is here on the wedding day, I’m a prepared Mother of the Bride. I long ago scheduled the church house, just in case. We’ll drag the flower pots, stone benches and gifts along and set it all up inside. Rain or shine, we love each other and will celebrate the wedding of our beautiful girl.

Have you ever planned a major event and had bad weather or some other obstacle try to mess it up? How did you overcome the problem?


Leigh Bale’s upcoming books:
The Forest Ranger’s Promise – out now!
The Forest Ranger’s Husband – available November 2011
The Forest Ranger’s Family – available June 2012

Enjoy! Leigh

Leigh Bale Talks About Weddings & Funerals

You all know my daughter is getting married next month. With a new book out this month (The Forest Ranger’s Promise), another book coming out in November (The Forest Ranger’s Husband), and meeting my deadlines for the third book, life is beyond hectic. The wedding invitations are ready to mail out, the party favors are prepared, and the wedding dress is “almost” finished.

And then last week ended up being horrible when my dear Aunt Shirley died. It was expected. She’d been fighting ovarian cancer for several years now. And really, it was a blessing because of the intense suffering she was going through, but it was so hard to let go. I dedicated my second book to Aunt Shirley as the bravest fighter in the ring. Because that’s what you have to become when you’re fighting cancer. A prize fighter.

I am awed by both my aunt and my mother’s courage. These two women were very dear sisters. Orphaned at the tender ages of six and four, they had come to depend upon one another all their lives. My mother was right by my aunt’s side and vice versa.

My own sister is flying in for my daughter’s wedding. I haven't seen her in almost six years. And I can’t wait. I want to wrap my arms around her and hold tight. I feel the same about my daughter, mother, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. Believe me, I’m crazy about the men in my life too. But right now, I’m particularly grateful for the strong, loving women in my family who help me be a better person. Who never give up on me despite my flaws. Who love and support me unconditionally.

So I hope today that you’ll all call your siblings, hug your parents, do something kind for your children, or just tell them each that you love them. Don’t wait. Do it now. And God bless cancer victims worldwide.

Leigh Bale Muses About Her Daughter's Wedding

You might recall my daughter is getting married soon. Planning everything for this great event has continued to proceed amidst meeting my new book deadlines and a new book coming out next week: The Forest Ranger’s Promise. This book is dedicated to my father, who is my first greatest hero. Check for it in Wal Mart, K-Mart, grocery stores or your local bookstore after the 19th. It’s officially a May release, but Wal Mart always gets them in earlier. This is the first book in a new series and the second book titled The Forest Ranger’s Husband will be available the end of October. Both books have page-turning scenes I think you’ll enjoy. To find out more info, visit my website at: www.LeighBale.com

We will be holding our daughter’s wedding reception in our back yard. To get the yard as beautiful as possible, we needed to complete a barren back hill area. You know those useless hills your home builder sticks in your back yard and then includes it into the overall acreage? What can you do with them? Nothing! So we decided to wait until we could afford to do something constructive with our hill. We’ve lived in our home for a number of years, but had put off doing anything to this back hill area for want of time, energy and financial resources to do what we really wanted. Which is to terrace it with rock walls for a couple of reasons. First, I want to be able to climb that hill in my older age to weed up there without being in danger of taking a serious fall. Second, I want to be able to plant bushes, trees and flowers up there that will look attractive with the rest of the yard.



This past week, we finally put in the rock walls to terrace the hill. What do you think? My husband and I are over the moon. It is just what we envisioned. In fact, the terracing has made it so we have basically almost doubled the plantable area of our yard. Last weekend, we picked up a variety of lilac bushes, honeysuckle and Lydia broom plants. We’re planning to plant a variety of perennial and annual flowers on the bottom row. The bushes are small now, but they’ll grow and we’ll get to watch them morph into large, fragrant flowering bushes over the years. I’m also planning to put in a weeping mulberry tree. The weather where we live promises to be in the 70’s this weekend, so we’re going to be out there planting and putting water up on the hill. I can’t wait! I think our daughter’s wedding reception is going to be beautiful. Now I better get back to work writing my next book, right? :)

Leigh Bale Talks About Forest Rangers

I am delighted to announce that there will be several more books in the new Forest Ranger series I’m writing. My editor at Harlequin Love Inspired called last week to buy three more books for a total of five in the series.

The first book is titled The Forest Ranger’s Promise and will be released in May 2011. In this sweet story, the hero is struggling to keep a number of promises he has made to various people even though each promise seems out of his control. He quickly learns to depend on the Lord to help get him through. The story opens with a bang. Literally! You’ll have to read the first chapter when the book comes out to see what I mean. :)

The second book in the series is titled The Forest Ranger’s Husband and will be released in November 2011. In this story, the hero is a hotshot wildland fire fighter who suffers a life-altering event that sends him on the path of repentance and faith.

The third book has been tentatively titled The Forest Ranger’s Baby and doesn’t yet have a release date. The heroine in this story struggles with committing herself to a promise she doesn't dare make for fear she won’t be able to keep it. You can expect some very action-packed scenes in each book as the main characters deal with grizzly bears, wildfires, floods, and their own aching hearts as they search for their faith in God.

Because my father is a retired forest ranger and is serving as my consultant, many scenes in each book are based on actual events in my dad’s life. I’ve tried my best to write faith based stories that are both very realistic and romantic. Let me know what you think. I look forward to hearing from you! To contact me, visit my website at: www.LeighBale.com
Enjoy! Leigh