Linda Windsor

Actually, her home is made up of three separate houses, which were put together as was often done in colonial times to make a larger dwelling as its family grew. The oldest is dated circa 1798, with the other two around 1830. The quaint characteristics of the home make it the ideal setting for writing about the past. It has massive exposed beams, some dressed and beaded, while others are hand hewn and water sawed by the original owner, who owned a saw mill on the millpond nearby. A large "walk-in" cooking fireplace with a bee hive bake oven provides the means for delicious open hearth meals on a cold winter's day. Rooms with modern conveniences like plumbing and closets, were added by Linda and her late husband James during the restoration.

There are any number of friends and family always dropping by, usually for meals, and an assortment of stray cats have also made their home at Fort Necke. The key phrase in the Windsor household is "the more the merrier!" Another favorite sign is posted inside, reading "Registered Historical Nut House."

Amid the often chaotic "country inn" atmosphere, Windsor has written quite a collection of historical and contemporary romances as both Linda Windsor and Linda Covington. Windsor's historical novels are known for her distinctive voice and flair for incorporating history with romance and adventure, while her contemporary romantic comedies are guaranteed to warm the heart, lift the spirit, and tickle the funny bone. One reader commented, "Be sure to keep tissues handy. I laughed so hard I had to keep wiping off my glasses." Windsor insists that nothing is more entertaining than life itself, be it past or present.

With a degree in education from her local university, one of the greatest rewards to the innate teacher in Linda was hearing from readers that her Irish Gleannmara series was approved for some middle school English book reports as well as being used in home-schooling. To Windsor, entertaining, or keeping the pages turning, while educating is as much as any historical novelist can ask for.

Another interest is music. She and her husband retired from a ten year stint with a professional classic country and old rock and roll band in which she played guitar and keyboard, and sang lead and harmonies. They met and married through music, their band playing at their own wedding reception. It was an early afternoon wedding and somehow the beautiful tiered cake never got cut until midnight, but a good time was had by all, including the bride and groom! For years James and Linda shared a music ministry, performing for area churches and charities. She confesses to occasionally eyeing an acoustic electric bass guitar, but thus far, tackling yet another instrument has intimidated her.

Due to the necessities of life, Windsor has become skilled at painting, wallpapering, refinishing furniture, upholstering, and other handywoman tasks about the house, as well as becoming adept at some acupressure, reflexology, and shiatsu healing techniques. Doing the first sort of begat learning the latter. But all in all, Linda takes ups and downs of life with the comfort of her grandmother's wisdom. "The sun don't shine up the same dog's derriere all the time." Okay, so Linda cleaned it up a bit. The gist is, all things come to pass, both the bad and the good...and the first makes us truly appreciate the latter.